Dallas, TX – Over 300 community members marched through the Dallas Oak Lawn “gayborhood,” Sunday, March 23 to protest the spread of anti-LGBTQ bills and laws sweeping the country. Attendees gathered at the Cathedral of Hope in Oak Lawn for speeches calling attention to the diverse needs of the queer and trans community in this political moment. The rally, called by Texas Latino Pride, spoke to the heightened attacks faced by trans women, disabled, Black, and brown queer and trans folks.

At the rally, Emmy-winning drag artist Lushious Massacr lifted up the contributions of trans women to the queer movement and condemned the heightened demonization of the trans community, saying, “We will never be ourselves the way they see us.” After the march in a post on Instagram, she commented, “Today was truly memorable as our community came together in solidarity, standing up for what is right. It was an honor to be surrounded by so many passionate individuals who believe in the power of unity.”

Stacey Monroe, co-lead of the Trans Empowerment Coalition, spoke, remarking, “In Texas, these state-level attacks – from book bans to bathroom bills to criminalizing healthcare to criminalizing our existence – are part of a calculated, coordinated strategy to push us back into the shadows. But we are ungovernable in the face of injustice. We are unstoppable when we organize, when we care for each other, when we refuse to back down.” She also called the crowd to attend an upcoming Trans Day of Visibility rally at Dallas City Hall on March 30 at 11 a.m.

Attendees marched from the Cathedral of Hope to the center of the gayborhood, chanting slogans such as “We are queer, we are here, we are going nowhere” and “No hate, no fear, trans people are welcome here.” Community members also highlighted previous decades of queer activism with signs and shirts emblazoned with the pink triangle of the Act Up movement, and led the crowd in chants of “Act up, fight back!”

#DallasTX #TX #LGBTQ #Trans #TEC

Richardson, TX – On March 18, community members gathered to protest in front of the Raytheon company’s building in response to Raytheon’s complicity in the Israeli genocide in Palestine. The Dallas chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement called the emergency protest after Israel broke the recent ceasefire agreement and continued bombing the Gaza strip.

Raytheon, second to Lockheed Martin, is one of the world largest weapons manufacturers, and has been targeted by anti-war activists in north Texas. Aside from Raytheon, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has seen protests and actions against local Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics plants.

Hundreds of community members shouted chants, “No more ships, no more cargo, we demand an arms embargo” and “Ron, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.” The demonstration lasted from 3 to 6 p.m. Volunteers were out and about helping community members and directing people towards the front of the Raytheon building.

Omar Suleiman, a local imam serving at the Valley Ranch Islamic Center stated, “We know that this evil will come to an end inshallah, we know that it is a matter of time. We know that the days of the oppressors are numbered.”

It has been 17 months since October 7 and countless Palestinians continue to lose their lives. Just within the first 12 hours of the breaking of the ceasefire, over 400 were murdered; of those, over 170 were children.

Besides Palestinian Youth Movement, the action was endorsed by many community organizations such as the Dallas Anti-War Committee, MAS Peace, Dallas Palestine Coalition, as well as Dallas chapters of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Jewish Voices for Peace, Democratic Socialist of America, and multiple Student for Justice in Palestine chapters.

#DallasTX #TX #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #AWC #PYM #DPC #JVP #SJP

Dallas, TX – Despite rainy weather, over 300 participants came out to Civic Garden Park to commemorate International Women's Day. Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) partnered with several organizations to put together the rally and march.

The rally began at 2 p.m. It was emceed by Freedom Road member and student organizer, Seraphine Pecson who began the rally with chants, such as, “Not the church, not the state – women must decide their fate!” and “Half the sky, we hold it up, half the world, we’ve had enough.”

Kyra from the FRSO, told the crowd, “stripping women’s bodily autonomy, tearing down workplace protections against harassment and discrimination, they’re inciting violence against trans people – giving a free pass to bathroom vigilantes, and even though multiple court rulings blocked the executive order, trans women have been transferred to men’s prisons, left to face the worst violence with no escape or end in sight.”

Brinda Gurumurthy from the Young Active Labor Leaders and the Democratic Socialists of America, stated, “I think about teaching, I think about nursing, home health care aides etc., all of these professions fall under the umbrella of care work and our capitalist society expects us to do these jobs without being compensated fairly. I'm a high school math teacher and the phrase we hear a lot is that we do this for the outcome and not the income. But does the outcome pay for the income? Absolutely not.”

Despite the pouring rain the crowd of people mobilized behind a banner that read “Women hold up half the sky.”

Led by Seraphine from Progressive Student Union, the rally became a march circling downtown Dallas with participants chanting. “Stand up with the women of Palestine,” “Stop the deportations keep families together” and “Stand up fight back!”

The march was stopped at the intersection of a busy street, and Ebonee Taylor from National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression – Dallas stated, “Women have always been in the fight alongside the working class to stand up against sexism, exploitation and white supremacy.”

The march stopped again and Jumana Deh from the Dallas Fort Worth Anti-War Committee and CODEPINK-Dallas spoke to the crowd, “I am speaking to you as a nationally oppressed woman indigenous to Palestine.

“We have to remember that International Women’s Day is more than a celebration, it is a struggle. It was forged in 1908, when garment workers took to the streets in New York City to protest the exploitation in sweatshops.

“It was fought for by Claudia Jones, a Black communist who organized during the height of the anti-communist Cold War hysteria, who in 1950, on this day, gave her historic speech that was rooted in the contemporary moment of the class struggle in the long history of the fight for Black liberation, women’s emancipation, peace, and socialism.

“We find stories of resilience from Vo Thi Thang. In 1968 she was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in a prison camp by the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government. When the judge delivered that harsh verdict? She smiled and faced the judge and calmly said, ‘20 years? Your government won’t last that long.’

“We look for the unwavering spirit and defiance of Palestinian women, like Leila Khaled of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who hijacked an airplane to defy the Zionist Israel, and Ahd Al Tamimi, nicknamed the lioness, a 13-year-old Palestinian activist, who confronted Israeli occupation forces and slapped an IOF soldier across his face.”

The march was led back to Civic Garden Park, with the crowd still in high spirits. The organizers of the march then directed people to a panel on International Women's Day hosted by FRSO at Pan African Connection bookstore.

At 5:30 p.m., 30 people arrived for the panel discussion. It covered a range of topics, from the history of International Women’s Day to the material needs of the present day as well as means to stay connected to the movement.

#DallasTX #TX #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay

The event was well attended and discussed systemic racism, historical repression and solidarity efforts in Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas. Topics spanned education inequities, Confederate symbolism, police violence, and grassroots resistance, linking past injustices to modern struggles.

Speakers detailed Fort Worth’s segregated education history, including I.M. Terrell High School, the sole secondary school for non-white students before Brown v. Board of Education, and contrasted it with today’s diverse Trinity High School. Discussions about UT Arlington centered on its Confederate past, including the “Johnny Rebel” mascot, and pro-segregation university presidents like E.E. Davis and Jack R. Woolf. The speakers also addressed the 1921 lynching of Fred Rouse, which underscored Fort Worth’s legacy of racial terror.

Presenters a talked about the history of the Little Mexico barrios, established during the 1910s Mexican Revolution and the 1954 Hernandez v. Texas ruling that extended 14th Amendment protections to Mexican Americans, but noted that police violence yet persisted. The 1973 killing of 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez – abducted without a warrant, tortured and executed by officer Darrel Cain – sparked outrage. Cain served just two and a half years.

“We see that there are points where history repeats itself,” said a speaker at the event, linking Santos Rodriguez’s murder to modern cases like Atatiana Jefferson’s killing by Fort Worth police. “The state chooses to put their weight behind these wrongdoings. This is why we must demand community control of the police.”

The town hall closed with a call for united action against systemic racism, emphasizing that collective struggle, not isolated efforts will drive change.

#DallasTX #TX #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #ChicanoLatino #InJusticeSystem #ImmigrantRights #NAARPR

Dallas, TX – 3000 people Marched through the city of Dallas, February 2, in response to Trump's recent attacks on immigrant rights, including the raids by ICE that have increased deportations around the country, especially in Texas.

The rally and march were called by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression-Dallas (NAARPR-Dallas) and La Frontera Nos Cruzo (FNC) in collaboration with high school students, Joselin Ibarra and Ximena Basilio. The high school students previously worked with NAARPR in organizing a high school walk out at Sam Houston High School-Arlington.

At 1 p.m. the crowd settled in at City Hall in Dallas, and began chanting, “Ci se puede,” ” No que no, si que si, los inmigrantes se quedarán jaquí!” “Arriba! ¡Adelante! La gente inmigrante!” “No fear; no hate. No ICE in our state!” and “Trump, escucha, estamos en la lucha.”

At 2 p.m. speeches began, with Xavier Velasquez from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, co-chair of the Legalization for All Network and member of NAARPR stating, “First, let’s give it up for all the high schoolers that walked out on Friday and brought this movement together! Trump and the right like to talk about immigration, but never the causes of why people go through such perils to come and live here. The truth is that this country stole this land from the indigenous peoples, built up the country with slave labor, and devastated Latin America.

Velasquez continued, “We immigrants come here looking for opportunity because they took ours from us. This is why we say no one is illegal on stolen land. If you want to fight for yourself and your community, then talk to one of the many organizers at this event. Join the movement to change our society for the better!”

