Author: Fight Back

Washington, DC – On May 1, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Dean Heller (R-NV), the authors of the Senate bill to extend unemployment benefits to the to the long-term jobless, told the House leadership to allow a vote on proposed extension.

The bill to restore the long-term unemployment benefits passed the Senate, with a handful of Republican votes, on April 7. Since then House Republican leader John Boehner (R-OH) has refused to allow vote on the measure.

According to reports, Boehner is holding out for an agreement that will link the proposed benefit extension with Republican economic measures. Many analysts view this as a cynical move to torpedo Extended Unemployment Compensation.

The congressional Republican leadership gained effective veto power over legislation to extend unemployment benefits, when the Democratic leadership did now insist on the extensions inclusion in last December’s budgets compromise.

Nearly 3 million workers have lost jobless benefits since they were allowed to lapse on Dec. 28, 2013. As a result, unemployed workers have home foreclosures, car repossessions and hunger.In the aftermath of the large scale economic crisis that hit the U.S. and most other capitalist countries 2007, high unemployment rates have persisted.

In Washington DC, there is a consensus among top Republicans and Democrats to rein in spending by cutting programs that serve working and low-income people. Both parties receive extensive backing from large corporations and wealthy donors.

Tampa, FL – On May 3, protesters demanded “not one more” deportation for the millions of undocumented in the U.S. This was Tampa’s second May Day protest against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and Obama’s record 2 million deportations. Joining together at Centennial Park in Ybor City, they rallied under a banner that read, “Shut down ICE.” Ybor City is known as a home for immigrants and has been a destination for the migration of different peoples for over 100 years.

40 people gathered under a pavilion to talk about drivers licenses for the undocumented, deportations, and May Day. People from Raices En Tampa, Students for A Democratic Society, Tampa Dream Defenders, League of United Latin American Citizens, Casa Chiapas and Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke to the crowd.

Alicia Argenal of Raices En Tampa said, “We want to tell President Obama no more! No more separation of families. I have 15 years without giving a hug to my auntie and grandma. Nine months without seeing my mother and sister. This affects me personally and we are tired of our community living in fear!”

Marching from the pavilion they took to the streets. They took up a lane of traffic and circled a local ICE office chanting “Policia, la migra, la misma porqueria” (Police, ICE, same old dirty work). They were soon followed by several cop cars, as they marched back to the park. At the park, protesters said actions against deportations can’t end on May Day. Groups plan to keep organizing in town.

Gainesville, FL – About 40 people gathered at the Civic Media Center, May 1, to support fired members of the Citizens Co-Op Workers Union and celebrate International Workers’ Day with BBQ and live music.

Several different groups helped organize the event, including the North Florida Central Labor Council, the Alachua County Labor Party, UF Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

The event started with a picket outside the Citizens Co-Op, which barely a month earlier fired seven workers for attempting to start a union. The protesters held signs stating, “We support the union,” and “My money and I support the workers.” The fired Co-Op workers and supporters had been picketing for the past couple of weeks, and it was important to show solidarity for their cause on International Workers Day.

After the picket the protesters and community allies headed inside the Civic Media Center for food and music. There were different tables set up by the organizations that helped put together the May Day protest and festivities. In between music and performances there was a round of speeches.

Chrisley Carpio of the FRSO said, “We stand for legalization for all undocumented immigrants and support their fight for equality, whether it’s in obtaining drivers licenses, tuition equity, or an end to deportations. May Day celebrates the unity of the people.”

Colleen Baublitz of UF SDS, speaking about the passage of SB 1400, which allows some undocumented students to pay instate tuition, said, “Students for a Democratic Society is proud to struggle alongside other groups for immigrants’ rights in Florida. We are proud of our contributions in the fight for tuition equity, including the recent passage of HB851. SDS will continue to fight until every undocumented student has the same space and financial aid available to them as their peers.”

The event was a success as the Gainesville community celebrated the historic holiday.

Salt Lake City, UT – Six speakers, along with about 40 workers, activists and community members, gathered for a panel discussion to recognize International Workers’ Day, May 1. Hosted by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the panel covered a range of issues including working class and union struggles, the immigration struggle, immigration reform, the current state of imperialism and government corruption. Alyssa Faith moderated the event.

Heidi Belka, an IATSE Local 99 union member and organizer, discussed the importance of workers’ rights and of unions in the U.S. and Utah itself. She began her presentation by asking the audience to “create a buzz phrase that it’s legal to organize a union in Utah.” Belka emphasized that when workers vote against unions, “they vote against themselves.” She explained how to organize a union and gave her own personal experiences organizing for women’s and workers’ rights. “Unions raise the bar for everybody,” stated Belka.

John McCormick, a Salt Lake Community College professor and author of A History of Utah Radicalism, gave a brief history of the radical political movements in Utah. Utah has a long standing history of radical political movements. McCormick explained that he looks at the radical workers’ movements of the past in order to act on present and the future. McCormick explained that “the path out is a radical one.”

Agustin Diaz (Tino) brought great energy to the room by having the whole room join in a couple of chants. The group began chanting “No human is illegal!” and the United Farm Workers motto, “Sí, se puede!” Diaz is a Utah County activist with a history being involved with the immigration fight. He came to speak on the behalf of the Salt Lake City Dream team. Diaz brought to light the issues of exploited undocumented workers and the separations of families. He asked how we can build bridges and come together as workers, activists and immigrants. He said that the immigration struggle affects all of us, and is “a movement of many movements.”

Mark Alvarez, an immigration specialist and lawyer, spoke next. Alvarez worked for three years as the administrator of minority affairs for Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. He spoke on immigration reform and the difficulties that undocumented peoples face to getting citizenship in the U.S.

The next speaker was Gregory Lucero, member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and founder of the Revolutionary Student’s Union. He opened by giving everyone the common slogan of “serve the people.” He spoke of the many victories of workers’ movements, from the fight for a $15 per hour minimum wage in Seattle to the victories in Florida, stating ,“Today marks a victory in winning in state tuition for undocumented students in Florida.” Lucero also said, “We must struggle against imperialism. No corner of the globe is unaffected by monopoly capitalism, the U.S. doesn’t have the best interest of the world in mind. We must say no to U.S. intervention!”

Finally, the panel was closed with some words from Rocky Anderson. Anderson served two terms as the 33rd mayor of Salt Lake City from 2000 to 2008. He discussed numerous examples of government corruption and the desperate need for change. He talked about the domination of corporate interests, the lack of accountability of politicians and the high rate of incarcerations in this state and country. “The corporate state is monopoly capitalism made safe,” said Anderson, reminding attendees to “follow the money.”

Milwaukee, WI – In the drizzling rain and chilly temperatures, several thousand immigrants, workers and family members marched from Milwaukee’s South Side to the County Courthouse downtown, demanding an end to ICE raids in the courts and legalization for all.

In recent months, it has been revealed that the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office has been sending plainclothes agents to the municipal and county courthouses to detain any undocumented immigrant they can get their hands on. Utilizing this illegal practice, hundreds if not thousands of immigrants have been detained and deported – the vast majority not having committed any crimes.

Mothers have been detained and deported after visiting the court to get a birth certificate for their newborn child. Countless immigrants have been deported for paying off parking and driving tickets at court, since the undocumented are not allowed to have drivers licenses in Wisconsin.

For these outrageous actions, and as 1100 immigrants are daily being deported from across the country, thousands of Milwaukeeans rallied at the County Courthouse May 1, saying “Ya basta!” to ICE and the racist immigration system.

Commenting on the smaller size of the march this year as compared to previous ones, organizer Denis Montero said, “I think people feel cynical and see no end to the struggle. We need victories to keep momentum.” With Congress stalled and unable to propose any useful reform, it is becoming more evident to the immigrant rights movement that the demand must be on President Obama to grant Deferred Action for all 11 million undocumented immigrants. The movement in Milwaukee will continue to organize around this demand, along with the local fight to drive ICE out of the courts.

Los Angeles, CA – On the afternoon of May 1, a powerful May Day march, organized by the Southern California Immigration Coalition (SCIC), took place in the heart of downtown as many garment workers were leaving work. The highly spirited 1000-plus crowd was made up mainly of working class Latinos, union members from Roofers Union Local 36 and United Teachers L.A., street vendors, daily laborers, families and high school students. Also joining the march and helping to carry the lead banner were the women and men of the homeless shelter Projecto Pastoral in Boyle Heights.

The SCIC is composed of dozens of groups including the International Action Center, Community Service Organization, Union del Barrio and Bayan USA. SCIC is an independent grassroots coalition that receives no government or foundation funding.

The many speakers called for Obama to stop the deportations and demanded legalization for all. Many denounced the police/ICE abuses such as detentions, deportations and deaths at the border.

