Fight Back! Radio takes you to the heart of the peoples' struggles, and brings you a working class perspective on labor, Black liberation, anti-imperialism, and all other struggles for a better world.
On August 19, over 20,000 people marched on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention, demanding an end to U.S. aid to Israel and an end to the genocide in Gaza. The march was the result of over a year of work by the Coalition to March on the DNC. Marchers came within sight and sound of the Democratic National Convention, putting heat on United States government as it facilitates a genocide.
More than 270 organizations from across the country worked for over a year to organize the March on the Democratic National Convention. Israel has relied on U.S.-supplied aid to carry out its genocidal campaign in Gaza. The coalition made its main slogans “Stand with Palestine” and “End U.S. aid to Israel.” Other issues included immigrant rights and legalization for all; defending LGBTQ and reproductive rights; stopping police crimes and enacting community control of the police; defending the right to unionize and strike; and demanding money for jobs, schools, healthcare, housing and the environment.
To recap the march we have Faayani Aboma Mijana, who served as the spokesperson for the event. They breakdown the motivation for marching on the DNC, the success of the march, as well as the repressive push back the coalition received when organizing the event.
You can read more coverage of the march on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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Next week is the Democratic National Convention, and thousands will be showing up to make the voices of the people heard. The entire Fight Back! Radio team is joining the coalition, leaving us with less time to produce an episode than usual. For this reason, we will be rebroadcasting the All Out for the March on the DNC online meeting call.
We hope to see you out there marching alongside us!
Find out more about the Coalition to March on the DNC.
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Whether it's the unionizing campaign, or the uproar over their response to the "pin incident", Delta Airlines has been making headlines, and we're on the side of the workers.
Our guest today is Rasaq Adeyemi, who is an airline attendant at Delta, as well as an organizing member of Delta AFA which is driving the unionizing campaign. We discuss the unique working conditions of airline attendants, how to battle a multi-billion dollar airline company, and the importance of worker solidarity. We urge our listener to support Delta AFA's unionizing campaign.
You can find them online at:
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In a surprising turn of events, Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, spoke at the Republican National Convention. To unpack this bold choice, we are joined today by Jared Hamil, a UPS package car driver in LA and Teamsters Local 396 shop steward. Jared gives us his assessment of O'Brien's speech, the failure of both political parties to serve the working class, and how trade unionists should engage with electoral politics.If you are a Teamsters and want to join the fighters of your union, you should join Teamsters for a Democratic Union.We encourage our listeners to march on the DNC with us this August.Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Today we are joined by Carlos Montes, an iconic leader of the Chicano National Movement. Carlos was the founder, spokesperson and minister of information for the Brown Berets. He was also a key leader of the 1968 Los Angeles High School walkouts, the Chicano Moratorium against the Viet Nam War, the mega-marches from 2006 and continues today as a leader of Centro Community Service Organization in Los Angeles.
This will be our third interview with Carlos, and this time around he highlights the protests of both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Conventional. We dive into how neither of these parties have any interesting in serving the working class of this country, their collective attack on immigrants, and the importance of resisting these two parties.
We encourage everyone to join the Coalition to March on the RNC on July 15th.
as well as the Coalition to March on the DNC on August 19th.
Our previous episodes with Carlos:
Fighting Repression from the Schools to the Streets with Carlos Montes and Angel Naranjo
Building Chicano Power Then and Now with Carlos Montes
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Chris Townsend, labor movement veteran, joins us today to talk about the legacy of William Z. Foster, and how it relates to today's labor movement.
You can buy a copy of "American Trade Unionism: Selected Writing by William Z. Foster" at International Publishers.
Read Chris's article "The Biggest Organizing Wave You Never Heard Of" on Marxism-Leninism Today.
You can also find all of Chris Townsend's contributions to Marixist-Leninism Today through this search.
You can find out more about the Inside Organizer School online.
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Today on the show, Louise Carhart gives us some insight into the shop floor struggles of legal aid workers. Louise is a chief steward and executive committee member of her union, the United Legal Workers (ULW), and works as a staff attorney for the ULW's farm worker project.
Louise describes the unique struggles involved with organizing workers in a more "professional" industry, the need to fight the boss even at non-profit organizations, and the reasons to fight as a union that go well beyond getting pay raises.
You can read more about the ULW picket in the article Louise wrote for Fight Back! News.
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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A fire of resistance has been lit on college campuses across the country. Students everywhere are demonstrating their solidarity with Palestine, and pressuring their schools to disclose and divest from Israel. Today on the show we have Chrisley Carpio, a national leader of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), which is leading the student resistance on many college campuses. We get to hear from her about what it's like on the ground, the repression these students are facing, as well as an interview with Rick Toledo, a student and member of SDS who has been involved in student protests at Cal Poly Humboldt.If you are a student who wants to get involved with the struggle for a better world, we encourage you to join SDS. They can help you find or start a chapter at your school.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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We are currently in a moment of revolutionary upheaval, and witnessing the mobilization of people across the globe in response to it. These historic moments are what change the course of history, and in his recent speech, David Gilbert Pederson (DGB) describes the critical importance and methods of sustaining this momentum. On today's show, we'll hear DGP's speech, and discuss why and how we can keep this revolutionary flame ablaze.
Our listeners can join the fights of the various peoples' movement by joining the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
We encourage everyone to join the Coalition to March on the RNC on July 15th, as well as the Coalition to March on the DNC on August 19th
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Students all over the United States are demonstrating their solidarity with Palestine with massive protests and encampments across university campuses. Audari Tamayo is a member of the UW-Milwaukee chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and was recently brutalized by police and arrested for being involved with such protests. Today he recounts his arrest, and lays out the demands of the student protesters.You can find the UW-Milwaukee SDS chapter online.We encourage our listeners to join the Coalition to March on the RNC. You can find more information online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Today we are joined by Xavi Velasquez, who is the president of La Frontera Nos Cruzó (The Border Crossed Us), an affiliate of Legalization For All. In our interview, Xavi describes what he and his delegation witnessed at the Texas-Mexico border, including the occupation of public lands and the inhumane treatment of people trying to cross.
Legalization For All can be found online on their website.
You can follow the work of La Frontera Nos Cruzó (The Border Crossed Us) online on their website.
Find out more about the March on the RNC as well as the March on the DNC.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Those who have been following the labor movement in the US have surely witnessed the bold moves and great victories being made by the rank and file workers of the United Auto Workers union. Much of this was driven by the Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) caucus, and today on the show we have Scott Houldieson, a member of UAW local 551, and the current chair of UAWD. Scott breaks down the timeline of events that lead to the the reformation of their union, the major strike they took on, and the struggles they're facing ahead.
You can find the UAWD rank and file caucus online at their website.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Fight Back! Radio is taking a bit of a turn in today's episode as we step away from covering the activism going on in the streets and talk about the knowledge contained within the sheets, that is, Marxist-Leninist theory.
Josh Sykes has put in a lot of work in the streets, but has also written a book: The Revolutionary Science of Marxism-Leninism. In today's episode we discuss what Marxism-Leninism is and how it can and should be applied to our activism.
Buy Josh's book, "The Revolutionary Science of Marxism-Leninism".
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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As the struggle for Palestinian Liberation continues, Meredith Aby reminds us that this struggle won't end well for Israel. Meredith is a founding member of the Minneapolis Antiwar Committee, and has dedicated her life to activism, even in the face of oppression by the FBI. In this episode, she breaks down the US involvement of this genocide, the resilience of the Palestinian people, and how those in the US can stand in solidarity with Palestine.
CORRECTION: It was stated in the intro of this episode that the Anti-War 23 were indicted, but it is actually unknown whether or not they were indicted.Get involved with the Minneapolis Anti-War Committee:
You can read about the work being done by the MN Antiwar Committee on Fight Back! News.We at Fight Back! Radio encourage everyone to celebrate International Women's Day and to stand with the women of Palestine. Checkout Fight Back! News's statement on this historic day.You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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In this episode we venture into the world of service industry unionism. Our guide today, Zane Smith, works at Homegrown, a Seattle based sandwich shop. Zane serves as a rank and file union leader, with the support of the UNITE HERE Local 8 union. We discuss their unionization campaign, facing retaliation from the company, their ongoing strike, and how fighting the bosses at Homegrown fits into a larger fight for socialism.
You can read about the ongoing Homegrown strike on Fight Back! News.
We urge our listeners to join the Freedom Road Socialist Organization to join the fight for a better world.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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The Electronic Intifada is one of, if not the best news sources for coverage on Palestine in English. We're honored to have on the senior editor of the publication, Maureen Clare Murphy, to talk about the experience she and her colleagues have had in covering the ongoing struggle in Palestine.
If you aren't already, you should be reading The Electronic Intifada.
You should also listen to their podcast.
You can buy Joe Sacco's book "Footnotes in Gaza" online at Macmillan Publishers.
The U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), and National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) call for a week of action against the U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza from February 5 to 11. We encourage our listeners to get involved with this week of action. You can read Fight Back! News's statement on the week on their website.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Fight Back! Radio is welcoming back our very first guest we've ever had, Kobi Guillory, to talk about the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention. With a US presidential election right around the corner, it is critical for the people to make it clear to the powers that be, including the "progressive" party, that we won't stand for their crimes against humanity, both at home and abroad.