At around 2:45, the crowd began marching through the city of Dallas, where they met with raucous support from onlookers and passersby. People on the streets joined the rally and began chanting with the crowd. The march passed through Civic Garden Park, to the historic West End Station and briefly stopped the train from passing through.

Lesly Torres Guerrero, from NAARPR and FNC addressed the crowd from the truck leading the march by saying, “La energía del pueblo se siente. No pensé que tanta gente saliera y tomara las calles el día de hoy. We took back our streets and let all of Dallas know that we will not stop fighting for immigrants’ rights, now more than ever.”

At 4:30 the crowd returned back to City Hall. Joselin Ibarra, one of the high school students, presented closing remarks: “We did the protest for our people. I want to be an influence for people my age, the youth have power and we will not stop till justice is served. I’m proud of our people, they stood up for what they believe in and I'm proud that they're here today. I strongly believe that the power of the people is stronger than the people in power and I believe that we can win.”

At the end of the protest, people went to NAARPR’s social event at City Hall, where Yolanda Cruz and the Daydreamers, a Dallas-based band played music for the crowd, followed by a DJ playing Cumbia music, a popular genre in Texas and Mexico. The crowd danced along with the music and rejoiced. The event concluded at 6 p.m.

#DallasTX #TX #ImmigrantRights #Trump #NFC #L4A #NAARPR #FRSO

The large rally was organized by high school students Ximena Basilio and Joselin Ibarra. Basilio commented, “It doesn’t seem fair seeing how families are getting separated from their loved ones. It doesn’t seem fair to see people getting broken up.”

Ibarra continued, “This protest started as a small conversation we had that turned into a TikTok that got a lot of shares and was eventually shared all over social media.”

The crowd gathered at 3 p.m. and quickly filled the park to chants of, “Trump escucha, estamos en la lucha” and “Sí, se puede!” Energy was high in spite of gray skies and wet weather, drawing the attention of both local news and Dallas police. The crowd took to the streets, eventually blocking a major bridge across the Trinity River just before 6 p.m. as law enforcement was seen preparing to escalate against them with pepper ball guns.

Four years earlier, during the George Floyd uprising, the same Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge was the site of a kettling operation at the hands of Dallas PD that saw hundreds of protesters detained.

Members of La Frontera Nos Cruzo, the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression and Freedom Road Socialist Organization were in attendance, with attendees from NAARPR addressing the crowd themselves and using their sound system to guide the crowd safely back to Trinity Park just off the bridge.

Jose Rodriguez of NAARPR led the crowd, chanting “Yo no soy criminal, Donald Trump es criminal” as protesters regrouped. Police closed in until 7:45 p.m. but they held off as the crowd settled in the park.

Elizabeth Velasquez, mother of one of the young organizers, shared her pride in her daughter’s work putting this rally together, stating, “I am very proud of them because they had the courage that many of us adults do not. They are 16 years old and have made their voices heard where many others cannot speak up.”

Near the end of the action, one speaker, Xavi Velasquez of La Frontera Nos Cruzó, said, “We have to take the word ‘illegals’ out of our vocabulary book. We aren't illegal. We aren't criminals. We aren't terrorists. We are regular, everyday working-class people trying to go to school, trying to go to church and trying to go to work. The real criminals are the corporations and politicians who spread these lies about us.”

A second rally was called for the following week at City Hall as the crowd eventually dissipated into the night. Dallas has seen this before and will see it again, and the people of Dallas will again be prepared to rise to the occasion.

#DallasTX #TX #ImmigrantRights #Trump

Dallas, TX – On January 16 a crowd drawn from around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex convened in response to the newly-brokered and fragile ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian resistance and Israel.

Community members met at Main Street Garden Park after the announcement that the Israeli Security Cabinet would accept the latest ceasefire terms. The terms include an exchange of hostages that could release over 1500 Palestinian civilians arrested since October 7, 2023, over a first phase that will last six weeks.

The night began with speakers from Palestinian Youth Movement who proclaimed that the impending ceasefire is owed to the steadfastness and perseverance of the Palestinian people around the globe and the resistance of their supporters. It is hard not to emphasize the numbers at play, that a fighting force in the dozens of thousands, in a space like Gaza roughly the size of Philadelphia, has withstood constant siege and famine from one of the most advanced occupying armies in the world, numbering over half a million troops.

But the impending relief does not come without strings – both the genocidal Biden administration and Netanyahu have already spent 15 months stalling any relief to the Palestinian people. The incoming Trump administration had already secured their victory on the campaign trail saying they would allow Israel to “finish the job.” taking $100 million dollars Zionist billionaire Miriam Adelson.

