According to a July 17 report from the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foreign Ministry stated, “There occurred an abnormal case in which the DPRK trading ship Chongchongang was apprehended by the Panamanian investigation authorities on suspicion of “drug transport,” a fiction, before passing through the Panama canal after leaving Havana Port recently. The Panamanian investigation authorities rashly attacked and detained the captain and crewmen of the ship on the plea of “drug investigation” and searched its cargo but did not discover any drug. Yet, they are justifying their violent action, taking issue with other kind of cargo aboard the ship.”
Chicago, IL – Protesters gathered for the fourth week in a row to oppose the U.S. sending arms directly to the Syrian rebels. Organizers included the Anti-War Committee – Chicago, Syrian American Forum, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (Chicago), A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Chicago), and March 19th Coalition. Nancy Wade, Green Party candidate for the Fifth Congressional District spoke at the rally, saying, “The corporate backed politicians in both parties must stop their wars for profit and meet the needs of the people here for jobs, healthcare, housing and schools!”
San Francisco, CA – On Wednesday, July 10, a hundred people rallied downtown here to protest the growing U.S. military intervention in Syria. The rally was called by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), the ANSWER Coalition, along with other anti-war organizations. The rally opened and closed with chants of “money for jobs and education, not for wars and occupation.” Speakers at the rally included representatives from UNAC, ANSWER, World Can’t Wait, Code Pink, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
According to a June 26 report from the New China News Agency (Xinhua), Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told members of the party leadership to, “learn from the past, stressing that the socialist path with Chinese characteristics must be unswervingly followed and the Party must serve the people heart and soul.”
Over the past week the people of Egypt have been in the streets and waging a struggle that has assumed truly extraordinary dimensions. They have met austerity and repression with a mass heroism that people everywhere can learn from. The crowds that filled Cairo’s Tahrir Square and staged huge demonstrations across the country created the conditions for the end of the Morsi regime and pushed forward the national democratic process.
Chicago, IL – Dr. Matar speaks for the Syrian American Forum July 2, as people gathered here, for a third week in a row of protests, to say, “Hands off Syria! No new wars!”
Dearborn, MI – Over 200 Syrian-Americans and their supporters rallied here, June 30. The spirited rally on the steps of Dearborn City Hall was at times serious, other times jubilant, but always defiant.
Fight Back News Service is circulating some quotes from the icon of the South African anti-apartheid movement. The following quotes are from Mandela’s 1990 speech at a Johannesburg rally to re-launch the South African Communist Party.Nelson Mandela: The ANC [African National Congress] is not a Communist Party. But as a defender of democracy, it has fought and will continue to fight for the right of the Communist Party to exist. As a movement for national liberation, the ANC has no mandate to espouse a Marxist ideology. But as a democratic movement, as a Parliament of the people of our country, the ANC has defended and will continue to defend the right of any South African to adhere to the Marxist ideology if that is their wish.
Chicago, IL – Anti-war activists and Syrians again gathered in Federal Plaza here, June 25, to protest U.S. intervention in Syria. According to Kait McIntyre, “The Anti-War Committee of Chicago called a series of protests after President Obama announced he would be sending weapons to the rebels fighting the government of Bashar Assad.”
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution on Cuba that was signed by many of the parties present at the 22nd International Communist Seminar. Freedom Road Socialist Organization was among the signers.Resolution on Solidarity with Cuba
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following article from the British newspaper, Proletarian. The article, published in the beginning of June, contains a wealth of useful information.
Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Palestine Solidarity Coalition rallied outside the Israel Bonds Awards Dinner, June 13, saying “Don't award apartheid!” Inside the high class downtown Pfister Hotel, Israeli government ministers were presenting an award to a Park Bank CEO for his monetary support to the apartheid state of Israel. But while Israel and their 1% supporters met behind the protection of police stationed in the hotel lobby, activists representing at least seven community organizations rolled out their own red carpet.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) on the mass protest movement that is spreading across Turkey.Communist Party of Turkey, Declaration of the Central Committee of the TKP on recent developments
