Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

ChicagoIL

By Ted Pearson

A wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Chicago, IL – William Elias Conway, III is running against Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx in the March 17 Democratic Party primary election. He has flooded TV airways and cable channels with commercials promoting his ‘progressive’ agenda, pledging to “defend Chicago’s marginal communities from attacks from Donald Trump.”

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By Gabriel Montero

Chicago, IL – In a pair of upcoming cases, Associate Judge Thomas Hennelly will have the fate of three wrongfully convicted men in his hands. Given who put them behind bars, his rulings could send a signal that Chicago has firmly turned its back on the legacy of police torture and wrongful convictions that hangs over the city. But, given Hennelly’s direct involvement in prosecuting police torture victims and his attempt to hide racist constitutional violations, Chicagoans would be remiss to expect impartiality from the bench.

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By Sean Orr

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Chicago, IL – Juan Guaidó is not that smart of a politician. He never seems to care much about strategy, or coalition building, or putting forward a serious political platform. The only political talent Guaidó seems to have is in front of the cameras. He knows how to put on a good show for the audience he wants to please.

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By staff

Kobi Guillory of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression sp

Chicago, IL – As part of the national day of protest to demand U.S. troops out of Iraq, 1000 people rallied in front of Trump Tower in Chicago. After listening to speeches by numerous local activists, people marched across the Loop, Chicago’s central district, for several hours. One person was arrested by the Chicago Police Department, who were furious because the march disrupted traffic on the Magnificent Mile, a section of Michigan Avenue that is one of the most expensive shopping districts in the country. Later the crowd marched on Lake Shore Drive. At least one other person was arrested, but then un-arrested by the crowd.

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By Joe Iosbaker

CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates speaking at People's Thanksgiving.

Chicago, IL – Thunderous applause greeted officers and strikers from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 at an event sponsored by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). The 28th People’s Thanksgiving, a fundraiser for Fight Back! brought over 100 people together to recognize the historic Chicago Public School strike by the two unions.

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By Brad Sigal

Photo essay from the refounding conference of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Chicago, November 22-24, 2019. Photos by Brad Sigal.

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By staff

Angela Davis speaking at conference to refound the National Alliance

Chicago, IL – More than a 1200 joined together for an historic gathering on the weekend of November 22 – 24, at the hall of the Chicago Teachers Union, to refound the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The newly refounded Alliance will concentrate its efforts on building the fight against police crimes and for community control of the police, and it will campaign for the release of political prisoners and the wrongfully convicted.

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By staff

Frank Chapman.

Chicago, IL – More than a 1200 joined together November 22, at the hall of the Chicago Teachers Union, to refound the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The newly refounded Alliance will center its efforts on building the fight against police crimes and for community control of the police, and it will campaign for the release of political prisoners and the wrongfully convicted.

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By staff

Interview with Frank Chapman

Frank Chapman.

Fight Back! interviews Frank Chapman on the November 22-24 Chicago conference to refound the National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression.

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By staff

Frank Chapman.

Entrevista con Frank Chapman sobre la Conferencia Nacional para la Refundación de la NAARPR este 22 al 24 de noviembre, 2019. Lucha y Resiste!: ¿Pudiera compartir unas palabras sobre cómo se lucirá la conferencia para relanzar la Alianza Nacional en Contra de la Represión Política y Racista?

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By staff

Chicago, IL – Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members voted November 15 to accept the tentative agreement they won in the wake of their historic eleven-day strike.

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By Sean Orr

Huge mobilizations reject coup in Bolivia.

Chicago, IL – Events have not gone well for the coalition of generals and reactionaries that overthrew Evo Morales on November 10. Far from consolidating their control over the government and the country, the right-wing forces now stand on the back foot, facing the full force of an organized and enraged mass movement ready to defend their constitution and their elected government.

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By staff

Striking members of the CTU and SEIU Local 73 march in downtown Chicago.

Sarah Chambers is a rank-and-file member of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and a member of their bargaining committee.

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By staff

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Chicago, IL – Frontrunning candidate for the next general president of the Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, addressed the convention of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), November 2. O’Brien, who currently leads Local 25, spoke about the future of the Teamsters. The election will take place in 2021.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #Teamsters #TeamstersForADemocraticUnionTDU #SeanOBrien

By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – Tonight, October 30, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) suspended its ten-day strike in the public schools, pending a back-to-work agreement. The House of Delegates (HOD) voted to accept the tentative agreement with the PSRP’s (Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel) providing lead-ership. These clerks and teacher aides are among the lower paid workers in the schools.

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By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), U.S.

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By staff

Chicago Public School strikers stand strong.

Chicago, IL – Members of the Chicago Teachers Union members and SEIU Local 73 are in the seventh day of their joint striking. As of Friday, October 25, this strike under Mayor Lori Lightfoot is now equal in length to the strike under Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2012.

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By Sean Orr

Indigenous protesters occupy the parliamentary building in Quito, Ecuador.

Chicago, IL – Last year, Brazil emerged from its greatest political crisis since the dictatorship to find that Jair Bolsonaro, an extreme right winger, was now president. His victory marked the high point of the so-called ‘roll-back’ of the Pink Tide, a political phenomenon that saw left-wing governments elected across Latin America, on platforms of sovereignty and freedom from U.S. interference. Bolsonaro’s election was a moment openly celebrated in the halls of the White House, as many hoped that the few isolated governments left standing from the Pink Tide movement would soon be snuffed out.

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By staff

Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and SEIU Local 73 strikers march

Chicago, IL – The joint strike by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and SEIU Local 73 continued October 18 and through the weekend as the office of Mayor Lori Lightfoot continued to refuse to meet the strikers' demands.

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By staff

In the front of the march, President Dian Palmer of SEIU Local 73 (in middle)

Chicago, IL – Picket lines went up at hundreds of schools across Chicago at 6:30 a.m., October 17. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) walked out for their third strike since 2012. For the more than 7000 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, this is an historic first strike, and the first against the new mayor, Lori Lightfoot.

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