Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Immigrant Rights

By staff

A flyer for the Chicano Moratorium event in Los Angeles for August 30th, starting at 3pm at Sounds of Music on Whittier Blvd

Los Angeles, CA – On August 30, at 3 p.m., Chicanos, impacted families of police brutality, people raided by ICE and the FBI, along with supporters will in East Los Angeles, for a march, marking the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

The march will begin at Sounds of Music record store, the site of what was once the Silver Dollar; a bar where many including LA Times reporter Ruben Salazar took refuge after LAPD and Los Angeles sheriffs mercilessly beat and attempted to disperse participants in the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium. Salazar was killed by LA sheriffs. The moratorium’s demands were ending the Vietnam occupation and equality for Chicanos.

Tomorrow, a large coalition will be commemorating the 55th anniversary of this event and uplifting current demands such as stand with Palestine, ICE out of LA, Chicano self-determination, community control of police, and defend public education.

The coalition is made up of Centro CSO, Union del Barrio, Black Lives Matter: Los Angeles, Jewish Voice for Peace, About Face LA, UTLA, Teamsters, SEIU, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and United Families for Justice, which consists of police killing impacted families of Jeremy Flores, Francisco Núñez and Hugo Cachua.

“I believe it is important to commemorate the 55th Chicano Moratorium, because we once again find ourselves, as a people, in a crucial moment, where staying silent is complicity,” says Centro CSO member and security lead Derek Mejia, “People should be out in the streets on Saturday August 30, standing up against the ICE raids and with Palestine! It is important that we continue and maintain the long history of the Chicano struggle.”

The 55th commemoration will begin at 3 p.m. at the Sounds of Music record store, where attendees will begin marching, and ending at Salazar Park for a rally and entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. That part of the event will take place at the Whittier Boulevard/Alma Avenue side of the park. The family-friendly event will have free food, water and entertainment.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Chicano #ChicanoMoratorium #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #CentroCSO #UniondelBarrio #BlackLivesMatter #JVP #AboutFace #SEIU #Teamsters #UTLA

By staff

The city council room is packed with supporters all wearing red in demonstration of their support for a sanctuary city separation ordinance in Decorah, Iowa.

Decorah, IA – On Monday night, August 4, the Decorah City Council chambers was packed as residents demanded the city move forward with a proposed “separation ordinance” to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The ordinance, drafted by immigrant rights advocates, would restrict the city from engaging in unnecessary collaboration with ICE. Supporters say it would help protect immigrant communities from harassment, racial profiling and federal overreach.

During public comments, speaker after speaker called on the council to take the first step by placing the proposal on an upcoming agenda for official discussion.

“I’m proud to be one of the many Decorah residents asking you to put the separation ordinance on a future agenda and commit to talking openly and officially,” stated immigrant rights organizer Joshua Ratel-Khan. “This issue deserves daylight. Our city will not be a tool of federal repression. We won’t hand over our time, our labor, our data, or our public dollars to help ICE terrorize our neighbors.”

Community members spoke about the fear spreading among immigrants due to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric and state and federal policies. They outlined the ordinance’s three main goals: reduce unnecessary cooperation with ICE, limit harmful data collection, and establish oversight and transparency.

Several pointed out that similar laws exist in over 200 cities and counties across the U.S., proving such policies are both legal and effective. Others stressed that the draft ordinance is a starting point, not a final product, and could be adapted to meet Decorah’s needs.

While a small number of speakers questioned the legality of certain provisions, they still affirmed their support for immigrants and opposition to discrimination.

Mayor Lorraine Borowski cut off public comment before all speakers could be heard, prompting Ratel-Khan to push for more time so residents’ perspectives could be fully aired. Borowski said there would likely be more opportunities for input in the future.

Because the ordinance was not listed on the August 4 meeting agenda, council members were barred from formal discussion. Still, some thanked residents for speaking out and encouraged continued engagement.

Whether the separation ordinance will be scheduled for future debate remains uncertain, but supporters made it clear they are organized and determined to keep fighting until the city takes action to protect immigrant communities.

#DecorahIA #IA #ImmigrantRights #DCIR #SanctuaryCity #SeparationOrdinance

By Samuel Keiser

Tacoma rally demands freedom for Zahid Chaudhry.

Tacoma, WA – On August 24, standing in intense heat, over 200 supporters rallied outside of Tacoma’s Northwest Detention Center in response to the detainment of Zahid Chaudhry.

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By Elizaveta Vlasov

Protest against "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades.

Miami, FL – The Miccosukee Tribe and Friends of the Everglades won their lawsuit to shut down the detention camp known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” as ruled by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams on Thursday, August 21. The lawsuit was filed on June 27, and Judge Williams ordered a temporary stop to the construction on the site two weeks ago. Now, the state has 60 days to move the detainees and dismantle what’s been constructed so far.

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By staff

Jacksonville, FL – On the first day of their fall semester, August 18, students from the University of North Florida held a banner over the campus’s central courtyard demanding a sanctuary campus. The banner raised three demands: an end to collaboration between the UNF Police Department and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), divestment from Israel, and protections for endangered courses and programs.

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By staff

Manifestantes contra ICE en Orlando, Florida

Orlando, FL – El 2 de agosto, alrededor de 30 miembros de la comunidad realizaron una manifestación de emergencia en las cámaras de la Comisión del Condado Orange para exigir que el condado vote en contra de ratificar una actualización al acuerdo de su contrato con el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE. UU., o ICE (por sus siglas en inglés). La actualización del acuerdo representa otro ataque contra los inmigrantes en el condado.

