yearinreview &mdash; Fight Back! News https://fightbacknews.org/tag:yearinreview News and Views from the People's Struggle Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:03:49 +0000 https://i.snap.as/RZCOEKyz.png yearinreview &mdash; Fight Back! News https://fightbacknews.org/tag:yearinreview Fighting back and advancing the struggle in 2022 https://fightbacknews.org/fighting-back-and-advancing-struggle-2022?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Minneapolis, MN - There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2022. With so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of the things our movements have accomplished. That makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger. !--more-- First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! wrote about who passed away in 2022 and say in their honor: ¡presente! LAPD kills 2 inside of crowded store, 14-year-old dead Community leader Mel Reeves remembered in Minneapolis Minnesota: Protests follow police killing of Amir Locke FRSO leader condemns white supremacist murders in Buffalo, NY Grand Rapids cop executes youth from Congo Minnesota: Remembering Marie Braun’s commitment to peace and justice Twin Cities organizers memorialize 53 migrants who died in south Texas, press Senator Smith for immigrant rights action Minneapolis police murder Tekle Sundberg Colorado Springs demands justice for Dezarae Archuleta Padre José Landaverde: Presente! Freedom Road Socialist Organization mourns the passing of Jean Pestieau, of the Workers Party of Belgium FRSO: The contributions of Comrade Jose Ma. Sison will live forever! Among the first to lead this struggle: The legacy of Charlene Mitchell And here are the exclusive interviews that Fight Back! published in 2022: Interview with Frank Chapman, of National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) as we start 2022 Day 1 of Colorado King Soopers strike: Interview with a striker Activist explains why anti-war movement wants U.S. out of Ukraine Interview with Starbucks union organizer in New Orleans Interview with William Camacaro on the Workers’ Summit of the Americas Denver: Interview with wrongfully fired Chicano high school teacher Tim Hernández Interview with Venezuelan trade union leader Jacobo Torres de Leon Hope for Colombia: An interview with James Jordan about the election of Petro Interview with FRSO leader Masao Suzuki: The fight against national oppression and the struggle for socialism In 2022, Fight Back! launched our own podcast! Here’s the article announcing the launch of the new podcast on International Workers Day, which incidentally was the most viewed article on fightbacknews.org all year! You can find links to the podcast on the main podcast platforms here \- be sure to subscribe and check out all the episodes from 2022. Also in 2022, Fight Back! printed a series of ‘red theory’ articles on the basics of Marxism-Leninism. Here is the article introducing the series. You can browse all the articles in the series here. There are plans to compile the articles into a book - watch for that in the new year! Fight Back! reported on the 9th Congress of Freedom Road Socialist Organization this year, as well as the Workers and Communist Parties around the world that sent greetings to FRSO's 9th Congress. Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important in this review. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting five of the most popular articles from each month of 2022. January Florida Gov. DeSantis spreads lies, Jax community members disrupt his press conference Reflections on the 30th anniversary of the end of the Soviet socialist project Chicago: Community and labor organizations mobilize for voting rights WAMM still saying ‘No to war’ - 40th anniversary celebration Florida students protest anti-abortion bill at state capitol, disrupt House subcommittee meeting February UPS Teamsters fight against wage cuts No U.S. war with Russia, end U.S. intervention in Ukraine Bigger than bomb threats: The political violence of national oppression Activists arrested at Florida state capitol for opposing abortion ban law Chicanos confront an LA Sheriff Department community meeting March No to NATO Transgender rights: China advances while U.S. backslides PSUV 5th Congress held in Venezuela: Resistance, Rebirth, Revolution! Protest against torture in Illinois prisons Minneapolis teachers and education support professionals ratify contract after 20-day strike April 2022 election in the Philippines: Repression and resistance 1000 rally, march: U.S. and Israel: Hands off Jerusalem! Students fight back against Florida’s ‘Don’t say gay bill’ Celebrate International Workers Day, May 1, 2022 Tampa’s housing crisis and the fight for rent control May Keep abortion legal! Defend women’s and reproductive rights! The full story of how Louisianans defeated the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill ‘Ban off our bodies’ protest ended in Homeland Security, LAPD attack How frame-ups work: The Antony Gay trial Los Angeles victory: One step closer to winning community control over LA County Sheriff’s Department June Young Lords pass the torch, honor Jose “Cha Cha” Jimenez Prepare for mass action to keep abortion legal! Final Declaration of the Workers’ Summit of the Americas Cryptocurrency meltdown topples digital asset businesses Poor People's Campaign protests at Capitol in DC July FRSO: Resolution Against the U.S./NATO-Provoked War in Ukraine A Marxist view of the Asian American National Questions Number of people collecting unemployment benefits jumps by 51,000 Red Theory: Against Sakai on settler colonialism and the national question in the U.S. Condemn the FBI raids in St Louis, MO and St Petersburg, FL! August Chicago: Movement forces the release of Chicago police torture survivors No, the economy is not in a recession (yet) UPS Teamsters kick off 2023 contract fight with national week of action Saint Paul rallies to demand Minnesota divest from Israel East LA commemorates the 52nd Chicano Moratorium September Chicago: Election season begins for Police Accountability Councils Red Theory: Imperialism, or monopoly capitalism A revolutionary view of the 2022 midterm elections Minnesota Abortion Action Coalition demands no state funding for ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ Cuba accepts new Families Code, approves same-sex marriage, women’s rights October Philippines: Intensify mass struggles amid peso devaluation and rising prices Join the effort to promote the political program of FRSO Scabby the rat tours U of MN campus, Teamsters ready to strike Red Theory: Bourgeois democracy and fascism Students for a Democratic Society 16th Annual Convention say, ‘Not another step back!’ November Chicago: Electing candidates to hold the police accountable Rally in support of DACA and ‘Legalization for All’ Oslo is long dead. Time to revive the PLO 2022 midterm results and the coming struggle Biden: Hands off rail workers and their right to strike! December USF students protest at university president’s mansion over declining Black enrollment COP27 Recap and response: Green capitalism as class warfare Protests call to “Free Alex Saab,” jailed in Miami Some in the shadow, some in the sun: A roundup of the semi-finals of the soccer World Cup Milwaukee rally to save labor and delivery department at St. Francis Hospital #UnitedStates #Remembrances #FightBack #YearInReview div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Minneapolis, MN – There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2022. With so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of the things our movements have accomplished. That makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger.

First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! wrote about who passed away in 2022 and say in their honor: ¡presente!

And here are the exclusive interviews that Fight Back! published in 2022:

In 2022, Fight Back! launched our own podcast! Here’s the article announcing the launch of the new podcast on International Workers Day, which incidentally was the most viewed article on fightbacknews.org all year! You can find links to the podcast on the main podcast platforms here - be sure to subscribe and check out all the episodes from 2022.

Also in 2022, Fight Back! printed a series of ‘red theory’ articles on the basics of Marxism-Leninism. Here is the article introducing the series. You can browse all the articles in the series here. There are plans to compile the articles into a book – watch for that in the new year!

Fight Back! reported on the 9th Congress of Freedom Road Socialist Organization this year, as well as the Workers and Communist Parties around the world that sent greetings to FRSO's 9th Congress.

Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important in this review. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting five of the most popular articles from each month of 2022.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

#UnitedStates #Remembrances #FightBack #YearInReview

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/fighting-back-and-advancing-struggle-2022 Sat, 31 Dec 2022 17:56:01 +0000 2020: sounds of an upsurge https://fightbacknews.org/2020-sounds-upsurge?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[2020 was quite a year with huge upsurges of struggle. And when there's an upsurge, you can bet it will be accompanied by protest music. This year has been no exception. !--more-- Here are some of the great songs of 2020. Some give voice to a specific struggle, while others tackle more general themes.While it may not have seemed like it at the time, looking back it becomes clear how much powerful content was created in the heat of the struggles of 2020. You can also play these songs as a playlist on YouTube or Spotify. (Content warning: some of these songs contain profane language and disturbing themes) Janelle Monáe - Turntables Jeezy (featuring Tamika Mallory) - Oh Lord David Rovics - As I Watch Minneapolis Burn Bob Mould - American Crisis María Isa - Como Duele Noname - Song 33 Anderson .Paak - Lockdown Bambu featuring Ricky G, Kiwi & Ruby Ibarra - Dittybop Lil Baby - The Bigger Picture Kabaka Pyramid - Babylon Fallin Soulside - This Ship Rebel Diaz & Tef Poe - Fiyah to the Fascists Alice Bag - No Gifts for Nazis The Muslims - Punch a Nazi MDC - No Trump No KKK No Fascist USA Ana Tijoux - Antifa Dance Resistance Revival Chorus with Rhiannon Giddens - All You Fascists Are Bound to Lose Black Thought - Thought vs Everybody Lonnie Oceans & Xtina Beni - Warfare Coriky - Last Thing Billy Bragg - Can't Be There Today Tré Burt with Leyla McCalla, Allison Russell & Sunny War - Under the Devil's Knee Des Demonas - The South Will Never Rise Again Vic Mensa - Bethlehem / SC Freestyle Black Thought - State Prisoner Beyonce - Black Parade Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion - WAP Run The Jewels with Zach De La Rocha and Pharrell Williams - JU$T Public Enemy - State of the Union Jasiri X - Rob Jeff Bezo$ A Tribe Called Red ft. Boogey the Beat and Northern Voice - Land Back Downtown Boys - L’Internacionale Brick - Fake Names Anti-Flag - A Dying Plea, Vol. 2 GMAC Cash - Tired Lil B - I Am George Floyd Vivir Quintana - Canción Sin Miedo Las Cafeteras - Long Time Coming Chicano Batman - Manuel’s Story Ana Tijoux - Rebelión de Octubre Dax - Black Lives Matter Demi Lovato - Commander in Chief H.E.R. - I Can’t Breathe Alicia Keys - Perfect Way to Die Bambu - Signing Off #UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #Music #YearInReview #protestMusic div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> 2020 was quite a year with huge upsurges of struggle. And when there's an upsurge, you can bet it will be accompanied by protest music. This year has been no exception.

Here are some of the great songs of 2020. Some give voice to a specific struggle, while others tackle more general themes.While it may not have seemed like it at the time, looking back it becomes clear how much powerful content was created in the heat of the struggles of 2020.

You can also play these songs as a playlist on YouTube or Spotify.

(Content warning: some of these songs contain profane language and disturbing themes)

Janelle Monáe – Turntables

Jeezy (featuring Tamika Mallory) – Oh Lord

David Rovics – As I Watch Minneapolis Burn

Bob Mould – American Crisis

María Isa – Como Duele

Noname – Song 33

Anderson .Paak – Lockdown

Bambu featuring Ricky G, Kiwi & Ruby Ibarra – Dittybop

Lil Baby – The Bigger Picture

Kabaka Pyramid – Babylon Fallin

Soulside – This Ship

Rebel Diaz & Tef Poe – Fiyah to the Fascists

Alice Bag – No Gifts for Nazis

The Muslims – Punch a Nazi

MDC – No Trump No KKK No Fascist USA

Ana Tijoux – Antifa Dance

Resistance Revival Chorus with Rhiannon Giddens – All You Fascists Are Bound to Lose

Black Thought – Thought vs Everybody

Lonnie Oceans & Xtina Beni – Warfare

Coriky – Last Thing

Billy Bragg – Can't Be There Today

Tré Burt with Leyla McCalla, Allison Russell & Sunny War – Under the Devil's Knee

Des Demonas – The South Will Never Rise Again

Vic Mensa – Bethlehem / SC Freestyle

Black Thought – State Prisoner

Beyonce – Black Parade

Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion – WAP

Run The Jewels with Zach De La Rocha and Pharrell Williams – JU$T

Public Enemy – State of the Union

Jasiri X – Rob Jeff Bezo$

A Tribe Called Red ft. Boogey the Beat and Northern Voice – Land Back

Downtown Boys – L’Internacionale

Brick – Fake Names

Anti-Flag – A Dying Plea, Vol. 2

GMAC Cash – Tired

Lil B – I Am George Floyd

Vivir Quintana – Canción Sin Miedo

Las Cafeteras – Long Time Coming

Chicano Batman – Manuel’s Story

Ana Tijoux – Rebelión de Octubre

Dax – Black Lives Matter

Demi Lovato – Commander in Chief

H.E.R. – I Can’t Breathe

Alicia Keys – Perfect Way to Die

Bambu – Signing Off

#UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #Music #YearInReview #protestMusic

