CUBA Y FIDEL 11 y 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 58, No. 48 Dec. 8, 2016 $1

The death of Fidel Castro Ruz on Nov. 25 shook the world. The great revolu- tionary¡ leader notFIDEL! only guided, but as- sisted the world’s poorest peoples and those fighting for national liberation and socialism, whether in Cuba, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean or here in the United States. Fidel was the “Maximum Leader” of the Cuban Revolution, acknowledged as such by all who fought to topple the brutal Fulgencio Batista dictatorship and liberate Cuba from U.S. domina- tion and imperialist exploitation. He was the leader of first a student move- ment, then a guerrilla band and final- ly an army of revolutionaries. These fighters all had tremendous abilities. Among them were Celia Sanchez, Vil- ma Espin, Juan Almeida, Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos, Frank Pais, Raul Castro and many others. Fidel was the leader among all these heroic leaders, as well as in the eyes of millions of oppressed and downtrod- den Cubans, struggling in the cities and starving in the countryside. He carried out their will. The population was ready for revolution, and Fidel and his collaborators won the people’s con- fidence with their tremendous courage, integrity and resolve. FIDEL, ¡presente! 5-9 Much of this issue of Workers World is devoted to honoring Fidel’s revolu- •A visit with Fidel •Cubans in Harlem •Time to end the blockade tionary life and legacy. In these pages, writers contribute their recollections, •Upholding revolutionary theory •Kaepernick defends Cuban gains tell what Fidel and socialist Cuba have Declaring socialism Cuba aids African liberation meant to them and to the world, and • • take a glimpse at Cuba today. •LGBTQ strides and struggle •U.S. activists meet on Cuba solidarity We’ll start off here with the message Workers World Party sent to Comrade Raul Castro and the Cuban people. WWP was founded in 1959 — the same Workers World Party salutes Cuban leader year as the victory of the Cuban Rev- To Comrade Raúl Castro speech to Batista’s court, “History Will Absolve Me” — olution — and has organized solidarity Central Committee inflamed young fighters for justice in Cuba and all over with Cuba ever since. Communist Party of Cuba the world, from Latin America and the Caribbean to Af- Havana, Cuba rica, Asia, Middle East and the U.S. itself. He armed the Cuban people with internationalism, Subscribe to Workers World Dear Comrades: solidarity, unity and an iron will to defend their inde- Our hearts go out to the Cuban people and all those pendence and sovereignty. So when Africa called, Cuba 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 who loved Fidel Castro. He changed history in a thou- answered and helped defeat the scourge of apartheid. Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: sand different ways, all to benefit the many millions who Fidel stormed the fortresses of the brutal servants of workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/ have suffered starvation and abuse under colonialism the empire at a time in history when U.S. imperialism and imperialism. was riding high. The plutocrats were outraged when he Name His enormous confidence in the struggling masses offered new hope for a socialist future just as they were and their ultimate victory — expressed in his heroic gloating over the anticipated victory of capitalism in the Email______Phone ______Continued on page 5 Street______City / State / Zip______Workers World 212.627.2994 3 10 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org STANDING ROCK FIGHTING TRUMP Page 2 Dec. 8, 2016 workers.org March on ICE Pennsylvanians resists

WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE anti-immigrant attacks Alma Brigido speaking in front of ICE.  In the U.S. By Joe Piette Pennsylvanians resists anti-immigrant attacks 2 Philadelphia Standing Rock supporters crash ‘Thanksgiving’ parade 3 criminally prosecute Martín for “re-entry after deporta- A march Nov. 21 on the Philadelphia office of Immigra- tion,” for having repeatedly tried to cross the U.S.-Mexi- Oceti Sakowin defy U.S. Army Corps threats 3 Indigenous Day of Mourning 3 tion and Customs Enforcement demanded a halt to de- can border to be with his spouse and children. portation proceedings for Pittsburgh construction work- Esquivel’s family and supporters have led a campaign ‘No mall on Ohlone sacred site!’ 3 er Martín Esquivel-Hernández. The demonstration by to keep the Esquivel-Hernández family together since On the picket line 4 family members and supporters represented a growing late spring, most recently holding a march with faith and ‘You have no rights’ 4 movement of activists in Pennsylvania and other states labor leaders on Nov. 15 in downtown Pittsburgh. After Chicago protesters: ‘Stop racist cops!’ 8 willing to march in the streets, provide sanctuary and submitting a formal request for prosecutorial discretion, Thousands march in Seattle against racism 8 carry out civil disobedience even before President-elect the Esquivel-Hernández family and community support- Chicago: Youth light up Cuba meeting 9 Donald Trump takes office. ers traveled to Philadelphia to urge Thomas Decker, ICE From Virginia to Wisconsin: Broad front against Trump 10 Trump has promised to deport up to 11 million migrant Enforcement and Removal Operations field office direc- Oligarch to head (mis) education department 10 workers and their families, build a wall on the U.S.-Mexi- tor, to withdraw the case against Esquivel-Hernández. can border and cut funding for cities that refuse to coop-  Around the world erate with ICE. Movement against deportations Chilean women march for rights 9 Esquivel-Hernández was an activist in the Latino Par- Before marching, the Pittsburgh activists joined Phil-  Editorial ents Council, in the A+ Schools Community Alliance for adelphia immigrant rights activists at the Arch Street Reaction breeds resistance 10 Public Education, and a facilitator, along with his spouse United Methodist Church in Center City, where Javi-  Alma Brigido, for the recently completed Latino Needs er Flores, his spouse and three children have received Remembering a revolutionary Assessment Project to examine the challenges confront- sanctuary since Nov. 13. Flores is a 40-year-old native ¡FIDEL! 1 ing Latinx families in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County. of Mexico City who came to North Philadelphia without Workers World Party salutes Cuban leader 1 Racially profiled in a traffic stop in the affluent sub- papers in 1997 and started a family. Since then, he has Meeting with Fidel 5 urban town of Mount Lebanon, Esquivel-Hernández was been deported and re-entered the U.S. several times, has 1960: Harlem welcomed Cubans 5 cited by police on March 26 for driving without a valid endured 15 months in jail and was once again targeted to Upholding Marxism-Leninism 5 license and without insurance. Currently, 12 states and be deported on Nov. 14. Kaepernick defends Cuba’s gains 6 the District of Columbia allow undocumented residents Black lettering on a twenty-foot-long orange banner ‘Under the noses of the imperialists’ 6 to receive a driver’s license. Lucha Pro Licencias PA and at the front of the march read, “Devuélvenos Martín,” Fidel’s legacy and African liberation 7 other groups have been fighting for seven years to make “Bring Martin Home,” “#NiUnaMas,” and “Sign the peti- Cuba’s LGBT Revolution 8 Pennsylvania the 14th such area. tion at KeeptheEsquivelFamilyTogether.com.” At the end Fidel on the U.S. blockade of Cuba 9 Esquivel-Hernández paid his fine on April 21, and ac- of the march, in front of the ICE offices, Alma Brigido cording to U.S. District Court case records, he was iden- said, “These injustices are happening all over the United  Noticias en Español tified as undocumented on April 25. On May 1, he and States to many families. ... This has got to stop.” Mensaje del Partido Workers World- Mundo Obrero his family marched in an immigrants’ rights rally from Since the election of Trump on Nov. 8, thousands of al Partido Comunista de Cuba 12 Beechview to Brookline. He and his young daughters held students, professors, alumni and others at U.S. universi- El legado de Fidel y la liberación africana 12 a sign that read: “Not one more deportation.” ties have signed petitions asking their schools to protect Gracias, Fidel 12 The next morning, at 6 a.m., ICE officers took Esquiv- undocumented students from deportation. Mensaje de condolencias de la Red de Mujeres el-Hernández from his Pittsburgh home. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are both sanctuary cities. en Lucha del Centro de Acción Internacional 12 Even though Esquivel-Hernández didn’t meet the They are two out of 300 cities from Seattle to Portland, agency’s established criteria for detaining and deporting Maine, where policies have been enacted to refuse to co- Workers World undocumented residents, such as being a threat to public operate with immigration officials or persecute or track 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. safety or national security, ICE continues to hold him in a undocumented migrants. New York, N.Y. 10011 for-profit prison in Youngstown, Ohio. The New Sanctuary Movement in Philadelphia has Phone: 212.627.2994 Martín’s alleged crime is not that he is in the U.S. with- recruited over 750 people to join their Sanctuary in the out authorization (being undocumented is not a crime). Streets campaign, with the intention of disrupting ICE E-mail: [email protected] Rather, U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton has decided to raids and supporting the families being targeted. Web: www.workers.org Vol. 58, No. 48 • Dec. 8, 2016 Closing date: Nov. 29, 2016 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt; Web Editor Gary Wilson Who we are & what we’re fighting for Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned and gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, production is planned to satisfy human need. This outmod- class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-exploit Bob McCubbin ed capitalist system is dragging down workers’ living stan- some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds unity Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, dards while throwing millions out of their jobs. If you’re among all workers while supporting the right of self-de- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, young, you know they’re stealing your future. And capi- termination. Fighting oppression is a working-class issue, Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, talism is threatening the entire planet with its unplanned, which is confirmed by the many labor struggles led today Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, profit-driven stranglehold over the means of production. by people of color, immigrants and women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to make perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; that change. That’s why for 57 years WWP has been back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, building a revolutionary party of the working class inside tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2016 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. National Office Boston Denver Lexington, KY Rochester, N.Y. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. 284 Amory St. [email protected] [email protected] 585.436.6458 except the first week of January by WW Publishers, New York, NY 10011 Boston, MA 02130 Detroit [email protected] 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Phone: 212.627.2994 617.286.6574 Los Angeles 5920 Second Ave. 212.627.2994. Subscriptions: One year: $30; institu- [email protected] [email protected] 5278 W Pico Blvd. Rockford, IL Detroit, MI 48202 Los Angeles, CA 90019 [email protected] tions: $35. Letters to the editor may be condensed and Atlanta Buffalo, N.Y. 313.459.0777 [email protected] edited. Articles can be freely reprinted, with credit to PO Box 18123 712 Main St #113B San Diego [email protected] 323.306.6240 Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY Atlanta, GA 30316 Buffalo, NY 14202 P.O. Box 33447 10011. Back issues and individual articles are available 404.627.0185 716.883.2534 Durham, N.C. 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By Minnie Bruce Pratt construction violates Native sovereignty, ple and our lands throughout history.” Leading the resistance desecrates sacred burial sites and dis- The strength of the water protectors’ Native women and Two-Spirit peo- Standing Rock defense against the honors historical treaties. The pipeline resolve, and the international solidari- ple have been at the forefront of the Dakota Access Pipeline received a new also endangers the safety of the people, ty with Standing Rock, pushed back the #NoDAPL defense of Standing Rock. threat when the U.S. Army Corps of En- their land and water, as well as the drink- Corps, which on Nov. 27 denied any plans They have been disproportionately im- gineers announced on Nov. 25 that it ing water of the 17 million people down- to “forcibly remove activists,” while hint- pacted by sexual exploitation, assault planned to “evict” all water protectors stream on the Missouri River. ing that access to the area may be cut off. and violence in “pipeline towns” along from any land north of the Cannonball It is possible that could mean denial of all the construction route. River. The agency claimed that area as Dec. 5 ‘eviction day’ threat supplies and of water protectors’ freedom On Nov. 27, a women’s march of hun- “Corps-managed federal property.” The Corps’ “eviction day” was desig- to enter. (Reuters) dreds confronted the concrete barriers, Then, on Nov. 28, North Dakota Gov. nated as Dec. 5 — ironically the birth- Of the renewed threat by the governor, razor wire and construction equipment Jack Dalrymple issued an order for all day of U.S. Lt. Col. George A. Custer, Dallas Goldtooth of IEN said in the same on Highway 1806 where water protectors those encamped to evacuate, supposedly commander of the 7th Cavalry famously release, “We remain committed to peace- had been viciously attacked and critically due to weather-related safety concerns. defeated by Lakota and other Plains Na- ful and prayerful civil disobedience. We injured by cops on Nov. 20. Their chants Dalrymple is closely allied with fracking tions at the Battle of the Greasy Grass estimate there are 6,000 people in this rose up, “Respect our water. Respect our and pipeline interests in the state, and has (Little Bighorn). The U.S. Army retaliat- camp, women, children, disabled people, land. Respect our people. Honor our trea- all along shown no concern for the well-be- ed with more massacres of Native peo- veterans, all here for the purpose of pro- ties. Mni Wiconi. Water is life. What do ing of the #NoDAPL water protectors. ples, including one of Cheyenne people tecting the water. We are now in the heart you do when your people are under at- Kandi Mosett, of the Indigenous Envi- at the headwaters of the Powder River on of winter ... and it is terrifying to think that tack? Stand up fight back.” ronmental Network (IEN), commented in Nov. 25, 1876. the State of North Dakota is contemplating Continued on page 4 a Nov. 28 press release, “Our intention has Cheyenne River Sioux Chairman placing the lives of thousands at risk.” always been to be here until the water is Harold Frazier responded to the Corps’ protected. We have no intentions or plans notice on Nov. 26, “I take your letter as to go anywhere.” (tinyurl.com/zkh5gz9) issuing a direct and irresponsible threat Indigenous Day of Mourning The land involved does not properly to the water protectors. It appears to fur- belong to the Army Corps of Engineers, ther empower the militarized police force nor should it be subject to the jurisdiction that has been brutalizing and terrorizing of the state of North Dakota. It is part of our water protectors while imposing the the ancestral home of the Oceti Sakow- blame and the risk on unarmed peaceful in (the Seven Council Fires of the Great people.” (nativenewsonline.org) Sioux Nation). It is also inside the bound- He added, “We will no longer allow our aries of the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty, a rights as a Tribe or as Indigenous peo- treaty with the U.S. that is still in effect. ple as a whole to continue to be eroded. Since April, encampments have been This decision, coming on the heels of the set up there by Indigenous nations and Thanksgiving holiday, is not only disre- allies in militant, determined #NoDAPL spectful, but continues the cycle of rac- resistance. The pipeline currently under ism and oppression imposed on our peo- Emeryville, Calif.

