Latest news with #PartyForSocialismAndLiberation
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds march in 'Hands Off' protest in Georgia
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (WSAV) — Hundreds of protesters marched through Lawrenceville, Georgia, Staurday, voicing their opposition to ICE raids and deportations. Many held signs that read, 'Full Rights For All Immigrants.' The protest was led by the Party for Socialism and Liberation out of Atlanta. According to the group's website, they want to defeat what they call the 'far right assault' on immigrants, activists and the working class. Cristina Butler was one of the protesters. 'I mean it's sad, really sad. It's scary to see this and the cruelty that families are going through right now. It's not fair. A lot of their status revolves around look or timing or whatever, and it's just not fair that they have to go through so much cruelty just because someone has decided to attack the Latino community.' Butler went on to say Saturday's protest may not bring about big changes but it is part of a bigger movement. 'I don't think my little signs are going to save the day, but I do think it's important for the government, for communities and for everybody to know that there are numbers and we are stronger together and will stand and protect immigrant families.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US rights groups warn of Republican effort to undercut LA advocacy work
Immigration and civil rights organizations across the US are warning of a growing effort to undermine their advocacy work as rightwing lawmakers accuse them of fueling the demonstrations against federal raids in California. Advocacy groups voiced alarm on Thursday after Josh Hawley, a Republican US senator from Missouri, threatened multiple immigration and civil rights groups with investigations over claims that they are 'bankrolling civil unrest' in Los Angeles. Hawley, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on crime and counter-terrorism, accused the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (Chirla), the Party for Socialism and Liberation, as well as Unión del Barrio of their 'alleged role[s] in financing and materially supporting the coordinated protests and riots that have engulfed Los Angeles in recent weeks'. Related: Senator Alex Padilla forcibly removed from Kristi Noem's LA press conference As part of a letter he wrote to the organizations, Hawley, who was memorably captured raising his fist in a salute to supporters of Donald Trump outside at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, then later fleeing the mob after they invaded the building to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election victory, said that 'bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech'. He referred to 'credible reporting' that the organizations were providing logistical and financial support to 'individuals' engaged in disruptive actions, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday, as Hawley followed up on a committee announcement in the House of Representatives that it will investigate 200 organizations it accuses of helping 'inadmissible aliens' during the Biden administration. The attacks on Chirla and others also came after advocates and lawyers rushed to advise people arrested and detained, and their affected family members, during the latest immigration raids in the LA area that sparked the most fierce protests over the weekend, the LA Times further reported. Hawley added: 'You must immediately cease and desist any further involvement in the organization, funding, or promotion of these unlawful activities,' also demanding that Chirla preserve a slew of records including all internal communications, financial documents, grant applications and funding proposals. 'Failure to comply will result in additional action by this subcommittee, including potential referral for criminal investigation,' Hawley said. In response, Chirla executive director Angelica Salas rejected Hawley's accusations, saying: 'Our mission is rooted in non-violent advocacy, community safety, and democratic values … We will not be intimidated for standing with immigrant communities and documenting the inhumane manner that our community is being targeted with the assault by the raids, the unconstitutional and illegal arrests, detentions, and the assault on our first amendment rights.' Similarly, the United Farm Workers Foundation, which represents a sizable presence across California's farmlands that are largely worked by undocumented workers, said that it 'unequivocally denounces the disturbing tactics' deployed against Chirla. 'Republican members of Congress are launching a troubling and politically motivated attack on non-profit organizations, including Chirla. These actions appear designed to intimidate and discredit the work of groups that serve immigrant communities across the country,' UWF Foundation said. In an additional statement, Erica Corcoran, the UWF Foundation CEO, said that Chirla's 'work is grounded in nonviolent action, community empowerment, and the defense of democratic values, principles that should be protected, not targeted, in a free society'. The Guardian has contacted the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Unión del Barrio for comment. Hawley's letters have also alarmed civil rights organizations. David Loy, the First Amendment Coalition's legal director, said: 'The first amendment … guarantees that … anyone who organizes or supports or participates in a protest cannot be held legally responsible for the actions of a few individuals who might do illegal things like throw rocks or bottles, unless the organizer or the participant had the specific intent to commit those illegal acts or further the commission or aid and abet those illegal acts. 