International sales drive THE goes over the top! Page 3

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 52/NO. 48 DECEMBER 9, 1988 $1.00 U.S. denial of Arafat visa Relief aid condemned around world convoy PLO leader. Shultz' action was endorsed heads for by President Ronald Reagan and President­ elect George Bush. Denial of the visa violated a U.S. host­ Nicaragua country agreement not to interfere with the travel of UN members to its New York BY HARRY RING headquarters. The PLO maintains a recog­ A convoy set out for Nicaragua Novem­ nized observer mission at the United Na­ ber 28 carrying relief supplies for that hur­ tions. ricane-stricken country. The Shultz statement conceded that the Sponsored by Pastors for Peace, trucks, UN treaty obligated granting visas to PLO buses, and other vehicles departed from members . But, the statement claimed, Ara­ Detroit, Boston, Seattle, Miami, and Ober­ fat was an exception because he allegedly lin, Ohio. Another busload of supplies was had been an "accessory" to terrorism slated to leave two days later from Mis­ against U.S. citizens. Therefore, Shultz as­ soula, Montana. serted, the government must bar his entry Along the route, vehicles from other cit­ "to safeguard its own security." ies will join in, for a total of 20 vehicles. By utilizing the charge of terrorism, These include three eight-ton flatbed Washington has sought wherever possible trucks, four schoolbuses, and several pick­ to exclude the PLO from negotiations and up trucks. discussions on the Palestine issue. The They are focusing on collecting food PLO is regarded by the Palestinian people supplies such as rice, beans, and powdered as their representative. milk, in addition to antibiotics and other Responding to the U.S. decision , Arafat medicines. inquired: "Why are they afraid that I speak Rallies to publicize Nicaragua's need to world public opinion and explain the and solicit added donations will be made at new Palestinian decisions?" stops along the way. It is expected that Clovis Maksoud, chief UN representa­ more supplies will be collected than the tive of the Arab League , declared: vehicles can carry. The surplus will be "The Palestine National Council has shipped to Nicaragua through the hu­ taken very important and substantive deci­ manitarian aid organization Quest for sions that need to be communicated to the Peace. Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yassir Arafat world body at the highest level. And it is The convoy will make similar stops in not for the U.S. to decide who speaks for Mexico. Along with the supplies, the 20 BY HARRY RING tion by the Palestine National Council of an the Palestinians on a particular issue. If this vehicles will be turned over to Nicaragua to International protest greeted Washing­ independent Palestinian state. is allowed to become a precedent, it will be aid the reconstruction process. ton's November 26 decision to prevent That declaration had come as the upris­ a very dangerous one." The convoy is a project of the Interreli­ PLO leader Y assir Arafat from entering the ing of the Palestinian people in the West UN Secretary General Javier Perez de gious Foundation for Community Organi­ United States to speak before the United Bank and Gaza Strip entered its 12th Cuellar scored the denial of the visa as a zation. Its director, Lucius Walker, was t-Iations. It was expected that the UN Gen­ month. Hundreds of Palestinians have been violation of U.S. legal obligations. wounded last summer during a contra at­ eral Assembly would convene in Geneva, killed by Israeli security forces and thou­ G6vernments of Arab countries declared tack on a passenger boat in Nicaragua. The Switzerland, so that Arafat, chairman of the sands wounded or jailed. their opposition to the action. A number of convoy was initiated as a response to this. Palestine Liberation Organization, could Secretary of State George Shultz for­ Washington's European allies also ob­ A range of church groups and other organi­ be heard . mally denied Arafat a visa. Fifty-one U.S. jected to the move against Arafat. zations are supporting the project. Arafat had been slated to address a UN senators, including Vice-president-elect The only declared support for Washing­ The convoy's organizing center is in De­ session in New York on the recent declara- Danforth Quayle, had urged him to bar the Continued on Page 2 troit. A key activist has been Anne Wisda, 54, who is a nun. She will be a driver in the convoy. In a telephone interview, Wisda dis­ cussed her involvement in the project. Mandela 'still prisoner of S. Africa' "I'm going on this pilgrimage," she said, "because I believe in peace, not violence BY SAM MANUEL overthrow the apartheid regime and to es­ they shared a "common purpose" with a .. .in self-determination, not imperial­ Several South African government offi­ tablish a nonracial, democratic South Af­ crowd that killed a township councilman. ism." cials, including President Pieter Botha, rica. He was imprisoned on a life sentence Despite the reprieve for the Sharpeville She added, "Because of these deep be­ have said that Nelson Mandela will not be along with other leaders of the ANC in Six, five other Black South Africans were liefs, I oppose U.S. policy in Nicaragua." returned to Pollsmoor Prison . 1964. International pressure for his release executed in Pretoria November 24. The She has been to Nicaragua twice, she Mandela is being held under guard at the has intensified over the last year. total number of people hanged in South Af­ said, and has seen the destruction brought Constantiaburg clinic. He was transferred Mandela has consistently rejected all of­ rica this year stands at I 15. by the contras and the CIA. The additional from Pollsmoor Prison on August 12 to a fers by the apartheid rulers to release him On November 26 the apartheid govern­ havoc wrought by Hurricane Joan added to nearby hospital after contracting tuber­ on the condition that he renounce the use of ment released two longtime opponents of her resolve to aid Nicaragua. culosis. He was later moved to the clinic on violence in fighting against apartheid, and the regime. They were Zephania Motho­ In Monroe, where she lives, she's been September I . collaborate with the regime. peng, 75 years old, a founder and leader of collecting relief supplies and has found the Mandela is a central leader of the Afri­ In a November 24 statement, South Afri­ the Pan-Africanist Congress, and Harry response "very positive." can National Congress, which is fighting to can Minister of Justice Kobie Coetsee said Gwala, 69 years old, a veteran trade union­ "When people know the truth of what's Mandela would be transferred to "secure ist and member of the AN C. Continued on Page 2 Jiving accommodations where he will be able to receive members of his family more freely." Coetsee claimed that if totally Big push needed to collect rest freed Mandela's safety would be at risk. Winnie Mandela said her husband "still of $250,000 Pathfinder Fund remains a prisoner of the South African Government and there is no indication of BY CINDY JAQUITH we will print the final scoreboard. any release." Local organizers of the Pathfinder Fund Fund organizers have until Tuesday, De­ Nelson Mandela's lawyer, Ismail Ayob, drive are mobilizing in a final push to col­ cember 6, to send in the remaining con­ doubted that the announcement was part of lect the $250,000 needed to keep getting tributions they have collected so they will a phased release of the ANC leader. He Pathfinder books into the hands of workers appear on the scoreboard. All donations in added that if totally freed Mandela "would and farmers around the world. hand but not yet in the mail to the Pathfind­ have every protection from his own com­ Successful completion of the drive will er Fund as of December 6 should be re­ munity." make it possible for Pathfinder to publish a ported by phone to the fund office in New One day before Coetsee's statement on new collection of speeches by Malcolm X York. Mandela, the government commuted the and to promote and distribute several new Fund organizers contacted by telephone death sentences of a group of young Blacks books by and about leaders of the Cuban indicated that while collecting the final known as the Sharpeville Six. They re­ revolution. $79,000 in a very short time will be a chal­ ceived instead prison terms varying from As we go to press, $171 ,641 of the lenge, the money is there . 18 to 25 years. $261,263 pledged to the fund has been col­ The systematic work of talking to each During their trial no evidence was ever lected. contributor and collecting their donation produced showing that the six actually The drive was scheduled to end De­ right away will need to become the main committed any crime. The trial judge ruled cember 1, past the closing news date of this activity of Pathfinder supporters until the ANC leader Nelson Mandela that the defendants were guilty because issue of the Militant. In next week's issue Continued on Page 10 INS renews challenge to Randall U.S. residency application

BY FRED FELDMAN in the United States of totalitarian dictator­ cause they can be barred from returning ." The U.S. Immigration and Naturaliza­ ship." Born in the United States, Margaret tion Service has renewed its challenge to the In October, Congress voted to extend the Randall gave up her citizenship in 1967 in application for permanent residency of Mar­ suspension for visitors for two years be­ order to find work in Mexico, where she garet Randall. Randall is a poet and the au­ yond the original March 1989 deadline, but was living at the time. She returned to the thor of Women in Cuba, Sandi no's Daugh­ reinstituted provisions allowing exclusion United States in 1984 and applied for per­ ters, and other books. on political grounds of those applying for manent residency. The INS rejected the re­ Her residency application is pending be­ permanent residency . quest and ordered her deported solely on fore the Board of Immigration Appeals. David Cole, the attorney who is repre­ the basis of her political ideas. Earlier this year, INS officials dropped senting Randall in her fight for the right to An immigration judge upheld the order, efforts to deport Randall. But after a little­ live here, and Lucas Guttentag, director of declaring that the views expressed in Ran­ publicized measure was rushed through the American Civil Liberties Union's im­ dall's books went "far beyond mere dissent Congress in October, removing a barrier to migrants' rights project, wrote a letter pub­ .. . of the United States or its policies." attacks on the political rights of immi­ lished in the November 28 New York The deportation move stirred wide oppo­ Author Margaret Randall faces victimi­ grants, the INS is again characterizing her Times . They said the October congres­ sition. Literary figures including Norman zation under 1950s witch-hunting legis­ as "excludable." sional action means immigrants "can once Mailer, Arthur Miller, William Styron, lation. In December 1987, Congress had sus­ again be deported for advocating such Kurt Vonnegut, and Alice Walker were pended provisions of the 1952 McCarran­ proscribed doctrines as 'world com­ among those who rallied to Randall's de­ no longer falls under the December 1987 Waiter Act that allowed the government to munism' or for association with organiza­ fense. A Jan. 7, I 988, editorial in the measure, which was in effect when she exclude visitors or would-be immigrants to tions that support those ideas." Washington Post called for dropping the filed her most recent application. "The Ser­ this country on ideological grounds. The In addition to applicants such as Ran­ case against her. vice would say that she falls under the law suspension meant that noncitizens could dall, Cole and Guttentag continued, immi­ In February, shortly after Congress sus­ of the present time," INS appellate counsel not be barred from the United States be­ gration officials might attempt to use the pended the McCarran-Walter provisions, David Dixon told the New York daily cause of "past, current, or expected state­ law to strike at the rights of those who have INS officials announced they would no Newsday. ments, beliefs, or associations" that would already been granted permanent residency. longer press for Randall's deportation. Under the bill passed in October, offi­ be protected by the Constitution if they "Those who became permanent resi­ Randall then renewed her effort to win cials claim, the government can again at­ were citizens. dents under the original section," they permanent residency. tempt to exclude Randall because of her The suspended provisions of the McCar­ wrote, "must now fear traveling abroad be- But INS officials now claim that her case writings on political issues. ran-Walter Act had allowed exclusion of immigrants and visitors who allegedly "write or publish . . . knowingly circulate, distribute, print or display . . . or have in their possession for the purpose of circula­ Relief aid convoy heads for Nicaragua tion , distribution or display any written or printed matter ... teaching the economic , Continued from front page cerned about the hurricane and the damage. Relief efforts are being pressed in other international and governmental doctrines happening," she said, "there's an outpour­ "What was interesting to me," she countries too. In Puerto Rico, a "Nicaragua of world communism or the establishment ing of generosity." added, "was that a number of people said, needs us" appeal was made by the Young In one Monroe elementary school, 17 'Yes, and the U.S . government isn't doing Socialists, which is associated with the cartons of school supplies and foodstuffs anything to help them.'" Puerto Rican Socialist Party . .----New York------. were collected. She said that the media in the area has re­ Their appeal for relief contributions Meanwhile, across the country, a host of ported only briefly on Washington's re­ notes the failure of the Puerto Rican gov­ groups have been soliciting aid for Nicara­ fusal to give emergency relief and she was ernment to respond to Nicaragua's need. Political gua. One of the more energetic of these is somewhat surprised by the number of peo­ Calling on all friends of Nicaragua to pitch Elders for Survival, in the San Francisco ple who were aware of this. in, the appeal declares, "The Young So­ Bay Area. She said her group has also had good re­ cialists has joined with other organizations Perspectives Since the hurricane struck Nicaragua, sults in soliciting foodstuffs and other to collect money and materials . .. and in members of Elders for Survival have been items from merchants. "Some may not give this way express our solidarity with our in the U.S.: on the streets of San Francisco, Berkeley, a great deal," she said, "but it adds up." Nicaraguan brothers and sisters." and Oakland with collection tables. Into the 1990s They have already collected some $5,000 in cash, plus food and other sup­ plies. In addition, they have contributed Arafat exclusion conde01ned Hear Jack Barnes $4,000 from their treasury. Socialist Workers Party In a telephone interview, Sarah Chrome Continued from front page dent Palestinian state. The borders of such of San Francisco discussed the group's ton came from Israel. Prime Minister Yit­ a state were left undefined. national secretary work. zhak Shamir saluted the exclusion of The council adopted a statement that, as Elders for Survival was founded in 1973 Arafat because "it puts the PLO in its right a basis for international negotiations, in­ Sat., Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. and initially focused on antinuclear activi­ place as an organization one should not cluded calling for an international confer­ ty . In 1985 they began to center on Nicara­ deal with and one should try to neutralize." ence based on acceptance of UN resolu­ 79 Leonard St. gua. Like Washington, the Israeli regime has tions. This includes Resolution 242, which (between Church and Broad­ They have worked to rally opposition to flatly rejected consideration of a recent calls for recognition of the territorial integ­ way, five blocks south of Canal contra aid and to build solidarity with Nic­ PLO offer to negotiate a settlement of the rity of all existing Middle East states, in­ aragua. They have organized three elders' St. in Manhattan) Palestine issue with the Israeli regime and cluding Israel. brigades to pick coffee there. other interested parties. At the same time, the statement insisted Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum With the hurricane, they began the relief that any negotiations must guarantee the For more information call: (212) tabling. At the mid-November meeting of the "legitimate national rights" of the Palestin­ 226-8445 "Generally, the response has been very PLO-Ied Palestine National Council in Al­ ian people- above all, "the right of self­ good," Chrome said. "People are con- giers, it was voted to declare an indepen- determination."

The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant Closing news date: November 30, 1988 "Not only is the Militant a newspaper of ac­ Coeditors: MARGARET JA YKO and DOUG JENNESS Circulation Director: NORTON SANDLER curate and serious information, it is also the Nicaragua Bureau Director: LARRY SEIGLE Business Manager: JIM WHITE Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Seth Galinsky voice and the echo of the people's struggles (Nicaragua) , Arthur Hughes , Cindy Jaquith, Susan LaMont, Sam Manuel, Harry Ring, Judy White (Nicaragua). around the world. Published weekly except one week in August and the last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 "It must be read." West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 . Telephone: Editorial Of­ fice, (212) 243-6392; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, (212) 929-3486 . Nicaragua Bureau, Apartado 2222, Managua. Tele­ -David Gakunzi phone 24845. Thomas Sankara International Association Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of Enclosed is , IS'A~I address should be addressed to The Militant Business Of­ lice, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. I 0 $4.00 for 12 weeks, new readers 0~~('IL""' 0 $9.00 for 12 weeks, renewals ~~~'1( Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POSTMAS­ TER: Send address changes to The Militant, 410 West St., New 0 $17.00 for six months York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S., Canada, Latin Amer­ 0 $30.00 for one year 0 $55.00 for two years ica: for one-year subscription send $30, drawn on a U.S. bank, to I 0 For $3.50 additional, send New International issue above address. By first-class (airmail), send $65. Britain, Ire­ No.6 with my six-month or longer Militant subscription. land, Continental Europe, Africa: £22 for one year, £12 for Name six months, or£6 for three-month renewal. Send check or inter­ national money order made out to Pathfinder Press and send to I Address ------Pathfinder, 47 The Cut, London SEl 8LL, England. Aus­ ___ State _ ____ Zip ______City tralia, Asia, Pacific: send Australian $60 to Pathfinder Press , Telephone ___ _ Union/School/Organization ·------P.O. Box 153, Glebe, Sydney, NSW 2037 , Australia. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Send to THE MILITANT, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 1 the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant December 9, 1988 Circulation campaign goes over the top!

BY NORTON SANDLER Last spring, 13 percent of the overall We welcome our new readers from Port­ total of subscriptions and copies of New In­ land, Oregon, to Morgantown, West Vir­ ternational were sold outside the United ginia, to Sweden and Australia. States- to 1,224 new readers. During the past 10 weeks our dis­ This time around our supporters intro­ tributors around the world successfully duced 2, 192 working people outside the mobilized to sell subscriptions to the Mili­ United States to the publications, or 19 per­ tant and the Spanish-language monthly cent of the total. And they sold 2,609 Ac­ Perspectiva Mundial, as well as individual tion Programs outside the United States. copies of the Marxist magazines New Inter­ Though our figures are incomplete, national and Nouvelle lnternationale. We more than 700 Militant and PM readers in sold 11 ,364 total - 109 percent of our the United States indicated on the subscrip­ combined goal. tion forms that they are members of unions In several cities supporters made a big or farm organizations. push during the final days, selling more We are in the process of collecting infor­ than 200 subscriptions to Perspectiva Mun­ mation on how many industrial workers dial. That enabled us to make the goals set were introduced to the Action Program. A for all three publications. report already received from Minneapolis This was accomplished as we were also and St. Paul shows that distributors there selling 18,645 copies of the Action Pro­ sold 100 Action Programs to their cowork­ gram to Confront the Coming Economic ers in industry. Another 50 were sold dur­ Crisis. Introducing workers, students, and ing their weekly sales at factory gates. farmers to both the Action Program and the These distributors teamed up with other periodicals made this our largest outreach Midwest supporters to sell nearly 100 Ac­ agner effort in some time. tion Programs to packinghouse workers at Newark distributors at table in West New York, New Jersey. Supporters in 19 cities The Action Program is a Pathfinder the John Morrell plant in Sioux Falls, around the world exceeded projected targets for sales of publications and Action Pro­ pamphlet in English and Spanish that con­ South Dakota. gram. tains proposals being advanced by the So­ This fall's drive was also our biggest ef­ cialist Workers Party. It is also available in fort to date in sales of the Marxist French in the November issue of Lutte ou­ magazines New International and Nouvelle vriere. lnternationale, with an increase of 487 Sales drive final scoreboard As they crisscrossed the country during over the drive last spring. These publica­ the recent election campaign, James War­ tions contain articles, documents, and Drive New Perspectiva ren and Kathleen Mickells, the Socialist speeches that go into greater depth on major questions facing working people Goals Militant International* Mundial Workers Party candidates for president and subscriptions single copies subscriptions vice-president, encouraged those they met around the world than space considerations to discuss and help circulate the Action in the Militant allow . % Area Goal Sold Sold Program. It details steps necessary for Distributors made a conscious push on Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold selling complete sets of the six issues of working people to unify internationally so UNITED STATES that we can effectively fight back against New International to their coworkers. Portland, Ore. 160 183 ll4 120 140 25 27 15 the employer and government attacks that The drive was boosted considerably by 16 publication of a new issue of the French­ Salt Lake City 125 139 Ill 90 97 20 22 15 20 will mount as the world capitalist economic Morgantown, WV 175 194 lll 135 137 30 47 10 10 crisis deepens. language Nouvelle lnternationale. From Montreal to Paris to New Caledonia, it pro­ Greensboro, NC 150 166 lll I 10 121 25 28 15 17 Phoenix 160 177 lll 80 91 Across the board, distributors report that vides an important tool to reach out to 25 21 55 65 Oakland, Calif. 215 237 llO 120 161 45 27 50 49 focusing their discussions with potential French-speaking workers. readers on the Action Program proposals Birmingham 185 203 llO 145 155 30 37 10 II Distributors in this country were able to Newark 530 581 110 275 279 140 176 115 126 was essential to the success of the drive. introduce Nouvelle lnternationale to the Important steps forward were registered Pittsburgh 250 273 109 185 197 45 60 20 16 growing number of their coworkers born in New York 1,200 1,303 109 600 620 300 375 in winning new readers for the publications 3_0Q 308 Haiti and the French-speaking countries in Charleston, WV 105 113 108 85 87 15 19 5 7 around the world. This can be seen by Africa. Many were also sold on campuses Omaha 135 144 107 90 94 25 29 20 21 comparing this effort to the drive carried and in working-class neighborhoods. Boston 350 372 106 230 216 50 86 70 70 out from March to June of this year. More than 1,300 Militant and PM sub­ St. Louis 220 232 105 170 160 40 63 10 9 Milwaukee scriptions were sold on campuses, not only 170 177 104 I 10 112 35 36 25 29 In New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Twin Cities 350 364 104 270 275 50 51 30 38 Britain, and Iceland supporters all in­ in cities where distributors live but in out­ Los Angeles 700 727 104 375 382 125 128 200 217 creased the total sold as compared to last lying areas. Houston 215 223 104 140 127 30 41 45 55 spring. Supporters report that political discus­ Kansas City 120 124 103 75 80 20 24 25 20 In Sweden distributors took a goal for sions with students, often held in conjunc­ Philadelphia 250 258 103 160 165 40 40 50 53 the first time and after meeting initial suc­ tion with campaigning for SWP candi­ Cleveland 165 170 103 110 112 40 43 15 15 cess, raised their target. dates, helped win several new members to Price,Utah 70 72 103 50 50 10 ll 10 ll An international team from Canada, the Young Socialist Alliance. Austin, Minn. I 10 113 103 85 86 15 17 10 10 Britain, and the United States sold 65 sub­ During the course of the drive, 965 read­ Seattle 275 281 102 200 218 25 27 50 36 ers renewed their Militant or PM subscrip­ Des Moines 210 212 101 150 151 40 40 20 21 scriptions and 90 New Internationals in the Washington, DC 250 252 101 150 125 50 68 tions. 50 59 Caribbean. Chicago 460 448 97 300 305 60 60 100 83 Atlanta 220 212 96 160 173 40 13 20 26 Baltimore 215 202 94 175 175 30 15 10 12 Detroit 265 241 91 200 200 40 27 25 14 Action Program final scoreboard Miami 300 261 87 185 146 55 54 60 61 San Francisco 350 279 80 200 194 75 33 75 52 % % National teams 200 129 65 130 86 20 2 50 41 Columbus 25 15 60 25 15 Goal Sold Sold Area Goal Sold Sold Area Denver 24 29 121 15 15 2 6 7 8 UNITED STATES Louisville 5 1 20 5 I Other U.S. 65 49 14 2 Greensboro , NC 250 361 144 Baltimore 375 219 58 U.S. totals 8,923 9,172 103 5,719 5,797 I ,617 1,767 1,587 1,608 Phoenix 230 250 109 Austin, Minn . 200 100 50 AUSTRALIA 50 50 100 35 Milwaukee 325 346 106 National teams 500 546 109 34 5 6 10 10 Twin Cities 700 725 104 Columbus 50 8 16 BRITAIN Price,Utah ISO 155 103 U.S. totals 18,180 16,036 88 Nottingham 61 90 148 35 39 20 42 6 9 Portland, Ore. 275 284 103 AUSTRALIA 50 40 80 London 145 196 135 75 ll4 30 45 40 37 Philadelphia 475 487 103 BRITAIN Manchester 70 84 120 50 52 15 26 5 6 Los Angeles 1,100 1,124 102 Nottingham 100 105 105 South Yorks 90 86 96 50 67 20 13 20 6 Kansas City 275 280 102 Manchester 100 98 98 South Wales 80 47 59 40 38 30 3 10 6 Other Britain 54 90 167 Atlanta 450 458 102 London 200 175 88 25 52 20 35 9 3 Britain totals 500 593 ll9 275 362 135 Cleveland 350 356 102 South Wales 100 74 74 164 90 67 Seattle 425 432 102 South Yorks 200 124 62 CANADA Other Britain 100 56 56 Salt Lake City 225 228 101 Vancouver 45 58 129 30 40 5 6 10 12 Britain totals 800 632 79 Birmingham 325 329 101 Montreal 275 258 94 125 ll6 75 93 75 49 CANADA Morgantown , WV 400 404 101 Toronto 400 354 89 250 214 75 76 75 64 Montreal 250 329 132 Newark 1,000 1,010 101 National team 129 102 ll 16 Vancouver 45 46 102 Other Canada 5 5 De~ Moines 350 351 100 Toronto 700 581 83 Canada totals 720 804 112 405 477 155 186 160 141 Omaha 400 401 100 National team 82 Charleston, WV 350 341 97 Canada totals 995 1,038 104 ICELAND 32 26 81 25 22 5 4 2 0 Oakland 575 560 97 ICELAND 10 4 40 NEW ZEALAND Boston 575 525 91 NEW ZEALAND Christchurch 87 99 ll4 60 61 25 35 2 3 Washington, DC 575 503 87 Auckland 250 328 131 Auckland 145 162 112 100 106 35 44 10 12 St. Louis 500 425 85 Christchurch !50 195 130 Wellington I 18 129 109 85 89 30 37 3 3 Chicago 700 589 84 Wellington 210 213 101 New Zealand totals 350 390 Ill 245 256 90 ll6 15 18 Houston 450 359 80 New Zealand totals 610 736 121 PUERTO RICO 30 17 57 5 5 2 2 23 10 Miami 500 381 76 PUERTO RICO 30 18 60 SWEDEN 65 65 100 35 39 10 5 20 21 Detroit 525 389 74 SWEDEN 50 31 62 Other International 247 113 Ill 23 700 San Francisco 505 72 Other international llO Totals 10,670 11,364 109% 6,744 7,105 2,019 2,361 1.907 1,898 Pittsburgh 400 280 70 Totals 20,725 18,645 91% Should be 10,400 100% 6,630 1,895 1,875 New York 3,500 2,325 66 Should be 20,540 100% *Includes Nouvelle Intemationale

