News and Views from the People's Struggle
Chicago, IL – 130 activists from all the people’s movements gathered for the annual People’s Thanksgiving awards dinner, Nov. 19, hosted by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). The event is a fundraiser for Fight Back News and for Rasmea Odeh.
Chicago, IL – The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is sharpening its knives, ready to come after mechanics, bus and train operators in Amalgamated Transit Union Locals 241 and 308. According to 308 President and Business Agent Kenneth Franklin, there has been no contract since Dec. 31, 2015. CTA has been pushing for takebacks in every area in negotiations, and according to Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 241, the CTA “has evidenced no intention of reaching a fair agreement voluntarily.”
Thousands of people are taking to the streets of Chicago tonight, Nov. 9, to express their outrage with president-elect Donald Trump. Trump is promoting racist anti-immigrant, misogynist and anti-Muslim attacks. Other protests are being planned across the country.
#ChicagoIL #US #PeoplesStruggles #Elections #2016Elections #DumpTrump
Chicago, IL – 500 people marched on the Magnificent Mile the night of Oct. 22, to send a message to the 1% that backs Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Two years ago, racist cop Jason Van Dyke murdered 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. The protest was held to mark that anniversary. The marchers demanded “Justice for Laquan” and community control of the police through an elected, civilian police accountability council (CPAC).
Chicago, IL – “Right to Exist, Right to Resist” was the theme of the national political conference called by the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) – U.S. Chapter, held in Chicago, Oct. 22. ILPS is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation, which promotes anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the peoples of the world. “We mobilized over 160 people from around the U.S. and Canada to discuss how to build the struggle against U.S. wars abroad and war on the workers and oppressed people at home,” said Bernadette Ellorin, national chairperson of BAYAN USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino organizations.
Chicago, IL – On Monday night, Oct. 10, just before the midnight deadline, the bargaining committee of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) tentatively accepted a new contract offer from management.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Oct. 6 statement from the Chicago Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (CAARPR). Shame on City Hall as COPA Passes – Movement for CPAC Grows as Justice is Denied
Chicago, IL – Workers fighting back against economic inequality have something to be hopeful about. One of the largest and most powerful unions in the country, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, will begin mailing ballots early October for members to decide the next general president. Those fighting against concessions to employers and looking for a stronger worker movement are uniting behind Fred Zuckerman and the Teamsters United slate, hoping to unseat long-standing General President James P. Hoffa, Jr.
Chicago, IL – Reminiscent of four years ago, the streets of Chicago may again turn red as tens of thousands of Chicago teachers prepare to strike over a concessionary contract when negotiations end on Oct. 11.
Chicago, IL – Los trabajadores que luchan contra la desigualdad económica pueden tener esperanza. Uno de los sindicatos más grandes y más poderosos del país, los Teamsters, comenzarán a enviar por correo las papeletas a principios de octubre a sus miembros para que voten por el próximo presidente del sindicato. Los que luchan contra las concesiones de los empresarios y que quieren un movimiento obrero más fuerte están uniéndose junto a Fred Zuckerman y la lista de los Teamsters Unidos, con la esperanza de desbancar al actual presidente del sindicato James P. Hoffa, Jr.
Demands community control of the police
Chicago, IL – This week, Charlotte, North Carolina, became the fourth city in the U.S. in the past two years to experience an uprising against the police murder of Black people. The rebellion in Charlotte is a response to the killing of Keith Scott, a father shot while waiting in his car for his son.
Chicago, IL – On the morning of Aug. 3, International President Mary Kay Henry of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) placed SEIU Local 73 in trusteeship. This immediately removed from office the principal officers of the local, including President Christine Boardman and Secretary Treasurer Matt Brandon. Henry cited the “dysfunctional” relationship between Boardman and Brandon as the main reason for her action.
Chicago, IL – 2000 to 3000 protesters, mostly high school students, marched through the streets of Chicago, July 11, to protest the recent police murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. What started as a sit-in of youth joined together with a rally held by Black Lives Matter Chicago, the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and Trinity United Church of Christ.
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.
#ChicagoIL #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #ChicagoAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression
Chicago, IL – The Venezuelan Consulate in Chicago celebrated 205 years of independence from the Spanish empire on July 6. In his remarks, Jesus Rodriguez-Espinoza, the Consul General, noted that in the year 1811, Simon Bolivar led an army that defeated Spain, not only in their country, but in several other countries in South America as well. “That is the only time our troops have been outside our border,” he commented. This was apparently to counter U.S. government claims that the Venezuelan government is a threat. The U.S. spends millions of dollars annually to support right-wing, often violent groups in Venezuela working to overthrow the democratically elected government.
Chicago, IL – The Free State of Jones is a movie, now playing in Chicago, that portrays the story of how poor white farmers and slaves rebelled against the Confederacy during the Civil War of 1861-65. This movie was directed by Gary Ross and written by Leonard Hartman and Gary Ross. It’s about two and a half hours long.
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.
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.
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.
Chicago, IL – Student and Graduate Activists (SAGA) at University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), a group that formed after Trump decided to chicken out of his speaking event at the UIC Pavilion due to widespread protest, is endorsing the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC.