Jacksonville, FL – We’re in an era of capitalism cannibalizing itself. Look at the Trump tax cuts that handed out $1.5 trillion to corporations, which then used the windfall to take out loans, buy back their own stock, and inflate their share prices – all to attract more investors and repeat the cycle! Since art reflects our social conditions, we’d expect to see this same ‘cannibal capitalism’ at play in our movies and television – and we’d be right.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (National).

Wyoming, MI – Discrimination against a two-year-old girl with a disability brought close to 150 people to Rogers Plaza Town Center for “Walking with Claire” on January 27.

Denver, CO – Denver Public Schools, in a recent letter to Denver teachers, threatened to call immigration authorities on immigrant teachers if they go on strike. This communication was in response to the teachers, represented by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA), voting overwhelmingly to strike for fair pay, with 93% of members voting in favor of industrial action on January 23.

Jacksonville, FL – As the partial government shutdown entered its 35th day on January 25, federal workers gave the country a lesson in the power of labor. Citing “a slight increase in sick leave” at two of the largest air traffic control centers on the eastern seaboard, the Federal Aviation Authority ordered a 90-minute ground stop for flights going into LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

Pittsburgh, PA – Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh filed for a union election with the state labor board, January 18. They are seeking a collective bargaining agreement that would cover approximately 3500 full- and part-time faculty across Pitt’s five campuses.

New York, NY – On January 25 several dozen activists gathered in Grand Central Station to bring attention to the case of Marzieh Hashemi. Hashemi is a Muslim, African-American journalist who was imprisoned on January 13 when she was arrested by the FBI at the Saint Louis International Airport. She was on her way to visit her sick brother in Denver. For almost two weeks she as held as a “material witness” for an undisclosed investigation.

New York, NY – Two actions were held here on January 26, in defense of Venezuela against the U.S.-backed attempted coup.

Tallahassee, FL – On January 26 dozens gathered at the Florida State Capitol building in protest of Donald Trump's recognition of the right-wing self-appointed presidency of Juan Guaido in Venezuela. The democratically-elected president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has called this a coup attempt ordered by the U.S. government.

Doral, FL- Fifty passionate activists gathered on a sidewalk across from the Univision TV station in Miami, January 26, to denounce U.S. attempts to overthrow the democratically-elected government in Venezuela. The protest targeted the overt and illegal coup plans being hatched by Donald Trump and the U.S government, and media stations like Univision and CNN who continue to spread propaganda pushing for intervention and regime change.

Minneapolis, MN – Around 50 people gathered at Mayday Books, January 25, for a speak-out and indoor rally against U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Grand Rapids, Michigan – Cars honked and people shouted, “Get rid of Trump!” as anti-war protesters held signs on a busy street corner, Jan 25, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The protester’s signs read, “Trump! Hands off Venezuela!”

Denver, CO – Teachers from Denver Public Schools, represented by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA), voted 93% in favor of a strike after the breakdown of negotiations with the board of Denver Public Schools (DPS). This is the first strike authorization for Denver Teachers since 1994.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of the Trump administration and its allies as violations of the sovereignty of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. By declaring that he will no longer recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate president, and instead claiming right-wing politician Juan Guaidó is head of state, Donald Trump opens the door to a brutal Syria-style intervention in the heart of South America. It became even clearer that the United States seeks war in Venezuela when, after Maduro severed relations with the United States and demanded all of its officials leave the country, the White House announced that it had no intention of removing its diplomats.

Jacksonville, FL – AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) held a rally and march to end the government shutdown on January 19. Over 10 unions were represented, including teachers, electricians and nearly a dozen rank-and-file Teamsters. Several speakers gave personal accounts of how they and their families had been affected. The 70 union members marched down to a busy intersection while chanting “End the shutdown, call the vote!”

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, January 22, LA Mayor Garcetti, the Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent (and former Wall Street banker) Austin Beutner, along with United Teachers of Los Angeles President Alex Caputo-Pearl announced a deal. On day six of the UTLA strike, LAUSD and UTLA came to a tentative agreement, which includes reducing class sizes, wage increases, hiring more support staff like librarians, psychologists and nurses, increasing spending on special education, putting a moratorium on charter schools, and investing more in community schools.

Chicago, IL – A crowd of 250 people marched in the bitter cold through Washington Park on Chicago’s South Side today, January 21, to continue the fight for Justice for Laquan McDonald. The march was held in protest of the lenient sentence of only 81 months handed down by Judge Vincent Gaughan on Friday. In October 2014, the racist police officer, Jason Van Dyke, shot Laquan 16 times.

Minneapolis, MN – On January 16, about 40 people heard from local organizers who travelled to Ireland for the First International Conference Against U.S./NATO Foreign Military Bases, which took place November 16-18, 2018. Nearly 300 participants from over 35 countries attended the conference, calling for the closure of the nearly 1000 U.S./NATO military bases throughout the world.

Fight Back News Service is circulating this important speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was delivered at Riverside Church in New York City, April 4, 1967