Plymouth, Mass. WW PHOTO: STEVE KIRSCHBAUM The 47th annual National Day of ongoing struggle to free beloved Native Mourning organized by the United Amer- political prisoner Leonard Peltier, who ican Indians of New England was held sent a letter of solidarity to NDOM. In- Nov. 24 in Plymouth, Mass., to debunk creased efforts are being made to force the racist myth of “Thanksgiving.” Over President Obama to grant clemency for 1,000 people gathered in solidarity with 72-year-old Peltier, falsely imprisoned the fighting spirit of Indigenous peoples, since 1976 and in failing health. ‘No mall on Ohlone sacred site!’ who continue to resist racist U.S. geno- The rally of all Indigenous speakers cidal policies dating back to Christopher included UAINE co-chairs, Moonanum The Ohlone people and their support- ganizers, asked for support to stop a new Columbus. James (Aquinnah Wampanoag) and ers held the 17th annual protest at the threat to the West Berkeley Shellmound That resistance lives on today, espe- Mahtowin Munro (Lakota), Thalia Car- Bay Mall in Emeryville, Calif., on Nov. where developers want to create an un- cially in Standing Rock, N.D., where hun- roll Cachimuel (Kichwa), Juan Gonzalez 25, the day pushed by retail businesses as derground parking lot by digging into the dreds of Native nations have united since (Maya), Bert Waters (Wampanoag), Deb- so-called “Black Friday.” This infamous sacred site. Public hearings on this issue last spring against the building of the orah Spears Moorehead (Wampanoag) mall was built upon an Ohlone people’s are being held in Berkeley on Dec. 1 and 8. multibillion-dollar Dakota Access Pipe- and the Nettukusqk Eastern Woodland Shellmound. There was also a packed house for a line within a four-state radius. The DAPL Singers. Additional speakers were Billy Supporters spread out over several fundraiser for the warriors at Standing threatens to poison the water supply of at Myers (Iahtehotas), Sister Bello (Mexi- blocks distributing fliers to shoppers, Rock, N.D., on Nov. 27 at the Intertribal least 17 million people and desecrate sa- cana), Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Cheyenne asking them not to shop at this mall. Ev- Friendship House in Oakland. Several cred burial lands. Indigenous peoples and River Lakota Nation) and Elder Vanessa eryone converged back at the sacred site people who had traveled there reported their supporters there have endured and Meztli Inaru (Taino). at 2 p.m. to hear speakers and join the on the situation. Everyone listened in- resisted unimaginable brutality by milita- Following the rally, a spirited march closing ceremony. The event’s Facebook tently when a participant at the Standing rized police and private mercenaries from took place before everyone enjoyed a col- page noted that over 200 people came Rock encampment called into the event such companies as G4S, a global security lective feast. For updates, check workers. together to “draw connections between with a status update about the struggle. firm notorious for human rights abuses. org. the amazing resistance by Water Protec- — Story and photo by Terri Kay Another major focus for NDOM is the — Monica Moorehead tors in Standing Rock and the protection of sacred sites here at home in the Bay Area.” (tinyurl.com/jqy6ppy) Standing Rock supporters crash Detroit The same post explains, “In 1999, the City of Emeryville built the mall that now sits on the corner of Shellmound Street ‘Thanksgiving’ parade and Ohlone Way. This space was once an By Mond Rock camp in North Dakota. Ohlone village site and it was one of the Detroit People running the “Turkey Trot” mar- largest Shellmounds in the Bay Area. The athon seemed to give positive responses sacred Shellmound once stood over 60 Starting early on Thursday morning, to the demonstrators. Performers in the feet high and 350 feet in diameter and it Nov. 24, activists came from all over parade, however, looked as if their spot- was considered the largest funerary com- southeastern Michigan to demonstrate light had been stolen, stolen like the land plex of the Ohlone people. solidarity with the Water Protectors at on which their floats glided. “When the mall was built, we peti- Standing Rock in the midst of the annu- Passersby often joined in, in support of tioned the city council and asked them al “America’s Thanksgiving Parade” in our message in solidarity with the Indig- not to destroy our sacred sites, but the de- downtown Detroit. Demonstrators were enous struggle to stop the Dakota Access velopers and the businesses ignored our vocal about their disdain for not only the Pipeline. There was a wide variety of age voices. Although the mall was built, our colonialist celebration of the genocide of groups among the ranks of the demon- resistance is alive and it has never died.” Native peoples, but also the disregard strating activists, with the youth leading WW PHOTO: JULES AYRES Corrina Gould, one of the Ohlone or- for the current situation at the Standing most of the chants. Support for water protectors, Nov. 24. Page 4 Dec. 8, 2016 workers.org

State to Flint and Detroit: ‘You have no rights’

By Matty Starrdust and Sue Davis By Martha Grevatt emergency manager; the elected to Detroit water, but the re- Detroit school board has no real pow- placement of lead service lines er. DPS debt ballooned under has been at a snail’s pace. While Calif. largest public employees union Attorneys for the state of emergency management, with properly filtered water has been set to strike Michigan have filed a 62-page interest payments to the banks deemed safe to drink, many motion to dismiss a lawsuit on sapping much-needed funds. households still lack correctly Some 95,000 California civil service workers represented by behalf of children in the Detroit The tax base was eroded over installed, functioning filters. Service Employees Local 1000 voted to strike Dec. 5 after con- Public Schools. The DPS student decades, first by auto plant clos- On Nov. 10, federal Judge Da- tract ­negotiations hit a standstill on Nov. 22. The majority-women body is over 90 percent African ings and then by falling home vid Lawson ordered the state to workforce, including administrative assistants, custodians, nurses, American. The lawsuit argues values after the banks created distribute bottled water door- teachers and others, accused the state of bargaining unfairly and re- that, based on the 14th Amend- the foreclosure crisis. Low-per- to-door to anyone still unable fusing to close the gender pay gap. According to Local 1000 President ment, all children have the right forming, for-profit charter to drink water from their faucet. Yvonne R. Walker: “Since June, the state has had a ‘take it or leave it’ to literacy. This right is denied schools are a financial drain. The order came after the Natu- approach and has engaged in unlawful conduct and bad faith bar- by the conditions under which The current EM, ­federal ral Resources Defense Council gaining. The state has inexplicably failed to budge from its opening Detroit children are forced to Bank­ruptcy Judge Steven sued on behalf of Flint residents. proposal on ­salary and benefits and has even bargained regressively.” learn: buildings infested with Rhodes, presided over the De- As with literacy, the state de- (seiu1000.org/strike) The state’s proposed pay increases — a paltry rodents, insects and mold; class- troit municipal bankruptcy nies that even water is a human 2.96 percent each year for four years — would be offset by cuts to rooms that are frigid in winter through which city EM Kevyn right. On Nov. 21, attorneys for employee and retiree health care plans. (sacbee.com, Nov. 22) or steaming hot due to mal- Orr slashed retiree pensions and State Treasurer Nick Khouri Meanwhile, Gov. Jerry Brown’s bargaining team has refused to functioning heaters; widespread handed city assets over to pri- filed a notice of appeal of the respond to the union’s concerns about the pervasive gender pay gap shortages of books, desks, sup- vate, state or regional control. judge’s order, claiming it “in- among California public workers. According to a Human Resourc- plies and even teachers; and creases the scope of the state’s es Department report, women earn 79.5 cents for every dollar men class sizes over 50. Teachers ‘Flint has no right to water’ emergency response to an un- workers are paid. Despite this injustice, state unions representing staged walkouts during the Though out of the public necessary and insurmountable more male-dominated professions such as engineers, lawyers and previous school year to protest spotlight, Flint, Mich., contin- degree.” As of this writing on scientists have negotiated substantially higher pay raises. (sacbee. these deplorable conditions. ues to suffer from a water crisis Nov. 27, the state has not begun com, Oct. 28) Workers and supporters are urged to join picket lines Assistant Attorney General caused by decisions made by delivering water, forcing resi- throughout the state on Dec. 5. Thomas Haynes argued that state-appointed EMs. The city dents to continue to go to a dis- “literacy is a component or par- was lead-poisoned after the tribution center. Because Flint, Federal injunction halts expansion ticular outcome of education, EM decided to stop supplying like Detroit, is a majority-Black of overtime eligibility not a right granted to individ- water from the Detroit Water city teeming with the state’s A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Nov. 22 against uals by the Constitution” and and Sewerage Department and poorest residents, many people a new expansion of overtime eligibility for millions of workers. that “the U.S. Supreme Court draw water from the polluted do not own vehicles, which only A predictable assortment of business groups, headed by the U.S. has unambiguously rejected Flint River. When Flint, in or- increases their hardship. Chamber of Commerce and the National Retail Federation, as well as the claim that public education der to cut costs, did not add an- The state of Michigan is bra- a coalition of 21 states, led the opposition to the new Department of is a fundamental right.” Ap- ti-corrosive chemicals, the lead zenly asserting that Detroit and Labor regulation. Under the old regulation, only workers with a yearly parently he slept during class from aging pipes leached into Flint have no rights the state is salary of $23,660 or less were qualified for overtime pay, meaning when Brown v. Board of Edu- the water supply. Children with bound to respect. The election one-and-a-half times their regular hourly pay for work above 40 cation was discussed. elevated blood lead levels were of Donald Trump as president hours a week. The new regulation, which was scheduled to go into Since 1999, DPS has been suddenly failing school. has likely further emboldened effect Dec. 1, raised that yearly salary to $47,476, which would grant under a governor-appointed Flint has since switched back these racist politicians. the right to overtime pay to 4.2 million workers. Since Congress first enacted the rule in 1938, the Labor Department had raised the salary At Standing Rock base repeatedly, until 2004. It hasn’t been raised since then. The DOL is considering an appeal to the judge’s ruling. The injunction is a gift on a silver platter to Trump, who has vowed Oceti Sakowin defy U.S. Army Corps threats to reverse many regulations instituted by the Obama administration. Continued from page 3 However, she was immediately Indigenous rights. She is now a However, as the Nov. 23 New York Times observed, rescinding the taken to the federal courthouse political prisoner. rule could require a lengthy process similar to the one that produced Calls have also gone out for in Bismarck, where she was Red Power Media comment- it, and might lead to a “deal” raising the limit more gradually below the immediate release of Red charged with possession of a ed Nov. 7 on Red Fawn’s arrest: the slated amount. The Times noted that “the politics of essentially Fawn Fallis, arrested along weapon and denied bond. “To some pipeline protesters, withdrawing a planned salary increase from many workers could with 140 other water protectors Red Fawn Fallis was con- who described [her] as a pas- prove complicated for an incoming president elected on a message on Oct. 27. Fallis was brutally sidered a “mother” by many sionate activist dedicated to of improving workers’ economic circumstances.” Will Trump help arrested while walking away youth at Standing Rock. She peaceful tactics, her detention middle-income workers or side with his wealthy business buddies and from cops, who then accused often used a four-wheel vehi- is the latest sign that North his own narrow interests as a boss? her of firing a gun at them. By- cle to rescue those who needed Dakota police are aggressively standers assert she had no gun, medical attention during police targeting a growing movement N.C. sweet potato farmworkers but the charges could punish confrontations. An American and will go to great lengths to her with 20 years in jail. Indian Movement member, protect a powerful corpora- win back wages, union rights Fallis had the state charges Fallis is from an Oglala Lakota tion threatening sacred tribal If you’ve enjoyed a sweet potato recently, chances are it was har- against her dropped on Nov. 29. family dedicated to fighting for lands.” vested in North Carolina by migrant farmworkers, who supply nearly half of all sweet potatoes in the U.S. Although the state’s minimum wage is currently $7.25, the workers who produce the state vegetable th are paid piece rates that fall well below the minimum wage. (america. On the 35 be in aljazeera.com, Nov. 27, 2014) In 2014, four farmworkers at Birch Farms filed a lawsuit against Anniversary of Philadelphia their employer for widespread wage theft and other labor law vi- olations. With help from the AFL-CIO’s Farm Labor Organizing Fri Committee, the workers negotiated a settlement that included over MUMIA Dec 9 $7,000 in payouts to the four plaintiffs, remunerations for the rest of 3 pm Rally & March the workers and a three-year collective bargaining contract. In total, Frank Rizzo statue Birch Farms paid out over $200,000. Armed with union power, the ABU-JAMAL’s 15th St. and JFK Blvd. workers have won an hourly pay raise to $10.72, as well as protection 5:30 FRAMEUP AND pm Indoor event from unjust firing. (floc.com) Arch Street United Methodist Church ARREST, NOW Corner Arch St. and Broad St. Workers win contracts at Giant Food, Safeway Food will be available for donation The 17,000 grocery workers at Giant Food and Safeway stores in 6 pm – 9 pm Program mid-Atlantic states were prepared to strike on Nov. 18 to prevent MUMIA’S LIFE IS IN 215.724.1618 takebacks such as higher health insurance costs — which would wipe [email protected] out wage increases — and elimination of higher pay on Sundays. But they didn’t have to strike to get the three-year contract they ratified IMMEDIATE DANGER NYC-Newark Bus Info 212.330.8029 Nov. 16. Starting wages are now increased to over $9 an hour for $20 round trip We got Mumia off death row, now demand immediate members of Local 27 and Local 400 of the Food and Commercial tickets must be purchased by Dec 6 HEP C cure for Mumia and 7,000 other PA hep-c infected Workers. Wages will increase more frequently based on months of 10 AM Maysles Cinema prisoners! Mumia and many others are very sick , and service, not number of hours worked. The workers credit their win to 343 Malcolm X Blvd, between 127th & 128th will die if PA keeps refusing to treat them! Federal Judge ­ th widespread customer support for the union’s demands. 11 AM 475 10th Ave between 36th & 37 Robert D. Mariani declares this unconstitutional! 12 noon 53 Lincoln Park, Newark workers.org Dec. 8, 2016 Page 5 Remembering a revolutionary Meeting with Fidel By Berta Joubert-Ceci