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/2020-sounds-upsurge Sun, 03 Jan 2021 17:25:19 +0000 Fighting back in 2020: Pandemic, uprising, economic crash, and the fall of Trump https://fightbacknews.org/fighting-back-2020-pandemic-uprising-economic-crash-and-fall-trump?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[People celebrate as the Minneapolis Police Dept's Third Precinct burns") At the end of every year, we highlight the high points of struggle from that year as reported in Fight Back! News. In 2020 there was a tidal wave of struggle, and Fight Back! News has been on the front lines with on-the-spot reporting and timely analysis. !--more-- From the Trump administration’s disastrous handling of the pandemic and the economic crash it triggered, to the huge uprising sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis that spread around the country, to the struggle to defeat Trump in the November election and then prevent him from stealing the election, 2020 was quite a year for the people’s movements. With so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of the things our movements have accomplished. That makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger. Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting some of the most important articles from each month of 2020. There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here -- you can see them all at the archive, and you can also see the 2017, 2018 and 2019 retrospectives. First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! wrote about who passed away in 2020 and say in their honor: ¡presente! Feeder driver William Young of Teamsters Local 710 passes from coronavirus FRSO condemns the murder of Communist Party of the Philippines leader Julius Giron Minneapolis vigil honors Carlos Ernesto Escobar-Mejia, first person to die of COVID-19 in ICE detention On the passing of Michael Lucas, immigrant organizer and friend of Soviet people Tribute to the outstanding communist Ka Fidel V. Agcaoili Philippines: On the murder of NDFP consultants Eugenia Magpantay and Agaton Topacio FRSO Portland denounces extrajudicial police killing of Michael Reinoehl Maradona, worldwide soccer icon and outspoken anti-imperialist, dies at age 60 Alan Canfora presente! Here are some exclusive interviews that Fight Back! published in 2020 Interview with Nicaraguan Sandinista youth leader Rosalía Bohórquez Afro-Venezuelan socialist youth leader’s message to the people of the U.S. National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression relaunch a success: Interview with Frank Chapman Interview with Italian communists on COVID-19 impact and the working class Interview with Tom Burke of FRSO on Trump’s war moves against Venezuela Interview with Charlotte Kates on COVID-19 threat in Israeli jails, fight to free Palestinian political prisoners Interview with Andy Brooks of New Communist Party of Britain on the COVID-19 pandemic Interview with Masao Suzuki: On the growing economic crisis, unemployment and Marxist political economy Interview with Frank Chapman: Leader of National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression talks about mobilizing against police crimes Interview with Frank Chapman: One year after refounding the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression And here are some of the deeper historical and theoretical articles published in Fight Back! this year: Learning from Harry Haywood in the fight for Black freedom and socialism Minneapolis: ‘Disband, defund,’ or community control, of the police Resist U.S. government repression, build a revolutionary movement May 1970: Two weeks when an anti-war uprising changed history Commentary: Australian bush fires are a product of capitalism Report from China: COVID-19 a tale of two systems Eyewitness China: How socialism is defeating COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic and the African American Nation Reading Dickens during the pandemic Engels at 200: He transformed dreams of better world into a science for liberation Book Review: Lenin’s What is to be Done? 150 years after the birth of V.I. Lenin: Long Live Leninism! How the USSR made the World War II victory over German fascism a reality 103 years since October Revolution 45th anniversary of Vietnam’s victory over U.S. imperialism Carnage and important historical lessons abound in book ‘The Jakarta Method’ The time is now to join a revolutionary organization: Join Freedom Road Socialist Organization And now let’s look at the top 10 articles from each month. Usually we wouldn’t highlight this many articles. But in a year with such a high tide of struggle, there is a lot to look back on and learn from. January Milwaukee meets Trump with huge protest Juan Guaidó, the political joke of Venezuela Stand with the people of Iran and Iraq against the U.S. wars of aggression! Families and activists blast St. Paul Police Department’s “Decade of Disgrace” Jacksonville demands community control of the police, justice for Kwame Opening plenary kicks off World Anti-Imperialist Congress Venezuelans celebrate one year of resistance to U.S. coup attempt Coalition to March on DNC threatens lawsuit as Milwaukee government denies democratic rights USPCN Rejects “Deal of the Century” East LA demands: “No war against Iran” February Tallahassee residents demand removal of killer cop Police Chief Lawrence Revell Milwaukee area law enforcement kill two people in one week Sanders wins the most votes in Iowa Caucus Minneapolis: Hundreds attend Black History month events featuring Frank Chapman New York MTA wages war on the poor and working class Free Gerald Reed Now! San Jose Day of Remembrance marks 40th anniversary with large turnout Minnesota progressives say ‘Don’t vote for Amy Klobuchar’ “We want to show the DNC that the people have the power,” says Milwaukee coalition Milwaukee Public Museum workers confront the board of directors March A progressive agenda for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness Klobuchar rally canceled, rally to free Myon Burrell takes center stage COVID-19 cases top 100,000 worldwide as Trump continues to reject science, downplay problem FRSO labor delegation joins Venezuelan march defending the Bolivarian government Commentary: Phony Civilian Oversight bill defeated in Chicago Lights out as capitalist economies grind towards halt Minnesota: Hennepin County workers fight back in times of crisis Car protest at Gov. Walz’s mansion demands immediate release of immigrants in Minnesota jails The U.S. should be working with China to end the Pandemic, Not provoking a new cold war Minnesota: Nurses at M Health hospitals vote “No confidence” on COVID-19 response April Confronting Amazon: Why Teamsters need to organize Amazon Family and community speak out against Tallahassee police killing of Mychael Johnson Chicago: Over 200 cars join protest demanding mass release from jails, detention centers Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns attacks on Asian Americans Tampa UPS Teamsters win demands for gloves, hand sanitizer and masks NYC death rates from COVID-19 reveal class division and national oppression Racism and COVID-19 in Tallahassee Right-wing protest echoes Trump demand to restart economy, endangering workers’ lives Largest economic decline since the Great Depression Bad news for Teamsters, UPS begins drone deliveries May Boyle Heights celebrates May Day for the 6th consecutive year Postal workers and the fight to save USPS National Alliance Statement on the Lynching of Ahmaud Arbery Wisconsin: COVID – 19 outbreaks at Brown County meat packing plants show hypocrisy of “essential worker” designation Wisconsin FRSO condemns state Supreme Court ruling that ends ‘safer-at-home’ Boisterous Nakba Day car rally rolls through Minneapolis suburb Boyle Heights demands firing of LAPD's Frank Hernandez and justice for Richard Castillo Minnesota union nurses hold huge socially-distanced picket and march for safety Over 20,000 march demanding justice for George Floyd Justice for George Floyd! Indict and convict the killer cops! Community control of the police now! June 100,000-plus join protests called by National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression Jax Fraternal Order of Police president threatens local teacher Armed Chicanos in Texas lead Black Lives Matter protest Rebellion wins demand: All four Minneapolis police charged in murder of George Floyd Native Americans pull down Christopher Columbus statue at Minnesota Capitol Stock market tanks as reality sinks in Thousands march and caravan for community control of Chicago police Protest demanding end to police crimes meets Trump visit in Green Bay, WI Coloradans demand justice for Elijah McClain Palestinians will resist annexation and occupation and fight for national liberation July Black, trans, working-class legacy of Pride at Tallahassee’s BLM Stonewall March and Rally Roll 4 Justice - Protest on wheels demands justice for all on July 4 in Minneapolis Chicago protest against Duterte’s terror law Grand Rapids demands ‘Justice for Vanessa Guillen!’ Michigan workers rally and march for unemployment extensions Black lives matter victories at University of Texas-Arlington Teamsters across the country petition for O’Brien-Zuckerman Hundreds take to the streets in Salt Lake demanding community control of police Federal officers seen dragging protesters into unmarked vans in Portland Stand with the resistance in Portland! August Rebellion reignites in Chicago Meatpackers fired for asking for COVID precautions, organize a picket to fight back Families hold vigil for Jesse Romero and Omar Gonzalez, victims of LAPD’s Eden Medina Movement for community control of the police wins big in Jacksonville primary elections Hundreds march on the DNC in Milwaukee, ‘We can’t breathe!’ Uprising underway in Kenosha, WI after the police shooting of Jacob Blake Blue lives supporter Kyle Rittenhouse shoots three in Kenosha, killing two The battle for the United States Postal Service Protesters clash with police in downtown Minneapolis, mayor summons National Guard NBA’s Bucks and MLB’s Brewers strike games to demand justice for Jacob Blake September Thousands in East LA protest for 50th Chicano Moratorium anniversary \| In photos \| Video SDS chapters from across the Midwest meet in Kenosha to protest Trump, police brutality Trump must be defeated Protesters reject police repression against the Tally14—hours later, police strike again TCC4J statement on court hearing for George Floyd’s murderers New Orleans trans community celebrates name change, housing victories, keeps up fight The West Coast is burning, and capitalism is to blame UIC: Largest strike since start of the economic crisis Tallahassee rallies for community control of the police - CPAC now! Thousands march for Breonna Taylor in NYC October Communist and Workers Party’s declaration for the repatriation and freedom of Simón Trinidad Community control of police takes the stage during Trump-Biden presidential debate Technical workers strike at two Twin Cities hospitals Wisconsin: Mass arrests, tear gas, National Guard used against protesters Students and youth webinar launching campaign for police accountability Tampa activists rally against anti-protest bill Poughkeepsie march against violence facing Black women and Black trans women Commentary on Bolivia: How a coup failed East LA rally against police killings calls to oust LA DA Jackie Lacey, Trump on Nov. 3 Large caravan through Miami demands end to Cuba blockade November Don’t let Trump steal the election! Take to the streets to demand a people’s agenda! Green Bay, WI: Vigil and caravan for Donna Christensen and missing, murdered indigenous women Minnesota: 646 arrested at ‘Don’t Let Trump Steal the Election’ march Pro-cop DA Jackie Lacey defeated, millions vote in Los Angeles Gipp family holds angelversary for Ryan Gipp at Standing Rock Reservation FRSO joins Anti-imperialist Working Class World Summit 5 years after police murder of Jamar Clack, justice demanded in North Minneapolis Tallahassee students rally against political repression, demand Community Police Accountability Council Jacksonville protests FL governor’s anti-protester bill, demands justice for victims of police crimes The defeat of Trump and the road ahead December Native Lives Matter holds candlelight vigil on National Day of Mourning One year later: Demand justice for Frank Ordonez, Teamster killed by police Job growth grinds to a halt as Trump plans holiday parties Big win for Venezuela’s PSUV, assurance for President Maduro AZ educators organize sickout amid highest rate of COVID-19 Jacksonville rallies for justice for Devon Gregory and community control of the police Major victory in MN: ‘Myon is free!’ Green Bay, WI: Body cams for cops now required, struggle for justice for Jonathon Tubby continues People of Milwaukee defeat the COPS grant National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression demands release of Filipino trade unionists #UnitedStates #Remembrances #PeoplesStruggles #YearInReview div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> People celebrate as the Minneapolis Police Dept's Third Precinct burns

At the end of every year, we highlight the high points of struggle from that year as reported in Fight Back! News. In 2020 there was a tidal wave of struggle, and Fight Back! News has been on the front lines with on-the-spot reporting and timely analysis.

From the Trump administration’s disastrous handling of the pandemic and the economic crash it triggered, to the huge uprising sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis that spread around the country, to the struggle to defeat Trump in the November election and then prevent him from stealing the election, 2020 was quite a year for the people’s movements.

With so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of the things our movements have accomplished. That makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger.

Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting some of the most important articles from each month of 2020.

There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here — you can see them all at the archive, and you can also see the 2017, 2018 and 2019 retrospectives.

First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! wrote about who passed away in 2020 and say in their honor: ¡presente!