A hostage release still relies on a 24-hour appeal period over the weekend and there are no illusions of trust where the Zionist occupation is concerned. Ultranationalists in Netanyahu's coalition have already taken to social media to openly brag about past attempts and future intentions to sabotage this agreement. Though hope is there, it must be acknowledged that it is an uneasy kind of hope.

The crowd took to the streets, chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine is almost free.” Spirits were high. Night prayer was held at an intersection before the crowd made its way back up Main Street.

Jo Hargis of the DFW Anti-War Committee addressed the crowd, stating, “Of course it took less than a day for the criminal Benjamin Netanyahu to go back on his word and hold up the deal. Of course, the Zionist occupation, once again, is murdering as many Palestinians as possible before the deal goes into effect. There are many questions about whether this agreement will go through and if it goes through, if it will be implemented.”

People cheered at the news that the occupying Zionist force and its imperialist partners in crime had publicly and repeatedly failed to accomplish its stated military objectives since the Operation Al-Aqsa flood began in October 2023.

The crowd returned to Main Street Garden Park with high spirits, but with no doubt that the struggle is not over.

#DallasTX #TX #AntiWarMovement #Palestine

Dallas, TX – On December 23, four north Texas Starbucks locations joined the national strike led by Starbucks Workers United (SBWU). The next day, December 24, ten north Texas locations were on strike.

Pickets began at each location, then converged in Denton for a march between striking locations. Starbucks management called police on strikers at the Rayzor Ranch location, but police came and went without arrests.

Chants included “No contract? No coffee!” “3, 5, 7, 9, don’t cross a picket line!”, and “H-O-T-T-O-G-O, Brian Niccols got to go!” Brian Niccols is the new CEO of Starbucks.

On December 24, despite heavy rain, workers braved the weather to picket outside a Farmers Branch location with scabbing workers inside. Picketers wore ponchos and held umbrellas as they chanted “Hail or sleet, rain or shine, don’t cross a picket line!”

Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a strike captain and a five-year Starbucks partner, stated, “Not only do we want to come back to the bargaining table and secure a not just livable, but thriveable, contract to work under, we are also demanding a resolution to all unresolved unfair labor practices.”

Bre Byrd, a rank-and-file member of SBWU, spoke to their experience as a pregnant worker, saying, “I returned to Starbucks in 2023 because I was promised family expansion benefits, really competitive pay. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. So 25% of my pay goes to health insurance right now, which is really rough, and then it still took our entire life savings and a lot of debt for one round of IVF. So this contract really means everything to me and the future of my family.”

In Arlington, Starbucks workers held a picket outside of their store. Rhea Lanawant, a union member and strike captain of the SBWU, said, “We need to consider whose wallets those billions are lining. We are being choked. We cannot pay rent while their CEO makes more than $50k an hour.”

#DallasTX #TX #Labor #SBWU #Starbucks #Strike #Feature

Dallas, TX – Teamsters Locals 745 and 767 held solidarity pickets for Amazon workers in support of the national strike demanding the shipping giant recognize the right to unionize and come to the table to negotiate a contract for better working conditions. Across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, there were multiple solidarity pickets on Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20.

On Thursday, pickets were held at the DAL3 (Chalk Hill), FTW6 (Grapevine), FTW2 (Coppell) and FTW5 (Forney) Amazon fulfillment centers. Picketers showed up in shifts to hold a steady line while passing drivers from UPS, Amazon, and its contractors honked their horns and stopped outside the warehouse in solidarity.

At the end of the day, spirits were high as Friday’s pickets included five different north Texas locations from Forney to Fort Worth, adding IAH1 (Southlink) and AFW1 (NE Loop) to the list of solidarity picket locations. Food and hand warmers were brought out as the temperatures dropped in the evening and the pickets continued through the night.

At the picket Amazon drivers and Teamsters from UPS -who had shown up in support – were comparing their trucks, pointing out that to the Amazon workers that air conditioning was not a luxury during Texas summers. For these workers, the strike isn’t a tool for luxuries but for basic amenities to survive the job.

#DallasTX #TX #Labor #Teamsters #Amazon #Strike

The town hall featured presentations from three members of NAARPR to an audience of about 20 people. Concerns around the Black liberation struggle, the struggle for immigrant rights and the future of the queer community were addressed by the three members in an interactive format. After the presentations, the audience was invited to engage in a question and answer portion where they offered questions and commentary around the topics covered by the speakers.

“They have the money, but we have the numbers.” said NAARPR member Ulises Ramos who MCed the event. “We must fight them with unity not division.”

#DallasTX #TX #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NAARPR

Dallas, TX – Dancers from the Dallas Black Dance Theater (DBDT) held their latest picket, November 9, outside the Wylie Theater against their firing in August.

The dancers unanimously voted to unionize with the American Guild of Musical Artists and were promptly fired by the theater for their efforts. The DBDT management issued a do not work order and claimed the dancers engaged in misconduct, thereby violating company policies. AGMA filed unfair labor practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board. On November 4, the NLRB issued a complaint to the Dance Theater, including 40 counts of unlawful conduct based on the dancers' protected activities.

The picket was attended by several groups including Young Active Labor Leaders, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Democratic Socialists of America, Party of Socialism and Liberation, and the Communist Party USA.

The attendees of the picket marched around the outside the theater, chanting “Drop your ticket, join our picket” and “Dallas Black, bring them back,”

Rick Majumdar of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and a member of Teamsters 767 delivered a speech saying, “These union-busting efforts by the company will not deter these dancers from fighting for their rights. We are united with these dancers as a class against management.”

#DallasTX #DallasBlackDanceTheater #AmericanGuildofMusicalArtists

Dallas, TX – After the election outcome, November 6, Freedom Road Socialist Organization here held a 50-person rally in front of the Dallas City Hall.

Jo Hargis from the DFW-Anti War Committee started the rally by singing Power in the Union. That was followed by a speech from the vice president of the Progressive Student Union at UTA, Seraphine Pecson, who said, “In the coming years, we will see our rights placed in jeopardy as marginalized people, but let it be clear: we will not consign ourselves to spending the next four years living on our knees!”

Gregory Butler, from the DFW-Anti War Committee, stated, “There are little ways that all of us can help, from handing out water at protests to helping our organizations with social media. Anyone can do it and the time to do it is now.”

William Josef from the Jewish Voice for Peace spoke next, saying “the vocal unwavering support for Israel's genocidal violence from both parties reveals that they both, fundamentally, grow from the same rotten source. It proves that despite overwhelming public support for a ceasefire, the ruling class is uninterested in anything but money and capital.”

Ulises Ramos from the National Alliance spoke next saying “NAARPR understands that the driving force behind any successful movement of the people’s struggle is powered by the people for the people. Not from the federal government, not from the mayor’s office, and certainly not from the police chief’s desk, but by the hands and hard work of each and every one of us. The police will continue to act against our interest until we as a community take control of how they function. We don’t need more money for the police to keep terrorizing our communities.”

The event got support from National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Dallas Fort Worth Anti-War Committee, The Progressive Student Union at UTA, Jewish Voice for Peace, Codepink, Palestinian Youth Movement-Dallas and the Young Active Labor Leaders.

The final speaker was from a member of Teamsters Local 767 and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Rick Majumdar, who said, “Both the Democrats and the Republicans have proven time and again that they do not, cannot and will not act in the interests of the multinational working class and the poor marginalized, oppressed nationalities across the contiguous United States. They are only interested in lining their pockets with the wealth stolen from our paychecks, to further their own imperialist exploits by dropping bombs on third world countries and exerting control in regions where they have no business in.”

#DallasTX #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #FRSO #NAARPR #DAWC

The event, titled “Perspectives on Policing: Connected Struggles Abroad” is the latest entry in the series on policing town hall series.

One of the presenters was Ramon Mejia. He is an ex-marine and prominent anti-war organizer with the group About Face, and gave an unflinching portrayal of the ever-growing violence in the military, explaining how the violence is turned back on the very people the military claims to protect, through the exchange programs with police.

In close coordination with Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and Bayan USA, NAARPR DALLAS was able to hold a rousing and informative event with presenters from all walks of life.

The struggle continues but the Dallas community showed a great willingness to learn and better understand that interconnected struggle all thanks to the people at NAARPR DALLAS. More town halls to come in the coming weeks and months.

#DallasTX #NAARPRDallas #BayanUSA #FRSO #PYM #AboutFace #AntiWar #Policing

Dallas, TX – A coalition led by the Palestinian Youth Movement met at Dallas’ own Grassy Knoll, October 5 to observe a year of resistance against escalated genocide and expanding occupation at the hands of the Israeli state.

Speakers included Dr. Hatem Bazian of American Muslims for Palestine, Nida Abu Baker of the Holy Land Foundation, Dr. Omar Suleiman of the Yaqeen Institute, Pastor Frederick Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church, and presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein. Freedom Road Socialist Organization, DFW Anti-War Committee and the Party for Socialism and Liberation supported the protest.

Crowds arrived with energy in the early afternoon as Dr. Hatem Bazian addressed the crowd by proclaiming “A free Palestine is a state of mind,” followed by Nida abu Baker affirming, “We will chant for the voiceless and we will demand justice.”

Dr. Omar Suleiman condemned the Zionist state as a “ruthless regime that turns its wrath on women and children, using means many of which are supplied by the U.S. government.”

