Upcoming: ‘We Fight Back’ rally, Bigfoot strike support, A15 trial

Community groups to hold ‘We Fight Back’ Rally before Inauguration

In the coming week, thousands of people around the nation will mobilize against the President-elect Donald Trump with his inauguration happening on Monday. Over a dozen groups have attached their names to a call for a the We Fight Back rally, that aims to create a working class movement championing polices of the people against reactionary elite policies.

Locally PSL Eugene, DSA, PGP Eugene, XR Eugene, and others are holding at a We Fight Back rally at the Federal Courthouse 1 PM Sunday, the day before the Inauguration.

“We’re fighting back against the Trump administration, it kind of is about Trump, but it’s also not. It’s also about trying to build an effective fight against the capitalist system, and everything that’s killing us, and that includes both of the ruling class parties to different extents,” Rob of PSL Eugene said about the event.

ESSN calls for Summit Bank to suspend Bigfoot boss from board

ESSN is holding a rally 4 PM Thursday (today) in front of Summit Bank (96 E Broadway) to call for the bank to suspend Bigfoot Beverages co-owner Andy Moore from its board of directors until he agrees to end the union busting tactics at his company. The network previously delivered a letter to the bank where they additionally demand he commit to returning to the bargaining table with Bigfoot workers with an offer that guarantees a pension for all.

Bigfoot workers have been on strike for over one hundred days and lost their health insurance at the start of the new year, yet still hold strong in their fight for a fair contract. ESSN has been a stalwart ally to the workers during their strike. The Network has been showing up on the picket line, flying, and applying pressure on management at Bigfoot tailgates at Duck football games.

Two A15 defendants to take stand for choice of evils hearing Friday

Salem Younes, a Palestinian American, and K. Anton, a Lebanese will take the stand in a trial at the Lane County Courthouse Friday for charges of disorderly conduct for participation in the protest that blocked the I-5 Highway on tax day. On Friday, 9:30 AM, the defendants along with expert witnesses will present in a choice of evils hearing. The choice of evils defense says that they had to take this action to prevent a worse outcome from happening, in this case genocide.

The community and fellow defendants have centered Younes as he is the only Palestinian American arrested on April 15 and supporters say that he was given a disproportionate punishment compared to other defendants; Younes was not offered diversion like many others were. Many that were offered diversion turned it down in solidarity with those that were not. At the end of November defendants provided an offer to the Lane County DA, drop the charges for Younes, and in exchange all othter defendants would take a plea deal.

Both will return for trial at the courthouse next Wednesday.