Kobi is a middle school teacher, member of the Chicago Teacher's Union, Co-Chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, executive board memmber of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC.
You can read more about the Coalition to march on the DNC on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Angel Krempa made labor news headlines after being illegally fired from her job at Starbucks back in 2022. She was targeted by the company for being a union leader under Starbucks Workers United, and today on the show she describes what it's like fighting a multi-billion dollar company, the importance of unions, and the power of solidarity.
We encourage our listeners to support and stand in solidarity with Starbucks workers in their fight for a fair contract. Join one of the many strikes and pickets going on across the nation, and refuse to patronize a union busting corporation by boycotting Starbucks and all their products. Sign the "No Contract! No Coffee!" pledge.
Anyone who currently works at Starbucks should get in touch with Starbucks Workers United to see what can be done at their store.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Fight Back! Radio believes that all fights for liberation stem from the same struggle, and that victory lies in us all fighting together in solidarity. In today's episode, we're talking to Merawi Gerima about connections between the Black Liberation and the Palestinian Liberation struggles. Merawi is a Chicago based activist, a filmmaker, and is the co-chair of the Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST).
Read more about and get involved with CFIST online.Join CAARPR and the fight against racism and political repression in Chicago, and get involved at the national level by joining NAARPR.
"Written and directed by Merawi Gerima, RESIDUE follows aspiring filmmaker Jay (Obinna Nwachukwu) returning to his childhood Washington, DC, neighborhood that has been gentrified beyond recognition. Dealing with alienation from his friends, troubled by the disappearance of his best friend, and unsure of his place in this new community, Jay confronts issues of identity, gentrification and loss."
Checkout Residue online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Jasmine Smith is a Chicago based activist that is fighting tirelessly to bring justice to victims of police torture and the wrongfully convicted. Jasmine is the co-chair of the Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST), and is on the executive board of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR). In today's episode, she breaks down the history of police torture, lays out the structure of our corrupt "injustice system", and talks about the work she and her comrades in CFIST and CAARPR are doing to fight for justice.Read more about and get involved with CFIST online.Join CAARPR and the fight against racism and political repression in Chicago, and get involved at the national level by joining NAARPR.Fight Back! Radio celebrates the heroic victory of the Tampa 5 activist defeating their repression and having all of their charges dropped. Read the coverage of this massive win on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Tom Burke is the Organizational Secretary of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a labor leader in his local IATSE union in Grand Rapids, MI, and someone who is well-versed in Venezuela, past, present, and future.
Tom sat down with us to share his first-hand knowledge of the country, including the story of Hugo Chávez, to the current leadership of Nicolás Maduro, and the country's pursuit of a socialist way of life amidst a world of imperial powers.
We encourage all of our listeners to get involved with the movement to free Alex Saab, a Venezuelan political prisoner currently being held captive by the U.S. You can find out more on the official website.
You can also read Fight Back! New's statement of support.
The Freedom Road Socialist Organization is always looking for new members. Find out how to join on their website.
Join the Coalition to March on the RNC on July 15th, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Today we're honored to have on Michael Sampson, a revolutionary activist in Jacksonville, FL. Michael is a member of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), a Black-led, grassroots organization fighting for justice and liberation. He also serves as a co-chair of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR). In our interview, Michael recounts NAARPR's 50th Anniversary Conference, and describes his experiences organizing in the deep South.
Checkout the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression online.
If you live in Jacksonville, we encourage you to get involved with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee. You can follow and get in contact with them on:
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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We're honored today to get to talk to the National Chair of the US Palestinian Network (USPCN), Hatem Abudayyah. Hatem gives us a deep dive into the Al-Aqsa Flood, both in a material sense of what is happening in Palestine and across the world, and gives a theoretically breakdown of the ralations between the imperialist powers that Palestine is fighting against for their freedom and liberation.Get involved with the US Palestinian Community NetworkFight Back! Radio formelly condems the brutal murder Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6 year old Palestinian boy. His mother was badly wounded. Police say the suspect made anti-Muslim statements during the attack.Read the USPCN's statement on the brutal murder of baby Wadea.You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog is a trade unionist, labor activist, and chairperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), one of the largest trade union federations in the Philippines. Ka Bong joined us to discuss the labor struggles they have been waging in the Philippines, the backlash they've gotten from both domestic and international powers, and the ways they have been fighting back.
You can learn more about Kilasang Mayo Uno online at their website.
Consider attending The People's Summit.
Fight Back! Radio stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and all those fighting for Palestinian liberation. The Palestinian resistance is dealing a heavy blow to the Israeli apartheid state. The decades of oppression, humiliation and callous cruelty by the occupiers of Palestine are being answered in the only language oppressors truly understand.
Read the statement from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization on the Palestinian resistance.
