Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org july 17, 2008 Vol. 50, No. 28 50¢ Secret World Bank report

Migrantes forman alianza global 12 Millions go hungry

GM, CHRYSLER to feed biofuel biz

TAILSPIN By LeiLani Dowell out by an internationally respected economist at the global Pensions, jobs at risk 3 financial body.” (July 4) At a time of increased hunger worldwide, a confidential In another Guardian article, Benjamin Senauer, a professor of World Bank report has revealed that the overwhelmingly larg- applied economics at the University of Minnesota, calculates the est factor in rising food prices is the production of ethanol for consequences of ethanol production using more modest figures HEALTH CARE fuel production. from the International Food Policy Research Institute. “We can More than a third of the corn produced in the U.S. and about combine IFPRI’s estimate that biofuels account for 30 percent How it can work for all 4 half of the vegetable oils in the European Union are now used to of the rise in grain prices and the World Bank president’s figure produce biofuel instead of food. of 100 million more hungry people due to higher food prices. Rising food costs have affected workers around the world. This combination suggests that biofuels are responsible for 30 Rebellions over the cost of food have taken place in no less than million more people going hungry in the world. ... If the leaked ISRAELI IMPUNITY 15 countries. The head of the World Bank has stated that as many World Bank figures are more accurate, then that figure could be Palestinian journalist beaten 8 as 100 million people may be pushed into poverty and hunger as even higher.” (July 4) a result of the price increases. The report was leaked to the press as leaders of the Group of The secret report, leaked to the British Guardian, asserts that 8 industrialized countries were preparing to meet in Hokkaido, a whopping 75 percent of the rise in global food prices can be Japan, where a major focus was biofuel production. CANADA RULING attributed to biofuel production. “Without the increase in bio- Senior development sources told the Guardian they believed fuels, global wheat and maize stocks would not have declined the report had not been officially released to avoid embarrass- Help for war resisters 8 appreciably and price increases due to other factors would have ing the Bush administration—which has claimed that biofuels been moderate,” it states. The Guardian described the assess- contribute to less than 3 percent of the price increases, and has COLOMBIA‘rescue’ ment as “the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried Continued on page 4 What really happened? 9 POLITICAL PRISONERS Setbacks & Victories: n Albert Woodfox Conviction reversed 6 n Michael Tarif Warren & Evelyn Warren Charges dropped 7 n Mumia Abu-Jamal Supporters stand up 6

WW PHoto: Joe Piette Subscribe to Workers World Children from the MoVE family at july 4th demonstration for Mumia Abu-jamal. Four weeks trial: $1 One year: $25

Name n Sami Al-Arian n Rev. Edward Editorial: PhONe email Vindictive Pinkney Human rights new charges 5 address Sentenced at home? for quoting City/state/ZiP n Leonard Peltier scripture 7 10 Workers World 6 55 W. 17 st. Ny, Ny 10011 212-627-2994 www.workers.org Health in danger Page 2 July 17, 2008 www.workers.org Welcome home, Ed Lewinson!