Bayan USA denounced U.S. imperialism and its intervention in the Philippines and other counties. Ramon Mendez, a member of Roofers Union Local 36, spoke about being harassed and exploited at work, and when he filed a grievance the boss called the ICE on him. Mendez had to live away from his family until others came to his aid, pressuring ICE to respect a labor neutrality agreement with the Labor Department that protects workers who are in disputes with employers. He is now out on bail, fighting his deportation. The MECHA students talked about the need for legalization and better schools.

Carlos Montes, a veteran Chicano revolutionary, stated that the fight for legalization is part of the struggle of self-determination for the Chicano/Mexican people and equality for Latinos. He noted that May 1 had been revived in the U.S. by the massive 2006 immigrant rights marches led by Latinos.

The spirited march included flags from Latin American countries, including the Chicano nation of Aztlan.

Two other May Day marches took place in Los Angeles on May 1.

San José, CA – On May 1, more than 1000 people marched for immigrant rights through the Chicano, Mexicano and Asian neighborhoods of the east side of San José. Unions, church groups, immigrant rights organizations, students and Filipino community groups marched more than two and half miles to downtown San José, where the ending rally was held. Signs supporting immigration reform and calling for an end to deportations were mixed in the farmworker union flag, religious portraits. There were also demands for justice for an undocumented day laborer who was shot in the back and killed by police, and to allow the return of an undocumented mother who was deported.

“Deport La Migra! Not the workers!” chanted hundreds of Tucsonans who took the fight against mass deportations and attacks on workers to some of those responsible for these attacks. The May Day march stopped at Wells Fargo, McDonald’s, UPS and a University of Arizona future site for promoting technology to further border militarization. The chant “El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!” echoed through the barrios of Tucson.

Saint Paul, MN – El 1ro de mayo, el día internacional de los trabajadores, alrededor de dos mil personas marcharon dos millas y media desde la mansión del gobernador hasta el capitolio estatal. La marcha tuvo cuatro demandas: licencias de conducir para todos, derechos para los trabajadores, una reforma migratoria justa, y no más deportaciones.

Casi todo el movimiento inmigrante en Minnesota está unido con la demanda para las licencias de conducir para todos. Una propuesta de ley para las licencias esta cerca de ser aprobada en el capitolio de Minnesota pero la session legislativa ya casi va a terminar y la propuesta está bloqueada por el Portavoz de la Casa de Representantes Paul Thissen. Eso dio una urgencia y un enfoque a la marcha del 1ro de mayo y se escuchó la demanda por las licencias de conducir en toda la marcha. Cuando la marcha llegó al capitolio, después de varios oradores, los manifestantes entraron al capitolio llenando la Rotunda con gritos exigiendo que aprueben las licencias para todos en esta sesión legislativa. Los inmigrantes sienten muy fuerte la demanda para las licencias porque el gobierno ha deportado más de dos millones de personas desde 2009 y muchos de ellos fueron detenidos sólo por manejar sin licencia.

Los manifestantes no sólo exigieron las licencias, también exigieron ‘no más deportaciones’. Debido a la realidad de tantas deportaciones, es un asunto que ha tocado casi todas las familias de inmigrantes y sus comunidades. En la marcha el Comite por los derechos de los Inmigrantes (MIRAC) organizó un bloque en la marcha con el tema de ‘No más deportaciones’ para amplificar esta demanda con mantas, banderas, posteres, volantes y consignas exigiendo ‘ni una más deportación’.

La marcha en St. Paul fue liderada por la organización Mesa Latina juntos con el Comite por los derechos de los inmigrantes (MIRAC) y alrededor de 30 organizaciones más incluyendo sindicatos como AFSCME Local 3800 y Local 34, UNITE HERE Local 17, y organizaciones como el Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL), MORENA-Minnesota, Centro Campesino, Occupy Homes, los departamentos de Estudios Chicanos en la Universidad de Minnesota y en St. Cloud State University, y muchos más. Muchos estudiantes llegaron también de la Universidad de Minnesota, St. Olaf, St. Benedict y de bachilleratos como Washburn, Harding y otros.

La marcha en St. Paul no fue la única acción en las Ciudades Gemelas en el 1ro de mayo. Una organización con base en las iglesias, Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, bloqueo tráfico en el centro de Minneapolis para exigir acción para parar las deportaciones y para una reforma migratoria.

Y también este sabado 3 de mayo Freedom Road Socialist Organization esta organizando una cena y celebracion del dia de los trabajadores con presentaciones de varias luchas de trabajadores en Minnesota. El evento empieza a las 5:00 p.m. en 4200 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis.