{"article":{"id":267708,"heading":"Fight Back! News Activism","author":"Stephen Lendman","created":"2015-03-23 19:41:53","modified":"2015-03-23 19:41:53","last_modified":"Tue, 24 Mar 2015 02:41:53","article":"<p>Fight Back! News Activism <br><br> by Stephen Lendman <br><br> Humanity faces a struggle for survival today like never before. Lunatics in Washington risk mass annihilation in their quest for world dominance.  <br><br> Minneapolis-based Fight Back! is on the front lines for progressive change. It publishes online and in print.  <br><br> It features \"news and views from the people's struggle\" for equity and justice. <br><br> Community organizers and other activists are involved. \"We are not 'neutral' or 'even-handed' in our coverage,\" it says.  <br><br> \"We are opposed to exploitation, discrimination, and oppression.\"  <br><br> \"We hold that the rich class of people who run the economy and government of this country are unfit to rule.\"  <br><br> \"We support all movements that challenge their power and privilege.\" <br><br> Ukraine, Palestine and Venezuela are three featured issues among many others. <br><br> On February 21, Fight Back! covered 100,000 Russians rallying in Moscow against Ukrainian fascist junta rule on the first anniversary of Washington's coup. <br><br> It's the largest mass protest so far against fascism's reemergence in Europe's heartland. It marked resistance to US imperial lawlessness. <br><br> Washington's installed puppet regime continues waging war on its own people. Donbass residents reject fascist rule. <br><br> Ongoing low-intensity conflict continues close to Russia's border. Donbass crisis conditions are Europe's gravest since WW II. <br><br> US anti-war activists \"came to Moscow to oppose the US\/NATO inspired war, to express support for the great, anti-fascist struggle in Donbass, and in opposition to the efforts by the West to threaten Russia,\" said Fight Back! <br><br> On March 18, tens of thousands in Moscow's Red Square celebrated the first anniversary of Crimea rejoining Russia. <br><br> Vladimir Putin joined them. The commemorative event was called \"We all together.\" It featured a rally and concert. <br><br> Putin addressed the crowd, saying: <br><br> \"A year ago, the Russian people demonstrated amazing equanimity and patriotism in supporting the people of Crimea and Sevastopol in returning to their native land.\"  <br><br> \"We, all together, then realized and felt with our hearts and minds how important the link of history and generations is.\" <br><br> Crimeans voted near unanimously by internationally monitored referendum to rejoin Russia. They exercised their UN Charter recognized self-determination right. <br><br> Fight Back! published a statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) following Israel's March 17 elections. <br><br> It said \"the results&hellip;reflect the nature and structure of the racist, fascist Zionist society&hellip;\" <br><br> Israel \"engage(s) in the most open and extreme anti-Palestinian attacks on our people and their rights&hellip;\" <br><br> US-led \"imperialist powers&hellip;provide cover for its crimes and rampant violations of international law&hellip;\"  <br><br> \"Confronting Zionist extremism and responding to these elections requires a clear and decisive Palestinian policy that casts aside the illusions of reliance on futile negotiations, and instead builds a unified national strategy to confront the enemy and struggle for the full rights of our people, based on our strategic path of resistance to build on all achievements.\" <br><br> PFLP urges unified Palestinian resistance against ruthless Israeli repression no matter what ruling coalition governs. <br><br> Venezuela is another key freedom and justice battleground. On March 16, Chicago anti-war activists rallied against Obama's ongoing political and economic war. <br><br> Longtime local social justice\/anti-war activist Joe Losbaker commented, saying: <br><br> \"Venezuela has never threatened the US people. But the Bolivarian revolution is a threat to US imperialist interests, in Venezuela and in Latin America as a whole.\"  <br><br> \"That&rsquo;s because imperialism sucks the wealth out of other countries.\"  <br><br> \"The national democratic revolution, which continues under the leadership of President Maduro, intends to use Venezuela's resources to benefit the workers and farmers of their country.\"  <br><br> \"The US government only wants to see profits going to US banks and corporations. The US should keep its hands off Venezuela.\" <br><br> Fight Back! reported on Chicago activists pledging solidarity at Venezuela's Chicago consulate. <br><br> Consul General Jesus Rodriguez-Espinoza addressed possible US military intervention against his government. <br><br> He noted Latin American unity against Obama's actions. Local anti-war activist Kait McIntyre said: <br><br> \"The US has no right to accuse Venezuela of violating human rights.\"  <br><br> Washington \"arm(s) Israel&hellip;\" It supported its \"massacre of 2500 people this summer in Gaza.\"  <br><br> \"If President Obama cared about human rights, he would have imposed a weapons embargo on Israel, instead of sanctions against Venezuela.\" <br><br> Community organizer Frank Chapman commented, saying: <br><br> \"What is Barack Obama going to do about the criminalization of dissent in Ferguson and the criminalization of Black people and other oppressed people of color in our country?\"  <br><br> \"Why isn&rsquo;t he imposing sanctions against the DOJ declared lawless regime in Ferguson? Enough already with this hypocrisy!\" <br><br> Losbaker pledged support for Bolivarianism, Venezuelan workers, farmers and patriots. <br><br> \"Those who collaborate with the US in coup attempts against the government in Caracas are sellouts,\" he said.  <br><br> \"They&rsquo;re from the wealthy class that wants to keep things they way they were before the revolution, when half of the people lived below the poverty line.\" <br><br> Obama continues waging war on Venezuela George Bush began. He imposed two rounds of lawless sanctions. <br><br> He outrageously declared Venezuela a threat to US national security. It's a powerful threat of a good example against US imperial lawlessness. <br><br> Last December, Congress passed S. 2142: Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 unanimously by voice vote. <br><br> Not a single profile in courage opposed what demanded denunciation. On December 18, Obama signed the legislation into law. <br><br> The world's leading human rights abuser targeted one of its staunchest defenders - constitutionally guaranteeing fundamental rights for all its citizens. <br><br> All Venezuelans are considered \"equal before the law.\" Polar opposite how America is governed - of, by and for its privileged elites alone. <br><br> Democracy exists in name only. Venezuelans get the real thing. On March 20, TeleSUR reported thousands protesting Obama's sanctions through social media. <br><br> A global petition against his lawless actions is circulating in Spanish and English. Global justice supporters are urged to sign it. <br><br> Thousands already sent a message denouncing Washington's lawless interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. <br><br> Its model democracy represents hope. It's polar opposite America's rage for conquest and dominance. <br><br> Activists of the world unite against Washington's menace threatening everyone. Stand in solidarity for peace, equity and justice. <br><br> Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net\" rel=\"nofollow\">lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net<\/a>.  <br><br> His new book as editor and contributor is titled \"Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.\" <br><br> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html<\/a> <br><br> Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.  <br><br> Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. <br><br> It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs. <\/p>\n","contact":"lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net","link":"sjlendman.blogspot.com","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"activism","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2015\/03\/267708.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}