Asheville, NC – Despite freezing rain, 35 protesters gathered in front of the Asheville Federal Building here, Jan. 25, chanting, “Stop the witch hunts, stop the raids – we are here we are not afraid!” The protest was a part of the national day of action in solidarity with the nine newly subpoenaed activists who were called before a grand jury in Chicago.

Minneapolis, MN – Chanting, “From Minnesota to Palestine, solidarity is not a crime,” about 250 demonstrators gathered at the Federal Building here, Jan. 25, to protest FBI and Grand Jury repression that is being directed against anti-war and Palestine solidarity activists. Protesters were forced to jostle for standing and picketing room between high banks of ice and snow on the sidewalks and plaza.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following message by Lynne Stewart to the Jan. 25 protests against the FBI and Grand Jury witch hunt that has been unleashed on anti-war and international solidarity activists. Lynne Stewart, a heroic and long-time progressive lawyer, is serving a ten-year prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas for allegedly helping terrorists. Her courage and determination stand as an example to all of us who are working for peace, justice and equality.

Minneapolis, MN – On Jan. 20, dozens of Latino immigrants who were among the hundreds fired from Chipotle Mexican Grill throughout Minnesota last month protested at a downtown Minneapolis Chipotle. At the protest the workers entered the store, while eight of the workers’ allies chained themselves together inside the store until they were arrested. The workers and their supporters are demanding justice from Chipotle.

Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, the Center for Biological Diversity and Laura Gauger filed a Clean Water Act citizen suit Jan. 18 against Flambeau Mining Company over its partially reclaimed Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith, Wisconsin. According to the suit, the mining company is violating federal law by discharging pollutants, including potentially toxic metals like copper, iron and zinc, into the Flambeau River and a tributary known as Stream C that flows across the company’s property.

Los Angeles, CA – Angry Black and Latino activists held a protest at a fancy dinner party where U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was speaking to honor Martin Luther King, Jan. 17. The Martin Luther King Coalition for Jobs, Justice and Peace; LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant; Latinos Against War; Fight Back News and other allies protested the visit of the attorney general at the annual MLK SCLC gala dinner to call out how the FBI attacked and harassed Reverend King and continues those same attacks today.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) urging students to join the Jan. 25 protests to stop the FBI and grand jury witch hunt directed against anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Chicago, IL – “Every day more cities are signing on to the call for the January 25 protests against the Grand Jury witch hunt that’s being directed against anti-war and international solidarity activists,” states Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

Minneapolis, MN – The Committee to Stop FBI Repression has issued a leaflet on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and the struggle against political repression. Tom Burke, a spokesperson for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression urges activists to distribute the flyer at Martin Luther King Day events, stating, “Dr. King was a giant in the struggle for equality, peace and justice, and the FBI did its best to destroy him. Distributing this flyer at MLK Day events brings out an important message about the government’s continuing attempts to repress movements that are working for social justice.”

Minneapolis, MN – At a press conference here, Jan. 12, Jess Sundin of the Twin Cites based Anti-War Committee (AWC) blasted police infiltration of the anti-war and international solidarity movement, stating, “We are here today to express outrage that our democratic rights have been violated by a government operation of spying, infiltration and disruption of our anti-war movement, which was carried out over the course of at least two and half years.”

The following solidarity statement was passed by the House of Delegates of the Chicago Teachers Union on January 5, 2011.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

Chicago, IL – This past year was a tough year for Teamsters Local 743. Reformers Richard Berg and Eugenia Alvarez were wrongly removed from office by Teamsters International President James Hoffa. The remaining executive board members, in office for only five months, spent the time fighting amongst themselves. They then ran against one another in the recent union election.

Here we will take the occasion of the end of the year to look back at some of the most important stories of the past year on the Fight Back! website. It has definitely been a year full of struggle and conflict – and Fight Back! News has been there on the front lines with on-the-spot reporting and timely analysis.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for Justice in Palestine.

Beat Back the Republican Attacks

St Paul, MN – Protesters will assemble at the Minnesota State Capitol Building, at 12 noon, Jan. 4 to say no to attacks on programs that serve poor and working people. Organized by the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout, the action will coincide with the opening of the Minnesota State legislature.

Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following article from the New China News Agency on the celebrations marking the 117th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth.

Lynne Stewart, a long-time progressive lawyer serving a ten-year prison sentence for allegedly helping terrorists, has been transferred from a New York City jail to the Carswell Federal Medical Facility near Fort Worth, Texas.

On Dec. 22, the U.S. House and Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The bill authorizes $725 billion for next year’s Defense Department budget, including nearly $160 billion of what the Pentagon calls “overseas contingency operations” – Congress’s name for the U.S. wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chicago, IL -75 people entered the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Building here, Dec. 23, to make a statement to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and the FBI. They were there because four more anti-war and international solidarity activists have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury.