JUNE 18, 1976 25 CENTS VOLUME 40/NUMBER 24

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/P.UBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE JERRY BROWI SKIIFLIIT OURU OF THE . RULIIB RICH • -PAGE 17 Syrian invasion threatens

new Middle East war Nelson -PAGE 18 WYORK CRISIS BITTER FRUITS OF UNION SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY. PAGE 6. ·Thrown In solitary BLICK LEADERS AID ·Klan harasses lamiiY BUSIIO SOCIALIST ASSESSES ·light riders terrorize STRATEGY THAT HAS LED TO lew Orleans Blacks SETBACKS. PAGE 9. -PAGE 3 GOV'T QUESTIONS SOCIALIST WHAT MAKES A REVOLUTION? TO FIND OUT ... PAGE 13. HELP PUT IRAI REZA BARAHENI EXPOSES SWPO SHAH'S TORTURE. PAGE 20. BALLOT PLYUSHCH REPLY TO CP SLANDER OF Thousands sian SOVIET DISSIDENT. PAGE 23. petitions In Mass.: mammoth Calli. SOCIALIST drive set lor July COIVEITIOI -PAGES 4,5 SWP GATHERING SET Militant/Susan Ellis FOR AUGUST 8-13. PAGE 24. In Brief

THIS DEFEND DOMINICAN LONGSHOREMEN: Answer­ the people who came to show their support for the E.R.A. ing a call for solidarity from the Dominican longshoremen's This diversity included Asians, Latins, American Indians, WEEK'S union, Sindicato Portuario de Arrimo (POASI), the United Blacks, lesbians, older women, teenagers, working women, States Committee for Justice to Latin American Political housewives, fat women, women on crutches, and with MILITANT Prisoners (USLA) and the POASI Defense Committee have seeing-eye dogs, independent political groups, women from 3 Guards abuse Gary Tyler announced plans to support POASI's democratic rights. all walks of life. This diversity was further exemplified in on death row Public meetings, rallies, and picket lines will be organized Springfield with women and men in wheelchairs, among in this country to pressure the Dominican government to demonstrators from thirty states. Such diversification has 4 Good pace set for withdraw its police from POASI headquarters, which have been demonstrated at other E.R.A. events; yet the media has Mass. petitioning drive been occupied since October 1973. repeatedly focused on the false concept that the feminist movement is one of young, slender, white, middle class 6 Bitter fruit of union Since then, no union meetings have taken place. Union militants have been blacklisted from the ports and jailed. women. Let us resolve on our return to work to eliminate support to Democrats For more information contact: USLA, 853 Broadway, these discriminatory practices which result in the alienation 7 Thousands rip Suite 414, New York, N.Y. 10003. Telephone: (212) 254-6062. of these people from the struggle for the E.R.A., and to CUNY closing pressure the media to correct this false image they have been projecting. Thank you." 8 Ford campaigns for antibusing legislation NOW calls ERA WHAT THE MEDIA SAID: Unlike the media's treatment 9 The Black leadership of many women's liberation events, coverage of the May 16 on busing national ERA demonstration was predominantly accurate vigil at White House and extensive. National TV and radio news reported the 13 SWP national secretary CLEVELAND-The National Organization for Women event. The Chicago Daily News compared the march to answers government (NOW) has called for a July 4 through August 26 vigil at the "civil rights and antiwar rallies of the 1960s.... " The New White House in support of the Equal Rights Amendment described the broad participation in the march: 17 Jerry Brown: skinflint York Times (ERA). The vigil will be followed by a march in Washington, "There were contingents representing lesbian groups, guru of the ruling rich D.C., on Saturday, August 28. housewives, church groups, labor unions, the Socialist 18 $yrian attack on Lebanon: NOW decided to call this action at its national board Workers party. Democratic and Republican speakers were new Mideast war threat meeting here June 5-6. The proposal for the vigil reads in heard." The New York Daily News ran a full-page story. part: The Minneapolis Tribune gave editorial endorsement to the 23 Answer to CP slander "With 2 1/ 2 years left in which to ratify the ERA our effort march. of Plyushch can no longer be solely on a local, state by state level. Several radical and campus papers printed enthusiastic National support and attention is imperative.... 24 SWP convention set reports, including Majority Report, a bi-weekly feminist for August 8-13 "The struggle for equal rights is continuing as was newspaper published in New York, and the Guardian. The demonstrated by the ERA Express and Rally in Springfield, Guardian also ran a forceful editorial headlined, "ERA, all 25 Froben Lozada: story of Illinois, on May 15-16, 1976. But in 1976 we have not come the way." a Chicano socialist much further than the suffragists had in 1917 when they One paper that neglected even to take note of the march maintained a vigil in front of the White House for one and a was the the newspaper of one of the ERA's 28 400 attend national Daily World, half years to demonstrate support for the right of all women most ardent opponents-the Communist party. Perhaps, Chicano forum in Utah to vote." due to the widespread dissemination of news on the march, Modeling this summer's protest after the suffragist the CP did not dare to discredit it with the old Stalinist trick 2 In Brief actions, NOW will organize delegations from different of rewriting history. So, they modified the trick-if you can't 10 In Our Opinion states, celebrities, and other ERA supporters to participate rewrite history, don't write about it at all. Letters in the vigil. To top off the ERA support activities there will be "a 'Shoulder to Shoulder' march around the White House 5,240 NEW READERS: The final results of the Militant's 11 National Picket Line as part of Women's Equality Day. activities planned by the spring subscription drive are now in. A total of 5,240 new By Any Means Necessary Washington, D.C. area NOW chapters on August 28." subscriptions were sold. This represents 95 percent of our 12 The Great Society NOW has already designated August 26 as "ERA Action goal of 5,500. Next week the Militant will print an area-by­ Their Government Day," urging local NOW chapters to hold pro-ERA activi­ area scoreboard and highlight some of the accomplishments American Way of Life ties. of this circulation effort. -Ginny Hildebrand

WORLD OUTLOOK 19 Canadian trade unions NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF BLACK FEMINISTS: On threaten general strike Monday, May 17, a Chicago press conference announced the formation, philosophy, and program of the National 20 Washington's crowned Alliance of Black Feminists (NABF). The new group, an cannibal: shah of Iran umbrella organization for Black feminist groups in Illinois, hopes to form chapters nationwide. 22 Ex-agent reveals spying An N ABF press release explains that the concept of the on Australian socialists organization grew out of a cross-country speaking tour by NABF founder and executive director Brenda Eichelberger. The organization has issued a "Black Woman's Bill of Rights." It states, "We now feel the need to organize around THE MILITANT our own priorities as Black women against both racism and sexism." The document raises demands in ten areas of VOLUME 40/NUMBER 24 concern .to Black women, including education, job rights, JUNE 18, 1976 and child care. CLOSING NEWS DATE-JUNE 9 Membership is open to any Black woman interested in

Editor: MARY-ALICE WATERS advancing the cause of Black feminism. The group is Managing Editor: LARRY SEIGLE located at 202 S. State Street, Suite 1024, Chicago, Illinois Business Manager: ROSE OGDEN 60604. Special Offer Southwest Bureau: HARRY RING Washington Bureau: NANCY COLE Published weekly by The Militant Publishing Ass'n., S-1 PROTEST: On May 22, 100 people picketed in For New Readers 14 Charles Lane. New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: opposition to Senate Bill 1 at the federal courthouse in This week Southwest Bureau head Harry Ring continues Editorial Office (212) 243-6392; Business Office Cleveland. If passed, S-1 would drastically curtail the rights (212) 929-3486. Southwest Bureau: 1237 S. Atlantic a series on Chicano struggles in the Southwest, based on Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90022. Telephone: (213) of political dissenters and trade unions. The protest was discussions with leaders and activists there. Raza Unida 269-1456. Washington Bureau: 2416 18th St. NW, sponsored by the Cleveland Coalition to Stop S-1. Among party . . . farm workers movement .- . . bilingual Washington, D.C. 20009. Telephone: (202) 265- the coalition's members are the American Civil Liberties education . . . fight against deportations . . . Keep up 6865. Union, National Lawyers Guild, Young Socialist Alliance, with the struggle for Chicano liberation. Subscribe to the Correspondence concerning subscriptions or Militant. changes of address should be addressed to The Women Speak Out for Peace and Justice, the president of Militant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New District 7 of the United Electrical Workers, and the York, N.Y. 10014. chairperson of the local Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Second-class postage paid at New York. N.Y. Case. The coalition also sponsored a May 5 meeting of 300 The Militant-10 Weeks/$1 Subscriptions: U.S., $7.50 a year; outside U.S., at Cleveland State University. $13.00. By first-class mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico. ( ) $1 for ten issues (new readers only) $35.00. Write for surface and airmail rates to all other As a result of the coalition's efforts, the Cleveland city ( ) $4 for six months ( ) $7.50 for one year countries. council has unanimously adopted a resolution against S-1. ( ) New ( ) Renewal For subscriptions airmailed from New York and then posted from London directly to Britain, 'MESSAGE OF INSPIRATION': The following state­ Ireland, and Continental Europe: £1.50 for eight Name issues, £3.50 for six months, £6.50 for one year. ment was issued by a workshop of minority women held Send banker's draft or international postal order aboard the Freedom Train returning from the May 16 Address (payable to Pathfinder Press) to Pathfinder Press, national march for the Equal Rights Amendment: City ______State ___ Zip ______47 The Cut. London. SE1 SLL, England. Inquire for air rates from LorJdOn at the same address. "Good morning! The Freedom Train brought an aware­ 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily ness of the. beautiful multiplicity of interests represented by represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 ' ~TwentY. dav.s in the hole' Guards abuse Gary Tyler on death row By Joel Aber tant photographer Greg Nelson to jail helicopter hovering overhead. June 5, about 200 supporters rallied in NEW ORLEANS-"Twenty days in because his driver's license had ex­ State prison authorities at Angola downtown Brooklyn. Rubin "Hurri­ the hole" is the latest unhuman treat­ pired. have subjected Gary Tyler to many cane" Carter, who has successfully ment being meted out to seventeen­ Walter Collins, coordinator of the petty abuses. Guards have threatened fought frame-up charges with the aid year-old Gary Tyler. Authorities at the Gary Tyler Defense Committee, told to take away his right to receive mail. of massive public support, addressed Louisiana State Penitentiary at Ango­ this reporter, "Someone high up in the They've removed letters and personal the Brooklyn demonstrators. la have put Tyler in an isolation cell state government has given the white papers from his cell. For the second for twenty days, beginning June 2. officials of St. Charles Parish carte time in the past two months, prison Gary Tyler's eighteenth birthday His alleged offense was having a blanche to do whatever they want to officials have confiscated copies of the will be July 10. On that date support­ spoon in his death-row cell. Prison the Black community out there." Militant from Tyler. ers from coast to coast are planning guards claim the spoon was a "wea­ "But Gary is keeping his chin up," fund raising and publicity activities pon" because it was "twisted." Collins and Marie Galatas of the his lawyer, Jack Peebles, told the that will help force the state to grant Gary Tyler was sent to death row ·Grass Roots Organization for Women Militant. "He's not despondent." him a new trial. last November following his conviction lodged a formal protest against the Support for Gary Tyler has spread For more information about the July by an all-white jury for a murder he harassment with Louisiana Attorney from Louisiana to many cities across 10 activities contact: Gary Tyler De­ did not commit. The Louisiana Su­ General William Guste in Baton Rouge the country. Last month a demonstra­ fense Committee, 1610 Basin Street, preme Court is expected to hear the June 2. While returning to New Or­ tion of 150 in Louisville, Kentucky, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112. Tele­ appeal on his death sentence this fall. leans, Collins noticed a · state police demanded Tyler's freedom and on phone: (504) 522-2244. Actions by prison officials are only part of the escalating racist abuse of Gary Tyler, his family and supporters, and the entire Black community of St. Night riders strike in Black community Charles Paiish. Sometimes the intimi­ dation is carried out by deputies hiding NEW ORLEANS-A rising tide of Richard Dunn, the following inci­ behind silver badges, sometimes by terrorist attacks against Black peo­ dents have been verified by New bigots hiding beneath white robes. ple is sweeping the Pontchartrain Orleans's major Black newspaper, Gary's parents, Juanita and Elyos Park-Gentilly section of New Or­ the Louisiana Weekly. Tyler, drove from their home in St. leans. Six incidents of armed as­ •On February 14, Linda Rae Rose to City Park in New Orleans for a sault by whites, including two McDermott and Kenneth Aubert quiet family picnic May 23. A van murders, have been reported since were fired on by whites in a passing parked behind the Tylers' car and kept February. car. Aubert had one of his legs its motor running. Then the Tylers The most recent target was amputated as a result of the gun­ observed two white-hooded Klan mem­ fifteen-year-old Michael Green. He shot wounds. bers in the park. As the Tylers left the was walking near a relative's house •On March 19, a white youth in a park, the van shined a floodlight on May 2 at 7:30 p.m. when an old car pointed a shotgun at a fifteen­ their license plate and began to follow white Chevrolet pulled up. Four year-old woman and drove off. them. young white men rushed out and •On March 26, sixteen-year-old When Juanita Tyler got home that jumped him. Green suffered a bro­ Linda Marie Guyton Egana was evening her twelve-year-old son, Ricky, ken tooth, multiple contusions of the killed by a white hit-and-run driver told her that a sports car had driven face and neck, and head inJuries in the same area. through the community that after­ before escaping his attackers. •On April 1, a group of whites noon. The sports car had two riders­ The assault occurred less than shot at Aaron Davis from a passing one wearing a T-shirt imprinted with four blocks from where sixteen-year­ car. the letters "KKK," the other wearing a old Richard Dunn was killed by "There's never been a law down white hood and robe. white night riders March 27. Dunn here for white people," Minerva The Klan was again observed in the and a friend were returning home Foster said. "The law is definitely Black community of St. Rose May 31. from a benefit dance held that '~~~'X·· for Blacks. If someone calls and Meanwhile, Black youths in St. evening for the defense of Gary Michael Green, victim of racist says a Black person has attacked a Charles Parish have been subjected to Tyler. beatings. white, the whole police force will be increasingly frequent police harass­ In a Militant interview, Michael out there. But if you call and make a ment. Gary's younger brother Terry Green's aunt, Minerva Foster, de­ She pointed out that the attacks complaint about a white person, the and Donald Files, a defense witness at scribed the attack on her nephew: by racist thugs had escalated since law might never come." Gary's April hearing for a new trial, "You couldn't see his face for all the the announcement last month that "I think people need to unify and were arrested on trumped-up burglary blood." two thousand Ku Klux Klan mem­ fight this racism," Foster continued. charges May 17. "Before they used to just pass in bers will have a Southwide conven­ "Everyone should participate . . . Sheriffs deputies have repeatedly cars and throw bricks," Foster said, tion here July 24. because if they get away with these stopped the cars of Gary Tyler Defense "but now it's increasing because the In addition to the assault on racist attacks once, you may be Committee supporters for phony traffic police don't do anything." Michael Green and the murder of next." -J.A. offenses. Last month they took Mili-

Camejo exposes lies Stop Francoist repression! of Spanish king in U.S. By Nancy Cole banned; only police-approved meetings WASHINGTON-At a news confer­ are allowed; hundreds of political ence June 7 Peter Camejo, Socialist prisoners remain in the king's jails; Workers party candidate for president, marches and demonstrations are pro­ accused King Juan Carlos of "continu­ hibited; and the proposed government ing Franco's repressive dictatorship in reforms will deny universal suffrage." Spain." Also illegal, Camejo said, are the Camejo had just returned froni a Workers Commissions and the Union nine-day speaking and fact-finding General de Trabajadores (UGT­ tour of Spain. He had addressed 4,000 General Workers Union), which at its workers and students at meetings in recent convention received greetings Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid on from the AFL-CIO and United Auto topics ranging from the political situa­ Workers. Camejo met with leaders of tion in the United States, to women's these workers organizations and with liberation, to the need for all working­ Father Luis Xirinacs, a prominent class political tendencies to unite in figure in the struggle to free political fighting for democratic rights. prisoners. He promised his enthusiastic audi­ ences to use his presidential campaign Camejo scored the Democrats and to "expose King Juan Carlos's efforts Republicans in Congress who cheered to convince the American people that the address of·Juan Carlos during his democratic rights exist in Spain." recent visit to the United States. He demanded that the Senate "repu­ MilitanUK~~dall Green. "King Juan Carlos is lying," Camejo A crowd of 200 people picketed at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York June 7, told the press. "I spoke with people diate the $1.2 billion treaty and aid where King Juan Carlos was meeting with Vice-president Nelson Rockefeller. from all walks of life-journalists, package to Spain" now under consider­ ation. He also called for "the immedi­ Demonstrators demanded freedom for all political prisoners. A large contingent students, professors, and trade of Basques carried signs calling for independence for this oppressed nationality. unionists-who revealed the true situa­ ate release of all political prisoners and the end to all arrests of dissidents" in Other participants included Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and the tion in Spain: all political parties U.S. Committee for a Democratic Spain. except the fascist Falangist party are Spain.

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 Sunny Massachusetts Saturday sets good pace for June socialist petitioning drive By Baxter Smith and the temperature was flying high mobilization produced 9,014 signa­ BOSTON-The straw hats, floppy, without a pilot's license. But dozens of tures, boosting the total to 25,397. wide, and conical, provided-for those petitioners were out on the streets Restrictive election laws for smaller who had them-some relief from the helping to amass signatures to assure parties here require some 37,000 signa­ two o'clock sun that was beating out a a spot on the Massachusetts ballot. Ed tures for a statewide candidate to land war dance on the sidewalks of Codman Heisler, a cochairperson of the Social­ a slot in the voting booths next fall. Square. Even so, the people who ist Workers 1976 National Campaign Discriminatory treatment by election stopped to sign petitions to place Committee, is campaigning here full­ officials in the past has prompted the James "Mac" Warren and other Social­ time until the socialists' ballot goal is socialists to set their sights well above ist Workers candidates on the Novem­ met. that figure. ber ballot instinctively stepped toward Boston was not the only Massachu­ Besides their presidential and vice­ the shelter of a shady building. setts target city. Scores of petitioners presidential candidates, Peter Camejo It was June 5,mobilization day for signed up voters in Worcester, Spring­ and Willie Mae Reid, the socialists are supporters of the socialist campaign, field, and New Bedford as well. The fielding Carol Henderson Evans for U.S. Senate and Warren for Congress. Some petitioners say that it is easier to get signatures this year compared Rally kicks off ballot effort with previous ones. Others believe it is 'BOSTON-Socialist Workers pres­ Massachusetts. about the same. In the more affluent idential candidate Peter Camejo, a Supporters at the rally contributed areas of the state, and in the borderline recent visitor to Spain, told an more than $2,000 to aid in the antibusing areas, petitioners report audience of 140 June 4 that "Spain petitioning and other campaigning that some people they approach tend to fix their vision on the ground and is in the forefront of the revolution­ efforts. ary struggle today." "Our programs are the only ones speed up their gait. But in the Black Camejo was in town to help kick that represent the interests of the areas around Roxbury's Dudley Sta­ off a mobilization of campaign working people and the Black com­ tion, and around Codman Square, supporters the following day to put munity," said Carol Henderson which straddles Dorchester and Matta­ SWP candidates on the fall ballot in Evans, the party's nominee for U.S. pan, petitioners find different, usually friendly, attitudes. Militant/Anne Teasdale Senate. In a blue-plaid sports jacket and Petitioner collects signatures in Cam­ Ja!lleS "Mac" Warren, the party's bridge's Harvard Square. nominee for U.S. Congress in the aviator shades, Warren worked the Ninth District, said that his oppo­ streets outside a Codman Square grocery store. Watermelons were nent, Joseph Moakley, "is a prime example of why we can't depend on stacked in the window, and a sign their signatures replied that they were the Democratic and Republican advertised chicken wings for sixty-nine not registered. Most of these appeared parties to defend Black rights. Be­ cents a pound, and a sale on spareribs to be young voting-age adults. When a cause he is the chief antibusing and fresh maws. few were questioned, they replied that figure in Congress." "Yeah, I'll sign. Who's running?" voting just didn't produce any changes Warren read an open letter sup­ inquired a young Black man. He had a for the better. porting his right to ballot status. hunk of glass on his pinky that could "Hope you get in," a woman told "Help this young Black man, who once have been the eye of a pagan idol. Warren, "and maybe you can help us is a socialist, win the right to be on "Me. You're registered?" asked War­ out." , the ballot, so everyone can hear ren. A number of Blacks offered a similar what he has to say in the fight for The man said no, so Warren ex­ response that more Blacks were needed our rights as Black people," the plained that he was only seeking in. office. Others would sign quickly letter said. Among others it is signatures from registered voters. He when they learned that Warren was signed by Black leaders Ruth Bat­ gave the man a short rap about his Black. son, coordinator of Boston's Crisis campaign and the need for Blacks to To help with the petitioning effort, James 'Mac' Warren's ballot rights Intervention Teams, and Ellen Jack­ break from the Democratic party and contact the Socialist Workers Cam­ · are defended in open letter signed by son, director of the Freedom House launch independent campaigns. "Hey. paign, 510 Commonwealth Avenue, several Boston Black leaders. Institute. -B.S. Good luck, brother," the man said. Boston, Massachusetts 02215. Tele­ Many of the Blacks approached for phone: (617) 262-4621. Set new June 30 targm Camejo & Reid Fund tops $10,000 goal By Andrea ~orell, di~ector, l~terat~re-es~ecially the broc:hure ~n- $ "For the past three years, I've been 1976 caml!a1gn c~~m1ttee . titled. The Fight for Black Righ~.. On IO 15,000! working full-time as an office clerk and The CameJO & Re1d 76 Campmgn Chief among our new opportumties I've also been going to school full-time Fund reached its ~10,000 goal near~y a is the ~~cision by California s~cialists $15,000 June 30 at night.... month ahead of Its June 30 deadhne. to petition for ballot status m that "I started reading the socialist news- Contributors last week sent in $905 to state. The national campaign commit- $14,000 papers of the various parties and I push the fund total to $10,056. tee incurs expenses in helping to make found by reading the Militant that the This victory for the Socialist Work- this and other petitioning efforts a $13•000 SOcialist Workers party is the party I ers campaign was made possible by success. s12,000 want to join. I was drawn to the SWP hundreds of contributors who re- The new goal will help offset the because of the concern it shows for the sponded generously to our appeal. costs of Peter Camejo's recent nine-day $11,000 real issues of the various oppressed Launched April 9, the drive has speaking tour in Spain. It will also $10,000 groups. No other party I know of enabled the Camejo and Reid cam- allow the campaign to participate fully June 5 encourages action by these groups as in upcoming events, such as the the SWP does. national convention of the NAACP. "P.S. Please send me thirty ('.Opies of Willie Mae Reid-an NAACP 'A Bill of Rights for Working People."' member-will attend that convention, Please fill out the coupon below to which will be held in her home town of help the Camejo & Reid '76 Campaign Memphis, Tennessee. April 10 Fund reach its new "$15,000 goal. paign to carry out many important And of course the fund will allow us projects. to build up a small "campaign chest" ------During the drive, however, new for the intensive period of socialist Enclosed is my contribution of$__ opportunities arose that were· not electioneering we plan this fall. budgeted into the original $10,000 goal. How was our initial $10,000 goal testimonial to what the Camejo-Reid Name ------The enthusiastic response to the fund reached? Campaign supporters in campaign has already accomplished Street convinced us that to meet these new thirty-one states mailed in hundreds of and the promise it holds for the expenses it is possible to continue the contributions ranging from $1 to $100, months ahead. The letter reads in part: City drive until the original June 30 dead­ In addition, many individuals contri­ "Greetings: I would like to join the State ---Zip ------line. We are now aiming for a final buted to local campaign committees, Socialist Workers party. I've held total of $15,000. and a share of those donations was socialist beliefs for a while now and I Occupation ------A few of the projects that the fund forwarded to the fund. can never remember looking favorably Business address has already financed this spring in­ Militant readers responded to the on the capitalist system. The fact that clude Peter Camejo's tour of Puerto weekly appeals in this column and to a I am a female and the fact that my Rico last April; both candidates partic­ special mailing to subscribers by parents were unskilled factory workers A copy of our report is on file with the Federal ipation in· the May 16 march for the· sending in a total of $1,961-so far. (as were our neighbors) were the Election Commission and is available for pur· chase from the Federal Election Commission, Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois; A letter that accompanied a $10 reasons I never had any great love for Washington, D.C. Chairperson, Fred Halstead; and the printing of new campaign contribution to the fund is the best the system. treasurer, Arthur Hughes.

4 Summer holds key to SWP ballot efforts By Lucy Burton Reid's 1976 election platform, "A Bill Many state governments stall for Earlier this year, the Michigan state Honoring the old cliche that a of Rights for Working People." months before certifying minority legislature enacted a law that poses a picture is worth a thousand words, the Campaign committees around the candidates; the SWP is currently serious threat to the constitutional Militant is unveiling a new feature this country report that petitioning is more facing such bureaucratic foot-dragging rights of smaller parties and their week: a map of the United States fruitful if volunteers have previously in several states. Over the summer and supporters. The law requires these charting the progress of the Socialist tacked up posters about the socialist early fall, state officials will either parties and candidates to first collect Workers party's ballot drive. candidates in areas around petitioning certify the SWP ticket or attempt to 18,000 signatures and then compete in Backers of SWP presidential and sites. deny the socialists ballot status. a so-called "minor party primary" in vice-presidential nominees Peter Came­ August. Each party must capture .04 jo and Willie Mae Reid are working percent of the total vote in order to hard to put their candidates on the appear on the November ballot. November ballot in thirty states and PUT CAMEJO AND REID The Michigan American Civil Liber­ the District 'of Columbia. The map, ties Union is challenging this law on which will be run periodically in the ON THE 1976 _BALLOT! behalf of several parties, including the Militant, will help readers keep track SWP and the Communist party. of the SWP's achievements in the most In Utah, state officials are also ambitious nationwide ballot drive of Goal: 30 states and District of Columbia attempting to keep the CP and SWP off its history. the ballot. June and July mark the high point of this effort. Undemocratic ballot laws The "U.S. Labor" party (USLP), a in five states alone will require the bizarre right-wing political sect, chal­ collection of a minimum of almost lenged SWP petitions in Pennsylvania. 200,000 signatures this summer. However, it failed to show up in court Camejo and Reid supporters in these on the appointed date to back up its states-California, Massachusetts, phony charges. Texas, Illinois, and Missouri-intend The USLP (also known as the to file many more than 200,000 signa­ National Caucus of Labor Committees) tures all combined to assure ballot has challenged petitions of the SWP, status. CP, Socialist party, and Socialist Other summer drives are slated in Labor party in New Jersey. These Indiana, Rhode Island, Tennessee, right-wing fanatics have admitted at Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Vir­ state hearings that they as yet have no ginia. The Virginia, California, and evidence to bolster their challenges. Missouri drives are all-time firsts for In 1972 the SWP met election re­ an SWP presidential campaign. Legend quirements in Illinois, Ohio, Delaware, The California drive, scheduled to D ballot drives and Tennessee but was undemocrati­ begin in July, will account for nearly \\\ on the ballot cally ruled off the ballot by state one-fifth of the total signatures collect­ (Not petitioning i'n officials. The party intends to meet ed nationally. Alaska and Hawaii.) these requirements again this year and In addition to the states already fight for its right to take on the June 5, 1976 mentioned, there will be fourteen other Democrats and Republicans in the ballot drives, including New York, Currently petitioning: Filed but not certified: voting booths next fall. Alabama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Illinois Arizona Now is a good time to volunteer to Washington state. Indiana Idaho help with the ballot drive in your home Petitioners have found that signa­ Massachusetts New Jersey state. Contact the SWP branch nearest Ohio ture collection and campaigning for Missouri you (listed in the Socialist Directory on South Dakota Pennsylvania page 27), or write: Socialist Workers the socialist candidates go hand in Texas Utah hand. They have already distributed Virginia 1976 Campaign Committee, 14 Charles thousands of copies of Camejo and Wisconsin Lane, New York, New York 10014.