December 9, 1988 The Militant 3 Calif.: 3,000 march to demand justice for farm Workers BY MARK WEDDLETON that the companies can keep union organiz­ SAN FRANCISCO - Chanting "Boy­ ers- and even friends and relatives- out cott grapes," some 3,000 marchers took to of the guarded and fenced-in labor camps the streets of San Francisco November 19 many farm workers are forced to live in. to demand justice for farm workers. Con­ The march culminated in a rally outside tingents of farm workers joined together of a Safeway grocery store (one of the large with other unionists, Chicanos, antiwar ac­ chains that have refused to remove grapes tivists, students, and lesbian and gay from the shelves). The speakers included groups in support of the United Farm Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Workers union boycott of California table Farm Labor Organizing Committee; actor grapes. Martin Sheen; and others. The boycott is part of an effort by the Domingo Argueta, a Salvadoran farm Farm Workers Vice-president Dolores Huerta (left). UFW to demand an end to the use by grape worker, brought a message of solidarity growers of five pesticides that pose severe from the Salvadoran refugees in the Mesa trade unionists and other dissenters." onstrate," he declared. "We're here today health problems for farm workers, their Grande camp in Honduras. International Longshoremen's and Ware­ to prove the fight has just, once again, families, and consumers. Jack Henning, secretary-treasurer of the housemen's Union President Jim Herman begun." A central theme of the day was also to state AFL-CIO, blasted the attempt to spoke out against the growers' use of pes­ Dolores Huerta wrapped up the rally by seek justice in the brutal beating of UFW whitewash the beating of Huerta. "What is ticides and their trampling on the right to calling on those present to reject not only Vice-president Dolores Huerta. On Sep­ this, El Salvador?" he asked. "We demand organize. "The IL WU would be happy the violence done to her, but also "the vio­ tember 14 Huerta was assaulted by San that the mayor reject the grand jury report once again to throw grapes into the San lence done to farm workers and their Francisco cops as she was handing out leaf­ and speak out against the surveillance of Francisco Bay Harbor, to march and dem- families through the use of pesticides." lets publicizing the boycott at a protest against George Bush. She was hospitalized with broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. A few days before the march a grand jury investigating the beating refused to in­ Canada rally hails French-language journals dict the cop responsible. They chose in­ stead to call for a "reform" of crowd con­ BY BEVERLY BERNARDO working people who are becoming in­ trol techniques including a recommenda­ MONTREAL - A public meeting here terested in communist ideas," said Prairie. tion that the cops spy on protest groups. November 26 celebrated the launching of David Gakunzi stressed that Lutte ou­ "Viva Dolores" was a popular chant. the French-language Lutte ouvriere in a vriere and Nouvelle lnternationale are im­ Huerta participated in the march, riding in new monthly magazine format and the pub­ portant for revolutionaries around the a car because she is still recovering from lication of the third issue of Nouvelle lnter­ world. Gakunzi is a leader of the Thomas her injuries. nationale, a magazine of Marxist politics Sankara International Association and the As the march passed by stores selling and theory. Some 40 people attended. editor of Coumbite magazine, published in table grapes the contingents of farm work­ Michel Prairie, editor of Lutte ouvriere Paris. ers from Napa, Salinas, and other parts of and coeditor of Nouvelle lnternationale, Sankara headed the revolutionary gov­ the state led the crowd in calling on the was the featured speaker. He explained that ernment in the West African country of stores to stop selling grapes. A farm work­ these two publications are helping prepare Burkina Faso until his assassination in a er from Merced explained that the pes­ workers and farmers for the big class bat­ counterrevolutionary coup in 1987. ticides used on the grapes are causing chil­ tles that will develop as the world econom­ Gakunzi praised Nouvelle lnternatio­ dren of farm workers to be born with miss­ ic crisis deepens. nale's editors for including speeches by ing or malformed arms and legs. Farm Sankara, Maurice Bishop of Grenada, and Prairie described the rectification pro­ Cuban Communist Party leader Fidel Cas­ workers have collapsed in the fields, cess under way in Cuba today under the poisoned by the cancer-causing pesticides. tro in the current issue. leadership of the Cuban Communist Party, Susanna Ounei-Small , the New Zealand And some of this poison remains on the which is seeking to deepen communist con­ grapes when consumers eat them. representative of the Kanak Socialist Na­ sciousness among workers and farmers in tional Liberation Front (FLNKS) in the The growers have made inroads in un­ Cuba. Prairie also cited Cuba's exemplary French colony of New Caledonia, sent dermining the progress made by the UFW role in providing relief to Nicaragua fol­ greetings to the meeting. in the 1960s and '70s. They have driven lowing the devastation brought by Hur­ Also speaking was Norton Sandler, cir­ down wages, eliminated medical insurance ricane Joan . culation director for the Militant. Sandler and other benefits, and drastically wors­ He said that Nouvelle lnternationale and was part of a team of volunteers from the ened working conditions. Shortly before Milit~nt/Aiicia Mere) Lutte ouvriere have and will continue to United States, Canada, and Britain whore­ the march, the state supreme court ruled Editor Michel Prairie place a priority on making available in cently helped expand the distribution of French speeches and documents by leaders Pathfinder books in the English-speaking of the Cuban Communist Party. Caribbean. Subscribe to 'Perspectiva Mundial' Prairie also emphasized the importance "Everywhere we went we found a real of the two French-language publications thirst for revolutionary literature," Sandler for workers in Canada. Seven million out said. of a population of 25 million here speak He also cited several examples of how Impact of coming recession French as their first language. Militant distributors in the United States As a reader of the The favorable reception to Nouvelle In­ are using Nouvelle lnternationale and Lutte Militant ternationale and Lutte ouvriere by work­ ouvriere to reach out to Haitian-born and you are familiar with our week­ ers, students, and others is "a direct reflec­ other French-speaking workers and stu­ ly coverage of the struggles of tion of the existence of a growing layer of dents. working people around the world. If you can read or are study­ UNION SOVIETICA ANALISIS Court sets back defendants' rights ing Spanish, there is a com­ tResolvera perestroika Recesion plementary monthly magazine los problemas BY HARRY RING The majority opinion, written by Chief econOmicos? economica for you: Perspectiva Mundial. afectara Ia The Supreme Court has ruled that police Justice William Rehnquist, said, "Unless a PM is a Spanish-language so­ ESTADOS UNIOOS politica en failure to preserve evidence does not vio­ Sindicalisla criminal defendant can show bad faith on cialist magazine that carries Mark Curtis Estados Unidos late a defendant's constitutional right to the part of the police, failure to preserve condenado due process of law unless it can be proven many of the same articles you a 25 anos potentially useful evidence does not consti­ read in the Militant. that the cops acted in "bad faith ." tute a denial of due process of law ." The November 29 ruling came in the To show "bad faith," he continued, the The December issue of PM defense must prove that the police knew features an article by Doug Jen­ case of Larry Youngblood, who was con­ Thomas Sankara : victed in Arizona on charges of kidnapping the evidence would be helpful to the de­ ness on the impact the coming Debemo•

4 The Militant December 9, 1988 Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast: How Miskito Indian women organize, make gains

