Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Immigrant Rights

By Brad Sigal

No More Deportations protest in State Capitol

St. Paul, MN – On May 20, protesters from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc) and the No More Deportations campaign marched through the State Capitol chanting “‘Secure Communities’ divides families – no more deportations!” and “Immigrant workers are under attack – what do we do? Stand up fight back!” At the same time, several other progressive groups also protested noisily inside the capitol as the end of the session looms with unprecedented cuts and attacks on every front.

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By Eric Gardner

Carlos Montes at rally following FBI / LA sheriff raid on his home.

Los Angeles, CA – On May 20, a lively crowd of over 100 supporters gathered in front of the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles to denounce the recent home invasion and arrest of Carlos Montes. Montes is a veteran Chicano activist and member of the Los Angeles Committee to Stop FBI Repression. The crowd represented a diverse range of local activist groups and movements – including LAUSD teachers and parent activists, members of the immigrant rights movement, anti-cutback activists from the University of California, organizers against police brutality and representatives from international solidarity movements.

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By Kosta Harlan

Over 80 people attended the Atlanta people's assembly, "Law as a weapon of war"

Atlanta, GA – Over eighty people from across the South gathered at the Auburn Research Library in downtown Atlanta on May 14 for the people’s assembly, [“Law as a Weapon of War”](http://www.stopfbi.net/events/5-14-11/law-weapon-war-peoples-assembly-confront-preemptive-prosecution-war-terror-war-drugs-).

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By staff

May Day march for immigrant rights

Chicago, IL – Rallies and marches marked the celebration of International Workers Day in Chicago, starting at noon with a protest called by Jobs With Justice at a Walmart store in the suburb of Forest Park. Over 100 trade unionists gathered to expose the ongoing exploitation by Walmart of its workers and those in its supply chain around the world. The crowd cheered especially hard for Robert Hines from the Warehouse Workers for Justice when he spoke passionately about the struggle of his co-workers for dignity and respect. Warehouse Workers for Justice was founded by the United Electrical Workers (UE) after the successful plant occupation at Republic Windows and Doors in December, 2008.

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By staff

Marching In Dallas May 1

Dallas, TX – About 80 activists, union members and socialists came together to celebrate May Day with a call for respect for the rights of workers and immigrants.

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By staff

May 1 march from Cathedral to State Capitol

St. Paul, MN – More than 500 people braved frigid temperatures and gusty winds to march from the Cathedral to the Minnesota State Capitol for International Workers Day. The marchers united around demands to stop to the attacks on immigrants, workers and unions that are coming from the State Legislature.

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By staff

Freedom Road Socialist Organization banner at Milwaukee march

Milwaukee, WI – Tens of thousands marched here, May 1, in the Wisconsin Solidarity March for Immigrant and Worker Rights. Sponsored by Voces de la Frontera, the march wove through Milwaukee's south side up through downtown. Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO, spoke at the rally, urging the immigrant rights and labor movements to unite to fight a common enemy, one that's brought an immense attack on public sector unions and is also attacking immigrants.

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By staff

Chicago, IL – In building for May Day 2011 events, Tom Burke with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) says, “Anti-war and international solidarity activists are joining events across the country celebrating International Workers’ Day. We are gathering signatures to the ‘Pledge To Resist,’ supporting activists who face government repression today. We plan to reach hundreds, maybe thousands of people this weekend and ask them to take a stand against political repression.”

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By Carlos Montes

_Demand Legalization, End to Police, ICE Repression _

Immigrants rights protest in LA.

Los Angeles, CA – Hundreds of groups will be marching here, May 1 to continue the fight for full legalization for all and to stop the ICE and police repression against immigrants – especially Mexicans and Central Americans.

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By Chance Zombor

Milwaukee, WI – On May 1, tens of thousands of people will converge here to march for immigrants’ and workers’ rights. Demonstrators will say “no” to an anti-immigrant SB1070 copycat bill [SB1070 is the Arizona law that tells law enforcement to routinely check papers of ‘suspected illegal immigrants’] in Wisconsin and “yes” to in-state tuition for undocumented Wisconsin students. The will stand against attacks on education, healthcare and collective bargaining rights.

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By Brad Sigal

_Immigrant rights movement declares a victory, pushes forward effort to stop deportations _

No More Deportations campaign community outreach

St. Paul, MN – On April 14, immigrant rights activists in Minnesota celebrated a victory as Governor Mark Dayton announced he would not pursue an Executive Order collaborating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on deportations and enforcement programs.

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By Brad Sigal

Minneapolis, MN – On April 7, four Latino and immigrant leaders spoke against political repression on a panel at the University of Minnesota. They spoke out in solidarity with the 23 anti-war activists facing FBI and grand jury repression and told their stories of solidarity in the face of repression.

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By Brad Sigal

_Unions, workers and immigrants will unite for International Workers Day _

Saint Paul, MN May 1st flyer

St. Paul, MN – On May 1 workers, unions and immigrants will march together to the capitol in Saint Paul to demand justice for workers, to defend workers’ freedom to organize and to demand legalization and full equality for immigrant workers. The march will be held on the 125th anniversary of International Workers Day, or May Day.

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By Kosta Harlan

Durham, NC – A little over 24 hours after their initial arrests, the undocumented youth who blocked traffic in a civil disobedience action are declaring a victory after they were released from the Atlanta Corrections Detention Center April 7.

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By Kosta Harlan

Undocumented youth protest in Atlanta, Georgia on April 5

(April 7 update: The detained youth have been released)

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By Valeria Gonzalez

Milwaukee, WI – Over 1,000 community members, students and workers gathered on March 20 for an emergency meeting organized by Voces de la Frontera to discuss a new Arizona SB1070 style-law that will soon be introduced in Wisconsin by Republican Representative Don Pridemore.

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By Gregory Lucero

Utah protest for immigrant rights

Salt Lake City, UT – More than 1000 people gathered here, March 5 to fight for immigrant rights. United for Social Justice called for the rally and protest march in response to the many repressive bills attacking immigrants that have been proposed by Utah lawmakers.

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By Brad Sigal

Cleaning workers protest firing of organizer inside Cub Foods store

Minneapolis, MN – On March 2, Mario Colloly Torres was fired from his retail cleaning job at Cub Foods. Torres is a leader in the campaign for justice for retail cleaning workers. The campaign is organized by the Center for Workers United in Struggle or Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL) in Spanish. CTUL is organizing low paid, mostly immigrant workers at major retail stores such as Cub, Lunds & Byerly's, Target, and Supervalu to fight for better wages, working conditions, and the right to organize.

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By Kosta Harlan

Demand Education Rights for Immigrant Youth

Vigil in Raleigh for immigrant rights.

Raleigh, NC – Over 80 people gathered here, Feb. 1, outside the North Carolina General Assembly to voice strong opposition to HB11. Undocumented students are already faced with the burden of paying out-of-state tuition. This bill, proposed by Rep. George Cleveland, would go further in barring undocumented students from having access to any community colleges and universities in the state. Because of North Carolina's new Republican-majority legislature, the bill is likely to pass.

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By Gregory Lucero

Immigrant rights protest, Utah State Capitol, January 24, 2011

Salt Lake City, UT – The United for Social Justice Coalition rallied at the State Capitol building here, on the evening of Jan. 24. Immigrant rights activists are fighting back against proposed bills that will further criminalize undocumented immigrants. 250 people braved the cold weather to show their support for the undocumented immigrants on the first day of the Utah legislative session. The crowd chanted slogans such as, “No human is illegal!” “Fund education not deportation!” and “They say ICE attack, we say fight back!”

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