By Steve Clark were taken from them, and their then swore out a warrant for Verdin's Both the Socialist Workers party and wallets and personal belongings were arrest. SWP the Communist party have faced sub­ photographed. Verdin was released on $10,000 bail; stantial harassment in their efforts to In Alabama, according to the May 6 an Alabama grand jury will convene achieve ballot status in the November Daily World, "The most serious inci­ this month to hear arguments on the presidential elections. In addition to dents were the arrest of Brian Verdin outrageous charges against him. The defends the instances cited in the article on trumped up charges of threatening alleged death threat was played up by elsewhere on this page, attacks on the the life of Vice-President Rockefeller, the Birmingham press at the time of democratic rights of CP petitioners and an incident at Bishop State Verdin's arrest. CPballot have also occurred in Kentucky and College in which a university official Socialist Workers party presidential Alabama. drew two loaded .45 revolvers on and vice-presidential candidates Peter According to the June 6 Daily World, petitioner Rodney Brown." · Camejo and Willie Mae Reid have rights two Black petitioners for the CP slate Verdin, an unemployed Chicano condemned these attempts to deprive of Gus Hall and Jarvis Tyner were youth, had earlier been cornered and the Communist candidates of a ballot arrested in Kentucky and held for four subjected to a half-hour of verbal abuse spot. hours without charges. Their petitions by two racist white males. The bigots Continued on page 26 California revs up to collect signatures By Kathleen Fitzgerald in various unions. while campaigning in the Black com­ socialists-and for socialists up and BERKELEY, Calif.-Members of the "We found that, far from being the munity. Another will involve activists down the state of California-is publi­ Socialist Workers party here are mak­ couple hundred we thought it would be, in the Berkeley Federation of Teachers. cizing the series of rallies that will ing plans for this summer's massive the list actually totals 448 people." An important aspect of the petition­ launch the petitioning drive. The petitioning effort to place the party's A mailing was sent to these people ing plans is the work being done by the Northern California rally will feature presidential slate-Peter Camejo and asking for their help. Some students at members of the Young Socialist Alli­ Peter Camejo and will l)e held at 8:00 Willie Mae Reid-and Omari Musa, the University of California at Berke­ ance on .the University campus here. p.m., June 25, at the First Unitarian SWP Candidate for U.S. Senate, on the ley, who are working on a project on The YSA chapter is setting up daily Church in San Francisco. California ballot. the elections for cable TV, came down tables to solicit volunteers and is mass­ The official petitioning period opens to the Berkeley campaign headquar­ distributing a special leaflet that July 5. California socialists will collect ters, filmed party supporters putting describes the ballot drive as "a giant well over 100,000 signatures to ensure out the mailing, and interviewed Er­ step for socialism." How you ballot status. The Berkeley SWP plans nest Mailhot, campaign manager. to contribute heavily toward that goal. As the California primary brought can help The first step is to get out the word Supporters are excited about putting Democratic and Republican candidates Volunteers are urgently needed about the "Socialist Campaign Sum­ the socialist alternative on the ballot. to campaign on the campus, the YSA for the California drive. Anyone mer" to the party's growing number of Before the Berkeley mailing even went deluged the crowds with materials on able to help with petitioning, distri­ supporters. Joe Lombardo, who is out, two supporters had volunteered to the socialist alternative and the ballot buting literature, or other campaign working on involving party supporters petition full-time for the three-week drive. Bach day the young socialists activities should write to: Socialist in the petitioning effort, told the period, and nine others had agreed to are also visiting professors and cam­ Workers 1976 Campaign, 4040 W. Militant, "We put together a list of all help on weekends. pus groups, asking them to endorse the Washington Blvd., Suite 11, Los the people we wanted to contact. The SWP candidates' right to ballot status Angeles, California 90018; or phone list included campaign supporters, To gather more support, plans are and collecting financial contributions. (213) 732-8197. For the locations of readers of our newspaper, people who under way for a series of Berkeley A number of professors and student have attended Militant Forums, people house meetings with local SWP candi­ groups, including the student govern­ SWP campaign offices throughout the state, consult the Socialist we met campaigning in the Black dates. Two such gatherings will be at ment, have already endorsed. Directory on page 27. community, and people we work with homes of people the socialists met The central focus for the Berkeley

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 5 By Lynn Henderson living standards of New York workers. NEW YORK-The working people of "It's a zero contract," Stephen Berger, New York City suffered a stunning executive director of the control board, blow this May when the Emergency jubilantly announced. Financial Control Board successfully "We view this as solving one of the dictated a new policy for all collective­ most chaotic variables of the austerity bargaining agreements with the city. plan-labor-right through to the end CLOSED: Democratic party politicians closed city university to force end to free The control board's sweeping antila­ of the plan in '78," one high city tuition as part of their sweeping attack on New York workers. bor edict proclaimed that no agreement Official boasted. shall provide for any increase in wages, salaries, or fringe benefits, or Sweeping implications ment of reluctance." the potential power and militancy of for cost-of-living increases unless such The New York Times bluntly ex­ Matthew Guinan, president of the their mass trade-union organizations increases are funded by additional plained the sweeping implications of 34,000-member transit union, was but came instead from benevolent layoffs and cutbacks. this new attack and the control board's primarily concerned with getting a Democratic party officeholders. Each agreement shall provide for a ability to imposr it on the potentially face-saving language for the agree­ The trade-union leadership depended mechanism to permit cuts in pension powerful Transport Workers Union: ment, which he used to claim that the on these Democratic "friends of labor" costs or other fringe benefits. "The result of all this is that realisti­ contract had not been fundamentally and used tens of thousands of dollars This policy was then immediately cally there now appears to be little to changed. This eliminated the risky of their members' dues to help elect applied to declare the contract reached bargain about. What is a union to step of resubmitting the contract to a them. This was especially true of in April between the Transport Work­ negotiate for with the city across the rank-and-file vote. public employee unions, many of ers Union (TWU) and the New York table? The final terms are known to This dead-end strategy was echoed which came into existence directly as City Transit Authority null and void. start with, and anything that strays by Victor Gotbaum, chairperson of the the result of ties with the Democratic The new contract imposed by the from them faces rejection by. the Municipal Labor Committee and head party. control board in effect wiped out the Control Board." of District Council 37 of the American The only game and strategy these meager gains provided by the union's But the real source of this setback Federation of State, County and union bureaucrats have known is cost-of-living clause. lies in the complete capitulation of the Municipal Employees. trading votes and money to politicians Big business and government offi­ trade-union leadership with hardly a "I am delighted that my brothers in in the hope that they will use their cials openly crowed over the extent of whimper. The TWU leadership accept­ transit were able to sign a contract influence to help labor. This policy of this latest victory in their year-long ed this disastrous and precedent­ based on the guidelines," he cheered as collaboration with Democratic party offensive to drive down the wages and setting contract with merely a "state- AFSCME contract deadlines drew politicians is the decisive factor in near. "I am hopeful we can sign a determining how the Gotbaums and contract based on the guidelines. I Shankers approach virtually every believe we can." question facing the unions-economic, Big-business leaders, bankers, and social, and political. , politicians of both capitalist parties Even the key weapon of the strike is Endorse11lent8 lost no time in grasping the signifi­ only seen in the context of this careY Intervie":,'.,..-·-­ cance of this default by the union subordinate relationship to the Demo­ tt....-'...,_. Mtff• =~·-·"~·---' officialdom and pressed the offensive cratic party. The strike is not seen as a with a startling series of new cuts in test of stren ~th in which the union b. gest badly needed social services over the mobilizes its independent, mass power, Tbis is on: ;t! following two weeks. and attempts to win support from potential allies-other unions and opportunltY Labor immobilized community organizations of the op­ What has become clearer and clearer pressed national minorities. . teen years. during the past year is that in the face Instead the strike is seen as a sue an of massive layoffs and wage cuts the gigantic bluff, a device to be used to Public workers c New York trade-union movement create the necessary political atmos­ rik a bloW for stands as immobilized and powerless phere to allow their friends in the st e and all as a paralyzed giant. Potentially a Democratic party to deliver some con­ themselves voting very strong labor movement, its leader­ cessions. "New Y. ork by sak . tesNov.5 ship has completely failed to fight for But the post-World War II prosperity ~ Carey-K.ruP Y. our vo Wilson even the most elementary rights of its is over. The ruling class, in order to z~ Election DaY. can oust t members. maintain its own profits, is no longer d bring respec Why have the trade-union officials willing to pass on a few crumbs to an ublic workers been so ~niversally blind to the reality working people through a conserva­ for P concern that the capitalist ruling class is tized union bureaucracy. The role of in AlbanY, ts attempting to solve its growing eco­ the Democratic party is to help drive ~ rising cos nomic problems at the expense of the through massive cuts in the standard ord the problems working class? Take a look at the of living of working people. an ,F.· g nP.ople. economic conditions under which the of worl\.ln t'~ public employee unions were created Wurf's testimony ote on Nov. 5 k, and have flourished. During the long The truth is that even during periods V Tr .... ,·psa . post-World War II economic boom, the of prosperity the Democratic party ctOr Carey· J.U" wealthy and powerful owners of this delivered very little to working people _Vic Gotbattm country found it useful and possible to and the trade unions. Jerry Wurf, allow for a gradual rise in working international president of the Ameri­ people's standard of living. The trade­ can Federation of State, County and union movement that had emerged in Municipal Employees, in a recent the 1930s was too strong to be crushed. interview by Skeptic magazine, com­ Concessions were made, but always plains that "labor, for all its vaunted with an eye to weakening and conser­ power, has been unable to get a pro­ DEAD END: Front page of October 25. 1974, 'Public Employee Press,' AFSCME vatizing the unions. labor law passed for as long as I can District Council 37 newspaper. Carey was elected governor with labor's help, and It was made to appear that gains for remember." heads board that dictated wage freeze. working people were not the result of It is no wonder Wurf has a hard

6 time remembering. The last specifical~ ly prolabor social legislation passed by the U.S. Congress was the Social Thousands rip CUNY closing Security Act of 1935. For more than By Susie Winsten The demonstration received broad cheered when he said, "I came here to forty years Congress, which for most NEW YORK-Thousands of angry backing from labor and anticutback tell you that the kids of our workers- of that period has been controlled by faculty, students, and workers sur- groups. · Black, white, Chicano, and Puerto the Democratic party, has not passed rounded city hall here June 9 with a Speakers at the rally included PSC Rican-are being deprived of an educa- one other such piece of legislation. noontime picket line protesting the President Irwin Polishook; Lillian tion, and we're suffering too." "Sometimes I'm ashamed to admit shutdown of the twenty-campus City Roberts, associate director of District And the cheers were even stronger it," Wurf continues, "but the most University of New York. Council37 of the American Federation when he said, "Let the bankers pay labor can accomplish is just to stop the The picket line and the rally that of State, County and Municipal Em- tuition!" imposition of total indecency upon · followed were called by a June 4 ployees; Sam Meyers, president of local Meyers pointed out that the cutbacks working people. Its vaunted political delegate assembly meeting of the 259 of the United Auto Workers have affected oppressed minorities the power is just a load of nonsense. . . . Professional Staff Congress, the union (UAW); Ramon Jimenez, spokesperson most. The UAW leader urged that What I've found, essentially, is that of the 16,000 faculty at CUNY. At that of the Community Coalition to Save organized labor and other people the only people who seem to know how meeting, rank-and-file members mobi- Hostos, a bilingual college in CUNY affected by the cuts "join together in to elect candidates and maintain their lized to demand that the PSC leader- that has been scheduled to close one mighty movement so that there loyalty are big business." ship take measures against the payless permanently; Louis Arce, of the June 8 will be no more retreats." What a· damning admission from a payday and payless shutdown profes- Coordinating Coalition, a group that man who has been one of labor's most sors are suffering. has been fighting cutbacks in child Demonstration organizers an­ vocal advocates of the strategy of CUNY teachers were not given their care; and Maynard Jones, head of the nounced from the podium that they relying on the Democratic party and monthly check at the end of May when city-wide University Student Senate. estimated 10,000 people were present at electing "friends of labor." the city and state governments refused Lillian Roberts captured the senti- the rally. Wurf, Gotbaum, Shanker, and virtu­ to give CUNY the money it needed to ments of other speakers and the crowd A delegation of about twenty Asian ally the entire trade-union leadership operate. The university system was in urging unity of working people and Puerto Rican women came from draw no lessons from this dismal then closed in the middle of final against cutbacks. "Workers and stu- the International Ladies' Garment record. Right now these bureaucrats exams by the administration. The dents are beginning to learn that we Workers' Union. They held signs in are mobilizing the resources of their Board of Higher Education followed have an awful lot in common," she English, Spanish, and Chinese that members and the trade-union move­ this up by ending the 129-year-old said. read: "Free tuition-Open admission­ ment to elect a Democratic president in policy of free tuition. Sam Meyers of the UAW was Educate our children." November. This is the pitiful arsenal they are mustering against the war the ruling class has declared on organized labor. Set June 16 protest of hospital cuts Class-struggle strategy By Roberta Frick Avenue, and then march to the offices represents the municipal hospitals' The only effective strategy to counter NEW YORK-The Coalition to Save of New York Gov. Hugh Carey. Carey nonprofessional staff. this attack is to chart a course toward the Municipal Hospitals has called a heads the Emergency Financial Con- About 3,200 workers were scheduled mobilizing the independent collective city-wide demonstration against cut· trol Board, the state body that ordered to be laid off and local 420 had strength of the labor movement and backs and layoffs in the municipal city officials to close the hospitals. originally threatened to strike as soon oppressed minorities. This requires hospital system. June 16 was the date In addition, the coalition voted to as pink slips were handed out. first telling the truth about the ruling­ set for the action. endorse a June 8 demonstration A strike by the largest union repre- class goals and how the Democratic The decision to form a coalition and against day-care cutbacks and to send senting municipal hospital workers and Republican parties are implemen· call the protest was made at a June 5 speakers to other activities in support had the potential to unite the commu- ting them. meeting of thirty representatives of of maintaining social services. nities and other hospital unions in the It means developing a program of anticutback groups from seven differ- Protests focused at each of the fight and might have forced the city to solidarity with all sectors of the ent hospitals. Activists came from individual hospitals have been only reverse its plans. working class-a social program-to Gouverneur, Sydenham, Morrisania, partially successful. That was one But on ITune 3, top AFSCME leaders help achieve the broadest possible Bellevue, Kings County, Harlem, and factor that motivated activists to form and city officials agreed to submit the unity in the face of the ruling-class Goldwater hospitals. a city-wide coalition. question of layoffs to nonbinding attacks. This means championing the The meeting was called in response For example, at Gouverneur Hospital arbitration, and the strike was called struggles of the most oppressed sectors to the Health and Hospitals Corpora- in the Lower East Side, a sit-in and off. of the working class-Blacks, Puerto tion's decision to close four city hospi- other actions have forced the city to AFSCME leaders all along have Ricans, women, and undocumented tals by the end of June. put off closing the facility's inpatient accepted reduced city funding of social workers. The coalition decided to organize the section twice-originally it was to have services as the way to solve the budget A union leadership following a June 16 protest around the slogans been closed May 7. But the city still crisis, instead of taking a firm "No course of struggle, rather than collab· "No closings of any hopitals," "No insists that the closing will come. cutbacks-No layoffs" position. It is oration, would call a city-wide meet­ cutbacks in hospital services," "No Another factor was a des.ire to link unclear as of this writing whether the ing with rank-and-file representatives layoffs," and "No compromises." up with workers at the hospital, AFSCME leadership will support the of unions, community organizations, Demonstrators will assemble at particularly American Federation of efforts of the new coalition and urge and students to launch a counter­ 10:00 a.m. in Bryant Park at the corner State, County and Municipal Employ- Local 420 members to join the demon- offensive against the cutbacks and of Forty-second Street and Sixth ees (AFSCME) Local 420. That union stration. layoffs. This could include a massive united demonstration of all those who are suffering from these attacks. Dozens of smaller protest rallies organiz"ed each week by union locals and community Puerto Rican D~y parade groups show that there is a great willingness on the part of thousands to fight back and that the response to a united city-wide rally would be over­ whelming. This would help build up the self-confidence of working people and lay the basis for further militant actions-including strikes that are well-prepared, draw mass public sup­ port behind them, and are carried out with the fullest rank-and-file participa­ tion in all the key decisions. Break from Democrats Breaking from the Democratic party and beginning to exercise their inde­ pendent mass power, of course, poses the question of whom the unions should support in the elections. Whom can they count on in the legislative bodies to fight against the onslaught of antilabor legislation? The answer is that labor· needs to run its own candidates, working men and women, who have no interests other than those of working people. They need candidates who do not ask working people to rely on them, but who are genuine spokespersons for the Militant/Ethel Lobman independent struggles of labor itself. 'Bicentennial without Misery' read one of the signs carried by members of a 'People's Contingent' in the annual Puerto The fact that many workers are Rican Day parade held June 6 in New York City. Participating in the contingent were a group from Hostos Community already organized into unions provides College, a bilingual college in the city university system that is being threatened with closing; parents from Public the organizational basis on which to School 122 in the Lower East Side, which has also been scheduled to close down; and other anticutback groups. Also, form a political party to run candi­ supporters of Puerto Rican independence demanded a 'Bicentennial without colonies' and the release of five Puerto dates and help lead the struggles of Rican Nationalists imprisoned in the United States. The idea for the contingent was initiated by the Puerto Rican working people and champion the Socialist party. demands of the most oppressed.

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 7 OKs racist P-rivate schools Ford campai ns for antibusing legislation By Baxter Smith has become almost an anti-Black one," BOSTON-Momentarily stymied by . - said Gloster Current, national director the recent outcry that forced Attorney of NAACP branches. "The president is General Levi to back off from interven­ speaking as a candidate and using the ing against busing in Boston, the Ford busing issue to send a message to administration is nonetheless continu­ bigots everywhere." ing to search for a way to upset court­ Ford's message was received and ordered school desegregation. acted upon several times last week by Ford said June 1 that he seeks antibusing bigots in Boston. congressional legislation that "could The president's message egged on a avoid most of the busing that takes dynamite attack on Plymouth Rock the place." night of June 1. A resident whose What Ford's proposed legislation is home is about 100 yards from the designed to do, according to White monument marking the spot where the House spokesperson Ron Nessen, is "to pilgrims first stepped ashore in 1620 use busing as a remedy to correct those said the force of the explosion "nearly cases of segregation brought about by knocked me out my chair." the official action of a school board or The next morning, the Boston Globe governmental body and to prevent received a call from a man who busing as a remedy to correct racial referred to the previous weekend's imbalance brought about by events racist attack on the Boston Tea Party other than official governmental ac­ Museum. "We did the Tea Party,'' he tions." said. "We did the rock." The caller Ford's proposal makes no allowance threatened future violence and con· for the fact that a wide range of eluded: "Stop busing." government policies underlie the segre­ The administration's attempt to curb who have withdrawn their children Ford's message prompted an arson gated housing patterns that result in busing through passage of legislation from the public schools to avoid de­ attack · on the Bradford House, a the need for busing as a means to shows that the Republican president is segregation. famous historical site, on June 4. provide equal education for Black banking on the racist compliance of Asked in a television interview An antibusing group here calling youth. the Democratic-controlled Congress. whether he approved of such schools, itself the Defense League has vowed to Federal appeals courts have already The president says he hopes for a Ford · replied that "individuals have destroy all bicentennial exhibits in the overruled arguments aimed at restrict­ three-to-five-year maximum time limit rights," and that it's all right for area and burn downtown department ing busing orders on the · basis of on federal court interventions on parents to send their children to stores and banks. State officials have Ford's argument. The U.S. Court of behalf of desegregation. And in a crude segregated schools as long as they are placed additional security around bi­ Appeals for the First Circuit already ploy to give heart to the racist vote, the "willing to pay whatever the cost centennial exhibits as a precaution. turned down a challenge to the Boston Republican presidential candidate might be." Reports also indicate that Ford's busing plan on this basis earlier this says he hopes his bill will have a message was received in antibusing year. retroactive effect on already-ordered Civil rights figures have sharply Dorchester the day after the Bradford In its ruling, the court said that "to busing plans. disagreed with Ford's racist proposals. House fire. At Dorchester Day festivi­ require a district court to preserve Going still further, on June 6 Ford Ed Redd, executive secretary of the ties, an annual exhibition of civic pride intact every scrap of segregated educa­ defended the continuation of private, Boston NAACP, condemned the ad­ and responsibility, a Black photogra­ tion that somehow can be separated white academies that exclude Blacks ministration's moves and charged that pher for the Boston Globe who was from governmental causation is to and other minorities because of race. Ford was using busing to gather the sent to cover the event had beer poured involve the Federal courts in planning Numerous schools of this type have racist vote. over his head and a bottle broken continued segregation.... " been set up here in Boston by parents "Ford's ultraconservative position across his face.

Editor speaks at N.Y. meet~ng Silber explains ~Guardian' stand on China By Dick Roberts est in the discussion on China that the question-and-answer period Silber put now a member of OL, attempted to NEW YORK-More than 900 people Guardian has opened. forth a number of questions about the answer Silber. Davidson asserted that turned out here June 4 to hear Guardi- The Guardian, which describes itself Soviet economy that Marxists would William Hinton's position is not Pek- an executive editor Irwin Silber ex- as an "independent radical newsweek· have to answer before arriving at the ing's and that it is slanderous to say plain the Guardian's new thinking on ly," has in recent years identified itself conclusion of capitalist restoration that it is. But Davidson did not offer Chinese foreign policy. The size of the with the policies of the Chinese Com- espoused by Peking. • any examples of Peking's foreign crowd underlined the widespread inter- munist party. The paper has been · Silber queried to what degree private policy that depart from Hinton's de­ looked to by many who are sympathet· property has been restored in the scription. ic to Peking. USSR; whether there is production for Silber replied that anyone who _More clearly than in any article that private profit; whether a "capitalist" follows Peking's daily news dispatChes the Guardian has yet published, Silber economy can have no unemployment; can see that whatever the "superpow- rejected as a "most profound historical and whether private property is inher· er" rhetoric, Peking's main axis of error" Peking's characterization of the ited in the Soviet Union. attack is directed against Moscow. Soviet Union as the. "main danger" in The Guardian has not reached a The audience reaction at the meeting. world politics. position on the ,answers to these and indicated that there is widespread For the Guardian, Silber explained, other, related questions, Silber said. sympathy for the Guardian's stand "The. struggle against U.S. imperial- ~ilber emphatically attacked the among the relatively large layer of ism is the main objective." The United position, held by some pro-Mao groups, radical-minded people who in the past States is the "chief prop" of Western that Puerto Rico faces ~e threat of have seen China's positions as a imperialism and the "most powerful "Soviet superpower" intervention. revolutionary alternative to the politics oppressive and exploiting force in the "The Puerto Rican independence of the Soviet bureaucracy. The OL and world." struggle is against U.S. imperialism," the RCP have been able to draw in Silber said that it had been apparent Silber s"aid. only a small part of this milieu. to the Guardian for some time that the The Guardian's position marks a Silber expressed the sentiment of ideas expressed by William Hinton turning point in the attempt to regroup most of the audience, -and undoubtedly accurately reflect Peking's position in pro-Peking forces in this country. Since thousands of other people across the foreign policy. In an interview pub· 1972 the Guardian and others have country, in expressing sharp disagree- lished in the May 5 Guardian, Hinton, tried to bring together different group- ments with certain policies of the Mao chairperson of the U.S.-China Peoples ings that support Peking into a single regime, while supporting the Chinese Friendship Association, stressed Pek- party. revolution as a great advance. ing's international campaign for Silber underlined that at the moment He also articulated the views of strengthening the imperialist military there is an "irrevocable demarcation" many when he held that it is necessary forces of the United States, Western between the Guardian and those to read all sides of the question and to Europe, and Japan against the Soviet groups who defend Peking's foreign hold this give-and-take in an open and Union. policy. The latter include, most import- nonsectarian manner. While agreeing that "there is some- antly, the October League (OL) and the The initiatives taken by the Guardi- thing damn wrong with the Soviet Revolutionary Communist party an should lead to a serious discussion Union," Silber explained that the (RCP-the new name of the Revolu- about Peking's policies among all MilitanVLou Howort Guardian is unwilling to go so far as to tionary Union). those who defend the Chinese revolu- SILBER: 'Read all sides of the say that "capitalism has been re- From the audience, former Guardian tion and want to build the revolution· discussion.'' stored" in the Soviet Union. In the staff member Carl Davidson, who is ary movement in the United States.

B The Black leadership on busing By Malik Miah On May 29 the Justice Department issued a statement saying that "the United States will not file a brief in the Supreme Court at the present stage of the Boston school desegregation case." This decision was welcomed by supporters of school desegregation across the country. Public pressure, particularly from civil rights organiza­ tions such as the NAACP, led Attorney General Edward Levi to reverse his initial plans to intervene in the Boston school desegregation case. Wallace Roy Maceo Ralph Jesse Vernon But the threat to "limit the scope" of Muhammad Wilkins Dixon Abernathy Jackson Jordan busing to achieve school desegregation did not pass. On June 2 President Ford announced plans to draft legislation that would limit court-ordered busing press for the needs of Black people. The NAACP refused to support the voter registration and education cam­ to achieve racial desegregation of Neither the NAACP nor any of the demonstration. paigns on college campuses across the schools. other groups have been able to initiate This default in political leadership nation, and in minority communities The attack on school desegregation or build a broad coalition to effectively set the stage for the anti-Black vio­ around the country. NASCAR, with its in Boston is the spearhead of a defend busing and school desegrega­ lence days before the march and for nationalwide network, can play a key systematic national drive to cut back tion. the government's failure to do any­ role in this regard. In a critical year, gains won by Blacks in education, Why has this happened? thing to stop it. That state of affairs like 1976, we cannot allow a repeat of housing, and employment. ' The answer lies in the political forced the April 24 march organizers to the experience of .1972, when voters Thus, a big task lies before the main strategy all the groups project to fight call off the action-a necessary and stayed away from the polls in large civil rights organizations and other for Black equality. Although some of correct step. numbers. The political process offers supporters of school desegregation in the organizations have tactical differ­ However, if these big organizations immeasurable opportunites to bring Boston and nationwide: to construct a ences on how to advance the struggle with national followings had backed about positive social change, but such mass movement to defend busing and for Black liberation, they all have poli­ the march from the start, a political opportunities can only be realized if school desegregation. tical illusions in the Democratic or Re­ climate could have been created that the people most affected appreciate the What strategies have been projected publican parties and the government. would have isolated the racists. The value of their vote." by the major Black civil rights organi­ The NAACP's focus on the legal wave of racist violence would have This decision-to counterpose voter zations? arena and the SCLC's direct-action therefore been much less likely. registration and reliance on capitalist tactics, when used, fit into this politi­ And if the racist terror had erupted candidates in 1976 to building a Positions on busing cal framework. anyway, under conditions of strong demonstration and a movement in The most significant group is the This strategy of relying on the Black support for the action the defense of busing-dealt a blow to the NAACP, the largest and oldest civil capitalist candidates and government government would have been under April 24 march. rights organization in the country. to solve the problems of Blacks is why great pressure to put a halt to it and to A demonstration would have been Since its formation more than sixty the Black movement is leaderless to­ protect the demonstration. the best way to force the candidates to years ago, the NAACP has made the day. The NAACP and the others should speak about busing and other Black fight for school desegregation a central The old leadership has been more have built the hell out of this planned issues. The fact that not one Democrat­ aspect of its national and local activi­ concerned with which Democrat is march. And that's still what they ic or Republican presidential candidate ties. The historic 1954 Supreme Court elected to public office than with should do. (The need for such an action has campaigned in favor of busing decision Brown v. Board of Education building an independent movement in has not diminished.) shows where Margaret Bush Wilson's was based on a legal suit filed by the defense of busing and school desegre­ But instead of doing that, they strategy-essentially the same as that NAACP. The Boston desegregation gation in 1976. encouraged the initiators of the followed by the rest of the Black order is also based on the legal work of The reality is that the majority of march-local Black community leaders leadership-has gotten us. the NAACP. Blacks can be mobilized to fight for and the National Student Coalition The National Urban League is also equality if the present leadership and Against Racism (NSCAR)-to call it How to move forward more than sixty years old. The Urban new leaders make such a call. There is off soon after it was announced. The political impotence of the Black League has done extensive research on little doubt that thousands of Blacks The NAACP said registering Blacks leadership has been glaringly obvious unemployment, inadequate housing, and others are willing to march on to vote was the most important thing this year. At fault is their dead-end and other social ills affecting Black Boston or Washington, D.C., to de­ supporters of school desegregation strategy. They have been unable to do people. mand enforcement of the law. could do during the 1976 elections. anything effective about busing-or Like the NAACP, the Urban The strategy of the Black leadership about jobs, housing, or any other issue League's goal is to fully integrate leads to a dead end. There is a good Margaret Bush Wilson letter of concern to Blacks. Blacks into American society. illustration of this: An important Margaret Bush Wilson, chairperson Black people should not wait until Both the Southern Christian Leader­ factor leading up to the cancellation of of the NAACP Board of Directors, November 2 before taking action to ship Conference and Operation PUSH the April 24 march on Boston for explained her organization's stand in a defend school desegregation in Boston, (People United to Save Humanity) school desegregation was the orienta­ letter to three leaders of Boston's Black Louisville, or elsewhere. The bigots are support busing to achieve school de­ tion of the Black leadership toward the community. attacking us now. segregation. Both are based on Black elections and toward the government. "In response to your letter of Febru­ We need the NAACP, Urban churches. Not one of the major civil rights ary 20, 1976," she wrote, "for tactical League, SCLC, and other Black civil The· SCLC is identified with the organizations was willing to actively reasons I express reservations about rights groups and organizations like direct-action tactics of Martin Luther build the April 24 march. your suggestion for another march in the National Student Coalition King, who led the organization during Although both the Boston A. Philip the near future in support of public Against Racism to unite together and his lifetime. It is much less influential Randolph Institute and the SCLC school desegregation in Boston.... build a new social movement in de­ than it used to be. SCLC figures such endor~d the march, neither threw "Instead," she argued, "I see an fense of busing and school desegrega­ as Andrew Young and Hosea Williams their forces behind it. . urgent need for us to organize massive tion . are today full-time elected Democratic If Black leaders like the NAACP's party officeholders. Roy Wilkins, the SCLC's Ralph Aber­ Leaders of the SCLC have come to nathy, and the Urban League's Ver­ Boston to speak at rallies and demon­ non Jordan would issue a call for a big strations for busing. march on Boston, that act alone The A. Philip Randolph Institute would pressure the Fords and Levis to and the Coalitian of Black Trade seriously consider enforcing the laws Unionists are affiliated with the trade­ protecting Black rights. This could union movement. Both back busing. have an impact much like the march Finally, .the Nation of Islam, since on Washington in 1963 called by the Wallace Muhammad assumed its lead­ major Black groups. That action led ership less than a year ago, has turned the government to quicken its pace in to greater involvement in Black com­ passing important civil rights legisla­ munity struggles. It now favors bus­ tion. ing. But to date the Nation has not Such a call today would also put the endorsed any probusing marches or racists on the defensive. It would give held any activities of its own in some confidence to the Black commu­ support of busing. nity. And it would win over many These civil rights organizations hold people confused by the busing debate the allegiance to one extent or another to support of busing. of the majority of Blacks active in the Until this happens supporters . of fight for Black equality. busing must continue to educate on the issues and push for a mass-action strategy. Since the setback around Their strategy April 24, getting out the facts has This Black leadership, however, has become even more important. failed in its essential job-to effectively The challenge facing the Black lead and organize the Black communi­ movement today is to overcome the

ty into a powerful political force to 1975, desegregation••••• demonstration in Boston crisis of leadership.

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 9 In Our Opinion Let ten

Milwaukee's 'new image' partnered Winterans take on maleness Kissinger in Chile In 1967 Milwaukee made the and femaleness (one male, the other female), and they never. know Secretary of State Henry Kissinger went to Chile early this headlines when Blacks and supporters of civil rights were met with bottles beforehand which it will be. month to attend a meeting of the Organization of American and stones as they tried day after day In this way, each person is capable States. While there, Kissinger said human rights violations had to march into the all-white South Side of being mother to some children and "impaired our relationship with Chile." to demand an open-housing law. father to others. She weaves her story The meeting was hosted by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, who came Mayor Henry Maier was in office around the fascinating ramifications to power a little less than three years ago in a blood-soaked then and he resisted all their protests. of a culture oriented thus. military coup that was inspired, organized, and financed by Today he is still mayor and he's trying I recommend this book highly. N.R. Kissinger and his operatives. · to project a new image-Milwaukee is a friendly city, free of its racist, Denver, Colorado Since coming to power, Pinochet's regime has murdered segregationist image of the past. thousands of people~ imprisoned more than 100,000 dissidents; But the reality is revealed in an driven 50,000 people into exile; and left tens of thousands of exchange of letters between Black children homeless. County Supervisor Clinton Rose and Meeting more socialists More than twenty-five torture centers operate around the Deputy County Medical Examiner Your newspaper is a credit to the clock. Joseph LaMonte, who wrote that "the socialist school of thought. Negro should be thankful for his slave The American working class is For the whole time that this has been going on, Washington forebears or they wouldn't be here slowly awakening to its rights as has generously assisted the Chilean butchers. Kissinger has enjoying the 'giveaway' programs of human beings. given them economic aid; Kissinger has given them diplomatic the politicians." Praised be the day when they reach support; Kissinger has given them technical assistance. Robert Schwarz out and take them for their own. Each Now Kissinger wants to wash the blood from his hands with Milwaukee, Wisconsin day I meet more socialists or people on a few crocodile tears about "fundamental standards of humane their way to becoming socialists. conduct." Congratulations on your newspaper, keep up the fight. The United States is currently giving $1.8 billion in aid to Robert Marshall Chile, including money funneled through international organi­ The good fight San Jose, California zations. Barney Josephson owns a jazz club The American people should demand that Washington end all in Greenwich Village. MiMant readers economic, military, and political support to the butchers of the who have been following the revelations about police harassment of Chilean masses-and end it now! antiracists may be interested in a 'Militant' !-interest in South conversation I recently had with him. Could you please send me more Some forty years ago Barney opened Militant subscription cards-perhaps the first integrated club in the country, ten or fifteen'? I have found a great the Cafe Society, also in the Village. deal of interest in the paper. The Chicano Forum Billie Holiday came downtown from Mostly Blacks and poor whites are Over the past several years there has been a growing Harlem to sing to a mixed audience. interested in the coverage of strikes, realization among Chicano activists of the need to discuss and "If anyone said 'nigger' I threw him denial of civil liberties, police crimes, clarify where the movement is going in terms of ideology and out," said Josephson who, incidentally, and international labor struggles. program. The National Chicano Forum in Salt Lake City was offered Billie "Strange Fruit," the Money comes hard to people in the an important step in the development of that necessary antilynching song she made famous. South (bourgeoisie excluded) and when The New York cops closed Cafe I see friends who are interested and discussion. Society down. willing to spend hard-earned money I The organizers insisted that all points of view within the Today at age seventy-four Barney is realize there is a great need to spread movement be heard and that ideas be exchanged in a calm, still fighting the good fight, with grace such a paper to all that can possibly reasonable way. and conviction. He now runs the receive it. This was particularly important since at some previous Cookery and employs Helen Humes, I enjoy the paper. Chicano movement gatherings, rival groupings and individuals perhaps the world's finest femal~ jazz G.W. have engaged in the kind of heated rhetoric that prevents a singer. Wilsons Mills, North Carolina serious consideration of differing viewpoints. When she sings a number reminiscent of some of Billie's songs, The results showed that the most divergent groupings within one is thankful to Josephson for doing the movement can sit down in the same room and argue for what is right and for keeping at it their point of view, giving those attending the democratic right when a man of his age could have 'Militant' 2-good things to consider all ideas. justifiably retired. I have chanced across your paper The result was positive and educational. People went away Michael Smith often, but never really read it. I have with a deepened understanding of the nature of Chicano New York, New York only heard good things about it. So I oppression and a lot of food for thought on what is needed to think it must be time to at least purchase a trial subscription. win liberation. As you know, the United Farm By engaging in such an exchange of ideas, the conference Feminist science fiction Workers union lias Gome to the provided a good example for the entire Chicano movement and, I have been a subscriber to the realization that they cannot expect to for that matter, for all who are struggling for social change. Militant now for about four and a half be an issue in the bourgeois media and years. I voted for Linda Jenness and have looked elsewhere for the rest of Andrew Pulley in 1972 and I will be the facts. voting for Peter Camejo and Willie I want to order two trial Mae Reid this year. subscriptions to the Militant-one for Eldridge Cleaver Since graduating from college in the Brooklyn Boycott House and one 1974, I have worked as a token for a very interested political friend of Since former Black Panther party leader Eldridge Cleaver newswoman at three different radio mine. returned to the United States last November, he has been in a stations. I got fired for union I hope that you will send him a federal jail in California. His imprisonment stems from a 1968 organizing at one of them. (That is in subscription to the Militant since he is looking for an unbiased, police assault on an Oakland home where some BPP supporters the courts.) I am also an avid science fiction reader. nonauthoritarian perspective of U.S. had gathered. When the Panther supporters tried to surrender, I just•finished reading the review by events, also worldwide. the cops opened fire, killing an unarmed Black youth and Linda Jenness of Ursula Le Guin's F.F. wounding Cleaver. book The Dispossessed (Militant, May Brooklyn, New York Frame-up charges of attempted murder were brought against 28). I was thrilled. Among others, I Cleaver and his parole was revoked. Unwilling to return to have read all of Le Guin's science California's hellish prison system, Cleaver fled the country. fiction works. I have for several years Cleaver recently reversed his political views. Having once made a point of reading all the science fiction written by women that I can get Two suggestions advocated "picking up the gun" as a means of liberating Black my hands on. I'd like to give you two suggestions people, he now hails U.S. "democracy" and denounces "Com- It's slow in coming and still scarce, for the Militant which I think would munism." • but feminist science fiction is starting make it stronger and more persuasive. If Cleaver thought that his conversion might incline his to make itself heard. Le Guin is one of, I think there should be an article in captors to deal fairly with him, he seems to have guessed if not the, best in her field, male or every issue of the paper that explains wrong. On his arrival in the United States, he was instantly female. in a basic form what socialism is. My clapped into jail and exorbitant bail of $100,000 was set. I would like to recommend another experience of being on a Young Le Guin book. It's called The Left Whatever differences one may have with Cleaver's past or Socialist team and other experiences Hand of Darkness, and it is her first convince me that most people have present views, his imprisonment is a continuation of the work of feminist science fiction. It misconceptions as to what socialism is government's campaign against the Black liberation: move­ takes place on a world called Winter, and what socialists stand for. ment. Cleaver must be set free and all pending frame-up where all people are of one sex. During The Militant can help correct this by charges must be dropped. periods which she calls "kemmerer," publishing such an article.

10 National Picket Line

There should be more articles in the Frank Lovell paper that explain why it is in the interest of white workers to support desegregation, Black rights, etc. We should have some statements to Un-Hatching gov't workers · explain the relationship of the Black struggle to the class struggle as a [The following guest column is by Steve Beck, system, saying that "politicizing the civil service is whole-in addition to the articles secretary of Local 3369 of the American Federa­ intolerable." Clyde Webber, president of the American already run. tion of Government Employees, which repre­ Federation of Government Employees, which repre­ In general, I think that the Militant sents Social Security field office employees in sents more than 700,000 workers, ridiculed Ford's is making great strides in popularizing the New York metropolitan area.] statement, saying, "This is the same president who socialist ideas and concepts. At this recently turned the regional directorships of a number point in the development of the The latest effort to expand political rights for federal of federal agencies to the political 'spoils system,' over radicalization I think that it should workers ended in failure April 29 when the House of the protests of the Civil Service Commission." begin to play more of a Socialist Representatives sustained President Ford's veto of a The weekly Federal Times also ran a series of Appeal role than before. bill to amend the Hatch Act. Under the law nearly articles last October revealing a patronage ring that As the paper expands and reaches three million workers, including postal employees and found jobs for the political faithful recommended by more and more newly radicalizing workers in federally funded local projects, are denied figures in the White House, Congress, and even by people-people unaccustomed to the right to run for office or campaign for candidates civil service commissioners. Marxist or even political terminology The real reasons why Congress and the administra­ and concepts-it must play that role. of their choice. The vote was twenty-six shy of the two-thirds tion want the Hatch Act intact are less lofty than Douglas Pensack concern about an honest civil service. All the leading Detroit, Michigan majority needed to send the bill to the Senate, where another override vote would have been needed. presidential candidates, even Ford, have been running Although Missouri Democrat William Clay led the against "Washington bureaucrats," in effect promis­ floor fight for overriding the veto, forty-seven of the ing huge layoffs. Raises promised to federal workers "nay" votes were cast by Democrats. have been denied, and Ford threatens to limit this Baltimore-'Give us jobs' year's increase to less than 5 percent. And recently the Two hundred fifty people attended a The April 30 New York Times noted that "except for a letter-writing effort by some labor groups urging comptroller general tried to impose a limit on the time May 22 rally in downtown Baltimore, union officials could take off to represent members on demanding "Give us jobs." The crowd, representatives to override, there was little evidence grievances. The Hatch Act helps to blunt the political a majority of which was Black, came that the Administration or the Democratic leadership backlash of federal workers. in response to a call for the rally by had engaged in any intensive lobbying on the issue." U.S. Rep. Parren Mitchell (D-Md.), a The Hatch Act was passed in 1939 allegedly to block member of the Congressional Black patronage abuses in the growing federal work force. The Democratic and Republican politicians especial­ Caucus. Instead of outlawing coercion of civil servants, they ly fear that this reaction might be channeled through Speakers at the rally included a wide outlawed most political activity by the federal workers the unions. This· was indicated by Republican Rep. range of union leaders and Black themselves. Cabinet-level appointees were exempted, Edward Derwinski's charge that "the national union elected officials. The major speaker naturally. officers here in Washington" were behind the anti­ was U.S. Rep. Augustus Hawkins (D­ The defeated amendments would have reversed this Hatch amendments. While the union leadership Calif.), author of the proposed "Full by allowing political activity on the part of employees undoubtedly hoped to increase its clout in the Employment and Balanced Growth and punishing administrators who tried to coerce Democratic party, an "un-Hatched" federal work force Act of 19'(6," more commonly known them into political service. might someday support a movement for independent as the Hawkins-Humphrey bill. In his April 12 veto statement, Ford cynically tried political action through a labor party based on the In his remarks Hawkins called for to portray this as a potential rebirth of the spoils trade unions. an immediate program of public works to guarantee full employment for all, including young people. "The government says that some percentage of unemployment is the same as full employment," Hawkins said. "We By Any Means Necessary reject that concept. Everybody should be able to have a job, and now." Hawkins urged support for his bill in Congress. Baxter Smith Hawkins neglected to point out, however, that his Hawkins-Humphrey bill will provide for none of the things Black Democratic caucus-11 he called for. It will not create a single job. It will not create public works BOSTON-The other day I saw Joe Blow, a Black positions on some issues that all of the presidential programs. It does not apply to those Democratic elected official I know, walking down the candid~tes said they supported. But without some­ under twenty. And it sets the figure of street. thing, you know, more dramatic, I just don't think the 3 percent unemployment as being "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," he was singing under party's going to respond to us anytime soon." equal to full employment. his breath. "How I wish-" "Uh-huh. Go on." Other speakers included Joseph "Joe," I yelled, giving him a star. "How're you "Well, that's just it. November looks ·pretty hopeless Bradley, president of AFL-CIO Region doing? What were you mumbling about wishing on a for Blacks. A lot of other Black elected officials realize 3; local leaders of the American star?'' it too, and so some are talking about getting ready Federation of Government Employees, "Er, it's nothing." now for 1980 and just trying to weather out Novem­ the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, "C'mon, Joe. What's the matter? Hey, you look sad. ber." and the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic What is it?" "That was the point I was trying to make, Joe. The Workers; Rudelle Martin of the Something profound was troubling Joe, normally a Democrats realize that it is unlikely that Blacks will Baltimore Welfare Rights devil-may-care guy. support Ford or Reagan. And in the absence of any Organization; and others. "You can tell me about it," I assured him. sustained pressure on the government by Blacks like Mitchell announced plans at the "Well, I read your story in last week's Militant about there was in the 1960s, the Democratic party h_as no rally for a march on Baltimore City the national Black Democratic caucus meeting at the reason to pay any attention to us." Hall in late June, and a possible march beginning of May in Charlotte, North Carolina," he on the statehouse in Annapolis later in said. "I went to it." "Well, I don't know," Joe said. "Some are talking the summer. about boycotting the Democratic convention, but I Gordon Fox "Oh, I didn't know that." Baltimore, Maryland "Yeah. And I didn't feel right with your description think it's just an empty threat. Others are moving on of how we looked like Black Ponce de Leons in search voter registration. With the low voter_ turnout at the of a political fountain of youth." polls Blacks can be the factor determining whether the "Why, Joe?" I asked, my grubby hands hot to get Democrats win. In 1960, remember, Kennedy won by hold of something. "Is it that you don't speak just 120,000 votes." "Yeah, Joe. But Black voter turnout in the primaries The letters column is an open Spanish?" forum for all viewpoints on sub­ "No, no. That's not it. It wasn't your description that has been very, very low-" jects of general interest to our I disagreed with. I thought it was accurate, and it's "I know." readers. Please keep your letters that I don't feel right going around looking like a "And the only thing that looks like it will generate brief. Where necessary they will Black Ponce de Leon." the interest of Blacks is a campaign that's willing to be abridged. Please indicate if "Oh, I see." honestly deal with the problems Blacks face. So here. your name may be used or if you "The Democratic party isn't trying to meet Black Cheer up," I said, handing him Socialist Workers prefer that your initials be used needs. And I think our efforts in Charlotte were not as campaign literature. instead. fruitful as some had expected. Not that it was a total Joe buried his face in one of the brochures. waste. But it didn't map out anything except for our "Socialist, eh ?" Then his sad eyes smiled.

f THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 11 The Great Society Harry Ring

No nonsense-Illinois officials re­ have offered a clue as to why the U.S. they had large stocks of old labels and Sounds reasonable-Louisville po­ moved Aurora Judge William Vander­ Army hasn't done so well in recent would lose money if they had to throw lice feared foul play when cab driver water from the bench for sentencing a times. Senate probers said a spot check them out. Ricky Kruse was reported missing and showed that 80 percent of 1.5 million his cab was found abandoned. Kruse man to eight months in jail without a Give him time to spend it-Jake trial. The complaint said the good pounds of meat bought by the Penta­ was finally located at the Churchill Jacobsen, former aide to Lyndon Downs racetrack. He told police he was judge allegedly removed the victim, gon did not conform to military specifi­ Johnson, pleaded no contest to steal­ Flor Lopez, from an apartment build­ cations. tired of working. ing $825,000 from a savings and loan ing in which he had an interest after company. He was given seven years' Chopping block-A congressional tenants complained Lopez had made a A ghostly rattle-President Ford probation. disturbance. The judge reportedly took deliberately avoids using Nixon's subcommittee probing medical mal­ Lopez to the station, filed a theft name in campaign appearances. He Anti-tube?-Dr. Koprowski, a pro­ practices estimated "there were ap­ charge against him, got his signature generally refers to him as "my prede­ fessor of business, says TV is largely proximately 2.4 million unnecessary on a guilty plea, and sentenced him. cessor," or "Lyndon Johnson's success­ responsible for the millions of Ameri­ surgeries performed in 1974 at a cost to or." cans who hate their jobs and despise the American public of almost $4 Left them gasping-A scandal their bosses. "If they don't happen to billion . . . and led to 11,900 deaths erupted in Italy with the charge that Can't be unreasonable, can like the program," the prof explained, last year." the country's world championship we?-The Food and Drug Administra­ "they can change the channel. This is Scab wages-President Ford's elec­ bridge team was acing out competitors tion gave food processors until Janu­ what managers say many young tion committee recruited people at by exchanging smoke signals from ary 1976 to stop labeling foods contain­ people are doing today." Furthermore, $7.50 a head to watch a film of their coffin nails. ing additives or preservatives-often . he added, they "feel absolutely no guilt Reagan's national TV speech to deter­ carcinogenic-as "pure" or "100 per­ about not earning their wages honest­ mine its effectiveness. They should at Army mess-The person who said cent." The deadline was extended to ly. They feel in fact that they are the least include insurance for residual an army marches on its stomach may July 1 when manufacturers explained ones being cheated." brain damage. Their Government Nancy Cole The campaign finance follies WASHINGTON-There they were, waiting with on an amended law, but took until the beginning of Democratic and Republican candidates to spend their hands out. Those gaunt, bedraggled Democrat­ May to get it approved. Then Ford refused to allow valuable time riding in cars when they could be ic and Republican presidential candidates, the any funds to be doled out until he got around to jetting. To the New York Times, it was "dirty pool"; products of two months of financial starvation. A appointing all six commissioners and they were all to the Washington Post, "grossly .unfair." All cruel Congress and an even crueler President Ford approved and sworn in. agreed that the outcome of '76 may have been had dillydallied around since March with reconsti­ affected by the inaccessible funds, and that access tution of the Federal Election Commission. Mean­ Things got rough: Fred Harris's telephones were to the funds was an inalienable right of the while, all the tax-subsidized public matching funds shut off when he couldn't pay the bill. He dropped capitalist candidates. were frozen. out of the race. Morris Udall had to cut his But nobody railed against the provision that They thawed May 21 when the six commission advertising budget in half in the Pennsylvania allocates this tax money solely to Democrats and members were sworn in. The candidates were there primary. He lost. Henry Jackson had to spend more Republicans. You didn't see the Times crying over at the door, and they carried away $3,209,783.31. than two hours in a car traveling from Wilkes-Barre the fact that the Socialist Workers party or any But the suffering showed, and alas, the months of to a Philadelphia suburb because he couldn't afford other independent party will never see a penny of deprivation may have affected the ultimate outcome a chartered flight. He lost too. And Ronald Reagan matching funds. of the primaries, the ultimate outcome of the '76 couldn't buy all the TV time in Texas and presidential race. Why, we may end up with a Wisconsin that he had his heart set on. Sure, Ford stalled to increase his chances against Carter when we could have had a Humphrey! A Ford's campaign apparatus thrived, having the Reagan. And maybe Humphrey didn't announce Ford instead of a Reagan! White House staff and the authority of the presiden­ because Carter won the Pennsylvania primary so The tragic tale began in January when the cy to back it up. Thus, he was accused by the overwhelmingly because Jackson had to ride in a Supreme Court ruled on the federal campaign nation's capitalist press and politicians of having car for two hours. But it's all got precious little to do finance law. The justices said it was basically okay, "political" motives in stalling on the commission. with the choice the American people will face on but the commission had to be appointed by the So we were subjected to weeks of editorials and November 2: between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. president, not Congress. So Congress went to work columns bemoaning the circumstances that forced That's the real "dirty pool."

The American Way of Life

Teaching genocide [The following article appeared in the "In- But teacher Carol Duarte didn't like Siba's report. ed as a learning device, in the role of devil's ali's Wigwam" column of the May 13 Eastside Rather, she attacked her student's attitude saying advocate, to stimulate the student's thinking." Courier, a New York weekly. Inali is a Indians, "gotwhat they deserved." The judge's April decision ordered Siba's return to Cherokee Indian.] Upset, Siba brought the teacher's written com- the classroom. Keeping the youngs~r out of school, ments to her mother, Jeanne Baum, who in turn the judge said, will result, "in the retardation of the The John Wayne Indian is still alive and asked the teacher for an explanation. child's educational process." scalping. This bloodthirsty barbarian still rides Teacher Duarte's explanation was reportedly that Mrs. Baum is now refusing to return Siba to the roughshod through late night movies and the Indians are, "drunk and lazy and had committed classroom and fears the court may attempt to take educational and legal system of New York. atrocities against white settlers." the youngster from her custody. The red skinned savage charged through S.M. Astonished, Jeanne took her daughter out of Barrett's "Geronimo: His Own Story." And Siba school, demanding the teacher's censure, her Ted Thompson, at the American lndia11. Commu­ Baum. spotted him. remarks labelled as racist, and the local school nity House, said, and we truly agree, that this is a board required to prevent future occurrences of the study in institutionalized racism. About a year ago, Siba was a seventh grader out episode by drafting guidelines for teaching racially Thompson points out that if a larger, more vocal in Queens, and she wrote a book report on the delicate subjects. minority had been the subject, thunders would have Barrett volume. In the report, the youngster Mrs. Baum and the school board became stalled rolled from the classroom to Washington. suggested the book was racially biased and Indians at an impasse, and the issue was brought to the As an example, Thompson asks for us to imagine are not necessarily cold-blooded murderers with New York Family Court. what sort of response we'd hear if a teacher said neither intelligence nor compassion. In fact, Siba, a Judge Arthur Abrams heard the case and sided Jews "got what they deserved." Blackfoot Indian herself, had never taken a single with the school board in defense of its teacher. The He asked, "are we sending our children to school scalp in any of her dozen years. judge said the teacher's remarks, "can be interpret- to learn the justification of genocide?"

12 What makes a revolution? SWP national secretary answers government

[Following are concluding ex­ years. I have had lunch with him in were limited. The military was not lence with violence? Was that dis­ cerpts from testimony by Jack London several times recently. going to allow it to go on much longer. cussed? Barnes, national secretary of the Q. I believe I am asking about The overthrow eventually came a year A. No one there to my knowledge Socialist Workers party, under September of '74. or so later. had the illusion that any small party questioning by John Siffert, a What was probably discussed was A. If I was in London in 1974, could prevent the military from over­ government attorney. November, it is possible I had lunch the state of the labor movement in throwing the Peron regime. Only the [The transcript below is contin­ with Tariq. Argentina, the state of opposition to labor movement itself standing up and ued from last week's Militant. This the military overthrow of Peron, and saying no to any restrictions on week's portion picks up with Sif­ the importance of warning the Argen­ democratic rights could do it. fert questioning Barnes about the tine workers not to depend on the SWP's collaboration with the Q. Is Mr. Ali Khan a member of the Peron regime. Democratic rights International Marxist Group? Fourth International, the world If they depended upon the Peron Q. Do you recall words to the effect revolutionary organization A. Yes. I think he usually uses the regime, they would be defenseless in name Tariq Ali. He is a public leader of or the sentiment being expressed at founded by Leon Trotsky. the face of the military take-over, that conference that the Fourth Inter­ [Further explanation of this the International Marxist Group in which would put Argentina more Britain. national does not defend the democrat­ stage of the proceedings in the directly under the heel of United States ic rights in general but rather the socialist suit against the govern­ Q. What is the position that group capitalism. It was necessary for the rights of the working class and in ment is contained in an article on takes with respect to violence? working class to form their own party, doing so any cooperation of classes the next page. A. It, like everyone except pacifists, a party that could fight to defend whether directly or in the shape of a ·[Barnes's deposition was re­ takes no abstract position with respect democratic rights, could run their own popular front or indirectly by defend­ corded by a court reporter. We to violence. It considers itself a Marx­ candidates, could fight for socialism, ing bourgeois institutions is to be have condensed it and corrected ist organization. It is absolutely op­ etc. avoided. Do you remember language to garbled words and phrases in the posed to terrorism, anarchism, and to that effect? transcript.] · the use of individual violence. A. That is not a quote from any­ I don't know of any document that it Q. When you talk about fighting for thing. The political debate was to what Q. Is there, in fact, certain examples has written on this, but this is its long­ democratic rights, would that include degree does one collaborate with even of people who are members of the standing position as a Marxist organi­ contemplating violence that might bourgeois parties in the defense of Fourth International who go to a zation. If I remember correctly, Tariq accompany such a fight? democratic rights. This is a different country in order to aid the revolution Ali wrote a letter to the London Times A. Well, it was not a question of thing from supporting the programs of in that country? A. Revolutions begin because of intolerable conditions that grow up in a country, not by people going from country to country. In that sense the answer to that is no. There are social­ ists who go to other countries and learn the politics of that country and share experiences with socialists in that country. I, for instance,. spent a year or so traveling in Europe, spending a lot of time speaking with fellow socialists. It makes me a better American socialist. Q. In Portugal or Latin America to your knowledge has the Fourth Inter­ national ever used its dues or any other funds that it came into posses­ sion of for arms? A. Absolutely not. Not to my know­ ledge. Q. Has the Fourth International sent people with the funds not only to study but also to help organize for the purpose of rioting or creating terrors? A. Absolutely not. Not to my know-· ledge. It would be a breach of the program and principles of the Fourth International if they had done so. For anyone of the Fourth Interna­ tional to send anybody to a country to Villas Miseria of Argentina: 'Revolutions begin because of intolerable conditions in a country.' initiate rioting would be a mockery of the way social change comes· about. Literary Supplement [April 16, 1976) . contemplating violence. VioleQ.ce was bourgeois forces or parties, which we Q. Didn't you spend a perioq of time which answered wracking Argentina. People . were be­ consider not only to be ineffective but in late 1971 to early 1972 in Europe on in some detail the false accusation that he, the IMG, and ing shot. Hundreds of trade unionists which will lead to the opposite results. Fourth International business? and socialists and progressive attor­ There was also a debate about the A. No, Mr. Siffert, not on Fourth the Fourth International are advocates of terrorism. I would be glad to furnish neys were being dragged out of their question of defending democratic insti­ International business. I did spend a homes in the middle of the night. tutions from being overthrown by the lot of time in France and Belgium. you with a copy. Seven of my own comrades were mur­ right or by the estSblishment of a Q. What did you do in France? dered. dictatorship. It is the elementary A. I wrote articles. I had discussions Discussions on Argentina There were death squads such as the obligat~on of any socialist to work with with socialists. I observed events in Q. What do you recall being dis­ Argentil)e Anticommunist . Alliance, any party, any force, willing to defend that country. I attended a lot of cussed [at the meeting of the Interna­ who had a working relationship with these rights. tional Executive Committee of the meetings of the United Secretariat of the police. They operated as assassina­ After the return of Peron to Argenti­ the Fourth International during that Fourth International in February tion squads and created violence all 1975]? na, a number of rights that had been period but none of them was held in over the place. denied in previous military dictator­ France because of the reactionary A. Well, probably, that was the meeting where extensive discussion ships were institutionalized. The Ar­ legislation there. The question we were discussing was gentine Socialist Workers party was was held on the world economic how to explain to the workers the fighting for a constitution to be written Tariq Ali recession. It is also possible at that strategy for turning this situation which would include, among other Q. Do you know Tariq Ali Khan? meeting that there was a discussion on around, and the need not to count on A. Yes, I know Tariq Ali Khan. He is Argentina. things, a bill of rights. One has never Eva Peron to protect them against the been promulgated. a good friend. military coup and the right-wing ter­ Q. Was there any discussion of the Some thought the way the Argentine Q. When ·have you met him? Have overthrow of the regime? rorists. party was fighting for these rights you had lunch with him? A. What was discussed was that the Q. How about the Fourth Interna­ gave the impression they had political A. Numerous times in the last seven days of the Peron regime in Argentina tional contemplating response to vio- Continued on next page

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 13 problem from a political and not a Q. Were you ever arrested in Paris? the International Majority Tendency, moral point of view is that terrorism A. No, I have never been arrested in which favored it? takes the ideal of the bourgeois hero, Paris, in New York, or anywhere else A. No. The difference was not the individual, the man on horseback, on this planet. between those who favored and those ... SWP and turns it around so that there is a who opposed guerrilla warfare. No Continued from preceding page Q. Were you ever expelled from confidence in the institutions as they small group of heroic people who socialist could make such an abstract commit acts of terrorism and this will France? statement. existed under Peronism or in the A. Many colleagues and associates bourgeois parties that were a majority help liberate you. Clearly, Americans favored guerrilla This is the opposite of the point of of mine were expelled from France. I warfare as carried out by the Sons of in the legislature,- was concerned about being expelled I held the opinion that they basically view of socialism and Marxism. We Liberty. They would oppose guerrilla from France, but I never was, no. conducted themselves correctly. I say to the masses of people that it is warfare as carried out by a small spoke along that line. your own self-organization and self­ Q. Directing your attention to May group against democratic institutions confidence, not counting on saviors, 15 or May 16, 1971, were you present in as being foolhardy. Q. Does this noncooperation [with that- not only can defend democratic France during the 100th Anniversary Q. What are the Sons of Liberty? bourgeois institutions or parties] re­ rights but can move toward getting rid of the Ligue Communiste? A. They were one of the organiza­ quire violence? of the evils of capitalism. A. The Ligue Communiste was A. No, it does not in any way, shape, The terrorism that is propagated is tions of the First American Revolution formed in 1969. If it had a 100-year 200 years ago. They organized guerril­ or form. I have no confidence in the that carried on by the the ruling anniversary two years later I would Democratic and Republican parties to class-the terror bombings in Viet­ la ambushes of British troops and held want to attend because I would want to illegal meetings. They had slogans advance the economic or democratic nam, the use of terror in Chile, the know what kind of anniversary that rights of the American people. I don't terror against the Black Panthers and was. I can assure you I did not attend cooperate with them. I oppose them. other Black groups, and the assassina­ the lOOth anniversary of the Ligue This does not require me to use vio­ tion of their leaders. Terrorism is alien Communiste. lence. to the workers movement. What is wrong, and what we consid­ Q. You never were expelled from er a breach of principles, is to express Q. Isn't it necessary in order to have France? political confidence in either the insti­ the socialist revolution for there to be a A. Unless one is expelled without tutions or the parties of the ruling radicalized body politic? being informed of the expulsion. I have class. Because these institutions will A. Yes. to my knowledge never been expelled never defend the democratic rights of Q. Is not one of the means to have a from France. the people against the right. They will radicalized body politic to have acts of Q. Specifically on April 13, 1972, divide and collaborate with the right. terrorism? were you ever expelled? A. Just the opposite, Mr. Siffert. You A. Whoever is informing you of these Marxism versus terrorism are expressing the delusion of the "facts" is off their rocker, Mr. Siffert. Q. Would terrorism or guerrilla terrorists themselves. warfare be considered a possible tactic In my opinion, acts of terrorism, far that would be taken as a strategy by from giving you a radicalized body the Socialist Workers party? politic, do two things. One, they Guerrilla warfare A. Once again I can only do what I convince the masses that they do not Q. In 1968, did differences within the did on earlier questions like that, to need to be involved in politics. Fourth International arise regarding refer to what can be learned from a Second, acts of terrorism are always guerrilla warfare? study of history. History teaches us used as an excuse by the ruling powers A. In late 1968 or early 1969 different that guerrilla warfare played a role in to impose restrictions on the left and points of view began to be expressed in certain social revolutions. One of the on the working-class movement. the various publications and internal most prominent is the First American bulletins of the different groups of the Revolution and the struggle for inde­ A question of facts Fourth International concerning the pendence from the Crown. Q. Mr. Barnes, have you ever been place of guerrilla warfare in the arrested? defense of the rights of the masses in Q. Are there recent examples that A. I received a ticket for going Latin America. you can point to that you would through a stop sign in Chicago, Illi­ consider acts of terrorism which bene­ Q. Did the differing positions that nois. Is that an arrest? fit the social revolution? were taken become solidified in effect A. Terrorism does not benefit the Q. No, sir. into two major groups, the Leninist social revolution. It stands in the way A. No, I have never been arrested, Trotskyite Tendency on the one hand, of progressive social change. The real Mr. Siffert. which opposed guerrilla warfare, and Attica, 1971: Prisoners 'riot' for the sam

around this pencil and scrawl notes to the attorney, telling him what to ask me. "It was a funny thing," Barnes recalled. "Every once in a while Siffert would slip and call us the About the testimony 'defendants.' Then we'd remind him that it's his clients-the FBI and other police agencies-on trial By Diane Rupp Bakunin and knows there were two Russian this time. Jack Barnes described his questioning by the revolutions in 1917." "The FBI never dreamed they would ever have to government as "a long eight hours." The third man was one of their clients, an FBI justify what they do to Blacks, to socialists, to What was it like? Barnes sat on one side of a agent. The FBI is a target of the socialists' suit. dissidents," said Barnes. table, accompanied by Syd Stapleton from the Apparently, Barnes said, the FBI has assigned an Political Rights Defense Fund and Herbert Jordan, agent to each Socialist Workers party member being Dorian Bowman, and Margaret Winter, three of the questioned by the government. This agent sat there Looking for 'evidence' · attorneys working on the socialists' case. all day, stone-faced, hugging a huge yellow file. "Now they're trying to reconstruct back from Facing them across the table were three men. "You'll think this is made up," laughed Barnes, today some excuse for their decades of so-called John Siffert was the U.S. attorney who asked "but the FBI agent had a red-and-white-striped investigation. questions. Beside him sat Thomas Moseley, another pencil with blue stars at the end. "They're having a hard time coming up with government lawyer. "He's their anticommunist "It was one of those oversized pencils children get anything thai would justify, to the average working expert," Barnes said of Moseley. "He can spell in first grade. The agent would wrap his hand person in this country, their spying and harassment against the SWP," Barnes said. Barnes's testimony, given under oath, was one of a series of depositions the government is taking from SWP members. These depositions are part of what is known as pretrial discovery, during which each side in a lawsuit is entitled to obtain information from the other side about the issues in the case. In addition to depositions, discovery takes the form of turning over documents -and answering questions, known as "interrogatories," in writing. It is through pretrial discovery that the govern­ ment has been forced to turn over thousands of pages from secret FBI files, which have made headlines around the world. The SWP has provided copies of the party's documents, resolutions, speeches, and pamphlets. "Of course, they had all this stuff anyway,"Barnes added. The socialists are refusing, however, to provide lists of names of members of the SWP or the Young Socialist Alliance. "The purpose of this suit is to stop government harassment," said Barnes. "We're Militant/Susan Ellis not about to give them more names for their Jack ~~rnes (center) and attorneys Margaret Winter and Herbert Jordan outside federal building before making enemies list.'' depOSitiOn. The socialists are also declining to turn over

14 such as "Live Free or Die." We are Those of us who later became the of our view on this. celebrating that this year, 1976. No Leninist Trotskyist Faction believed Q. Under the Sallustro incident, to American is for or against guerrilla that the tendencies who thought they your knowledge, did the Fourth Inter­ could end that exploitation in Latin warfare in the abstract. national condemn it? The difference revolved around a America by organizing guerrilla bands A. The Fourth International's pro­ more fundamental question. There had drawn the wrong lessons from the gram is clearly and publicly contrary were political tendencies in Latin Cuban revolution. to the strategy and the method used in The International Majority Tenden­ America who, under the influence of the Sallustro affair. the way they viewed the course of the cy differed from us in two basic ways. I know of no one in the Fourth Cuban revolution, were organizing or One, they estimated that the dominant International leadership, not a single talking about organizing guerrilla war­ form of social struggle in Latin Ameri­ person, who would say that either the fare. ca for an extended period would be strategy utilized by the group that was No one in the Fourth International rural guerrilla warfare against the involved in the kidnapping and execu­ dictatorships. would say that under conditions of tion of Sallustro or the act itself was dictatorship, with the total absence of Secondly, the IMT thought that the anything but wrong politically. This is guerrilla struggles would hasten the democratic rights,_people do not have unambiguous. the right to defend themselves and downfall of dictatorships, lead to the reinstitution of democratic rights, and Q. Do you recall saying something to have the responsibility to take up arms this effect-not these words butsome­ to free themselves. hasten the advancement of economic and social emancipation of the people thing to this effect-that the Socialist of the various countries in Latin Amer­ Workers party should continue the Ica. support of the Black and Chicano We were quite dubious about this. We radicalization, the women's liberation thought that the guerrilla warfare movement, and the gay liberation strategy practiced by many of these movement, and prisoner rebellions young people would lead to their should be supported by the Socialist isolation and ultimately their death Workers party? and defeat. A. No, I don't remember saying anything like that. It is possible that I Q. Did the IMT ever condemn the would say that the Socialist Workers illegal acts of terrorism that did occur? party champions and supports 'One of the most important things about A. I believe the record of the IMT is struggles of the Black and Chicano impeccably clear in opposition to the Chicano movement was the people for their rights, and the struggle development of La Raza Unida parties.' terrorism. Some very prominent inter­ of women for the right to abortion and national spokespersons identified with equal rights, for an end to their the IMT, such as Ernest Mandel, have oppression as a sex. A. What about riots of prisoners, Mr. written extensively on the question of We support the demands of prisoners Siffert? terrorism, some of which I know to be for just and humane conditions. We in the record in this case. Q. Do you support them? make this very public. A. :No. It is not the policy of the Sallustro affair Socialist Workers party to instigate Q. Have you ever personally con­ Prisoners' rights rioting of any kind. I repeat what I demned any act of violence in the said. I understand why prisoners course of terrorism? Q. Did you ever say you support not only prisoners' rights but prisoners' "riot." It would be like why the A. I'll give you an example. The rebellions? colonists "rioted" 200 years ago. I Socialist Workers party released a A. No, I don't think I would ever use champion their demands. statement that was published in some that sentence. I would explain that One of the signs of the great changes newspapers-in the Militant, for prison rebellions are caused by the in this country is that the prisoners instance-on the occasion of the execu­ terrible deprivations that the prisoners have the courage and will to protest tion of a man named Sallustro in suffer. Anyone with any human decen­ the conditions they face. I am proud Argentina in 1972. It was an accurate cy should champion the struggles of that the Militant newspaper is one of presentation of our view on terrorism. American prisoners for humane condi­ the most widely read newspapers in It was a dissociation from not only the tions and their full rights. the prisons. self-defeating strategy but the event Some of my best and closest col­ sons colonists 'rioted' 200 years ago itself. You could take it as a prototype Q. What about riots of prisoners? Continued on next page

names of revolutionaries in other countries. As "When I mentioned the Sons of Liberty [from the to march. Barnes explained in replying to an earlier written First American Revolution], Siffert thought I was in What else might the government try in court? interrogatory, "To do so would expose them to a contact with some underground group. I guess he They will try to smear the SWP's collaboration with serious risk of injury, including torture and death." thought it might be a wing of the Weatherpeople. the Fourth International, Barnes explained. "But Many who have met with SWP members come from "They just don't see any continuity in history," there's nothing illegal about the kind of discussion countries under the heel of military dictatorships or Barnes pointed out. "They seem to think fighting and collaboration we have with socialists around Stalinist bureaucracies. for freedom is just a patriotic story for the bicenten­ the world. The SWP has always been open about The deposition, Barnes explained, is quite differ­ nial. this." ent from the testimony that will be presented at the "Anyone who takes history seriously and applies The government also tries to picture the Fourth trial itself. Then SWP leaders will have a chance to its lessons is fair game for harassment by the International as a terrorist organization. But the explain their ideas and activities-which are, after government." program and record of the Fourth International are all, at the heart of the case-under questioning from Why did the lawyer spend so much time on clearly opposed to terrorism. their own attorneys. Reading the depositions, whether the SWP is plotting to "create a revolution" "They also may try to picture SWP and YSA however, is like reading only the cross-examination and foment terrorism? It's not merely that they are members as dangerous because some have been part of the testimony. trying to falsify and distort the SWP's views, arrested," said Barnes. "Sure, some socialists have Barnes explained. been arrested when cops have attacked demonstra­ Some misinformation "The fact is that they really see politics in tions for civil rights or against the war in Vietnam, What were some high points of the questioning? conspiratorial terms," he said. These lawyers and or when scabs have assaulted striking unionists. "One of the funniest," Barnes recalled, "was when FBI agents really think social change is the result They won't be able to get very far with that in a Siffert thought he had caught me in a lie about my of secret conspiracies of small groups of people. public trial." arrest record." The U.S. attorney was sure Barnes They see it that way, in part, because they The government may also try to make something had been arrested or expelled from France on April themselves operate that way. "They do all the out of the fact that members of the SWP were 13, 1972. things they say we do," said Barnes. "These police convicted in ·1941 for violating the Smith Act. But "The CIA probably had arranged to have me agencies have to act in secret, oppressive, and the U.S. Supreme Court subsequently ruled uncon­ expelled," Barnes said. "The French police stopped violent ways. stitutional the interpretation of the Smith Act that and searched the train I was scheduled to be on. But "But what marks revolution above· all things is was the legal basis for that prosecution. I had left a day early to visit friends." the opposite of conspiracy. It's millions of people At that point in the questioning, Barnes said, coming into active politics for the first time. This is Debating a risk Siffert scowled at the FBI agent and tossed away the heart of a revolution. This idea is completely The government is very likely debating whether his note. "I seem to have some misinformation," the alien to these agents." to take the gamble of putting some informer on the lawyer said, off the record. What was the government trying to get from their stand to lie about what the party is and what it "All you have is misinformation," replied Barnes. questioning? The FBI agent-with his huge red, stands for. "They could have some agent they've Barnes pointed out, for an example, the gross white, and blue pencil-kept passing notes to Siffert planted in the party get up and testify that the SWP distortions in Trotskyite Terrorist International, a based on material in the file he had in front of him. secretly planned to blow up some building or some book put out by a witch-hunting Senate subcommit­ He was trying to get somr kind of "violent" quote monument," Barnes said. tee. Siffert was fond of quoting from this book of into the official record, Barnes explained. But they will have a hard time convincing a judge lies, based on testimony from Herbert Romerstein, or a jury of such a lie, Barnes added, much less the head of a group calling itself Friends of the FBI. Games with words American public. It would contradict everything the One photograph in this book is labeled "Charles­ One thing the government hopes to do is build a SWP has ever done or said. Michaloux," a leading French Trotskyist. But the case on words socialists use-"fight," "combat Barnes summed up the government's case. "What man in the picture is actually Giscard d'Estaing, party," "defense policy." they really have to prove is that if you're a France's president. The rest of the book is equally Barnes drew a comparison: It is as if two FBI revolutionary, or a socialist, or a dissident of any absurd. agents walked past a church, heard people singing kind, or just not reactionary-if you disagree with "Another striking thing," Barnes said, "is how "Onward Christian Soldiers," and called out the the government at all-they have a right to embarrassed they are by American history. troops because they thought an army was preparing investigate and harass you."

