Author: Fight Back

Madison, WI – On June 20, a grassroots group held a rally outside of the Wisconsin state capitol and then tried to occupy the floor of the Senate to speak out against SB 206, otherwise known as Sophie’s Law.

This legislation was created and passed by the right wing. The law mandates trans-vaginal ultrasounds for any woman who seeks to terminate a pregnancy, even in cases of rape or incest. In addition, the law places restrictions on doctor-patient confidentiality and even allows for relatives of the woman who underwent an abortion to take legal action against the doctor or even the woman herself.

When the activists – mostly women – tried to enter the Senate floor, the group was met with attempts to physically restrain them. Some of the women were tackled to the ground. Eight women made it into the foyer area of the legislature before being arrested by capitol police. One male protester made it onto the Senate floor.

An organizer of this truly grassroots event, Jennifer Epps-Addison, stated in reference to the struggle, “People have to break out of their comfort zone and begin talking about women’s rights – to their family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. This isn’t just about the control of women’s bodies by the state legislature, but about women’s ability to participate equally in our democracy. We need to speak out loudly and often on these issues. We need to participate in informal organizing structures. Most importantly, we need to make it difficult for those who want to dismantle our Wisconsin way of life.”

Durham, NC – Chants of “No justice, no peace! No racist police!” and “Free Carlos Riley Jr.!” rang out on June 28, as about 40 people gathered outside the Durham police headquarters to demand the charges be dropped against Carlos Riley Jr.

On Dec. 18, Carlos Riley Jr., a 21-year-old African American man, was pulled over by Officer Kelly Stewart, who was in an unmarked car. According to the [Liberty and Justice for Carlos Riley Jr. campaign](http://carlosrileyjr.weebly.com/), the officer accused Riley of smoking marijuana, got into the car and began to choke him. Riley struggled to breathe and attempted to free himself. Officer Stewart then shot himself in the leg. Riley pulled the gun away from the officer and left the scene fearing that he would be shot by other police officers when they arrived. He turned himself in several hours later.

A complete account of the events as well as an update with the taped statement of the officer in question is available on the [Liberty and Justice for Carlos Riley Jr. petition page](https://www.change.org/petitions/free-carlos-riley-jr).

Carlos Riley’s aunt, Cheryl Riley, told Fight Back!, “We’re here to show support that we are standing behind Carlos Riley Jr., and to bring awareness to the city of Durham and citizens about what has happened. We need to stand up for our rights, we need to let city of Durham know we aren’t going to stand for the incarcerations and targeting people for their skin color or what type of clothing they have on. It’s wrong.” Cheryl Riley added, “Just because you have a badge and carry a gun, that does not make you above the law, you cannot take the law into your own hands. This needs to stop.”

Harrisburg, PA – A rally here, June 25, protested school layoffs and closings in Philadelphia. Teachers, safety workers, librarians and others are affected. Arts instruction is especially targeted. Layoffs have reached 3783 and counting. A contingent of school employees has gone on a water-only fast in the capitol rotunda.

The main turnout came from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Dozens of high school students came, including a solid contingent from the self-organized Newark Student Union, of Newark, New Jersey.

AFT President Randi Weingarten told the crowd of more than 500, speaking of an arrest threat against those fasting, that “the people who should be arrested are the supporters of [Pennsylvania] Governor Corbett. On a day when the Supreme Court has thrown out voting rights they are attacking people whose job it is assuring that the next generation gets a fair shot at life.”

Her remarks reflected the rising discontent of vast numbers of middle-income people like teachers. With half the country living in poverty or close to it, the middle-income stratum that is increasingly a political battleground. This attack is particularly concentrated on middle-income African-Americans. Given Black people’s tradition of struggle, that will only add fuel to the fire.

Raleigh, NC – “Whose house? Our house!” That was the chant voiced by over 5000 North Carolinians who came to Raleigh June 24 to protest the right-wing agenda and unjust laws being passed by the Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature.

The June 24 rally was the eighth wave of Moral Monday protests organized by Reverend William Barber and the North Carolina NAACP. It was largest so far. The wave of protests began on April 29, with a protest of about 100 people and 15 arrests. Since then, protests of thousands and arrests of 80 to 100 people are a common occurrence on any given Monday afternoon in Raleigh. 120 people were arrested for civil disobedience June 24, bringing the total to over 600 arrests in these waves of demonstrations.

The focus of the June 24 protest was labor, women and economic justice. United Electrical Workers Local 150, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Southern Workers Assembly, SEIU, Communication Workers of America and NC Association of Educators were among the unions represented at the protest. The AFL-CIO issued a call for all unions to mobilize for the demonstration. NC AFL-CIO president James Andrews joined the group of protesters who were arrested for civil disobedience.

Speakers denounced the legislature’s attacks on workers’ rights, as well as the right-wing attacks on women. “When it comes to control of a woman’s body, who decides? She decides, not politicians!” said one speaker to loud applause from the crowd.

People need to protest, said Linda Suggs, a member of Black Workers for Justice and the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Unjust policies are being passed day by day, minute by minute, hour by hour. But we are not taking it lying down, no way!”