By Sara Flounders After activists from School of the Americas Watch, H In the U.S. New York New Jersey Peace Action and International Action Center Welcome home, Ed Lewinson!...... 2 waged a three-week campaign of letters and calls to the Don White: committed activist...... 2 Political activist Ed Lewinson returned home July prison for Lewinson to be released into the general popu- What can autoworkers do?...... 3 1 after serving a 90-day sentence at the federal prison lation, he was finally transferred to less restrictive condi- in Elkton, Ohio. Lewinson is 78 years old and has been tions for a few days. But then, claiming it was inconve- Women hit utility shutoffs, foreclosures ...... 3 blind from birth. He has been active in the movement for nient for the prison, the authorities put him back in the Health care in crisis, part 4 ...... 4 almost 60 years. highly restrictive lockdown. On the picket line...... 4 Lewinson was one of a dozen people arrested at last At the International Action Center here on July 9, he Gov’t abuses grand jury system to indict Al-Arian . . . . 5 November’s SOA Watch protest for crossing onto the U.S. was given a warm and rousing welcome by a meeting of Racist baseball owners sideline home-run great . . . . . 5 Army base at Fort Benning, Ga. More than 20,000 peo- activists. Lewinson had arrived to help put out a national Limbaugh’s $400 M contract ...... 5 ple participated in the annual event. It was Lewinson’s mailing by the Stop War On Iran campaign. The gathering fourth arrest at the protests, which have exposed the was a combined welcome back celebration for Lewinson Fourth of July protest stands up for Mumia...... 6 Pentagon’s training of Latin American military officers and a mobilizing and strategy meeting for Aug. 2 demon- Memphis cops brutally beat trans woman...... 6 in torture techniques. strations opposing any U.S. war on Iran. For many years Political prisoners: Woodfox, Peltier...... 6 When offered a more lenient sentence, he insisted that Lewinson has helped on mailings and phone banking, Black reverend sentenced for quoting scriptures. . . . . 7 all defendants be treated and sentenced equally. He also walked countless picket lines and been in the forefront of Charges dropped against civil rights attorneys...... 7 says he wants activists to focus on other prisoners who countless struggles against racism and war. WW in 1977: Rebellion of poor in New York City. . . . 11 were in far worse conditions. Lewinson says his prison time increased his determi- Lewinson was forced to serve most of his sentence in nation and reaffirmed his thinking that people need to H Around the world the Special Housing Unit, known as the “hole,” under be ready to do whatever is necessary in order to make an Millions go hungry to feed biofuel biz...... 1 punitive lockdown conditions. The prison officials kept important political point. He said this is an example he Israeli political cops beat Gazan journalist...... 8 him locked down 23 hours a day on weekdays with a one- learned from the Freedom Riders in Mississippi. Canadian court re-opens door for U .S . war resisters . . . 8 hour walk in a small closed yard. On weekends he was “While nobody wants to go to jail, social change will locked down around the clock. only come about by the commitment of many, many peo- Picket of Dalai Lama planned...... 8 It wasn’t because he was accused of being disruptive. ple. I hope that my acts contributed to people realizing What really happened in Colombia?...... 9 He was locked down simply because the prison had no the need for real social change,” he says. Protest meeting of capitalist world leaders ...... 9 facilities for blind prisoners. Welcome home, Ed Lewinson! n Philippine labor leader...... 10 H Editorials Human rights at home?...... 10 Don White: committed activist H Noticias En Español By Scott Scheffer lized many demonstrations. He Migrantes forman alianza global...... 12 Los Angeles helped organize for the 1999 World Trade Organization protests The anti-war and social justice in Seattle and for D2K protests movement of Los Angeles lost a great during the Democratic National friend and committed activist when Convention in Los Angeles. Don White, 71, passed away at his More recently, White linked up home on June 19. Anyone who went with Global Women’s Strike and Workers World to progressive activities here over the the International Action Center 55 West 17 Street last 20 years remembers Don shout- in January 2006 to organize a New York, N.Y. 10011 ing an orientation for security volun- mass public meeting in solidar- Phone: (212) 627-2994 teers or making people laugh as he ity with Cuba and Venezuela that Fax: (212) 675-7869 carried out a fundraising pitch. drew hundreds. He was part of a E-mail: [email protected] White’s activism began, more or Don White speaking in support of Haitians local steering committee when the Web: www.workers.org less, in college with protests against Troops Out Now Coalition mobi- Vol. 50, No. 28 • July 17, 2008 the House Un-American Activities Committee. When he lized a week of anti-war activity culminating in a mass Closing date: July 9, 2008 moved to Los Angeles in 1963 to teach history, he became march and rally in September 2007. Editor: Deirdre Griswold involved in the struggle for equal education and partici- Don White was active in the Ad Hoc Working Group on pated in every teachers’ strike. Haiti, where he was a constant presence at weekly vigils Technical Editor: Lal Roohk But it was his experiences in Guatemala during a 1976 calling for the safe return of Haitian human rights activist Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, trip that compelled him to spend the rest of his life orga- Lovinsky Pierre Antoine. He was also a proud founding Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson nizing against U.S. imperialism. During the war in El member of the Coalition to End Israeli Apartheid–Los West Coast Editor: John Parker Salvador, he often traveled on fact-finding missions at Angeles, which strongly advocates for the Palestinian Contributing Editors: Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, risk to his own safety; he became an early member of the people’s right to return to their homeland. Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, Los Angeles Committee in Solidarity with the People of An invitation for his 70th birthday party was sent out David Hoskins, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, El Salvador. For years he traveled to protests in Georgia by actor Martin Sheen, but White agreed there would Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Minnie Bruce Pratt demanding closure of the School of the Americas, known be one only if it could be a fundraiser for continuing the for training Latin American military figures in methods fight. And so it was. Technical Staff: Shelley Ettinger, Bob McCubbin, of torture and assassination. White leaves behind his brother Dennis White and Maggie Vascassenno White played a part in the early sanctuary move- sister-in-law Harriet White, their children and grand- Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, ment and, until his death, took part in protests against children, and many activist friends across the U.S. and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and the in El Salvador. Several on-air tributes have been aired Carlos Vargas separation of immigrant families that they cause. on Pacifica radio’s KPFK, and a public memorial will be Internet: Janet Mayes When the CIA was exposed for selling crack in South held Aug. 10 in a church where White made numerous Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator Central L.A. to fund the contras in Nicaragua, White speeches and fundraising pitches for justice and an end worked in a coalition called “Crack the CIA” that mobi- to imperialist war. n Copyright © 2008 Workers World. 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As Wall Street talks bankruptcy What can autoworkers do to protect jobs & pensions? By Jerry Goldberg talist press has focused on the potentially unprecedented concessions in the last Detroit catastro­phic consequences for autoworkers No agency makes up contract, agreeing to a two-tiered wage if GM and/or Chrysler file for bankruptcy. the loss of benefits for scale with new hires making one-half the With U.S. automobile sales plummet- wages of current workers in exchange for ing nationwide, Wall Street is raising the What happens to pensions? retirees whose company job guarantees. Under bankruptcy, those possibility that both General Motors and In the past few years, tens of thousands goes bankrupt. job guarantees would be eliminated, and Chrysler may enter bankruptcy in the near of autoworkers took early retirement as union membership would shrink even future. The questions for autoworkers, the auto companies used buyouts to dras- Generally these retirees lose more. and especially the tens of thousands who tically trim their workforces. Under the their health & benefit plans In fact, the recession has already made were essentially forced to take early retire- UAW contracts a worker can retire with mincemeat of those job guarantees. GM ment in recent years, are how bankruptcy a full pension after 30 years of service— announced 17,000 layoffs last month, will affect them and what they can do to though this is no longer the case for new Generally these retirees lose their health a violation of at least the spirit of the protect their rights. hires. Hence, workers as young as 48 and benefit plans. contract. The bankruptcy specter was raised years of age, faced with the deterioration GM had promised to cover retiree ben- The UAW leadership has been silent after June sales dropped 35.9 percent at of their job situations and encouraged by efits for workers at Delphi, a manufacturer in the face of this bankruptcy threat and Chrysler, 27.8 percent at Ford and 18.2 the UAW leadership, took advantage of the of GM parts, as well as its own employees. the dire consequences it could mean for percent (despite a deep-discount sales buyouts and opted for early retirement. It was to avoid the potentially cata- the workers and retirees. It is critical that program) at General Motors. What will happen to these workers’ strophic consequences of bankruptcy, the rank and file be on the alert and begin Significantly, Toyota and Nissan, whose pensions if either GM or Chrysler goes causing retiree benefits to disappear, that organizing now to meet this attack. U.S. sales had actually risen in recent bankrupt? During a bankruptcy, the cor- the UAW opted in the last contract to take Bankruptcy calls into question the months due to their dominance in the poration typically stops putting money over payment of retiree benefits through a ownership of the means of production. small-car market, also reported steep into its pension fund. The Pension Benefit Voluntary Employee Benefit Association. The courts must appoint a “trustee” to sales drops—21.4 percent at Toyota and Guarantee Corporation, a quasi-govern- The VEBA is to be initially funded by con- assume control while the proceedings go 17.7 percent at Nissan. mental agency, takes over the pensions, tributions from the auto companies in the on. It was the auto bosses who in part These statistics reflect the impact of the which are vested under the Employee amount of $35 billion from GM and $8.8 brought on the current crisis by refusing recession on all auto sales, on top of the Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). billion from Chrysler and then operated to invest their record profits from the sale collapse of the truck and SUV market due The PBGC generally pays only about 80 by the UAW. of trucks and SUVs into developing fuel- to overproduction and rising gas prices. percent of the pension liability. However, the VEBAs are not scheduled efficient, low-cost cars and other means of In the wake of these sales figures, the For retirees under 65 years of age, the to go into effect until January 2010. If GM transportation. It’s time for the workers price of GM stock fell to its lowest level in PBGC pays even less. For example, in or Chrysler goes bankrupt before 2010, to assert control of the industry to pro- 54 years. A Merrill Lynch analyst down- 2008, the maximum guaranteed amount will the payments to fund the VEBAs tect their jobs and benefits and retool the graded the stock to “underperform” from for a pension assumed by the PBGC was and make them operational be made? Or plants based on production for need, not “buy,” stating that “bankruptcy is not $4,312.50 per month for a 65-year-old will they be liquidated in the bankruptcy just short-run profits. impossible” if the auto industry contin- worker, but only $1,366.88 for a 48-year- proceedings? The UAW and its allies should be pre- ues to deteriorate. By contrast, an analyst old retiree. In the case of GM, $4.4 billion of its pared to demand that they become the from J.P. Morgan said GM was unlikely Thus, in the event of bankruptcy, the VEBA payment is to be in the form of trustee that assumes control of the auto to go bankrupt, while Chrysler was more pensions of younger UAW retirees could company stock. With that stock falling companies if bankruptcy ensues. Most likely to face imminent bankruptcy. be reduced as much as 70 percent. And to record lows, the VEBA, which under important, the autoworkers should pre- While auto sales are plummeting in the that is assuming that the PBGC is solvent optimum conditions was underfunded by pare now to implement this demand with U.S., sales in developing nations seem enough to cover these pensions! $20 billion relative to current health-care plant takeovers and occupations to defend to be on the rise. GM set record second- Benefits are not vested—that is, not costs, will have even less funds available their jobs and benefits. quarter sales in Russia, Brazil, China and fully guaranteed as a legal right—under to maintain health-care benefits for retir- Jerry Goldberg was a Ford assembly- India. Chrysler announced record inter- ERISA. That means no quasi-governmen- ees and their families. line worker and member of UAW 900 national sales as well. tal agency makes up the loss of benefits for Of course, bankruptcy would impact not for 12 years. He also was an organizer Of course, not one article in the capi- retirees whose company goes bankrupt. only retired autoworkers. The UAW made of the Job Is a Right Campaign. Women hit utility shutoffs, foreclosures By Phebe Eckfeldt strong. Shutoffs are predicted to increase Boston by at least 20 percent this summer, leav- ing thousands without lights, refrigera- The NSTAR Electric Co. was the focus tion, fans or air conditioning. (Boston of an angry picket line July 3 initiated by Herald, June 29) the Women’s Fightback Network and the Action for Boston Community Devel­ youth group Fight Imperialism, Stand opment spokesperson Susan Kooperstein Together. said, “The numbers are pretty staggering. This greedy corporation, with assets of We’re talking about thousands of house- $7.8 billion, sent 100,000 Massachusetts holds that are facing shutoffs. When you residents electric and gas utility shutoff combine that with the increase of food notices at the beginning of May. NSTAR costs, health care and all the other basic earned $59.2 million in the first quarter of necessities, it’s a downward spiral.” 2008 but was shutting off people owing as WFN made clear its solidarity with little as $100. NSTAR workers and their struggle for good Women from WFN and FIST and their working conditions and a decent contract supporters from the International Action next year. The group also targeted Big Oil Center demonstrated outside the gates and the Pentagon in a flyer handed out to of the NSTAR plant. It’s on a busy thor- the community: “Why should the utility oughfare across from a big shopping mall and oil companies make huge profits while frequented by workers and low-income workers struggle to get work, keep a roof people from the mainly Black and Latin@ over their heads, feed their families and ww Photo: Liz Green community of Dorchester. keep the lights on at home? ... Last week, Passing cars honked their approval of protest message. Hearing chants of “Shut off the war, Congress gave the Pentagon $162 billion not our lights; affordable food, fuel, hous- more for the war and occupation in Iraq profits. We get price hikes that are espe- The petition reads: “In light of over ing is a right,” people leaned out of their and Afghanistan. The current cost of the cially hard for women and communities 100,000 utility shutoff notices in Massa­ cars and buses to read the banner and war is now over $650 billion. … It is time of color.” The group demanded the gov- chu­setts in May, skyrocketing food and placards. One placard read, “Honk to stop for us to come together to demand money ernor “declare a state of emergency and fuel prices, record foreclosures and lay- utility shutoffs” and another, “Foreclose for food, fuel and community needs, not implement a moratorium on shutoffs offs, we the undersigned demand that the war, not our homes.” There was an for a war which profits greedy corpora- immediately” and that utility prices be Gov. Deval Patrick use his executive pow- almost continuous response of blaring tions, politicians, military contractors and rolled back substantially. ers under the Massachusetts Constitution horns, waves and thumbs-up in this heav- Big Oil.” After picketing for an hour and a half, the to declare an economic state of emergency ily foreclosed neighborhood. People took In a press release, WFN charged, “We demonstrators marched across the street in Massachusetts and that he implement flyers through car windows and one bus do not have to stand by while the oil to the Stop and Shop where WFN kicked an emergency executive order to stop util- driver grabbed a bunch and handed them companies drive up rates by deliberately off a petition campaign to the governor, ity shutoffs, roll back food and fuel prices out to the passengers. withholding oil production and closing collecting signatures from many shoppers by 50 percent and freeze them, and stop It’s no wonder the response was so refineries. They get billions in windfall who were eager to sign and to talk. foreclosures.” n Page 4 July 17, 2008 www.workers.org Health care in crisis, part 4: On the Picket Line By Sue Davis The health-care revolution Coca-Cola workers strike in California More than 600 drivers and warehouse workers deserve staff at Coca-Cola Enterprises in San Diego walked off the job July 1 in solidar- By David Hoskins early benchmarks for socialized medi- capita on health care, compared to $7,129 ity with workers in nearby Oceanside, who cine’s achievements following the 1917 per capita in the United States. Cuba has went on strike June 30 to get parity with Workers inside the United States Bolshevik Revolution. After World War II, protected the integrity of its health-care other CCE workers in Southern California. are suffering at the hands of a capitalist a number of European capitalist countries system even while enduring a punitive eco- The strike affected deliveries at more health-care system. adopted some of the features of socialized nomic blockade by the United States. than 800 stores in the area. To add teeth A six-country study performed by the medicine because of the intense competi- A 1997 American Association of World to the strike, the Teamster-represented Commonwealth Fund found that the tion between the two social systems that Health report titled “Denial of Food and workers called on the public to boycott United States scored “particularly poorly became the Cold War. Medicine” outlines the difficulties delib- all Coca-Cola products until the workers’ on its ability to promote healthy lives, and Soviet health care was a comprehen- erately imposed by the United States on just demands are met. Of course, many on the provision of care that is safe and sive system that provided factory clinics, Cuba’s health system. unionists and progressives already boycott coordinated.” industrial hygiene programs, neighbor- In 1992 the U.S. Congress passed the Coca-Cola products because the company A 2008 study published in Health hood polyclinics, and local hospitals at no so-called Cuban Democracy Act. It is little has been accused of links to the murder of Affairs journal analyzed the health sys- cost to the patient. The Soviet health-care more than an attack on Cuba’s social- unionists in Colombia. tems of 19 countries. The study found that system was recognized for the great strides ized health-care system, which the World the United States had the highest rate of it made in battling infectious diseases— Health Organization had praised in 1989 preventable deaths before the age of 75. such as tuberculosis and typhus fever, as a “model for the world.” Letter Carriers support The study concluded that as many as which had periodically ravaged workers The act imposed a ban on subsidiary Colombian tribunal 101,000 deaths a year could be prevented and peasants in czarist Russia. trade with Cuba that severely constrains Branch 214 of the Letter Carriers by ensuring that all patients receive qual- A 2006 OECD report found that post- Cuba’s ability to import medicine and union, which has 2,700 members in San ity care in a timely manner. Soviet Russia’s move to a more market- equipment from third-country sources. Francisco, passed a resolution July 2 in The human face of under-investment in based, insurance-driven system has prov- Shippers are discouraged from delivering solidarity with the struggle to defend labor public health care came to light with the en disastrous, with declining life expec- medical equipment to Cuba by a provision organizations in Colombia. The resolu- recent circulation of a video by ACLU law- tancy and dramatic increases in deaths in the act prohibiting ships from loading tion specifically supported the Peoples yers showing 49-year-old Esmin Green from preventable diseases. or unloading cargo in U.S. ports for 180 Permanent Tribunal hearing in Bogotá writhing on the floor and then dying in a The Cuban Revolution in 1959 made days after delivering cargo of any type to from July 21 to 23 “to expose the continu- Brooklyn psychiatric emergency waiting possible a complete overhaul and rebuild- Cuba. Licensing and other restrictions ing murderous campaign by government- room, where she had been waiting for 24 ing of the medical system in that country severely restrain even charitable contri- supported paramilitary death squads hours to be seen by a doctor. along socialist lines. butions to Cuba. against trade union activists in Colombia.” In 1960 revolutionary physician Che Despite these inhumane attacks, Cuba It also joined with the AFL-CIO in oppos- Socialized medicine offers hope Guevara outlined the aims of Cuban has managed to exceed the United States on to workers ing the Colombian Free Trade Agreement health care in his essay “On Revolutionary key health indicators while sending thou- and any additional U.S. aid to Colombia Right-wing politicians regularly call Medicine.” Since that time Cuba’s system sands of its own doctors to provide medical until the government there vigorously every government attempt at expanding has developed into a pinnacle of achieve- care to the world’s poor and oppressed. prosecutes and punishes those who have access to health care “socialized medi- ment in socialized medicine. “¡Salud!,” a recent film highlighting systematically killed more than 2,500 cine,” as though that’s a bad thing. This Article 50 of Cuba’s Constitution estab- Cuba’s accomplishments in health care, unionists over the last 20 years. is generally a mischaracterization meant lishes free health care as a right of all citi- estimates that this small country has to derail even modest attempts at reform. zens. World Health Organization statistics approximately 28,000 health profession- Wis. boilermakers on strike Despite the right-wing’s pejorative use of demonstrate the superiority of socialized als now providing care in 68 countries. Members of Boilermakers Local 487 the word, however, real socialized medi- medicine. Cuba’s infant mortality rate Cuban doctors and nurses serve the poor- voted to turn down the second offer of cine remains workers’ greatest hope of of five deaths per thousand live births is est of the poor in countries like Honduras, Kewaunee Fabrications, a subsidiary of health-care justice. lower than the United States, where there Haiti and Guatemala. Another 21,000 Oshkosh Corp., on June 18. On strike Socialized medicine is a medical care are seven deaths per thousand. Cuba has international students are studying free since May 12, the workers figured out system that is publicly financed and gov- twice as many physicians per capita as the of charge in Cuba’s medical schools on that a 3.5 percent increase over four ernment administered. Hospitals and clin- United States and its life expectancy is 16 the condition that they provide care to years would only amount to a 15-cent- ics are government operated with doctors years higher than the average in its region. underserved populations in their country an-hour raise after a hike in health-care and nurses working as public employees. Socialized medicine in Cuba has accom- of origin. payments. Union members have been The Soviet Union established the plished all this while spending just $251 per Workers and oppressed people living picketing entrances to the factory 24/7 in the United States would be well served in alternating six-hour shifts after scabs by a socialized medicine system similar to NOT ANOTHER WAR! NOT ANOTHER WAR! NOT ANOTHER WAR! NOT ANOTHER WAR! were brought in on May 19. (Kewaunee Cuba’s. If the crisis in U.S. health care has County News, June 23) Supporters can demonstrated anything, it is that capital- send support resolutions and needed An Emergency Call to Action ist health care places private health indus- monetary donations to Boilermakers try profits before patient care in a way that Local 487, attention John Zielonka, 523 threatens the lives of many thousands Harrison St., Kewaunee, WI 54216; phone each year and leaves many more in suffer- 920-246-1692. STOP WAR ing and pain. n Millions go hungry on Continued from page 1 to be perceived as “green-friendly” and IRAN attempted to link higher food prices to yet still make a profit off their endeavors. increased demand in India and China. Yet an April 2007 editorial in the London Economist entitled “Castro was right” Fidel was right! pointed out that corn-based ethanol isn’t • An Attack could be Imminent Early on in the push for ethanol use even better for the environment, in that • We Can’t Afford to Wait in the U.S., Fidel Castro, Cuba’s revolu- it requires almost as much energy to pro- • Take It to the Streets This Summer tionary leader and at that time president, duce, if not more, as it releases when it is condemned the “sinister idea of turning burned. (April 7) • U.S. Out of Iraq, Money for foodstuffs into fuel.” Predicting the situa- Castro had noted that the production human needs, not war! tion now at hand, Castro stated: “Let this of ethanol “will happen after a great num- formula be applied to the Third World ber of investments, which could only be