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 15 themselves against this, even though we disagreed with the Black Panther party on a whole range of things. ... SWP Attica defense Continued from preceding page leagues have been in American prisons Q. With respect to Attica, did you and I have been taught a little about take any public action with regard to that. the prisoner action? A. Yes, we did. We considered the Raza Unida parties shooting of the prisoners in Attica Q. In 1971 what was the state of the under the orders of Rockefeller one of Chicano movement? the most horrendous crimes of this A. The Socialist Workers party century. It symbolized the conditions adopted an extensive resolution at our that the prisoners suffered under. We August 1971 convention. This resolu­ encouraged support for the just de­ tion has been turned over to you. It will mands of the prisoners for their rights. give you a broad feel for the movement We sent reporters to Attica and at that time. organized speaking tours in defense of One of the most important things we the Attica prisoners. We wrote articles discussed about the Chicano move­ explaining the history of Attica and ment was the development of the the conditions there. Our candidates independent parties of the Chicano stressed the brutality of Rockefeller's people, called La Raza Unida parties. orders and the responsibility of the ruling class for the murder of the Militant/Mary Jo Hendrickson Q. Translated it would be what? Attica prisoners. 'We say to the masses of people it is your own self-organizat1on and self-confidence A. United People. This to us was of that can defend democratic rights and move toward getting rid of the evils of great importance. It is our firm convic­ Q. Did you ever teach at a summer capitalism.' tion that one of the greatest obstacles school of the YSA on preparing for the to progressive social change is the coming American revolution? support which the working class and A I have taught at numerous sum­ called the Militant Labor Forum. falsify or exaggerate but rather insist­ the Chicano people, the Black and mer schools. I wrote an article about my discus­ ed that the informer accurately report Puerto Rican people, give the Demo­ Q. Did you ever teach that topic? sions with Malcolm X, which was what happened. Assume that set of cratic and Republican parties. A. It is conceivable that a Young published in a pamphlet by Pathfinder facts. We think one of the most important Socialist Alliance chapter gave that Press entitled Malcolm X Talks to And if the FBI received information steps will be the breaking of the title to their summer school. I don't Young People. In this article I de­ to the effect that you said that the Chicano people, as well as the Black remember. scribed what I thought of Malcolm X revolution would be non-non-violent­ and Puerto Rican people, from support and described my discussions with would the FBI be unreasonable to be to the Democratic or Republican par­ Q. In 1968? him. fearful of the fact that the SWP might ties, the parties of their oppressors. We A. Where, what city, and what was I spoke at a memorial meeting for be violent? thought it was very important that my speech on? Malcolm X. I spoke about not only A. There are two things that should this process had actually begun in Q. I don't know. That is what I was what he stood for, but how he will go be noted in the response to that Texas, Colorado, and a few other about to ask you. down in history as one of the greatest question. One is that if an individual places. A. You must understand that I have of all persons. I think Malcolm X is one said to a group of people, "I believe the of the people in American history that Q. Specifically did you support at given hundreds of classes to summer American revolution will be non-non­ any time the Black Panther party? schools. I can truly say I loved. He was a violent," there would be absolutely no A. The Black Panther party ran I think it should be noted for the magnificent revolutionist. reason whatsoever for any police agency to interfere at all with. that candidates for public office. In some record that each of the two times I A falsified quotation individual's life. cases the Socialist Workers party have asked Mr. Siffert for the concrete place and character of the quote, he Q. In New York, do you recall saying A judgment about future events and urged voters in those districts to vote anything to this effect, although not for the Black Panther candidates. has asked the FBI agent present to the course of revolution is no cause for necessarily the words themselves, denial of equal opportunity of the law When an independent Black or show him a dossier that I am not privy to. "The American revolution will take to any citizen in this society. That is place on the streets in a large metropol­ guaranteed by the Constitution of the Q. It would be New York City in itan city by the masses and will be United States. 1968, the summer school of the YSA. non-non-violent." Did you say that? Number two, what the FBI was What is the American revolution that A. No, I did not ever make that doing in the Socialist Workers party is being taught about? statement. was shown by its burglaries of the There is a problem with the quotes .. SWP headquarters. This is part of a you read me. Many of them come from campaign of harassment and a denial Three American revolutions FBI agents inside the Socialist Work­ of rights of citizens going back more A. Three possibilities, Mr. Siffert. I ers party. They don't grasp what we than four decades. have spoken on all three. The First are talking about. Secondly, they have For instance, that file right there American Revolution, we celebrate the the propensity to exaggerate and make which the agent handed you. You 200th anniversary of its opening this up things for the purpose, I assume, of should understand, Mr. Siffert, that ifl year. The Second American Revolution justifying their pay from the FBI. had access to that file, I would make is also known as the Civil ,War. It I have a number of examples in the such a devastating rebuttal of it that abolished slavery ownership. I believe FBI reports turned over to me stating not even you would be able to get up in there will be a third revolution in that I advocated violence. These kinds a court and present it as evidence. property relations that will go · from of "quotes" contradict everything we I look forward to getting a hold of capitalism to social ownership. do, we have done, everything we stand this collection of quotes that you have Q. How would one prepare for the for, and everything we write and been reading to me all day-quotes coming revolution? publish. that I never said or wrote: A. One prepares for the coming Q. If someone had that piece of American revolution by doing exactly information, though, would you think the things described in the SWP him reasonable to be fearful that you resolution entitled Prospects for Social­ might be violent?. ism in America. A. If someone paid an agent to come The exhibits Q. How would one prepare for the Q. Do you train for the use of guns? inside the Socialist Workers party and coming revolution? A. No, Mr. Siffert, the Socialist falsify records and give them material, no, the entire thing would be a fake A. One prepares for the coming 'Malcolm X will go down in history as Workers party does not train people in the use of guns. We think that it is silly and fraud. American revolution by doing exact­ one of the greatest of all persons.' ly the things described in . . . and foolish and a caricature of the To the contrary. I would say if revolution. something like that, something ~f that Prospects for Socialism in America. Chicano or Puerto Rican candidate banal a level and falsified a character, Q. Do you train the state of mind? is used as an excuse. for the Federal Prospects for Socialism in runs for office, even if we have dis­ A. Train a state of mind? agreements with the program on Bureau of Investigation to investigate America. Special sale price: $1.50. which they run, we will often urge a Q. Train for a state of mind to the SWP, it would be pure harassment. This book includes the major politi­ vote for them. achieve a consciousness or radicaliza­ It does not make sense, Mr. Siffert, to cal resolution adopted at the 1975 tion. think that people who think, act, and SWP convention. Q. Other than in the context of A. No, I don't think one would say engage in politics 365 days a year, who voting at an election, was there any Other books referred to in the we try to train for a state of mind. We have published thousands of pages, specific action taken in support of the testimony include: try to analyze the course of history and and who have led thousands of people Black Panthers? educate about its possible variants. We in a course of politics over decades­ Malcolm X Talks to Young Peo­ A. Very much so. We supported the ple. $.35 urge participation in progressive move­ that all of a sudden we would say Black Panthers in the actions they ments. We explain our program. We something like that. It is out of charac­ took to defend themselves from what I Socialism on Trial (includes De­ urge people to join the Socialist Work-, ter. think was the most organized cam­ fense Policy in the Minneapolis ers party. No other kind of training Trial). Cloth $5.00, paper $2.25 paign of government harassment ever FBI's so-called facts carried out makes any sense to Marxists, to social­ against any group in the ists. The only thing I can say is that you Dynamics of World Revolution United States. received it from a provocateur who was Today. Cloth $10.00, paper $2.25 We supported them in their efforts to Q. What was your relationship with paid to falsify the reports. There is no expose the plot by police agencies, and Malcolm X? other explanation for such a crazy Available from the bookstores listed particularly the Federal Bureau of A. I admired Malcolm X greatly. I thing attributed to me. in the Socialist Directory on page 27 Investigation, which set them up to be met and had discussions with Malcolm or by mail from: Pathfinder Press, shot down and murdered. X a couple of times. Malcolm X spoke Q. Assume it could be proven that 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. We supported their attempt to defend at a free speech forum that I spoke at the FBI did not ask the informer to 10014.

16 By Steve Clark banning redlining, the practice of Backed up by a dazzling public denying personal and commercial relations barrage, California Gov. loans to Blacks, Chicanos, and other Edmund (Jerry) Brown has recently Jerry: Brown minorities. What is the truth about gained a few laps on Democratic party Brown's role in putting this legislation front-runner Jimmy Carter. on the books? Brown's admen peddle their product The governor's contribution was as a post-Vietnam, post-Watergate primarily to water down an originally "antipolitician" politician. "What is tougher bill to make it more palatable plain [from the spring primaries] is to California's savings-and-loan inter­ that the electorate is trying to express Skinflint ests. dissatisfaction with 'Washington,"' is Bernie Michael, until recently chief . how the British financial weekly the lobbyist for the California Savings and Economist explained Brown's appeal. Loan League, was pleased by Brown's The most accurate yardstick of this efforts. Michael said, "They know they dissatisfaction has been the low voter guru of the need us. They have a more realistic turnout this spring. More than two­ attitude than anyone thought." Last thirds of those eligible have sat out the April Brown made Michael the chief primaries. But Brown hopes to turn a counsel of California's Housing Fi­ bit of this disgust to his own account. nance Agency. He talks about a "new generation of The California governor is also leaders." Brown is young-only thirty­ ruling rich opposed to busing. This has undoubt­ eight; sleeps on a mattress on his edly lifted the spirits of racist oppo­ bedroom floor; drops in at the San nents of court-ordered desegregation Francisco Zen Center; listens to Joni plans in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Mitchell and Linda Ronstadt; and has Brown pretends that he is a "friend" read Allen Ginsberg, Hermann Hesse, of California's hundreds of thousands and the Whole Earth Catalog. of farm workers. He bases this claim Lots of image, few issues: that's on compromise legislation worked out Brown's campaign strategy. "In this under his administration authorizing business, a little vagueness goes a long elections to secure union representa­ way," he philosophizes. tion. ·Farm workers are not covered by federal collective-bargaining rights. 'Closet Reaganite' There is another side to Brown's Friend of farm workers? image, however. The California gover­ Since passage of the California law, nor has favorably impressed America's however, Brown and his Democratic ruling rich as a ruthless Scrooge where party cronies have crippled it. Leo government-funded social programs McCarthy, Brown's national campaign are concerned. Newsweek called him a manager and speaker of the California "closet Reaganite." State Assembly, has conspired with Brown has won the enthusiastic California agribusiness to deny fund­ backing of wealthy California busi­ ing to the new Agricultural Labor nessmen such as Los Angeles construc­ Relations Board. As a result, union tion baron Eli Broad, and Jus tin Dart, representation elections-the majority who invested heavily in Ronald Rea­ of which have been won by the United gan's political career. Dart told Village Farm Workers-have ground to a halt. Voice writer Joel Kotkin, "Brown's just McCarthy also pushed through a bill great. He shows how both parties can denying UFW organizers access to the be responsible." fields during the workday. Comment­ The Wall Street Journal agrees. A ing on this pro-employer move, Brown May 17 editorial explained that said, "I believe the assembly acted Brown's "new generation" of politi­ wisely and with courage." The gover­ cians "looks like a refreshing change nor has refused to back a UFW­ of the political scene. . . . the body initiated referendum to restore this and politic can use any injection it can get other essential rights to agricultural of fiscal responsibility and skepticism workers. about government's ability to remake Brown's touted concern for the society." earth's environment is also phony. For­ To "set an example" for other anybody or anything other than them­ billion war budget. "Military costs example, he did not support Proposi­ Californians, Brown has ostentatious­ selves. have gone up," he told Playboy maga­ tion 15, an initiative on the June 8 ly refused to take up residence in the Brown boasts about his "prolabor" zine, "and I don't realistically think ballot to place stiff safety restrictions state's luxurious governor's mansion; record, pointing to legislation giving the budget will be cut." on the nuclear power industry. The and he has eschewed his official teachers certain collective bargaining In the same interview Brown ex­ Sierra Club, a leading environmental­ limousine for a Plymouth from the rights. This gain, however, was won plained, "I get the impression that ist group, rates Brown's record as only state motor pool. through struggle by teachers, not we're being pushed around a lot and "fair." Brown also tries to sugarcoat his given by Brown. that America has become a big sap for What is left of Brown's accomplish­ austerity measures in verbiage bor­ The governor's concern for teachers the rest of the countries." He pointed to ments as governor? rowed from the ecology movement. is more accurately gauged . by the recent condemnations of Israel by the To deflect attention from his pro- · "People in their own heart of hearts layoffs and school cutbacks caused by United Nations General Assembly and industry policies, Brown plugged up know that we are in a limited world," his tight-fisted budget. the cooperation among Arab oil­ one or two loopholes in corporate tax he says. "We all sense it in our own Brown is so "prolabor" that he has producing nations to win a fair return laws. Under the pressure of popular personal vibes." won the backing of one of California's for their resources. support for gay rights, he signed a bill Or, "We must bring into our con­ top strikebreakers, Quentin Kopp. "And I don't like it/' he continued. repealing antihomosexual statutes. sciousness planetary realism Kopp, Brown's Northern California -"We have a lot of strength, so I den't And to distract attention from his knowing that there is a bottom line to campaign manager and head of the see why we should have guilt feelings inaction on the needs of working our resources . . . that are planetary San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and act like we're always the fall guy." people, especially the most oppressed limits." recently orchestrated a brutal assault While Brown opposed the Vietnam layers, Brown has appointed women For American banks and corpora­ on municipal unions to force city War, today he refuses to support and nonwhites to many state offices. tions, Brown's talk about "lowered workers to accept a pay cut. unconditional amnesty for those exiled The truth is that Jerry Brown is not expectations" comes as a welcome bit or dishonorably discharged for resist­ a guru, not a "child of the sixties," and of sermonizing at a time when work­ Unemployment ing that war. When two Village Voice not a friend of the farm workers-or of ers' expectations are rising rapidly. Brown claims he would put "a columnists asked him, "Would you anyone else who works for a living. He paycheck in every pocket" if he were support liberation movements in is a sly, smooth-talking capitalist Cutbacks record elected. But his only proposal to lessen Rhodesia {liplomatically and militari­ politician gunning for a chance to unemployment is the Democratic par­ ly?" he replied, "I'm not prepared to apply his home-state austerity mea­ However ethereal Brown's rhetoric ty's Humphrey-Hawkins bill. This say that." sures on a national scale. may often be, his cutbacks in Califor­ bill-despite voluminous election-year Asked about CIA and FBI crimes, nia have been painfully down-to-earth. promises-doesn't commit Washington Brown told Playboy, "There've been Rising expectations He conspired with Democratic state to creating even one job for America's abuses; these agencies have gotten out There are two candidates this year legislators to slash a proposed school 10 million unemployed. of control·and have to be brought back who don't share Brown's view that funding bill from $220 million to $115 The governor's own record in Cali­ into control. But in the process, we working people should lower their million. He then used his veto power to fornia is no better. "If we have a may end up throwing out the baby expectations. They are Peter Camejo lop another $27 million when the bill dramatic jobs program for, say, 30,000 with the bath water." and Willie Mae Reid of the Socialist crossed his desk. persons," he says in his own defense, So Washington and Wall Street can Workers party. Brown also vetoed funding of learn­ "it might just attract 30,000 more rest assured that Jerry Brown will be a Camejo and Reid champion the ing centers for autistic children and people to California." rough-and-ready defender of imperial­ rising expectations of working people opposes increased expenditures for What about the crisis of the cities? ist interests around the globe. around the world. Never before in Medi-Cal, a state medical plan, and Brown told New York Post reporter history have scientific and technologi­ other services. "People don't want to Robert Bazell that cities like New York Civil rights fighter? cal advancements promised such a give something for nothing," he ex­ may be "things of the past." After all, What about Brown's record on issues bright future for humanity: a future plained. "They don't want to help do­ he explained, cities are a relatively of special concern to oppressed nation­ without hunger, disease, and inequali­ nothings and _ne'er-do-wells." recent development in human history. al minorities? ty; with expanding wealth and leisure The wealthy elite to whom Brown Brown is not nearly such a skinflint The governor's admirers point with timej with unbounded potential for the caters clearly don't "want to help" when it comes to America's $115 pride to Brown's role in passing a law Continued on page 26

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 Syrian attack on Lebanon aids rightists; sparks new threat of war in Middle East By David Frankel stands and money changers, who are applauded by the Ford administration tives From Intercontinental Press among the hardiest businessmen here, and by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak While the Israeli colonial-settler Claiming he was doing it to help the were closed," Tanner said. Rabin. The White House issued a state maneuvers for a free hand in Lebanese people in a period of extreme Assad has two basic objectives in statement June 1 saying that "the order to grab more Arab land, more crisis, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad Lebanon, neither one of which has Syrians have played a constructive powerful imperialist forces are also ordered an invasion of Lebanon May anything to do with the interests of the role in Lebanon." threatening to step in. The Ford 31. Radio Damascus claimed that the Lebanese or Syrian masses. He wants Rabin, referring to the Syrian inva­ administration has supplemented the "assistance" of Syrian troops in north­ to preserve a balance of power favor­ sion, told Israeli students June 2, " ... threat of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the em Lebanon "led to the establishment able to the Christian rightists, and he I will not stand in the way of anyone Mediterranean by enlisting French of law, the calming of the situation wants to assert his control over the who wants to subdue Arafat's terror­ aid. and a stop to all types of fighting." Palestinian liberation movement. ists." The offer of French "peace-keeping" The truth is that Assad's invasion From Assad's point of view, the old The imperialists are well aware of troops made May 21 by President will not help solve the crisis in Leba­ discriminatory governmental system the fact that Assad's policies are Valery Giscard d'Estaing after talks non, it will not help save lives, and it in Lebanon had many advantages. weakening the ability of the Arab with Ford and Kissinger was renewed increases the danger of a new Middle This system, which was devised by the_ masses to resist future Israeli aggres­ June 3 when French Foreign Minister East war. French imperialists as a prop for their sion. If Assad is successful in subduing Jean Sauvagnargues met with Syrian Rather than "a stop to all types of rule, guaranteed the Christian the resistance of the Lebanese and Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khad­ fighting," the New York Times report­ minority-and the Maronite sect in Palestinian masses to the reimposition dam, Sauvagnargues declared that the ed in an unsigned article June 7 that particular-dominance in the govern­ of the discriminatory governmental French and Syrian regimes have ment. The Maronite rightists, as a system, he will also have dealt a blow "identical" objectives in Lebanon. result of their shaky position, could be to the main force opposing an Israeli The call for French troops was counted on to be deferential to their take-over of southern Lebanon. previously limited in Lebanon to the more powerful Syrian neighbor and In Syria also, Assad's attacks on the rightist forces, but on June 1 Kamal not to challenge its policies. The same Palestinians and the most militant Jumblatt, one of the leaders of the would not necessarily be true if the sectors of the Syrian masses will help Muslim-Palestinian-leftist coalition, Muslim-Palestinian-leftist coalition Israel in its next assault against the reversed his position. were victorious in .the civil war. Arab peoples. But it was precisely French imperial­ Assad wants to maintain a weak While applauding Assad's attacks on ism that laid the groundwork for the and divided Lebanon in order to the Palestinian liberation fighters in bloody struggle now tearing Lebanon maximize his regime's influence there. Lebanon, the Israeli regime has made apart. The purpose of French forces in The threat to the Palestinian libera­ clear that it reserves the option of Lebanon would be the same as that of tion movement posed by Assad's declaring the Syrian intervention a Assad's troops-to back the rightists intervention is clear. threat to its "national interests and there. A June 7 Reuters dispatch from security needs" at any time. The Regardless of any miserable maneu­ Damascus reported that the Syrian Israeli regime is perfectly capable of vers carried out by Jumblatt or other re~me "described AI Fatah, the Pales­ standing by while Assad does his dirty misleaders, it is necessary to back the tinian guerrilla organization, and its work, and then using the presence of demand of the Lebanese and Palestini­ allies as conspirators against the unity Syrian fore~ as a pretext for taking an people that the Syrian troops get of Lebanon and the Palestinian cause over southern Lebanon, which has out now and that Israel and the New York Times and pledged that it would take a firm been one of its long-standing objec- imperialists stay out. Map shows progress of Syrian advance stand against them." as of June 8. Evidence of opposition inside Syria to Assad's reactionary policies in Lebanon is increasing. "Riots occurred NY demo hits Syrian invasion . "air strikes and shelling attacks were in at least one Palestinian camp reported last night on Palestinian and outside Damascus, where protesters Lebanese leftist positions in eastern carried placards attacking Assad by Lebanon, where Syrian troops lately name," Time magazine reported in its entered the country in strength." May 31 issue. "Said one placard: Farouk Kaddoumi, a leader of the ASSAD FIGHTS LIKE A LION IN Palestine Liberation Organization LEBANON, BUT A CHICKEN ON (PLO), charged that hundreds of per­ THE GOLAN." sons were killed when Syrian forces Dana Adams Schmidt reported in bombarded Palestinian refugee camps. the June 1 Christian Science Monitor In Beirut, soldiers of the pro-Syrian that Syrian police arrested about 200 Saiqa Palestinian guerrilla persons during the last week in May. organization-including Syrian troops Previously, Reuters had reported the iQ. Saiqa uniforms-fought with rock­ arrest of 300 to 400 officials of the ets, artillery, and grenade launchers ruling Baath party. against Palestinian and leftist forces Assad has carried out his interven­ June 7 protest outside Syrian mission to the UN Militant/Kendall Green oppose.d to Assad's invasion. tion into Lebanon step by step, testing The new Syrian move to back the to see the reaction. His aggressive rightist forces in Lebanon's fourteen­ plans were given a boost when Soviet By Kendall Green these new Syrian attacks with a month-old civil war has aroused vehe­ Premier Aleksei Kosygin arrived in A sharp escalation of air strikes picket line outside the Syrian ment opposition among the Muslim Damascus June 1, just as the main and shelling attacks on Palestinian mission to the United Nations on the majority there and its Palestinian and body of Syrian troops w~s entering and Moslem leftist positions J·une 7 same day. Other demonstrators leftist allies. Lebanon. On June 4, Kosygin and led Palestinian Liberation Organiza­ occupied the mission offices. New York Times correspondent Hen­ Assad issued a joint communique tion leader Yasir Arafat to charge ry Tanner reported in a June 3 dis­ praising the role of their respective that Syria has launched an all-out Picket signs and chants at the patch from Beirut that a general strike governments in the Lebanese crisis. offensive in Lebanon. demonstration demanded "Syrian called to protest the Syrian invasion Assad's blows against the Lebanese Supporters of the Palestinian troops out of Lebanon," "U.S. troops "was nearly 100 percent effective" in masses, the Palestinian liberation struggle and of the Moslem leftists out_ of the Middle East," and "Victo­ the city's Muslim-controlled districts. movement, and the left-wing forces in demonstrated their opposition to ry' to the Palestinian people." "Stores, groceries and ClVen sidewalk his own country have been warmly

By Harry Ring gaining some ground in its organiza­ ultraright vigilantes tried to hold off LOS ANGELES-The farm labor tional efforts. Despite the scuttling of UFW organizers at gunpoint.) UFW initiative sponsored by the United the farm labor board, a number of The new contracts cover just about Farm Workers has been officially contracts have been signed in the past every fruit and vegetable crop "from validated for the November ballot. period. artichokes to kumquats," Medina said. initiative California officials said the union had In a telephone interview with the The agreements all establish a $3.10- filed 515,000 valid petition signatures, UFW ·headquarters at La Paz, Eliseo an-hour minimum wage and other wins Calif. far in excess of the 312,000 required. Medina, a longtime organizer, said benefits, including medical and pen­ The union had submitted more than that four contracts were signed during sion plans, pesticide control, and 700,000 signatures, collected in only a the first week Of June and that the recognition of elected union ranch ballot spot month-a record. · union expected to sign another ten in committees. If approved by the voters, the initia­ the days ahead. tive would take the place of the present Medina said that a year ago, the Ten new contracts the union now Agricultural Labor Relations Act, UFW held only .ten contracts and that expects to sign are all with apple which provided for union representa­ the number now stood at forty-one. growers, Medina said. UFW contracts tion elections in the fields. The law These contracts cover some 17,000 covering this crop will mark an exten­ was permitted to become defunct for workers throughout California. About sion of the UFW's base. lack of funds when the UFW began nine lettuce growers in the Salinas and Medina estimated that the year's consistently outpolling the grower­ Imperial Valley areas are under con­ organizing effort resulted in a 400 aided Teamsters in the elections. tract now, as well as tomato growers in percent increase in dues-paying mem­ Meanwhile, the union has been Stockton. (It was in Stockton that bership.

18 A WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MILITANT BASED ON SELECTIONS FROM INTERCONTINENTAL PRESS, A NEWSMAGAZINE REFLECTING THE VIEWPOINT OF REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM

JUNE 18, 1976

Militant P-rotests hit wage controls Canadian trade unions threaten general strike

By David Russell took place in eleven other Quebec cities. Under pressure from an increasingly The Quebec working class has been militant rank and file, the Canadian in the center of the struggle against Labour Congress (CLC) is moving the government offensive. Public em­ toward a direct confrontation with the ployees organized in the Common Liberal government of Prime Minister Front-numbering more than Pierre Trudeau. Since his election 175,000-have been locked in combat victory last September, Trudeau has with the Quebec government over their imposed wage controls,- ordered cut­ right to strike and their right to a backs in government services, and decent contract. attacked the right to strike. One-day strikes by public employees On May 17, the 2,400 delegates at the in Quebec again brought out more I CLC's convention voted almost unan­ than 120,000 workers on March 25 and April 28 demonstration in Ontario. Canadian workers are threatening to unleash even imously to authorize the CLC executive April 5. Quebec Premier Robert Bou­ more powerful actions in defense of their living standards. to call "a general work stoppage, or rassa responded by pushing Bill 23 stoppages, if and when necessary" in through the Quebec National Assem­ order to back the CLC campaign bly. This measure, which makes will be providing the bold leadership we electoral machine, to be mobilized only at against wage controls. strikes by teachers illegal, followed an need when it organizes a one-day general election time to knock on doors for hand­ Although no date for such an action earlier law aimed at hospital workers. strike all across Canada in protest against picked candidates. was set, Wilfred List, the labor writer On April 13, immediately after Bill the Trudeau wage controls. The CLC convention's vote for a for the Toronto Globe and Mail, said 23 went into effect, more than 145,000 An editorial in the April 12 issue of general strike provides an excellent that sentiment by delegates for a strike public employees, including 90,000 Labor Challenge, a revolutionary­ opportunity for the labor movement to "was so overwhelmingly in favor that teachers, went out on strike. Another socialist fortnightly published in Tor­ make its strength felt, and for the the congress would need some compell­ one-day strike on April 30 involved onto, also pointed out the need for a labor party to take its rightful place in ing reason not to do so." 160,000 to 200,000 workers. (There are general strike. But Labor Challenge the fight for the interests of the The v6te for a one-day general strike about 250,000 public employees in all added: Canadian working class. As the edi­ comes after months of more limited of QUebec.) · tors of Labor Challenge said May 24: strikes and demonstrations protesting Labor militancy has been growing in In its fight against wage controls the Trudeau's attack on the working class. the rest of Canada as well. For CLC has a second major task. Its prepara­ The task now is to get this protest under Thirty thousand workers demonstrated example, after the provincial govern­ tion for a one-day general strike must be way. A date for the strike must be set. against wage controls at the seat of the combined with a campaign to build the Organizing bodies must be set up. A ment in British Columbia proposed NDP [New Democratic party] as labor's Canadian government in Ottawa schedule must be worked out for an educa­ legislation May 4 banning all work alternative to the Trudeau regime. Not in tional campaign, including mass rallies and March 22 in an action called by the stoppages on the government-owned decades have the class lines been so sharply demonstrations across the country, to build CLC. rail network, the head of the British drawn in Canadian politics. Never since the support for the general strike. . . . Columbia Federation of Labour an­ NDP's formation has it been so clear that Quebec labor federations have made clear On collision course nounced that a general strike "was labor needs a political party independent of their support for a general strike. The While 30,000 workers rallied outside considered as an option" by the federa­ the employers. Canadian Labour Congress must move tion staff. immediately to organize the general strike the parliament, a statement by the Challenge CLC was presented to the government. "Six months ago a general strike jointly with the Quebec federations. didn't have much credibility," labor The challenge facing the NDP was The CLC must bring the New Democratic It called Trudeau's wage-control pro­ Party into the general strike protest, and gram "unparalleled in its callous and leader George Johnston said. But now, outlined by George Addison in the April 26 Ll!;bor Challenge: urge it to play a prominent role in building brutal treatment of all who must toil he added, the climate is changing, with and carrying out the action. . . . for a living," and warned Trudeau the antistrike bill acting "as a catal­ As the only force in the legislature It's time to set the date, and begin the that: yst." opposing the cuts, the NDP has become a preparations. In Ontario, more than 15,000 work­ rallying point for all victims and opponents This government has demonstrated by its ers demonstrated April 28 against of the government's attacks. In the recent actions over the past six months that it government cutbacks in a protest period, the NDP has been looked to as a cares nothing for working men and women voice for communities fighting hospital or their organizations. By persisting, your called by the Ontario Federation of Coming soon Labour. closures, miners striking against occupa­ government has placed itself on a collision tional hazards, small farmers concerned Militant staff writer Andy Rose is course with the labour movement of this now in Canada to provide a first­ Pressure about the big-business takeover of prime country. We do not welcome this, but we do farmland, people opposed to the 45 percent hand account of how Canadian and not intend to back down either. The decision of the CLC convention rise in medical insurance premiums, ten­ Quebecois workers are fighting wage In Quebec that same day, 120,000 to authorize a one-day general strike ants facing rent increases despite the controls, cutbacks, and strikebreak­ public employees walked off their jobs thus came as a result of considerable cumbersome Tory "rent review" program, ing. Rose is meeting with union in a one-day strike called in solidarity pressure from across Canada. Jean­ welfare recipients, and other victims of the leaders and activists in the New with the Ottawa protest. All Montreal Claude Parrot, vice-president of the cutbacks. Democratic party, the Canadian schools were shut down, hospitals were Canadian Union of Postal Workers, But the NDP leadership appears to be doing little to utilize this favorable situation labor party. His forthcoming series reduced to emergency staffs, and the expressed the sentiment of many when in the Militant will draw lessons of he told a labor rally in Ottawa: to win new support for the party.... public workers were joined by trade Rather than building a mass movement the Canadian labor upsurge for unionists in tiM! auto and construction . . . time is important and the rank and that is involved in the day-to-day struggles workers in the United States. Don't industries. In Quebec City, a demon­ file of this movement wants action now. of working people, the NDP leadership acts miss it! · stration of 5,000 was held, and protests I think the Canadian Labour Congress as if the party is little more than an \.

