Minneapolis, Mn – According to a Jan. 7 report, Iran’s news station Press TV is reporting, “Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has targeted the U.S. airbase of Ain al-Assad in Anbar province in western Iraq after vowing to retaliate the US assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander, Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.”

Cleveland, OH – Anti-war activists took to Market Square in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, January 4, at noon to denounce U.S. imperialism and aggression towards Iran following the murder of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by the Trump regime.

Dallas, TX – About 400 people gathered in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas on January 4 to denounce the looming war with Iran and to demand that the U.S. leave the Middle East. The event was organized by the Dallas Anti-War Committee, the Dallas Peace and Justice Center, Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, the Center for American Islamic Relations and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Attendees were members of a broad array of organizations, including Malaya Movement, En Pie de Lucha, Democratic Socialists of America, and the Emma Goldman Book Club.

Chicago, IL – As part of the national day of protest to demand U.S. troops out of Iraq, 1000 people rallied in front of Trump Tower in Chicago. After listening to speeches by numerous local activists, people marched across the Loop, Chicago’s central district, for several hours. One person was arrested by the Chicago Police Department, who were furious because the march disrupted traffic on the Magnificent Mile, a section of Michigan Avenue that is one of the most expensive shopping districts in the country. Later the crowd marched on Lake Shore Drive. At least one other person was arrested, but then un-arrested by the crowd.

Tucson, AZ – As one of the country’s longest running strikes continues into week 13, educators from Arizona’s RedForEd movement brought food donations to the picket line. The eight unions serving nearly 2000 workers at five Asarco copper mining operations have created a tradition at the Pima Mine: Sunday dinner. It’s a beautiful display of worker solidarity and union power as striking workers and their families come eat a warm meal and enjoy their camaraderie. It is there that a van-full of non-perishable goods from Phoenix-area educators was delivered.

Grand Rapids, MI – On January 4, about 35 people gathered at the intersection of Division and Fulton, the center point of Grand Rapids, to express their outrage and protest the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad’s airport.

Jacksonville, FL – On December 30, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC), community members and organizations, along with family and friends of Jamee Johnson, rallied and held a vigil to demand #JusticeForJamee. Around 60 people gathered to remember Jamee Johnson and demanded justice in front of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in downtown Jacksonville.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson Emeritus, International League of Peoples’ Struggle.

Milwaukee, WI – The four corners of 27th and West Oklahoma on Milwaukee’s South Side were filled with protesters on the afternoon of January 4. Activists were gathered to stand against the U.S.’s acts of war against Iran. It was a chilly afternoon, the wind biting into those assembled, but loud chanting intermingled with the frequent honks from motorists on the busy Milwaukee streets echoed into the area.

New York, NY – Over 1000 people gathered in New York City on January 4 in Times Square to demand no more U.S. troops to the Middle East, U.S. out of Iraq, and no war or sanctions on Iran. The action was called after a U.S. drone strike assassinated Iranian Quds Force general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, as well as the Pentagon stating they will send 3500 more troops to the Middle East.

Oshkosh, WI – Outraged and indignant citizens gathered on busy Main Street in downtown Oshkosh on the morning of January 4 to protest the U.S. military's most recent war crimes in Iraq. The decision to assassinate Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last week was a violation of international law and a war crime.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Jan. 3 statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Tucson, AZ – On January 4, around 200 people flooded the sidewalk of a busy Tucson intersection to demonstrate their solidarity with the Iranian and Iraqi peoples and voice their anger at murderous billionaire President Trump.

Milwaukee, WI – Demonstrators will gather outside the Panther Arena, January 14, at 5 p.m., where Trump will be featured at a campaign event.

Milwaukee, WI – Three national groups with large followings, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, the International League of People’s Struggle, and the Students for a Democratic Society recently endorsed the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Jacksonville, FL – I'm not sure how we'll look back at film in the 2010s. Much of it already seems like a blur, leaving me asking questions like, “Was that the Batman movie with Ben Affleck or Christian Bale?” or “Which of the five Spider-Man and five Star Wars movies did you like the best?”

Minneapolis, MN – As we see a rising tide of struggle in this country and across the globe, the newspaper Fight Back! is expanding its reach and capacity. Each day, 365 times a year, we provide cutting edge coverage and analyses of the people’s struggle against exploitation and oppression, with the perspective of ending capitalism and replacing it with socialism – a system where political power is in the hands of the working class.

In 2019, we saw workers take to picket lines and we saw mass movements hit the streets in the U.S. and around the world. And when there’s an upsurge with lots of people hitting the streets, you can bet it will be accompanied by protest music. This year has been no exception.

There was a high tide of struggle on many fronts in 2019 – both in the U.S. and around the world. Within the U.S. there were large strikes of General Motors workers, Chicago teachers and others. There was a successful movement to defend public education from mega-charters in Los Angeles. There were mass protests nation-wide for immigrant rights and against the concentration camps at the U.S.-México border. And there were growing movements against police crimes and for community control of the police that came together to refound the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in Chicago in November.