Much has been said and written about Comandante Fidel’s contributions to lib- eration struggles in Latin America, the Caribbean and all over the world. His personal contributions and his attributes 1960 are rarely highlighted enough. It was Fi- del’s revolutionary qualities that made Harlem his leadership take such a gigantic step forward on behalf of peoples’ liberation welcomed Cubans and revolutionary socialism, not only in a question, wanted to learn more, learn By Stephen Millies Cuba but also internationally. about the reasons, the basis of an affir- Fidel left such a tremendous legacy, so mation. I had never met anyone like him. When Cuba’s delegation arrived in many lessons, teaching through personal Through his conversation with Den- New York City in September 1960 to at- example how to be a true and consistent nis Banks we learned about the struggle tend the United Nations General Assem- revolutionary socialist! to preserve the language and history of bly, the Eisenhower administration had I met Fidel in 1993 during a medi- the Native peoples in the U.S. With Alice already stopped Cuba’s sugar exports to cal-aid delegation to the island. Former Walker the topic was Africa’s lack of ad- the U.S. This big economic blow was the tel property. U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, equate development due to colonialism real beginning of the U.S. blockade — Fidel decided to leave the Shel- writer Alice Walker and American Indi- and her research for her book on girls’ which remains in effect as of this writing burne immediately. He told U.N. Secre- an Movement founder Dennis Banks led genital mutilation. With me, knowing — against the Caribbean country. tary-General Dag Hammarskjold that the 10-person delegation, which also in- that I am Boricua, the conversation was The Cuban delegation was even con- the Cubans were going to set up tents on cluded several medical doctors. about the annihilation of our Taíno In- fined to Manhattan during its stay, an the grounds of the U.N. It was a time of an optic neuropathy ep- digenous people by Spanish colonialism extremely hostile act. Instead, the Cubans went to Harlem. idemic that affected thousands of Cubans and the current status of Puerto Rico un- Fidel Castro and other Cubans initially Raúl Roa Kouri, whose father Raúl Roa and was exacerbated by the U.S. criminal der U.S. domination. stayed at the swanky Shelburne Hotel lo- was Cuban foreign minister, told Fidel, “I blockade on Cuba, which imposed great Fidel is now more alive than ever. He cated near the United Nations. But after have a hotel.” difficulties in obtaining materials from has become the bond uniting people all the Cubans arrived, the hotel manager “Which hotel?” asked Fidel. abroad. The crisis, however, was resolved over the world. It is no accident that the demanded a $20,000 security deposit, “The Hotel Theresa,” said Roa Kouri. like so many difficulties in Cuba through quality usually studied first about Fidel is ostensibly because of threats from coun- “Where is this hotel?” asked Fidel. the creative spirit of the Revolution in- the concept of unity. terrevolutionaries. Capitalist newspapers “It’s in Harlem.” spired by Fidel — not to accept a defeat, Viva Fidel! Long live the international were filled with racist anti-Cuban stories Fidel asked Raúl how he was sure he but to transform it into victory. socialist struggle! claiming delegation members had chick- could book the hotel. “Through Malcolm That is how the setback after the July Joubert-Ceci is editor of Mundo Obrero. ens in their rooms and had damaged ho- X,” replied Raúl. 26, 1953, attack on the Moncada — when “Go get Taber” [Ron Taber of the Fair many revolutionaries were killed by Ba- Play for Cuba Committee], said Fidel, tista’s forces and Fidel was imprisoned — “and then go see Malcolm X. And book later became a victorious revolution. Upholding Marxism-Leninism the Theresa Hotel.” The delegation met Fidel late at The Cuban delegation arrived at the night for three hours at the Palacio de By Fred Goldstein Lippmann in Cuba News in 2007. As part Hotel Theresa on 125th Street and Sev- la Revolución. His great ability to con- of this background, Fidel told the Cuban enth Avenue (now Adam Clayton Powell verse with people was impressive. He With the death of one of the greatest people the following: Jr. Boulevard) after midnight on Sept. 20. made us feel at ease and got us to talk revolutionaries of modern times, many “What is the socialism we have to apply People had already gathered to greet about valuable and relevant issues, while recollections will be penned: of the incred- here? Utopian socialism? Fidel. “When he stepped out of the car deepening our own understanding and ible revolutionary deeds he carried out “We simply have to apply scientific and was whisked quickly into the un- ability to reflect on them. with his comrades; stories illuminating socialism. That is why I began by say- pretentious, aging Theresa, smack in the This wasn’t just a nice personal fea- his personality; political recollections, etc. ing with complete frankness that we be- middle of Harlem, a roar of welcome went ture. It illustrated vividly his thoroughly Collectively these will all add up to a lieve in Marxism, that we believe it is the up. ‘We want Castro!’ chanted the crowd.” dialectical approach to life, what we as rich picture of an indomitable revolution- most correct, the most scientific theory, (New York Citizen-Call, Sept. 24, 1960) Marxist revolutionaries must constantly ary. It is also helpful to bring out the role the only truly revolutionary theory. I say Black people knew that the Cuban be vigilant about and pursue, particularly of revolutionary theory in Fidel’s historic that here with complete satisfaction (ap- Revolution was committed to fighting when we live in a society marked by meta- achievements. plause) and with complete confidence: I racism. The revolution’s first act was to physical thought — the premise that basi- In a lengthy speech carried on televi- am a Marxist-Leninist, and I shall be a desegregate the tourist beaches from cally things don’t change and that there is sion and radio throughout Cuba on Dec. Marxist-Leninist to the end of my life which Black Cubans had been barred. no interrelation with other developments. 2, 1961, the fifth anniversary of the land- (prolonged applause).” The famous Black radical writer and poet Casual conversation was not part of Fi- ing of the Granma, Fidel gave a back- Fidel had already declared for the so- Langston Hughes visited Fidel Castro. del’s vocabulary. For him, every person he ground to the development of the Cuban cialist revolution the day before the Bay Thousands of people lined the streets met was a source of new information, of Revolution. The transcript of the speech of Pigs invasion in April 1961, but Dec. 2 every night to greet the Cubans, who in- new experiences. Talking with Fidel was was published by Fair Play for Cuba in was his first public, personal declaration cluded Juan Almeida, a Black Cuban who like unraveling a mystery. He always had February 1962 and republished by Walter for Marxism-Leninism. had been a commander of the guerrilla Fidel’s declaration of his adherence to army. Vince Copeland, editor of Workers Marxism-Leninism is not in isolation. In World newspaper at the time, went there the broadcast, Fidel revealed his thor- too. Workers World Party salutes Cuban leader ough familiarity with revolutionary and The Cuban delegation organized a social history. He cites Karl Marx and his dinner to thank the workers at the Hotel Continued from page 1 rich. He always spoke truth to power. collaborator, Frederick Engels. He cites Theresa. That’s something U.S. imperial- vicious Cold War. And he had such rapport with his audi- V.I. Lenin as the theorist who adapted ist diplomats would never think of doing. Marx to the 20th century; he discusses Who can forget Fidel’s defiance at the ences! So many shouted-out replies to his Fidel meets with Malcolm X Bay of Pigs, his great energy concentrat- questions, so much honest laughter at his primary communism, slavery, the rise of ed on winning both the military and po- well-aimed jokes. He spoke for and lis- the bourgeoisie and the rise of the pro- Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev came litical battles? It was on April 16, 1961, tened to the people to a degree few lead- letariat; the French Revolution, the Rus- to Harlem to meet with Fidel Castro. So while U.S. mercenaries were invading ers ever achieve. sian Revolution and many other aspects did Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Cuba and Fidel was leading the counter- Fidel had a long and glorious life. We of history that show his theoretical mas- But it was the important meeting Fidel attack, that he said for the first time, “The knew his body could not survive forev- tery of Marxism-Leninism. Castro had with Mosque No. 7 Minister Yankee imperialists cannot forgive us for er. But he truly lives on in the hearts and He urges leaders to study theory and Malcolm X that symbolized the alliance having made a socialist revolution under brains of hundreds of millions of people. to be able to apply it. He summed up his between the Cuban Revolution and the their very noses.” The die was cast. Cuba We mourn his loss today, but we will in- appreciation of Marx: “What is the his- Black Liberation Movement in the U.S. would never go back to capitalist slavery. voke his name tomorrow and for future torical merit of Marx? Marx writes some- Malcolm later wrote in his autobiog- Who can forget his ringing speeches to generations as we continue to fight for a thing, a correct interpretation of what raphy that Fidel “achieved a psychologi- the Cuban people? He meticulously went socialist system to undo the terrible dam- was going to happen, not simply because cal coup over the U.S. State Department over the concrete lessons of each new age capitalism has inflicted on the workers people wanted it, but because the very when it confined him to Manhattan, nev- revolutionary initiative and demolished and oppressed and on our entire planet. laws of historical evolution predeter- er dreaming he’d stay uptown in Harlem.” the lies of the parasites, those who had Larry Holmes, First Secretary mined it. This is the great merit of Marx, Source: “Fidel & Malcolm X: Memo- treated the island as nothing but a source National Committee the founder of scientific socialism, which ries of a Meeting” by Rosemari Mealy of cheap labor and entertainment for the Workers World Party, USA gives the working class a theory.” (Ocean Press). Page 6 Dec. 8, 2016 workers.org Kaepernick defends Cuba’s gains

