Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

In-Justice System

By Fern

Gainesville SDS MC Chrisley Carpio introduced the speakers at Turlington Plaza

Gainesville, FL – Over 200 students, community activists and supporters rallied and marched from the University of Florida campus to the downtown FBI office on March 26, demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Organizers of the rally brought forward two main demands: Arrest George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin and fire the police involved in the case for obstructing justice and covering-up the truth.

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By Freedom Road Socialist Organization

All around the U.S., people are taking action to denounce the racist murder of African American teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. We demand justice!

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By Michael L. Sampson II

Tallahassee, FL – 70 students from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Florida State University (FSU) gathered at FAMU campus to hold a rally and demand justice for Trayvon Martin on March 19. Led by African American student leaders, the students denounced the racist murder of teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. Killer George Zimmerman racially profiled and then murdered the African-American youth vigilante style.

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By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression on repression against Julian Assange.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – On March 8, President Obama signed the Federal Restricted Building and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. This bill has been called the “anti-Occupy bill” and it specifically targets protests at national security events where the Secret Service is in charge.

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By staff

March 10 protest against political repression

Chicago, IL – Over 100 people rallied and marched here March 10 at Daley Plaza. They came to defend civil liberties, demand an end to suppression of dissent and to call for a stop of government attacks on immigrant, Arab, Muslim, Black and Latino communities.

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By staff

Meredith Aby speaks in solidarity with Carlos Montes

Minneapolis, MN – On March 2, protesters gathered at the Minneapolis Federal Building to show their solidarity with veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes as he was in court in Los Angeles. The Minneapolis protesters called the repression against Montes a frame up and demanded that all charges against him be dropped. Montes was in court on March 2 for pre-trial motions, with an upcoming trial looming. He is one of 24 activists being targeted for repression because of their anti-war and international solidarity activism. Montes' life story was featured this week in Los Angeles magazine, detailing his inspiring history of activism since the 1960s and the serious repression he has faced, and continues to face. The Minneapolis protest was organized by the MN Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

#MinneapolisMN #InJusticeSystem #ChicanoLatino #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #CarlosMontes #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #MinnesotaCommitteeToStopFBIRepression

By Masao Suzuki

San José, CA – On Feb. 19, almost 50 people packed the San Jose Peace and Justice Center to hear Carlos Montes speak. The event was sponsored by the South Bay Committee Against Political Repression and co-sponsored by the Peace and Justice Center and by MAÍZ (Movimiento de Accion, Inspirando Servicio – Movement of Action, Inspiring Service).

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By Kosta Harlan

A former prisoner who spent 20 years in jail holds a sign

Durham, NC – Holding signs and shaking noise-makers, about 50 people gathered outside the Durham County Detention Facility on Feb. 20. The protest brought out a diverse group of people, who held banners that read “No more prisons” and “Solidarity with prisoners everywhere.” Others held placards saying, “End prisoners abuse and solitary confinement.” Dozens of people honked their car horns in support as they drove past the demonstration.

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By Kelly O'Brien

Protest against NDAA at Obama campaign headquarters, Feb. 3

Minneapolis, MN – More than 75 people rallied here, Feb. 3, as a part of the National Day of Protest against the provision of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows for indefinite detention without trial. The protest occurred outside the Obama campaign headquarters. President Obama signed this unconstitutional bill into law Dec. 31. According to Anh Pham of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR), “This law allows the government to continue to oppress anyone who doesn’t agree with them.”

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By staff

_Stop FBI and grand jury repression _

Supporters of grand jury resister Jordan Halliday in front of the Federal Court

Minneapolis, MN – Supporters of grand jury resister Jordan Halliday gathered in front of the Federal Courts Building here, Jan 27. On Jan. 10, Jordan began serving out a ten-month prison sentence for refusing to appear before a federal grand jury investigating animal rights activists under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. The protest in Minneapolis was part of a national day of actions to raise awareness about Halliday’s case, the dangers of FBI repression and grand jury injustice. Attending the protest in Minneapolis were Sarah Martin and Jess Sundin, grand jury resisters in the case of 23 international solidarity activists under investigation for supposed material support for terrorism.

#MinneapolisMN #InJusticeSystem #FBI #grandJury #JordanHalliday #greenScare #PoliticalRepression

By staff

_Outrageous court decision – trial looms ahead _

Carlos Montes (on right) before Jan. 24 court appearance.

Los Angeles, CA – “In the interests of justice this case should be dismissed,” said attorney Jorge Gonzales, lawyer for veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes, in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jan. 24. Minutes later, though, Judge Lomeli sided with the prosecution, refusing to dismiss the six trumped up felony charges against Montes, on the grounds of insufficient evidence, setting the stage for a trial later this year. The court room was filled with supporters of Montes who wanted to see the charges dropped.

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By Committee to Stop FBI Repression

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

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By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Jan. 4 statement from the California Teachers Association (CTA) in support of veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes. We urge our readers to continue their efforts to collect statements in support of Montes and the other 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists who have been hit by FBI repression.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – Speaking to *Fight Back!* Jan. 2, Steff Yorek, the political secretary of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, condemned President Obama’s signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (the NDAA), which includes provisions that allow for indefinite military detention without trial.

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By staff

Occupy Minneapolis protest against the NDAA

Washington, DC – President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA), which includes provisions that allow for indefinite military detention without trial, on Dec.31. The timing of signing assured limited coverage by the corporate media.

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By staff

_Stopping execution is a victory, struggle continues to free Mumia _

Former Black Panther and political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal

Philadelphia, PA – After 30 years, political prisoner and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal is no longer on death row. On Dec. 7, 2011, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams announced that he would not seek a new sentencing hearing to try to re-sentence Abu-Jamal to the death penalty. He has now been moved to SCI Mahanoy after spending the last 30 years on Pennsylvania’s death row.

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By staff

Protest demands veto of NDAA.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 50 people jointed a Dec. 23 picket line here, at the Obama campaign headquarters, to demand the President veto the National Defense Authorization act, which contains provisions that allow indefinite detention without trial. The protest was organized by Occupy Minneapolis and local anti-war groups.

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By staff

_McDonald granted furlough to work, denied request to return to college _

Minneapolis, MN – Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald appeared in court, Dec. 20 for a hearing where it was decided that her trial will begin on April 30, 2012, instead of the original start date of Jan. 9. Judge Moreno also ruled that, given the delayed trial date, McDonald will be permitted furlough time to seek employment and, once she finds a job, to go to work. The defense argued that McDonald should be granted furlough time to return to continue her schooling at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, given that she has been a “model citizen” in the months since her release from jail. However, Judge Moreno ruled against this request. The prosecution opposed both work and educational furloughs for McDonald, although they did not cite any specific rationalization for their position.

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By mick

Jess Sundin speaks at December 15 Minneapolis CSFR forum

Minneapolis, MN – Billed as a report back from the first national conference of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR), more than 50 people gathered for here Dec. 15 for an exciting event that featured veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes, a moving message from Noor Elashi and an important speech by anti-war leader Jess Sundin.

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