Actions in Times Square in NYC countries, and the world will see how afforded by the most powerful companies

 Los Angeles  San Francisco many hungry people on this planet will whose operations are based on the con- Actions in 50 cities  Boston & several other cities in cease to consume corn. What is worse, let sumption of electricity and fuel.” To Endorse, list your local action, or to New England, multiple cities in the poor countries receive some financing Biofuel use not only shifts the produc-    find out how to get involved: N. Carolina Colorado Ohio to produce ethanol from corn or any other tion of grain for food to fuel, but it encour- � go to www.StopWarOnIran.org  Oklahoma  Montana  Michigan ages farmers to use more of their land for � foodstuff and very soon not a single tree call 212-633-6646  Louisiana  Arizona  Indiana biofuel production—particularly in the � or drop by the Solidarity Center will be left standing to protect humanity  Florida and many other states. 55 W. 17th St. 5th Fl. NY NY 10011 from climate change.” U.S., with large subsidies coming from To list your local action or The use of ethanol has served as a con- the government. With less land to pro- Volunteers needed find more information go to duce these other foodstuffs, their prices Volunteers urgently needed! www.StopWarOnIran.org venient ruse for politicians, auto corpora- Name______tions and the oil industry—who all want Continued on page page 5 Address______

Phone______email ______www.StopWarOnIran.org www.workers.org July 17, 2008 Page 5 On the Picket Line By Sue Davis Gov’t abuses grand jury Wal-Mart guilty millions of times! system to indict Al-Arian A state judge in Minnesota ruled on Special to Workers World at the University of South Florida, was er scientist are circulating a petition on July 1 that Wal-Mart violated state laws arrested in 2003. At that time, Attorney his behalf. It can be found on the site of on rest breaks and other wage matters If a prisoner in the U.S. has been found General John Ashcroft called this sei- the International Action Center at iacen- more than 2 million times and could face guilty, the Constitution says that person zure the “arrest of the most dangerous ter.org. The petition, signed by human- more than $2 billion in fines. The judge should not be subjected to cruel and financier of Islamic Jihad in the Western rights and civil liberties activists and threatened to impose a $1,000 penalty unusual punishment. Shouldn’t this be world.” What this Palestinian man had leaders of the Muslim community in the for each violation. The judge also ruled even more so if the prisoner is innocent, done was raise funds for orphans and United States, demands that Al-Arian be on June 30 that Wal-Mart owed $6.5 if no charges have been proven against charities back home. released immediately. million to 56,000 current and former him or her? But the only way one can Through the last five years, his case has Signers include, among others, human- employees because of contractual viola- describe the authorities’ treatment of Dr. been viewed as one of the most extreme rights activist Ramsey Clark; Laila tions, including failure to give workers Sami Al-Arian is cruel, although in the examples of racist and anti-Muslim per- Al-Arian, daughter of Sami Al-Arian; rest breaks at least 1.5 million times. The U.S. it is all too usual. secution. The Justice Department spent Muhammad Salim Akhtar, chair of class-action suit was filed nearly seven On June 26, after he had spent over $50 million prosecuting the case. After a American Muslim Alliance—Midwest years ago. The second phase of the trial three years in prison, and two years six-month trial, a jury found no evidence Region; Malaak Shabazz, daughter of will be held in October to determine after both the defense and the state had that any crime had been committed. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X); punitive damages and the amount of agreed on a deal to release and deport Despite the failure to convict and in vio- Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid; Naib Ameer, statutory penalties. Al-Arian, the U.S. authorities brought lation of the terms of release and depor- MANA; Heidi Boghosian, executive direc- This case is one of 70 in which employ- new charges against him: two counts of tation set by the Justice Department tor of the National Lawyers’ Guild; Ghazi ees charge Wal-Mart with making them contempt of court. His supporters have in the 2006 agreement, the authorities KhanKan, American Muslim Alliance; work off the clock or miss required said this attempt to force him to testify is continued to refuse to release Al-Arian. Aliya Latif, civil rights director of Council breaks. a clear perjury trap. Since there is no lim- Instead, they have tried to use and abuse on American-Islamic Relations; and Sara it on sentencing for contempt, the court the grand jury system to force him to Flounders, co-director of International Three strikes averted may sentence this father of five to life in give testimony against others. This he Action Center. in NYC; one continues prison. courageously has refused to do. For more information on Al-Arian, see New York could have been renamed Al-Arian, while a tenured professor Supporters of the persecuted comput- freesamialarian.com. n “strike city” on July 4 except that nearly 9,000 workers at the utility monopoly Con Edison, hundreds of Broadway actors and stage managers, and the staff Racist baseball owners sideline at the free weekly Village Voice were all able to negotiate decent contracts before then. But one strike of more than home-run great 400 concrete-truck drivers represented by Teamsters Local 282 has had the By Susan Schnur across the country. by bombing and occupying other people’s real estate biz in a tizzy since it started Cleveland While Bonds, the greatest home-run land,” said Bonds. July 1. The strike has shut down the hitter in the history of the game, has nev- Bonds stated emphatically that she multibillion-dollar construction indus- Rosie Bonds-Kreidler presented a spir- er been found guilty of any crime, he is believes in her nephew’s assertion about try in all five boroughs, including sites ited defense of her nephew, baseball great today sitting on the sidelines after being not knowingly using illegal supplements. like Freedom Tower. But the carpenters, Barry Bonds, at a panel here on June cut loose by the San Francisco Giants. She said she thought people were sup- electricians, wire lathers and other highly 27. It was organized by Mike Gimbel as Even while under immense pressure last posed to be innocent until proven guilty. skilled workers are all supporting the part of the Society for American Baseball year, Bonds maintained his focus and The only reason Bonds sees for the hid- drivers because, as one union official put Research’s annual convention. broke one of baseball’s most coveted eous treatment of her nephew is that he it, “They’re entitled to what they can get.” Gimbel has written extensively about records—Henry Aaron’s career home-run is an African American who has made (New York Times, June 30-July 3) the obvious collusion by baseball team record. lots of money playing ball. She asked the owners to keep Barry Bonds out of the Rosie Bonds started her presenta- audience, “Who turns down money at SAG deadline fast game. Gimbel pointed out how ridiculous tion by talking about diapering little work, especially when the boss is making the U.S. Congress has looked, carrying out Barry, son of her brother, Bobby Bonds, billions off your skill?” approaching a high-profile investigation of steroid use a baseball great in his own right. Many The panel was held at the Baseball The contract of 122,000 members of in baseball while giving its blessing as the members of the family are great athletes, Heritage Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, the Screen Actors Guild, who act in televi- U.S. destroyed a sovereign nation (Iraq) including Rosie Bonds herself, who ran which focuses on the history of African- sions shows and movies, will soon expire. and hung its leader, bombed Afghanistan in the 1964 Olympics. She spoke about American baseball in the days before Even though SAG has been in negotia- to smithereens, covered up who really making friends around the world through Jackie Robinson of the National League tions for months, no agreement has been ordered the atrocities at Abu Ghraib pris- sports and learning about other cultures and Larry Doby of the American League reached. A strike is not likely until after on, and so far has let the bankers off the while competing in various host coun- were signed and broke the hold of segre- Aug. 1, however, because before SAG can hook for the foreclosure crisis sweeping tries. “That is how you make friends, not gationists in major league baseball. n call a strike, a strike authorization vote must get 75 percent approval. Stay tuned. (New York Times, June 30) n Limbaugh’s $400 M contract

increase as well. Millions go hungry It also encourages farmers to use con- Rich reward their hateful lackeys servation lands to produce more ethanol— the disastrous effects of which were seen By Caleb T. Maupin talists has recently rewarded Limbaugh Air America were forced into bankrupt- in the Midwest flooding, where lands filled for his hate speech. Through the Clear cy—not for lack of listeners, but because with naturally water-absorbing grasses Big money never lacks a voice. The Channel network, which gets a lucrative the private capitalists whom the radio had been pulled out of conservation pro- corporations and bankers are very good income from corporate advertisers, they network depends upon for advertis- grams to allow more acreage for corn. at getting their message across. When it gave him a contract valued at more than ing income didn’t like what they were And with the floods come a new con- doesn’t come through headlines attack- $400 million. saying. cern for working people. Should crops be ing liberation movements across the This contract would award Limbaugh This commentator was removed from affected by extreme weather—and prelimi- globe, or nightly news broadcasts paint- $38 million a year for the next eight his college newspaper’s staff last spring, nary estimates indicate that as much as 15 ing pictures of “progress” in Iraq, there years, plus a “nine figure signing bonus,” the only explanation being that he had percent less corn will be produced this year is always the interesting world of talk but the official amount was undisclosed. “ravid [sic] political opinions.” because of the floods—the potential exists radio. (Entertainment Weekly, July 3) But Rush Limbaugh, who spews the for gas prices to increase even more as the Rush Limbaugh is known for his hate- Radio journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, pro-Bush message, which according to push to add ethanol to gasoline grows. The ful right-wing rhetoric. His favorite tar- who exposed this system rather than the latest polls reflects the views of less New York Times reports that the floods gets for verbal assaults include feminists, defend it, was not awarded with such than 28 percent of the U.S. population, helped the price of ethanol increase by 19 Black people, the LGBT community, the wealth but was framed up for murder. at most, now finds himself on 600 radio percent in one month. (July 1) poor, and anyone politically to the left of He sits on death row. stations. His ranting and raving reach 14 Since the World Bank report was leaked, George W. Bush. Rev. Edward Pinkney of Benton million people daily. the EU has made moves to reduce its tar- Limbaugh’s daily three-hour rants Harbor, Mich., was not rewarded for his This should shed some light on the gets for biofuel use, while the U.S. has fill a range of topics, including denial of sermons, which spoke opposition to the beliefs of those who think that in the U.S. not. For many suffering under the weight global warming, downplaying poverty, powers that be. He is now sentenced to there is a “free marketplace of ideas.” of high food prices—victims to the chaos and accusing those who disagree with his spend years in prison for daring to quote While ideas are clearly subject to a “mar- of capitalist “planning”—the damage has views of being “un-American.” scripture in reference to a judge. ketplace,” the “free” part of this common already been done. n The ruling class of bankers and capi- Even the liberal democratic voices of cliché deserves a bit of reconsidering. n Page 6 July 17, 2008 www.workers.org