By Monica Moorehead

Colin Kaepernick, the African-Ameri- can quarterback with the National Foot- ball League’s San Francisco 49ers, has arguably been the number one story inter- twining sports and politics since late Au- gust. His sitting down, followed by taking a knee to protest the playing of the nation- al anthem before NFL games, has helped to elevate mass consciousness on the sys- Fidel Castro and Malcolm X at the Hotel Theresa. tematic racism in the capitalist system, es- I agree with the investment in education. pecially police violence heaped upon Black I also agree with the investment in free and Brown people. His courageous act of kneeling, week after week, has encour- universal health care, as well as the aged others, especially Black and Brown involvement in helping end apartheid youth, many of them athletes in all kinds in South Africa. – Colin Kaepernick of sports, to also protest police brutality and other forms of racist violence. Kaepernick sponsored a “Know Your stop the most contemptible, outrageous Rights” conference in Oakland, Calif., on attacks on a professional football player Sept. 29 for at least 100 Black and Brown who has dared to take on white suprema- youth. They discussed and issued a cy in his own unique way. 10-point program, modeled on the Black It proves again that a high-profile ath- Panther Party program, to help empow- lete like Kaepernick has the influence to er youth, including knowing their legal help bring about more awareness by con- rights when confronted by police. with the Miami Herald, Armando Salgue- also agree with the investment in free uni- necting institutionalized racism at home ro, asked Kaepernick during a Nov. 23 versal health care, as well as the involve- to U.S. foreign policy abroad, which is a Focus on main message: press conference before the 49ers played ment in helping end apartheid in South threat to the political stability of the cap- ‘Fight police brutality’ the Miami Dolphins why he wore the shirt. Africa. ... I said I support the investment italist class and its apologists. Kaepernick has expressed solidarity on Kaepernick first responded that Mal- in education... .” (USA Today, Nov. 28) Michael Smith, a co-host of ESPN’s Twitter with Indigenous nations leading colm X is a hero of his and he supported Did Kaepernick utter the words “so- “His and Hers,” stated on Nov. 28 that the heroic struggle against the building of his ideology. When Salguero stridently cialism” or “revolution” to praise Fidel any attacks on Kaepernick’s remarks on the Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing asked him why wear a shirt with Fidel, Castro? No, and it didn’t matter because Fidel Castro should not be used to dis- Rock, N.D., and for an Indigenous Peo- Kaepernick stated calmly that Malcolm even the mildest of positive or negative tract attention from his main message — ples’ Day, not “Thanksgiving.” was always a person open to new ideas, comments about Fidel Castro did not fighting police brutality. While Kaepernick has gained millions one of the traits he admired most about of admirers, he has also been viciously him. He also stated that “Castro did help attacked by neoliberals and right-wingers create a highest literacy rate because of every stripe for the form and content [Cuba invests] more in their educational of protest he has taken. Some have even system than they do in their prison sys- stated that the protest has gone on too tem, which we do not do here [United long and that he should cease, which he States] even though we’re fully capable has refused to do. of doing that.” When Salguero went on to And now the vitriolic nature of attacks say that Castro “divided Cuban families,” against Kaepernick has reached an even Kaepernick retorted that mass incarcera- higher crescendo over recent remarks he tion in the U.S. divides families. made about former Cuban President Fi- At a Nov. 27 press conference, the same del Castro before and after his death. reporter asked Kaepernick if he felt the In response to a shirt that Kaepernick same way about Castro upon his death. wore in early September showing a meet- Kaepernick repeated some of the points Fidel Castro, Teófilo Stevenson and ing of Fidel Castro and Malcolm X in Har- he had made earlier: “What I said was I Muhammad Ali in Havana 1996. lem in 1960, a Cuban-American reporter agree with the investment in education. I ‘Under the noses of the imperialists’

By Deirdre Griswold were about to drop bombs and the mer- Cuba turns back Bay of Pigs ­invasion cenaries were poised to invade Cuba’s Fidel explained, how in that forgotten area It was April 16, 1961. Cuba was about to sparsely populated southern coast. The be invaded by thousands of counterrev- plan was to grab a foothold there so they of small, impoverished coastal villages, the olutionaries organized, trained and could declare a “Free Cuba,” set up a revolution had brought education and armed into a military force by the “provisional government” and then call dignity to the people for the first time. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. in open U.S. military support. They were not going back. Young men and women in berets But the local militia, defenders of the were crowded into the New York revolution, was able to pin down the in- office of the pro-Cuban Revolution vaders long enough for Fidel and regu- group, the 26th of July Movement, lar army troops to race south. Fidel ex- on West 139th Street in Spanish Har- plained it later, how in that forgotten area lem. Static sputtered from a shortwave of small, impoverished coastal villages, radio and everyone grew quiet. Fidel was the revolution had brought education and about to speak. dignity to the people for the first time. My Spanish was barely adequate, but I They were not going back. got the thrust of his talk: A declaration of And the revolution was not going back. defiance aimed at those who were trying It was socialist and would never let the to undo the glorious Cuban Revolution, exploiters run the country again, not at which had finally brought justice to the the Bay of Pigs, not anywhere. common people of Cuba. Griswold was secretary of the Fran- Suddenly, everyone cheered. Berets cisco Molina Defense Committee, which were thrown in the air. There was hug- in 1961 fought for the release of a young ging and jumping for joy. Cuban worker framed for murder in “What did he say?” I asked. New York. Testifying against him were One compañero took pity on me and Cuban counterrevolutionaries later translated: “He said we have made a so- captured at the Bay of Pigs. He was cialist revolution right under the noses of released and returned to Cuba as part the Yankee imperialists!” of the prisoner exchange after the defeat He said it right as U.S.-supplied planes of the invasion. workers.org Dec. 8, 2016 Page 7 Fidel’s legacy and African liberation

By Abayomi Azikiwe Editor, Pan-African News Wire

No other political figure outside of Af- rica symbolized global solidarity with the aspirations of the people, from the north- ern regions to the subcontinent, more than Comandante President Fidel Castro Ruz of the Republic of Cuba. Historical, political and cultural ties between the people of Africa and Cuba Fidel Castro and Malcolm X at the Hotel Theresa. extend back over five centuries. Cuba was colonized by European empires utilizing the labor of enslaved Africans, whose su- per-exploitation laid the basis for the rise The battle of Cuito Cuanavale, above. of world capitalism and imperialism. In a speech delivered in Havana by “Castro led the Cuban revolution and President Castro on April 19, 1976, com- dedicated his entire life not only to the memorating the 15th anniversary of the freedom of the Cuban people and the heroic victory over exiled mercenaries right of the Cuban state to sovereignty coordinated by CIA operatives at Pla- and self-determination, but also the free- ya Giron (Bay of Pigs), the Cuban leader With Nelson Mandela, dom of other oppressed people around said, “We are a Latin African people — first post-apartheid president of South Africa. the world.” enemies of colonialism, neocolonialism,  – President Jacob Zuma, South Africa racism, apartheid, which Yankee imperi- alism aids and protects.” Castro was responding to U.S. propa- ganda castigating the role of the socialist state, which had deployed 55,000 of its own troops beginning in October 1975 at the request of Dr. Agostinho Neto, leader of the Popular Movement for the Libera- tion of Angola (MPLA), the Marxist-led independence front. The MPLA had done most of the fight- ing against Portuguese colonialism since Fidel Castro with Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde With Agostinho Neto, first With Kwame Nkrumah, first president 1961. It was increasingly being surround- liberation leader Amilcar Cabral. president of Angola. of Ghana. ed by U.S.-backed reactionary forces of the Front for the National Liberation of With Ethiopian a great friend of Zimbabwe and Africa. only to fight in the war, but also to eco- Angola and the Union for the Total Inde- President Lieutenant U.S. imperialism has imposed sanctions nomically liberate ourselves afterwards.” pendence of Angola. Colonel Mengistu Cuba’s 1975-76 intervention proved Haile Mariam. on both Cuba and Zimbabwe for many years. (Nov. 27) Enormous Cuban assistance decisive in the rapid consolidation of the in Ebola epidemic MPLA as the ruling party in the oil-rich The Sunday Mail also noted how both state of Angola. Cuban internationalists President Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, In 2014, Cuban medical personnel would remain in Angola until 1989, af- leader of the Zimbabwe African People’s were deployed to Liberia and Sierra Le- ter the defeat of the racist South African Union-Patriotic Front, were indebted to one after the rapid spread of the Ebola forces and the independence of neighbor- the support provided by Cuba in the Afri- pandemic. The outbreak, the worst in ing Namibia (South West Africa), which can revolutionary process. history, hit three West African states: Li- had been under the occupation of the ZAPU-PF’s military wing, the Zimba- beria, Guinea-Conakry and Sierra Leone. apartheid regime. bwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIP- Even the U.S. corporate media and RA) enjoyed the support of the Cuban government were forced to acknowledge Africans mourn death of Fidel struggle in Angola “was the watershed government during the guerilla campaign Cuba’s phenomenal contribution to the Numerous African political leaders moment in southern African liberation.” fought against the Rhodesian and South efforts to contain and eradicate the dis- have expressed condolences to the Cuban SWAPO’s military units fought along- African armies. ease, which left over 11,000 people dead government and people. side the Angolan defense forces, Um Former ZIPRA cadre Grace Noko said, and thousands more gravely ill, includ- The nation of Algeria in North Africa Khonto we Sizwe, the guerilla army of the “When we went for training in Cuba, we ing health care professionals in the three declared eight days of official mourning African National Congress and the Cuban were well-received and were treated well countries. in honor of the revolutionary leader, who internationalists in battles for the total during the course of our training. ... Cas- An article published by this author assisted in the defense of the country independence of Angola. tro was a warm man who hated racism during the height of the Ebola pandemic during the early years of national inde- President Jacob Zuma, current leader and oppression. He hated people who de- on Nov. 4, 2014, was reprinted in August pendence from France. of the ANC ruling party of South Africa, spised blacks because of their color.” of this year by the Cuban leader’s website, Algerian President Abdelaziz Boutef- recounted, “Castro led the Cuban revolu- Noko added that “our leaders, the likes fidelcastro.cu. It stressed that “Cuban lika saluted the late Cuban revolutionary tion and dedicated his entire life not only of Dr. Joshua Nkomo, were inspired by health care workers have played a leading as “an authentic defender of the values of to the freedom of the Cuban people and Castro. He counseled them along the lines role on the African continent for decades. peace, respect and national sovereignty, the right of the Cuban state to sovereignty of the right to independence, economic The revolutionary government views its and of his uncompromising struggle for and self-determination, but also the free- freedom and the need to fight inequality. work in the fight against the Ebola Virus the rights of people to self-determination. dom of other oppressed people around The training was well-conducted, tough Disease (EVD) as a manifestation of inter- ... This is also a great loss for the people the world.” and of high standard. We were trained not nationalism and solidarity with Africa.” of Algeria who have a special relationship South African Minister of Trade Rob with El Comandante, made of respect, Davies emphasized how “Castro was one admiration and mutual affection.” (Xin- of the giants of the revolution in the 20th hua News Agency, Nov. 27) century. He played a pivotal role in the President José Eduardo dos Santos liberation of Southern Africa, particular- of the Republic of Angola called Castro ly in the battle of Cuito Cuanavale — the “an extraordinary figure of transcendent Stalingrad of apartheid. Castro showed historical importance.” Approximately a incredible solidarity and ensured that our total of 350,000 Cuban internationalists fighters prevailed, making the transition served in Angola during the war against in South Africa unstoppable.” the U.S.-supported forces of counterrevo- Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi lution, including the well-armed and bru- stressed, “Through the Mandela-Castro tal South African army. initiative, Castro sent doctors to South Others weighing in on the passing of Africa to work in rural hospitals. Cuban Fidel Castro included Republic of Namib- doctors are taught to work in prima- ia President Hage Geingob of the South ry health care, which is what the world West Africa People’s Organization, the needs, and in this way Castro was ahead national liberation movement turned rul- of his time.” (iol.co.za, Nov. 26) Cuban doctors spared no effort in attempting ing political party that has maintained The Zimbabwe Sunday Mail quot- to stop the spread of Ebola in West Africa. power in the post-apartheid state since ed President Robert Mugabe as saying Now they have returned home to their families, independence in March 1990. He said the on numerous occasions that Fidel was mission accomplished. PHOTO: RAMÓN BARRERAS VALDÉS Page 8 Dec. 8, 2016 workers.org