Read about the actions popping off around the country in support of Palestinian resistance:
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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We're honored to be joined again by the executive director of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR) and lifelong activist and revolutionary, Frank Chapman. We talk about what Frank covers in his book, The Damned Don't Cry, which covers his inspiring life story, from his young years in St. Louis on the streets, to being imprisoned, to writing and teaching Marxism with fellow inmates, to winning his freedom, to organizing with the Communist Party, to his current life as a fighter for community control of the police in Chicago.
This is part II of our interview with Frank about his book. Be sure to listen to part I.
We encourage our listeners to register for and attend NAARPR's 50ᵗʰ Anniversary Conference.
You can get a copy of Frank's book that was discussed in this interview, the Damned Don't Cry, online.
Frank's other book, Marxist-Leninist Perspectives on Black Liberation and Socialism, is also available online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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We're honored to be joined again by the executive director of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR) and lifelong activist and revolutionary, Frank Chapman. We talk about what Frank covers in his book, The Damned Don't Cry, which covers his inspiring life story, from his young years in St. Louis on the streets, to being imprisoned, to writing and teaching Marxism with fellow inmates, to winning his freedom, to organizing with the Communist Party, to his current life as a fighter for community control of the police in Chicago.
This is part I of our interview with Frank about his book. Be sure to listen to part II.
We encourage our listeners to register for and attend NAARPR's 50ᵗʰ Anniversary Conference.
You can get a copy of Frank's book that was discussed in this interview, the Damned Don't Cry, online.
Frank's other book, Marxist-Leninist Perspectives on Black Liberation and Socialism, is also available online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
The 2024 Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place in Milwaukee, WI from July 15th-18th, and The People aren't wasting anytime to show GOP just how unwelcome they are in their city. Nearly 400 people marched in the streets of Milwaukee on the evening of August 23 in protest of the first Republican presidential primary debate.
Our guest today is Aurelia Ceja, who is the co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, as well the co-chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. They breakdown the horrible politics of the GOP candidates, the fight the coalition is waging against them, as well as the issues at stake in this battle.
We're encouraging all of our listeners who are able to join the Coalition to March on the RNC in 2024 in their protest of the Republican Party in July. You can find out more about the Coalition and ways to support them online.
You can read about the Coalition's protest of the recent Republican Presidential Primary Debate on Fight Back! News.
Check out the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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On Tuesday, July 25, the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement for the UPS 2023-2028 contract which covers 340,000 workers across the country. The agreement follows a rank-and-file campaign for a strong contract that resulted in a 97% strike authorization vote in June, and practice pickets all around the country in July in the lead up to a potential national strike on August 1.
This episode is a rebroadcasting of the 2nd online forum held by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). This discussion involves rank and file Teamsters who have spent years fighting on the shop floor, within their unions, and on the streets leading up to this historic agreement. You'll hear about what was won, what our takeaways of this agreement should be, and their plan to continue the fight forward.
Facilitator: Cherrene Horazuk - AFSCME Local 3800 | Minneapolis, MN
Speakers:
We'd like to thank the Freedom Road Socialist Organization for organizing this forum. Become a member of FRSO and join the fight for a better world. You can read FRSO's official statement on the tentative agreement on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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From police violence, racist education standards, and out right union busting, Florida is a hot bed of struggle. As a Duval County public school teacher, union building rep, activist in the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), treasurer of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (NAARPR), Monique Sampson is fighting on the front lines of these battles. We get to hear about her tireless work on these struggles, all while carrying for her newborn daughter.
Follow the Jacksonville Community Action Committee online on:
You can also read about the JCAC's action against the increased police budget in Jacksonville, FL on Fight Back! News.
Learn more about the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression online on their website.
**CORRECTION NOTE: The Tampa 5 was referred to as the Tampa 4, because there were only 4 activists being charged at the time of this interview.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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The deadline for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Parcel Service to agree on a national contract is fast approaching, and the Teamsters are preparing to fight for their demands, even if it means going on one of the largest labor strikes in US history. The Freedom Road Socialist Organization hosted a virtual forum where rank & file UPS workers spoke on their experiences working at UPS, the significance of this strike, as well as answered questions from the attendees of the forum.
Speakers:
We'd like to thank the Freedom Road Socialist Organization for organizing this forum. Become a member of FRSO and join the fight for a better world.
Read about Teamsters across the country preparing for this historic strike on Fight Back! News:
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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August 1st is the deadline for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and United Parcel Service (UPS) to agree on a contract, and Teamsters across the country are showing that they are ready and willing to go on strike if their demands aren't met. Our guest today, Tanner Fischer, is a UPS package car driver, president of Teamsters Local 90 in Des Moines, IA, and a true class struggle unionist. In this episode, he gives us an inside look into the working conditions for UPS workers, the colossal stakes of this labor battle, and the lengths he and his fellow Teamsters are willing to go to win one of the largest labor strikes in US history.