Fourth of July protest stands up for Mumia

By Betsey Piette ily and they are still murdering political Philadelphia activists.” Pam Africa of International Concerned As tourists lined up to visit the Liberty Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal Bell here, chants of “Brick by brick, wall by addressed the crowd on the links between wall; we’re gonna free Mumia Abu-Jamal” struggles for political prisoners like echoed across Independence Plaza. It was Mumia and the MOVE 9 and the war in the annual gathering to demand justice Iraq. “Today the government uses bombs for an innocent political prisoner who has and planes against innocent people in spent 26 years on Pennsylvania’s death Iraq, while 40 years ago the Philadelphia row. police used hand grenades and thousands On July 1, 1982, Judge Albert Sabo, of pounds of ammunition in Powelton known as the “hanging judge,” encouraged Village against the MOVE family. jurors in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal to “Just like with Mumia, there is evidence return a verdict “quickly,” in time to “enjoy that MOVE members are innocent, but your Fourth of July holiday.” On July 2, the court won’t parole them if they don’t a guilty verdict came in. On July 3, Abu- admit ‘remorse.’ They’re not guilty–what Jamal was sentenced to death. do they have to apologize for? In 1978 the By July 4, the jurists were home to cel- state was waging a war on the Black com- ebrate with their families. While evidence munity. Today our sons and daughters of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s innocence clearly are sent overseas to fight for these same exists, jurors were never shown it, nor has forces.” any court of law agreed to hear it to this Several hip-hop artists provided day. edutainment for the participants. They Twenty-six years later the people are included Taina Asili, Rebel Diaz and Tha still demanding justice, vowing that the Truth. Fourth of July will never be celebrated in Attorneys for Abu-Jamal are currently ww Photo: Joe Piette Philadelphia without protest until Mumia appealing recent rulings by the Federal Taina Asili speaks and sings at Mumia rally. is free. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The rulings Children of members of the MOVE upheld a 2000 decision by Judge William organization drove home this point by Yohn to lift the death sentence, yet denied Political prisoner updates. carrying signs reading “9,491 days since Abu-Jamal’s appeals for a new trial based By LeiLani Dowell Mumia Abu-Jamal was illegally sentenced on racism in jury selection and prosecuto- to death.” Nine-year-old Chad Africa told rial misconduct in his 1982 hearing and the crowd, “Police murdered my fam- 1995 appeal. n Demand effective Memphis cops brutally medical treatment for Peltier beat trans woman The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense By LeiLani Dowell ground. A nurse appears later in the tape, Com­mittee is requesting that Peltier sup- only to walk past Johnson—who suffered porters contact prison officials to demand Yet another incident of police brutal- a gash to her head—and treat one of the that Peltier, who has diabetes, be allowed ity has been captured on videotape—this officers for a scrape. to have his own diabetes kit so that he time against a transgender woman in Johnson is now filing a $1.3 million Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox can accurately monitor and control his Memphis, Tenn. lawsuit against the City of Memphis. Her spent 30 years in solidarity confinement for a crime they didn’t commit. condition. While in the booking room of the lawyer, Murray Wells, told local WMC-TV Peltier, a participant in the American Shelby County Criminal Justice Center on June 18, “We were optimistic that [the Indian Movement, was wrongfully con- in Memphis on Feb. 12, Duanna Johnson Memphis Police Department] would be Albert Woodfox victed in 1976 of the death of two Federal was taunted by a police officer, who called as outraged about this as we are, and we Bureau of Investigation agents in a shoot- her over to be fingerprinted by using an haven’t gotten any indication that they’re conviction out at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. anti-LGBT slur and the term “he/she.” interested in it at all.” overturned! He has been imprisoned ever since, When Johnson courageously told the One of the officers involved, James despite revelations of coerced testimonies, officer that she would not respond to Swain, was a new officer serving a A victory has been won in the case of the fabricated and suppressed evidence, and that language, the officer put on gloves, probation­ary period, and has since been Angola Three, political prisoners and for- federal officials stating that it is unknown wrapped a set of handcuffs around his fired. The other, Bridges McRae, has mer Black Panthers who were convicted on who fired the shots or what role Peltier knuckles and proceeded to beat Johnson been placed on administrative duty until trumped-up charges in the death of a pris- may have played. with them. a hearing is held. on guard. On July 8, a federal judge over- The infirmary at Lewisburg Penitentiary, The videotape, which was leaked to the Meanwhile, Johnson’s lawyer told turned the conviction of Albert Woodfox, where Peltier is being imprisoned, has a press in June, shows an officer holding Media Archive that they were not allowed one of the two still remaining in prison. general diabetes kit for all prisoners. The Johnson’s shoulders while another offi- to file a complaint about the incident. The Woodfox spent more than three decades committee has raised concerns that due cer continuously beats Johnson across reason? It is being “investigated” by the in solitary confinement in the Louisiana to the embedded memory in the device, the face and head with the handcuffs. She police department’s Internal Affairs and State Penitentiary in Angola, La.—a noto- Peltier could be receiving false readings. is then maced, handcuffed and left on the the Federal Bureau of Investigation. n rious plantation where Black prisoners Furthermore, Peltier has reported that are made to work like slaves. In March, there are often no medical personnel on however, he and Herman Wallace were hand when he goes to the infirmary, and Marxism, Reparations & the Black Freedom Struggle moved to a maximum-security dormi- he must return over and over until some- An anthology of writings from Workers World. Edited by Monica Moorehead. Includes: tory with other prisoners after Rep. John one is there to assist him. Conyers, chairperson of the U.S. House In addition, all the prisoners at Lewis­ Racism, national oppression and self-determination by Larry Holmes Judiciary Committee, visited the prison burg had been on lockdown for five days Black labor from chattel slavery to wage slavery by Sam Marcy to investigate the case. as of July 7. For Peltier, this means no Harriet Tubman: woman warrior by Mumia Abu-Jamal Woodfox’s conviction was overturned access to the infirmary, making it all the Black youth: repression & resistance by LeiLani Dowell on the grounds that two of his lawyers more important he have access to a dia- Black & Brown unity: A pillar of struggle failed to raise objections to questionable betes testing kit at the pharmacy; as his for human rights & global justice! by Saladin Muhammad prosecutor testimony. He now faces the committee has requested. Are conditions ripe again today? 40th anniversary possibility that prosecutors will ask for a Supporters are asked to contact: of the 1965 Watts Rebellion by John Parker retrial. Warden Bledsoe, USP Lewisburg, 2400 Racism and poverty in the Delta by Larry Hales Meanwhile, Wallace continues to appeal Robert F. Miller Dr., Lewisburg, PA 17837; Domestic Workers United demand passage of a bill of rights by Imani Henry his conviction. The third member of the phone 570-523-1251; fax 570-522-7745, U.S. Capitalism puts oppressed nations and poor behind bars by Monica Moorehead Angola Three, Robert King Wilkerson, e-mail lew/[email protected]. If you would like to help make sure that this book is widely distributed: call 212-627-2994 was freed in 2001 after his conviction was For more information, visit www. or email [email protected], online: www.workers.org. Order online at www.Leftbooks.com overturned. whoisleonardpeltier.info. n www.workers.org July 17, 2008 Page 7

Black reverend sentenced to 3-10 years for quoting scriptures

By Abayomi Azikiwe Rev. Edward Pinkney has been a long- ple despite two federal of the victim’s fam- Editor, Pan-African News Wire time activist in the Berrien County area. He consent decrees, which ily. According to the Detroit became outspoken when increasing inci- have been in effect for coalition, the shooting dents of police misconduct and perceived five years. of Bell raises serious Rev. Edward Pinkney, leader of the judicial bias led to a mass rebellion dur- On June 2, Tom­my questions involving Benton Harbor Black Autonomy Network ing the summer of 2003. In the aftermath Staples Jr., 54, was the use of lethal force. of Community Organizers (BANCO), was of the rebellion, Pinkney led a successful shot several times in Some witnesses claim sentenced on June 26 by Berrien County recall campaign against Glenn Yarbor­ the head and back by that after the young Judge Dennis Wiley to a term of three to ough, Benton Harbor City Commissioner. Detroit police officers man was hit by bul- ten years in prison. The minister, based in Politicians in Berrien County, which on the northwest side lets and was lying face this southwest Michigan city, was already includes Benton Harbor, Benton Township of the city. Police claim down, he was shot an serving a year in jail and five years proba- and the more affluent St. Joseph, have that Staples had a gun, additional four times tion for trumped-up charges related to a long been beholden to the Upton family, but his daughter and at close range. recall campaign held during 2006. the owners of Whirpool Corp. In 2005 son stated over the Repression The most recent sentence stemmed Rev. Pinkney set out to bring employ- “Fighting for Justice” escalates as not from any act but from an article writ- ment opportunities to Benton Harbor— radio program hosted economic crisis ten by Rev. Pinkney and published in the unemployment is extremely high in by the Detroit Coali­ deepens People’s Tribune newspaper in December this overwhelmingly majority African- tion Against Police American town. Bru­tality that Staples The state of Michi­ 2007. Berrien County Chief Judge Alfred ww photo: Cheryl LaBash Butzbaugh claimed that the article, which After being blocked from carrying out did not even own a gun. Rev. Pinkney, leader of the Benton gan has been one stated in part that “The Lord shall smite this effort, BANCO organized the recall of In response to the Harbor Black Autonomy Network of of the areas hardest thee with consumption and with a fever Commissioner Yarborough. Soon after- killing of Staples, the Community Organizers (BANCO). hit by the economic and with an inflammation and with wards, Rev. Pinkney, the BANCO leader, community gathered downturn sweeping extreme burning,” threatened him and was charged with vote fraud and a Berrien on June 24 near the site of the shooting the United States. There have been mas- his family. County judge overturned the results of the for a candlelight vigil and speak-out. Over sive layoffs in the automotive and other The BANCO leader had been convicted recall vote. 200 people—community residents as well industrial sectors of the labor force. Since in Butzbaugh’s courtroom by an all-white A massive scheme to establish a so- as the Detroit Coalition Against Police 2000 approximately 500,000 jobs have jury in March 2007 for four felonies and called development project in Berrien Brutality—attended this event organized been lost in the state. one misdemeanor for alleged vote fraud County, utilizing land that could encroach by the Staples family. In addition, the state has one of the and ballot tampering. Pinkney had been on the African-American community in The family and friends of Staples are highest foreclosure rates in the country. At kept under house arrest on a tether between Benton Harbor, is moving straight ahead. demanding that the two police officers present the Moratorium Now! Coalition to May and December 2007, when he was It appears that authorities in the county involved in the shooting be charged with Stop Foreclosures and Evictions is mount- ordered to jail for one year by Butzbaugh. are hoping that, with Rev. Pinkney likely murder. The Detroit Coalition Against ing a statewide campaign demanding the Jim Pjesky, a probations officer with the to be locked away in prison for many years Police Brutality is also demanding that passage of Senate Bill 1306, sponsored by State Department of Corrections, said that to come, they can get away with a greater the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Officer State Sen. Hansen Clarke. Pinkney did not deny writing the article relocation of the city’s African-American pursue the case aggressively in order to Both the Detroit Coalition Against but never meant it as a threat. population. uncover the circumstances surrounding Police Brutality and the Moratorium After claiming that it was a threat The rate of foreclosure in Benton Har­bor the killing of this well-respected commu- Now! Coali­tion see a direct relationship directed at him, Judge Butzbaugh recused is astronomical. This is another mechan­ nity resident and family man. between the growing layoffs and foreclo- himself from the case, leaving the way ism to force large segments of the African- While the community began to mobi- sures and the ongoing wars of occupation, open for Wiley to hand down the severe American people to abandon the city. lize around the death of Staples, another the so-called war on terrorism and the decision. The decision was given by Wiley Activists in the Michigan area are plan- killing of a civilian by the police took place adoption of torture as a method of inter- after claiming that the contents of the ning activities where people can protest in the early morning hours of July 1. This rogation by the United States. article written by Rev. Pinkney were not their outrage over the treatment of the time the victim was a 16-year-old named The failure of the present system to offer protected under U.S. constitutional rights local leader and organizer. Sheldon Robert Bell. According to police, people a living wage and the basic necessi- to free speech and represented a threat. Bell attempted to carjack an off-duty ties of life is being enforced by the use of Rev. Pinkney was visited by guards at Police gun down two African police officer at a gasoline station located more deadly law-enforcement techniques 4:00 a.m. in the Berrien County Jail on Americans in Detroit on the northwest side of the city. by the local police agencies. Only a popu- July 3 and transported to Jackson Prison. Meanwhile, in Detroit, Michigan’s larg­ This youth was reportedly shot eight lar fightback campaign to confront both Pinkney’s wife, Dorothy Pinkney, and his est city, two recent killings by police offi- times by the officer. Members of the Detroit the growing economic downturn as well as supporters in Benton Harbor say he will cers of African-American men have drawn Coalition Against Police Brutality went to the increasing repression by the police can be transferred from Jackson to a perma- attention to the fact that police are continu- the scene of the shooting immediately and provide any hope for the people to reverse nent facility after 30 days. ing their terrorist activity against the peo- interviewed witnesses as well as members the current situation. n