Here are some exclusive interviews that Fight Back! published in 2020

And here are some of the deeper historical and theoretical articles published in Fight Back! this year:

And now let’s look at the top 10 articles from each month. Usually we wouldn’t highlight this many articles. But in a year with such a high tide of struggle, there is a lot to look back on and learn from.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

#UnitedStates #Remembrances #PeoplesStruggles #YearInReview

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/fighting-back-2020-pandemic-uprising-economic-crash-and-fall-trump Wed, 30 Dec 2020 17:42:39 +0000 Top Fight Back! articles of 2018: Deepening the struggle in the era of Trump https://fightbacknews.org/top-fight-back-articles-2018-deepening-struggle-era-trump?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[St. Paul, MN - There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2018. With so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of the things our movements have accomplished. That makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger. !--more-- Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important in this review. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting five of the most popular articles from each month. There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here -- you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 retrospectives). If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know which ones in the comments! First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! wrote about who passed away in 2018 and say in their honor: ¡presente! Community rallies for Black man executed in rural Florida county #Justice4DJBroadus On the passing of Winnie Nomazamo Madikizela-Mandela Honor the memory of freedom fighter Tyrone Rashad Williams Thousands march in Crown Heights after police killing of Saheed Vassell Ora Schub: In memoriam Jacksonville rallies for Black transwomen, demands police accountability (Cathalina Christina James, Celine Walker and Antash’a English) BCA community meeting on Thurman Blevins killing Chicago protest planned to demand justice for Harith Augustus Jacksonville rallies for mentally ill man killed by JSO cop (Harold Kraai) Commentary: Say Her Name, Justice for Nia Wilson Supporters and family of Isaiah Tucker demand police accountability and justice for man killed by Oshkosh cops Family protests killing of Erick Aguirre by Rialto police department Justice for Tenia Williams! Stop the attacks on Black trans women! Protest in MN against jail death of Hardel Sherrell Family and community protests at East LA Sheriff’s station demanding “Justice for Anthony Vargas” Salt Lake rallies for Cody Belgard, shot in the back and killed by SLCPD Deadly November: Cops kill 3 Native American men in MN (Travis Jordan, J Scott Alan Widmark, Vernon May) And here are the exclusive interviews that Fight Back! published in 2018: Video: Interview with Cuban teachers union leader Niurka González Orberá Video: Basque Country union leader speaks on Basque independence, the European Union, and education struggles Interview with Alderman Carlos Ramirez Rosa and community leader Frank Chapman Video: Interview with Oaxaca, Mexico teachers union leaders Interview with Aaron Leonard, author of new book detailing FBI repression of 1970s revolutionary movements Arab community resists in Chicago suburb: Interview with Bassem Kawar, of the Campaign to TAKE ON HATE Interview: 50 years of Young Lords with founder Jose “Cha Cha” Jimenez Fight Back! interview with Jose Maria Sison on struggle against U.S.-backed Duterte regime Interview with Charlotte Kates, of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network Nicaragua six months after soft coup attempt: An interview with a Sandinista Interview with former Black Panther Thomas “Blood” McCreary and Frank Chapman Interview with MLPD Chairwoman Gabi Fechtner on fighting the right in Germany Now, here are some of the top Fight Back! articles for each month of 2018. January Socialist Cuba hits record lows in infant mortality rate Jacobin dead-wrong on Zimbabwe & international solidarity Imperialist clouds gather over Latin America Major year of struggle for Milwaukee’s Young People's Resistance Committee Los Angeles Salvadorians, supporters demand Temporary Protective Status and residency February Black Liberation and socialism celebrated in Chicago March on Super Bowl challenges police brutality and racism Photo essay: Twin Cities march on the Super Bowl Angry Chicano community protests LAPD killing of Christian Escobedo New York stands with Ahed Tamimi March UNF SDS wins major demands, creation of a African American/Diaspora major 50-year commemoration of the Chicano East L.A. walkouts World Federation of Teachers Unions (FISE) concludes successful Congress in Mexico Working Women’s Congress of WFTU held in Panama A class analysis of the U.S. opioid epidemic April Labor, civil rights supporters march in Memphis on anniversary of MLK assassination Thousands march in Crown Heights after police killing of Saheed Vassell 50,000 Arizona educators strike, march on capitol May Day 2018: Fight the billionaires and their bigot politicians Puerto Rican teachers pepper sprayed protesting school closings May Marx at 200: A renewed interest in the critique of capitalism Arizona educators end historic strike: An analysis of Ducey’s deceitful deal FSU SDS wins victory. Panel votes to remove racist Eppes statue, building names from campus Fourth annual May Day in Boyle Heights demands, ‘Jail killer cops’ Chicago community rebels against rigged hearing on police accountability June Hundreds march against Philippine President Duterte in NYC Nicaragua battles the U.S. intervention playbook Protest in Milwaukee against the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. A victory for peace and unity of the Korean people Stop child detentions, legalization for all July Capitalism’s impact on mental health Sandinista supporters keep Nicaragua free of ‘soft coup’ Two-tier concession at UPS sparks outrage Commentary: The right-wing assault, post Janus Ahed Tamimi Released, Now Free All Palestinian Political Prisoners August Jacksonville community rejects mayor’s police state budget UPS, Teamster Tentative Agreement means technology-based firings for part-timers Janus, anti-worker court rulings can’t stop a fighting labor movement Chicago delegation sees Palestinian resistance first hand Full house at 48th Chicano Moratorium commemoration in LA September Which side are you on? Jacobin and the revolution in the Philippines CSFR NYC announces campaign against the NYPD Strategic Response Group A message from Rasmea Odeh Look back with anger: The 2010 FBI raids on anti-war and international solidarity activists Frank Chapman recaps developments in trial of cop who killed Laquan McDonald October 1000 march in Chicago following guilty verdict in Van Dyke trial UPS contract defeated Trauma and the Black community: A dive into national oppression, violence and trauma in Jacksonville, Florida Students for a Democratic Society grows with 13th national convention FRSO leader condemns Trump’s plan for executive order against birthright citizenship November Black solidarity with the struggle of Central American immigrants and refugees Trump handed setback in midterm elections Teamsters Local 705 outmaneuvers Hoffa, wins improvements International rally against US/NATO military bases held in Dublin Court sides with L.A. cop who murdered Jesse Romero December Tucson protests troops on border at Davis-Monthan Air Force base Chicago People's Thanksgiving rejects Rahm, demands a people's agenda Minnesota Anti-War Committee celebrates 20 years of fighting U.S. imperialism Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members overwhelmingly ratify UNO/Acero tentative agreement Capitalism, not the Grinch, stole Christmas from Wall Street #UnitedStates #Remembrances #FightBackNews #YearInReview div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> St. Paul, MN – There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2018. With so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of the things our movements have accomplished. That makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger.

Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important in this review. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting five of the most popular articles from each month.

There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here — you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 retrospectives).

If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know which ones in the comments!

First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! wrote about who passed away in 2018 and say in their honor: ¡presente!

And here are the exclusive interviews that Fight Back! published in 2018:

Now, here are some of the top Fight Back! articles for each month of 2018.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