19 World Outlook

Sgeech by Reza Barahenj Washington's crowned cannibal: the shah of Iran [Reza Baraheni, Iran's most promi­ his conversion to this casteless ideolo­ nent modem poet and literary critic, gy. spent 102 days in the shah's prisons in All 10,000 guests were buried alive 1973. He was released· as a result of a by this king. This was the just king­ worldwide protest campaign. Barahe­ there were others who could not afford ni, who is currently living in exile, has to be that just. Shah Reza Pahlavi ·, been touring the United States under About 500 years ago, a king who was the sponsorship of the Committee for called "Great" was actually flanked by Brought up in a castle, an ivory witnessed. Hundreds of thousands Artistic and Intellectual Freedom in two cannibals whenever he held open tower of corruption with no connec­ marched in the streets of Tehran, Iran (CAIFI)*, telling the truth about court. When the shah did not like a tions with the real people of the Tabriz, Isfahan, and Abadan. repression in that country. minister, a poet, or a writer, he would country, educated in La Rosey in Meanwhile, the politicians surround­ [Recently Baraheni supplied infor· simply tum to his right or left and say: Switzerland, the young shah hardly ing the shah replaced each other like mation that was a key part of a widely "Eat him!" The ritual would take place knew how to pronounce the Persian sleepwalkers~ bending now to this big publicized report by the International right then and there. The king's order words of his addresses to parliament. power and now to that one. Their Commission of Jurists that exposed could not be delayed. These were written for him by his confusion contributed to the spread of the widespread use of torture in Iran. About ninety years ago the shah of prime minister, while the shah flirted new ideas among the people. (See box.) the time found out about a gathering of with the women of his court in French The most vigorous and hopeful [The following are major excerpts about two dozen intellectuals who and English. period of the life of my own generation from a speech given by Baraheni at advocated educating the people. The was from 1941 to 1953. I took part in shah attacked the gathering personal­ Columbia University in New York on Oxford accent all sorts of associations created for February 26.] ly, took these intellectuals prisoner, Even now when he speaks Persian, teen-agers, read all sorts of b~oks in and ordered his men to throw. them almost every sentence is wrong in Persian and Turkish, · and looked * * * down a deep well. Then he took a rifle structure. After all, you don't have to hopefully towards the future. About 550 B.C., according to Herodo­ and shot them to make sure that they learn Persian! Persian is obsolete. Having been born to a poor family, I \ tus, the father of all historians, a ritual did not crawl out of the well or were When you talk to American reporters didn't feel that I was poor. The whole took place at the court of the king of .not saved by others. and politicians, you can surprise them wealth of the world could be mine if I the Medes. No one knew anything with your precise Oxford accent. And Full cycle wanted. about the nature of this ritual except here in the United States, people think To write your first poem in your But the ritual of cannibalism had the king himself. it entrancing to hear an oriental king mother tongue, and to read it to a not yet come to its full cycle until our A few hours before the ritual was to speak with a British accent. mother who understands no other begin, the king ordered his favorite own time. But whatever the world war may language; to take that poem to school minister to send his son to the court. Reza Shah, the founder of the have brought to Iran, one thing is and read it to the kids and have it Pahlavi dynasty and the father of the The minister's son was supposed to irrefutable. A fresh breeze blew across published in the school paper and hear present shah of Iran, was very tall and play. with Cyrus, the king's grandson. the country. Parties arose, meetings your words being read by others in When the minister arrived, he was almost as illiterate as he was tall. He took place, and the reeducation of the your own language; to recite it to the wore jackboots rising up to his knees. seated next to the king. He was people about the rights taken away peasants in their huts, the workers in surprised and honored when he was The British help~d him gain power. He during the Reza Shah era was initiated the factory, to the businessmen in the served before the king. He ate, and suffocated the Iranians in such a way by the writers, lawyers, and progress­ bazaars, and see that they don't need with great appetite. that there isn't even one readable ive parties. translators to understand the meaning newspaper remaining from his reign of The ·others, a few ministers and New genres in prose and poetry and of your simple syllables! What rich­ advisers, the young, sturdy grandson, twenty years. new modes of writing in journalism ness! What riches! 1935, Reza Shah found and the king himself, did not eat Around and criticism reflected the dynamism And then someone puts a bayonet at anything. They watched until the better masters than the British-Hitler of the time. Iran had seen only one your throat and tells you to forget minister had finished his meal. Then and Mussolini. The Iranians were such example of freedom in the past, about your mother tongue, tells a the king clapped his hands. declared pure Aryans and the Turks, during the constitutional period from whole people to forget about their A gold pot was brought in, covered Kurds, Arabs, and Jews-the whole 1906 to 1911. language and speak in the language non-Persian population of the with a gold cap. The cap was raised. Almost 60 percent of the Iranian ordained by the bayonet. Someone country-were subjected to an unprece­ Lying there in the pot was the head of population is not Persian, and for the appoints himself the patron of your the minister's son. The body had been dented racism. first time the question of national throat and tells you your language is While the king surrounded himself spiced and cooked according to the rights for non-Persians was faced. The filthy, it is no good, speak in mine. with Aryanomaniacs and worked at customs of the court and fed to the Kurds of Kurdistan and the Turks of Someone forces you to change the form purging the Persian spirit-which had father. Azerbaijan demanded their rights. of your throat, jaws, and lips, the The minister had been ordered to kill supposedly been corrupted by non­ Iran started to speak and write in most rhythm of your teeth and cheeks, and Aryan elements-local, tribal, and Cyrus at birth because it was prophes­ of its major languages. tells you to imitate his jaws and cheeks ied that Cyrus would rule in place of provincial leaders were shot or be­ headed. Intellectuals were killed or and lips and teeth. 0~! Oppressors and his grandfather. The minister had not tyrants and shahs, my curse on you! imprisoned. The tyrant wielded his obeyed this order, so his son's body Women Oh! Racists! I spit on you! sword against everyone. had to be fed to him. For the first time in Iranian histfjry, Cyrus, the fruit of this ritual, lived to When World War II came, Iran was Reaction invaded by the Soviets and the British. the women of Azerbaijan struggled for found the Persian monarchy, which is equal rights. They demanded and won The army that had been created solely The defeat of the Democratic party only a milder title for cannibalism. the right to vote for and to serve on all of Azerbaijan and also the'Kurdish Re­ to shoot the people surrendered in less About 1,400 years ago, an Iranian the associations of the nation of Azerb­ public of Kurdistan at the hands of the king, who was actually called "The than two hours, and the shah went off to die on the coasts of Africa. aijan. Iranian government in 1946 was a Just," invited to his court 10,000 The frozen muscles of the Iranian great setback for the national libera­ adherents of a new religion that He was succeeded by the present working class thawed in the heat of tion movements in the area. The advocated an anticaste law. The king shah, who was a minor when he took this universal political awakening. Turkish and Kurdish languages were told their leader that he was going to the throne. He preferred women's Long suppressed in the oil fields, the immediately prohibited, the land re­ accept their progressive ideas and that perfume to the stench of dirty politics, mines, ana the factories, the workers form initiated in Azerbaijan was he would give a big feast to celebrate and buried himself in the bosoms of rose and carried out strikes, gathered undone, and women were again de­ court women. The papers of those days in parties, and mobilized for their prived of their natural rights. Some are full of stories about his affairs and demands. twenty years later, however, the shah *H5a Broadway, Suite 414, New York, New those of his numerous brothers and The demonstrations of this era were was to declare himself the liberator of York lll003. sisters. the biggest the Middle East had ever women.

20 The reaction was checked during Dr. backseat has a black blindfold on his out, he decides, he won't talk to graceful and know how to stay feminine. Mossadegh's premiership [1951-53], eyes. The cloth has been cut to the size anyone. He will live alone, speak about This women's lib business, for instance. when the mass movement gained of ordinary sunglasses. That man is a nothing. Later, he will even lose the What do they want? Equality, you say? momentum once more around the issue prisoner and he is being taken to the habit of thinking. That is how you Indeed, I don't want to be rude, but . . . you of nationalizing the foreign oil monop­ Joint Committee for Campaign keep another nation an ally of the may be equal in the eyes of the law, but I beg your pardon for saying so, not in olies. But the CIA moved in and Against Terrorism in Iran. West. mobilized all the reactionaries, the reality. You have never produced a Michel­ The man sitting in the middle of the Don't misunderstand me! You may angelo, or a Bach. You never even pro­ fascists of the Reza Shah era, and the backseat will be tortured within less think I suppose there is no surveillance duced a good cook. coup of 1953 put an end to democracy. than an hour. No one in the world in the Soviet Union. I think as you Hundreds of people were arrested knows where he is being taken, except think that there is and the worst kind, The second passage I am going to and shot right after the coup. Then his adversaries. otherwise the Soviets would not toler­ quote is from a pro-shah book written there came months during which He . has been picked up from the ate the kind of surveillance that goes by E.A. Bayne and called Persian everyone in Tehran could actually hear street, or from his office or factory job, on in Iran and elsewhere. Kingship in Transition. It reminds me in the morning the country's young or from his farm, or from his bed. But the fact is that I see a relation of the theater of the absurd of Beckett, men being shot. These were the coun­ Nothing has been shown to him that between the surveillance in Iran and Ionesco, and Adamov: try's most precious men. But even could tell him why he has been Watergate. A coup made in Iran by "Well, yes," he said. "They call the king these shootings were not enough. kidnapped. Someone may have men­ American agents to topple the legal the Shado.w of God ...." A system had to be created for the tioned his name at random under and constitutional government is in no "Wasn't that title abandoned some years brutal suppression of dissent in the torture. way different from efforts made by ago?" country. Suppression had to be syste­ He may even be taken to prison, American agents to topple democracy He nodded. "A long time ago. I never use matic, otherwise it would not work. never to be let out. Qasr, one of the in this country. it, but there are people who still do." The CIA created Iran's secret police, Once you get used to overthrowing He considered the subject for a moment, biggest prisons in the country, has and then asked: "Incidentally, what does it the SAV AK, in 1956. political prisoners who were taken other people's democracy, there is no From 1958 to 1963, there were still mean when the Pope washes and kisses the there on the eve of the 1953 coup. reason why you shouldn't try to feet of the people?" demonstrations in the streets of Teh­ Hundreds of others have been brought overthrow your own democracy for a ran reminiscent of the precoup period. there, only to be taken out and shot change. Briefly, I reported the origins of the Student strikes had to be crushed by afterwards. If you create terror in someone else's ·ceremony. Christ had washed the feet of his commandos from the Iranian Army The prisoner knows nothing about home, you will terrorize your own disciples before his passion. Special Forces, which were trained by his future, and when the questions are home as well. Frantz Fanon tells us in "Why did he do it?" American military men. put to him he will find that he hardly his great book, The Wretched of the "To symbolize his humanity. The Pope The year 1963 witnessed the mass Earth, that French torturers of Algeri­ now similarly dramatizes his equality with knows anything about his past either. men when he holds power to the keys of the murder of more than 6,000 men and He will feel suspicious of his closest an militants would find themselves women in the streets of Tehran and Kingdom." friends and relatives. He will suddenly beating their own wives and children "All right, could I not say that these other cities in a single day. From then wake up in the middle of the night and as well. people kiss my feet because they want to on, the country was submerged in a say: "I know, it was my fiancee who Slapping someone else, you slap your make me feel equal to them?" total blackout. told them that I read Maxim Gorky's own face. In destroying my democracy, I replied: "I think not. Theirs is an act of The royal family was in the center of Mother." you took the first step towards the homage. However, if you were to wash their the repressive forces. Right after the You may think I am joking, but be destruction of your own democracy. feet ...." coup, one of the princesses lined up the sure to check it with others who have "Yes?" journalists of the country in front of been in an Iranian prison. They will Shadow of God " ... then that could relate to the Pope's ceremony." her, slapping and kicking them indis­ I will quote two passages to show tell.you that you get at least one year "But if they do it to me ...? .... criminately and shouting, "You bas­ in prison if you possess a copy of you the nature of the person who tards! The day is done when you could "Perhaps," I suggested half seriously, Gorky's Mother or any one of Jack gained power as a result of American "such a symbolically humbling act might write dirty things about me and the London's novels. Since Lenin read intervention. The first is from an serve for the coronation. Your present court!" Jack London mwels, no one in Iran interview given by the shah to the image as a reforming king suggests that it And one day, she and one of the should read them. They may suddenly famous Italian journalist Oriana Fal­ might not be altogether out of character." princes drove up to the prison where decide to become Lenin, and Lhat on laci. In this interview, published in the "Yes, perhaps." He hesitated almost Karim-pour Shirazi was being held. the basis of reading three novels. December 30, 1973, New Republic, the imperceptibly and then continued. "Well, They poured a bucket of gasoline over shah gave his view of women, saying: we could not copy the Christian formula." that brave journalist and burned him Ally of the West He has written in his books and told to ashes. Later this very princess I wouldn't be sincere if I asserted that I'd The prisoner searches in vain for the been influenced by any one of them. reporters from the West that God spoke became the head of the UN Human reasons for his arrest and torture. The to him in private and told him how to Rights Commission, one of the advo­ Nobody can influence me, nobody at all. more he thinks, the more suspicious he And a woman, still less. In a man's life, run his country. He tells Bayne that cates of women's liberation elsewhere becomes of his friends. When he comes women count if thev are beautiful and whoever kisses his feet becomes free. in the world, and a good friend of Betty But he doesn't say what happens to Friedan. Now we ·are exporting our those who decline to kiss his feet. God cannibalism. didn't tell me in private. I have seen with my own eyes what happens to Torture Jurists hit Iran torture them. The cannibal eats them up. Or SAV AK trains its agents on the he feeds them to us. assumption that everyone in Iran is a On May 28, the International an iron, double-deck bed, which was Commission of Jurists, made up of transformed into a human toaster. Let me give you an example. potential or active member of the We were given no meat in prison. opposition. There is only one way for law experts from thirty countries, They were also questioned by agents released the results of a survey on applying . _ . an electric baton to the The prison diet, cheap and cold rice people to prove their innocence. They with some obnoxious thing poured on human rights in Iran. genitals." have to be tracked down, blindfolded, top of it as sauce, gives you either The survey found "abundant evi­ and taken to one of the hundreds of The May 28 report is an important constipation or diarrhea. dence showing the systematic use" SAV AK stations scattered around the victory for those seeking to educate Then one day they brought in a of torture in Iran. It said that the country, or to one of the dozens and the American public, as well as young boy to our cell, thin and cadav­ shah's secret-police force, the SA­ dozens of prisons in the major cities, world public opinion, about the erous. The next day he was taken out and interrogated under torture. yAK, is "a law unto itself' directed brutal policies of the shah of Iran, to the torture chamber. I never met Torture chambers have been dug like against all critics of the government. one of the U.S.'s chief allies in the him again. Two days later one of the tunnels under the peaceful fa<;ade of The survey found that despite Middle East. guards whispered into my ear: "That the cities. legal guarantees of individual rights thin boy died under torture." One can be called to any one of the in Iran, "Each of these guaranteed The next day I was in my cell with a hundreds of stations located mysteri­ rights ...' is subject to the proviso new man called Ali. When they gave ously in almost any corner of the city 'except in conformity with the law,' a us food, there were pieces of thin, and questioned on almost anything. clause which has come to mean . colorless meat in it. Ali was surprised: No appointment can be made any­ 'except when the Shah determines "How come? I have been in this jail for where in the universities, in the minis­ otherwise.' " the last two months and there has tries, or in the factories without the Commenting on the report, nation­ been no meat, and suddenly there is approval of SA V AK. Anybody who ally syndicated columnist Jack An­ this meat." arrives in the country after finishing derson notes that the document's Almost by instinct, another prisoner his studies abroad and applies for said, "Maybe this is the boy's flesh we work in the universities is kept under "most sickening information came from a courageous Iranian poet, are eating." complete surveillance for one year. He We could no longer eat the food. is considered an enemy of the shah Reza Baraheni, who at great person­ al risk furnished a statement on his until he proves through his actions Ask the cannibal that he is a nobody and that he doesn't own observations in a SA V AK dungeon. He was 'beaten, whipped I know that I may be quite wrong in really care what happens to the people supposing that it was that young and exposed to the sounds of scream­ of his country. man's flesh which was being fed to us. ing prisoners.' Standing on any crossroad leading But I have. a question: Where are the "From his own experiences and to the center of the city of Tehran, one bodies of the 400 people who have been can see, almost by the hour, cars talks with other inmates," Anderson Militant/Dave Warren killed during the last three years? passing in which five persons are sit­ continues, "the poet described how BARAHENI: 'Courageous Iranian They were either shot or died under ting-two in the front, three in the prisoners were lashed to the top of poet' torture. Where· are they buried? How back. The one in the middle of the Continued on next page

.21 World Outlook

payments went up to A$40, and just sister-in-law urged Walter to break before she quit they were raised again with Asio. ("She and my brother read to A$60. Direct Action and think it's really However, the more Walter found out good.") about the SWP and SY A, the more she Finally, Walter decided to tell her agreed with their socialist politics. In story to the SWP leadership. The SWP an article in the May 27 issue of Direct contacted the National Times, and in Action Jim Mcilroy asked her how her cooperation with reporter John Ed­ attitude to socialism and the Socialist wards obtained photographs and a Workers party changed. She replied: tape recording of Walter meeting her Asio contact. It started way back when I read the Socialist Workers Federal election manifes­ Asio tried to intimidate Walter. It to last year. The manifesto just seemed to sent an agent to visit her parents and formulate my own ideas. I agreed with it. I warned that if she stuck by her story thought: "I agree with their basic policy she would have difficulty getting jobs that they show to the public. But I'm still in the future. Responding to Asio's The case of lisa Walter trying to get behind the facade." threats, Walter said: "I hope my story will help to publicise what Asio does and cause people to take action to prevent their operations in future." Ex-agent reveals spyplot Publicity The exposure of Asio's infiltration and surveillance received widespread on Australian socialists publicity in Australia. Daily newspap­ ers such as the Sydney Morning By David Russell May 24-29 issue of the National Times, Herald and Melbourne's Sun, Age, and a liberal weekly with a wide readership Herald all carried stories on the case. ln November 1975 Lisa Walter, a throughout Australia. The story was also featured on radio nineteen-year-old laboratory assistant, and television. came into contact with the Australian Nice, friendly image It is particularly important to note Socialist Youth Alliance (SY A) in "I often questioned Keith," Walter that Asio first used Walter to spy on Adelaide. Walter became active and recalled. "I asked him why he was the SWP and SYA when a Labor party soon joined the socialist youth group. wasting his time with this group which government was in power. "Did the By March she was also a provisional seemed so outwardly peaceful. He told Whitlam Government authorise under­ member of the Socialist Workers party me that it was only the front image I cover spying against opponents in the (SWP), which has the same Trotskyist was seeing; behind that nice friendly trade unions and elsewhere?" asked politics as the SYA and which cooper­ image were terrible people; what I was Jim Mcilroy in the May 27 issue of ates closely with it. seeing was just the front, it might take Direct Action. Then, on April 20, Walter walked three years to get behind it." When Malcolm Fraser's Liberal into the SWP's Adelaide headquarters Asio was interested in collecting party came to power, Hancock told and informed the party leadership that information on activities that had Walter not to worry because, "The she had been operating as an under­ nothing to do with the supposed ruling government doesn't affect us." cover agent for the Australian Security WAL TEA: Joins Australian Socialist National Times reporter Edwards terrorism of the SWP and SY A. Walter Workers party. Intelligence Organisation (Asio). was asked to list the names of people noted that the government spying was Walter was the second Asio agent to at meetings, where they worked and directed against persons who were surface in the SWP. In February 1975 It was just a slow crackdown. I agreed "exercising their rights in a completely lived, their automobile license num­ more and more with events that came up Asio informer Max Wechsler, frustrat­ bers, and any personal gossip she like Timor where the party took a stand. I legal and proper way." Edwards said: ed by his inability to find the slightest heard about them. Asio also wanted just agreed more and more with the party's There is no more reason to collect files on evidence of illegal activity on the part information on the finances of the two policy. It became increasingly obvious that these people [in the SWP and SYA] than of the Australian Trotskyists, attempt­ groups, on the sales of Direct Action there were no terrorist activities. there is to collect it on members of the ed to smear the SWP as a terrorist (the weekly newspaper reflecting the I was learning things from talks, gath­ Labor Party, and certainly during the fifties group in a sensational story carried by views of the SWP), and on the partici­ ered ideas from educationals, read Direct and the sixties ASIO did collect files on the gutter press. pation of the SWP and SYA in move­ Action, started to read books. I read the Labor politicians and party members, an Transitional Program, Socialism and Fem­ ments defending the right of the activity confirmed by the then Attorney­ inism, and Socialism on Trial. Later I Walter was told by her Asio contact, Palestinian and East Timor peoples to General, Senator Murphy, when Labor was even began to read Co·lntelpro. * in office. Keith Hancock, that the members of self-determination, in the women's the SY A and SWP were moral and liberation movement, and in the de­ Another factor in Walter's growing Pointing to the fact that Asio's political "filth." Moreover, Hancock fense of Chilean political prisoners. uneasiness with her role as a spy was surveillance of the SWP and SY A was insisted that behind the fa~ade of legal the attitude of her family. Her parents, not affected when the change in political activity the socialists were 'Expense' money longtime supporters of the Labor government led to changes in Asio engaged in a sinister terrorist plot. But While feeding Walter lies about the party, were 'not enthusiastic about heads and the ministers responsible Walter found that the real situation "terrorist" character of the SWP and Asio's work, and both her brother and for the operation of the secret police, was different. SYA, Asio provided her with a steady· Edwards continued: "One can only "She was concerned that the SWP supply of "expense" money. At first * COINTELPRO: The FBI's Secret War on conclude that no matter which Govern­ and SYA did not seem to be the Walter was given A$20 (A$1=US$1.23) Political Freedom, the book detailing the ment is in power, no matter who is its political filth Hancock believed them a month and a "Christmas bonus" of secret-police campaign against movements permanent head, ASIO continues to to be," John Edwards reported in the A$60. In March Walter's "expense" for social change in the United States. collect files on left-wing groups. "

Ask General Harvey Joblonsky, where are the bodies of those killed in MIT. Wayne O'Neil, the head of the former commander of the American Siyahkal, and those killed in the English department there, has called military advisers in Iran, who is now streets of Tehran and Tabriz and him the shah of MIT. .. .Iran an agent of Northrop. His job was Qum? The cannibal has eaten them up. The cannibal is also the shah of taking bribes to Switzerland to be The CIA crowned a cannibal as the UCLA and Harvard. He has also Continued from preceding page given to the Iranian authorities. king of kings for our country. Ask the passed through Columbia; and Pahlavi are these bodies going to be identified You could ask Shahram, Princess head hidden under the crown. That Foundation, the center of Iranian and handed to the relatives? Ashrafs son, who received $705,000 to divine head is nothing but a cannibal's espionage in this country, stands right The number of people killed under find an architect for an American firm. head. The cannibal with a machine here in New York. The cannibal tempts torture or by firing squads during the Now that the agent for the architect gun, the cannibal with a whip, the everybody in the name of free enter­ last six years in Iran-this so-called gets $705,000, what does the architect cannibal with an iron mesh heating pnse. island of stability-is much higher get? And who is the architect? your bottom and spine until you vomit I cannot contribute to developing a than all the men and women killed in Nine people were shot by the shah your brains out-yes, this cannibal is guilty conscience in you, because the calamity-ridden Ireland. Where are the three weeks ago. Where are their bod­ here. guilty conscience is already there. I bodies of our young men and women? ies? If, as Nation magazine suggests, "A can only say that your government You should ask the cannibal, the Earlier, nine prisoners who had been covert Iranian contribution to Nixon's created and supported the cannibal. archcannibal, his imperial majesty, tried years ago and given between re-election campaign" was made by the Now, the cannibal thinks if he is good the shah of shahs, the Light of the eight and fifteen years in prison, were shah, then the cannibal was here four for the Iranians he must be good for Aryans. Or you should ask Kim tortured to death or shot. Where are years ago. the Americans too. In this bicentermial Roosevelt, ·the former CIA agent who their bodies? We know that he has been here for year, of all years in your history, you has now become a go-between in the Earlier, two Iranian writers were some time now. The cannibal has should be conscious of the existence of sale of arms to the shah. shot. Where are their graves? And bought courses on atomic reactors at this U.S.-crowned cannibal.