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein followed, repeating the call for an immediate embargo on the movement of U.S. weapons and Israeli economic aid, proclaiming “The U.S. is not just a partner, the U.S. is leading the charge.”

The Dallas Fort Worth area is no stranger to weapons manufacturers, from its suburbs to its schools, with companies like Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. Actions and shut-downs have repeatedly been held at facilities such as General Dynamics and Elbit Systems as well as at campus events hosted by Lockheed Martin in North Texas. Participants have faced repression at the hands of police and administrations.

The crowd took to the street with chants and signs. Pastor Frederick Haynes led with, “We don’t intend on relinquishing our claims” and “We will not bow down to the U.S. war machine.”

The crowd stopped briefly again at Dallas City Hall as Jo Hargis of DFW Anti War Committee spoke about the city’s complicity in genocide through a 2023 resolution. “Once again this city council has stood on the side of genocide and occupation.”

Just days after October 7, 2023, amid waves of misinformation targeted at the American public, the Dallas City Council reflexively and unanimously passed an extreme resolution giving its “unequivocal” support to the Israeli state. This came at the heavy objection of their constituents and 75% of the speakers present at the meeting, resulting in the city choosing to dig in further with an even more extreme draft of the resolution. The coming months would see Dallas Forth Worth community members march, teach and organize to shut down bomb factories, airports and schools – chanting “Whose streets? Our streets.”

Hargis continued, “The arc of history does not bend on its own. The people of Gaza broke out and took hold of the arc of history.”

The march concluded back at Dealey Plaza with cheers of “Wise up, rise up!” As the crowd dissipated back into the scenery of Saturday afternoon, organizers packed up to debrief and move on themselves, ready for another year of action.

#DallasTX #TX #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #PYM #DAWC #AMP #PSL #FRSO

Dallas, TX – Close to 80 people came together late Thursday evening, September 26, at the Grassy Knoll in downtown Dallas for a vigil held to honor the late Marcellus Khaliifah Williams. Williams was executed by the state of Missouri on September 24 for a 1998 murder which DNA evidence showed he did not commit. The unusual numbers for the death penalty-related vigil indicated the community's grief, frustration and righteous anger.

The vigil started with evening prayer led by a local imam. One speaker read a poem by Williams, which included the lines, “In the face of apex arrogance and ethnic cleansing by any definition... still your laughter can be heard and somehow you are able to smile O resilient Children of Palestine!”

Another speaker, from Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said, “The road forward to ending the murder of innocent people in the U.S. begins with control over policing, we believe that the community most affected by the police should have control over the police. In short, we believe in community control of the police.” The vigil concluded with a chant.

The event was organized by the Dallas Chapter of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), supported by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Progressive Student Union at the University of Texas at Arlington, Movement for Black Lives, Palestinian Youth Movement, and In Defense of Black Lives.

Ammar Hussein, from NAARPR Dallas, said, “Marcellus Khaliifah Williams was executed by a morally bankrupt, racially biased policing and judicial system. The needless suffering and unnecessary death of many thousands of Black and brown people all across the country could be entirely avoided if our communities had oversight and control of their police. We cannot let more innocent people like Williams meet their untimely end. We needed community control of the police in 1998 when he was convicted and put on death row. 26 years later and we need it, now maybe more than ever.”

#DallasTX #TX #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #NAARPR

Dallas, TX – Around 50 people gathered early in the evening of Sunday, August 25, in front of the headquarters of the Dallas Police Department to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the murder of two Black children killed at the hands of Dallas police.

The boys were brothers, George Johnson, aged 14, and Johnny Johnson, aged 13. The vigil was attended by three siblings of the Johnson brothers and organized by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Stop Cop City Dallas Coalition, and the DFW Anti-War Committee. Community members from all around the Dallas-Fort Worth area were present.

The siblings of the Johnson brothers shared heartfelt thoughts and recollections. Other speakers included Justin Bent from the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Britney English from Stop Cop City Dallas, and local activist Olinka Green.

Britney English remarked, “When society’s perception of you doesn’t line up with who you are as an individual, your identity is defined by the racism, bias and hate of others. George and Johnny were children. The police claim they saw men. George and Johnny had pipes to play music with. The police claim they saw shotguns. George and Johnny were junior high students, and the police saw criminals. You can’t train that sort of bias and hate out of someone.”

The vigil concluded with a moment of silence for George and Johnny Johnson at the exact time they were murdered: 8:40 p.m. on August 25, 1974.

The story of the Johnson brothers had been largely forgotten in Dallas until it was recently brought back to public attention by the work of journalist Sam Judy. Regretfully, the boys' graves still bear no headstone as of the time of writing, but the vigil also helped raise money to address that.