In wake of Fidel’s death, reflections on MARIELA‘ CASTRO’S MARCH: CUBA’S LGBT REVOLUTION’ By Teresa Gutierrez The first time I traveled to Cuba years that time. works closely, hand-in-hand, with LGBTQ ago, an 88-year-old woman beckoned to When Units to Aid Military Production Cubans in defining the current work. The documentary “Mariela Castro’s me from her wheelchair to come talk with (UMAP) work brigades were mobilized to I am also aware that the work took on March: Cuba’s LGBT Revolution” aired her. Her family was wealthy and had fled help Cuba out of an economic crisis, gay greater importance because it was Mari- on Nov. 28 on HBO. to Miami after the Revolution. My grand- men, along with religious conscientious ela, a revolutionary socialist in her own It likely had a wider audience coming af- mother had just died and listening to objectors, were assigned to those units right, whose contribution should be rec- ter the death of our beloved comrade Fidel this woman’s support for the Revolution instead of military service. (Leslie Fein- ognized and commended. Castro. Already the right-wing propagan- brought me to tears. berg, “Lavender and Red”) The Cuban government has prioritized da that attacks Cuba on the issue of LGBT During that visit, I was utterly filled UMAP brigades were not internment doing the necessary work to change at- rights has begun. This is nothing new. with euphoria. All I could think about was camps, but there was prejudice and some titudes in society on the LGBTQ issue. The documentary should be seen with- how when my grandmother went to the serious ill-treatment of gay men. Because They have done more than the capitalist in a particular context, however. hospital, she worried if her insurance cov- of this, about a hundred young men from government in the U.S. will ever do. The The Cuban Revolution is one of the ered everything. Because in Cuba not only the Communist Youth were sent under- Cuban government defends and fights greatest revolutions of all times. Fidel is is health care virtually free, but a doctor cover to investigate. After their report, for all its people. There is no Wall Street a leader like no other; he will go down in lives in almost every neighborhood. the brigades were closed down. (Ernesto there to dictate policy. history as a beloved revolutionary. As a person of color, a weight flies off Cardenal, “In Cuba”) The government allowed the docu- Yes, mistakes were made in the ear- your shoulders knowing there is abso- In 2010, Fidel humbly acknowledged mentary to show the errors made, even ly years of the revolution on the LGBTQ lutely no police terror in Cuba. in an interview with La Jornada that by Communist Party members. This be- issue. Yes, there is still work to be done Many times over the years Cubans these early acts were “a great injustice” lies the myth that there is no free speech today. But backward ideas on this or any have warned us to shake off that eupho- to gay people and a mistake. He had in Cuba. social issue come not from the Revolu- ria. One Cuban leader said, “We are not earlier affirmed in 1992, “I am absolute- Things are not perfect in Cuba; it’s not a tion but from the legacy of colonialism the hell our enemies claim; nor are we the ly opposed to any form of repression, paradise. But there are no trans murders and Catholicism. Centuries of colonial- paradise our friends declare either.” contempt, scorn or discrimination with in Cuba, which are rampant in the U.S. ism cannot be eradicated in less than 60 “Mariela Castro’s March,” directed by regard to homosexuals. It is a natural While progress is being made in Cuba, years of revolution, much less antiquated Emmy winner Jon Alpert, should be seen tendency, a human [tendency], that must the LGBTQ community in the U.S. is like- ideas on the LGBTQ issue. in that context. simply be respected.” (Feinberg) ly to face setbacks now that a gay-conver- The documentary focuses on the work The documentary contains painful ac- sionist advocate will be vice president and Revolutionary class lens needed of Mariela Castro, a member of Parlia- counts of beatings and hateful attitudes a known sexual predator will be president. When people from the United States ment and the director of CENESEX (Na- toward LGBTQ people. One transgen- Homosexuality was decriminalized travel to Cuba for the first time, it is easy tional Center for Sex Education). der woman tells of losing an eye after a in Cuba in 1979. In 2008, the Cuban to see the Revolution through a subjec- It is a frank and sobering account of homophobic Cuban threw acid in her government began offering free gen- tive lens. conditions for LGBTQ people in Cuba to- face. A lesbian tells how her supervisor der-reassignment surgery to transgender You can be somebody who does not day. It is a loving and genuine portrayal of refused to promote her because of her Cubans. Every May an annual “March “get it” and is hypercritical. Or you can the progress made in the Revolution for sexual orientation. The film points out against Homophobia” is held in Havana get completely caught up in adoring the LGBTQ rights, as well as the challenges that the supervisor was a member of the and LGBTQ activists visit rural areas to Revolution. I am one of those. that still persist. Cuban Communist Party. promote diversity. But in all fairness to its leaders and the It has honest, in-depth interviews with I have to admit that my love for Cuba In a short 57 years great progress has heavy responsibilities required to build elder gay men victimized by backward at- has been so one-sided that I was shocked. been made. But the first steps in the liber- a revolution, the Cuban Revolution must titudes in the early days of the Revolution. I was also fearful that the film would be ation of our Cuban LGBTQ sisters, broth- be seen through a more objective lens. These prejudices were rooted in the Span- used to further demonize my beloved ers and family were made in 1959, with The LGBTQ issue in Cuba should not ish colonizers’ Roman Catholicism, the pa- Revolution. the triumph of the Revolution, and in 1961 be judged through the experience of liv- triarchy of slavery and the sexual exploita- when Fidel declared Cuba a socialist soci- ing in the U.S. That is unfair and prejudi- tion of LGBTQ people in prerevolu­tionary Groundbreaking work by CENESEX ety. With that declaration, LGBTQ Cubans cial. Nor should the LGBTQ issue in Cuba Cuba, a U.S. capitalist “playground.” But have no fear. The work that Mari- and all society could begin the long march be put under a microscope, especially In 1965, when Cuba was preparing for ela Castro and CENESEX are doing is toward full liberation. Thank you, Fidel. from the U.S. — the greatest purveyor of the possibility of another U.S. invasion, groundbreaking. It will strengthen the Please check out “Rainbow Solidarity violence in the world today, as Dr. Martin gay men were not allowed to serve in the Revolution and be another pillar of so- in Defense of Cuba” for a groundbreak- Luther King Jr. stated. military. This was also true in the U.S. at cialism in this new period. ing must-read on the LGBT issue and As director of CENESEX, Mariela took Cuba. In the meantime, “Mariela Castro’s on a difficult issue. She did not abuse March: Cuba’s LGBT Revolution” proves her position as the daughter of President that the Revolution continues moving Raul Castro or the niece of Fidel, but did forward and will survive. the necessary hard work of educating and Viva Fidel! Love and solidarity to our organizing, step by step. LGBTQ Cuban comrades! Knowing the Cuban Revolution, I am See workers.org/lavender-red/­ confident that Mariela, who is straight, LavenderRed_Cubabook.pdf. Thousands march in Seattle against racism By Jim McMahan tailers, and an army of cops didn’t help Seattle them. Demonstrators chanted, “Black lives At least 3,000 demonstrators marched matter, not Black Friday!” and “Refugees Chicago in Seattle this year on the second anni- are welcome here!” They also chanted, versary of the 2014 Black Friday protests “Mni Wiconi, Water is Life,” in solidarity protesters: against the infamous grand jury decision with the great Native-American conver- not to indict the cops for the murder of gence with the Oceti Sakowin at Stand- Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. ing Rock, N.D. ‘Stop Black Lives Matter activists led the There were also many signs and multinational marchers through down- T-shirts which read, “Block the Bunker,” town for four hours, blocking off streets. opposing the city’s plan to build a massive racist This limited the business of the rich re- police precinct costing $160 million. cops!’ In Defense of Chanting “Boycott Black Friday, stop dependent and elected review board to racist police!” hundreds of demonstra- ensure that police terrorists are held ac- tors blocked store entrances Nov. 25 on countable. The action was organized by CUBA Chicago’s upscale Michigan Avenue to the Chicago Alliance against Racist and By Leslie Feinberg author of ‘Stone Butch Blues’ demand enactment of CPAC, a pending Political Repression. Lavender & Red series, online at workers.org ordinance that would provide for an in- — Report and photo by Jeff Sorel Book is available at major booksellers online workers.org Dec. 8, 2016 Page 9

