The People's Record

International Uprising Pushes Onward

The global working class is continuing to feed off of one another’s momentum to endure the wave of international protest. Momentous protests have propelled international social movements to continue the plight for human rights, educational opportunities and for an end to all wars.

The historical significance of the surge of political protests throughout the world is immense. In times of upheaval, we have seen great social and political changes during the aftermath. This progress is not because of any given political party in office at that time, but because of the people in the streets demanding a change. The international working class is no longer putting up with corrupt capitalist agendas, environmental degradation, crashing economies or skyrocketing poverty.

As the mainstream media remains nearly silent, these activist communities must not be ignored, and their causes must be recognizd as one world struggle.

The May Day protests on May 1 gave a fresh spqark to the spring offensive across the world. These are the events that marked the international surge of resistance in the past few weeks:

More than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners have participated in a mass hunger strike in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza to oppose the wrongful imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians, horrific prison conditions and inhumane treatment during their incarceration without formal charges. Ten hunger-strikers were hospitalized by the end of the hunger strike. Israeli officials compromised a deal to allow solitary confinement prisoners to be returned to the other areas of the prison as well as to allow family visits.
106 activists were arrested outside of Quebec’s liberal party headquarters demanding an end to tuition hikes. Three were hospitalized, and one protester lost the use of an eye as police shot rubber bullets and fired tear gas at protesters.
Inspired by the student movement in Canada, hundreds of Czech students mobilized on the streets to protest tuition hikes and education budget cuts, as well.
On May 16, hundreds of protesters took the streets of Chile as a part of the Chilean Student Movement to demand free education.
Student movements continue with momentum as dozens of California public university students go on a hunger strike until their demands – including a five-year moratorium on student fees and a decrease executive salaries – are met.
Los Indignados of Spain celebrated their one-year anniversary with tens of thousands filling the streets to stand up against poverty and unemployment rates throughout the country in the anti-austerity movement.
About 20 protesters were arrested in Nepal after the Nepali government decided to forcefully evict residents in Katmandu. Dozens were injured as riot police demolished homes and forced families to relocate.
Thousands marched in Tahrir Square in Cairo to oppose the country’s brutal military rule as police violence left at least nine dead in the streets of Egypt.
Hundreds marched outside of the Bank of America shareholders meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina to protest foreclosures across the country. Four people were arrested.
A dozen Russian writers led a protest of more than 10,000 people to oppose the Putin regime. The march stopped traffic for miles, and no arrests were made.
Hundreds mobilized in Addison, Texas to fight against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which some say is a revised version of the NATO treaty.
Thousands of Palestinians commemorated Nakba Day, which marks the day in 1948 when the state of Israel was established and began the displacement, murder and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinian families.
More than 30 activists were arrested after police evicted Occupy Moscow earlier this week. About 10,000 people joined in the march as a part of the anti-austerity movement throughout Europe.
Houston activists gathered at the county court house to demand justice for black 15-year-old teenager Chad Holley, who was beaten to death by a white former police officer who was acquitted of all charges earlier this week.
Countless protests stormed Chicago as NATO negotiations took place over the weekend. Tens of thousands of activists descended upon the city to protest the Afghanistan war, immigration practices and in support of worker unions. Upwards of 15,000 people reclaimed Chicago’s streets from the brutal police forces of the Chicago Police Department on May 20 alone.