#DallasTX #TX #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR #DAWC

“We reject a pride that is sponsored in any part by genocide, and we stand in solidarity with our martyred siblings,” Rainbow Guard and UTD YDSA explained in an Instagram post introducing the event. “We don’t want a pride that stands over the bodies of tens of thousands of people killed by hostile western/imperial forces in Sudan, Congo, and Palestine.”

“The message of the event was the power of community and queer solidarity,” Poorvi Joshi of YDSA remarked. “It was to show how successful an event with queer people in mind by queer people can be without corporate sponsorships and lax messaging about acceptance, and with themes of anti-racism, anti-imperialism, and anti-genocide instead.”

The event was held indoors at UTD, with colorful and inviting themed décor – balloons, flags, ribbons, disco lights – strewn across the spacious, dimmed venue. The attractions of the event were neatly arranged in sections, from the Artist Alley where artists set up and sold their creations and donated a portion of those proceeds to mutual aids efforts in Gaza, to the games and activities area where attendees could make friendship bracelets or play games – with a political bent to match the tone of the event.

Lively tunes from queer artists filled the air throughout the event, and a performance segment dedicated to show-stopping acts from dance groups and drag monarchs amplified the communal atmosphere.

“Before the invention of the rainbow pride flag, members of the Gay Liberation Front flew the Vietnamese flag in solidarity with the Vietcong at a time when that was considered treason, because they recognized their liberation is tied up with colonized people all over the world,” said Jo Hargis of DFW Anti-War Committee. “That’s the queer history I’m interested in upholding, and one we see today in many queer people’s solidarity with Palestine.”

In another speech, José Campos of UTD YDSA stated, “Organizations like Rainbow Guard at UTD build on these revolutionary legacies to fight against right-wing onslaughts against our community and corporate co-option. In Texas, several anti-LGBTQ policies have been passed within the last year which compel us to respond.”

Campos continued, “The government banned gender-affirming care for children, transgender students from playing in college sports, banned some public drag shows, and is dismantling DEI programs that have been safe havens for queer students, such as our previous Gender Center ,`which is forcibly retrofitted,” referencing the Galerstein Gender Center at UTD that provided gender-affirming services and support for the LGBTQ community before it was closed down following the Texas DEI ban.

“I thought all the speeches were really impactful,” attendee Tanmayi Akasapu affirmed, and commended “the message of the queer performances.” Another attendee, T Reyes, stressed that “we fostered confidence that only a community can inspire, and within that unity, we made financial gains for a [Gazan] family in need.”

C. Rajini, an organizer of the event, stated. “Rainbow Guard and other queer organizations that prioritize agitation against the powers that be are turning the tide away from liberalism and complacency, because they acknowledge that queer people in Sudan, Congo, and Palestine can’t celebrate Pride with bombs over their heads. Instead, they march towards overthrowing this reality, for a liberated one.”

#DallasTX #RainbowGuard #YDSA #Palestine

Note: For memorial service details, see end of article.

Dallas, TX – Kawana Scott Menchaca, a community organizer from Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, passed away last weekend, having been found in the early hours of Sunday, July 14ᵗʰ. She is known to be profoundly sharp, intellectually effusive, driven by a craving for justice, and undeniably brave in fighting for a more just and humane world. She leaves behind her husband, Nicolas Menchaca, her parents Antione and Trenell, her two brothers Anderson and Langston, and a constellation of friends and community members all reeling from this news.

Born in Opelika, Alabama on November 15, 1992, Kawana departed this world before turning 32 this year. She had a passion for public health, and in the truest sense wanted everyone to receive quality healthcare, and for that to be a guaranteed human right. A graduate of Prairie View A&M University, she continued her education at the Baylor School of Public Health and worked for Tarrant County to improve equitable access to medical resources. Even as her own health suffered, she fought for the health of others.

Kawana was rebellious to her core, from her defiant personal aesthetic – an inspiration to everyone who gets it – to being a community leader in the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (NAARPR) as well as Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). She’d held vigils for victims slain by police violence, led marches and delivered speeches, and fought for complete and democratic community control of the police across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “She would come through on a moment's notice. She always told her friends she loved us,” says Sydney Loving, chair of the Dallas branch of NAARPR, “She was a really great friend, and she was also a great comrade. She put in work when not many others would – when there was no glory to be had.”

There were many sides to Kawana: She was a science fiction nerd, who loved the Lovecraft mythos (embracing the terror Lovecraft felt of people of color), anime, and space travel. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of professional wrestling. She could cook and impress with everything from Indonesian noodles to corned beef and cabbage. She had a deep love of African culture, discernible from her taste in music to the orisha tattoo she wore. Kawana was always overflowing with creativity, with knowledge, and with warmth. Her incredible wit was the kind of humor that could only come from someone as smart as she was and would endear her to anyone she revealed it to.