BY JUDY WHITE cheated when they sell their produce in the SANTA MARTA, Nicaragua - "We market. are a new movement," says Susana Mor­ Expanded social services have made free ley, coordinator of the Women's Move­ medical care available to area women for ment of the North Atlantic Autonomous the first time. Region. "We .have groups in several towns In addition, the recently approved Au­ and villages. Their role is to explain the tonomy Law calls for "promoting the inte­ importance of the Women's Movement, to gration, development, and participation of help the women improve their standard of women in all aspects of the political, so­ living, and to raise the self-confidence of cial, cultural , and economic life of the re­ women. We need to help each other and gion." keep an eye on the behavior of the men ." The Women's Movement is starting to Some 125 Miskito women and a handful play a role in this process. of men attended a conference of the Wom­ en's Movement held here last September. The group is involved in doing follow­ It was the first such gathering ever held in up literacy work among women in the one of the many Indian villages in this re­ neighborhoods of Puerto Cabezas. gion. In addition, the Women's Movement Participants came from 21 small farming has an ongoing program of training for and fishing villages in the area northwest of Miskito women. Although the number of Puerto Cabezas. These are isolated com­ women involved so far has been small, munities with no electricity or running scholarships are used to send Miskito water. The women work long hours in the women from the villages to study health fields to produce food for their families, in care in Managua and Leon. "And we plan addition to cooking, cleaning, and taking to look for more scholarships from other care of their children. They sell whatever institutions," Morley said. small surplus they produce to buy other As part of promoting small economic basic necessities. White Susana Morley, coordinator of Women's Movement of North Atlantic Autonomous projects for women, the group is planning Because of lack of transportation in the training in dressmaking, "because that is region, one delegation had to walk several Region: "We aim to help women work together, collectively ... so they won't remain alone at home thinking about their problems and so they can defend themselves what the women ask for most. " days to get to the meeting. Women from economically." "The attitudes of the men are also chang­ another community swam across rivers ing," Morley reported. Although there has since there is no road connecting their vil­ been opposition from many to their wives lage to Santa Marta. building homes is one of the first tasks they women have to go out and cut firewood to going away for training, "others look Susana Morley, a Miskito, opened the face . sell." around and see so many people concerned meeting. Women from Betania proposed estab­ The severity of Nicaragua's economic about women, and this makes them think. The situation of Atlantic Coast women lishing a community dining room. Another crisis has also driven some women to pros­ Some of them now want their wives to con­ has changed since the victory of the San­ delegation wanted help forming a coopera­ titution, Morley observed, including 13- tinue their education." dinista revolution in 1979, she said. That tive to raise chickens. Community or­ and 14-year-olds. One important step forward was the fact victory "opened the possibility for the first chards were proposed by participants from that this conference was held in a Miskito time for women to overcome their oppres­ one neighborhood in Puerto Cabezas. Some progress made village. Until recently, the danger of at­ sion." Dorotea Wilson, a Sandinista leader and Despite the obstacles some important tacks by the contras would have made it The Santa Marta meeting was called to member of the Nicaraguan National As­ progress has been made here as a result of impossible to hold a meeting outside the discuss what collective economic projects sembly, spoke at the close of the meeting. the Sandinista revolution. main towns in the North Atlantic region. women wanted to organize in their vil­ The regional government can provide re­ The 1980 literacy campaign had an im­ The Santa Marta meeting also reflected a lages. sources for some small projects, she said. portant effect among women in raising growing self-confidence that some women "We, as a movement, plan to bring proj­ However, different women had often pro­ their sense of self-worth, according to feel. "At earlier gatherings of the Women's ects to the villages- even if they're small posed different projects for each village, Morley. "Women say to me, 'I am ready to Movement," Wilson said, "mainly men ones," Morley explained in an interview and this lack of agreement was an obstacle learn to read and write. I already know how spoke. Or the men sat with the women and with the Militant. "We aim to help women to their working together. to write my name. Now I want to start with told them what to say. This is the first time work together, collectively, so that they the numbers.'" They want to learn arith­ the women have spoken their mind with no "We need to go back to our communities will feel a bond to other women, so that metic, she continued, to avoid being coaching from men." they won't remain alone at home just think­ and reach a consensus on where to start," ing about their problems, and so that Wilson explained. "A project shouldn't women ·can defend themselves economi­ benefit just a few people, but the whole com­ cally." munity. Your task is to organize all the women in your village and decide which Co01panies hike up workers' Sewing cooperatives project you want to begin with." One woman took the floor to ask for help share of health-care costs in organizing a sewing cooperative. "We Obstacles faced have 60 women organized in our village," Morley spoke to the Militant about the With medical costs rising more than 10 the insurance plans are also reducing the she said. "There is one compaflera who many obstacles blocking Miskito women's percent this year, and expected to jump scope of their coverage, placing additional knows how to sew, but we need help from broader participation in society here. another 20 percent in the next year, em­ costs on workers. the government to get the sewing ma­ "Many women have a baby every year," ployers are moving to sharply increase the chines." Morley said. "Some have 10 or 15 chil­ costs borne by workers covered by medical In 1986 an employee with relatively broad coverage would have paid about Yolanda Gorden irom Santa Marta said, dren. This is something that really worries insurance plans. "The rain destroyed our crops. Anyway the me. "Few employers are not cutting back," a $240 out of pocket for a Caesarian section. Now the cost to the employee would be land isn't good for agriculture and the plots report in the November 22 New York Times "When you encourage women to get in­ about $620. The cost to an employee of a are far from our village." Women in that volved in the movement or to continue quoted business consultant Lawrence Lei­ community also want to establish a sewing sure as saying. hysterectomy has jumped from $600 to their education, the first thing they say is, $1,200 in five years. cooperative, she said. They feel they could 'Look, I already have so many children. The Times reported that the average make a better living sewing and selling My husband works on the farm. We just medical expenses of workers covered by a clothing than working in agriculture. work, eat, and sleep. That's all. I don't sampling of health plans jumped by 58 per­ Commission finds Erlinda Baldiramos from Santa Rosa have time to continue education. ' cent from 1985 to '87. said a community com grinder was needed TRW Inc. has announced it will no 20 million youth in that village to free women from the bur­ "I talk to them about birth control and longer guarantee a certain level of medical den of spending several hours a day grind­ tell them to go to the Ministry of Health to benefits to retirees. Pillsbury is making a suffer big income drop ing meal. get the pill," Morley said. "But some of similar move. them are embarrassed to have a male doc­ "Thirty-five women from Tuara want a J.C. Penney Co. will now cover spouses The average real income of male work­ chain saw," reported another woman. tor examine them. Others go but often of employees only if the employee is the there aren't any pills available." ers aged 20 to 24 who have not finished Many of these women are single mothers principal wage earner in the family. high school has dropped 42 percent from or widows. They want the chain saw to cut Many men and women believe women A growing list of corporations are im­ 1973 to 1986, when inflation is taken into trees and make planks to build houses. should bear as many children as possible, posing extra costs on workers who use doc­ account. In 1986 dollars, their annual in­ Their communities are being resettled only Morley pointed out. "They say you must tors or hospitals of their choice, rather than come fell from $11 ,815 to $6,853. now that the contra war has ended, and do as God wills and that women who use selecting from a company-approved list. Earnings of youths who finished high the pill won't go to heaven." The latest steps accelerate a trend that school but did not go to college dropped by JOIN A At the Santa Marta conference, many has been gaining throughout the 1980s. 28 percent in the same time period, from women announced how many children About 42 percent of companies now re­ $15,221 to $10,924. HURRICANE RELIEF BRIGADE quire payments from employees on their The income of college graduates, on the . TO NICARAGUA they have when they introduced them­ selves. Family size ranged from three to health plans, up from a maximum of 28 other hand, remained the same when infla­ Harvest • Rebuild • Plant 23 . Those with the most children got big percent in the early 1980s. tion is allowed for. The overwhelming majority of com­ applause. These were among the findings of the panies now require employees to pay 20 Commission on Work, Family and Citizen­ 0 Dec. 17-Jan.14 0 Feb. 12-Mar. 4 Morley spoke about the difficulties of percent of medical costs up to a certain ship headed by Harold Howe, former U.S. 0 Dec. 20-Jan .? 0 Mar. 26- Apr. 22 rural women who are working to help their amount, on top of the initial deductible. commissioner of education. The commis­ 0 Jan. 7-Feb. 4 children get a higher education. "The stu­ In 1987 the average deductible in medi­ sion's report dealt with the 20 million dents get their room and board free," she cal coverage plans was $100. "In 1989 the youth aged 16 to 24 who will never attend pointed out, "but their mothers work even Contact: Nicaragua Network most common deductible will be $150 to college. 2025 I St., NW, Ste. 212, harder to get some surplus produce to sell $200," another corporate adviser told the One-third of all families headed by a Washington, DC 20006 to buy them shoes, notebooks, and pens . Times. person under 25, the group reported, had It's not so bad when the crops are good, but At the same time, the "health mainte­ (202) 223·2328; HOTLINE (202) 223-NICA an income that fell below the government's when there are floods, like this year, the nance organizations" that provide many of poverty line- up from one-sixth in 1973.

December 9, 1988 The Militant 5 Union women learn about Curtis defense campaign

Mark Curtis is a unionist and this frame-up to the increased hard­ defense table. to feminists that the Des Moines pie participated in the event. political activist from Des ships faced by workers, mounting police would use the charge of at­ The Curtis defense effort was Moines, Iowa, who is serving 25 numbers of farm foreclosures, • tempted rape to try to discredit this organized at a table sponsored by years in jail on frame-up cases of police brutality, and gov­ Forty-seven participants at a young man, himself a spokesper­ the Oil, Chemical and Atomic charges of rape and burglary. ernment-sanctioned job discrim­ European-wide auto workers gath­ son for women's rights, when legit­ Workers union and staffed by Cur­ The Mark Curtis Defense Com­ ination against Black, Latino, and ering in Paris signed Curtis peti­ imate rape charges brought by wom­ tis backers from OCA W Local 1- mittee is leading an interna­ women workers. tions. People were there from Aus­ en are often ignored or treated with 547 and the International Long­ tional protest campaign to fight Several delegates said they were tria, Belgium, Britain, France, little respect," Johns quotes Pamela shoremen's and Warehousemen's Holland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Valadez, president of the Greens­ Union. Most of those who signed and West Germany, as well as the boro, North Carolina, chapter of the petitions were labor activists United States. The meeting took the National Organization for Wom­ and officials. DEFEND MARK CURTIS! place in October and was initiated en. The quote is from a letter Val­ A number of the unionists said by the Fourth International. adez wrote to Des Moines Police they would welcome having a rep­ Time was allotted early in the for justice for Curtis. To contact "not surprised at all" that Curtis Chief William Moulder. resentative of the Mark Curtis De­ the committee, write Box 1048, had been framed up, and a few men­ agenda for a presentation on the fense Committee come before defense effort. This sparked plenty "When the police came to arrest Des Moines, Iowa 50311. Tele­ tioned other working-class fighters their executive board and member­ of informal discussions for the [Curtis], it was apparent that they phone (515) 246-1695. that had been similarly targeted. knew who he was ," Valadez told ship meetings to explain this They compared Curtis' beating by next day and a half. frame-up and appeal for support. Signers included Antonio Gil the Guardian. Curtis supporters set up an in­ Des Moines cops the night he was Mainar, general secretary of the She added, "Whenever some­ A teacher and member of the formational table at the Fifth Bien­ arrested with the San Francisco National Education Association union executive commission of one who is beaten to a bloody pulp nial Convention of the Coalition of police assault on Dolores Huerta, from Burbank, California, signed Catalonia at Volkswagen in Bar­ by the police is charged with as­ Labor Union Women. More than first vice-president of the United the petition and asked if she could celona, Spain; and Lars Hen­ sault, there are a lot of questions." 900 unionists registered for the Farm Workers union, last Sep­ help. She sought out members of riksson, chair of Group 11 of the She was referring to the assault conference, which was held in tember. her union and others she knew and Metal Workers Union atVolvo in charges filed against Curtis by the Seattle November 17-20. returned to the table later with a Goteborg, Sweden. cops who beat him at the city jail A woman farmer from Tennes­ half dozen petitions filled with The October 20-26 issue of the night he was arrested. They Seventy-five people signed Cur­ see whose farm was recently names. tis petitions or wanted to receive foreclosed on plans to publicize Rouge, the newspaper of the Rev­ later dropped the charges. more information. These included the defense effort among farmers' olutionary Communist League of A number of women unionists delegates from 22 states, as well organizations. Members of human France, carried an article titled • who signed told the Curtis cam­ as guests from Britain and West rights committees from locals of "Justice for Mark Curtis." The Curtis defense effort won paigners that their sons had also Germany. Many unionists took the auto workers' union agreed to the backing of 250 unionists at a been beaten or mistreated by cops. packets of Curtis defense commit­ discuss this frame-up with other • Jobs with Justice rally in Los One, who used to live in Sioux City, tee material for their locals. Dele­ members of their committees. The November 16 issue of the Angeles on October 29. Signers Iowa, told of her husband's ex­ gates donated $1 70 to the defense Guardian newspaper, a radical chipped in $231 .75 (plus $50 periences in a meat-packing plant. committee. The episode of the nationally weekly published in New York, ran pledged), and, as the day wore on, syndicated TV show "On Trial" a prominent article on Curtis' frame­ more and more people were wear­ Joel Britton, Maceo Dixon, and Several unionists from the Mid­ that included footage from Curtis' up, written by Rebecca Johns. ing "Justice for Mark Curtis" but­ Janet Post contributed to this col­ west connected the fight against September trial was played at the " It is particularly reprehensible tons. Between 1,000 to 2,000 peo- umn. Marroquin victory celebrated at Des Moines rally

BY JON HILLSON Alvarez also urged that "all those who were arrested by immigration cops during a Combined with Marroquin's residency vic­ AND PAT SMITH support social justice" now take up restric­ raid at the Swift meat-packing plant here tory , these prove, she said, that "it is time DES MOINES, Iowa - The decision of tive U.S. immigration policies and the last March. Perales has worked her entire for all of us to stand up and speak out." the U.S. government to grant Mex ican­ "English-only" movement, both of which, life as a farm worker and a packinghouse Walter Galvin brought greetings from born political activist Hector Marroquin he said, are "underpinned by racism" and worker. She described the fight to win jus­ the nearly 2,000 members of the Des permanent residence status in the United directed against working people from Latin tice for her son-in-Jaw and other victims of Moines Education Association. Its parent States is "a great victory for all of us who America and elsewhere who have come to La migra - the immigration police. organization, the 1.9-million-member Na­ fight for social justice," Alfredo Alvarez, the United States in search of jobs and a The protests against the arrest of the 17 tional Education Association, has been an chairperson of the Des Moines Human better life. won widespread support and the eventual important backer of Marroquin's fi ght. Rights Commission, told a meeting here to Dolores Perales is the mother-in-law of dropping of the felony charges against the ''I'm not here as a socialist," Galvin celebrate that achievement. one of the 17 undocumented workers who one Salvadoran and 16 Mexican workers. Continued on Page 12 Marroquin, a national committee mem­ ber of the Socialist Workers Party, won his green card earlier this fall after an 11-year struggle. Letter of apology from U.S. Customs Service The November 19 event here, held at the United Mexican-American Community In an important victory, the U.S. Cus­ Center, drew 50 people. It was sponsored toms Service has been forced to declare DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY by the Hector Marroquin Defense Commit­ that the racist abuse suffered by Hector U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE tee. Marroquin at the hands of a U.S. customs WASHINGTON. D.C Alvarez commented on a report issued agent "was not acceptable" and "will not be November 17 by the Des Moines Civil Ser­ tolerated." vice Commission that criticized the city's Marroquin is the Mexican-born political RAG•2- 0 l - I C:W LW police for racist and sexist departmental activist who recently won an 11 -year battle practices. "It appears things are unraveling with the U.S. government to gain perma­ a bit faster than people anticipated," Al­ nent residency status. varez said, referring to a previous police On August 31 Marroquin, his attorney Ms. Claudia Slo vinsky scandal last summer. That controversy had Claudia Slovinsky, and several supporters Att o rney a t Law involved abuse of police officers who are of his case were at the Toronto airport. 396 Br oadway female by fellow cops, and offi cers dress­ They were returning to New York follow­ Ne w Yo rk , Ne w Yo rk 1001 3 ing up in Ku Klux Kl an robes to harass ing Marroquin's interview by the U.S. Dear Ms . Slov i n sky : cops who are Black. consul in Toronto that day. The interview was one of the fi nal steps Marroquin had to This i s i n r epl y t o y o u r Oc t ober 17 , 1988 , l etter concerning go through to get his "green card," which u . s . Customs treat ment o f Mr . He c tor Andre s Ma r roqu in Manr i quez ~ t Customs Canad i a n p r e c l eara nce locat i o n at the Lester Pears on shows he is a permanent resident. In t e r n ~ti o nal Ai r p o r t i n To r onto, Canada . When Marroquin and Slovinsky got to U.S. customs at the airport , Marroquin We regre t a ny un p l easantness ~l r. Marro q u in exper i enced as a r esu l t of h is Cu stoms process i ng . Regard l ess o f the presented the customs agent with his Mex­ c irc u mstances , we e xpect o u r of f i ce r s to t r eH t a l l t r a ve l e r s wi t h ican passport and the immigrant visa that cou rtesy and respect . We were , the r e f o r e, conc erned wi th your had been granted him by the State Depart­ b e l ie f t hat t he Custo ms i n s pector was abu si ve to Mr . Marroqu i n . I f we fi nd tha t o ne of o u r o ff i cers h as f ai led t o meet o u r high ment - signifying its approval of his p r ofessional standards , we take firm correct i ve actio n . green-card application. "So, you used to be a mojado in my The Regiona l Commissio ner o f Cu s t o ms , 55 East Mo n r o e S treet , country ," the agent said to Marroquin. Ch icago , Illino i s 60603 - 5790, has invest i gated this matter . He f o u nd that the i n s p ect or did indee d u se the un for t u nate ch oice of Mojado is Spanish for "wetback," a racist wo rd s , wh ich you r c lient b e lie ved to b e rude and ins u l ting . Th e term often used by border cops to refer to inspect o r wa s cou n s e lled regarding h i s d e meanor towards Mexican immigrants. "So you lived ille­ trave l ers . He was also advised tha t the behavior h e e xhibi ted gall y in my country," the agent continued. was no t a cceptabl e . P l e ase be assu r ed the manner i n wh ich h e conducted hi~se l f wi l l no t be tol erated anywhere i n the Cu s toms Turning to Slovinsky, the agent went on. Se r v ice . "So, you make your money off bringing these mojados in ," he said. Once again , we apol ogi ze for any unpleasant ness Mr. Marroq u i n e xp erien ced . We h ope that h is f u t ure contac ts with o u r Service In response to this and more racist are more pleasant . P l ease l et u s k now i f we can be o f a ny other abuse, Slovinksy filed a complaint with the ass i s tance . U.S. Customs Service commissioner. On October 28 Slovinsky received a reply from A. Donald Gilman of the U.S. Customs Service. The Toronto airport agent, the letter states, "did indeed use the ()ji!kfl:S A. Do nald Gi l unfortunate choice of words." Director, Work o rce "We apologize for any unpleasantness Effecti ve ness a n d De ve l opme nt Alfredo Alvarez, chairperson, Des Moines Mr. Marroquin experienced," said Gil­ Off i ce of I nspec t i o n a nd Contro l Human Rights Commission. man, whose letter is reproduced here. ----- · ------~ 6 The Militant December 9, 1988 How mayor, police tried to undercut Curtis support Militant/Linda Marcus Mark Curtis and supporters (left to right) Des Moines civil rights activist Edna Griffin; Kate Kaku, packinghouse worker and Curtis' wife; and Susan Mnumzana from African National Congress of South Africa mission to United Nations.