'The problem with the senator's letter is that it's ignoring this fundamental principle, and the effect of what he's doing is to frighten and intimidate people against speaking out,' Loy said, adding: 'No one in government should ever be … taking action which has the effect of intimidating and chilling people from exercising their freedom speech, full stop.' Hawley's letter follows federal authorities' arrest earlier this week of David Huerta, the 58-year-old president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California who was charged with 'conspiracy to impede an officer' while serving as a community observer during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) raid in Los Angeles. Huerta, who was initially hospitalized after federal officers knocked his head into a concrete curb last Friday, said: 'Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice. And we all have to stand on the right side of justice.' Hawley's letter also comes after Bill Essayli, the interim US attorney for the central district of California, threatened advocacy groups with federal investigations over their involvement in the protests. Eric Rodriguez, UnidosUS's vice-president of policy and advocacy, told the Guardian on Thursday: 'What we have seen is the Senate committee now using this accusation to be able to put pressure and intimidate organizations from engaging in peaceful protest … that's something I think that should be objectionable to all Americans. 'Some of the folks who are putting an eye on the protesters or the organizations that are responding are the very same people who did not hold or did not have the desire to hold anyone accountable for the insurrection on January 6,' he added.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Organizers to protest detention of Tampa Bay mother Saturday
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Rosa Patishtan-Gomez, a 30-year-old mother, in Tampa earlier this month. She's now across the state in a Pompano Beach detention facility, according to the agency's detainee locator system. Patishtan-Gomez is scheduled for a hearing next week, which could decide if she's legally allowed to stay in Tampa Bay. But her family, advocates and community members are rallying this weekend in support — and to get her home. The Party for Socialism and Liberation Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay Immigrant Solidarity Network have planned a protest for Saturday outside the Pinellas County Jail at 4:30 p.m. Organizers said in a news release that they are demanding that Patishtan-Gomez, who has a 2-year-old and 10-month-old, be returned home. They are also calling for an end to mass deportations and for the removal of immigration officers from the community. 'All they do is racially profile and hurt the people we love most,' Ruth Beltran, community organizer, said in the news release. Patishtan-Gomez immigrated to the United States from Mexico five years ago and recently began working in construction to support her family. She is still breastfeeding her 10-month-old, and protesters say her arrest is in violation of a directive Immigration and Customs Enforcement implemented in 2021. Officers under most circumstances will not detain, arrest or take into custody people who are pregnant, postpartum or nursing, per the directive. Organizers also said her bond has been set at $6,500, and officials have not provided her with a translator. Before officials took Patishtan-Gomez to the Miami area, she was held at the Pinellas County Jail, which, similar to every Florida county as of February, is in a program partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'We condemn the Pinellas County Sheriff's department, the State of Florida, and I.C.E. for their blatant violation of Rosa's legal and human rights— no person should endure the inhumanity of family separations," Beltran's statement said. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is also a member of the State Immigration Enforcement Council. He said last month 200 inmates were sleeping on the floor at the jail because of the influx of immigrant detainees, WFTV9 reported. And this month, the outlet reported state Attorney General James Uthmeier acknowledged the issue and was working to address it. The Sheriff's Office said in a statement Friday that jail capacity is currently stable. 'As to the demonstration tomorrow, people are free to peacefully demonstrate, and we have no concern with peaceful public expression,' Sergeant Amanda Sinni wrote in an email.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds in Knoxville march through Market Square to protest ICE, military sent to LA
A few hundred people gathered in Market Square and briefly marched through downtown Knoxville on June 13 to protest the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and President Donald Trump's recent use of military at protests in Los Angeles. Knoxvillians of all ages − some with kids on their shoulders − gathered around 7 p.m., with signs and chants against Trump's immigration policies. Protests erupted in central Los Angeles throughout the past week over the president's immigration crackdown and decision to send the National Guard and Marines into the Southern California city, USA TODAY reported. Protests have now spread across the nation, including in Knoxville, calling for change. Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized the Friday night protest in Knoxville. The crowd marched from Market Square to the Howard H. Baker Jr. Federal Courthouse just a few blocks away while chanting for justice, peace and accountability for the president's orders being carried out by ICE. Rain prompted most of the demonstrators to disperse just before 8:30 p.m. after marching from the courthouse back to Market Square. Hannah Freeman, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said the demonstration was in direct response to the National Guard being sent to Los Angeles. "We have a very strong community here that loves all our neighbors, and we believe there's a right for liberty and justice for all, due process for all and a pathway to citizenship for all," Freeman told Knox News. "We want people to recognize there is an issue going on in this country; our neighbors are being kidnapped and forcibly detained and deported. This might be on your neighbor's doorstep today, but it could be on yours tomorrow." Nationwide protests titled "No Kings" will be held June 14. Two are planned in Knoxville, one downtown and the other at John Tarleton Park. Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: Support strong local journalism by subscribing at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville anti-ICE demonstration, Market Square protest draws hundreds