As we approach the deadline, we encourage everyone to show support and solidarity to the UPS Teamsters in their local area. Walk the pickets lines, bring them drinks and snacks, anything to show them that we're rooting for their victory, because a victory for them is a victory for us all.
Tune into "UPS Teamsters on the Frontlines!", a virtual workshop that will be presented by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization on Sunday, July 16th at 5PM Central.
Join your fellow Teamsters in fighting to reform their union by joining Teamsters for a Democratic Union.
Read about Teamsters across the country preparing for this historic strike on Fight Back! News:
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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It's been a year since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and Milwaukee is making it clear that they aren't stepping down. Hayley McNeill is one of the folks in the streets fighting for reproductive justice. We got to hear from her about the amazing work that Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJA-M) is doing, including making demands of their political leaders, affecting public opinion, and mobilizing their communities into action.
You can find Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJA-M) online on:
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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Serena Sojic-Borne is a fighter on many fronts. From the war over reproductive rights, to the attacks on LGBTQ youths, and the exploitation by Starbucks corporate, Serena recalls how she and her fellow comrades stand up and fight back.
Get connected with the Real Name Campaign:
Checkout our interview with Eliza Schultz who is on the board of directors for the Teamsters LGBTQ+ Caucus.
You can read "Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State" by Friedrich Engels online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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We're honored to sit down with Adrian Bonifacio, the national chair of Bayan USA, a grassroots alliance struggling for genuine democracy and sovereignty in the Philippines. Adrian gives us a crash course on the history of the Philippines, a political analysis on the struggle for power between the people and imperialism, and describes what the fight for sovereignty and democracy looks like today.
We encourage everyone to donate to the defense fund for the DC4 protestors.
You can find Bayan USA on online on:
We also encourage you to fill out Bayan USA's interest form, and to read more about the No 2 APEC coalition.
The book Adrian recommended, "Philippine Society and Revolution" by Amado Guerrero, is available to read online.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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On March 6th, five protesters at the University of South Florida in Tampa Bay, FL were brutalized by campus police during an action that protested Governor DeSantis’ racist attacks on education. Gia Davila, a member of the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, was one of the students who were attacked and arrested. Today she joined us to recount the events of the day, the continuing fight for justice for the Tampa 5, and the political repression in Florida under Ron DeSantis.
Sign the petition to drop the charges against the Tampa 5.Read more about the fight for justice for the Tampa 5 on Fight Back! News.You can find the Tampa Bay SDS online on their homepage.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Happy International Workers' Day from Fight Back! Radio! We're honored to be joined on this historic anniversary by Angel Naranjo, a high school senior and leader of Chicago’s Little Village Lawndale High School Fight Back! organization. Angel recently took a trip to the border between Mexico and the US and recalls for us the history of that area, the inhuman conditions and treatment of the people there, and the way people come together and form community despite this opposition.
FRSO San Jose wrote up a piece on the walkout by Chicano students at Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School.
We encourage everyone to participate in the May Day celebrations and actions in their local area, as well as to listen to our episode with Larry Spivack that dives into the history of May Day.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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Jon Melrod has spent the majority of his life deep in the trenches of the labor movement, across dozens of shop floors and different industries. We're honored to have him on the show to hear about the fights he and his fellow workers waged against the auto industry, various factories, and the strategies and tactics they utilized to achieve major victories.
We encourage you to buy and read Jon's book: Fighting Times, Organizing on the Front Lines of the Class War, which is available from PM Press.
Jon is also doing a Spring Trip to various cities to promote the book. You can find out the dates and details on website.
You can read more about Jon's experiences on his website.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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In July of 2021, the Chicago City Council passed the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) Ordinance, a ground breaking piece of legislation that gives real power back to the people of Chicago over the policing of their city. Anthony Driver was one of the key leaders that worked tirelessly to get this ordinance passed, and today he shares with us what their path to victory looked like, the new democratic structure of police accountability in Chicago, and their fight to continue forward.
If you live in Chicago, we encourage you to get involved with movement for police accountability in your city. You can find ways to get plugged in on the ECPS homepage.
Anthony is also the political director of the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression, which you can find online on their website.
We thank you again for supporting the Tampa 4, including Chrisley Caprio, and we invite you to listen to our past interview with her on their student activist work in Tampa.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Marcia Howard, high school, English Teacher, vice president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers Local 59, and occupier of George Floyd Square takes a moment away from her classroom and occupying shift to sit down with us talk about police brutality, the strength of community, the role of unions, and the importance of solidarity.