#UnitedStates #Remembrances #FightBackNews #YearInReview

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/top-fight-back-articles-2018-deepening-struggle-era-trump Sat, 29 Dec 2018 20:17:37 +0000 Top Fight Back! articles of 2017 https://fightbacknews.org/top-fight-back-articles-2017?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Fighting back against Trump every step of the way There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2017. The pace and intensity of the struggles this year makes it easy to forget some of the things we have accomplished, which makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger. !--more-- Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting five key articles from each month. If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know which one in the comments! First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! honored who passed away in 2017 and say in their honor: ¡presente! On the passing of fighter for justice and people’s lawyer Ted Dooley Lynne Stewart tribute Margaret Sarfehjooy, prominent Minnesota peace activist, remembered Marianne Hamilton presente! Great Chicana revolutionary Yvonne de Los Santos will always be remembered Josephine Wyatt, fighter for African American freedom and socialism remembered People’s Thanksgiving honors memory of Pat Hunt Now, here are 5 important Fight Back! articles for each month of 2017. January Young Black activists tell why they disrupted the Jeff Sessions confirmation hearing 1 million-plus join Women’s March on Washington DC The election of Donald Trump and women’s liberation 25 campuses hold walkouts on Inauguration Day Trump’s election sets up potential new attacks on unions February Thousands join ‘8 Days of Resistance’ to Trump’s executive orders in Chicago The Farce of the Deal: Trump, the TPP and trade Frank Chapman speaks on Black liberation and socialism Record turnout for San Jose Day of Remembrance Trump executive orders on policing are new threat to African Americans and Latinos March UNF students sit in demanding justice, sanctuary campus Progressives clash with Trump supporters at MN state capitol Hundreds join FRSO International Women’s Day march Students shut down University of Utah administration Japanese American and American Muslim solidarity march April Vicious police attack on Jacksonville anti-war protest Chicago: Beloved teacher fired for defending students Lessons from the victory in the cases of Robert Almodovar and William Negron Supporters of Rasmea Odeh in Detroit for plea agreement hearing May Day 2017! Defend immigrant rights and build workers unity! Defeat Trump! May Boyle Heights May Day protest demands end to deportations and police killings Jamar Clark remembered on his 26th birthday The fight for immigrant rights under Trump Resistance marks Trump’s first 100 days Oscar López Rivera, freed Puerto Rican political prisoner, welcomed home to Chicago June Charges dropped: The Jacksonville 5 win The Jacksonville 5 speak out after beating police repression in the Deep South Anti-Muslim bigots forced to flee at MN State Capitol Massive protest underway protesting verdict in case of Philando Castile Charges dropped against Ariel Vences Lopez from arrest on Minneapolis light rail July Unions victorious after year-long battle against Mayo Clinic YPRC organizes ‘Resist and Flourish’ summer school Rasmea Odeh and Arab Women's Committee release book ‘Towards the Sun’ Minneapolis anti-police terror movement shuts down Mayor Hodges press conference Jacksonville activists demand police accountability at city council August Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns white supremacist attack in Charlottesville Farewell rally for Rasmea Odeh, Palestinian icon Arizona immigrant rights leader slams Trumps pardon of ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio Fight Back! interview with Jose Maria Sison on the people’s war in the Philippines Empowering Boyle Heights event marks 47th anniversary of Chicano Moratorium September Jacksonville community rallies for #Justice4Keegan Defend DACA, Hit the streets for DREAMers! Thousands march in Milwaukee for DACA, demand ‘Legalization for all’ Black and Brown unite to demand LA district attorney prosecute killer cops Hugs and tears as Rasmea Odeh deported October Jose Maria Sison: On the significance of the Great October Socialist Revolution Northeastern University dining hall workers win incredible victory The October Revolution and some lessons for the struggle for socialism in the U.S. Students for a Democratic Society holds 12th annual national convention Interview with Mercedes Martínez, President of the Puerto Rican Teachers Federation - "Puerto Rico: The crisis for working class and poor people has intensified" November Interview with Frank Chapman: “We have a spark with Charlottesville” U.S. delegation’s address to World Working Youth Congress in Rome Saudi Arabia's gangster 'Game of Thrones' reflects crisis for imperialism in Middle East Students at UNF oppose racists, KKK and Nazis MeToo Campaign and Beyond: Combating Sexual Violence December Zimbabwe’s leadership change and the enduring legacy of Robert Mugabe UPS imposes 70-hour work week Yemen’s Houthi movement eliminates former president Saleh for ‘treason’ amid Saudi war People’s Thanksgiving 2017 - FRSO speech by Frank Chapman Milwaukee Labor Council confronts white supremacist There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here - you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 retrospectives). #UnitedStates #FightBack #YearInReview div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Fighting back against Trump every step of the way

There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2017. The pace and intensity of the struggles this year makes it easy to forget some of the things we have accomplished, which makes it all the more important to look back and review the lessons from this year’s resistance so we can move forward stronger.

Since there were so many Fight Back! articles covering important struggles this year, there’s no way we can include everything that was important. So we’ll do the best we can by highlighting five key articles from each month.

If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know which one in the comments!

First, we’d like to recognize the people that Fight Back! honored who passed away in 2017 and say in their honor: ¡presente!

Now, here are 5 important Fight Back! articles for each month of 2017.

January

  1. Young Black activists tell why they disrupted the Jeff Sessions confirmation hearing
  2. 1 million-plus join Women’s March on Washington DC
  3. The election of Donald Trump and women’s liberation
  4. 25 campuses hold walkouts on Inauguration Day
  5. Trump’s election sets up potential new attacks on unions

February

  1. Thousands join ‘8 Days of Resistance’ to Trump’s executive orders in Chicago
  2. The Farce of the Deal: Trump, the TPP and trade
  3. Frank Chapman speaks on Black liberation and socialism
  4. Record turnout for San Jose Day of Remembrance
  5. Trump executive orders on policing are new threat to African Americans and Latinos

March

  1. UNF students sit in demanding justice, sanctuary campus
  2. Progressives clash with Trump supporters at MN state capitol
  3. Hundreds join FRSO International Women’s Day march
  4. Students shut down University of Utah administration
  5. Japanese American and American Muslim solidarity march

April

  1. Vicious police attack on Jacksonville anti-war protest
  2. Chicago: Beloved teacher fired for defending students
  3. Lessons from the victory in the cases of Robert Almodovar and William Negron
  4. Supporters of Rasmea Odeh in Detroit for plea agreement hearing
  5. May Day 2017! Defend immigrant rights and build workers unity! Defeat Trump!

May

  1. Boyle Heights May Day protest demands end to deportations and police killings
  2. Jamar Clark remembered on his 26th birthday
  3. The fight for immigrant rights under Trump
  4. Resistance marks Trump’s first 100 days
  5. Oscar López Rivera, freed Puerto Rican political prisoner, welcomed home to Chicago

June

  1. Charges dropped: The Jacksonville 5 win
  2. The Jacksonville 5 speak out after beating police repression in the Deep South
  3. Anti-Muslim bigots forced to flee at MN State Capitol
  4. Massive protest underway protesting verdict in case of Philando Castile
  5. Charges dropped against Ariel Vences Lopez from arrest on Minneapolis light rail

July

  1. Unions victorious after year-long battle against Mayo Clinic
  2. YPRC organizes ‘Resist and Flourish’ summer school
  3. Rasmea Odeh and Arab Women's Committee release book ‘Towards the Sun’
  4. Minneapolis anti-police terror movement shuts down Mayor Hodges press conference
  5. Jacksonville activists demand police accountability at city council

August

  1. Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns white supremacist attack in Charlottesville
  2. Farewell rally for Rasmea Odeh, Palestinian icon
  3. Arizona immigrant rights leader slams Trumps pardon of ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio
  4. Fight Back! interview with Jose Maria Sison on the people’s war in the Philippines
  5. Empowering Boyle Heights event marks 47th anniversary of Chicano Moratorium

September

  1. Jacksonville community rallies for #Justice4Keegan
  2. Defend DACA, Hit the streets for DREAMers!
  3. Thousands march in Milwaukee for DACA, demand ‘Legalization for all’
  4. Black and Brown unite to demand LA district attorney prosecute killer cops
  5. Hugs and tears as Rasmea Odeh deported

October

  1. Jose Maria Sison: On the significance of the Great October Socialist Revolution
  2. Northeastern University dining hall workers win incredible victory
  3. The October Revolution and some lessons for the struggle for socialism in the U.S.
  4. Students for a Democratic Society holds 12th annual national convention
  5. Interview with Mercedes Martínez, President of the Puerto Rican Teachers Federation – “Puerto Rico: The crisis for working class and poor people has intensified”

November

  1. Interview with Frank Chapman: “We have a spark with Charlottesville”
  2. U.S. delegation’s address to World Working Youth Congress in Rome
  3. Saudi Arabia's gangster 'Game of Thrones' reflects crisis for imperialism in Middle East
  4. Students at UNF oppose racists, KKK and Nazis
  5. #MeToo Campaign and Beyond: Combating Sexual Violence

December

  1. Zimbabwe’s leadership change and the enduring legacy of Robert Mugabe
  2. UPS imposes 70-hour work week
  3. Yemen’s Houthi movement eliminates former president Saleh for ‘treason’ amid Saudi war
  4. People’s Thanksgiving 2017 – FRSO speech by Frank Chapman
  5. Milwaukee Labor Council confronts white supremacist

There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here – you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 retrospectives).