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US rights groups warn of Republican effort to undercut LA advocacy work
Immigration and civil rights organizations across the US are warning of a growing effort to undermine their advocacy work as rightwing lawmakers accuse them of fueling the demonstrations against federal raids in California. Advocacy groups voiced alarm on Thursday after Josh Hawley, a Republican US senator from Missouri, threatened multiple immigration and civil rights groups with investigations over claims that they are 'bankrolling civil unrest' in Los Angeles. Hawley, who chairs the senate subcommittee on crime and counterterrorism, accused the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (Chirla), the Party for Socialism and Liberation, as well as Unión del Barrio of their 'alleged role[s] in financing and materially supporting the coordinated protests and riots that have engulfed Los Angeles in recent weeks'. As part of a letter he wrote to the organizations, Hawley, who was famously captured raising his fist in a salute to supporters of Donald Trump outside at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, then later fleeing the mob after they invaded the building to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election victory, said that 'bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech'. He referred to 'credible reporting' that the organizations were providing logistical and financial support to 'individuals' engaged in disruptive actions, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday, as Hawley followed up on a committee announcement in the House of Representatives that it will investigate 200 organizations it accuses of helping 'inadmissible aliens' during the Biden administration. The attacks on Chirla and others also came after advocates and lawyers rushed to advise people arrested and detained, and their affected family members, during the latest immigration raids in the LA area that sparked the most fierce protests over the weekend, the LA Times further reported. Hawley added: 'You must immediately cease and desist any further involvement in the organization, funding, or promotion of these unlawful activities,' also demanding that Chirla preserve a slew of records including all internal communications, financial documents, grant applications and funding proposals. 'Failure to comply will result in additional action by this subcommittee, including potential referral for criminal investigation,' Hawley said. In response, Chirla executive director Angelica Salas rejected Hawley's accusations, saying: 'Our mission is rooted in non-violent advocacy, community safety, and democratic values … We will not be intimidated for standing with immigrant communities and documenting the inhumane manner that our community is being targeted with the assault by the raids, the unconstitutional and illegal arrests, detentions, and the assault on our first amendment rights.' Similarly, the United Farm Workers Foundation, which represents a sizable presence across California's farmlands that are largely worked by undocumented workers, said that it 'unequivocally denounces the disturbing tactics' brought forth against Chirla. 'Republican members of Congress are launching a troubling and politically motivated attack on non-profit organizations, including Chirla. These actions appear designed to intimidate and discredit the work of groups that serve immigrant communities across the country,' UWF Foundation said. In an additional statement, Erica Corcoran, the UWF Foundation CEO, said that Chirla's 'work is grounded in nonviolent action, community empowerment, and the defense of democratic values, principles that should be protected, not targeted, in a free society'. The Guardian has reached out to the Party for Socialism and Liberation, as well as Unión del Barrio for comment. Hawley's letters have also alarmed civil rights organizations. David Loy, the First Amendment Coalition's legal director, said: 'The first amendment … guarantees that … anyone who organizes or supports or participates in a protest cannot be held legally responsible for the actions of a few individuals who might do illegal things like throw rocks or bottles, unless the organizer or the participant had the specific intent to commit those illegal acts or further the commission or aid and abet those illegal acts. 'The problem with the senator's letter is that it's ignoring this fundamental principle, and the effect of what he's doing is to frighten and intimidate people against speaking out,' Loy said, adding: 'No one in government should ever be … taking action which has the effect of intimidating and chilling people from exercising their freedom speech, full stop.' Hawley's letter follows federal authorities' arrest earlier this week of David Huerta, the 58-year-old president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California who was charged with 'conspiracy to impede an officer' while serving as a community observer during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) raid in Los Angeles. Huerta, who was initially hospitalized after federal officers knocked his head into a concrete curb last Friday, said: 'Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice. This is injustice. And we all have to stand on the right side of justice.' Hawley's letter also comes after Bill Essayli, the interim US attorney for the central district of California, threatened advocacy groups with federal investigations over their involvement in the protests. Eric Rodriguez, UnidosUS's vice-president of policy and advocacy, told the Guardian on Thursday: 'What we have seen is the Senate committee now using this accusation to be able to put pressure and intimidate organizations from engaging in peaceful protest … that's something I think that should be objectionable to all Americans. 'Some of the folks who are putting an eye on the protesters or the organizations that are responding are the very same people who did not hold or did not have the desire to hold anyone accountable for the insurrection on January 6,' he added.
