Minneapolis, MN – Today at Noon NAACP head Nekima Levy-Pounds and hundreds of people held a press conference in front of the Minnesota Governors mansion to protest the police murder of Philando Castile on July 6, 2016. The aftermath of the shooting and death of Philando Castile was livestreamed by his partner Diamond Reynolds. Philando Castile had been driving while black when he was pulled over for a broken tail light. When asked by the officer for his license and registration he informed the man that he was a concealed carry permit holder and had a gun on his person. This is in compliance with Minnesota law and the procedures permit holders are instructed to use. The officer opened fire upon hearing that he had a gun, shooting him 3-5 times in the arm. Officers held Ms. Reynolds and her daughter in the car at gunpoint while Philando Castile bled to death in front of them. The livestream broadcast brought people to the scene who protested the murder throughout the night, eventually occupying the street in front of the MN Governors mansion. Philando Castile is remembered as a kind man who gave out extra graham crackers to the kids at J.J Hill school in St. Paul where he was a lunchroom supervisor. He was a 15 year member of Teamsters Local 320. This is at least the second police murder of an African American man this week
Chicago, IL – The crisis in city hall continues in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is desperate to create a new review system to cover up the crimes of the Chicago Police Department. His city council cronies, Carrie Austin and Ariel Reboyras held hearings supposedly for community input. However, they held them with no involvement of any of the forces that have fought for justice for the victims of the Chicago Police Department. The Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression convened a press conference on the first day of hearings, July 6, to expose the sham, and to call for community control of police through an elected, civilian, police accountability council.
Chicago, IL – About 1000 protesters converged on Chicago City Hall, June 22. The Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) was there to demand an elected, civilian police accountability council (CPAC). The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) raised their demand for progressive revenue to fund the public schools, but also supported the demand for community control of the police. The CPAC rally also included Black Lives Matter, the Pilsen Alliance, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), and AnakBayan, the Filipino patriotic youth organization.
Tampa, FL – Twenty Tampa student and community activists gathered for a barbecue on June 19 to celebrate Juneteenth. Hosted by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), attendees discussed topics such as African American history, the Black Lives Matter movement, socialism and African American liberation in the Black Belt South.
Jacksonville, FL – Over 50 community members gathered here, June 11, at 9th and Liberty Street to protest the police killing of Vernell Bing Jr. Bing was killed on May 22 after his car collided with a police cruiser at the end of a car chase initiated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). After the crash, Bing left his vehicle, unarmed, and was shot in the head by Officer Tyler L. Landreville. This comes just over a year after another white JSO officer shot and killed another unarmed African American, D'Angelo Stallworth.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following June 14 statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee.
Over 100 people from all over the Midwest gathered in Detroit to support Rasmea Odeh as she, her attorneys, and the prosecution appeared before Judge Gershwin Drain for a status conference on Monday, June 13, 2016.
Tampa, FL – The Committee to Stop FBI Repression – Tampa (CSFR-Tampa) held a rally attended by 15 activists and community members here, June 13, at the corner of 56th and Fowler Avenue, to stand with Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh.
Detroit, MI – Over 100 supporters of Rasmea Odeh chanted her name in excitement as she emerged from the Federal Court Building in downtown Detroit on June 13. The crowd could see on Odeh’s face that she had good news. Slightly embarrassed by all the attention,she eventually waved for supporters to cross the street and join her for a press conference.
Tampa activists plan to rally here in support of long-time Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh, on Monday, June 13, 5:30 p.m. at 56th and Fowler Avenue. The rally coincides with Odeh’s same-day court appearance in Detroit, Michigan, where she is challenging a trumped-up immigration charge.
New York, NY – 45 activists and community organizers gathered at 19 W 44 th Street, the office of G4S Security Solutions, June 10, to stand in support for Rasmea Odeh, a Palestinian American leader who is facing jail and deportation on a trumped-up immigration charge. G4S provides security services to Israeli prisons, where countless Palestinians prisoners have been held without due process, persecuted and tortured.
San Jose, CA – On June 10, members and supporters of the South Bay Committee Against Political Repression (SBCAPR), passed out flyers and held signs in support of Rasmea Odeh, whose case is being returned to the lower court for a hearing in Detroit on Monday, June 13. The action was in front of the City of San Jose and San Jose State University Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. They joined supporters of the Friday Peace Vigil who hold a regular anti-war protest every Friday at the MLK library.
Minneapolis, MN – From across the Midwest, supporters of longtime Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh are mobilizing for a Detroit rally that will coincide with her June 13 status hearing in federal court. The status hearing will take place in chambers, meaning the public cannot attend. The rally will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse, located at 231 W. Lafayette Boulevard in downtown Detroit.
New York, NY – Supporters of Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh will be rallying here, June 10, 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., at G4S Secure Solutions (19 W 44th St.), to demand justice in her case. Odeh, an icon in the Palestinian community, was convicted on a politically-motivated immigration charge in 2014, and sentenced to 18 months in prison and deportation.
Tallahassee, FL – Tallahassee students rallied in front of the First District Court of Appeals, June 7, to protest Michael Dunn’s appeal hearing. Dunn was convicted of murder in 2014 for the shooting of the unarmed Black teenager Jordan Davis in Jacksonville.
Chicago, IL – Alderman Edward M. Burke has introduced an ordinance to expand Chicago’s hate crime ordinance to include any offense against police officers or firefighters. “It is the goal of this ordinance to give prosecutors and judges every tool to punish those who interfere with, or threaten or physically assault, our public safety personnel,” Alderman Burke said in a June 6 news release.
Minneapolis, MN – Three Somali American youth, Guled Omar, Abdirahman Daud and Mohamed Farah were convicted today, June 3, as the all-white jury came back with guilty verdicts. The sobbing of family members was audible in courtroom, during the 20 minute period where the guilty verdicts were read, and then confirmed by the jury. The convictions were for conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, material support for terrorism and other charges, which could bring life in prison.
Minneapolis, MN – Anger at the police killing of Jamar Clark will fuel more protests, as demands for justice are renewed by the June 2 announcement that there will be no federal charges against the police who killed him last November. U.S. Attorney Andy Luger announced the results of a federal investigation in this case, speaking for 20 minutes at a closed-door press conference at the FBI headquarters in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Minneapolis, MN – The case of the three Somali American young men, Guled Omar, Abdirahman Daud and Mohamad Farah, went to the all-white jury June 1, after final arguments and reading of jury instructions. The youth are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, material support for terrorism and other charges, which could bring life in prison.
Fight Back News Service is circulating following June 1 statement by Frank Chapman, Field Organizer, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).
Chicago, IL – Leaders of the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC, which is organizing a major protest on July 18, the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC), is condemning the City of Cleveland’s May 25 announcement of restrictive regulations and a “parade route” that’s designed to curtail protests at the Republican National Convention.
