Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

In-Justice System

By staff

Six people standing in front of a builiding.

Tampa, FL – On a loud and busy intersection in front of Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse on Friday morning, June 27, members of three groups – Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society – gathered to rally in solidarity with two Los Angeles activists targeted by the FBI for their political beliefs and for standing with their communities. They read statements in in solidarity with Alejandro Orellana and Verita Topete.

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By staff

People standing holding a banner.

New York, NY – Family, friends and community members came together this week for two events to demand justice for Eudes Pierre and celebrate what should have been his 30th birthday.

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By staff

Two protesters hold a banner that says, "Drop the Charges on Alejandro Orellana! Protesting ICE is not a crime!"

Minneapolis, MN – Immigrant rights protesters gathered at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis June 27. This action was part of a National Day of Action called by the Legalization for All Network and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

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By staff

A group of protesters hold signs in front of federal courthouse that say, "Justice for Alejandro Orellana!" and "Drop the Charges!"

Jacksonville, FL – Chants of “Drop the charges!” echoed outside the federal courthouse Thursday, June 27, as dozens of protesters stood in solidarity with Alejandro Orellana, a Los Angeles immigrant rights organizer facing politically-motivated federal charges. The powerful demonstration coincided with Orellana's first scheduled court hearing since his June 12 arrest by FBI agents targeting his activism against ICE raids.

“Drop the charges on Alejandro. Stop the FBI witch hunt,” declared one speaker at the rally. “We just wanna be out here fighting for the same things that other people are fighting for.”

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By staff

 Protesters rally outside New Orleans immigration court as part of a weekly effort to mobilize against ICE. Participants hold up signs reading "Drop the charges on Alejandro Orellana! Protesting ICE is not a crime!"

New Orleans, LA – On June 27 at noon, a crowd rallied against FBI repression in front of the New Orleans Immigration Court. Local activists called the rally in coordination with a National Day of Action for Alejandro Orellana, an immigrant rights activist in East LA. Orellana is facing federal charges for protesting recent ICE raids in Los Angeles.

“El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!” chanted activist Toni Jones. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. If we don’t stand with Alejandro against these bogus charges then who will stand up for us?”

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By David Pulido

Ashley Avellaneda and Ariana Salvador speak to reporters and demand justice for Imanol Gonzalez

Santa Ana, CA – On Friday June 27, about a dozen family members and Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) activists held a press conference inside of the OC Superior Court to demand justice for Imanol Salvador Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was a resident of Santa Ana and only 19 years old when he was killed by off-duty LAPD officer Carlos Coronel on February 1. According to a statement released by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, officer Coronel was driving through the city of Tustin after a night of heavy drinking when he struck Gonzalez with his pickup truck.

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By staff

LA protests the FBI repression directed at  anti-ICE activists.

Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, June 27, community members gathered at Salazar Park at 4 p.m. for a press conference and rally demanding the charges be dropped against Alejandro Orellana and calling for justice for Verita Topete. Both are immigrant rights activists who were raided by the FBI within the last two weeks.

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By staff

Protesters holding signs.

Santa Ana, CA – On June 27, activists and community members waved signs on the corner of Flower Street and Civic Center Drive near the Central Justice Center chanting, “Drop the charges now!” and holding signs reading, “Protesting is not a crime!”

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By staff

Two people standing together.

New Orleans, LA – On Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m., police reform activist Toni Jones and a small crowd of fellow organizers gathered in front of New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court for a press conference.

Jones announced to the media that she and her lawyer are filing an appeal for two charges related to a pro-Palestine protest that occurred over a year before at Tulane University.

“Protesting is not a crime! Free, free, free Palestine!” chanted Jones. “I am not a criminal. I will be appealing this conviction in order to set the record straight: Tulane University is the criminal, Israel is the criminal, the United States government is the criminal.”

Tulane Police initially charged Jones with four misdemeanors. As a result of a prolonged political defense campaign, she was found not guilty of obstructing a public place or resisting arrest. However, she is battling against two convictions of battery and obstructing an investigation.

Solidarity speakers from Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and New Orleans for Community Oversight of the Police (NOCOP) spoke out in defense of Jones against Tulane University’s repression.

“Despite her arrest, she was successful at uplifting the struggle of the Palestinian people and protecting a student activist from police,” said Toni Mar, speaking on behalf of Freedom Road. Mar, an alumnus of Tulane University, also criticized the university administration. Since Tulane police targeted Jones, the administration has attempted – and failed – to repress over a dozen other student protesters.

“Tulane has shown itself to be a repeat violator of First Amendment rights, Tulane has shown itself be shamelessly invested in genocide, and Tulane has willfully bent its knee to Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion,” stated Mar.