BY MARGARET JA YKO Right from the beginning the defense good enough to prove Curtis' guilt. He The original charge of sexual abuse in (Ninth of a series) campaign was an international effort. Cur­ didn't even tip his hat to Curtis' constitu­ the second degree was changed to sexual DES MOINES, Iowa- As described so tis supporters explained that it was not a tional right to be presumed innocent. abuse in the third degree, and a charge of far in this series, there were a lot of reasons struggle of interest primarily to U.S. work­ The mayor argued that Curtis' claim to burglary in the first degree was added. The why the ruling class in Des Moines would ers and farmers, with people from other be a political activist was a fraud. He wrote burglary charge carries a mandatory sen­ pick Mark Curtis to frame up. countries also contributing their support. that while Curtis "is portraying himself as a tence of 25 years. Curtis was a rebellious young packing­ Rather, the issues in the Curtis fight are the major social activist who has had promi­ house worker who was a union militant at same questions that working people are nent roles in protest marches," in fact, "a The prosecution explained that Curtis' the Swift plant here. He fought the com­ grappling with from New Zealand to spokesperson for the local National Coun­ presence in the house of the alleged victim pany on health and safety issues and de- Mexico and from South Africa to the cil of Christians and Jews organization dis­ constituted "burglary"; no one claimed that Philippines; the injury being done to Curtis claims the fact that Mr. Curtis is a promi­ he had stolen anything. was an injury to working people every­ nent leader of the community. In addition, At the arraignment, Assistant County where. If the U.S. ruling class could get Human Rights Commission members did Attorney Catherine Thune tried to get The away unscathed with railroading Curtis to not know of Mr. Curtis prior to his arrest. Judge Anthony Critelli to increase the al­ jail, then it would encourage frame-ups and Hispanic leaders have been consulted and ready exorbitant bail of $30,000, but the Mark police violence every place where working they recognize inconsistencies in his judge refused to do so. This was the first of people are under attack by the capitalist claims." several attempts by the prosecution to use Curtis rulers. Curtis answered these anonymous the courts to victimize Curtis further. The initial surge of support for Curtis sources in his letter to Dorrian: As support for Curtis continued to Story raised the already high stakes in this fight. "I do not claim to be a prominent leader. mount, police officials began to publicly Surprised by the response, anti-working­ I have been an activist for more than I 0 attack the defense effort. An article in the fended his immigrant coworkers. He class forces sought to undercut the Curtis years in opposition to the war in Central May 4, 1988, Des Moines Register titled, helped organize solidarity activities with defense campaign. This reactionary effort America, against racism, in support of "Accused rapist receives letters of support" packing workers fighting for safer working was led from the county prosecutor's office women's rights, in defense of immigrants reported that "Des Moines police have re­ conditions and higher wages against Har­ and city hall. and in support of unions and farmers. ceived more than 400 letters from across mel in Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska; People identifying themselves as repre­ "I have protested against the city of Des the country demanding that charges be Morrell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and sentatives of the Des Moines cops and Polk Moines refusing to rename University Av­ dropped against Mark Curtis, the Swift Sioux City, Iowa; Cudahy in Cudahy, Wis­ County sheriff's office contacted some of enue for Dr. Martin Luther King. I am the packing plant employee charged with an at­ consin; Iowa Beef Processors in Dakota those who sent the first messages to the director of the Militant Labor Forum series tempted sex crime. City, Nebraska; and Swift in Marshall­ police protesting Curtis' arrest and beating. held at the Pathfinder Bookstore here in "Police say they are baffled by the atten­ town, Iowa. Howard Mayhew, a longtime political Des Moines. I am an active member of tion focused on the case because they be­ Curtis promoted support for farmers and trade union activist now retired in Local 431 of the United Food and Com­ lieve they have solid evidence to support fighting against foreclosures, for a protest Whiting, New Jersey, explained, "A man mercial Workers union at the Swift/Man­ the charges against Curtis. against police racism in the suburb of who said he was a sheriff called and asked fort meat-packing plant where I work. I am "Still, the case has drawn national sup­ Clive, and for demonstrations against U.S . me if I had sent a telegram to Des Moines. the past National Chairperson of the Young port for Curtis from a network of organiza­ intervention in Central America. He said he wanted to make sure it had re­ Socialist Alliance and I am a member of tions. Many of the letters contain petitions He carried out this political activity as a ally been sent by me . I assured him it had, the Socialist Workers Party .... signed by dozens of Curtis supporters. member of the Socialist Workers Party and and he hung up." "At work I am known as a union activist. Police say some letters even have foreign discussed with coworkers his support for the Bronson Rozier in Louisville, Ken­ My coworkers, and Swift management postmarks." Cuban revolution . He sold socialist books tucky, also got a call . The person on the too, know I stand up for better safety and Register staff writer Tom Alex quoted and newspapers to coworkers, friends, neigh­ other end asked Rozier if he 'd sent a mes­ working conditions. I speak Spanish and Des Moines Police Chief William Moulder: bors, and in working-class communities sage to Des Moines and if he was a member actively defend the rights of immigrant "Most of the letters have been coming from around the city and region . of the Socialist Workers Party. workers." people who are not in a position to know From the rulers' point of view, a suc­ what happened. The department is confi­ On March 28 , Doug Womack, president Burglary charge added cessful conviction of Curtis on phony rape of United Auto Workers Local 893 in Mar­ dent the proper charges have been filed ." charges, with a stiff jail term, would serve shalltown, Iowa, sent a letter to Des Two weeks after the mayor sent his let­ It also quoted police Sgt. Thomas Van to intimidate other working people, like Moines Mayor John Dorrian. Womack ter, Curtis was arraigned at the Polk Baale: "These people are hearing only one Curtis, who want to stand up and fight back wrote that he had been contacted "by Mark County Courthouse in downtown Des side of the story. Fortunately, we have a against the employers, bankers, and gov­ and several of his associates" and sum­ Moines. At the arraignment, Curtis re­ judicial system that will allow both sides of ernment. marized Curtis' explanation of his arrest ceived the formal charges. They had been the story to be told." Curtis was framed up , not because he was and beating by the cops on March 4. changed since his arrest. (To be continued) way out ahead of or divorced from the cur­ "I have no idea if the charges of either rent conflicts between those who work for a party are true or not ," Womack explained, living and those who exploit workers for a "but I'm not naive enough to think things living, but because he was right in the center of this nature don't happen either!" How you can help of those fights. helping to lead them, along with thousands of other young workers. Mayor declares Curtis guilty • New literature available. The sent to the Des Moines defense commit­ Mark Curtis Defense Committee has just A week and a half later, the auto union tee. (Checks for large tax-deductible con­ That's why the Mark Curtis Defense issued two new brochures to help tributions may be made out to the Political official received a letter from the mayor at­ Committee rapidly wo'n the support of hun­ supporters get out the truth about the Rights Defense Fund, Inc.) tempting to rebut the defense campaign. dreds of workers in Des Moines, through­ fight for justice for Curtis. • Build the Hector Marroquin tour. Dorrian 's letter contained many of the out the state, and nationally. One is the text of the motion for a new This Mexican-born political activist re­ major arguments that would be used by trial, which Judge Harry Perkins ruled cently won an !!-year battle against pro- frame-up forces. Curtis wrote back to against on November 18 right before he government efforts to deport him for his Dorrian a point-by-point refutation. Mark Curtis is a packinghouse work­ sentenced Curtis to 25 years in jail. political activities. Marroquin's national The mayor assumed that since Curtis er, unionist, and political activist in Des The second new piece is the text of speaking tour is celebrating this victory was charged with sexual assault and as­ Moines, Iowa. On Sept. 14, 1988, he was Curtis' statement before the court just and urging supporters of this fight to convicted on frame-up charges of sexual saulting police officers, he was guilty. prior to his sentencing. campaign for freedom for Curtis because abuse and burglary. He was sentenced to Curtis' arrest, he wrote, "followed offi­ Buttons that read: "Justice for Mark the same political issues are at the heart serve 25 years in jail. cers being summoned to a private residence Curtis, an injury to one is an injury to of both cases. Contact the defense com­ Unionists, farmers, and youth around where Mr. Curtis was attempting to rape a all," as well as other literature, are also mittee to find out when Marroquin will the world recognize that Curtis is one of 15-year-old female. Charges have been filed, available. be in your area. those workers who are starting to stand and the evidence in the case is quite clear." • Sign up endorsers for the defense • Get out the truth. Representatives up and fight back against the employers The mayor also repeated the police story committee. The committee has launched of the defense committee are available to and their government. In their thou­ that while cops were interrogating Curtis, he an international drive to sign up 5,000 speak at meetings. sands, working people are beginning to "attacked and injured one of the officers. In endorsers by March 4, the anniversary • Write to Mark Curtis. Letters can join the fight for justice for Curtis. the course of the restrainment, Mr. Curtis of Curtis' arrest and beating. be sent to him at the defense committee The Mark Curtis Story is a multipart suffered an injury to his right eyebrow." • Raise money. The defense com­ office. series that describes what happened to (Curtis actually suffered a shattered left mittee needs to raise $60,000 by De­ Contact the Mark Curtis Defense Curtis, where it fits into the class strug­ cheekbone after being smashed across the cember 31 in order to cover legal and pub­ Committee at Box 1048, Des Moines, gle, and the big stakes for working peo­ face with a billy club.) licity expenses. Contributions should be Iowa 50311. Telephone (515) 246-1695. ple in the fight against this frame-up. For the mayor, a report by the cops was

December 9, 1988 The Militant 7 Meetings celebrate lile ol communist Oscar Coover, Jr. SWP leader never stopped learning from class struggle

BY SUSAN LaMONT offices of the Militant, Perspectiva Mun­ pride to the excellent safety record of any NEW YORK - Meetings to celebrate dial, and Pathfinder publishers. This polit­ job he was responsible for, whether it was the life and political contributions of ical project was accomplished through the working on the Pathfinder Building or on longtime Socialist Workers Party leader organization of volunteer brigades that the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge, Oscar Coover were held here in New York helped establish the working-class attitudes which spans the Hudson. November 18 and in Los Angeles and norms of professionalism that all those As many as 70 people, men and women, November 20. working in the Pathfinder Building strive participated in the international construc­ Coover was 68 when he died of cancer for. tion team at the Pathfinder Building, said October 28 in Los Angeles, where he and Craig Gannon, SWP national organiza­ Gannon. He described how Coover would his longtime comrade and companion tion secretary, described to the New York always convince any volunteer who came Della Rossa had lived for more than 30 meeting how he first met Coover in Janu­ in to work on the project to spend more years. ary 1971 while working on that project. "I time than they had planned. "If someone SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes had come to New York for the Young So­ came to help for the weekend, he would and Mary-Alice Waters, editor of the cialist Alliance national convention," Gan­ have them there for a week. If someone Marxist magazine New International, non recalled. "I wasn't yet a member of the came for a week, he would have them there spoke at both meetings. YSA, but I heard about a work brigade that for a month," recalled George Bryant, a "Oscar Coover was a communist, a was being put together to transform this old crew volunteer and member of a group that working-class fighter throughout the whole manufacturing building on the Hudson later became the Revolutionary Workers of his political life," said SWP leader River. It was a volunteer job-a construc­ League of Canada, in his message to the James Harris, welcoming almost 150 peo­ tion minibrigade- with long hours, and meetings. ple to the New York meeting. "His activity no one knew when it would be done. I said began as a 14-year-old working-class kid 'fine.' A tight budget on the picket lines in Minneapolis in the "This was the work crew that Oscar was In the course of working six- and seven­ great strike battles of 1934, and ended only in charge of," Gannon continued. "He had day weeks, 12 or more hours a day, the with his recent death, after more than 50 the task of transforming the building - crew was forged into a team that learned years of struggle." starting with the top two-and-a-half floors, how to do what had to be done. "And we Out of his participation in the Minnesota which at the time were an old warehouse learned to do it on a tight budget," Gannon labor battles of the 1930s and experience in and a parking garage - into professional, added, with labor power often used instead a revolutionary socialist youth organiza­ usable space." of renting expensive equipment. tion, Coover joined the Socialist Workers Coover, who was then living in Los Coover educated crew members about Coover worked with new generation off~hl Party in 1938. He went on to become a Angeles, had taken a break from his job as the importance of taking finances seri­ support of Cuban revolution. Pickets su~h; leading activist in the party's work in the a carpenter in the movie studios to come to ously, Gannon said. "This was the move­ Committee, were often the target of violent . maritime industry unions in the 1940s. (For New York in late 1970 to prepare the re­ ment's money, it was hard to raise, and it a more extensive article on Coover's life, construction. The work crew, which lasted wasn't something we got easily. We were being part of the great labor organizing bat­ see the November 18 Militant.) more than six months, was made up of 20 going to use it wisely." tles, led by communists, that turned Min­ Along with thousands of other class-con­ to 30 volunteers at a time, most of them Another political lesson the crew learned neapolis into a union town and the Midwest scious workers, Coover was both a victim of young and new to the revolutionary move­ was that if a job is worth doing, it's worth into a bastion of labor strength. Those ex­ and fighter against the ruling class' anticom­ ment. They were full of enthusiasm, but­ doing right, Gannon said, no matter how periences gave Oscar a,_ deep and unsha 1· munist witch-hunt during the 1950s. in the majority of cases- without much in difficult, and even if it had to be done over. able confidence in the capacities of oro.­ Later he participated in the civil rights the way of skills, Gannon explained. Gannon explained how this seriousness nary working men and women to transform movement and was a defender of Malcolm The effort was aided by several older and professionalism carried over into other the world, and an understanding of the irre­ X and his political ideas. Coover was a par­ party members and supporters, including things the crew did, including sales of the placeable role of revolutionary leadership tisan of the Cuban revolution from its in­ Clifton DeBerry, Stan Lipman, George Militant at the giant April 1971 demonstra­ in that process ." ception, and an active builder of the move­ Bryant, Bob Redrup, and John Enestvedt, tion in Washington, D.C., against the war "Oscar became a communist," Waters "Oscar's who had the needed skills and helped train in Vietnam. ment against the Vietnam War. continued. "He became what Marx and Eng­ the younger crew members in carpentry, Coover called them all together before life was part of the history of our class, and els called a 'party man' - someone wh0 the demonstration, Gannon said, and told its struggle for power," Harris said. painting, electrical work, purchasing, and understands that it is only by working ir. _ them all that they were going to be not only The New York and Los Angeles meet­ other aspects of construction. conscious, organized way , with others who the best construction crew, but the best ings were enriched by letters and messages The crew learned more than just how to share a common class perspective, that the sales team too. And they were too - after that arrived from many cities from com­ do construction work, Gannon stressed. world can be changed. nides, young and old; fellow unionists; and Led by Coover, the work crew became a putting in a full day working on the build­ political collaborators who had worked political training ground as well, where ing, and then riding all night on buses to "In that capacity, as a party activist, with Coover over the years. members learned to work together in a dis­ the demonstration. Oscar played an important role as a link in ciplined and professional way . Gannon Several years later, Coover returned to the chain of communist continuity that is so Pathfinder Building himself joined the YSA and SWP in the New York to lead a second construction vital to the future of humanity ," Water~ In the last two decades of his life, one of course of working on the crew. crew that helped renovate the rest of the stressed. Coover's most important political con­ Coover also taught the crew the impor­ building, where a marine repair business "Through more than 50 years of political tributions was to help lead the reconstruc­ tance of safety on the job and of having a had been housed. activity, Oscar helped to form that braid of tion of what is now called the Pathfinder responsible attitude toward coworkers' life In the years since then, "Oscar stayed in­ different generations in the Socialist Work­ Building in New York, which houses the and limb. He would always point with volved in the transformation of the Path­ ers Party that has assured our continuity finder Building," Gannon said . "His last and capacity to learn from past struggles of visit to discuss future changes was in the the working class, so that the lessons of spring of 1987." these struggles can be handed down from Many of the messages to the meetings one generation to the next. " came from participants in the Pathfinder Waters recalled first meeting Oscar Building work crew and other construction when she was a young YSA leader who projects Coover helped lead over the years. had moved from Minnesota to California to Bill Anderson, Francisco Picado, Jerry go to school in the early 1960s. Freiwirth, Dick McBride, John Enestvedt, The reactionary political climate gener­ Bernie Senter, and project coplanner ated by the Cold War anticommunist Wayne Glover all paid tribute to this aspect witch-hunt had begun to recede at that time of Coover's contribution to the continuity under the blows of the rising civil rigt of communist leadership and experience. movement. The triumph of the Cuban rev­ A message from Pathfinder Mural Proj­ olution in 1959 and its uncompromising ect Director Sam Manuel - who was also anti-imperialist policies were educating a on the 1971 work crew - noted that new generation of youth inside the United Coover' s most recent contribution to the States about the character of the U.S. gov­ Pathfinder Building was to follow the prog­ ernment. ress of the mural currently being painted on The SWP was beginning to break out of the outside of the six -story structure, and to the isolation and decline of the earlier d· propose several ideas for its promotion. cade. Youth, especially on the campuses, were being attracted to the workers' move­ Communist continuity ment. After several years of preparation "Oscar wasn't an extraordinarily talent­ and the growth of Young Socialist Clubs, ed person," Mary-Alice Waters told the the Young Socialist Alliance was formed in New York and Los Angeles meetings. "He 1960. was an ordinarily talented person - a "That renewal was a historic turning strong, capable, and determined individual point in the history of the Socialist Workerc like hundreds of thousands of other work­ Party ," Waters emphasized. "Without thu. ing people we all know and work with . process beginning when it did, the con­ "What made Oscar different was the way tinuity of the communist movement in the hi s early life experiences shaped him polit­ United States would have been threat­ ically ," she said, "growing up in Min­ ened ." Osfar Coover, Jr. neapolis in the midst of the depression . The renewal didn 't happen automati-