Support the Tampa 4 protesters that were brutally attacked and arrested by the police.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
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Happy International Women's Day from Fight Back! Radio!
We are honored to be joined by our guest today, Nouri Shabiba, who is on the national coordinating committee of the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). Nouri lays out for us the road to Palestinian Liberation, past, present, and future, as well as the origins of Zionism, the resistance against it, and the signs of weakness its currently showing.
You can find the US Palestinian Community Network online on their website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Remember to celebrate International Women's Day! Fight Back! News has a list of local events being hosted in various cities.
Checkout out the Fight Back! News article on Alexandra Kollontai.
The AK-47 Podcast about Alexandra Kollontai is on Kristen Ghodsee's website.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Today we're joined by our first returning guest, Carlos Montes, who we're having back on because there was simply too much to cover in just one interview. Those who listened to our first interview with Carlos will know him as an iconic leader of the Chicano National Movement, as well as the founder, spokesperson and minister of information for the Brown Berets. He was also a key leader of the 1968 Los Angeles High School walkouts, the Chicano Moratorium against the Viet Nam War, the mega-marches from 2006 and continues today as a leader of Centro Community Service Organization in Los Angeles.
We encourage to listened to our first interview with Carlos if haven't already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doxiLnZ2k8c&feature=youtu.be
You can find Carlos online on his personal website, and you can find Centro CSO on all their sites:
We are also honored to have Angel Naranjo back on the show. Angel is a high school senior and leader of Chicago’s Little Village Lawndale High School Fight Back! organization. They share a bit about the oppression they and their fellow students are facing, and how they've been able to collectively struggle and fight back against it.
You can connect with Chicago’s Little Village Lawndale High School Fight Back! organization on their Instagram, and read more about the walkout they organized on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
On January 7th, 2023, Memphis Police brutally assaulted Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old black man. This resulted in “his bones coming out of his skin” and difficulty breathing. Tyre Nichols died in the hospital three days later, on January 10th, after kidney failure and cardiac arrest because of the beating. The body cam footage is horrific and unwatchable. The 5 officers responsible for the death of Tyre Nichols have been fired by the Memphis Police Department and have rightfully been charged and indicted for the murder of Tyre Nichols. They now must be convicted.
We're joined today by Joe Iosbaker, who is the labor co-chair of the Chicago Alliance against Racism and Political Repression (CAARPR), and a 31+ year union member of SEIU Local 73. Through his wealth of experience in the labor movement, Joe stresses the criticality of labor's alliance with the Black Liberation movement, and specifically how they can work together to bring about Community Control of the Police.
You can read Fight Back! New's condemnation of Tyre Nichols's murderers on Fight Back! News.
Learn more about Chicago's Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance on CAARPR's website, and read their voter's guide to learn about the candidates.
Considering joining the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and helping the fight for a better world.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Today we're joined by Tracey Schwerdtfeger who is a registered nurse in Milwaukee, and a member and steward of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Healthcare Professionals. She breaks down the horrific state of the healthcare industry, working conditions for healthcare workers, and the fight they're currently waging against the Ascension St. Francis medical center.
Join the fight by going to the rally demanding the reopening of St. Francis labor and delivery services. (6PM 1/25, at the Milwaukee City Hall).
You can find Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee online on their Facebook page.
This episode is dedicated to Charlene Mitchell, a prolific freedom fighter, communist, and leader in the Black Liberation Movement. Read about her legacy on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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We're kicking off 2023 with Brandon Johnson, previously a public school teacher, organizer for the Chicago Teacher's Union, current commissioner of the 1st District of Cook County, and current candidate for mayor of Chicago. Brandon lays down his strategy for victory, emphasizes the importance of organizing, and shares his goals for improving the city of Chicago.
You can find about more about his campaign and volunteer to get involved via their website.
If you live in Chicago, we encourage you to get involved in the elections for the police accountability councils.
Also, join the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in their fight for community control of the police.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
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Happy Holidays from Fight Back! Radio! Enjoy this recap on the year, including a highlight from one of our favorite interviews with Frank Chapman, Executive Director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and author of Marxist-Leninist Perspectives on Black Liberation and Socialism.
As we wrap up 2022, we want to thank all of you for joining us on our journey to share news and views from the people's struggle, and hope you will join our continued efforts in the new year. We have a world to win, so let's win it together.
Buy a copy of Frank's book: Marxist-Leninist Perspectives on Black Liberation and Socialism.
You can listen to the entire interview with Frank on Fight Back! Radio.
You can find the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression online at their website.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Mick Kelly is the political secretory of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), the editor of Fight Back! News, a rank and file Teamster, and a lifelong revolutionary. Today he presents a summary of FRSO's Program, which is the organization's declaration of what this country’s working and oppressed peoples want and need, along with what it will take to get there.