At the end of the press conference, Jones indicated that she does not intend to let her conviction stop her from attending future protests. She stated, “We will not rest until Palestine is free. We will do our best to usher forward the liberation of Palestine, and if we are lucky, we may just as well free ourselves in the process.”

Jones’s next court appearance will be August 12 at 9 a.m. Activists will continue to update supporters on future mobilizations via NOCOP’s Instagram page, @n.o.cop.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #NOCOP #AntiWarMovement #Palestine

By staff

A woman speaking into a bullhorn.

Los Angeles, CA – On Thursday, June 26, Verita Topete, an immigrant rights activist with Centro CSO, was ambushed by the FBI while walking her dog at a park. Federal agents aggressively approached her to serve a warrant and force her to give them her phone.

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By staff

Fight Back New Service is circulating the following statement from the Legalization for All (L4A) Network.

The Legalization for All (L4A) Network is calling on all affiliated immigrant rights organizations and supporters to mobilize an action in support of Alejandro Orellana on June 27th, or participate in a national call-in day against U.S. Attorney Bilal “Bill” Essayli.

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By staff

Los Angeles, CA – El viernes, 13 de junio, Alejandro Orellana, un activista de derechos inmigrantes quien fue arrestado por la FBI, fue liberado de custodia federal.

La mañana anterior la FBI, con el apoyo de la guardia nacional y el departamento de sherifes de Los Ángeles, invadieron el hogar de Orellana en el Este de Los Ángeles y arrestaron a Alejandro, un por vida miembro de Centro CSO, con cargos de “conspiración de cometer desorden criminal.”

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By staff

Two men holding protest signs.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

On the morning of June 12, the FBI, accompanied by the National Guard and LA sheriffs, raided the home of Alejandro Orellana for his protesting of ICE raids in Los Angeles. He was arrested, taken into federal custody, then released the next day – after much public pressure and many phone calls to the U.S. Attorney.

Now he faces two bogus federal charges: one for conspiracy to commit civil disorder and another for aiding and abetting civil disorder. He is facing serious prison time.

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By staff

Daniel Koh and John Mark Rozendaal.

New York, NY – On Tuesday, June 24, two activists were summoned to the Kings and New York Criminal Court at 1 Centre Street after their arrest at a protest against the NYPD.

Daniel Koh from the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NYAARPR) and climate justice activist John Mark Rozendaal were targeted for arrest during an action at the New York City Police Foundation Gala. Every year, the wealthiest New Yorkers use the gala to donate millions to the already bloated police department. This year was NYAARPR’s second annual protest.

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By staff

Two men holding protest signs.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

On June 12, 2025, the FBI raided the home of Alejandro “Alex” Orellana in Los Angeles and arrested him on bogus charges. Alex is a leading member of Centro CSO, a Chicano community organization that opposes deportations and defends immigrant rights. He is being charged with “conspiracy to commit civil disorder” because of his participation in protests against ICE in LA. These charges are politically motivated and could carry a sentence of up to 5 years in prison.

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By Kaya Rial and Kobi Guillory

Chicago, IL – 50 people rallied in Washington Square Park on Saturday, June 21, near the two Gold Coast properties of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. They demand that the governor grant executive clemency to the hundreds of proven survivors of police torture and wrongful conviction who are still incarcerated in Illinois.

The action was organized by the Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST), one of the central campaigns of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).

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By Kobi Guillory

A woman speaks into microphones at a press conference surrounded by community members and activists.

Chicago IL – Youth and community organizers packed the main chambers and the overflow room of City Hall on Wednesday morning, June 18 to speak out against the snap curfew ordinance which would allow the police superintendent to call a curfew with a 30-minute notice before enforcement. Any minors outside after the curfew would be taken into custody and their families forced to pick them up from the police station with the possibility of a $500 fine.

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By staff

Two people holding megaphones.

BROOKLYN, NY — On the evening of June 11, over 100 New Yorkers gathered near the New York Police Department 83rd Precinct in Bushwick for a speakout hosted by Boricua – meaning a native of Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent – and community organizations including Juventud Unida por la Independencia (JUPI) and Adolfina NYC.

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By staff

People speaking on a panel. In the audience people have signs.

Santa Ana, CA – On Tuesday, June 17, hundreds of Santaneros packed the first city council meeting since the ICE raids and National Guard presence began. The anger and energy were palpable as residents booed Mayor Valerie Amezcua as she entered the council chambers. They held signs that said, “ICE out of Santa Ana” and “Justice for Noe Rodriguez.”

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By staff

People standing with signs and a megaphone.

Jacksonville, FL – Around 50 community members rallied outside the Duval County Courthouse on Friday, June 20, to demand Justice for Charles Faggart and police accountability. Organized by the family of Charles Faggart along with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee and Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, community members rallied almost two months after Faggart’s death at the hands of nine Jacksonville Sheriff Office’s (JSO) correctional officers.

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