#UnitedStates #FightBack #YearInReview

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/top-fight-back-articles-2017 Sun, 31 Dec 2017 00:53:23 +0000 Fight Back! Top 40 of 2015 https://fightbacknews.org/fight-back-2015-top-40?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[As 2015 comes to an end, we pause to look back at the 40 most viewed Fight Back! articles of the past year. Fight Back! published more than 1,000 articles this year. There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here -- you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 retrospectives). !--more-- If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know which one in the comments! But before we get into the Top 40, we’d like to start by recognizing the people that Fight Back! honored who passed away in 2015. ¡Presente! On the passing of Nelson Peery, an outstanding American revolutionary Twin Cities rally and march honors the life of Jesús Estrada-Pérez Activist Sharon Rice Vaughan remembered Hundreds gather to celebrate life of Gabriel Johnson-Ortiz And without further delay, here are the Fight Back! Top 40 most viewed articles of 2015 01. 3 arrested at protest slamming Israeli war crimes apologist at University of MN by Meredith Aby-Keirstead, November 3, 2015 02. Illinois governor out to destroy unions by Richard Berg, July 30, 2015 03. Police seize private Facebook account info in Black Lives Matter case by staff, February 4, 2015 04. Kohler Company forced back to bargaining table by Kas Schwerdtfeder, December 13, 2015 05. May Day 2015 march and rally set for LA’s Boyle Heights by staff, April 22, 2015 06. Community mourns loss of James Barker to police shooting, demands change by C. R. Manor, January 12, 2015 07. Kohler workers on strike by Kas Schwerdtfeger, November 15, 2015 08. White supremacists shoot 5 at Minneapolis justice for Jamar Clark protest by staff, November 24, 2015 09. Twin Cities rally and march honors the life of Jesús Estrada-Pérez by staff, August 14, 2015 10. Michigan truck drivers, warehouse workers rally for union at Sysco by Tom Burke, April 30, 2015 11. Celebrate International Women’s Day 2015: Build the fight for justice, equality and liberation editorial by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, March 3, 2015 12. White supremacist terror attack in Charleston and the need to shatter the chains of oppression, editorial by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, June 20, 2015 13. Jacksonville sheriff's office shoots another unarmed Black man, community plans rally by Fernando Figueroa and Dave Schneider, March 29, 2015 14. Corrupt College of DuPage president forced out by staff, March 10, 2015 15. Houston protest against prison labor at Whole Foods by Fabian Van Onzin and Adam Gann, September 26, 2015 16. University of MN students start sit-in with demands targeting institutionalized oppression by Brad Sigal, February 9, 2015 17. Commentary on the presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders by Fight Back! Editors, July 20, 2015 18. UPS, ALEC behind anti-worker laws like Right to Work: Teamster workers demand UPS withdraw from ALEC by Dave Schneider and Richard Blake, July 11, 2015 19. Anti-immigrant judge blocks expansion of Deferred Action by Masao Suzuki, February 21, 2015 20. 100,000 march in Moscow against fascist coup in Ukraine by Joe Iosbaker, February 21, 2015 21. Pilots at UPS authorize strike by staff, October 26, 2015 22. 20 Boyle Heights families fight back against displacement and gentrification by staff, September 13, 2015 23. Scott Walker greeted by protesters in Minnesota by staff, August 19, 2015 24. Family and friends rally, demand justice for Dillon Taylor: Video exposes brutal police killing by C. R. Manor, June 15, 2015 25. Baltimore police use tear gas, fire rubber bullets at protesting high school students by Michael Sampson, April 27, 2015 26. Greek communists blast new austerity memorandum: Statement by Communist Party of Greece (KKE), July 11, 2015 27. Photo Essay: Minneapolis protest blocking I-94 to demand justice for Jamar Clark by Chris Getowicz, November 18, 2015 28. 100 Florida students march against the KKK by Zachary Schultz, April 11, 2015 29. 13 arrested in sit-in at University of MN president's office by Matt Boynton, February 10, 2015 30. Jacksonville community gathers for D'angelo Stallworth, killed by police by Dave Schneider and Richard Blake, May 14, 2015 31. Mad Max: Beyond imperial capitalism Review by Gus Fromke, May 18, 2015 32. Immigrants demand Minnesota drivers licenses on opening day of legislature by Brad Sigal, January 7, 2015 33. Florida student conference takes up revolutionary theory by Fernando Figueroa, August 15, 2015 34. Tim Sylvester to Run for Teamster General President by staff, September 11, 2015 35. Historic visit of the Cuban 5 to El Salvador by staff, July 26, 2015 36. Miami students protest former president of Dominican Republic for ethnic cleansing law by Michael Sampson, October 23, 2015 37. Wisconsin right-wing politicians move to take over Milwaukee Public Schools by Sean Orr, May 20, 2015 38. Beyond armistice: Analysis of the Labor Movmeent by Gus Fromke, October 28, 2015 39. Corrupt Jacksonville police union president pleads guilty in corruption case: Jacksonville police union president was a close ally of State Attorney Angela Corey by staff, January 17, 2015 40. No assistance for long-term unemployed by staff, January 22, 2015 #UnitedStates #FightBack #YearInReview div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> As 2015 comes to an end, we pause to look back at the 40 most viewed Fight Back! articles of the past year. Fight Back! published more than 1,000 articles this year. There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here — you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 retrospectives).

If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know which one in the comments!

But before we get into the Top 40, we’d like to start by recognizing the people that Fight Back! honored who passed away in 2015. ¡Presente!

And without further delay, here are the Fight Back! Top 40 most viewed articles of 2015

  1. 3 arrested at protest slamming Israeli war crimes apologist at University of MN by Meredith Aby-Keirstead, November 3, 2015
  2. Illinois governor out to destroy unions by Richard Berg, July 30, 2015
  3. Police seize private Facebook account info in Black Lives Matter case by staff, February 4, 2015
  4. Kohler Company forced back to bargaining table by Kas Schwerdtfeder, December 13, 2015
  5. May Day 2015 march and rally set for LA’s Boyle Heights by staff, April 22, 2015
  6. Community mourns loss of James Barker to police shooting, demands change by C. R. Manor, January 12, 2015
  7. Kohler workers on strike by Kas Schwerdtfeger, November 15, 2015
  8. White supremacists shoot 5 at Minneapolis justice for Jamar Clark protest by staff, November 24, 2015
  9. Twin Cities rally and march honors the life of Jesús Estrada-Pérez by staff, August 14, 2015
  10. Michigan truck drivers, warehouse workers rally for union at Sysco by Tom Burke, April 30, 2015
  11. Celebrate International Women’s Day 2015: Build the fight for justice, equality and liberation editorial by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, March 3, 2015
  12. White supremacist terror attack in Charleston and the need to shatter the chains of oppression, editorial by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, June 20, 2015
  13. Jacksonville sheriff's office shoots another unarmed Black man, community plans rally by Fernando Figueroa and Dave Schneider, March 29, 2015
  14. Corrupt College of DuPage president forced out by staff, March 10, 2015
  15. Houston protest against prison labor at Whole Foods by Fabian Van Onzin and Adam Gann, September 26, 2015
  16. University of MN students start sit-in with demands targeting institutionalized oppression by Brad Sigal, February 9, 2015
  17. Commentary on the presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders by Fight Back! Editors, July 20, 2015
  18. UPS, ALEC behind anti-worker laws like Right to Work: Teamster workers demand UPS withdraw from ALEC by Dave Schneider and Richard Blake, July 11, 2015
  19. Anti-immigrant judge blocks expansion of Deferred Action by Masao Suzuki, February 21, 2015
  20. 100,000 march in Moscow against fascist coup in Ukraine by Joe Iosbaker, February 21, 2015
  21. Pilots at UPS authorize strike by staff, October 26, 2015
  22. 20 Boyle Heights families fight back against displacement and gentrification by staff, September 13, 2015
  23. Scott Walker greeted by protesters in Minnesota by staff, August 19, 2015
  24. Family and friends rally, demand justice for Dillon Taylor: Video exposes brutal police killing by C. R. Manor, June 15, 2015
  25. Baltimore police use tear gas, fire rubber bullets at protesting high school students by Michael Sampson, April 27, 2015
  26. Greek communists blast new austerity memorandum: Statement by Communist Party of Greece (KKE), July 11, 2015
  27. Photo Essay: Minneapolis protest blocking I-94 to demand justice for Jamar Clark by Chris Getowicz, November 18, 2015
  28. 100 Florida students march against the KKK by Zachary Schultz, April 11, 2015
  29. 13 arrested in sit-in at University of MN president's office by Matt Boynton, February 10, 2015
  30. Jacksonville community gathers for D'angelo Stallworth, killed by police by Dave Schneider and Richard Blake, May 14, 2015
  31. Mad Max: Beyond imperial capitalism Review by Gus Fromke, May 18, 2015
  32. Immigrants demand Minnesota drivers licenses on opening day of legislature by Brad Sigal, January 7, 2015
  33. Florida student conference takes up revolutionary theory by Fernando Figueroa, August 15, 2015
  34. Tim Sylvester to Run for Teamster General President by staff, September 11, 2015
  35. Historic visit of the Cuban 5 to El Salvador by staff, July 26, 2015
  36. Miami students protest former president of Dominican Republic for ethnic cleansing law by Michael Sampson, October 23, 2015
  37. Wisconsin right-wing politicians move to take over Milwaukee Public Schools by Sean Orr, May 20, 2015
  38. Beyond armistice: Analysis of the Labor Movmeent by Gus Fromke, October 28, 2015
  39. Corrupt Jacksonville police union president pleads guilty in corruption case: Jacksonville police union president was a close ally of State Attorney Angela Corey by staff, January 17, 2015
  40. No assistance for long-term unemployed by staff, January 22, 2015