You can read FRSO's program for free online, or order a physical copy on FRSO's website.
If you consider yourself a revolutionary, join the fight for a better world by joining the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
Read the statement by FRSO's Labor Commission on the shameful actions made by Biden towards the rail workers on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Greta Callahan is a teachers and the current president of the teacher chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Educational Support Professionals. Greta recalls what it's been like for her and her union to fight and organize during the trying times of the last two years, which includes responding to the murder of George Floyd in their city, fighting for the safety of their community during a pandemic, and holding a strike that made national headlines.
*POST SHOW NOTE: We wanted to mention the donation drive the MFT ran out of their union office the entire summer following the murder of George Floyd. It didn't make it into the interview, but it was really important for the community and city and definitely worth acknowledging.
You can find the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Educational Support Professionals online at their website.
Fight Back! News covered the strike in the following articles:
Check out the Fight Back! News article on the conditions for struggle and the call to fight after the 2022 midterm elections.
The video version of this interview is available on YouTube.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
We are honored to be joined by Eliza Schultz, a working class Teamster in Chicago, Illinois. Eliza is on the board of directors for the Teamsters LGBTQ+ Caucus, and she shares with us the struggles of LGBTQ+ ranks and file workers, and what it looks like to fight for LGBTQ+ Liberation from within a labor union.
You can find the Teamsters LGBTQ+ Caucus online at their website and Facebook page.
Also, get involved with Teamsters for a Democratic Union.
The video version of this interview is available on our YouTube page.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Christina Kittle is a working class leader in the Jacksonville Community Action Committee and organizer in the Black Belt South, fighting for Black Liberation and against the oppression of women and the LGBT+ community. She is one of the Jax 5, a group of protesters that were beaten and arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on April 7th, 2017 during a peaceful protest against a missile attack on Syria. Kit breaks down the events of this police brutality, the fight for community control of the police, and an analysis on the systematic oppression of women and LGBT+ folks under capitalism.
You can find the video version of this interview on our YouTube channel.
If you live in Jacksonville and have the fire to fight, get involved with the work of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.
Read about about the Jax 5 police brutality on Fight Back! News.
Check out National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression to see if there is a chapter in your area and join the fight for community control of the police.
Also, join the fight to win our world by joining the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Joe Burns is the Director of Bargaining for the Association of Flight Attendants union, a veteran of the labor movement, and author of 3 books, including his latest: Class Struggle Unionism.
In this interview, Joe breaks down the current state of the labor movement, including the struggle for power between business unionists, labor liberals, and class struggle unionists. He covers the historical context leading up to now, and describes the methods and strategies that a militant working class can and should use to win labor struggles.
If you enjoyed this discussion, definitely check out Joe’s Book: Class Struggle Unionism.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Richard Blake is a UPS driver in Jacksonville FL, a member Teamsters Local #512, and a longtime class struggle unionist. He visited us in the windy city to discuss the contract fight the rank-and-file is waging against UPS, pushing back against sellout union officials, and building worker power at the local and national level.
If you are a Teamster, get plugged into Teamsters for a Democratic Union to join the militant rank and file in your union.
If you are not a Teamster or a union member, we encourage you to get a union job and join the fight for a better world.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Fight Back! Radio is online at fightbackradio.show, and on the following socials:
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Today we are joined by Carlos Montes, an iconic leader of the Chicano National Movement. Carlos was the founder, spokesperson and minister of information for the Brown Berets. He was also a key leader of the 1968 Los Angeles High School walkouts, the Chicano Moratorium against the Viet Nam War, the mega-marches from 2006 and continues today as a leader of Centro Community Service Organization in Los Angeles.
Centro CSO held their 52nd Chicano Moratorium just last month; you can read it about it on Fight Back! News.
You can find Carlos online on his personal website, and you can find Centro CSO on all their sites:
We are also honored to have the episode closed out by Angel Naranjo, a high school senior and leader of Chicago’s Little Village Lawndale High School Fight Back! organization. Angel and their fellow students across Chicago walked out of class last year when Chicago Public Schools tried to force students into unsafe schools amidst a pandemic.
You can connect with Chicago’s Little Village Lawndale High School Fight Back! organization on their Instagram, and read more about the walkout they organized on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Happy Labor Day from Fight Back! Radio.
Today we're joined by Greg Kelley, president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri & Kansas, a union which represents 90,000 healthcare, child care, nursing home and home healthcare workers across the four states. Greg unpacks the challenges involved with organizing in the healthcare industry, the power of organized labor and what workers can accomplish by withholding theirs, and building up working class communities through community control of the police, political organizing, and other efforts.
Checkout the SEIU local's website, as well as their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also follow Greg Kelley himself on Twitter.