A people’s victory. Charges dropped against civil rights attorneys

By Larry Hales down information about the cops’ vehi- known attorneys and activists, their New York cles. Talvy approached their car and was resources and political know-how are told that they were both attorneys. Talvy ample. The resources abound from the On July 2, in a Brooklyn courtroom then hit Warren more than once, pulled community’s love and respect engen- filled with supporters of Michael Tarif him out of the car, and assaulted Evelyn dered by years of being involved in politi- Warren and Evelyn Warren, the district Warren when she questioned him. Both cal struggles and defending high-profile attorney admitted that the state’s case the Warrens were arrested. All this took human rights cases. against them was inadequate. All charges place during the evening rush hour in The respect and love was evident in the were dropped. front of many witnesses. response to the attack and arrest of the The two attorneys and activists had The Warrens were taken to the 77th Warrens. Hours after the attack, the local been assaulted by cops and arrested in Precinct and charged with disorderly con- Pacifica station, WBAI-FM, broadcast the Brooklyn on June 21, 2007. This fol- duct and resisting arrest. news over the airwaves. After exchang- lowed their witnessing the beating of a Cases of police brutality are routine ing text messages, e-mails and telephone young Black male, who they say was on in oppressed communities, as cops in an calls, activists from many groups descend- the ground and handcuffed but was being oppressive and racist society are trained ed upon the 77th Precinct and packed the kicked in the head repeatedly by cops, and paid to uphold order—no matter how waiting room, spilling into the stairwell specifically by Sgt. Steven Talvy. brutal and repressive it is. and outside the precinct. After witnessing the attack Michael Often, when people are attacked, pro- This mini-rebellion procured the release Tarif Warren asked Talvy, “Why are you filed or harassed by a cop, they are with- of the Warrens that day. A small march Photo: Roberto Mercado beating him? He’s handcuffed. He’s not out resources to attain proper defense with chants broke out as people from the Michael Tarif Warren and Evelyn Warren a threat.Take him to the precinct.” They or to mount a public campaign to bring neighborhood looked on from their win- pressure down on the cops or the local dows and doors. It was a victory. an even more important victory. It shows were ordered to return to their vehicle. that when the people organize and fight According to the Warrens, the two government. The dropping of the charges after a back, great things can happen. n then got into their car and began writing However, when the victims are well- vigorous campaign had been mounted is Page 8 July 17, 2008 www.workers.org Israeli political cops beat prize-winning Gazan journalist By John Catalinotto The young reporter only recently was Eight of the cops forced him to undress, more determined than ever.” able to leave Gaza for a few weeks to tour strip-searched and beat him. In a July 7 The Israeli police agents treat many He writes and speaks in vivid language, Europe and receive the Martha Gellhorn phone interview from Gaza broadcast ordinary Palestinians trying to cross the bringing to life the daily sufferings of an Prize after international pressure on the on Pacifica’s Democracy Now! program, border with the same vicious cruelty they oppressed nation under siege by a vicious Israeli state to let him go. According to the Omer described a small part of this showed to Omer. In his case, since officials occupying power. Other top journalists Gellhorn Web site, this prize “is awarded experience: of the Netherlands’ Embassy were waiting call him the “voice of the voiceless.” He to a journalist whose work has penetrated “I fainted and—on the ground. And for him and he had just won a journalism is insulted and brutalized by a repressive the established version of events and told I started vomiting everywhere. And award, it meant they were willing to flout police force in an attempt to humiliate an unpalatable truth, validated by pow- then the soldiers, they started gathering all international norms and risk broad and break him. erful facts, that exposes establishment around me. I estimate nearly one hour exposure of their police-state style han- That description may fit the young propaganda, or ‘official drivel,’ as Martha and a half vomiting on the ground. … dling of Palestinians. Mumia Abu-Jamal, before he became the Gellhorn called it.” I was unconscious for most of the time, What they obviously had no fear of most-published U.S. political prisoner, Omer and Dahr Jamail, whose report- but I can remember one of the things risking was Israel’s close ties with U.S. writing and speaking from death row. But ing from Iraq many Workers World that they were doing to me. He was using imperialism, Washington’s funding and it’s also a description of the 24-year-old readers may be familiar with, received his nail fingers and pinching me all the its diplomatic support as well as friendly prize-winning journalist and Gaza-strip the prize for 2007 this June. Both these way, trying to cause me pain under my handling by the U.S. corporate media. resident Mohammed Omer, whose own reporters had to overcome mountains of eyes and under the soft part of my eye. In the U.S., both major parties—the ordeal at the hands of Israeli border police “official drivel.” I thought what these people are doing is Republicans and the Democrats—have has exposed their daily brutality. “Every day, he reports from a war zone, basically they are trying to torture me. … made it clear through their national lead- Omer, whose brother was gunned down where he is also a prisoner,” read the [A]nd then one other of them who tried ers and their candidates in the upcoming by the Israeli Army, has been reporting statement giving Omer the award. “His to—who put his shoes on my neck. I could election that they will maintain the close and documenting daily life in Rafah, Gaza, homeland, Gaza, is surrounded, starved, feel actually the outline of his shoes on my relationship between U.S. imperialism for six years now with skill and accuracy. attacked, forgotten. He is a profoundly neck, moving right and left.” and the Israeli settler state in carrying out His description of his own recent beating humane witness to one of the great injus- Omer wound up at the hospital in Middle East policy. This up-front pledge by Israeli police illustrates how he pays tices of our time. He is the voice of the Jericho that day, and now he vows to of support strengthens the most reac- attention to detail, reports all the relevant voiceless.” continue his reporting from Gaza. “The tionary Israeli politicians and generals facts and brings the events to life before Israelis were trying to punish me for the as well as the most aggressive elements the reader’s eyes, ears and imagination. Israelis punish reporter work I am doing and getting the mes- in U.S. ruling circles. It can lead not only On top of that, he lives daily the danger- What he wrote counted enough that sage out,” Omer told his main employer, to police state tactics against Palestinians ous life of a Palestinian in Gaza, where few the Israeli political police, Shin Bet, Inter Press Service, from his bed in the and repression of journalists, but to new independent foreign journalists can get by made sure Omer was punished when European Hospital in Gaza. “But they military adventures. Israeli checkpoints. he tried to return to Gaza in late June. won’t break me. … They have made me E-mail: [email protected] Canadian court re-opens door for U.S. war resisters

By Dee Knight to let the war resisters stay. The decision could not come at a bet- A Canadian court on July 4 ordered ter time. A large-scale campaign is under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board way in both Canada and the U.S. to press to review U.S. war resister Joshua Key’s the Canadian government to stop the claim for asylum. In a ruling that could deportation of Corey Glass, slated for affect many other U.S. war resisters, the July 10. Glass would be the first U.S. war court said, “Military action which system- resister to be deported from Canada. The atically degrades, abuses or humiliates Toronto-based War Resisters Support either combatants or non-combatants is Campaign has led a massive effort in capable of supporting a refugee claim.” Canada to force the Canadian govern- The court concluded that the ment to stop his deportation and respect Immigration and Refugee Board imposed a majority vote in Parliament on June “a too restrictive legal standard” on Key. 3 that called on the government to stop In a clear statement affecting other U.S. deportation of U.S. war resisters and let war resisters, the court also found that them stay permanently. “similarly situated individuals” should A national poll in June showed that 64 have their refugee claims reviewed. percent of Canadians favor letting the war Key’s lawyer, Jeffry House, said the resisters stay. Meanwhile, in the U.S., vig- ruling is “a huge victory for numerous ils and demonstrations are taking place Photo: Courage to Resist soldiers who are here [in Canada] and at Canadian consulates in 14 cities, orga- Joshua and Brandi Key and their four children at home in Canada. maybe others who are thinking of coming nized by Courage to Resist, Veterans For here.” House himself is a Vietnam-era war Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War and an “Open Letter to the Canadian People in the United States after he decided not resister. A spokeswoman for Canadian Project Safe Haven. and their Government.” The letter says, in to return to Iraq. He served as a com- Immigration Minister Diane Finley said Elliott Adams, the national president of part: bat engineer in Iraq for eight months in her ministry was reviewing the court deci- Veterans For Peace, will visit the Canadian “U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and air- 2003. His book, “The Deserter’s Tale,” sion, which adds another layer of pressure Embassy in Washington July 10 to deliver men who have refused to participate in has been an international best seller. He this war have shown great moral courage. said he and his family have felt support Unlike many governments around the from “about 95 percent of the Canadian world, these war resisters are respecting people.” Picket of Dalai Lama planned international law and following their own Key’s lawyer, Jeffry House, said there consciences. They witnessed war crimes are about 200 U.S. war resisters in Canada By Betsy Yoon clear campaign against this year’s Beijing with their own eyes. They were sickened now. While that is “no comparison to the New York Olympics. These attacks and accompany- by the racist attitudes that the U.S. mili- later period of the Vietnam War,” he said, ing protests were glorified by a media that tary fostered toward the Iraqi people. it does compare with the early Vietnam A protest of Washington’s anti-China has failed to exhibit similar enthusiasm Some are struggling with the psychologi- War period. “Early on during Vietnam policies is planned for July 17 when the for covering anti-war protests. cal wounds of war, commonly known as there were only a small number, but later Dalai Lama will be speaking at Radio City The Dalai Lama and the U.S. imperial- Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. the doors opened more widely,” he said. Music Hall here. The U.S. government ists have worked hard to erase the Dalai “So it is from the bottom of our hearts “By November 1969 [Canadian Prime has been involved in the “Free Tibet” Lama’s past as a feudal leader, and these that we thank the many Canadians who Minister] Trudeau declared Canada campaign from the beginning, while the days hardly anyone in the Western media have sheltered our war resisters,” the ‘should be a refuge from militarism,’ and media facilitates its execution. questions the fact that he is supposed to be letter says, and concludes with a strong the doors opened and people flooded The latest efforts began in mid-March, a living deity. “Spiritual” leaders, it seems, demand that the Canadian government in.” More than 50,000 U.S. war resisters when the Dalai Lama covertly encour- are condemned or elevated according to respect the Parliamentary vote and the found refuge–or a new home–in Canada aged Tibetans to riot. The rioters looted, their strategic utility to the ruling class. will of the Canadian people, and let the during the Vietnam War. burned and attacked non-Tibetan ethnic In the U.S., the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, for war resisters stay. According to Gerry Condon of Project groups, killing and wounding scores. Then example, was raked over the coals by the Joshua Key went to Canada with his Safe Haven, making it possible for war in April, protesters attacked Olympic media for his preaching against racism. wife Brandi and their four small children resisters to stay in Canada is an integral torch runners in several countries in a Continued on page 10 following 16 months living underground part of building the GI resistance. n www.workers.org July 17, 2008 Page 9