#UnitedStates #FightBack #YearInReview

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/fight-back-2015-top-40 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 04:33:05 +0000 Looking back at the key struggles of 2014 https://fightbacknews.org/looking-back-key-struggles-2014?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Minneapolis, MN - As 2014 comes to an end, we pause to look back at some of the most important Fight Back! stories of the past year. 2014 has seen an upsurge in many struggles - and Fight Back! has been there on the front lines with on-the-spot reporting and timely analysis. !--more-- There were many excellent Fight Back! stories this year that aren’t listed here -- you can see them all at thearchive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 retrospectives). If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know in the comments! Rasmea Odeh This year Fight Back! gave extensive coverage to the important struggle to stop political repression against Palestinian-American leader Rasmea Odeh. Here is a list of the coverage. The struggle to keep Rasmea Odeh free continues - find out what you can do at stopfbi.net. Stop racist police brutality! #EricGarner #MichaelBrown As the movement against racist police killings took off this year, Fight Back! reported from the front lines with extensive coverage on the movements for justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Fight Back! had several eyewitness accounts from protests that rocked Ferguson, MO (more here, here, here, here, here, and here). This movement reverberated around the whole country and even internationally, with connections being made to struggles around the world including in Palestine. We covered dozens of protests sparked by the police killings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown from Utah to Florida to Milwaukee. This year activists in Jacksonville, Florida won a victory in the struggle for justice for Jordan Davis. Fight Back! also covered Milwaukee protests demanding Justice for Corey Stingley, as well as protests from Nashville to New Jersey. In addition to front line coverage, Fight Back! also provided political analysis, arguing that police and vigilante murders of African Americans are rooted in national oppression, and demanding justice for Michael Brown and for Jordan Davis. Economy Fight Back! covered the ongoing struggle to restore Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) for the millions of unemployed. The bill was bottled up in the U.S. Congress. While unemployment compensation was not forthcoming, the welfare rights movement continued to mobilize in Minnesota and other states. This year Fight Back! analyzed how even though the economy was growing, working people didn’t benefit and income inequality continued to rise while l abor force participation rate continued to decline. And like usual, government austerity was good for profits, but bad for workers and oppressed people. Labor movement In 2014 Fight Back! continued in-depth coverage of workers’ struggles at UPS. In April Fight Back! analyzed how Teamster leadership hammers through UPS contract despite mass opposition by members. We covered how young UPS workers are fighting back, as well as sharp struggles in New York where UPS workers went out on strike to protest an unjust firing, then in retaliation UPS discharged 249 of the NYC strikers until Teamsters Local 804 and other workers around the country forced UPS to rehire the drivers. In Florida, a rank-and-file Teamster's grievance stops illegal UPS low-wage golf cart delivery. Fight Back! gave in-depth analysis of howUPS and FedEx are owned by most of the same monopoly banks. In February protests targeted Staples union busting against postal workers . Nationally, the Supreme Court case Harris v. Quinn was a wake up call for labor. Fight Back! also analyzed an auto parts strike that achieved a major victory - no more two-tier wages at Lear Corporation, and published lessons from the UAW’s defeat at Volkswagen. Fight Back! covered this year’s Labor Notes Conference as well as this summer’s AFSCME International Convention. This summer there was also a major commemoration in the Twin Cities as labor activists marked the 80th anniversary of the historic 1934 Minneapolis truckers strike. In Florida, Immokalee workers demanded higher wages from Publix. In Minnesota, St Paul teachers and supporters protested the school board as part of a militant contract campaign that almost ended in a strike and won victories for teachers. Oppressed nationalities In Jacksonville Florida, the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition led struggles to successfully change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School, led protests outside the trial of Michael Dunn, the racist vigilante who murdered 17-year-old African-American youth Jordan Davis, and campaigned to demand the resignation of State Attorney Angela Corey after the verdict. In San Jose, 34th annual Day of Remembrance was commemorated. In Milwaukee, bridges were built as Black and Brown solidarity rally condemned both deportations and police brutality in Milwaukee. In Tennessee, protesters rallied against Nazis. In North Carolina there was a huge turnout for the Historic Thousands on Jones Street march, while the Moral Monday movement spread to Florida. Also in Florida, the Dream Defenders confronted lawmakers, Governor Scott, at the opening of the legislative session. The Chicano struggle continued this year, from the 44th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, to commemorating the 1968 high school walkouts to the ongoing struggle for ethnic studies in California. In December, veteran Chicano movement leader Carlos Montes announced his intention to run for Los Angeles City Council. Texas’s execution of Mexican national Edgar Tamayo on Jan. 22 sparked worldwide outrage. Fight Back! took on racist misconceptions and stereotypes while explaining the real significance of Cinco de Mayo. Indigenous struggles made gains this year as cities such as Minneapolis changed Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day, and the movement against racist sports mascots grew as thousands said “We’re not mascots”. Immigrant rights The immigrant rights movement won a major victory (though partial and temporary) when President Obama was forced to defer deportation for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants via executive action. Fight Back! covered the movement demanding executive action all year. The Legalization for All Network analyzed Obama’s executive action and the ongoing struggle to win legalization and full equality for all. This victory was won through mass movements taking bold action such as when Milwaukee community members disrupted Obama, and when Milwaukee activists shut down ICE. In addition to this national victory, there were several local victories against deportations this year, including in Tampa and Minneapolis, as well as a statewide victory for tuition equity for undocumented students in Florida. When thousands of Central American children fleeing poverty and violence and arrived at the U.S.-Mexican border this summer, Fight Back! provided anti-imperialist analysis of the Central American refugee children: Victims of U.S. intervention in Central America, and also covered protests like one in Minneapolis and one in Tampa demanding that these children not be deported. Student movement There were many exciting actions in the student movement in 2014. Fight Back! covered the Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s Student Commission meeting and plans for 2014. Florida students won a statewide victory Tuition Equity for undocumented students, while students in Tallahassee organized to prevent FAMU-FSU College of Engineering split. Also in Florida, the Dream Defenders confronted lawmakers, Governor Scott, at the opening of the legislative session. In California, the ethnic studies fight deepened as the fight for Black, Chicano Studies built at CSULA. In Minnesota, SDS organized a large protest to confront Bush Administration war criminal Condoleezza Rice, while FSU students disrupted FBI recruitment and Milwaukee students disrupted CIA recruitment. Anti-war/international solidarity movement The anti-war movement was active in 2014. In January a South Florida rally demanded the closing of Guantanamo now. In Chicago the Anti-War Committee campaigned against Boeing’s killer drones, including running an anti-war activist for a spot on Boeing’s board of directors, and Minnesota activists also confronted a major drones advocate. Arizona protests targeted joint U.S./Colombia military exercises. Protests around the country protested ongoing U.S. war in Iraq and Syria. When the mass media went into overdrive to promote U.S. intervention in Nigeria in response to the kidnapping of more than 200 girls, Fight Back! published a mother’s anti-war editorial on #BringBackOurGirls. Palestine In 2014 Fight Back! covered the ongoing Palestine solidarity movement, including a huge march for Palestine in Washington DC, the campaign targeting Boeing Company for their role in killing Palestinians, and massive protests around the country protesting Israel’s assault on Gaza. In October, Hatem Abudayyeh analyzed the lessons of Gaza, and the tasks of the U.S. solidarity movement. Political repression There were several victories against political repression this year, such as when the Cubans 5 won freedom, when Sami Al-Arian was freed at last, and when Lynne Stewart was freed. Fight Back! also continued to cover the case of the Anti-war 23, noting the fourth anniversary of the September 2010 FBI raids on anti-war & international solidarity activists, and covering the unsealing of documents used for the 2010 raids on anti-war activists. Fight Back! also covered the Osmakac trial and a panel featuring Lynne Stewart and CeCe McDonald. Ukraine This year Fight Back! covered the U.S./NATO intervention in Ukraine and the anti-war movement as well as resistance movement in Ukraine. The anti-war movement said no to U.S. intervention in the Ukraine, as Western-backed Ukrainian fascists burned trade union building in Odessa and Ukraine’s phony elections made a billionaire the new president. Fight Back! analyzed the Crimea reunion with Russia, and how the resistance in Donbas challenges U.S. backed Ukrainian fascists. In December Fight Back! published an exclusive interview with a Donbass resistance fighter. In covering the anti-war movement from Newark to Tucson, Fight Back! also covered the controversy that erupted at a protest at the Chicago Ukrainian Consulate in March with the International Socialist Organization (ISO). Syria As U.S. intervention sharpened in Syria, Fight Back! provided coverage of anti-war protests, and provided eyewitness reporting from the Syrian elections in June and then follow up reporting afterward. Fight Back! also gave analysis of U.S. imperialist goals in Syria: U.S. trying to oust Assad by any means possible, aims for compliant Syria. Mexico As the U.S.-backed Mexican government’s repression and impunity deepened the political crisis in México this year, self-defense movements sprouted up in parts of the country. In late 2014, 43 Mexican student activists were disappeared from the rural teachers college in Ayotzinapa, sparking a massive movement that has rocked México. Fight Back! demanded justice for the Ayotzinapa Teacher College students and covered protests in the U.S. calling for justice for the 43 missing Mexican students. Presente! Several important people in our movements passed away in 2014, including Leslie Feinberg, Yuri Kochiyama, Jackson, Mississippi Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, long-time rank-and-file Teamster leader Peter Camarata, Amiri Baraka, and people’s songster Pete Seeger. Fight Back! also covered the passing this year of Israeli war criminal Ariel Sharon. Culture Fight Back! reviewed the new movie Cesar Chavez as well as the movie Stalingrad. A review of House of Cards analyzed how the Netflix series exposes the dictatorship of the 1%. Socialism In December Fight Back!published a report on Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s 7th Congress and Main Political Report. In February Fight Back!reported on the FRSO Student Commission meeting and plans to build the student movement in 2014. As the Ebola crisis quickly spread out of control, Fight Back!covered socialist Cuba’s leading role in the international fight against Ebola. This is a result of socialist Cuba’s world-class medical system, which boasts an infant mortality rate lower than the U.S. Celebrating International Women’s Day and May Day Freedom Road Socialist Organization explained the reasons to Celebrate International Women’s Day 2014. Fight Back! covered International Women’s Day events from Gainesville to Chicago to Utah to Miami. Fight Back! also extensively covered International Workers Day (May Day) again this year, including analysis from FRSO, coverage of immigrant rights and workers rights protests and events from Jacksonville to Gainesville to Utah to Milwaukee to Los Angeles to Minnesota to Tucson to San José. #UnitedStates #YearInReview div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Minneapolis, MN – As 2014 comes to an end, we pause to look back at some of the most important Fight Back! stories of the past year. 2014 has seen an upsurge in many struggles – and Fight Back! has been there on the front lines with on-the-spot reporting and timely analysis.