CHICAGO Youth light up Cuba meeting

By Cheryl LaBash In fact, the young people are involved in in Cuba. “My generation is the health care Chicago every aspect of the updates of the social activists in the world. In the 60s Cuba sent and economic model in Cuba. soldiers, now they are sending doctors. Fi- The annual meeting of the National “Those who have visited Cuba know del Castro called it one of his greatest ac- Network on Cuba included a public event much about what the youth are doing in complishments, the army of white coats.” at the University of Illinois in Chicago on the university, in the research centers. Ricks shared that he has friends and Nov. 19-20. Arriving guests viewed imag- They are leading the most important as- family members who have been killed by es of Cuba’s historic leader Fidel Castro pects of the dialogue between the U.S. police here: “Our lives do matter. Cuba taken by Roberto Chile for Fidel’s 90th and Cuba, because we have identified put it into perspective how Black people birthday. The speakers, cultural presen- health care exchanges and so on. We are can replicate the Cuban revolution. Cuba tations and audience itself showed the also proud to say that young people all has a place in my heart.” depth of support in the U.S. for the Cuban over the world celebrated the 90th birth- Earlier in the day, in a series of pan- Revolution. New generations showed their day of Fidel, as well as in Cuba.” el discussions, Ricks and fellow ELAM strength, involvement and leadership. graduate Dr. Erlyne Hyppolite discussed With the recent easing of U.S. govern- Chicago anti-racists look to Cuba Cuba’s health care model. ment restrictions that had long blocked In a city infamous for racism, police Four Venceremos Brigadistas crafted Cuban representatives from traveling outrages and economic hardship, Aislinn an interactive discussion to look at an- outside New York City and Washington, Pulley, co-founder and lead organizer with ti-oppression and anti-racism as a priori- D.C., this meeting opened broader dia- Black Lives Matter Chicago, came to the ty in Cuba solidarity work. logue in the U.S. meeting from the funeral of yet another The Interreligious Foundation for Com- First Secretary of the Cuban Embas- victim of police killings. She rejected the munity Organization and the National PHOTO: BILL HACKWELL sy Miguel Fraga, director of the North “duopoly” of the Democratic and Repub- Lawyers Guild alerted the meeting to two American Division of the Cuban Institute lican parties, pointing out that Chicago’s marches. And it is the mothers who are serious attacks on the Cuba solidarity of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) mayor is a Democrat, but the police kill- leading the marches here in Chicago and movement. U.S. government agencies are Sandra Ramirez and Leima Martinez, ings continue. The elected officials in Fer- across this country. It is the example of attempting to punish IFCO for its Friend- also representing ICAP, shared the po- guson, Mo., are also Democrats. that resistance that we emulate, that can shipment Caravans by stripping the par- dium with Jose López, brother of Puer- She asked, “What does justice look teach us to look beyond the mythology of ent organization of its tax-exempt status, to Rican political prisoner Oscar López like? What is an alternative to the pres- the duopoly in this country, to create a and they are attempting to fine Floridian Rivera; Aislinn Pulley, of the Black Lives ent misery so many people are living in? system that is actually provided for and Albert Fox $100,000 for traveling to Cuba. Matter movement; and Harold Rogers, of When we struggle we can win. When governed by the majority of the populace. IFCO outlined its plans to organize against the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. we fight we do win. That is the lesson of The possibility of Cuba is not a mytholo- the U.S. blockade of Cuba with caravans in Not realizing that a week later Fidel Cuba. Despite being a tiny country of 10 gy. It is a reality.” April and a travel challenge in July. Castro would die, 35-year-old Cuban million-plus people and only 90 miles Jessie Fuentes asked the audience to A fourth panel examined the defini- Martinez answered questions about what from the shore of the largest superpower sign petitions to free Puerto Rican inde- tion of ethical travel to Cuba, describing would happen in Cuba without Fidel. the world has known, the Cuban Revolu- pendence fighter Oscar López Rivera be- a new organization of travel providers She replied, “The young people in Cuba tion is alive and thrives.” fore presenting her spoken word compo- called RESPECT, whose stated principles are there to continue his work and ideas. Noting that she had been to Cuba three sition “New Puerto Rico.” Andrea Meza encourage respect for Cuba’s laws, regu- Young people in Cuba feel identified with times, Pulley said, “The example of Cuba, delivered spoken word titled “Struggle lations and sovereignty when planning the objectives of the revolution. ... Every particularly in the work I have been in- across borders.” travel there. policy that has been implemented in Cuba volved in, is really important because of Abeeku Ricks, a 2016 graduate of Cu- Video of these panels and the public during all the years by the revolution, but the mothers whose children were mur- ba’s Latin American School of Medicine meeting are available at Facebook.com/ mainly during the last five years, has been dered by the [Batista] dictatorship. They (ELAM), shared his gratitude to Cuba CubaNetwork, and will be posted soon to supported by the young people in Cuba. took the streets in Havana and they led and explained how different education is NNOC.info. Fidel on the U.S. blockade of Cuba

By Cheryl LaBash with agreements. And President Barack rapidly progressing in other fields. Even commercial and financial blockade of Obama visited Cuba in March. in these conditions, the work undertaken Cuba. When this call was introduced for Last year, despite some improvements Unlike most U.S. trading partners, and the consciousness built throughout the first time in 1992, 59 countries sup- in bilateral relations, the still-existing however, Cuba is still blocked from using the years succeeded in working miracles. ported Cuba, 71 abstained and 3 voted U.S. blockade cost Cuba more than $4 dollars, must still pay cash in advance to “Why have we endured? Because the against Cuba — the U.S., Israel and Ro- billion, while hampering every aspect buy from the U.S. and cannot export to Revolution has always had, as it still does mania. This year of 193 countries, 191 vot- of Cuban life. The U.S. continues to levy the U.S. Washington still tries to subvert and always will to an ever-greater degree, ed for Cuba, and none voted against. Only fines against banks and businesses. U.S. Cuba with U.S. Agency for International the support of the people, an intelligent two — the U.S. and Israel — abstained. organizations like the Interreligious Development destabilization programs, people, increasingly united, educated and In 1960, Washington began an attack Foundation for Community Organization radio and TV broadcasts and special fi- combative.” (tinyurl.com/hh5lbww) on a popular government and it continues and individuals like Floridian Albert Fox nancial inducements to urge irregular In 2016, for the 25th consecutive year, this attack in 2016. The Cuban govern- are still being targeted and harassed for immigration. U.S. agents even try to lure the United Nations General Assembly ment still has the support of its people. opposing the U.S. blockade. Cuban doctors away from aiding poor called on the U.S. to end the economic, It’s time the blockade ended. U.S. plans to blockade the Cuban econ- countries and providing disaster relief. omy began with an internal State Depart- ment memo dated April 6, 1960, with the Fidel’s take on Cuba’s strengths title “The Decline and Fall of Castro.” Now On May 1, 2003, Fidel Castro, then Cu- Chilean women march for rights public, the memo’s first point is that “the ba’s president, spoke at the Martí Mon- By Lucha Rodriguez and Janet Miller majority of Cubans support Castro.” Its ument in Revolution Square in Havana Santiago, Chile second is that “there is no effective polit- more than a decade after Cuba suffered, ical opposition.” (tinyurl.com/h6tm8e5) and then overcame, the shock of losing its Thousands of women and their sup- The memo recognizes that “the only main trading partners: porters took to the streets in Valparaiso foreseeable means of alienating internal “After the demise of the USSR and the and Santiago, Chile, on Nov. 25 to de- support is through disenchantment and socialist bloc, nobody would have bet a mand an end to violence against wom- disaffection based on economic dissatis- dime on the survival of the Cuban Rev- en and children in their country. Every faction and hardship. … It follows that ev- olution. The United States tightened the sector of women participated in the ery possible means should be undertaken blockade. The Torricelli Act [1992, signed large marches, including trade unionists, promptly to weaken the economic life of by President George H.W. Bush] and the members of lesbian organizations, Indig- Cuba … to decrease monetary and real Helms-Burton Act [1996, signed by Pres- enous women and students. PHOTO: LUCHA RODRIGUEZ wages, to bring about hunger, despera- ident Bill Clinton] were adopted, both ex- Organized by the Chilean Network was the march’s main theme, there were tion and overthrow of government.” traterritorial in nature. Against Violence Toward Women, the loud, contingents demanding abortion rights, Eleven presidents and 56 years later, “We abruptly lost our main markets militant protest occupied almost 20 blocks lesbian/bi rights, equal pay for women Washington, after failing to “overthrow” and supplies sources. The population’s of a large boulevard here in the capital. and an end to male chauvinism. the Cuban government, still employs average calorie and protein consumption ­Protesters chanted along the way, while Chants were loud and forceful. One the old U.S. playbook of economic war- was reduced by almost half. But our coun- paste-up teams plastered the sidewalk demanded women get out of the kitch- fare. The blockade is obscured because try withstood the pressures and even ad- with information as the march went by. en, and another criticized the Catholic now there are direct flights from the vanced considerably in the social field. Demonstrators demanded a response church: “Get your rosary out of my va- U.S. to Cuba, corresponding embassies “Today, it has largely recovered with by the government to the frequent vio- gina.” Many of the main organizers were and bilateral, mutually respectful talks regard to nutritional requirements and is lence victimizing women. Although this from the universities. Page 10 Dec. 8, 2016 workers.org Oligarch to head (mis)education department By Gene Clancy ing to privatize and destroy public educa- tion through charter schools and vouch- Trump’s naming Betsy DeVos to be ers that directly support private schools. secretary of education has been touted DeVos and her spouse played a role by some so-called analysts as proof that in getting Michigan’s charter school the new administration is attempting to law passed in 1993. Ever since, they balance its earlier appointments of ul- have worked to protect charters from tra-right figures with a “moderate” or less additional regulation. When Michigan Reaction breeds offensive “establishment” choice. lawmakers this year were considering The truth is that all such statements a measure that would have added over- are a smoke screen devised to hide from sight of charter schools in Detroit, mem- resistance the general public the poisonous world of bers of the DeVos family poured $1.45 big-business politics. million into legislators’ campaign coffers Betsy DeVos is the daughter of a bil- — an average of $29,600 a day for seven A wave of terrible hate has surged the Fugitive Slave Act, which autho- lionaire. She is married to a billionaire. weeks. Oversight was excluded from the through the U.S. since Donald Trump’s rized federal marshals to seize free Af- Most recently she was the chairperson of final legislation. election. This has been confirmed by the rican-American people and force them the Michigan Republican Party. Through DeVos was one of the main architects Southern Poverty Law Center through back into slavery. Support for “sanctu- her career, she has been most active try- of Detroit’s charter school system, which statistics that track and expose hate acts ary” cities and schools is growing nation- and crimes. ally. The movement’s aim is to stop cops Three days after the election, every and federal immigration officials from Black first-year student at the elite Uni- arresting undocumented immigrants versity of Pennsylvania received an email and deporting them. From Virginia to Wisconsin with racist language and explicit imag- The challenge is to continue to have es of lynchings. Such threats have pro- people’s deep outrage flow in the most liferated throughout the United States forward direction — to fighting the cap- Broad front against Trump at worksites, schools and on the streets italist system itself. The way forward is through verbal abuse, chants of “Build not to flee back into the corporate arms By Workers World Staff scene wealth for the few via exploitation the wall,” dangling ropes or Black dolls of the Democratic Party. The way for- of workers and plundering of public re- hung in effigy, and other racist acts. ward is not to embrace a Bernie Sand- Over 1,000 protest- sources, the poisoning of our waters, airs These threats foreshadowed horrif- ers approach that pits “identity politics” ers answered a call and lands, wars and police terror,” said ic lynchings-by-gun. On Nov. 12, Afri- against “class politics.” That is an abys- by young activists on Jason Lambert of 15 Now Roanoke. can-American musician William Sims mal failure. It must be understood that social media and took People’s actions are scheduled in the was targeted and killed by white su- oppressed people are working people to the streets of Cleve- Cleveland coming weeks and months in Southwest premacists in El Sobrante, Calif. On who suffer disproportionately because land on Nov. 18 to tell WW PHOTO: SUSAN SCHNUR Virginia, including a Dec. 10 Justice For Nov. 22, James Means, a 15-year-old of their oppression — whether from rac- the incoming administration that “Trump Kionte Spencer rally and Dr. King com- African-American youth, was shot while ism, migrant status and deportations, is not my president!” Many of the march- munity marches in Lexington on Jan. 14 sitting on a friend’s porch in Charleston, anti-LGBTQ and anti-woman hatred, Is- ers were on their first protest and brought and in Roanoke on Jan. 17. More informa- W.Va. His murderer was a 62-year-old lamophobia or prejudice toward people signs they had made themselves. Another tion is at facebook.com/15NowRoanoke. white man who remorselessly justified with disabilities. demonstration has been set for Dec. 3. his action with racist language. On Jan. 20 we have a chance for a Called together in only a few days from Wisconsin activists pledge resistance The Ku Klux Klan announced a victo- huge People’s Referendum on Trump, throughout Southwest Virginia, dozens of ry march in North Carolina on Dec. 3 to which will challenge the climate of hate poor and working people came out to the celebrate Trump’s win. A Michigan police and capitalist greed against the common Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial stat- officer drove his Confederate flag-flying good. ue on Nov. 19 in Roanoke to continue the pickup truck on Nov. 11 to a rally protest- When protesters gather on J20 in fight against the pro-Wall Street Donald ing Trump’s election. This “battle flag,” Washington, D.C., at counter-inaugural Trump and Mike Pence administration. PHOTO: MILWAUKEE COALITION AGAINST TRUMP widely adopted by white supremacist and protests, they will say in a loud, unit- The multinational participants arrived Upon learning that Trump won the neo-Nazi hate groups, was proudly hoist- ed voice: “No! We resist!” They will an- from Floyd County, Lynchburg, Radford election, community members hit the ed by Trump backers at a post-election nounce their resolve to make the U.S. and other locations, many driving over 100 streets Nov. 8 in Milwaukee and Madi- “unity rally” in Delaware and elsewhere. ungovernable under a president and an miles round trip to join the protest, which son, Wis., and stayed there with a series According to the SPLC, anti-immi- administration intent on destroying the kicked off with a loud, militant chant of of protests. Plans are in motion for resis- grant hate incidents are now the most present and future for workers and op- “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA!” tance actions on the Jan. 20 inaugural frequently reported, including assaults, pressed people. Participants in a speakout honored Dr. date and beyond. bombings, threats and property destruc- Resistance is not futile. Resistance is King, noting that he was murdered while “Since Trump’s victory, we have seen tion. The FBI documented a 67 percent the only way. Resistance is the path to standing in solidarity with Memphis’ a huge increase nationally and in Wis- increase in attacks on Muslims in 2015, meaningful work at livable wages, the striking sanitation workers and that he consin in bullying and attacks against with a sharp rise in attacks on trans peo- path to education and health care for all, also stood up to racist anti-worker politi- Latinxs, Muslims, African Americans, ple. Forty percent of all recent incidents the path to liberation and smashing op- cians. Speakers included union organiz- immigrants, women, Asians, LGBT peo- occur in educational settings, from kin- pression, the path toward a future where ers, supporters of Planned Parenthood, ple and others,” wrote Christine Neu- dergarten through college. human beings have all they need for their anti-fascist activists, longtime LGBTQ mann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces This post-election hate has target- development and enjoyment. This is the community fighters, anti-police brutali- de la Frontera in a Nov. 14 media release. ed all oppressed groups and has been path to a socialist revolution and a so- ty activists, Fight For $15 organizers and “We call on religious communities to virulently anti-immigrant, anti-Black, cialist future for working and oppressed many more. commit to offer sanctuary to people tar- anti-LGBTQ, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish peoples. Speakers noted that it wasn’t people of geted for deportation. In Wisconsin, we and anti-woman. The vandalism and vi- For more on counter-inauguration color, immigrants or Muslims who shut are holding forums across the state and olence have been so dramatic that even plans, visit J20resist.org. down coal, textile and other manufactur- organizing for work stoppages and mass corporate media like People and Time ing plants or harmed the environment in protest in the event that Trump moves for- magazines have had to condemn them. Southwest Virginia. It was Virginia-based ward with his plans. We pledge resistance But that condemnation only reflects the and Wall Street capitalists and their polit- and we encourage others to do likewise.” alarm of the ruling-class wing that lost ical servants who closed the plants. Voces de la Frontera held mass meet- the presidency to loose-cannon Trump. The mostly youth and students present ings in Milwaukee and Racine on Nov. 13. pledged to assist and defend Muslims, At both meetings community members Jan. 20 counter-inaugural protests refugees, women, the LGBTQ communi- voted to strike and mobilize massive pro- The real and powerful resistance ty, people with dis- Roanoke, Va. test actions to stop the coming attacks. to these acts of terror is coming from abilities, and work- The newly formed Milwaukee Coali- working-class and oppressed people ev- ers and the poor tion Against Donald Trump sponsored a erywhere in the country. On election under attack by the march of 3,000 in downtown Milwaukee night, mass marches under the slogan Trump-Pence ad- on Nov. 10, followed by a meeting of over “Not My President” erupted and contin- ministration. 200 at All People’s Church on Nov. 20. ued for days, coast to coast. Individuals During the speak- There speakers announced there would are posting real-time, how-to-resist ex- out, Roanoke police be a mass rally and march Jan. 20 in Mil- amples on social media showing coura- threatened participants with arrest for waukee that would kick off “100 days of geous one-on-one confrontations with “unlawful assembly” for having an activity resistance” paralleling Trump’s first 100 hate-spewing strangers. One resistance without a permit. The protesters stood up days in office. (See facebook.com/Mil- video shows a self-defense instructor and to this outrageous threat, marching into waukeeCoalitionAgainstTrump.) a hijab-wearing Muslim woman demon- downtown Roanoke and back. The cops For updates and more information strating how she will stop an attacker at- backed down. on anti-Trump protests in Wisconsin: tempting to rip off her scarf. “We stand against Trump-Pence and wibailoutpeople.org, facebook.com/ Defense of immigrant people is echo- any capitalist politician who perpetu- wibailoutpeople.org or facebook.com/ ing 19th-century activist actions against ates racism, sexism, xenophobia, ob- workersworldpartywisconsin. workers.org Dec. 8, 2016 Page 11

Oligarch to head (mis)education department Gracias, Fidel Continúa de página 12 education activist Douglas N. Harris, a scheme. Based in Michigan, it currently erno Revolucionario cubano negociaron professor of economics at Tulane Univer- does 90 percent of its business outside a los 50 años de edad, pero siendo Fidel, un canje de prisioneros, entre los que se sity and a nonresident senior fellow at the the United States. Fidel, su cuerpo decidió la fecha de su encontraba Lawrence Lunt, un agente de Brookings Institution, called the “biggest Erik Prince, DeVos’ brother, founded partida. la Cía preso en Cuba. school reform disaster in the country.” the infamous Blackwater Worldwide mer- En 1977, me encontraba encarcelado Un reportero me preguntó si iría a (New York Times op-ed, Nov. 25) cenary organization with his own mon- en una prisión yanqui en Estados Unidos Cuba, pero como tú sabes, Fidel, yo nun- But DeVos’s real goal is to promote, ey. Thanks to over $2 billion in federal cuando mataron a mi padre. Gracias a la ca he aceptado la ciudadanía estadoun- on a national basis, school vouchers like contracts, Blackwater became one of the presión del pueblo, el gobierno yanqui idense impuesta a los puertorriqueños those already in place in some states, in- premier contractors for world imperial- se vio obligado a autorizar mi traslado por el congreso yanqui, y por lo tanto cluding Indiana and Wisconsin. Vouch- ism. It has committed war crimes around a Puerto Rico por 7 horas para asistir al tampoco acepto su pasaporte, requisi- ers directly transfer money from the the world, including Baghdad’s Nisour entierro. Los periodistas me preguntaron to impuesto para salir de Puerto Rico al public schools to private schools, many of Square massacre of 17 Iraqi civilians and cómo me sentía ante la muerte repentina exterior. No podré estar allí físicamente, them religious. wounding of 20 more in 2007. Although de mi padre. Yo les respondí que no había pero mental y emocionalmente estaré “Charter schools take a while to start three guards were eventually convicted venido a llorar su muerte, sino a celebrar contigo y con el heroico pueblo de Cuba. up and get operating,” DeVos told the of manslaughter and murder, Blackwater su vida, que fue la de un patriota. Lo mis- Es mucho lo que podría decir de ti, pero Philanthropy Roundtable in Spring and its founder never faced any charges. mo digo de Fidel. por el momento solo quiero decirte, en 2013. “Meanwhile, there are very good Betsy DeVos’ father Edgar Prince be- Gracias a Fidel y al Gobierno Revolu- nombre de Puerto Rico y de todos los que non-public schools, hanging on by a came a billionaire by owning a large auto cionario de Cuba, así como a la campaña tu ejemplo seguirá inspirando en la lucha shoestring, that can begin taking stu- parts manufacturing company in Hol- internacional por la liberación de los cin- por un mundo mejor ¡Gracias, Fidel! dents today.” land, Mich. He and spouse Elsa Prince co nacionalistas, salimos de prisión el 10 Dondequiera que estés, ¡pa’lante siem- Broekhuizen were notorious for pushing de septiembre de 1979. Fidel y el Gobi- pre, compañero! ¡Venceremos! ‘Family values’ creationism in Michigan public schools. In 2008, Broekhuizen donated $450,000 Right-wing politics has been the main Pelotón femenino beneficiary, not only of Betsy DeVos her- to a California ballot initiative which at- Mariana Grajales, 1959. self, but most of her immediate family. tempted to outlaw same-sex marriage. In Fidel consideró que las Her spouse, Dick DeVos, is the heir and 2004 she was the top individual contrib- ­mujeres guerrilleras CEO of Amway Corp., which has been utor to the campaign to outlaw same-sex podían realmente em- called a “Multi-Billion-Dollar Scam.” marriage in Michigan. puñar las armas. (cracked.com, May 18, 2015) Estimated With a background and “credentials” to be worth about $5.5 billion, Amway such as these, there is little doubt that instructs its employees not to mention Betsy DeVos will help the Trump admin- its name — perhaps because it has so of- istration pursue its reactionary and an- ten been sued for being a giant pyramid ti-working class goals.