A setback to peace process What really happened in Colombia? By Berta Joubert-Ceci the past year using satellites, aircraft and Bolivarian Coordinating Group and has Beth have assisted Uribe’s government ground reconnaissance—and had tracked the authority to speak on this matter since in Colombian territory. The Israeli news- Colombia made prime news around them since then.” he had participated in earlier negotiations paper Maariv reported in 2007 that Gen. the world on July 2 like never before. We A second version of what happened for the release of Betancourt. In a widely Israel Ziv, who had commanded Israeli learned that former Colombian presi- comes from France. circulated article written July 3 and enti- forces in Gaza, was a consultant on “secu- dential candidate Ingrid Betancourt had The French online news site MediaPart tled “There was no such rescue,” he wrote rity” for the Colombian government. been freed from a Marxist guerrilla group and Radio Suisse Romande both reported that the operation was really “an initiative According to a recent report in TeleSur, along with three U.S. Pentagon contrac- that the operation was not a rescue but a stolen from the FARC.” Colombian Defense Minister Santos trav- tors—Tom Howes, Marc Gonsalves and “$20-million-dollar transaction” and that Isa Conde says that the FARC was about eled last February to Israel to meet with Keith Stansell—and 11 members of the the Colombian government had paid that to release the 15 to the French-Swiss team, the leadership of Mossad—Israel’s equiva- Colombian army and police. amount—provided by the U.S. govern- so they had to be brought to one point lent of the CIA. On the same trip, he went They had been taken prisoner by the ment—for the release of Betancourt and from their locations in three different to the U.S. to meet with Defense Secretary Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia the three Pentagon contractors. parts of the jungle. The detainees were to Robert Gates, a former CIA director. (FARC-EP) at different times in an effort Reportedly, secret negotiations took be transported in civilian helicopters to to force the government toward a politi- place through the wife of one of the men in a place where they would meet with the Beneficiary: Uribe! cal, negotiated solution of the 60-year-old charge of watching over Betancourt. The FARC leadership in a ceremony to hand One thing is crystal clear. The person Colombian conflict. FARC had proposed woman had been seized by the Colombian them over to the Europeans. who gains most from this operation is exchanging 500 of its members held in military and forced to make her FARC hus- However, the Colombian military, with President Alvaro Uribe himself. Colombian prisons and three in federal band change sides and agree to the bribe. the help of U.S. surveillance, located the Up to his neck in a corruption and jails in the U.S. for the several hundred Needless to say, the Colombian govern- helicopters and substituted military pilots parapolitical scandal, he needed a smoke- people it had held in the jungle. ment vehemently rejects this version, but dressed as FARC members, wearing screen. With the help of the capitalist More importantly, the negotiated solu- admits that it does pay for information. Che tee shirts, who kept up the pretense media worldwide, but particularly the tion would involve a treaty whereby the Two European envoys—French diplo- until all the detainees were inside the Colombian oligarchy’s media, Uribe’s FARC would sit down with the Colombian mat Noel Saez and his Swiss counterpart, helicopters. administration has mounted a campaign government to seek avenues for a real Jean Pierre Gontard—were in Colombia at This certainly would explain why the to present him as a hero and the great- peace with economic and social justice the time. They had requested permission rest of the guerrillas were so willing to est defender of peace—even as his closest for the majority of the Colombian masses, from the Colombian government to fur- hand over the prisoners without a shot allies in government are being implicated who are overwhelmingly poor. ther negotiations with the FARC for the being fired. in massacres and other crimes perpetrat- release of Betancourt, who holds French ed by paramilitaries. Many are already Freedom in three versions and Colombian citizenship, and the oth- Role of Israel serving prison time. However, the news on prime time was ers. The Colombian government granted Many reports mention how “swift” He really needed this, and the U.S. gave a distortion of the facts, concocted by the them permission and vowed to help the and “smooth” the operation was. Ingrid it to him. Colombian government, which is very effort. This was widely known; the gov- Betancourt, on her arrival in France, men- His reelection in 2006 has been ruled experienced in releasing half-truths and ernment itself had publicized it earlier. tioned “the Israelis” and their “extraordi- illegal by the Colombian Supreme Court false propaganda. It dubbed the action It had been reported in France that the nary commando operations, that resemble of Justice because he offered positions “Operation Jaque” (checkmate). two had already communicated with the the coup that occurred today.” and favors to a congressmember who According to Colombian Defense FARC leadership. In fact, Israel is part of Plan Colombia, provided the critical vote approving his Minister Juan Manuel Santos, the 15 held Narciso Isa Conde, a Dominican left the U.S. strategy to control Colombia. reelection, since it was not permitted in by the FARC were handed over to military leader, has presented a third version of the There is ample documentation on how the the Constitution. In spite of that, he is Continued on page 11 forces disguised as members of a “human- events. Isa Conde is part of the Continental Israeli secret services Mossad and Shin itarian mission.” The government stressed that it was a peaceful operation with not a single shot fired by either side. Their Meeting of capitalist world leaders explanation was that it was an undercover operation facilitated by “infiltrating high layers of the FARC” and making them in Japan draws protests believe that the prisoners were going to meet Alfonso Cano, the current FARC top By G. Dunkel leader, who supposedly had sent the heli- copter to pick them up. Trade unionists and the Ainu people With this story, they portrayed the played a central role in protests against armed insurgency as a group in disar- the meeting of the G8 set to open July 7 ray after the recent deaths of three of its in a remote lakeside resort in Hokkaido, Secretariat members—Raul Reyes and Japan’s northernmost island. The Ainu Ivan Rios, who were killed, and Manuel are an indigenous people whose home- Marulanda, its founder, who died of natu- land lies on Hokkaido. ral causes. The G8 is an informal group of the sev- They called it a perfect operation that en most powerful imperialist nations plus signaled the end of the guerrilla group. capitalist Russia. Among them, they con- While Santos stressed that it was a trol worldwide banking, are the dominant 100-percent Colombian operation, with military powers, and control 70 percent no involvement of foreign governments of the world’s economic output. The G8 or organizations, White House spokes- meet in a different member country each woman Dana Perino stated on July 3 that year to discuss how to impose their eco- it “was conceived by the Colombians and nomic demands on the rest of the world, executed by the Colombians with our full within the limits of their competing politi- support.” U.S. Ambassador to Colombia cal and economic interests. William Brownfield told CNN about the Protester in Tokyo is dragged out of his van by cops. This year their agenda includes the high “technical support” the U.S. provided for 20,000 in Tokyo to repress the protests. into a van when the driver got too close to price of oil, global warming and the rising the operation. The cops are being very aggressive. On their line. Five cops dragged off the driver cost of food, which is plunging the poorest What was this “support”? MSNBC July 5 in Sapporo, the nearest large city to as he shouted in English, “G8 no!’ countries of the world into hunger and fam- reported on July 3 that “On Thursday, Col. the G8 site (about 90 miles), 2,500 activ- The Japanese government has also set ine, raising the specter of mass resistance. William Costello, spokesman for the U.S. ists from Japan and European, Southeast up three camping sites for 300 to 600 Wherever the G8 meet, a wide range Southern Command, said the command Asian and African countries marched with people on the other side of the lake from of progressive organizations mount pro- made 3,600 intelligence, surveillance and signs reading “Stop global warming!” and the G8 summit as another way to contain tests. Since 1999, some of these protests reconnaissance flights, followed up on 175 “Crush G8.” During the march, the riot the protests. Kiyokazu Shinbo, an orga- have been quite large and militant, which intelligence leads and spent $250 million police arrested four people on “suspicion nizer for one of the anti-summit networks is why recent G8 meetings have been held trying.” of obstructing police officers from per- that is going to camp, told the French in remote and inaccessible locations. The It then quoted U.S. officials who “spoke forming their duties,” according to a dis- Press Agency, “We will shout slogans at Hokkaido resort is so remote that the on condition of anonymity because they patch on Kyodo News Service. the summit venue from the other side cops warned the international press corps were not authorized to speak on the The previous weekend in Tokyo over of the lake.” Shinbo’s organization plans against wild bears. record and the Bush administration was 1,000 union members and students to perform a prayer ritual of the Ainu, But the Japanese government is not just adamant about giving the Colombians the marched with signs reading “G8 no! Hokkaido’s indigenous people who have relying on remoteness. It barred South credit.” These sources said, according to Workers yes!” (The Statesman of India) endured centuries of discrimination. “We Korean farmers and some other inter- MSNBC, that “the U.S. Special Operations Kyodo News Service reported that a popu- will perform the ritual of ‘Kamui,’ praying national groups that wanted to protest Command helped with surveillance that lar chant was “Smash the summit!” A video to the gods for our successful movement,” from entering Japan. And it has deployed positively located the hostages within clip on BBC News showed cops breaking he said. n 20,000 cops to Hokkaido and another Page 10 July 17, 2008 www.workers.org

