Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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By staff

Student activist Ryan Spalt leads chants at Baton Rouge's May Day rally in front of the state capitol.

Baton Rouge, LA – On Sunday, May 4, Baton Rouge held a May Day rally at the State Capitol building, taking the fight for worker and immigrant rights directly to the seat of the state government. Demonstrators united on the steps of the capitol with signs and banners in hand to voice their support for the working class movement and their opposition to the Trump administration’s attacks.

Protesters chanted, “Trump, hear us loud and clear! Immigrants are welcome here!” and “The workers, united, will never be defeated!”

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By Carson Cruse

People standing in the rain speaking into a microphone.

Basile, LA – On May 9, a dozen people protested outside the South Louisiana ICE processing center, demanding the release of international student Rümeyza Öztürk. At the same time as the rally, her case was heard remotely by a judge in Vermont who ultimately ordered Öztürk’s immediate release. The judge also stated that her case would set a precedent for others who have been unlawfully detained for exercising free speech under the Trump administration.

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By staff

Activist Toni Jones leads chants with her fist raised in front of New Orleans Municipal Court, following her trial.

New Orleans, LA – On Tuesday, May 6, New Orleans supporters packed the court for community activist Toni Jones’ trial in municipal court. Jones is chair of New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police and a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization. She was arrested while doing security for a Palestine protest over a year ago.

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By Rory Macdonald

A crowd of people on a sidewalk holding papers.

New Orleans, LA – On May 2, about 20 Tulane University students gathered to deliver a petition to the university president’s office. This petition demanded the reinstatement of DEI programs and a commitment to keep ICE off campus.

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By staff

New Orleanians take the streets downtown to demand an end to attacks on workers, immigrants, and that NOPD not collaborate with ICE.

New Orleans LA – On May 1, New Orleans buzzed with activity to celebrate International Workers Day. In the morning, nurses at the University Medical Center (UMC) went on strike, with dozens picketing alongside them for hours. And later in the day at 6 p.m. hundreds gathered for a march to fight for immigrants and workers’ rights.

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By staff

SDS member Nakia Fofana gives speech demanding sanctuary campus at Tulane.

New Orleans, LA – On Wednesday April 23 around 40 students, faculty and community members mobilized to demand Tulane become a sanctuary campus. The rally was held by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to urge Tulane to protect its international students and establish a clear policy stating noncompliance with ICE. Attendees also called on Tulane to protect free speech and not silence student activists.

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By Margo Wilson

Baton Rouge community members gather with signs on the sidewalk to protest Trump’s attacks.

Baton Rouge, LA – On April 19, almost 200 Baton Rouge community members gathered at the State Capitol for a march to the Russell B. Long Federal Building to say no to unlawful ICE actions, illegal deportations and the attacks on vital government programs.

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By staff

Nurses in New Orleans are ready to strike for a decent contract.

New Orleans, LA – On April 22, almost 100 nurses and their supporters rallied at the University Medical Center. They were scheduled for bargaining that day, but LCMC Health Systems (formerly Louisiana Children’s Medical Center) cancelled the session. Nurses demanded that LCMC come to the table and followed up on a strike announcement that they had made the day before.

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By staff

LSU students hold signs protesting Trump’s attacks on education.

Baton Rouge, LA – On April 17, around 15 Louisiana State University (LSU) students rallied in Free Speech Alley in opposition to the Trump administration’s attacks on education. The students demanded that LSU make the university a sanctuary campus in defense of immigrant students and reverse policies attacking DEI and campus cultural centers.

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By staff

Protesters hold a large banner in front of Louisiana Right to Life headquarters demanding access to abortion.

New Orleans, LA – On April 9, a crowd of pro-choice activists rallied outside of the Louisiana Right to Life headquarters to protest the organization’s oppressive anti-abortion agenda.

Louisiana Right to Life (LARTL) actively works to introduce anti-abortion legislation at the state and federal levels. They profit off of misinforming the public, particularly minors, about abortion and villainizing people who are fighting for their bodily autonomy. LARTL claims Louisiana is the second most “pro-life” state in the country. On the contrary, the state ranks fourth highest in maternal mortality rates and fifth highest in infant mortality rates. 20% of Louisianans are also living below the federal poverty line.

