New Orleans, LA – Palestine solidarity activists are urging national participation in a call-in day for a Palestinian-American boy from New Orleans who is being held in an Israeli jail. Eight Israeli soldiers arrested 14-year-old Mohammed Khalek at gunpoint in occupied Palestine early in the morning on April 5, accusing him of rock throwing. During the arrest his braces were broken by the soldiers; afterwards he was shackled for 12 hours. Human Rights Watch, Addameer and other human rights groups have condemned Israel's treatment of Khalek.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following interview that longtime Chicago activist Stansfield Smith conducted with Koreans in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The introduction, questions and explanations in brackets are by Smith.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following April 4 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).CPP denounces arrival of 4,000 US armed troops in the Philippines
The Syrian Arab News Agency charged that Western-backed terrorists launched a “rocket containing chemical materials on Khan al-Asal area in Aleppo Countryside,” on March 19. “The explosion of the rocket claimed the lives of 25 martyrs, while 110 citizens were injured, many of them in critical condition.”
Following the tragic death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council announced a new Presidential election for April 14, 2013. In the election, Acting President Nicholas Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) is running against right-wing leader Henrique Capriles.
Chicago, IL – “Israeli soldiers torture and kill! We say we won’t foot the bill!” This chant rang out in front of the building housing the Israeli Consulate here, March 6. Close to 100 people picketed, shouting their response to the March 2 death of 30-year-old Arafat Jaradat. An autopsy revealed that Jaradat died after being tortured during interrogation by Israeli security, sustaining a total of six broken bones in his spine, arms and legs; his lips lacerated; his face badly bruised.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following letter that Freedom Road Socialist Organization conveyed to the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the passing of President Hugo Chavez.
New Orleans, LA – Students and activists at the University of New Orleans (UNO) staged a dramatic action to protest a speaking event featuring Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, Feb. 28. 60 people stood up from the audience toward the beginning of the soldiers’ speech and revealed red shirts they were wearing with signs taped to their chests. Each person wore the name of a different name of a Palestinian child killed by Israel’s soldiers, followed by the word “Silenced.” Wordlessly, the demonstrators walked out en masse as the two soldiers stood before a crowd that had diminished to a dozen people, including activists who remained holding a banner in the front of the room.
Justice for Arafat Jaradat, Samer Issawi and all Palestinian hunger strikers
St. Paul, MN – On March 1, people of conscience gathered here during rush hour at a busy Saint Paul intersection, to show solidarity with hunger striking Palestinian political prisoners and to demand justice for Arafat Jaradat, who died Feb. 23 as a result of being tortured by Israeli security. Many passing cars honked in support of the protest.