8 The Militant December 9, 1988 •

from that. Oscar was not afraid to change his "These experiences are bigger tests for mind, to think things through. He knew young workers trying to find out what kind being a communist means working at poli­ of party they are joining, who their com­ tics, and never ceasing to grow politically rades are, and who their fellow fighters re­ with new experiences. He came to the con­ ally are than any number of educational clusion that the party today is stronger polit­ classes," commented Barnes. ically, and better prepared for what is com­ ing in the class struggle than it has ever Petitioning in upstate New York been." Garza also described an experience with Coover a few years later when they were Divided soul of working class both in the New York SWP branch. It was In his remarks at the meetings, Jack the early 1950s, and the party was petition­ Barnes described a letter in which Coover ing to get its candidate for governor on the recalled how the differences between his ballot. A signature distribution require­ mother and father had helped shape his ment in effect at that time required signa­ political views. tures to be submitted from counties Oscar Coover, Sr., was one of the found­ throughout the state - including from ers of the U.S. communist movement and rural, sparsely populated areas in upstate had played a central role in the union or­ New York. ganizing battles in Minnesota during the " It was Oscar and AI Taplin who intro­ 1930s. duced me to the white world outside of "I had grown up with his example," New York City," Garza recalled. "It was a Coover wrote, "and it was contrasted to my petition campaign for governor in the midst mother's. She had an Irish Catholic back­ of the witch-hunt. Oscar, AI , and I were ground, and had worked from the age of 13 given the best car and told to get the signa­ in department stores, hotels, and eventu­ tures we needed in the counties from ally on the railroads as a telephone opera­ Plattsburgh down to Albany. Militant/Joseph Hansen tor. She was always a worker, but with "After a day's travel, I had a ball in the :er~ ;oining SWP in late 1950s and '60s in defending meetings and demonstrations in middle-class aspirations, and she worked pit of my stomach," Garza continued. "I tS ta~e one above at the United Nations in 1960, organized by the Fair Play for Cuba at those ambitions." had never seen so many blue-eyed people lttack by anticommunist Cubans. This description of Coover's family, in my life. I was scared, but I couldn't Barnes noted, is an example of "the di­ admit it. I tried to carry my end, but Oscar vided soul of the working class, especially cally, Waters added. It had to be fought for Angeles in defense of the Cuban revolution and AI had to get the bulk of the signatures in the imperialist countries." and led. Some older members had become in the early 1960s," she said. SWP and in those northern counties. When we got to Coover's mother faced the dilemma used to the semi-sectarian existence forced YSA members were active in the Fair Play Albany's Black ghetto, it was another many workers face, especially in immi­ on the party in the 1950s, and were far for Cuba Committee, which published ma­ story. Oscar laughed that rich, full laugh of grant generations, he said, including mil­ fr• 11 happy that young people were join­ terials and held educational meetings and his about my change in Albany. lions of immigrant workers in the United mg. demonstrations defending the revolution. "Oscar was, in my eyes, one of the finest States today. They are torn between the re­ The youth, on the other hand, were full The committee had been founded in 1960 specimens of native-born American work­ ality of their life and future as part of the of energy and enthusiasm, but sometimes and by the following year had 7,000 mem­ ers. I'm proud to have known him, and to working class, and the temptation to be­ questioned whether they had much to learn bers in 21 cities. have him call me comrade and friend. He's lieve it's possible to live as a middle-class from the older generation. Public meetings organized by the Fair an example of a communist worker, and person and attain some security - to "The process of braiding together the Play for Cuba Committee in Los Angeles there's nothing better," wrote Garza. and other cities had to be politically, and "make it" under capitalism. different generations can only come about The most difficult challenge facing the A message from Ed Shaw, who also t"~'"~ugh the common political experiences physically, defended from violent attack worked in maritime during this period, re­ by right-wing Cuban exiles, Waters re­ working class since the rise of imperialism o. Jifferent generations of party members has been to become conscious of this di­ called Coover's role in a political faction working together, learning from each called. The Los Angeles Pathfinder Book­ fight that broke out in the SWP during the store and SWP campaign headquarters vided soul , Barnes said , which comes first other, developing mutual confidence, and from the possibility, and then the illusion, early 1950s. Shaw later became the SWP's were also attacked, firebombed, broken respect in the process of going through that one does not have to rise with one's national organization secretary, and was common struggle," Waters explained. into, and burglarized repeatedly by anti­ the party's 1964 vice-presidential candi­ Castro Cubans and various police agencies class, but can rise out of it. Or become part Coover helped lead that process in Los of a layer of the class that's safe from the date. Angeles and in the party as a whole. during the 1960s. Shaw was a new SWP member in the In the course of responding to these as­ ups and downs of declining capitalism. Messages from Jim Lambrecht and "Oscar always insisted that if he had not late 1940s. "In 194 7, I sailed out of the port S -anne Weiss, both of whom worked saults, Coover helped educate new mem­ of Baltimore, where Oscar had become an bers in how the party defends itself and its faced up to the conflicting pressures with Coover in the early 1960s, pointed out operating on workers when he was a young NMU official," he wrote, "but the next activity, especially under conditions of that it took time for him to become con­ person, and continuall y looked them in the year most of us were working the big pas­ vinced that there were potential working­ sharp class polarization, she said . Younger senger ships out of New York. It wasn't comrades learned that political space is face," Barnes said, "he would have never class fighters and communists among the lived through the trajectory of his life, and until 1952 that I had the opportunity to get students who were joining. Oscar was something the working class must continu­ to know Oscar really well, and we became ally fight to win, politically and in the remained the kind of revolutionist he be­ eventually won over, Waters pointed out, came as a teenager." fast friends." By then the anticommunist but only through experiences like working streets. witch-hunt and decline in labor struggles t( ~the r with the youth in the Fair Play for Waters added that as one of the older A 'blue-eyed communist' had forced Coover and other class fighters Cuba Committee. members with long experience in the labor Barnes read from a letter he received out of the NMU. movement, Oscar had much to contribute from Catarino Garza, who described work­ Defense of Cuban revolution in this area as well. At the same time, he As the period of reaction deepened, "a ing with Coover in the late 1940s in the Na­ factional struggle opened in the party," "One of the most important things that was not afraid to keep learning, and grow­ tional Maritime Union. Shaw said. "A sizable minority developed Oscar did was lead the party's work in Los ing politically, even when it meant ques­ "When he first met Oscar," Barnes ex­ based on what was a conservative attitude tioning old ways of doing"things. plained, "Catarina was a Mexican-Puerto and retreat in the face of the witch-hunt. Oscar was one of those who supported Rican kid from the South Bronx who never The minority's most solid base was in De­ Lessons from labor's history the SWP' s decision in the late 1970s to had any reason in his life to think that peo­ troit among union members who had set­ have the majority of its members get jobs • eamster Rebellion ple with white skin and blue eyes, whose tled into long-term, well-paying jobs. They in basic industry and become active in the 192 pp. $7.95. first language was English, had much to claimed to represent the working class and industrial unions, she said. Teamster Power recommend them to the human race." trade unionist base of the party, and they 255 pp. $8.95. "Not only did he support that decision Garza was 18 and Coover 26 when they came after Oscar with hammer and tongs, Teamster Politics when we began," said Waters, "but he sup­ shipped out together on what was at that hoping to win him over. ported it as we carried it out. And he agreed 256 pp. $8.95. time one of the largest ships at sea. Coover "Oscar had endured firsthand some wholeheartedly with how we did it - Teamster Bureaucracy was the union's ship chairman, responsible onslaughts of the witch-hunt," Shaw's orienting to the ranks of the unions, espe­ message continued . "Knowing these things vJ4 pp. $8.95. for negotiating for the deck, engine, and cially the younger workers on the job, not steward departments. Garza had chosen to about Oscar, the 'trade unionist' minority toward building power blocks with 'pro­ This four-volume seri es by Farrell go into the steward department, where figured him for an easy mark because a gressive officials'; and carrying our com­ Dobbs contains the history and les­ more workers spoke Spanish. series of setbacks can conservatize even munist politics onto the job. We're looking Given the class divisions on board, strong-willed people. And for a little sons of one of the most important for the real political openings that exist, not labor stru ggles of the 1930s and Garza wrote, "It wasn't very common for a while, they seemed to be making head­ aiming at some illusory long-term stability deck hand to know anyone as lowly as a way." 1940s. Dobbs offers an inspiring, by settl ing into some job. first-hand account of a militant. dem- night porter." Nevertheless, he said, The minority criticized their opponents' "As the party moved forward, so did personal weaknesses as much as, or more ::rati c union and takes up ques­ Coover - who worked on the deck - Oscar," continued Waters . "And over the "made sure everyone knew I was his friend than , their politics, Shaw recalled. "When­ tions of trade union strategy and last decade, Oscar rethought many of the and fe llow socialist." He discovered that ever we find a political argument buttres­ the role of the revolutionary party. party's earlier experi ences in the unions. Coover was known as a fi ghter, and had in­ sed by comments about an opponent's per­ Order from Pathfinder, 4 10 West St , New "He began to look more deeply at the fluence on the ship, "especially among the sonal habits or attitudes, we should reali ze York , NY 10014. Please include $1 00 cents for postage and handl1ng . party's concrete experiences in Minneapolis Black deck gang and the more informed there is more than likely a basic weakness and the Midwest during the 1930s, to learn Blacks in the steward's department. " Continued on next page

December 9, 1988 The Militant 9 Meetings celebrate life of SWP leader Oscar Coover Jr.