El capitalismo en un callejón Capitalism sin salida at a Dead End Job destruction, overproduction and crisis in the high-tech era Vietnam, 1973. Fred Goldstein utiliza las leyes de la acumulación capitalista de Marx, y la tasa decreciente de ganan- cia, para demostrar por qué el capitalismo global ha llegado finalmente a un punto de inflexión. For more information on these books and other writings by the author, Fred Goldstein, go to LowWageCapitalism.com Available at all major online booksellers. El legado de Fidel y la liberación africana Continúa de página 12 Liberación Nacional de Angola y la Unión internacionalistas sirvieron en Angola transición en Sudáfrica fuera imparable”. como el Dr. Joshua Nkomo, fueron in- para la Independencia Total de Angola. durante la guerra contra las fuerzas de El ministro de salud Aaron Motsoaledi spirados por Castro. Los aconsejó sobre La intervención de Cuba en 1975-76 re- contrarrevolución apoyadas por EUA, subrayó: “A través de la iniciativa Mande- el derecho a la independencia, la libertad sultó decisiva para la rápida consolidación incluyendo al brutal ejército sudafricano. la-Castro, Castro envió médicos a Sudá- económica y la necesidad de luchar con- del MPLA como partido gobernante de El presidente de la República de Na- frica para trabajar en hospitales rurales. tra la desigualdad. El entrenamiento fue Angola, país rico en petróleo. Los inter- mibia, Hage Geingob, de la Organización A los médicos cubanos se les enseña a bien conducido, duro y de alto nivel. Es- nacionalistas cubanos permanecerían en del Pueblo de Sudáfrica Occidental trabajar en la atención primaria de la sa- tábamos entrenados no sólo para luchar Angola hasta 1989, tras la derrota de las (SWAPO), el movimiento de liberación lud, que es lo que el mundo necesita, y de en la guerra, sino también para luego lib- fuerzas racistas sudafricanas y la inde- nacional que luego se convirtiera en esta manera Castro fue un hombre que se erarnos económicamente”. pendencia de la vecina Namibia (Sudá- partido político gobernante que ha man- adelantó a sus tiempos”. (Iol.co.za, 26 de frica occidental), que había estado bajo la tenido el poder en el estado post-apart- noviembre) Enorme asistencia cubana por epidemia ocupación del régimen del apartheid. heid desde su independencia en marzo El Zimbabwe Sunday Mail citó al de Ébola de 1990, dijo que la lucha en Angola “fue presidente Robert Mugabe diciendo en En 2014, el personal médico cubano Africanas/os lamentan muerte de Fidel el momento decisivo en la liberación del numerosas ocasiones que Fidel era un fue desplegado a Liberia y Sierra Leona Numerosos líderes políticos africanos África meridional”. gran amigo de Zimbabue y África. El im- después de la rápida propagación de la han expresado sus condolencias al gobi- Las unidades militares de SWAPO perialismo estadounidense ha impuesto pandemia del Ébola. El brote, el peor de erno y al pueblo cubano. lucharon junto a las fuerzas de defensa sanciones tanto a Cuba como a Zimbabue la historia, afectó a tres estados de África La nación de Argelia en el norte de angoleñas, las Um Khonto we Sizwe - el durante muchos años. (27 de nov.) Occidental: Liberia, Guinea-Conakry y África declaró ocho días de duelo oficial ejército guerrillero del Congreso Nacio- El Sunday Mail también señaló cómo Sierra Leona. en honor al líder revolucionario, quien nal Africano - y los internacionalistas tanto el Presidente Mugabe como Josh- Hasta los medios corporativos y el ayudó en la defensa del país durante los cubanos en batallas por la total indepen- ua Nkomo, líder de la Unión del Pueblo gobierno de EUA se vieron obligados a primeros años de lucha por indepen- dencia de Angola. Africano de Zimbabue-Frente Patrióti- reconocer la contribución fenomenal de dizarse de Francia. El presidente Jacob Zuma, actual líder co (ZAPU-PF), estaban en deuda con el Cuba a los esfuerzos para contener y er- El presidente argelino Abdelaziz del partido gobernante de Sudáfrica, dijo: apoyo proporcionado por Cuba en el pro- radicar la enfermedad, que dejó más de Bouteflika saludó al fallecido revolucio- “Castro lideró la revolución cubana y ded- ceso revolucionario africano. 11.000 muertos y miles más gravemente nario cubano como “auténtico defensor icó toda su vida no sólo a la libertad del El ala militar del ZAPU-PF, el Ejército enfermos, incluyendo profesionales de la de los valores de la paz, el respeto y la so- pueblo cubano y el derecho del Estado cu- Revolucionario del Pueblo de Zimbabwe salud en los tres países. beranía nacional, y de su inquebrantable bano a su soberanía y autodeterminación, (ZIPRA), contó con el apoyo del gobierno Un artículo publicado por este au- lucha por los derechos de las personas sino también por la libertad de otros cubano durante la campaña de guerrilla tor durante la epidemia de la pandemia a la libre determinación. ... Esta es tam- pueblos oprimidos en todo el mundo”. contra los ejércitos de Rhodesia y Sudá- del Ébola el 4 de noviembre de 2014 fue bién una gran pérdida para el pueblo de El ministro de comercio de Sudáfri- frica. re-publicado en agosto de este año por el Argelia que tiene una relación especial ca, Rob Davies, enfatizó cómo “Castro El ex cuadro de ZIPRA Grace Noko sitio web del líder cubano, fidelcastro.cu. con El Comandante, forjada de respeto, fue uno de los gigantes de la revolución dijo: “Cuando fuimos a entrenar en Hizo hincapié en que “los trabajadores admiración y afecto mutuo”. (Agencia de en el siglo XX. Él desempeñó un papel Cuba, fuimos bien recibidos y recibimos cubanos de la salud han desempeñado un noticias Xinhua, 27 de noviembre) fundamental en la liberación de África un buen tratamiento durante el curso de papel primordial en el continente africa- El presidente José Eduardo dos Santos meridional, particularmente en la batalla nuestro entrenamiento. ... Castro era un no durante décadas. El gobierno revolu- de la República de Angola llamó a Castro de Cuito Cuanavale – el Stalingrado del hombre cálido que odiaba el racismo y la cionario ve su trabajo en la lucha contra “una figura extraordinaria de trascen- apartheid. Castro mostró una increíble opresión. Odiaba a las personas que de- la enfermedad del virus Ébola (EVD) dente importancia histórica”. Aproxima- solidaridad y aseguró que nuestros com- spreciaban a los negros por su color. como una manifestación del internacio- damente un total de 350.000 cubanos batientes prevalecieran, haciendo que la Noko agregó que “nuestros líderes, nalismo y solidaridad con África”. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 58 Núm. 48 8 de deciembre 2016 $1 Mensaje del El legado de Fidel y Partido Workers World- Mundo Obrero la liberación africana al Partido Comunista de Cuba la heroica victoria sobre los mercenarios Camarada Raúl Castro abril de 1961, mientras los mercenarios Por Abayomi Azikiwe exiliados coordinados por los agentes de Comité Central estadounidenses invadían Cuba y Fidel la CIA en Playa Girón, el dirigente cuba- Partido Comunista de Cuba dirigía el contraataque, que dijo por pri- 28 de noviembre de 2016 no dijo: “Somos un pueblo latinoafricano La Habana, Cuba mera vez: “Los imperialistas yanquis no Ninguna otra figura política fuera de enemigo del colonialismo, el neocolonial- Queridos/as camaradas: pueden perdonarnos por haber hecho África simbolizó la solidaridad global ismo, el racismo y el apartheid a los que Nuestros corazones se dirigen al pueb- una revolución socialista bajo sus propias con las aspiraciones del pueblo, desde las protege y apaña el imperialismo yanki”. lo cubano y a todas/os quienes amaron a narices”. La suerte estaba echada. Cuba regiones del norte hasta el subcontinen- Castro estaba respondiendo a la pro- Fidel Castro. Cambió la historia de mil nunca volvería a la esclavitud capitalista. te, más que el Comandante Presidente Fi- paganda estadounidense que castigaba maneras diferentes, todo para beneficiar ¿Quién puede olvidar sus extraordi- del Castro Ruz, de la República de Cuba. el papel del Estado socialista que había a los millones que han sufrido hambre y narios discursos al pueblo cubano? Me- Los lazos históricos, políticos y cul- desplegado 55.000 de sus propias tropas abuso bajo el colonialismo y el imperial- ticulosamente repasaba las lecciones turales entre el pueblo de África y Cuba a partir de octubre de 1975 a petición del ismo. concretas de cada nueva iniciativa revo- se remontan a más de cinco siglos. Cuba Dr. Agostinho Neto, líder del Movimien- Su enorme confianza en las masas lucionaria y derribaba las mentiras de los fue colonizada por imperios europeos to Popular para la Liberación de Angola luchadoras y su victoria final - expresa- parásitos, los que habían tratado a la isla utilizando el trabajo de africanos es- (MPLA), el frente independentista lider- da en su heroico discurso ante la corte como nada más que una fuente de mano clavizados, cuya súper-explotación sentó ado por marxistas. de Batista - “La Historia me Absolverá” de obra barata y entretenimiento para los las bases para el surgimiento del capital- El MPLA había luchado contra el colo- - apasionó a jóvenes luchadoras/es por la ricos. Siempre hablaba la verdad. ismo mundial y el imperialismo. nialismo portugués desde 1961. Cada vez justicia en Cuba y en todo el mundo, des- ¡Y tenía tal afinidad con su pueblo! En un discurso pronunciado en La Ha- estaba más rodeado por fuerzas reacciona- de América Latina y el Caribe hasta Áfri- Tantas respuestas gritadas a sus pre- bana el 19 de abril de 1976, en conmem- rias respaldadas por EUA: el Frente para la ca, Asia y los propios Estados Unidos. guntas, tanta risa honesta ante sus bro- oración del décimo quinto aniversario de Continúa a página 11 Armó al pueblo cubano con interna- mas bien dirigidas. Habló y escuchó a su cionalismo, solidaridad, unidad y una pueblo a un grado que pocos líderes algu- voluntad de hierro para defender su in- na vez consiguen. dependencia y soberanía. Así que cuando Fidel tuvo una vida larga y gloriosa. África llamó, Cuba respondió y ayudó a Sabíamos que su cuerpo no podría sobre- derrotar el flagelo del apartheid. vivir para siempre. Pero él realmente vive Fidel asaltó las fortalezas de los ser- en los corazones y en la mente de cientos vidores brutales del imperio en un mo- de millones de personas. Lamentamos su mento en la historia en que el imperial- pérdida hoy, pero invocaremos su nom- ismo de EUA estaba en pleno auge. Los bre mañana y siempre para futuras gen- plutócratas se indignaron al Fidel ofrecer eraciones mientras seguimos luchando nuevas esperanzas para un futuro social- por un sistema socialista para deshacer ista justo cuando se regodeaban por la el terrible daño que el capitalismo ha in- victoria anticipada del capitalismo en la fligido a las/os trabajadores y oprimidas/ Con Hugo Chávez, leyendo el periódico viciosa Guerra Fría. os y a todo nuestro planeta. Granma. ¿Quién puede olvidar el desafío de Larry Holmes, Primer Secretario Fidel en Playa Girón, su gran energía Comité Nacional concentrada en ganar batallas tanto Partido Workers World-Mundo Obrero militares como políticas? Fue el 16 de Con Sam Nujoma, el primer presidente de Namibia independiente. Mensaje de condolencias de la Red de Mujeres en Lucha del Centro de Acción Internacional Las y los miembros del Centro de Ac- olución socialista. Y cuando su condición ción Internacional y de su organización física no se lo permitía más estar al frente, Con jóvenes cubanos/as, celebrando el hermana, la Red de Mujeres en Lucha, se retiró, no de ser revolucionario, eso incicio del año escolar. nos unimos al dolor de nuestras queridas nunca dejó de serlo. Entonces se dedicó al compañeras de la Federación de Mujeres análisis político. A cementar las experien- Cubanas y de la Federación Democrática cias. ¿Cuántos seres en la historia de nues- Internacional de Mujeres por el fallec- tros pueblos han tenido esa dicha de haber imiento del siempre presente Comandante podido realizar tantas funciones durante Gracias, Fidel RAFAEL CANCEL MIRANDA Fidel. Extendemos también estas condo- su vida? lencias a todo el pueblo de Cuba. El imperio quiso eliminarlo, pero con Gracias, Fidel El legado de Fidel no es solo histórico. cada acción hostil estadounidense, Fidel Gracias le doy a la vida Sus enseñanzas están vivas y son materia se crecía, se agigantaba. por mi cielo ser boricua, de diario estudio y ejecución en la lucha Su sueño de una Cuba justa para su mi alma, nacionalista por un mundo con justicia social. Particu- pueblo se extendió hacia todas las lati- y mi credo, Fidelista. larmente ahora que vivimos en un tiempo tudes. La salud, la educación, el apoyo a Gracias le doy a la vida de tanto peligro a la humanidad. las luchas por la independencia, contra la por atreverme a luchar, Fidel, el Fidel sabio, el humilde, el gen- explotación, tuvieron a nivel internacion- por atreverme a confrontar eroso, el Fidel ameno y conversador, el in- al el apoyo siempre activo y solidario de la bestia imperialista. teresado por todos los aspectos de la vida Cuba y de su pueblo. Gracias le doy a la vida y del ser humano. ¡Cuánto se crece al es- En Estados Unidos, el pueblo consci- por doña Isabel y Albizu Recién terminado este poema, me tudiar a Fidel, al escuchar sus profundos ente que conoce a Cuba, jóvenes pobres y por aquellos amigos enteré del fallecimiento físico del com- discursos o leer sus análisis! estadounidenses que han podido llegar a que me sirvieron de guía. pañero Fidel. Con la intención de honrar ¡Qué fortuna haber vivido en tiempos ser médicos gracias a la generosidad del Gracias le doy a la vida a quien tanto nos honró, le puse el títu- de Fidel! Un hombre que soñó con una pueblo cubano al estudiar en la Escuela por mi pueblo valeroso, lo “Gracias, Fidel” y en su honor cambié revolución para transformar la miseria Latinoamericana de Medicina, personas y que ha sabido con decoro una palabra en el poema. Esta mañana que su pueblo vivía bajo la terrible dict- activistas progresistas que ven a la Revo- mantener su alma viva. me entrevistó un periodista acerca de adura de Batista, en una sociedad huma- lución Cubana como un Norte, recuerdan Gracias le doy a la vida la muerte de Fidel, quien para mí no ha na, generosa, igualitaria. Que luego junto y lloran la partida física del Comandante. por la luz en mi camino, muerto. Hay Fidel para buen rato. La ma- a sus camaradas de lucha logró hacer la Fidel, ¡siempre estarás presente! ¡Gra- y por marcar mi destino fia imperialista trató de que no llegara ni revolución y después desarrollarla en rev- cias por todo Fidel! con el de la patria mía. Continúa a página 11