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By Sophie Breen

 A group of people wearing red shirts holding a press conference.

Minneapolis On Tuesday, August 5, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and other community groups held a press conference to announce their new campaign for “ICE Out of Minneapolis: Sanctuary for Real!”

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By staff

A group of protesters holding signs.

Orlando, FL – On August 2, around 30 community members held an emergency rally at the Orange County Commission chambers to demand the county vote against ratifying an updated agreement to its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The updated agreement represents another attack on immigrants in the county.

The mobilization was called for by Orlando Against Police Crimes, after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings caved in to threats from Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

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By staff

A woman standing with a sign and a megaphone.

Orlando, FL – On Saturday, August 2, over 200 people gathered outside the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel to protest the Florida Freedom Forum, where the most ultra-conservative Republicans from Florida gathered to reiterate their right-wing agenda.

Protesters carried signs and banners supporting immigrants, denouncing ICE kidnappings in Orlando, and calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza.

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By staff

Alejandro Orellana.

Los Angeles, CA – El 29 de julio, el gobierno federal proclamó que los cargos de conspiración contra el activista Chicano Alejandro Orellana fueron retirados – una victoria para el Centro CSO y todos los luchadores por libertad en el movimiento de derechos de inmigrantes peleando contra la violencia de ICE.

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By staff

An effigy of Trump resembling an orange with a Hitler-style mustache.

Minneapolis, MN – Protesters rallied on Saturday, July 26 in south Minneapolis to protest the creation of the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigrant detention facility. The protest, called by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), was part of the Legalization 4 All’s National Week of Action: 10 Days of Resistance.

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By staff

A man speaking at a microphone with people standing behind him.

Los Angeles, CA – Centro CSO and supporters gathered at Mariachi Plaza, July 30, for a press conference to announce their victory over the Department of Justice, as it dropped the charges on anti-ICE protester Alejandro Orellana.

After seven weeks of nationwide pressure on U.S. Attorney Billal “Bill” Essayli, Alejandro is a free man and can live without government restrictions or reporting to a parole officer.

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By Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad

El 29 de julio, el pueblo logró una gran victoria: ¡los dos cargos federales inventados en contra de Alejandro Orellana, activista de Los Ángeles por los derechos de los inmigrantes, fueron retirados!

La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad aclama a todos los que respondieron al llamado nacional para movilizarse en defensa de Alex y a cada persona que lo apoyó. No sólo nos solidarizamos con Los Ángeles en el levantamiento contra las redadas de ICE, sino que mantuvimos firmeza cuando vinieron por los organizadores. Defender a nuestros activistas y camaradas es un logro extraordinario, y cada participante debe sentirse orgulloso.

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By Mitchell Erikson

A group of protesters holding banners on a pedestrian walkway above a highway.

Appleton WI – On July 26, in a protest against ICE and the Trump administration, simultaneous banner drops took place across northeast Wisconsin, including several locations in Appleton, as well as Green Bay, Neenah, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac.

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By Freedom Road Socialist Organization

On July 29, the people achieved a great victory: the two bogus federal charges on Los Angeles immigrant rights activist Alejandro Orellana were dropped!

The Freedom Road Socialist Organization hails everyone who took up the national call to mobilize for Alex's defense and every one of his supporters. Not only did we stand with Los Angeles in the uprising against ICE raids, but we held our ground when they came for the organizers. Defending our activists and comrades is an outstanding achievement, and everyone who took part should be proud.

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By Montana Hirsch

A group of protesters holding signs and a banner.

Minneapolis, MN – On Tuesday, July 29, at 7 a.m., the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) held a protest outside the employee driveway entrance of the Whipple Federal Building to denounce the kidnapping of immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they leave their scheduled immigration court hearings.

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By staff

A man holding a tote bag standing in front of a mural.

Los Angeles, CA – On July 29, the federal government announced the conspiracy charges against Chicano activist Alejandro Orellana were dropped – a victory for Centro CSO and all freedom fighters in the immigrant rights movement fighting against ICE terror!

On June 12, the FBI, National Guard, and the East LA Sheriff station raided Orellana’s home. They arrested Orellana, destroyed his family home, and locked him up at the Metropolitan Detention Center that has been the site of many anti-deportation protests. The Justice Department charged him with conspiracy to commit civil disorder and aiding and abetting civil disorder, which could have resulted in up to five years in prison for Orellana.

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By staff

A group of protesters holding signs.

Starke, FL – On July 19, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) called for activists across the state to mobilize to Starke, Florida in order to protest the planned construction of a new concentration camp in Camp Blanding. Over 700 gathered across the street from the gates of the base, along the side of State Road 16.

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By Louise Carhart

A group of protesters holding banners on a lawn of green grass.

Addison, IL – Answering a call from the Casa DuPage Worker’s Center (CDWC), a group of more than 40 immigrant rights advocates gathered in the Chicago suburbs, July 26, to support the local immigrant community and to spread know-your-rights information. Organizers from Chicago and CDWC marched in Addison, a working-class suburb where almost half the population is Latino.

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By staff

A group of protesters holding a banner.

Chicago, IL – Immigrant rights groups held a press conference July 22, calling for the shutdown of an ICE facility in the Chicago suburbs and demanding that local officials take action. When they attempted to deliver a letter detailing their demands to Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke O’Neill, they were threatened with arrest.

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