There were many excellent Fight Back! stories this year that aren’t listed here — you can see them all at thearchive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 retrospectives).

If there were other Fight Back! articles you liked this year that aren’t listed here, let us know in the comments!

Rasmea Odeh

This year Fight Back! gave extensive coverage to the important struggle to stop political repression against Palestinian-American leader Rasmea Odeh. Here is a list of the coverage. The struggle to keep Rasmea Odeh free continues – find out what you can do at stopfbi.net.

Stop racist police brutality! #EricGarner #MichaelBrown

As the movement against racist police killings took off this year, Fight Back! reported from the front lines with extensive coverage on the movements for justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

Fight Back! had several eyewitness accounts from protests that rocked Ferguson, MO (more here, here, here, here, here, and here).

This movement reverberated around the whole country and even internationally, with connections being made to struggles around the world including in Palestine. We covered dozens of protests sparked by the police killings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown from Utah to Florida to Milwaukee.

This year activists in Jacksonville, Florida won a victory in the struggle for justice for Jordan Davis. Fight Back! also covered Milwaukee protests demanding Justice for Corey Stingley, as well as protests from Nashville to New Jersey.

In addition to front line coverage, Fight Back! also provided political analysis, arguing that police and vigilante murders of African Americans are rooted in national oppression, and demanding justice for Michael Brown and for Jordan Davis.

Economy

Fight Back! covered the ongoing struggle to restore Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) for the millions of unemployed. The bill was bottled up in the U.S. Congress. While unemployment compensation was not forthcoming, the welfare rights movement continued to mobilize in Minnesota and other states.

This year Fight Back! analyzed how even though the economy was growing, working people didn’t benefit and income inequality continued to rise while l abor force participation rate continued to decline.

And like usual, government austerity was good for profits, but bad for workers and oppressed people.

Labor movement

In 2014 Fight Back! continued in-depth coverage of workers’ struggles at UPS. In April Fight Back! analyzed how Teamster leadership hammers through UPS contract despite mass opposition by members. We covered how young UPS workers are fighting back, as well as sharp struggles in New York where UPS workers went out on strike to protest an unjust firing, then in retaliation UPS discharged 249 of the NYC strikers until Teamsters Local 804 and other workers around the country forced UPS to rehire the drivers. In Florida, a rank-and-file Teamster's grievance stops illegal UPS low-wage golf cart delivery.

Fight Back! gave in-depth analysis of howUPS and FedEx are owned by most of the same monopoly banks.

In February protests targeted Staples union busting against postal workers .

Nationally, the Supreme Court case Harris v. Quinn was a wake up call for labor. Fight Back! also analyzed an auto parts strike that achieved a major victory – no more two-tier wages at Lear Corporation, and published lessons from the UAW’s defeat at Volkswagen.

Fight Back! covered this year’s Labor Notes Conference as well as this summer’s AFSCME International Convention. This summer there was also a major commemoration in the Twin Cities as labor activists marked the 80th anniversary of the historic 1934 Minneapolis truckers strike.

In Florida, Immokalee workers demanded higher wages from Publix. In Minnesota, St Paul teachers and supporters protested the school board as part of a militant contract campaign that almost ended in a strike and won victories for teachers.

Oppressed nationalities

In Jacksonville Florida, the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition led struggles to successfully change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School, led protests outside the trial of Michael Dunn, the racist vigilante who murdered 17-year-old African-American youth Jordan Davis, and campaigned to demand the resignation of State Attorney Angela Corey after the verdict.

In San Jose, 34th annual Day of Remembrance was commemorated. In Milwaukee, bridges were built as Black and Brown solidarity rally condemned both deportations and police brutality in Milwaukee. In Tennessee, protesters rallied against Nazis.

In North Carolina there was a huge turnout for the Historic Thousands on Jones Street march, while the Moral Monday movement spread to Florida. Also in Florida, the Dream Defenders confronted lawmakers, Governor Scott, at the opening of the legislative session.

The Chicano struggle continued this year, from the 44th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, to commemorating the 1968 high school walkouts to the ongoing struggle for ethnic studies in California. In December, veteran Chicano movement leader Carlos Montes announced his intention to run for Los Angeles City Council.

Texas’s execution of Mexican national Edgar Tamayo on Jan. 22 sparked worldwide outrage.

Fight Back! took on racist misconceptions and stereotypes while explaining the real significance of Cinco de Mayo.

Indigenous struggles made gains this year as cities such as Minneapolis changed Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day, and the movement against racist sports mascots grew as thousands said “We’re not mascots”.

Immigrant rights

The immigrant rights movement won a major victory (though partial and temporary) when President Obama was forced to defer deportation for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants via executive action. Fight Back! covered the movement demanding executive action all year. The Legalization for All Network analyzed Obama’s executive action and the ongoing struggle to win legalization and full equality for all.

This victory was won through mass movements taking bold action such as when Milwaukee community members disrupted Obama, and when