Philippine labor leader: Human rights ‘Unite worker and at home? anti-imperialist struggles’ ave the Abu Ghraib and Guan­ lation of Pinkney’s right to free speech. Revolutionary Philippine workers’ U.S. troops from the Middle East.” The tanamo prison scandals slowed You don’t believe it? Read the article. leader Crispin Beltran—“Ka Bel”—died strike demonstrated the collective power Hdown U.S. politicians’ jibes and Native leader Leonard Peltier, a par- May 20 at age 75. Ka Bel founded of the workers. attacks about “human rights” against ticipant in the Wounded Knee uprising the taxi drivers’ union, escaped from In India major, central trade unions governments that don’t bow to in 1973, who has already done over 30 political imprisonment under the are calling a general strike Aug. 20 to Washington? Not a bit. Imper­ia­lism’s years in prison after being framed up in Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, served protest the “fallout of the anti-worker, spokespeople treat these concentration the death of FBI agents at the Pine Ridge as general secretary of the May First anti-people neoliberal policies” of the camps as if they are exceptions or as if Reservation, was refused permission to Labor Movement (KMU) and was serv- government. In the Philippines militant they don’t exist at all. In truth, these two have accessible a medical device to help ing his third term in Congress on the workers’ movements, despite political world-class crimes are only an extension control his life-threatening diabetes. Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) List. repression, are active on all fronts of the of U.S. imperialism’s home-grown police Professor Sami Al-Arian, who already Below we excerpt the speech he struggle against oil price hikes, power state. has done three years for collecting funds prepared for the Third International rates, food crisis, corruption and poverty, Let’s look at the numbers: for Palestinian charities, now has two Assembly of the International League and are linking these issues together as The United States is number one. Not new charges for contempt of a grand of People’s Struggle June 18-20 in bases for the movement to oust the presi- in Olympic medals, but in number of jury. Much like the Brooklyn grand jury Hong Kong. KMU chair Elmer Labog dent of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal prisoners. With 2.3 million total prison- aimed at Puerto Rican independence read the speech. Arroyo. … ers, that’s far ahead of China’s 1.6 mil- activists, this one is trying to squeeze Nations are asserting their sovereignty. lion, even though China’s population is Al-Arian and force him to turn on his According to understated official fig- The Venezuelans’ struggle to unshackle four times larger. And the U.S. is number friends. ures, there are already close to 190 million themselves from foreign domination and one in prisoners per 100,000 residents. Even the good news illustrates racism unemployed workers in 2007, compared develop a self-reliant economy through The figure is 690, compared to France’s and repression. to 187 million in 2006. The International nationalization of vital industries is set- 80, Italy’s 40 and nearby Canada’s 120. In Louisiana, Albert Woodfox of the Labor Organization in its Global Employ­ ting a good example for the unity of the Like most of U.S. social relations, the Angola Three had his frame-up con- ment Trends expects that, with the global government with the people against for- phenomenal prison growth is rooted in viction reversed. That was after this slowdown, 5 million more workers will be eign corporate power. Cuba is leading the racism and national oppression. Black African-American man had done 30-plus unemployed this year. Moreover, the ILO way in its steadfast stand to move toward people are imprisoned at a rate of 1,815 years in solitary confinement! He still estimates that some 1.3 billion workers socialism even as it parries U.S. threats of per 100,000. Latin@s at 609. Native may be retried. But it took a broad cam- live on less than $1 a day. … aggression, double embargo and count- incarceration tops even these rates. paign that mobilized to support him Imperialism, global finance and govern­ less assassination attempts. The armed Central to this is the deeply ingrained, and a visit to the prison from Rep. John ment-sponsored wars are having their revolutionary liberation movements in institutionalized extent of racist discrim- Conyers to get this far. feast on the backs of oppressed peoples several countries, like India, Colombia ination. But this shouldn’t obscure the Charges were finally dropped against and nations, neocolonial and dependent and, in my own country, the Philippines, fact that among whites, 235 per 100,000 Michael Tarif Warren and Evelyn countries, and even former socialist coun- where the people want liberation from are in prison. That is still three times the Warren. Cops had beaten and arrested tries turned capitalist. Imperialist states the semi-feudal and semi-colonial sys- rate for all French people and six times them last year after the two witnessed are engaged in cutthroat competition and tem, are giving heavy blows against the the rate for Italians. Most of those in the cops abusing a young man in are taking advantage of each other in a reactionary state. prison, of course, are poor. These figures Brooklyn. It had taken a crowd sur- struggle for redivision of the world. They Labor, more exploited and oppressed show how socially corrosive U.S. cor- rounding the precinct to get these two are bitterly fighting for sources of cheap under neoliberal globalization, must porate rule has become and how severe popular African-American attorneys out raw materials and labor markets, fields encompass and reach out not only to state repression must be for them to of jail the night of their arrest. of investment and spheres of influence. industrial workers but also to those in maintain control. Anti-war activist Ed Lewinson, too, The crisis of overproduction is becoming agriculture, services, migrant labor, the Enough statistics. The heavy police got out of federal prison after serving 90 worse as monopoly capitalism presses “informal” sectors, the marginalized and prison repression is an especially days for protesting at the “School of the down the wage levels and incomes of all young workers, women workers and the vicious and racist weapon against the Americas,” where the U.S. trains killers working people, and consequently the jobless, rural and urban poor, unionized oppressed nations of African American, to keep Latin America out of the hands of markets keep on shrinking. This is hap- and non-unionized. We must reach out Latin@ and Native peoples. After 9/11, it its people. Lewinson, who is 78 years old pening in the imperialist countries, the to them in their homes, communities, also has turned with a vengeance against and blind, was kept in solitary confine- so-called “emerging markets” like China streets and public places. Arabs and South Asians. ment most of those days. and India, and in all the underdeveloped We must mobilize them not only for All that and the ongoing struggle to countries. economic welfare issues but also for Political dissidents in prison? free Mumia Abu-Jamal are in this week’s But even more striking are the rising political and national issues and link At this point, someone still trying to Workers World. Plus there’s still the case waves of mass mobilizations and pro- them with the aspiration of the entire defend the U.S. record will argue, “These of the Cuban Five and many other politi- test movements across the globe—labor people for national freedom and democ- 2.3 million prisoners are criminals. cal prisoners in the U.S. unrest and workers’ struggles included. racy. Struggles waged in various parts of There are no political prisoners.” Meanwhile, U.S. politicians still Even inside capitalist countries, the epic the globe … are real expressions of the A look at this week’s Workers World deliver pious sermons to the leaders of struggle between labor and capital has workers’ international solidarity against puts that argument to rest. Zimbabwe and Cuba regarding human come to resurgent historic proportions. a common enemy—monopoly capitalism Rev. Edward Pinkney, a Black civil rights and U.S. Reps. Chris Smith … and state terrorism. rights leader in a small Michigan city, (R-N.J.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) just vis- All are not just about wages, jobs and Labor facing the onslaught of impe- was sentenced to three to ten years in ited China to demand they “release jailed labor rights. ... Workers, peoples and rialist degradation must have ideologi- prison for something he wrote. Yes, dissidents” before the Olympics. nations are resisting and fighting back, cal, political and organizational strength something he wrote. In it he quoted the The two need their noses rubbed in not only against the adverse effects but beyond that of trade unions. Workers Bible. A judge called the quote “a threat.” the U.S. legal system’s destruction of to root out the fundamental causes of the must take the lead through their revolu- It’s hard to imagine a more flagrant vio- human rights. n neoliberal crisis. Oppressed nations are tionary parties and together with other not only seeking to improve their work- oppressed sectors of society must carry ing and living conditions but are waging out democratic political struggles against all forms of struggle in order to change exploitation and oppression, against the world they live in. imperialism and local reaction. … Picket of Dalai Lama planned In South Korea, about 1,000 actors, As we hold this assembly, let us match directors and movie executives staged a our fighting words and resolutions with Continued from page 8 ries, however. The twelfth Samding demonstration to condemn the govern- the firm determination to forge greater But Washington, which was comfortable Dorje Phagmo, Tibet’s only living female ment’s decision to slash screen quotas for unity and muster militancy against impe- with Tibet’s status as a part of China before Buddha, a critic of the Dalai Lama and domestic films. The decision was made rialism. With this assembly, we affirm the Chinese Revolution, now considers vice-chairwoman of Tibet’s regional gov- under pressure from the United States, our commitment to arouse, organize and the Dalai Lama to be of great importance ernment, says that “Old Tibet was dark which set the screen quota issue as a pre- mobilize the masses of our people! Only and therefore greatly “spiritual.” and cruel, the serfs lived worse than hors- condition for the free trade talks. [This thus can we strengthen the struggle. Only The Dalai Lama also supports past and es and cattle.” (Reuters) talk was written before the explosion of thus can we build a new world of genu- present U.S. military operations in south Join FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand mass demonstrations against U.S. beef ine social and human progress for our Korea, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Iraq. Together) at 2 p.m. on July 17 at 1260 imports—WW.] peoples! In a bold display of class solidarity, He is hardly a representative of peace. Sixth Ave. to protest the Dalai Lama and Salute to the militant working the [U.S.] International Longshore and Not everyone has such short memo- his policies. n class! Warehouse Union declared an eight-hour strike last May Day to protest the war in Strengthen the unity among Support the paper that supports the workers Iraq. The ILWU demanded “an immedi- oppressed peoples and nations! ate end to the war and occupation in Iraq Long live the International League and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of Workers World of People’s Struggle! n www.workers.org July 17, 2008 Page 11 Rebellion of poor in New York City

Workers World is in its 50th year of without respirators or other life-support- out in the press of what were the real November and December 1975, when the publication. We reprint this article ing equipment for hours, as the hospi- causes of the rebellion in the oppressed banks demanded–and got–tremendous from the July 22, 1977, issue of tal’s emergency generators failed communities. Nowhere were there head- layoffs, higher taxes and crippling ser- the paper as part of our special almost immediately. At Brooklyn lines about the poverty and terrible vice cuts from the city government under archival series. Jewish Hospital, surgery was unemployment that this massive uprising the threat of a “default” on the city’s debt moved to the parking lot where fire revealed. None of the commentators or payment. By Deirdre Griswold trucks provided the only lights from columnists could remember back to even Default became another word for New York emergency generators. Dozens of patients a few months ago, when the same youths Armageddon–the end of the world. But It started as a citywide power failure of were operated on and stitched up in the who were now being arrested for taking what it really meant was that the city might the Con Edison system, but it ended up cluttered lot. sneakers or meat out of the stores had not be able to pay all the interest it owed as a night of rebellion by New York City’s Anger against Con Ed, which charges stood in line for days by the thousands to the giant banks that had been bleed- poor. some of the highest rates in the country, hoping to get the few city jobs that opened ing the city dry for decades. In December The lights went out at 9:30 p.m. on mounted as hour after hour dragged by up for the summer. 1975, the banks were demanding that the Wednesday, July 13, as a result of what without power being restored. But by the city pay out on its debt a sum larger than Con Ed claimed was a freakish coinci- next day, the press was already turning Crisis behind the crisis the entire city payroll for that month! dence of lighting strikes against three of that anger aside. Its targets were not the But in the oppressed communities, the Through its illegal agencies like the its lines bringing in electricity to the city. wealthy power barons of Con Ed or the causes of the uprising were known only Emergency Financial Control Board Unlike the blackout of 1965 (after which banks that really run and run down this too well. The most important is unem- (EFCB) and Municipal Assistance the giant power monopoly said it had city, but the poor and oppressed. ployment: among the youth of 16 to 19 Corporation (Big MAC), which usurped made sure that such a disaster could nev- The rebellion began around midnight in years, the rate is as high as 60 to 75 per- the power of the elected officials and began er happen again), this complete shutdown the South Bronx, but very quickly reports cent. The Department of Labor admits running New York City like a corporation of the city’s power was not over in a few were coming in from poor neighborhoods to a nationwide figure of nearly 40 per- (for their profits, not for the people’s wel- hours. all over the city that the people were tak- cent for “minority youth,” and in areas fare), the banks were able to get 60,000 For more than 24 hours, residents of ing food, clothing and other items out of like Brownsville, the South Bronx and layoffs and cutbacks in such areas as hos- New York had to cope with stalled eleva- the local stores. The reaction of the city Bedford-Stuyvesant everyone knows it pitals, clinics, day care centers, libraries, tors and subway trains, no lights, fans, officials and the press was instantaneous: runs even higher. In recent months, when mass transit, fire houses and other essen- refrigeration, air conditioning, or any get the “looters.” The press campaign unemployment generally has decreased tial services. of the other appliances that make life in quickly built up into a racist crescendo slightly, it has risen even higher for Black The blight of poverty from these mas- cramped city apartments more bearable. against Black and Latin people. and Latin youth. sive cutbacks spread at a time when there For many, the blackout meant real The rebellion wasn’t caused by the was already a general economic decline. disaster. Patients at Bellevue Hospital, the Blackout of the truth heat or the blackout: those were only the Half a million jobs had dried up in the city notorious city-owned facility that treats As the arrests mounted into the thou- trigger. Its specific origins can be traced since 1969. The poor of course felt it the only the poor, were plunged into darkness sands, the real “blackout” began: a black- back to New York City’s financial crisis of most. The last-hired, first-fired Black and Latin people especially found it more and more of a struggle just to stay alive. This rebellion was the inevitable out- What really happened in Colombia? come and a justified expression of the people’s misery. Continued from page 9 paring the release of Ingrid Betancourt, They continue to spread terror through- Those who should be held accountable now proposing a referendum to change together with the Ecuadorean govern- out the country with total impunity. are not the teenage children–who have the Constitution so he can run for a third ment. That bombing, performed with U.S. The situation in Colombia right now is had open admission taken away from term in 2010. technical aid, killed Reyes and 23 other desperate for the progressive movement, them, who can neither get an education His Army chief, Gen. Mario Montoya, people, including an Ecuadorean and four which courageously keeps demonstrating nor find a job, who have nowhere to go but who received a medal from the U.S. Army, Mexican students. and trying to build alternatives of peace the streets–but the capitals of high finance was implicated in the creation of a clan- Betancourt’s mother, Yolanda Pulecio, and justice in the face of criminal repres- like investment banker Felix Rohatyn and destine terrorist unit in the Colombian said at that time, “I pray that Uribe does sion by the state and horrendous violence William Ellinghaus, president of New Army. This “Anticommunist American not find my daughter” because he might from the paramilitary forces. York Telephone, who as members of the Alliance” attacked, assassinated and took “order military operations that could kill Poverty continues and increases; the EFCB helped put this stranglehold on the left-wing activists hostage. Montoya has a her and then justify the war saying that privatization of essential services is pre- people of the city. long history of criminal activity, including the guerrillas killed her.” venting the masses from having access when he led the Joint South Task Force to education and adequate health care. Struggle to get prisoners released between 1999-2001, financed by the U.S. Human tragedy in Colombia Millions of children have to work in order The struggle on behalf of the oppressed Uribe’s past actions regarding people worsens to survive. Peasants, Indigenous and communities today focuses on the nearly held by the FARC revealed no intent to Already this year 30 union leaders have Afro-Colombian communities continue 4,000 prisoners who were rounded up secure their release. After the FARC uni- been killed. The paramilitaries that Uribe to face displacement. Progressive leaders in Gestapo-style sweeps and herded into laterally released seven prisoners late last says are “demobilized” have just changed continue to be targets of assassination and prisons under conditions no better than year, Uribe bombed a FARC encampment their names from the “Self Defense Units disappearance. the Nazi concentration camps. Two have in Ecuador where Raul Reyes was pre- of Colombia” (AUC) to the Black Eagles. As long as these conditions exist, a already died in the densely packed, filthy guerrilla movement will also exist. cells where thousands endured sear- ing heat with no food and little water for ‘Plan Colombia is the largest, most comprehensive and direct U.S. Need for international solidarity days. intervention in the hemisphere in the long history of U.S. interven- It is not surprising that the prison- tions. It threatens Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela — ers of the FARC-EP were “freed” on the Committee wins show-cause order countries with over 100 million people — with more than a "war very day that U.S. presidential hopeful An Emergency Committee for Prisoner on terrorism." Plan Colombia places the political and economic John McCain was visiting Colombia to Release was formed within a few days of independence of this huge region at risk.’ assure Uribe of his support for the Free the arrests, and today won a show-cause —Ramsey Clark Trade Agreement, now frozen in the U.S. order in federal court demanding that War in Colombia: Made in the U.S.A. Congress. It was also one day after the Mayor Beame, Police Commissioner Codd powerfully counters the Pentagon and the media propaganda infamous Fourth Fleet of the U.S. Navy and other city officials be in court [July with facts about what’s really happening in Colombia. initiated its prowling in Latin American 21] to show cause why all the remain- In this book the reader will find the truth about: and Caribbean waters. ing prisoners should not be released • the broad sectors who are heroically fighting inhumane poli- The progressive movement in the U.S. immediately. cies mandated by the multinational corporations like Coca-Cola; owes an enormous debt to the peoples While the city is claiming that all the • the background history of the struggle; south of the Rio Grande. Wall Street and 4,000 arrested have now been processed • perspectives from the FARC-EP and the ELN insurgencies, trade unionists Washington are the biggest threat to the through arraignment, Legal Aid lawyers and human rights activists. stability of the region and to the develop- say that at least 500 have been “lost” by This book is a compilation of voices that oppose Plan Colombia and express solidarity with ment of the progressive processes taking the judicial system and are somewhere the Colombian people. It presents a unique and original analysis of the crisis in Colombia. It is place there. behind bars in this city. a must read for scholars interested in the impact of Plan Colombia on the rest of Latin America. It would be an enormous setback for The Emergency Committee publicized Activists who wish to shed light on the situation in Colombia will walk away with the informa- the world progressive and revolutionary its demands in a press conference yes- tion they need to do so. forces if this brutal government doing the terday morning and a demonstration last Contributors include: Mumia Abu-Jamal, Ramón Acevedo, Arturo Alape, Nathalie Alsop, dirty work for U.S. imperialism were to evening of 500 people at the dungeon-like Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Fidel Castro, Ramsey Clark, Narciso Isa Conde, Javier Correa Suárez, Heather settle firmly in Colombia, able to threaten Tombs prison in lower Manhattan. Cottin, Sara Flounders, Gloria Gaitán, Carl Glenn, Stan Goff,I smael Guadalupe, Bishop Thomas the Venezuelan Bolivarian Revolution, The committee intends to continue its Gumbleton, Lucio Gutiérrez, Teresa Gutierrez, Imani Henry, Dr. Aristóbulo Istúriz, Berta Joubert- Bolivia and Ecuador. It is of utmost struggle with more mass actions and a Ceci, Garry M. Leech, Manuel Marulanda Vélez, Dianne Mathiowetz, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, $500 million suit in federal court demand- Linda Panetta, Luis Guillermo Pérez Casas, James Petras, Raúl Reyes, Rebeca Toledo, Miguel importance to show concrete solidarity Urbano, Senator Paul Wellstone. with the struggling people in Colombia ing damages for all those illegally arrested International Action Center, 2003, Paperback, 298 p.p., Maps, Index. who are staving off the hand of fascist and an invalidation of all the charges Order from: Leftbooks.com dictatorship. n against them. n Mhndo Obrero ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países, uníos! Desafío a la avaricia imperialista Activistas y trabajador@s migrantes forman alianza global

Por Teresa Gutiérrez Musulmán del Centro de Investi­ verdaderamente migrantes, inmigrantes Hong Kong, SAR, China gación del Sureste de Asia. (WEMC- y refugiad@s y sus leales defensor@s que SEARC por las siglas en inglés) de veras abogan para nuestros derechos, “Por mucho tiempo otros han hablado Fue realizado un domingo así que bienestar y empoderamiento. por nosotros. Pero ahora hablamos por más de 350 trabajador@s migrant- “Aunque comprendemos estos temas nosotros mismos.” Este llamado fue el es, incluyendo aproximada­mente y cuestiones porque son parte integral de punto principal de la asamblea fundadora 200 trabajador@s extranjer@s, pri- nuestra vida cotidiana, esta asamblea los de la Alianza Internacional de Migrantes mordialmente trabajador@s domés­ ha transformado de ser un conocimiento (AIM), que tuvo lugar en Hong Kong entre tic@s en Hong Kong asistieron. disperso a ser un conocimiento colectivo. el 14 y 17 de junio. Un video demostró la situación Y después de esta asamblea, esta comp- L@s participantes de la conferencia que enfrentan l@s inmigrantes y rensión colectiva se convertirá en fuerza vinieron desde todas partes del globo. la razón del porqué forjar la AIM activa para fortalecer y extender nuestro Ciento sesenta y siete delegad@s repre- tiene tanta importancia. La multi- movimiento, nuestra alianza, nacional e sentando a 118 organizaciones de 25 país- tud quedó visiblemente conmovida internacionalmente.” es participaron en la asamblea fundadora por este video porque hizo a todo La conferencia y la formación de la AIM de la primera formación internacional de el mundo recordar las condiciones son buenas señales para la lucha de clases. migrantes. brutales y despiadadas que enfren- La AIM es otra señal de lo que se vislum- La cifra total de participantes a esta tan todos los días l@s migrantes bra en el horizonte. L@s trabajador@s histórica conferencia ascendió a más de alrededor del mundo. que están experimentando las condiciones 300, lo cual es impresionante cuando se La conferencia, por ejemplo, con- más brutales están levantándose. Están toma en consideración las restricciones denó el comercio sexual y señaló la organizándose y luchando. legales y económicas. opresión especial de las mujeres Y la AIM muestra que est@s traba­ Algunos de los países o regiones rep- migrantes. jador@s más oprimid@s tienen una gran resentados fueron Taiwán, Kenia, Corea, El último día final de la confer- conciencia de clase. Una fuerza revolucio- Japón, Bangladesh, Australia, Malasia, encia se celebraron elecciones. Para naria está organizándose en Asia, incluy- Pakistán, México, Canadá y Estados Eni Lestari, AMCBHK, presidenta. encabezar la AIM, miembr@s de la endo las Filipinas, Corea de Sur, y otros Unidos. Una amplia delegación llegó de Junta Coordinadora Internacional fueron países. Es una fuerza que está en solidari- las Filipinas al igual que de migrantes oeste o el Medio Oriente, particularmente escogid@s según las diferentes regiones dad con otras del mundo oprimido. filipin@s viviendo en otras naciones. los países del Golfo, Arabia Saudita y los globales y también en general. Por ejemplo, cuando fue presentada una La asamblea hizo saber que otras orga- Emiratos Árabes Unidos también tienen Est@s 17 miembros incluyen la nueva mujer de Kenia, la Hermana Wahu Kaara, nizaciones que son miembros fundadores, una alta concentración de trabajador@s JCI de la AIM. LA JCI luego eligió oficiales única representante de África en la confer- no pudieron asistir debido a problemas de migrantes. de su comité ejecutivo entre ell@s. encia, hubo muchos aplausos para ella. visas y finanzas. La conferencia presentó un cuidadoso Miembr@s elect@s para el comité Cuando habló el compañero de Oaxaca, La asamblea fundadora de la AIM fue análisis de alto nivel sobre las condiciones ejecutivo son Eni Lestari de AMCBHK, México, y se mostró tanta solidaridad, una idea que se ha venido formando por de l@s migrantes y de las políticas que presidenta; Ufuk Berdan de ATIKEurope, quedó claro que esta organización quiere años. La meta era la de dirigir y orga- estimulan la migración. vice-presidente; Connie Bragas-Regalado construir puentes y hacer conexiones con nizar alrededor de la crisis de millones de Algunas de las declaraciones produci- de Migrante-Filipinas, secretaria-general; estas luchas. trabajador@s que se ven forzad@s a emi- das por la conferencia incluyen: “Ha llega- Tess Tesalona del Centro de Trabajadores L@s organizador@s de la conferencia grar—forzad@s a dejar sus países como do la hora de la voz de los inmigrantes de Inmigrantes de Canadá, tesorera; así reconocieron el trabajo enorme al que se resultado de las políticas neoliberales base con el éxito rotundo de la asamblea como esta escritora. enfrentan, especialmente el de unirse a l@s impuestas por la Organización Mundial fundadora de la Alianza Internacional de La mujer elegida como presidenta de migrantes de África y América Latina. del Comercio y por el Banco Mundial Migrantes”. la AIM demuestra que la Alianza está Pero la voluntad política de unirse con como también por las prácticas del impe- “Con espíritu de solidaridad interna- realmente dedicada a tener migrantes otr@s está. La base ha sido establecida. rialismo estadounidense. La Alianza tiene cional, l@s participantes compartieron en el liderato. Eni Lestari, de la Junta El objetivo de unir a l@s migrantes de como base una perspectiva antiimperi- sus experiencias, debatieron y lograron Coordinadora de Migrantes Asiáticos todas las partes del mundo es para derro- alista relativa a los asuntos de migración puntos comunes que impulsarán la AIM –basada en Hong Kong– es una empleada car el imperialismo y construir la forma de y de l@s trabajadores. en sus programas futuros”. doméstica de Indonesia de 27 años de sociedad en la que ningún/a trabajador/a La Organización Internacional para la “Con la aprobación de la Constitución edad. Ella ha sido líder de la JCMA desde es forzado/a a dejar su tierra o su patria. Migración estima que para el año 2005 de la AIM, la elección de su liderato y del hace mucho tiempo. Un mundo sin fronteras o explotación se había 191 millones de inmigrantes en el primer equipo de oficiales y la aproba- En su presentación a la conferencia, ha hecho un poco más una realidad con la mundo. Cerca de 40 millones de est@s ción del Programa General de Acción, Eni declaró, “Nuestra asamblea crea hoy fundación de la AIM. eran indocumentad@s. la AIM por fin nació”, declararon l@s un momento importante en la historia En esta conferencia de la Alianza Las Filipinas solamente, son un gran fundador@s. de nuestro movimiento. Aunque nuestra Internacional de Migrantes Gutiérrez exportador de seres humanos, un país ago- asamblea es principalmente organizativa, fue elegida al comité ejecutivo como sec- biado por el neocolonialismo y el dominio “Unid@s romperemos es también muy educativa. Sólo hay que retaria-general asistente representando imperialista donde cada día 3.000 perso- las cadenas de la globalización” ver el programa y los temas a discutir y la organización Coalición del Primero de nas son forzadas a salir de su patria. Las Uno de los momentos culminantes se comprenderá inmediatamente que la Mayo para los Derechos de Inmigrantes 3.000 son solo aquellas que pasaron por ocurrió el primer día, que se llevó a cabo gente que asistirá a esta conferencia son y Trabajador@s en los Estados Unidos. los llamados canales legales y no incluyen en la Universidad de la a l@s filipin@s que dejan al país sin visas Ciudad de Hong Kong y de turista o de comerciante. fue co-organizado por el Es de gran importancia que esta confer- Empoderamiento Feme­ encia haya ocurrido en la región asiática. nino en el Con­texto Según la Comisión Global sobre la Migración Internacional, para el 2000, había 49,9 millones de inmigrantes en Asia, representando el 1.4% de la población. Esta cifra desde luego es baja y pasada ya que Teresa Gutiérrez, que habla, representando la ha habido una explosión de emigración organización Coalición forzada en años más recientes. del Primero de Mayo Los países asiáticos con una alta concen- para los Derechos tración de inmigrantes son Japón, Corea de Inmigrantes y del Sur, Hong Kong, Malasia, Brunei, Trabajador@s en los Singapur y Taiwán. Si se incluye Asia del Estados Unidos.