Organizers and activists around Dallas-Fort Worth are grieving this tremendous loss but cherish all the memories they have of her. Fellow organizer and close friend Daniel Sullivan looks back, “There was no one like Kawana. She was powerful, and a leader, but she was also a caretaker, the kind who brought snacks to every meeting. Everyone loved her, and she was brimming over with love. I had so many hopes for her, and I'm crushed to see her go so young. But now there is nothing more we can do for her but to carry on her work.”

Rest in Power, Comrade.

¡Kawana Scott Menchaca, Presente!

Service Details

Her memorial will be on Saturday, July 27ᵗʰ, 2024 The service starts 11:00 am (Central time) at:

First Methodist Mansfield 777 North Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield, TX 76063

Community organizers in Dallas are also holding a commemoration 6pm on Sunday, July 28ᵗʰ, 2024 at:

White Rock Lake (Dreyfuss Club Point) 600 East Lawther Drive, Dallas, TX 75218

#DallasTX #TX #Opinion #Remembrances #OppressedNationalities #NAARPR #FRSO

Dallas, TX – On Saturday, July 6, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) Dallas partnered with the Stop Cop City Dallas coalition for a town hall meeting at Pan-African Connection to educate the community on the planned construction of a police training facility to be built on the University of North Texas at Dallas campus.

Four speakers from the coalition presented on the history of policing and militarization of the institution, while linking it to the threat of a cop city planned to be built by 2027. Vital information was given on the planned construction of the facility. the trail of police brutality that DPD is responsible for, including police killings, and what is necessary to combat the escalation of police repression. The audience of around 55 people was engaged with the presentation and active in the conversations afterward.

They pointed out the impact this facility would have on police departments across the country. Ebonee Taylor, a member of NAARPR Dallas, pointed out that police forces “across the country come here and to Atlanta to do more training to learn more threatening tactics towards the community.”

The event ended with a Q&A that included a larger call to action that highlighted the relation of police repression with the struggles of many other oppressed groups. A member of Stop Cop City Dallas stated, “Language justice, disability justice it’s all connected. And we want everybody to see and feel themselves within this movement because that’s what it’s going to take.”

NAARPR Dallas and the Stop Cop City coalition continue to mobilize to fight back against this imminent threat of police repression amidst a larger national push towards regressive political rule.

#DallasTX #TX #InJusticeSystem #CopCity #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #NAARPR

Dallas, TX – On Tuesday, May 28 hundreds of community members marched in downtown Dallas, mere hours after the metroplex had faced floods, hail and multiple tornadoes that caused widespread power outages. Despite these obstacles, the people of Dallas-Fort Worth came out to demand the U.S.-backed Israeli regime leave Rafah and the rest of Gaza.

This protest came in the wake of news of U.S.-supplied Israeli bombings of the Rafah and Al-Mawasi refugee encampments. These were supposedly safe areas, but families were burned alive in their tents.

Community members gathered for the rally at Civic Garden Park in downtown Dallas, which began with speeches from organizers with the Palestinian Youth Movement Dallas, the DFW Anti-War Committee, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Jo Hargis, an organizer with DAWC, said, “It is no mistake that this flow of bombs continues uninterrupted from the United States. We know the Zionist entity could not continue this genocide without the constant flow of BLU-109 bombs, of MK-80 missiles, of F-35 fighter jets, and all the other tools of war that are produced right here.” They also highlighted the growing Weapon Manufacturers Campaign, which targets major warmongering corporations covering the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Ari Miller, who has organized against the General Dynamics factory in their neighborhood that is producing bombs for Israel, said, “I’ve found over these several long months that it’s easy to lose hope, and get burnt out. I’ve found it’s so important to turn to the collective strength of your community when we get in those darker states of mind. When we say we take care of each other, it’s not just physical it’s also emotional, and I think some people don’t realize how important that emotional aspect is when it comes to keeping involved and organized. Right now I’d tell people to find your local organizations and get involved in pro-Palestine organizing if they haven’t already. Uplift your community, remember every action big or small matters, and don’t ever stop talking about Palestine.”

During the march, the attendees took the opportunity to call out the complicity of the Dallas Police Department in suppressing pro-Palestinian voices, with chants such as “DPD, KKK, IDF they’re all the same.” The Dallas Police Department has arrested of dozens of protesters throughout this eight month ongoing genocide, for people simply for calling out Biden and General Dynamics for their participation in the death of tens of thousands of Palestinians. The community also displayed their continued optimism, chanting, “I believe that we will win, within our lifetime” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine is almost free.”

#DallasTX #TX #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #PYM #DAWC #PSL