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Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution adopted by AFSCME Local 526.

AFSCME Local 526 Stands with the Palestinian people against Genocide

AFSCME Local 526 dedicates itself to improving the lives of working people, and fighting for a world where all people can live with dignity, justice, respect, peace, and equality. We consistently stand against Islamophobia, antisemitism, and racism in all its forms.

We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, Palestinian trade unions, anti-Zionist Jewish people, and millions of others who are demanding an end to Israel’s colonial violence and genocide.

We condemn the active role of the U.S government in supporting Israel’s system of occupation and apartheid, illegal settlements, and forced displacement of Palestinians, which is the root cause of the conflict.

We mourn all loss of life resulting from the conflict and call for an immediate end to Israel’s aggression against Gaza that has killed over 23,000 Palestinians and displaced 85% of Gaza’s population, 1.9 million people.

U.S. support for Israel’s war has caused a humanitarian disaster, and is risking a deadly outbreak of famine, disease, and a wider war. The billions of U.S. tax dollars spent on weapons for Israel every year should be reallocated to fund programs that help poor and working people, like healthcare, education, and childcare.

AFSCME Local 526 commits to taking the following actions in support of peace and justice:

1. We will send letters to our Congressional representatives, asking them to endorse bills such as H.R. 3103 and others that take meaningful action to end the genocide and occupation.

2. We will join over 900 unions, governments, and popular organizations who have endorsed South Africa’s Genocide Convention case against Israel at the U.N. International Court of Justice.

3. We will petition our employer, the Milwaukee Public Museum, to correct the large map in the “Crossroads of Civilization” gallery that includes a label for Israel, but not Palestine.

4. We will send a copy of this resolution to AFSCME leadership, encouraging them to join the many union internationals who have already called for a ceasefire.

5. We will continue to support and participate in actions led by the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, Wisconsin Labor for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Milwaukee Anti-war Committee, and others.

Passed unanimously at the AFSCME Local 526 membership meeting on January 11th, 2024.

#MilwaukeeWI #International #Palestine #AntiWar #Labor #AFSCME #AFSCME526

By Josh Rudd

Police arrest pro-Palestine protestors during visit by President Biden. | Fight Back! News/staff

Dallas, TX – On Monday, January 9, hundreds of pro-Palestine community members gathered for a rally at Dallas Love Field Airport to protest the arrival of President Joe Biden in Texas.

The rally was held outside of the entrance to the airport where Joe Biden was landing, with banners and signs denouncing the president’s support for the ongoing U.S.-backed Israeli genocide and occupation of Gaza. Attendees chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

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By staff

Protest at Edina, Minnesota school board meeting against repression of pro-Palestine students. | Fight Back! News/Sophie Breen

Edina, MN – On January 8, more than 50 supporters of Edina students packed the school board meeting for the second time to express their concern about the political repression of pro-Palestine students. At their last meeting on December 11, 2023, the Edina school board adjourned their meeting instead of listening to the concerns of students and community members. The community returned, as promised, to demand an end to student repression.

Supporters demanded justice for a group of Muslim students that were targeted and suspended after participating in a walkout for Palestine at their school on October 26, 2023. School administrators punished the students for using the popular chant, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.”

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By staff

A Palestine solidarity demonstration on a sidewalk surrounded by trees.

Kissimmee, FL – On Saturday, December 30, around 250 protesters gathered near downtown Kissimmee to demand an end to Israel’s siege on Gaza, which has killed over 20,000 Palestinians, and its 75 years of occupation and ethnic cleansing in Palestine.

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By staff

Orlando, Florida banner-drop in solidarity with Palestine. | Fight Back! News/staff

Orlando, FL – On Friday, January 5, the Orlando District of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization participated in a banner drop over the Interstate 4 highway during rush hour traffic. The banner drop was part of the Week of Action demanding an end to the Israeli genocide in Gaza and an end of U.S. aid to Israel.

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By Owen Frassetto

The banners of Grand Valley State University Students for Justice in Palestine, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and GVSU Students for a Democratic Society lead the front of march in Grand Rapids. | Fight Back! News/staff

Grand Rapids, Michigan – . A coalition of local organizations in Grand Rapids held a rally this past Sunday, January 7, in response to the call for a national week of action to stand with Palestine. Around 200 people attended the rally and went on to march through downtown.

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By staff

Tampa, FL- Hundreds of people in Tampa participated in the National Week of Action to End the Israeli Genocide of Gaza from January 1 – 7. Tampa community members took part in daily political actions aimed at spreading awareness about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and building a movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

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By staff

Palestine solidarity protest in Seattle. | Fight Back! News/staff

Seattle, WA – On Saturday, January 6, around 1000 activists and community members joined together for a rally and march that began at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Seattle in Capitol Hill. Starbucks has continued to attack its workers organizing unions across the company and attacked Starbucks Workers United for showing solidarity with the people of Palestine.

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By staff

New Orleans caravan rider holds sign from pickup truck bed. | Fight Back! News/staff

New Orleans, LA – On January 7, over 60 motor vehicles in solidarity with Palestine occupied the streets of New Orleans on a traffic-filled football Sunday. The motorcade took place at the start of a busy parade and festival season in New Orleans, as the city geared itself to begin its 2024 Mardi Gras festivities.

Drivers decorated cars with signs, wrote messages on windows, and taped banners on bumpers. Among the protesters’ slogans were “Victory to the Palestinian resistance” and “End U.S. aid to Israel!”

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By staff

Palestine solidarity protest in Green Bay, Wisconsin. | Fight Back! News/staff

Green Bay, WI – On January 7, the Green Bay Anti-war Committee (GBAC) gathered two dozen dedicated community members to take advantage of the dense traffic leading to a Green Bay Packers football game, and displayed signs over the highway saying, “Long Live the Popular Palestinian Resistance!” and “End U.S. Support for Genocide!”

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