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By staff

Student activist Carson Cruse leads chants demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil in front of ICE headquarters downtown.

New Orleans, LA – Around 60 people gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in New Orleans to protest the illegal detention of Mahmoud Khalil. Attendees rallied around speakers and chanted as a judge – hours away in rural Jena, Louisiana – would decide if Khalil could be deported for his activism for Palestine.

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By Anthony Franklin

Protesters picket outside Loyola Law School against a visit from conservative Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

New Orleans, LA – On April 7, over 20 students and faculty members showed up to protest Amy Coney Barrett’s talk at Loyola Law School. Barrett is a Supreme Court Justice appointed by Donald Trump in 2020. She is one of the most conservative justices, who pushed forward the overturn of Roe v Wade in 2022.

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By staff

A massive crowd fills Lafayette Square Park in New Orleans to protest Trump’s attacks.

New Orleans, LA – On the afternoon of April 5, over 1000 New Orleanians gathered in Lafayette Square Park downtown. They were gathered as part of a national day of action to demand end the attacks on immigrants, on freedom of speech, students, union rights, LGBTQ folks and many other segments of the people.

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By Rory Macdonald

Students and community members protest across the street from Bookfest where attendees can see them, holding signs condemning Tulane's student repression.

New Orleans, LA – On Saturday March 29, during Tulane University’s three-day “Bookfest” celebration, about 20 people gathered to protest Tulane’s compliance with the racist Trump agenda. Protesters united in anger at Tulane’s attacks on free speech, its cuts to DEI programs, and its plans to renew a five-year contract with the U.S. – Israel Energy Center.

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By staff

A crowd of people holding signs.

New Orleans, LA – On March 21, the morning of Mahmoud Khalil’s court hearing, community organizations gathered outside of the Federal Court of Appeals in New Orleans to protest his detainment. Their demands were simple – release Mahmoud Khalil, reinstate his green card, and cease all illegal detainments.

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By staff

New Orleans march against attacks on public sector and federal workers.

New Orleans, LA – On Saturday, March 22, over 100 New Orleanians gathered at Congo Square downtown for a march to fight against Trump’s attacks on federal workers. The demonstration brought together at least ten different unions across the city in coalition with community organizations, building a broad united front against Trump’s attacks on labor.

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By Shreyas Vasudevan

Hakm Murad, an activist from Palestinian Youth Movement New Orleans, speaks to the press in front of Tulane University’s barricaded lawn.

New Orleans, LA – On Wednesday, March 19, a broad group of activists congregated at Tulane University for a press conference. The groups presented an open letter addressed to the administrations of all local universities demanding they protect students, staff and faculty from the White House’s recent slew of attacks against college campuses. They demanded protections for immigrants, freedom of speech and DEI programs.

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By staff

A group of people stand holding signs.

New Orleans, LA – On March 20, about 50 postal workers and their supporters gathered outside of the downtown United States Postal Service center. They rallied, carried signs and distributed flyers to protest Trump’s attempt at privatizing the mail service. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 83 organized the event in response to a national call to action.

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By Ryan Spalt

A crowd of students hold signs saying, "Defend Women's and LGBTQ Rights."

Baton Rouge, LA – On March 10, Louisiana State University (LSU) students and Baton Rouge community members rallied on LSU’s campus in Free Speech Alley for International Women’s Day.

In light of Trump's attacks on immigrants, one of the demands put forth by students was to put an end to the mass deportations and family separations. Students also called on the LSU administration to declare the university a sanctuary campus.

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By Zane Sutor-Benfield

A group of people holding signs reading, "ATU on Strike"

Baton Rouge, LA – In the early morning hours of Monday, March 3, workers for Baton Rouge’s Capital Area Transit System (CATS) went on strike. CATS provides bus services throughout Baton Rouge. Supporters joined the picket line as early as 3 a.m. carrying signs in solidarity with the picket.

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