Tucson, AZ – The National 2016 MEChA conference is being held in the heart of the city of Tucson, Arizona on March 18-20. MEChA stands for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, the Chicano student movement founded in 1969. Thousands are expected to meet for discussions and workshops on a variety of cultural, political and national struggles that affect the Chicano nation and other oppressed nationalities.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following joint statement from communist and workers parties. Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) is among the signers. JOINT STATEMENT OF COMMUNIST AND WORKERS PARTIES

Los Angeles, CA – On the afternoon of March 8, at Boyle Heights Hollenbeck Park, located in the heart of the barrio, activists and community members celebrated International Women’s Day by demanding, ‘Legalize my mom!’ People of all ages were present.

Minneapolis, MN – As Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio made a campaign appearance at the Hyatt hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Feb. 23, immigrant rights activists were there to protest his recent anti-immigrant statements. The protest was organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).

Minneapolis, MN – Around 200 people rallied and marched in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood against Islamopobia, Feb. 20. The protest was organized by a new coalition of some two dozen state organizations calling themselves Minnesotans Against Islamophobia.

Houston, TX – On Feb. 25, the Republican candidates debate will take place at the University of Houston (UH). As part of their Dump Trump campaign, Students for a Democratic Society held a Trump piñata bash on campus, Feb. 19. Students walking by said they were very impressed with the piñata and support the Dump Trump campaign. Some offered to help us hand out leaflets for the protest of the debate.

Madison, WI – More than 15,000 Mexicanos, Chicanos and Latinos, including students, workers, businesses owners and professionals joined a rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, occupying the rotunda. The huge masses of protesters came out in support of “El dia sin Latinos” or “A day without Latinos” to protest two anti-immigrant bills, AB 450 and SB 533. Some schools and businesses were half empty or closed as students walked out, and farms, factories and work places across Wisconsin were noticeably short-handed.

Atlanta, GA – 14 student activists were arrested for occupying classrooms at three different universities in Georgia, the evening of Feb. 1 and early morning Feb. 2. They were part of an action of more than 90 students from more than ten different universities who were protesting the Georgia Supreme Court’s ruling banning undocumented students from suing the Board of Regents to gain in-state tuition. The court ruling effectively upholds the state’s policy that bans undocumented students from Georgia’s top five public colleges and universities.

Los Angeles, CA – In early 2014 there was hope that undocumented parents would be able to be protected against deportation, when President Obama issued an executive order to create Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Deferred Action for Children Arrivals, also known as DAPA/DACA. In 2014, 26 Republican governors, led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, filed a lawsuit in federal court that blocked its implementation. The Obama administration filed a speedy appeal challenging the Republican-led lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in April and issue a ruling in June 2016. Millions of people will be are anxiously watching this ruling. Centro CSO plans to continue fighting for Deferred Action and legalization for all in the East Side of Los Angeles.

Madison, WI – 200 community members organized by the Milwaukee based Voces de la Frontera and Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) traveled to the state capitol in Madison to oppose anti-immigrant legislation on Jan. 20. There are three bills in the assembly currently targeting immigrants: AB-450, AB-533 and LRB-2818.

Minneapolis, MN – Students from at least 12 Minneapolis and suburban high schools walked out of school, Jan. 20. at noon to protest the current wave of immigration raids and deportations happening around the country. After walking out, the students converged at Martin Luther King Park in south Minneapolis for food and an open mic where students spoke about their experience with family members and friends being deported. Students then left the park and marched down major Minneapolis streets including Nicollet Avenue and Lake Street.

Chicago, IL – Palestinian icon Rasmea Odeh; Black youth leaders Veronica Morris-Moore and LaCreshia Birts; Black Liberation Movement veteran Frank Chapman and Eric Koene, a striking worker from the Kohler plant in Wisconsin, appeared together on the stage of the 24th Annual People’s Thanksgiving.

Grand Rapids, MI – Twenty people gathered at a busy West Michigan street corner holding signs that read, “Stop war, not refugees!” and “Refugees are welcome here,” featuring an image of the Statue of Liberty. They gathered in response to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s anti-refugee comments.

Miami, FL – A spirited group of protesters gathered at the Torch of Friendship in Bayfront Park holding a large banner reading, “Refugees welcome here!” The rally was in response to Florida Governor Rick Scott’s proclamation that he would not allow refugees from the Middle East to resettle in Florida.

Tucson, AZ – 50 Tucsonans issued a warm welcome to any future Syrian refugees. The Nov. 19 demonstration came in response to the Islamophobic statement made by Republic Governor Doug Ducey. Ducey basically accused all refugees, specifically those from Syria, as being connected to, if not actual, ‘terrorists.’ Protesters held signs that read: “Shame on Ducey,” and “AZ loves refugees.”

Los Angeles, CA – The Legalization for All Network (L4A) hosted a National Week of Action to demand an end to the jailing of Central American children, also known as ‘family detention.’ Starting on Nov. 2 and ending Nov. 8, protests in cities across the country demanded an “End to Family Detention” and “Not One More Deportation.”

Los Angeles, CA – Braving wind and rain, activists and immigrants stood in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Nov 2. They were there to demand an end to the detention of Central American children who are currently locked up in multiple facilities across the country.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 20 immigrant rights protesters marched into Wells Fargo Bank on Nicollet Avenue and Lake Street on Nov. 7. They held signs inside the bank then presented their demands to a regional bank manager. They demanded that Wells Fargo divest all money from the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group.