https://fighting-words.net/2020/06/30/detroit-holds-daily-demonstrations-to-denounce-police-brutality-and-racism/

By Detroit Fighting Words Staff

Since May 29, thousands of people in Detroit and surrounding suburbs have held demonstrations in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the overall struggle against racism.

Detroit officials responded to activists by imposing an unjustified curfew in order to break up marches with rubber bullets, pepper spray and concussion grenades. Over 400 people were arrested in the first week of demonstrations.

Since these repressive tactics by police could not end the protests, the City administration suspended enforcement of the curfew. Twenty-three  demands, proposed by protestors and adopted at mass rallies, have been put forward to corporate-imposed Mayor Mike Duggan calling for the defunding of police and the allocation of more resources for education and housing.

There have been car caravans, the picketing of police in Sterling Heights, Warren and Harper Woods where racist incidents and even deaths have occured in recent weeks. Efforts by the corporate media and the Duggan administration to slander the protesters as “outside agitators” have failed.

Many veteran activists are joining and supporting the youth-led actions. The Moratorium NOW! Coalition has participated in the marches and rallies distributing literature and hoisting its banner championing the struggle for Black Liberation.

A tribunal to charge police for their brutal response to the demonstrations was held on June 20 at Hart Plaza on the Detroit River. Hundreds participated prompting an attempted face saving statement from police chief James Craig and Duggan. A march and rally was also held in downtown Detroit for “Black Disabled Lives Matter.”

Undoubtedly, the City of Detroit will be the subject of legal actions by those victimized by the police violence. Even members of the corporate media were hit by rubber bullets and arrested by police.

https://bit.ly/31yEAla

By Detroit Fighting Words Staff

A “Power to the People” street mural was unveiled on June 19 (Juneteenth) along Woodward Avenue between Congress and Larned in downtown Detroit.

The project was developed by local African American artist Hubert Massey with the collaboration of 30 high school students. Juneteenth took on an added significance in 2020 coming right alongside the upsurge in mass demonstration, urban rebellions and the renewed debate over the role and status of the police.

In the next block from where the mural is located, several African American organizations staffed tables with artwork and political propaganda. Various groups were in attendance including Black Youth Project 100, the Black Women’s Coalition, among others.

Also taking place just several blocks away at Detroit police headquarters is the daily 4:00 pm rally and march against police brutality. The group, Detroit Will Breathe, has drafted a series of demands to the City administration including the defunding of police, the banning of crowd-control weapons used by cops and the channeling of these resources into programs for education and housing.

Members of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition and the Communist Workers League (CWL) have been present at the demonstrations distributing literature, posters and addressing the audiences on several occasions.

https://bit.ly/2VyIJSa

Listen to the Tues. June 30, 2020 edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the escalating cases of COVID-19 in the United States and the impact on the economy; in the Southern African state of Mozambique the government is extending a state of emergency to address the continuing threat of the pandemic; Tanzanian President John Magufuli has declared again his committment to anti-imperialism; and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is celebrating 60 years of independence from Belgium. In the second hour we rebroadcast a World Health Organization (WHO) briefing by Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus where the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and other medical issues are discussed. In the final hour we look back on the life, times and contributions of the founder of the modern Congolese state Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961).

Congolese state Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961) / https://ibw21.org/

Chrystul Kizer is out on bond & her struggle for freedom continues! 💗💗💗

You can send $$$ here: bit.ly/DonateChrystulKizer

Sign her petition here: bit.ly/FreeChrystulKizer

Read our statement about our BIG WIN today for #PoliceFreeSchools.

Make sure you follow Freedom Inc and Freedom Youth Squad for upcoming events and actions! The revolution is always in the hands, minds, and spirits of our young people.

Text of the statement:

June 29, 2020
Dear Community,

Moments ago, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Board of Education voted unanimously to end the contract with the Madison Police Department (MPD) that funded police presence in each of the four Madison high schools. After countless hours of community engagement, public testimony, and powerful protest, we have won police free schools!!!

Come and celebrate this victory with us this Friday

We are so proud of our Black and Southeast Asian youth organizers of the Freedom Youth Squad (FYS) as they celebrate a huge victory in our Police Free Schools Campaign. We are beyond grateful to community members who have supported our campaign, specifically the Safe Schools Coalition and our Black, Hmong, and Khmer elders.

This great victory is made possible, not only by the leadership of Freedom, Inc.’s Black and Southeast girls and LGBTQI+ youth here in Madison, but also by the many activists and organizers across the country and the world leading our current global uprising in defense of Black life. Following the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless others, millions of people are taking action to demand #DefundPolice and #InvestInCommunity. We are winning AND we are not done yet!

MMSD schools are still practicing punitive disciplinary policies and practices and failing our youth. Until these schools are safe for Black youth, we will continue to fight for:
Accountability processes for school administrators and other adults who use the police against students.
Transformative Justice instead of punishment.
Investment into the leadership, creativity, and wellness of Black youth and other Youth of Color.
Community Control over schools. Most impacted youth, parents, and trusted adults need real decision making power over schools.

Follow Freedom, Inc. and Freedom Youth Squad on Facebook for upcoming events and actions! The revolution is always in the hands, minds, and spirits of our young people. Continue to support us along the way.

Love & Power,
Freedom, Inc.

We Walk Waukesha for the Children

Stand For Justice

“Stand for Justice”

Let’s ALL exercise our right to support Black Lives Matter in ways both large and small. Come “Stand” with us rain or shine every Wednesday and Saturday from 12:00-1:30 p.m. on 27th & Oklahoma. Bring your own sign and chair if you like.

This small protest is perfect for folks like me who are unable to attend long protests and rallies. Remember: EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS.

Organized by Karen Hartwell, Kathleen Kat Hickman-Turner, and Rachel Adair