22 CP slanders Ply_yshch Is it 'counterrevolutionary' to fight for socialist democracy? By Peter Seidman their critics on the left and the camp of uine moral ones." Kremlin such as Erik Bert-who justi­ Two recent articles in the Daily reaction. Jackson's cynical silence in the face fy Moscow's undemocratic policies by World, newspaper of the American Bert is willing to go so far with this of Plyushch's remarks made clear claiming they are a necessary part of Communist party, have tried to cast amalgam method of slander that he where the senator really stood. socialism-who help win a hearing for Leonid Plyushch, a leading Soviet attempts to convince his readers that Bert's own cynicism is underscored the reactionary, anticommunist views dissident and fighter for socialist at this meeting Plyushch actually by his failure to even mention-let of politicians like Jackson and Koch democracy, in the role of a right-wing "associated himself with the murder of alone welcome-Plyushch's appeal on among the American workers. ·opponent of socialism. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg." behalf of Massera, Bert's Uruguayan These CP attacks on Plyushch were comrade. 'Counterrevolutionary'? extended by the author of the articles, Bert makes this despicable charge Is Bert, speaking for the CP, main­ Erik Bert, into attacks on the Militant, despite Plyushch's expression of sup­ A hard one for Bert taining that the prominent radical the Socialist Workers party, md the port at the meeting for the demand of In an article in the May 4 Daily figures who spoke that evening are all Young Socialist Alliance for collabo­ the Rosenbergs' two sons that all the World, Bert returns to his attack. on part of Plyushch's "counterrevolution­ rating with Plyushch. government's secret files on the witch- Plyushch. This time he reports on a ary" alliance with Jackson, Koch and For the revolutionaries of the SWP "the Trotskyites"? If this is so, how and YSA, Plyushch's example is an does Bert explain the CP's active inspiring one. collaboration with a number of these Plyushch helped found, in 1969, the radical leaders during the anti­ Initiative Group for the Defense of Vietnam War movement? Human Rights in the USSR. For the Moreover, the views expressed by "crime" of being a member of this some of the speakers April 3 paralleled organization, which has helped defend the published criticisms made by the the democratic rights of those express­ French and Italian Communist parties ing dissenting views in the Soviet on the Kremlin's unjust treatment of Union and those fighting against Plyushch. Is it now the position of the national oppression, Plyushch was American CP that its sister parties in convicted in 1973 of conducting "anti­ Europe also stink of what Bert called Soviet agitation and propaganda." the "foul smell . . . acquired in bed Although perfectly sane, Plyushch with Plyushch?" was confined in a mental institution. An international campaign that even Hypocrisy won grudging support from the French Bert's polemic is not only built on CP resulted in Plyushch's release. He lies. It also reeks of hypocrisy. was allowed to emigrate to the West. This is precisely because it is the CP Unlike some other Soviet dissidents, that argues, most strongly of all the who have been driven by the undemo­ ;rganizations on the American left, cratic practices of the bureaucracy to that radicalizing workers should spend become right-wing opponents of social­ their time trying to form an "antimo­ ism, Plyushch has remained a staunch nopoly coalition" with "progressive" defender of socialism and an advocate forces allegedly to be found not only in of pro-Marxist views. the ranks of the Democratic party, but Anyone so unfortunate as to have no in its leadership. other source of information but Bert's Militant/Kendall Green This leads the CP to actually partici­ Daily World articles, which appeared On panel at this April 3 protest meeting were (left to right): Plyushch, Daniel pate in the Democratic party-the April 16 and May 4, however, would Berrigan, Reza Baraheni, Grace Paley, E.P. Thompson, and George Saunders. Even party of Jackson, Wallace, Carter, and have no way of knowing the truth" French. and Italian CPs joined in protest against the treatment of Plyushch. other racist, right-wing capitalist poli­ about Plyushch. ticians. (In 1964, for example, the CP Bert's articles center on two meet­ ran no candidate and supported Demo­ ings addressed by Plyushch. hunt trial and electrocution of their meeting held April 3 on the subject crat Lyndon Johnson in his presiden­ The first meeting, held March 27, parents be made public. Bert indicts "The Left and the Soviet Union." tial race, claiming he was a "peace was organized by the Committee for Plyushch because the recent Soviet Unlike the previous event, at this candidate.") the Defense· of Soviet Political Prison­ exile, who has had no access to meeting Plyushch shared the platform This also explains why the CP uses ers. Unfortunately, the sponsors of the material on the case, chose not to take with such well-known activists in the its supposedly independent and "anti­ meeting saw fit to include on the. a position on the question of the fight against ·the Vietnam War and capitalist" election campaigns largely speakers list, in addition to Plyushch, Rosenbergs' guilt or innocence. political repression as Daniel Berrigan; as a pressure tactic aimed at influen­ Sen. Henry Jackson, Rep. Edward Bert's attempts to repeat Stalin's lie­ Grace Paley; the Iranian poet- and cing the Democratic party. (In 1972 CP Koch, and a number of anticommunist machine efforts in the United States former political prisoner Reza Barahe­ presidential candidate Gus Hall, who refugees. reflect far more on his own lack of ni; and George Saunders, editor of is running a similar campaign for Because such a speakers list could revolutionary integrity than upon the Samizdat: Voices of the Soviet Opposi­ president this year, actually bragged discredit prosocialist opponents of the fighter for democratic rights that he is tion. that he "got more votes for McGovern" bureaucratic misrulers of the Soviet seeki_ng to discredit. This meeting must have been a hard than did Sargent Shriver, the Demo­ Union by tending to confuse their one for Bert to deal with. How could cratic presidential candidate's vice­ revolutionary views with anticommun­ What really happened this Stalinist liar convince his readers presidential running mate.) ism, the SWP and YSA did not support The facts are that despite the right­ that such speakers would appear with Hence,. Bert's attempt to lump Ply­ the March 27 meeting. wing character of the March 27 meet­ Plyushch, if it were true, as Bert ushch, Jackson, and the SWP and YSA ing, Plyushch did not accommodate declared in his April 16 article, that together turns reality on its head. himself at all to his hosts. He acquitted Plyushch is "on the side of the execu­ It is the responsibility of those himself so well, in fact, that his tioners" of the Rosenbergs? revolutionists in the West who wish to A flagrant lie remarks drew hisses from anticom­ The SWP and YSA did support this see the return of socialist democracy in Typically, Bert begins his hatchet munists in the audience. meeting because such a broad left the Soviet Union to do everything they job by falsely claiming that the meet­ Bert omits mention of this, as well as defense of Soviet dissidents is the can to help defend Plyushch and other ing was supported by the SWP and Plyushch's scathing attack on what he proper way· to defend Soviet political Soviet dissidents. YSA. He asserts that this support called the "cannibal morality" of prisoners. This makes it necessary not only to flowed naturally from the "anti­ hypocritical capitalist politicians like It is a mistake to link defense of refute the lies of hacks like Erik Bert, Soviet" line of the "Trotskyites." Henry Jackson. Soviet dissidents with Democratic and but more importantly, to help dissi­ This flagrant lie, which seeks to The facts are that Plyushch called Republican party politicians-the rep­ dents such as Plyushch build a power­ equate the SWP's opposition to Stalin­ on Jackson to defend Jose Luis Masse­ resentatives of American imperial­ ful defense for the victims of Stalinist ism with opposition to the workers ra, a Uruguayan CP leader imprisoned ism. repression in the USSR. Such a de­ state established in the Soviet Union and tortured by the Bordaberry dicta­ These capitalist politicians are not fense cannot be built in alliance with by the Russian revolution under the torship. He called on Jackson to fighting for an extension of democracy capitalist politicians of the ilk of leadership of Lenin and Trotsky, is demand freedom for the Chilean politi­ as a step toward improving conditions Henry Jackson, but, as Plyushch says, basic to the Daily World's case against cal prisoners as well as those in the for Soviet workers. Quite the contrary, only in an action alliance against all all revolutionary opponents of Stalin­ workers states. And he demanded that their attacks on the undemocratic repressive regimes. ism. Jackson support the right of the practices of Stalinism are only aimed In this way, a powerful example will Bert needs to maintain that there is Rosenbergs' sons to see their parents' at laying the groundwork for imperial­ be set that can help convince Ameri­ no principled way to oppose the Krem­ files. ist political and military attacks can workers that Stalinism and social­ lin from the left. This technique, first Plyushch challenged Jackson to act against the workers states. ism are not the same-that in fact,· perfected by Joseph Stalin in his on these demands if he really wanted It is not revolutionaries in the SWP socialism does not represent q limita­ efforts to purge his left-wing oppo­ to "show that he is speaking in behalf and YSA who play into the hands of tion of human freedom. On tbe con­ nents, allows apologists for the bureau­ of human rights, not out of expedient these imperialist politicians, as Bert trary, it will bring new freedom on a cracy to make an amalgam between political considerations, but for gen- charges. Rather, it is apologists for the scale not yet imagined.

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 23 National Committee meets in N.Y. SWP convention set for August 8-13 B_y Tony Thomas The National Committee of the Socialist Workers party met in New York April 29 through May 2. The National Committee is the highest party decision-making body between SWP conventions. One of the main tasks of the Nation­ al Committee meeting, or plenum, was to evaluate the decision of the last SWP convention, held in August 1975, to make a "turn" to greater activity in the working class and among op­ pressed nationalities. That decision was prompted by an analysis of the deepening crisis of American and world imperialism and its reflection in the beginning of the political radicalization of American workers. Not only did the National Committee CATARINO GARZA OLGA RODRIGUEZ LEW JONES meeting judge the turn a success, but it decided to call a national SWP conven­ tion this August to discuss the ex­ European countries such as Portugal, mitted it to the SWP preconvention has begun to transcend the narrow panded opportunities and experiences Italy, and Spain that provide impor­ discussion. business unionism of the AFL-CIO accumulated since the last convention. tant lessons for the upsurge of the Rodriguez pointed to mounting de­ bureaucracy." The August convention-and the class struggle in this country. portations of undocumented Mexican However, Rodriguez pointed out that three-month national discussion period Barnes's report will be published in and other Latin American workers, the farm workers' struggle has been leading up to it-wil~ take a new look the next issue of the International discriminatory layoffs of Chicanos, weakened by the illusions UFW lead­ at the analysis contained in Prospects Socialist Review. ·and cutbacks in social services in ers have in Democratic party politi­ for Socialism in America, the political Chicano communities as examples of cians. resolution adopted at the last conven­ the "tightening of the screws" by the All of the struggles of the Chicano tion. This document outlines the Chicano resolution ruling class. people point to the need for Chicanos changes in the class struggle interna­ One of the signs of the success of the She said the Ford administration is to break from the Democratic and tionally and in the United States that SWP's turn has been its increased trying to overturn court decisions on Republican parties and chart a course led to the party's turn. participation in the struggles of the bilingual-bicultural education for Chi­ of independent action on every level of This resolution, along with other oppressed nationalities. canos just as it is trying to overturn struggle, both political and economic, articles, reports, and resolutions on the This was reflected by the National busing and desegregation rulings. Rodriguez asserted. fight for socialism in the United Committee's decision to adopt and Rodriguez pointed to the importance The Raza Unida parties in New States, is available in Prospects for submit to the preconvention discussion of defending the United Farm Workers Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and other Socialism in America, a book pub­ resolutions on the Chicano and Puerto in California and other states from states provide a significant example of lished by Pathfinder Press. Rican struggles. attacks by the big farm owners. independent political action, she said. At the National Committee meeting, Olga Rodriguez, the SWP's national "The strength ofthe UFW," the SWP Rodriguez hailed the fact that none Jack Barnes, SWP national secretary, Chicano liberation director, presented leader said, "lies in its appeal as a of the main leaders of these parties is presented a report outlining the world a report to the National Committee on social movement fighting for justice in favor of accommodation with the political situation. a draft resolution analyzing the Chica-. for the superexploited Chicano and Democrats or Republicans. Barnes's report focused on how the no movement. mexicano farm workers in the South­ She indicated the need for these world crisis of capitalism is producing The National Committee discussed west." parties to mobilize the Chicano masses explosions of the class struggle in and approved the resolution and sub- In that way, she said, "The UFW outside the electoral arena if they are to meet the needs of the Chicano movement for a mass, independent Chicano party.

Puerto Rican resolution Our partr is rour partr Catarino Garza, a member of the SWP Political Committee and the party's candidate for Congress in the $2.95 Lower East Side and Chelsea in New £1.35 WHAT IS the Socialist Workers party all about? York, presented a report on The Emerging Puerto Rican Struggle in the THE BEST way to find out is to attend the U.S. and its Perspectives. Prospects for upcoming SWP national convention. Like the Chicano resolution, this draft document was approved and WE WILL discuss two major new resolutions introduced into the preconvention assessing the present state of the Chicano and discussion by the National.Committee Soeiallsm Puerto Rican liberation movements-and what meeting. proposals socialists make to advance these Garza reported that the appearance strugg~es. We will examine the whole range of of this resolution, the party's first on in America ruling-class attacks-and discuss charting a the Puerto Rican struggle, was made Jack Barnes, Mary-Alice Waters, course to unite working people in defense of our possible by the SWP's deepening rights and standard of living. participation in the Puerto Rican lOrry Thomas, Barry Sheppard, struggle. and Betsey Stone JOIN US and help us build a better world, a Recently SWP branches have been socialist world. Fill out the coupon below and mail set up in predominantly Puerto Rican it today. areas in the Lower East Side, Chicago, and the Bronx, New York. While the resolution centers on the struggles of Puerto Ricans in the D------I want to join the Socialist Workers party. United States as an oppressed national D I want to attend the convention. Please send me minority, it affirms complete support more information. to the struggle for independence for D Enclosed is $1 for a ten-week introductory Puerto Rico. subscription to the Militant. The SWP will also continue to D Enclosed is $1.50 for a copy of Prospects for support unconditionally the right of Socialism in America. Puerto Ricans to self-determination in the United States. Name ______Garza discussed the discrimination in employment and housing Puerto ·Address ______Ricans face, as well as the dispropor­ City ______tionate way cutbacks in education, health care, welfare, sanitation, and State Zip Telephone ______other social services have hit Puerto Much of the discussion will be based on the analysis in Ricans in this country. 'Prospects for Socialism in America,' a new book that includes SWP, 14 Charles Lane, New York, New York 10014 theJ major resolution of our 1975 convention and other The resolution showed how Demo­ important materials. It is available for a limited time at a special cratic politicians such as Herman price of $1.50. Badillo, as well as such forces as the Catholic Church, the · poverty pro-

24 grams, and the representatives of the Puerto Rican colonial government, have tried to keep the Puerto Rican people under the thumb of the capital­ Froben Lozada: the story ist class. To overcome these obstacles, Garza pointed to examples of significant direct action for Puerto Rican libera­ of a Chicano socialist tion, such as the struggle for bilingual­ By Jeff Powers "We felt that it was very important Antonio in 1968. There were around bicultural education and community OAKLAND, Calif.-The Oakland that some Chicanos be there," Lozada 800 of us there. I set up a table with control of schools in New York's Socialist Workers party is running explainec!, "at least to show Blacks photographs of napalmed Vietnamese District One. Froben Lozada for U.S. Congress m that there were other minorities in the children along with my leaflets," he This type of action, he said, must be the Ninth District. , same boat and who also cared about continues. "And I was very surprised expanded to include independent politi­ Lozada heads Chicano studies at · the plight of Blacks." with the reception I got." cal action. The resolution urges a Merritt College in Oakland. He was A year later, Lozada accepted a job Most of the young people and stu­ break by Puerto Ricans from the hired in 1969 at the insistence of teaching Spanish at the University of dents he talked to were against the war Democratic party and supports the students after a successful struggle to Southern Mississippi. and wanted to organize antiwar activi­ running of independent Puerto Rican establish the Chicano studies depart­ "I had heard and read about the ties, Lozada said. candidates. ment on campus. plight of Blacks in the Deep South but "One of my few critics there was Observers from the leadership of the Froben Lozada is well known among I was soon struck by the factthat la Albert Pefia, Sr., who was then recog­ Liga Intemacionalista de los Trabaja­ Bay Area activists as a supporter of raza in the Rio Grande Valley was nized as the biggest Chicano liberal in dores (Internationalist Workers bilingual-bicultural education, as a living in worse economic conditions Texas. I heard his booming voice tell League), a recently formed Puerto defender of undocumented Mexican than the Blacks in Mississippi." That others at the end of the hall about me, Rican Trotskyist organization, partici­ workers, and as a socialist campaigner year he took part in several civil rights 'He's way out! In the boondocks!'" pated in the discussion of the Puerto who has run for office several times. protests. Some Chicano leaders from Califor­ Rican struggle in the United States. He is widely respected as a man who nia whom Lozada had met at the San The National Committee meeting has stood up for human rights and Loses job Antonio conference helped him obtain was also attended by socialist leaders justice on many froqts. He lost his job at the University of a job at Napa Junior College in from Canada and Mexico. Not as well known, however, is his Southern Mississippi after trying to Northern California, and he moved earlier history of political activism. stop harassment of students from there in mid-1968. SWP growth and expansion Lozada was a Chicano who marched Latin America by local cops. "Even before I lived permanently in Lew jones, a member of the party's beside Blacks in the civil rights move­ A year later, Lozada recalls, "I was the city of Berkeley, I used to go there Political Committee, presented a bal­ ment and was an early opponent of the teaching at the state college in Osh­ two to three times a week," Lozada ance sheet of the organizational im­ Vietnam War. kosh, Wisconsin. I was the faculty says. "The activism there had a great pact of the SWP's turn to the working In a recent interview with the adviser for the Peace Forum, the most appeal for me." class and oppressed nationalities. Militant, Lozada talked about his life radical group on campus at that time." Jones reported that expanded mem­ and the events that eventually brought The group organized teach-ins bership and opportunities- in this new him to the socialist movement in the against the Vietnam War and also Joins socialists period had prompted the SWP "to take late 1960s. took a contingent to a New York At the end of June 1968, the Berkeley a fresh look at all aspects of the party antiwar demonstration. Young Socialist Alliance and Socialist to see whether our organizational El valle Lozada was not rehired at the end of Workers party organized a demonstra­ functioning is in tune with our political Lozada was born in Brownsville, his first year. Although the adminis­ tion of 1,000 in solidarity with French needs." Texas, and grew up in neighboring tration wouldn't admit this, Lozada is workers and student activists. The Among several examples, Jones Donna. The entire area, the southern­ convinced "it had to do with my French militants were being victimized noted the positive reception SWP most part of Texas adjacent to Mexico, antiwar activities." after a general strike had been put campaigners and sales teams had is known as el valle-the Rio Grande down that almost toppled capitalism in received in two new party branches in Valley. France. Black communities in Brooklyn as well His parents owned a small general The Berkeley protest, a totally peace­ as the success of a socialist discussion store with a molino to grind corn for ful and legal demonstration, was group party activists established tortilla dough. They were poor. "On a savagely attacked by police. A sharp among union workers at a Detroit good week my father would gross week-long civil liberties fight took hospital. about sixty dollars," Lozada says. place with the focus on the right to One of the most exciting aspects of The Rio Grande Valley was then, .as demonstrate on Telegraph Avenue, one the meeting was the section of Jones's it remains today, a severely depressed of the main streets in Berkeley. report on the growth of the SWP. agricultural area. "While I was going The socialists were in the thick of the The party has shifted away from to school there, I recall that many of fight. Berkeley SWP organizer Peter larger city-wide units to smaller my people were forced to migrate every Camejo was the central leader of the branches based in specific working­ year to places such as Fresno and movement. class, Black, Puerto Rican, and Chica­ Tulare in California, to Kansas, and Demonstrations were held almost no communities. Minnesota." every day of up to 2,000 people. The Jones said, "At the time of our last This constant migration, Lozada city authorities were forced to back plenum, the party had twenty-nine added, meant that "Chicanitos would down. branches and six locals [units where miss at least four months of the school A victory celebration of 5,000 people the SWP has several branches in one year." But he was able to make it on Telegraph A venue convinced Loza­ city]. Very soon the party will have through high school. After graduation da the SWP was his party. He searched fifty-nine branches and thirteen lo­ he studied electronics at a technical out Camejo on the spot and asked to cals." institute in Chicago. join. In New York, for example, where In 1953, Lozada was drafted into the "I was impressed with the work of there had been three branches last army, where he trained to be a radar the SWP," Lozada says, "but actually summer, there are now seven repairman. When he got out of the it"~•t/ Arnnkt Weissberg the demonstration was just the icing branches.· service, he was able to use the GI Bill Froben Lozada, SWP candidate for U.S. on the cake." Jones also reported that it is now to go to Pan American College, located Congress in California's Ninth District. "I had been reading all the diverse much easier to set up SWP branches in in the area he grew up in. newspapers on the left and found the cities where the party has not been While in college in the late 1950s, Militant had more views that coincided before. He reported on plans to estab­ Lozada began to be politically active. For a couple of years he had been with mine." lish branches in additional cities, "We organized a student demonstra­ considering returning to the Rio including Kansas City, Missouri; Cin­ tion protesting the visit of an ambassa­ Grande Valley and finally did so. Malcolm X cinnati; Louisville, Kentucky; Tacoma, dor to the U.S. from Yemen. We knew He managed to get a job with the Lozada explains that a major influ­ Washington; and Toledo, Ohio. he came representing an oppressive McAllen, Texas, school system. ence on his political thinking for Jones also described increases in the regime." "In the state of Texas, there is no several years had been the writings of SWP's membership. At the last Nation­ doubt that I was the first Chicano to Malcolm X. al Committee meeting in January, the Civil rights fight come out against the Vietnam War and "I saw that everything that Malcolm party had established a "provisional Mter graduating from Pan Ameri­ do something about it publicly," he X said about Blacks held true for membership" program to make joining can, he went to the University of says. Chicanos-the same racism, the same the SWP easier. More than 200 provi­ Missouri to obtain a master's degree in Lozada was eventually fired by the economic deprivation, the same en­ sional members had joined betw~en Spanish." He quickly joined the Con­ McAllen school authorities for antiwar emy." the January meeting and April 1, gress of Racial Equality (CORE)~ then activities. Lozada was also influenced by Jones reported. a leading civil rights group, and the "With the help of Gilberto Padilla, Malcolm's _ideas on Black "This is slightly less than double the Student Peace Union. He remembers United Farm Workers organizer in the nationalism-the idea that Blacks rate of increase in membership for the taking part in many protests. area, we got hold of an American Civil should have the right to control their three months following our convention Lozada recalls that "at one place Liberties Union attorney from Corpus own affairs, that Blacks had a com­ in August 1975," Jones said. where we had a sit-in, the owner Christi, 140 miles away. We won the mon heritage and a common struggle. At the present rate, he added, "we turned on the fumigating machine case in court with back pay." He felt that the ideas Malcolm had are taking in two provisional members while we were sitting in. At another "A little later in the same academic expounded for Blacks were also appli­ each day somewhere in the country." place, in mid-summer, the owner was year," he remembers, "Martin Luther cable to Chicanos. Reflecting the decision to turn to the so furious that he locked us in his King, Jr., was murdered. I again put The SWP's support for the national­ most oppressed layers of the working establishment-after he had turned on out leaflets, denouncing the assassina­ ism of oppressed minorities was a class, thirty-eight of the new members the heater." tion and saying those responsible were major factor in his decision to join the are Mro-Americans, eighty-four are After optaining his master's degree, the white racists." SWP. women, and thirty-seven are trade Lozada acquired his first full-time This caused him to be fired from his "Many things that I had thought unionists. teaching job at New Mexico Highlands job once again. But this time he won about throughout my life seemed to An importa:pt topic of discussion University in Las Vegas. "That year I reinstatement without having to go to come together," he concluded. "And I under Jones's report was the SWP loaded my car with students and went court. realized that Chicano liberation campaign of Peter Camejo for presi­ to the Selma, Alabama, civil rights "I remember an important Chicano couldn't come without the overthrow of Contlnued on page 26 march," conference that took place in San capiialism."