If you're interested in learning more about the the creation of Labor Day and May Day, we recommend listening to our interview with Larry Spivack where we take a deep dive into this history.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
We are joined by Chrisley Carpio, a Tampa-based activist and national leader of Students for a Democratic Society to discuss the fights students are taking up both on and off campus. We dive into some of the history of SDS, as well as their current struggles against the Roe V. Wade decision, racial oppression, and labor exploitation.
Students who want to get politically active can reach out to SDS through their website, Facebook, and Twitter.
Any listeners who are interested in diving deeper into theory, check out the Red Theory series on Fight Back! News. You can listen to audio versions of the articles on the Tankie Talk YouTube channel, as well as follow along the video studies on FRSO's YouTube channel.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Fight Back! Radio shares a solidarity statement with those attacked by the FBI in St Louis, MO and St Petersburg, FL.
Read more about the raids on Fight Back! News.
We are joined today by Tracy Molm, a Minnesota based activist and member of the Climate Justice Committee, to discuss climate justice from a Marxist Lensist perspective. Tracy shares with us some of the current environmental crisis that we are facing today, and breaks down a strategy to combat climate change that involves making connections, building movements, and getting people into the streets.
Read the NAARPR's statement to stop FBI oppression.
Check out the Climate Justice Committee online to learn more about their work and get involved in their movements.
Sign the petition calling for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers perform the federal Environmental Impact Survey on Line 3 that they were supposed to perform but never did.
Read about the protest organized by the Climate Justice Committee as a response to the Kalamazoo oil spill.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Listen to the full episode, "Attacks on Labor and How Unions Fight Back with Carl Rosen", wherever you're streaming this podcast.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Carl Rosen, General President of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), breaks down the ways capitalism attacks the working class, how unions can fight back through Them and Us Unionism, and the importance of solidarity and community in the labor movement.
Find out more about the UE via their homepage, and check out their statement on Them and Us Unionism.
Read more about the Farm Equipment workers union (FE) and their militant struggle in Toni Gilpin's book: The Long Deep Grudge.
Check out Jobs With Justice and Emergency Workplace Organizing (EWOC) for support in organizing your workplace.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
We are joined today by Cherrene Horazuk, President of AFSCME Local 3800 - UMN Clerical Workers Union, and Co-chair of MN Workers United, to talk about women in the labor movement, class struggle unionism, international solidarity, and much more.
You can learn more about AFSCME Local 3800 on their website and on Facebook.
Check out the World Federation of Trade Unions via their website, and read Labor Today for the latest news from the labor movement.
Learn more about Alexandra Kollontai by listening to Kristen R. Ghodsee's AK-47 Podcast
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Frank Chapman, Executive Director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), joins us for a deep dive into the relationship between the Black Liberation Movement and Socialism, as well as a strategy towards victory through the uniting of oppressed nations and workers.
You can read Frank's formal work on these topics in his book: Marxist-Leninist Perspectives on Black Liberation and Socialism.
Join the fight! Checkout the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (NAARPR), as well as the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) to get involved.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
***CORRECTION:
Around 21 minutes into the interview, Frank Chapman says the name Sekou Ture, but he is actually referring to Kwame Ture.
Sol Márquez, a Chicana activist and organizer with Centro CSO and FRSO, sits down with us to discuss the self-determination of Chicano people, fighting for community control of the police, protecting public education, and much more.
Checkout Centro CSO on:
You can also reach them directly via email at centrocso@gmail.com, and by calling or texting their hotline: (323) 943-2030
Read Sol's piece, My journey to Aztlán, on Fight Back! News.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Larry Spivack of the Illinois Labor History Society joins us to dive in to some labor history, including May Day, the Haymarket Affair, and struggles over the telling of labor history.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Richard sits down with Kobi Guillory, Co-Chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, to talk about the Alliance, the Black Liberation Movement, community control of the police, bringing power to the streets, police torture, and many other topics.
Join the fight for community control of the police. Go to caarpr.org if you're in Chicago and naarpr.org to find other cities.
Sign on to the letter calling for federal charges against Jason Van Dyke for the murder of Laquan McDonald.
Take action to fight for the freedom of torture survivors and the wrongfully convicted.
You can reach us by email at richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
And as always, check out Fight Back! News:
Welcome to Fight Back! Radio, where we take you to the heart of the peoples' struggles, and bring you a working class perspective on labor, Black liberation, anti-imperialism, and all other struggles for a better world.
We're happy you're here, and hope you stick around for our future episodes.
FRSO's statement on May Day: Celebrate International Workers Day, May 1, 2022
Read more about Lucy Parsons: Lucy Parsons: An American Revolutionary
You can reach us by email at: richard.fightbackradio@gmail.com
Check out Fight Back! News: