Miami, FL – Protesters from many cities converged in Miami on Jan. 9 to demand that the U.S. government close Guantanamo Bay torture prison. The protest coincides with the 14th anniversary of the first transfer of detainees from the so-called “War on Terror” to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo).

Miami, FL – Protesters from many cities converged in Miami on Jan. 9 to demand that the U.S. government close Guantanamo Bay torture prison. The protest coincides with the 14th anniversary of the first transfer of detainees from the so-called “War on Terror” to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo).

Iran’s FARS News Agency is reporting, Dec. 31, that Iran is planning a response to U.S. plans for new sanctions against companies and individuals that are allegedly working to develop Iran’s missile capacity.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported Dec. 26 that Cuba is ready to meet Syria’s needs for medicine.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

PFLP: Imprisonment of Jarrar an attempt to terrorize Palestinians and target leaders

Chicago, IL – Palestinian icon Rasmea Odeh; Black youth leaders Veronica Morris-Moore and LaCreshia Birts; Black Liberation Movement veteran Frank Chapman and Eric Koene, a striking worker from the Kohler plant in Wisconsin, appeared together on the stage of the 24th Annual People’s Thanksgiving.

Houston, TX – Students and anti-war activists at the University of Houston rallied in solidarity with Syrian refugees on Dec. 4. They also protested the U.S. war in Syria that is driving millions of Syrians out of their country. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott recently said in a letter to President Obama, “Texas will not accept any refugees from Syria.” Governor Abbott filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an effort to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in Texas.

Grand Rapids, MI – Twenty people gathered at a busy West Michigan street corner holding signs that read, “Stop war, not refugees!” and “Refugees are welcome here,” featuring an image of the Statue of Liberty. They gathered in response to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s anti-refugee comments.

Caimanera, Cuba – On Nov. 25, the fourth International Seminar for Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases concluded its gathering by sharing its final declaration with the residents of Caimanera, the town closest to the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo province.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency is reporting that 4 Israeli warplanes were tracked flying over wide areas of the country, Nov. 27.

Dallas, TX – About 40 protesters gathered at the Grassy Knoll near downtown here, Nov. 21, to call out Texas Governor Greg Abbott's anti-refugee statements. Abbott recently declared that Texas would not accept Syrian refugees.

Manila – Palestinian icon Leila Khaled visited the Philippines for the first time this November to attend the Fifth General Assembly of the International League of Peoples' Struggle and the launch of the Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association. She was the keynote speaker of the International Women's Alliance and she spoke before the Filipino people in Manila during the protest actions against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. She also visited the temporary encampment of lumads (indigenous peoples) at a church ground.

Havana, Cuba – After a two-day bus trip from Havana to Guantanamo Province, delegates from around the world arrived for the fourth International Seminar for Peace and Abolition of Foreign Military Bases. The bus trip included several stops in various cities and provinces, including the Che Guevara memorial. It is clear the Cuban people are proud of their country and the many accomplishments the revolution has achieved in spite of the U.S. blockade.

_Demands freedom for Colombian revolutionary Simon Trinidad _

Columbus, GA – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and anti-war activists from college campuses in Tampa, Gainesville and Tallahassee, Florida traveled to Columbus to protest the School of the Americas (SOA) on Nov. 20.

Tucson, AZ – 50 Tucsonans issued a warm welcome to any future Syrian refugees. The Nov. 19 demonstration came in response to the Islamophobic statement made by Republic Governor Doug Ducey. Ducey basically accused all refugees, specifically those from Syria, as being connected to, if not actual, ‘terrorists.’ Protesters held signs that read: “Shame on Ducey,” and “AZ loves refugees.”

Columbus, GA – A large group of anti-war and international solidarity activists passed out hundreds of flyers at the annual School of the Americas (SOA) protest at Fort Benning, Georgia on Nov. 21. The flyer calls to support the peace process in Colombia, freedom for Simon Trinidad and to close the SOA, where Latin American death squads and dictators are trained. The Colombian military trains regularly at the SOA and has the worst human rights record in the hemisphere.

Tampa, FL – Anti-war activists and students from Florida are mobilizing to protest the School of the Americas (SOA), Nov. 20-22. The SOA was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) a few years ago, but it is still widely known as the SOA meaning “School of Assassins.” It is based at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Georgia.

Minneapolis, MN – Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s Political Secretary Steff Yorek gave the following statement to Fight Back! regarding the Nov. 13 evening events in Paris.

_ Calls on U of MN to honor boycott of Israel, drop the charges against protesters_

Minneapolis, MN – Responding to a campaign of condemnations from University of Minnesota officialdom, the Anti-War Committee (AWC) issued a statement Nov. 10 standing by the actions of protesters at last week’s Law School lecture by Moshe Halbertal, who they call a “war crimes apologist.” Criticisms were hurled at the group after protesters denied Halbertal a platform by interrupting his presentation some two dozen times, with facts about Israeli atrocities, Halbertal’s public record in defense of IDF actions and demands that the university honor the international boycott of Israel.