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 25 Battery Park Community Center (Overbrook and Hawthorne). Donation: $1. Ausp: Virginia Socialist Workers Campaign Committee .. For more informa­ Cleve. steelworkers: tion call (804) 232-3769. Calendar SAN DIEGO CINCINNATI HELP PUT THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATES ON ~Give back our union' SOCIALIST SUMMER SCHOOL. First session. THE BALLOT IN CALIFORNIA RALLY. Speakers: By Chris Rayson performed a regular audit of the local's Building the revolutionary party. The early radical Peter Camejo. SWP presidential candidate; Omari CLEVELAND-More than 100 mem­ books and pronounced everything movement in America. Speaker: Melissa Singler. Musa, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate; others. Sat., bers of Local 1157, United Steelwork­ satisfactory. In April, however, after Mon.. June 14, 7:30 p.m. Univ. of Cincinnati, June 19, 8 p.m. City College Library, Room 112. Student Center Room 424. Donation: $5. 75¢ per Donation: $1. Ausp: 1976 Socialist Workers Califor­ ers of America, packed the union's the election, the books were called in session. Ausp: YSA. SWP. For more information call nia Campaign. For more information call (714) 234- District 28 office June 2 to protest the for a special audit. International in­ (513) 321-7445. 4639. placing of their local in receivership. vestigators spent a good bit of time in They were there to attend public company offices with company permis­ RICHMOND, VA. SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN RALLY. Featuring Willie SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CALIF. hearings on allegations by USW A sion searching for a· union violation. Mae Reid, SWP vice-presidential candidate. on The WHAT DO SOCIALISTS STAND FOR? A three­ international officers that local union Audits are also regularly done by the attacks on Black rights and the '76 elections. part class series on the prospects for socialism in leaders may have mismanaged funds. local trustees. Right before the elec­ Greetings from Bessida White, Va. Women's Politi­ America. Begins June 13. For information on time On May 17 International President I. tions, Robert Green, a local trustee who cal Caucus and National Black Feminist Organiza­ and place contact SWP: P.O. Box 4456, Panorama tion. and Barbara Tinsley, president-elect of Rich­ City, Calif. 91412. Telephone: (213) 894-2081. Ausp: W. Abel "relieved" 1157's elected offi­ ran on Forney's slate, asked for the mond Education Association. Sat., June 19, 8 p.m. SWP. cers of their duties and placed the lo­ financial books from Chris Stamatis, cal under an appointed administrator. who was then financial secretary. This action was taken on the recom­ Stamatis was subsequently a member mendation of Joseph Kender, District of the losing slate in the April election. around these issues. 2H director. Stamatis refused to turn over the Other leading figures urged support In a letter to Al Forney, suspended local's books to Green. He offered ... CP for building La Raza Unida party. president of the local, Abel said the instead to allow the trustees-who are Continued from page 5 Among these were Guadalupe Young­ action was taken to "correct the many all Black-to look at the books while "These attacks on Communist party blood, chairperson of the Texas party; discrepancies, misappropriations and he was watching, if the union compen­ petitioners demand condemnation by Raul Ruiz of the City Terrace, Los faise charges to Local 1157." sated him for lost time. The trustees all supporters of civil liberties," Came­ Angeles, RUP; Fred Aguilar of the La It appears, however, that the real refused these preconditions, since trus­ jo and Reid said in a joint statement. Puente, California, RUP; and Andres reason for Abel's action is to strip tees in the past have conductect such "We offer our complete solidarity to the Torres, state chairperson of the Cali­ Forney, one of the few Black USWA audits on their own. Communist party in its efforts to fornia party. local presidents, of the mandate his exercise its rights in the electoral The conference also reflected the slate received in local elections last The way the June 2 hearing was arena. growing interest in women's liberation April. Forney's slate swept into office conducted exposed the trumped-up "The SWP too has run up against inside the Chicano movement. A work­ by a two-to-one margin. nature of the charges against Local the undemocratic practices of the shop on "The Role of Chicanas in the Local 1157 has 1,800 members and is 1157. The hearing was before a com­ Dem{)crats and Republicans in our Struggle" was one of the largest. based at the big Republic Steel plant in mittee handpicked by the internation­ ballot drive. Our supporters, supporters Almost all of those outside the Cleveland. This makes it a very al. To back up their allegations, the of the Hall-Tyner campaign, and those various organized socialist tendencies important local in the district. For­ committee members presented "exhib­ of other small parties must stand would probably agree that their anti­ ney's reelection there placed him in a its" for nine hours. But local leaders together and fight these attempts by capitalist views are still in the process position to challenge Kender for dis­ were not even allowed to have copies of the big-business parties to maintain a of development. At the same time, trict director next February. these "exhibits." total monopoly at the ballot box." most of these activists did not seem to Forney has taken his distance from At the close of the hearings, every­ According to the May 29 People's feel that there was any contradiction Kender and the top union brass. His thing remained as before: no formal World, the CP's West Coast weekly, between a socialist perspective and the independence and skin color have charges had been made, but the union "The goal of the CP is to get on the Chicano nationalism to which so made him a target for Kender. was still in receivership. ballot in at least 30 states.... " This many of them are committed. There is no constitutional basis for During the lunch break, fifty of the parallels the SWP's 1976 ballot projec­ Speaking from the floor, one North­ the international's action against Lo­ Local 11G7 members, led by Forney, tions. ern California community organizer cal llG7. To date no formal charges picketed the district offices to demand So far the SWP has filed nominating said he did not feel he could organize have been made. that the international "return 1157 to petitions in nine states and is petition­ people around a socialist perspective. In December 197G, the international the membership." ing this month in another ten. The But, he added, "Ninety percent of us June 3 Daily World reported that the here agree liberation won't he won CP has filed in seven states and is under this system." Nobody argued the currently petitioning in eleven others. point. Both the SWP and CP have an­ It would be unrealistic to suggest nounced plans to collect more than the that the anticapitalist thinking that 100,000 signatures required to qualify prevailed at this conference is typical ... SWP sets convention their candidates for ballot status in of the Chicano community as a whole. Continued from page 25 The discussions at the National California. These drives were made dent and Willie Mae Reid for vice­ Committee meeting are now being But there can be no question that it possible by legislation passed this year does reflect to a substantial degree the president. taken into the SWP preconvention lowering the required number of signa­ Petitioning to put the socialist candi­ discussion. growing conviction of a significant tures for independent candidates, al­ layer of movement activists. Many of dates on the ballot has provided a Oral debates on the resolutions and though not for political parties. Under chance for socialists to discuss their other subjects scheduled for discussion the political ideas being considered the old California law, 320,000 signa­ remain to be probed more deeply. But ideas with thousands of working peo­ at the convention will take place in tures would have been required. ple. party branches over the next three clearly that important process is under The National Committee meeting months. A written discussion open to way. decided to launch the biggest petition­ articles and resolutions from all SWP A closing plenary session agreed ing drive in the party's history. The members will also take place in the that a similar gathering will be held goal is to collect more than half a party's internal bulletin. within a year in Las Vegas, New million signatures in more than thirty At the close of the discussion the ... Brown Mexico, to be hosted by Juan Jose states. branches will elect rank-and-file dele­ Continued from page 17 Pefia. A display of Pathfinder Press books The expanded role of SWP members gates who will have the sole decision­ enrichment of human civilization and and pamphlets was busy throughout in the fight to defend desegregation in making power at the national conven­ culture. the conference. More than $200 worth Boston and other cities was a focus of tion. It is not "planetary limits" that are of revolutionary literature was sold. a report by Malik Miah, Black libera­ The convention itself is the highest holding us back from this future, The best seller was the recently pub­ tion director of the SWP. body of the party, deciding policy on Camejo and Reid contend. The shack­ lished book Prospects for Socialism in Cindy Jaquith, SWP women's libera­ basic political questions, determining les on human progress have been tion director, reported on a resurgence priorities for action, and electing the placed there by the capitalist system. America. Twenty-nine copies were of feminist activity among unionists national leadership. A vote for Camejo and Reid is a vote sold. It includes an SWP political resolution and reports on various and on the campuses, symbolized by The agenda for the August conven­ to replace that system with a demo­ aspects of the tasks facing socialists the May 16 pro-ERA demonstration tion will include the political situation cratic, socialist society based on hu­ today. called by the National Organization in the United States, resolutions on the man needs. A vote for Brown or any Following the panel on the struggle for Women. Chicano and Puerto Rican struggles, other Democrat is a vote to preserve the world political situation, the fight the capitalist system and enrich the of Chicanas there was a good sale of Syd Stapleton, national secretary of for Black liberation, perspectives for tiny minority who profit from it. the book Feminism and Socialism. the Political Rights Defense Fund, building the socialist movement, and Next November you can take your After one workshop where a panelist reported on the progress of the suit the the discussion in the international pick. urged people -to accept "Marxism­ Leninism-Maotsetung Thought," sever­ SWP and the Young Socialist Alliance Trotskyist movement. al people bought copies of the pamph­ have launched against the government Given the rising interest in socialist for its spying, harassment, and disrup­ solutions for different problems facing let Marxism versus Maoism. tion of the socialist, antiwar, and working people, the growth and expan­ The Militant, featuring an interview Black liberation movements. sion of the SWP, and the importance of with Peter Camejo on Chicanos and Stapleton pointed to the massive the discussions taking place within the ... Chicanos the 1976 elections, was particularly exposure of the government's illegal SWP, the convention will be one of the Continued from back page well received. In addition to fifty-five attacks on the socialists and how these most important events in the struggle nization has taken the position that individual copies, fifty-three subscrip­ socialism must be the goal of the disclosures and other aspects of the against oppression and exploitation in tions were sold. Pedro Vasquez, Texas suit have advanced the civil liberties of the United States this year. Chicano movement. He emphasized, SWP candidate for U.S. senator, said a however, that the party continues to all Americans, not just members of the People interested in finding out more good many more could have been sold fight around immediate, general issues SWP and YSA. about joining the SWP and attending if it weren't for the "problem" that of concern to Chicanos and seeks to Gus Horowitz, a member of the the SWP convention this summer many of those present already were party's Political Committee, presented should contact their local SWP branch mobilize broad layers in struggle Militant subscribers. a report on the debate on Portugal and (see Socialist Directory on page 27) or other developments in the ongoing write to the SWP's national headquar-· discussion in the world Trotskyist ters at 14 Charles Lane, New York, movement. New York 10014.

26 merica's ROAD TO SOCIALISM AMERICA'S ROAD TO SOCIALISM How to Defeat By James P. Cannon, introduction by George Novack. An analysis of the forces building for a socialist revolution and a vision of what American society would be like without war, racism, oppression of women, /and exploitation. 124 pp., cloth $7, paper $1.95 Racist and SPEECHES FOR SOCIALISM By James P. Cannon. Speeches over five decades on a wealth of topics by an American revolutionary orator, agitator, organizer, and. educator in Right-wing Attacks the tradition of Eugene V. Debs. 462 pp., cloth $10, paper $3.45 FROM MISSISSIPPI TO BOSTON LIFE IN CAPITALIST AMERICA The Demand for Troops to Enforce Civil Rights Private Profit and Social Decay Compilation. Should fighters for equal rights demand that the federal Edited by Stephanie Coontz and Carl Frank. These eight essays are government enforce its own civil rights and desegregation laws in Boston? provocative investigative reports on some of the most pressing social How has this demand aided the Black liberation movement in the past? How problems, including: • Cities in Decay • You Can't Afford to Get Sick can this demand help build a mass movement that can defeat the racists? • The Real Welfare Scandal • The Prison Revolt • Pollution: Who Is These are among the questions discussed. 32 pages, $. 75 Responsible? • Insult and Injury: Growing Old in America. 285 pp., cloth $11, paper $2.95 COUNTER-MOBILIZATION SAM ADAMS AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION A Strategy to Fight Racist and Fascist Attacks by Harry Frankel. 48 pp., 75 cents A discussion with Farrell Dobbs, long-time leader of the Socialist Workers Party and author of Teamster Rebellion, Teamster Power, and Teamster Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New York, New York Politics. A review of the tactics of building a mass movement against racist 10014. Write for a free catalog. and reactionary offensives. 24 pages $.75

THE FIGHT AGAINST FASCISM IN THE U.S.A. Forty Years of Struggle Described by Participants If this is JOUr kind of By James P. Cannon, Farrell Dobbs, Vincent R. Dunne, Joseph Hansen, Malik Miah, and others. How should workers and oppressed nationalities defend their rights against racist and terrorist attacks? Why is a mass movement necessary for defense and how can such a movement be newspaper, we're JOUr organized? Can workers rely on the government to protect their democratic rights? Should the opponents of racism and fascism call for denying free kind of bookstores! speech and other democratic rights to fascists or racists? 56 pages, $1.35 These publications are part of the Education for Socialists series published in 8%xll format by the National Education Department of the Socialist Workers Party. •illtant/Llbrerla •llltante/Pathllnder/ Available at the bookstores listed in the Socialist Directory below. Send all lranma/Labor/Llbrerla Soclallsta mail orders to Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014. See the Socialist Directory below for the bookstore in your area. Complete, free catalog available upon request. Socialist Directory ARIZONA: Tempe: YSA. c/o Jessica Sampscn, Box (404) 523-Q610. Mich. Univ., Mt. Pleasant, Mich. 48859. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, 3400 2235, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85252. Tel: (602) 277-9453. ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 284 lllini MINNESOTA: Minneapolis: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213. Tel: (412) 682- Tucson: YSA, SUPO 20965, Tucson, Ariz. 85720. Union, Urbana, Ill. 61801. Bookstore, 15 4th St. SE, Mpls., Minn. 55414. Tel: 5019. Tel: (602) 624-9176. Chicago, South: SWP, 9139 S. Commercial Ave., (612) 332-7781. State College: YSA, c/o William Donovan, 260 CALIFORNIA: Berkeley: SWP, YSA, Granma Book­ Room 205, Chicago, Ill. 60617. St. Paul: SWP, Labor Bookstore, 176 Western Ave., Toftrees Ave. #320, State College, Pa. 16801. Tel: store, 1849 University Ave., Berkeley, Calif. 94703. Chicago, South Side: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Books, St. Paul, Minn. 55102. Tel: (612) 222-8929. (814) 234-6655. Tel: (415) 548-0354. 1754 E. 55th St., Chicago, Ill. 60615. Tel: (312) MISSOURI: Kansas City: YSA, c/o UMKC Student TENNESSEE: Knoxville: YSA, P.O. Box 8344 Univ. East Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, 643-5520. Activities Office, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Station, Knoxville, Tenn. 37916. Tel: (615) 525- 1237 S. Atlantic Blvd., East Los Angeles, Calif. Chicago: City-wide SWP, YSA, 428 S. Wabash, Fifth Mo. 64110. 0820. 90022. Tel: (213) 265-1347. Floor, Chicago, Ill. 60605. Tel: SWP-(312) 939- St. Louis: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, 4660 TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Student Activities, Texas Long Beach: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, 3322 0737; YSA-(312) 427-0280. Maryland, Suite 12, St. Louis, Mo. 63108. Tel: Union South, Austin, Tex. 78712. Anaheim St., Long Beach, Calif. 90804. Tel: (213) INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Student Activities (314) 367-2520. Dallas: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 50212, Dallas, Tex. 597-0965. Desk, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11-A Central 75250. Tel:(214) 827-6589. Los Angeles, Crenshaw District: SWP, YSA, Pathfin­ 47401. Ave. (Central and Broad Streets), Second Floor, Houston, Northeast SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Books, der Books, 4040 W. Washington Blvd., Los Indianapolis: YSA, c/o Student Activity Office, Newark, N.J. 07102. Tel: (201) 624-7434. 2835 Laura Koppe, Houston, Tex. 77093. Tel: Angeles,Calif. 90018. Tel: (213) 732-8196. IUPUI, 925 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, Ind. NEW YORK: Albany: YSA, c/o Gary Mele, 947 (713) 697-5543. Los Angeles: City-wide SWP, YSA, 4040 W. Wash­ 46202. Tel: (317) 631-3441. Strong St., Schenectady, N.Y. 12307. Tel: (518) Houston, North Side: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder ington Blvd., Suite 11, Los Angeles, Calif. 90018. Muncie: YSA, Box 387 Student Center, Ball State· 346-0352. Bookstore-Libreria Militante, 2816 N. Main, Hous­ Tel: (213) 732-8197. University, Muncie, Ind. 47306. Binghamton: YSA, c/o Debbie Porder, 184 Corliss ton, Tex. 77009. Tel: (713) 224-Q985. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 1467 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland, KANSAS: Lawrence: YSA, c/o Christopher Starr, Ave., Johnson City, N.Y. 13790. Tel:· (607) 729- Houston, South-Central: SWP, 4987 South Park Calif. 94601. Tel: (415) 261-1210. Sunflower Apts. #23, Lawrence, Kans. 66044. 3812. Blvd. (South Park Plaza), Houston, Tex. 77021. Pasadena: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, 226 N. KENTUCKY: Lexington: YSA, P.O. Box 952 Univer­ Ithaca: YSA, c/o Doug Cooper, 105 Dryden Rd., Tel: (713) 643-0005. El Molino, Pasadena, Calif. 91106. Tel: (213) 793- sity Station, Lexington, Ky. 40506. Tel: (606) 266- Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. Tel: (607) 273-7625. Houston: City-wide SWP, YSA, 3311 Montrose, 3468. 0536. New York, Bronx: SWP, P.O. Box 688, Bronx, N.Y. Houston, Tex. 77006. Tel: (713) 526-1082. San Diego: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, 4635 El Louisville: YSA. Box 3593, Louisville, Ky. 40201. 10469. San Antonlo: SWP, P.O. Box 1376, San Antonio, Cajon Blvd.: San Diego, Calif. 92115. Tel: (714) LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder New York, Brooklyn: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, Tex. 78295. Tel: (512) 732-5957. YSA, P.O. Box 280-1292. Bookstore, 3812 Magazine St., New Orleans, La. 136 Lawrence St. (at Willoughby), Brooklyn, N.Y. 12110, Laurel Heights Station, San Antonio, Tex. San Fernando Valley: SWP, P.O. Box 4456, Panora­ 70115. Tel: (504) 891-5324. 11201. Tel: (212) 596-2849. 78212. ma City, Calif. 91412. Tel: (213) 894-2081. MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2117 N. Charles New York, Chelsea: SWP, Pathfinder Bookstore, UTAH: Logan: YSA, P.O. Box 1233, Utah State San Francisco: SWP, YSA, Militant Labor Forum, St., Baltimore, Md. 21218. Tel: (301) 547-0668. 200% W. 24th St. (off 7th Ave.), New York, N.Y. University, Logan, Utah 84322. 1519 Mission St., San Francisco, Calif. 94103. Tel: College Park: YSA, c/o Student Union, University of 10011. Tel: (212) 989-2731. Salt Lake City: YSA, P.O. Box 461, Salt Lake City, SWP-(415) 431-8918; YSA-(415) 863-2285. Maryland, College Park, Md. 20742. Tel: (301) New York, Lower East Side: SWP, YSA, 221 E. 2nd Utah 84110. San Francisco, Mission District: SWP, Socialist 454-4758. St. (between Ave. B and Ave. C), New York, N.Y. VIRGINIA: Richmond: SWP, P.O. Box 25394, Bookstore, Libreria Socialista, 3284 23rd St. San Prince Georges County: SWP, P.O. Box 1807, 10009. Tel: (212) 260-6400. Richmond, Va. 23260. Francisco, Calif. 94110. Prince Georges Plaza, Hyattsville, Md. 20788. Tel: New York, Queens: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Northwest: SWP, 2416 18th San Jose: SWP, YSA, 123 S. 3rd St., Suite 220, San (202) 333-0265 or (202) 797-7706. 90-43 149 St. (corner Jamaica Ave.), Jamaica, St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 Tel: (202) 797- Jose, Calif. 95113. Tel: (408) 295-8342. MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, c/o Mark Cera­ N.Y. 11435. Tel: (212) 658-7718. 7706. - East San Jose: SWP, 1192 E. Santa Clara, San Jose, soulo, 13 Hollister Apts., Amherst, Mass. 01002. New York, Upper West Side: SWP, YSA, Militant Washington, D.C.: Southeast: SWP, c/o Ann Wilcox, Calif. 95116. Tel: (408) 295-2618. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth. Ave., Bookstore, 2726 Broadway (104th St.), New York, 1735 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Santa Barbara: YSA, P.O. Box 14606, UCSB, Santa Boston, Mass. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4620. N.Y. 10025. Tel: (212) 663-3000. 20009. Tel: (202) 332-4941. Barbara, Calif. 93107. Boston: City-wide SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth New York: City-wide SWP, YSA, 853 Broadway, Washington, D.C.: City-wide SWP, YSA, 2416 18th Santa Cruz: YSA, c/o Student Activities Office, Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. Room 412, New York, N.Y. 10003. Tel: (212) 982- St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009. Tel: (202) 797- Redwood Bldg., UCSC, Santa Cruz, Calif. 95064. Cambridge: SWP, 2 Central Square, Cambridge, 8214. 7699. COLORADO: Boulder: YSA, Room 175, University Mass. 02139. Tel: (617) 547-4395. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 8986, Hyde WASHINGTON: Seattle, Central Area: SWP, YSA, Memorial Center, University of Colorado, Bould­ Roxbury: SWP, 1865 Columbus Ave., Roxbury, Park Station, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208. Tel: (513) Militant Bookstore, 2200 E. Union, Seattle, Wash. er, Colo. 80302. Tel: (303) 492-7679. Mass. 02119. Tel: (617) 445-7799. 321-7445. 98122. Tel: (206) 329-7404. Denver: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, 1379-81 Worcester: YSA, Box 229, Greendale Station, Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2300 Payne, Cleveland, Ohio Seattle, City-wide: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, Kalamath, Denver, Colo. 80204. T~l: (303) 623- Worcester, Mass. 01606. 44114. Tel: (216) 861-4166. 5623 University Way NE, Seattle, Wash. 98105. 2825. MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA, Room 4103, Mich. Columbus: YSA, Box 3343 Univ. Station (mailing Tel: (206) 522-7800. Fort Collins: YSA, Student Center Cave, Colorado Union, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. address); 325 Ohio Union, Columbus, Ohio WISCONSIN: Eau Claire: YSA, c/o Chip Johnson, State University, Ft. Collins, Colo. 80521. 48104. Tel: (313) 663-8766. 43210. Tel: (614) 422-6287. 221% Ninth Ave., Eau Claire, Wis. 54701. Tel: FLORIDA: Dade County: YSA, P.O. Box 390487, Detroit, West Side: SWP, 18415 Wyoming, Detroit, OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, Militant Bookstore, (715) 835-1474. Miami Beach, Fla. 33139. Mich. 48221. Tel: (313) 341-6436. 208 S.W. Stark, Fifth Floor, Portland, Ore. 97204. La Crosse: YSA, c/o UW La Crosse, Cartwright Tallah-assee: YSA, c/o Suzanne Welch, 765 El Detroit: City-wide SWP, YSA, 6404 Woodward, Tel: (503) 226-2715. Center, 1725 State St., La Crosse, Wis. 54601 .. Rancho St., Tallahassee, Fla. 32304. Tel: (904) Detroit, Mich. 48202. PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State Madison: YSA, P.O. Box 1442, Madison, Wis. 53701. 224-9632. East Lansing: YSA, First Floor Student Offices, College, Edinboro, Pa. 16412. Tel: (608) 238-6224. GEORGIA: Atlanta: Militant Bookstore, 68 Peach­ Union Bldg., Michigan State University, East Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, Pathfinder Bookstore, Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 207 E. Michigan Ave., Rm.' tree St. NE, Third Floor, Atlanta, Ga. 30303. SWP Lansing, Mich. 48823. Tel: (517) 353-0660. 1004 Fi Ibert St. (one block north of Market), 25, Milwaukee, Wis. 53202. Tel: SWP-(414) 289- and YSA, P.O. Box 846, Atlanta, Ga. 30301. Tel: Mt. Pleasant: YSA, Box 51 Warriner Hall, Central Philadelphia, Pa. 19107. Tel: (215) WA5-4316. 9340; YSA-(414) 289-9380.

THE MILITANT/JUNE 18, 1976 27 THE MILITANT 400 attend national Chicano forum in Utah By Harry Ring SALT LAKE CITY-More than 400 Chicano activists gathered here May 28 for three days of intensive discus­ sion of the ideology and program necessary to win Chicano liberation. The conference registered the deep­ ening conviction among Chicano activ-. ists that liberation cannot be achieved within the framework of the capitalist system. Initiated by faculty members and students in the Chicano studies depart­ ment at the University of Utah, the gathering was organized as a National Chicano Forum. Its purpose was to bring together activists of all political persuasions for a free exchange of views. It sought to promote greater unity within the movement by clarify­ ing goals and methods as well as initiating united action where it can be achieved. A wide spectrum of political ideolo­ gies and tendencies were present. It is significant that despite the deepgoing differences between various partici­ pants and the hostility. that has marked some of their relationships, a comradely atmosphere prevailed throughout the entire weekend. Credit for this was due in good measure to the conference organizers, including Professors Armando Navar­ Activists gather in Salt Lake City for Chicano conference, weekend of May 28 ro and Abelardo Delgado, cochairper­ sons, and the steering committee that worked with them. panelists and participants from the The largest group of participants country in the 1930s, including Chica­ The comradely atmosphere that floor spoke of the need for an anticapi­ came from California, ·hut there were no socialist organizations. That move­ prevailed was particularly impressive talist perspective. Among those taking delegations and individuals from New ment had been derailed, he said, but in that the gathering was held under this stand were several leading figures Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and could now be rebuilt. intense pressure. from La Raza Unida parties (RUP) in Utah, with smaller numbers from He also insisted that to be effective, the Southwest. Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. proponents of socialism had to be clear In the days prior to the conference, There was strong sentiment for All the differing ideas were carefully supporters of democratic rights. He support by moderate and conservative independent political action in opposi­ listened to and - considered. There argued for a socialism clearly linked Chicano groups in the area was tion to the Republicans and Demo­ seemed to be particular interest in the with democracy and humanism. diminished after a red-baiting cam­ crats. Perhaps the largest single group­ vi~ws of various Raza Unida leaders Peiia did not propose that the vari­ paign was opened by a group of ing at the conference were the Raza and activists who spoke for an anticap­ ous Raza Unida parties adopt socialist conservative Chicanos calling them­ Unida party activists, who argued italist perspective. programs. He read to the workshop selves "Concerned Citizens." They effectively that the partido be recog- Dr. Armando Gutierrez, a leading parts of the "Declaration of Human offered conference endorsers and fi­ - nized and supported as the political figure in the Texas RUP, urged the Rights" adopted by the 1975 conven­ nancial supporters "dossiers" purport­ arm of the Chicano movement. participants to consider the relevance tion of the New Mexico RUP. The ing to show that "communists" were In addition to the general prosocial­ of Marxism to the Chicano struggle. declaration calls for basic social behind the gathering. ist sentiments of many of the confer­ He explained why he did not see change and a fight around such key On- the Saturday night prior to the ence participants, there were support­ Marxism as contradictory to Chicano issues as the right to jobs, education, conference, Salt Lake City police ers of particular ideological currents. nationalism. He viewed that national­ medical care, and other social needs. unleashed dogs against several hun­ Among these were the Socialist Work­ ism as having given an impulse to the At its recent 1976 convention, the dred Chicanos emerging from a dance. ers party, the Communist party, sever­ Chicano liberation movement. New Mexico RUP voted to endorse Fourteen people were injured and al Maoist groupings, and the Los Juan Jose Peiia, chairperson of the Peter Camejo, the Socialist Workers sixteen arrested in an ugly display of Angeles Chicano organization CASA. New Mexico Raza Unida party, was party nominee for president. police brutality that evoked sharp There were also people from MECHAs another panelist presenting a socialist Eugene Hernandez of the San Fer­ protest from the American Civil Liber­ and other Chicano student and com­ perspective. He spoke of the strong nando, California, RUP said his orga­ ties Union and others. munity organizations. socialist movement that existed in this Contlnued on page 26 Although there was no relationship, the media sought to convey the idea that the dance was somehow related to the coming conference. Not the time to talk about socialism? Combined with the red-baiting SALT LAKE CITY-Perhaps ex­ substitute participant in one of the say it would end protective labor campaign, this led to the concern that cepting a few traditional Democrats, ideology panels. He opened his legislation for women. the police would seek a pretext to the most conservative force at the presentation by attacking other attack the conference participants. National Chicano. conference panelists who spoke positively of He also took his distance from However, forum organizers in several seemed to be the Communist party. Chicano nationalism, offering the those urging a socialist perspective. media interviews emphasized the legal, Space was available to all tenden­ tired CP argument that nationalism Declaring that he too was a social­ peaceful nature of the gathering. cies and groups for literature tables. divides the workers. This argument ist, Torres asserted that "now is not Coupled with an extensive marshaling The CP had a small table with a few is a cover for the CP's concern that the time" to be talking about social­ system, this sufficed to carry through pieces of literature occasionally on Chicano nationalism leads to such ism. Instead, he argued, the move­ the gathering without incident. display. Neither of its newspapers, developments as La Raza Unida ment should be building an "anti­ The main conference discussion was the Daily World and the People's party and helps break Chicanos monopoly coalition." Because of the carried on in a series of workshops. World, was to be seen. Nor was away from the Democratic party. radical views evident among the The two ·principal ones were titled: there any indication that party participants, he did not bother to Ideology-What Direction Will the General Secretary Gus Hall is run­ Torres also tried to defend the explain that the CP sees "progress­ Chicano Movement Take? and Organi­ ning for president. CP's opposition to the Equal Rights ive" Democrats and Republicans as zation and Action-How Shall We Get Lorenzo Torres, chairman of the Amendment, echoing the argument key partners in such a coalition. There? CP's Chicano Commission, was a of right-wing ERA opponents, who In both sets of workshops many -H.R.