Continued from previous page sorb them politically, in order to move for­ in the politics." ward on a new basis. Despite initial impressions that the Participating in the construction crew minority was winning Coover to their was the beginning of such a change in views, "he became, ultimately, a solid Coover, Barnes said. He became more majority supporter," said Shaw. aware of all the possibilities of the move­ "Oscar explained the lesson he learned ment. from that experience: you don't have to be Barnes also emphasized the centrality close personally to all comrades as indi­ for Coover's continued political growth of viduals to be able to work together with the party's 1978 decision to base its work them as a team, but you must have political in the industrial working class. "Oscar re­ agreement if your teamwork is going to ally came back home again - not in a sen­ survive unexpected shifts and challenges," timental journey of some kind, but in reex­ Shaw said. amining and finding the roots of what he really learned as a young fighter on the pick­ .... Continued political development et lines in Minneapolis." Militant Barnes also discussed Coover's experi­ Group of volunteers from the 1971 construction crew Coover headed that began ences on the Pathfinder construction crew 'Moment of truth' transforming Pathfinder Building in New York. Coover taught crew members to - but from the point of view of what he Joel Britton, an oil worker and recent work together in a disciplined, professional way, and young volunteers inspired him learned, not what he taught. The young SWP candidate for U.S. Senate from with confidence in party's future and new generation of leaders. members of the crew helped to transform California, spoke to the more than 150 peo­ Coover's life when he was well past middle ple attending the Los Angeles meeting age, Barnes said. They inspired him with about Coover's contributions during the organization of the party's supporters. for constructing, organizing, and helping confidence in the movement and what the last years of his life . The meeting, held in "Oscar set the example for those who staff the Los Angeles Pathfinder Book­ new generation could accomplish, some­ the letter carriers' union hall , was attended agree with the SWP and want to support store, helping make it the vital, seven-day­ thing he had not been entirely convinced of by comrades, coworkers, friends, and fam­ what the party is doing and saying, but who a-week center of political discussion and before. ily from Phoenix, San Diego, and the San aren't able to be members," continued Brit­ activity that it is today ." "There's no such thing as finally getting Francisco-Oakland Bay Area, as well as ton. "He set an example by reading the "Oscar made many contributions to the yourself settled in to being a revolutionary , Los Angeles. Militant and our other publications- from struggle to construct a communist van­ and then just chugging along and doing Britton described what Coover called a first page to last - to stay politically in guard," Britton said, "but his contributions fine ," Barnes emphasized. "That's not the "moment of truth" that he experienced tune with the movement. And he took ini­ in these past five years, as a leader of the way it works." when he retired from building sets for the tiatives to help organize other active SWP' s conscious, organized active sup­ Turning points come in everyone's life , Hollywood studios, and realized he was no supporters to meet and work together col­ porters, have been some of his most impor­ he continued. Shifts happen - physical longer able to maintain the level of activity lectively on a more regular, monthly tant." and social shifts, political insights, indi­ expected of SWP members. basis." Coover was inspired by the Nicaraguan vidual difficulties and disappointments, "In collaboration with the party leader­ Britton described the satisfaction Coover revolution and the continued advances of advances in experiences, and sharp ship, Oscar took an important initiative in derived from his work as a party supporter. the Cuban revolution, Britton added . He changes that can't be anticipated. When 1983," Britton explained. "He took on the Oscar would say he didn't have the "juice'' welcomed the growth in Los Angeles of the they accumulate, one has to deal with responsibility of helping promote a more he once had, Britton said, but he had as Young Socialist Alliance chapter, com­ them, think about them, face them, and ab- conscious approach to the involvement and much as many people. "He was responsible posed now in part of young, Spanish­ speaking immigrant workers. And he pitched in to aid the party's work in the in­ dustrial unions in whatever ways he could. "Oscar was comfortably 'in sync' with the Push to collect Pathfinder Fund needed party' s political activity , and supremely Continued from front page I, 100. Tens of thousands of extra dollars confident of its prospects." Britton said. money is in, however. were raised for the fund, demonstrating Jeannie Frankel, an active supporter of Fund organizers' confidence is bolstered what important tools Pathfinder books are Pathfinder Fund the SWP who in recent years worked both by the success of the just-concluded in the eyes of working-class fighters today. closely with Coover to organize other international effort to sell the Pathfinder supporters, co-chaired the Los Angeles pamphlet Action Program to Confront the An Austin, Minnesota, rally to celebrate contributions meeting, along with SWP leader Elizabeth Coming Economic Crisis- 18,645 in En­ the book Che Guevara and the Cuban Rev­ Stone. glish and Spanish were sold - and by the olution, published by Pathfinder/Pacific and UNITED STATES Goal Received Frankel read a letter saluting Oscar rallies held in many cities to celebrate Path­ Asia, illustrated this. Atlanta 5,000 2,740 Coover' s life received by Della Rossa from finder books this fall. The event was held November 6. Three Austin, Minn. 2,850 2,740 Los Angeles Councilman Robert Farrel , of those speaking on the platform were Baltimore 3,000 800 who worked with Coover in the civil rights Through the rallies the number of con­ Birmingham 7,000 3,040 workers who described how books distrib­ movement during the 1960s. tributors to the fund increased to more than Boston 9,000 5,247 Olga Rodriguez, Southern California uted by Pathfinder were just what they Charleston, W. Ya. 3,500 2,535 were looking for after they found them­ circulation director for the Militant and Chicago 10 , 100 5,428 Perspectiva Mundial, ended the Los Ange­ selves immersed in political struggle. Cleveland 5,400 3,622 les meeting with an appeal for contribu­ Buck Heegard, who was a leading ac­ Des Moines 3,300 I ,300 $250,000 Detroit 6,100 4,283 tions in Coover's honor to the $250,000 250,000 tivist in the 1985-86 strike at the Hormel Greensboro, N.C. 2,800 1,848 Pathfinder Fund. Some $5,265 was meat-packing plant in Austin, told how he Houston 8,500 7,468 pledged at the meeting, in addition to funds came into contact with Pathfinder books as Kansas City 3, 700 2,390 already raised. Path- he traveled around the country rallying Los Angeles 20,000 9,892 support for that strike. He singled out the Miami 5,500 4 ,035 Nelson Blackstock and Elizabeth Stone, Pathfinder pamphlet by Fred Halstead, The Milwaukee 3,000 2,688 from Los Angeles, also contributed to this 1985- 86 Harmel Meat-Packers' Strike in Morgantown, W.Va. 4 ,500 2,662 article. Austin, Minnesota , as playing a particu­ Newark 12,000 10,823 finder New York 27,000 21,037 larly important role. Oakland 13 ,000 8,400 Dale Shidester, a former coal miner, had Omaha 3,800 2,937 honored the Hormel strikers' roving picket Philadelphia 7,000 4,005 from Pathfinder Fund lines at his meat-packing plant in Ot­ Phoenix 3,500 1, 185 tumwa, Iowa. Today he works at the Hor­ Pittsburgh 5,000 2,802 mel plant in Austin. Portland, Ore. 4,100 2,951 Fidel Castro Shidester described how as he got in­ Price, Utah 2,250 1,770 Nothing volved in that strike battle, he found he Salt Lake City 6,300 5,918 San Francisco II ,500 9 ,532 wanted to read more, especially about 0 Enclosed is Seattle 7,000 3,740 Can Stop the $ ___ working-class struggles around the world . St. Louis 8,800 8,146 That was why he sought out Pathfinder lit­ for the fund. Twin Cities 12,000 6,870 Course of History erature and New International, a magazine Washington, D.C. 7,500 4,512 "Undoubtedly the longest and most of Marxist politics and theory. Other U.S. 7,500 3,622 0 I pledge wide-ranging interview ever con­ $ ___ Christine Evert, a warehouse worker and Total U.S . 241 ,500 160,968 ducted with Cuban President Fidel to the fund. member of the Young Socialist Alliance, INTERNATIONAL Pledged Received Castro. In it, Castro speaks directly talked about Che Guevara's writings on Australia 820 470 to the people of the United States on young people, quoting from the chapter in Britain 3,966 1,696 questions of vital importance to citi­ Canada 9,720 5,778 the book on "What a Young Communist zens of both our countries." Name~------­ Should Be." France 200 200 Germany 150 150 From the preface by Rep. Mervyn Address ------The book's editor, David Deutschmann, M. Dymally, who with Jeffrey M. and anti-apartheid activist Urule lgbaboa, Iceland 1,010 102 City ______New Zealand 2,055 435 Elliot conducted the interview. 276 also spoke. Sweden 565 565 pages, $8.95 State ____ Zip/Postal Code __ It's to make sure the books and pam­ Other International 1,277 1,277 Available from Pathfinder Bookstores phlets are there for the next layers of work­ Country ______Total U.S. goals listed on page 12 or by mail from Path­ ers who go into struggle that makes suc­ finder Press, 410 West St., New York , and int'l pledges 261,263 Clip and mail to: Pathfinder Fund, 410 West cessful completion of the $250,000 Fund N.Y. 10014. Please include $1.00 for St., New York , N.Y. 10014. the top priority of Pathfinder supporters Total received 171,641 postage and handling . now.

10 The Militant December 9, 1988 'Sankara awakened the African countryside' Messages hail book of speeches by Burkina revolutionary leader

We are reprinting several messages mation about Sankara's work against apart­ received by Pathfinder marking its re­ heid South Africa, support for Nicaragua, cent publication of Thomas Sankara and canceling the Third World debt. I con­ Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution gratulate Pathfinder for publishing this 1983-87. work. I will be active in getting it widely The book is the first collection of the read and discussed. speeches of Sankara, who led the Aug. 4, 1983, revolution in the West African Dr. Leonard Jeffries country of Burkina Faso, previously Chairman, known as Upper Volta. Sankara was Black Studies Department, murdered in a 1987 counterrevolution­ City College of New York ary coup. The book will be launched at meetings It is a great benefit to the African world in Britain on December 3 and Sweden on and the world in general that this young December 11. A similar meeting was held revolutionary spirit has been kept alive. in New York's Harlem community on Even though his life was short, it was very November 13. worthwhile, like Malcolm X's was. Sankara was very close to us here at City College because he continued our revolu­ M. Tangirai tionary tradition, which comes out of the Secretary general Zimbabwe student struggle in 1969, to open this col­ Congress of Trade Unions lege and the university system to African, Asian, and Latin American and other poor On behalf of the Zimbabwe Congress of peoples around the world. And he did this Trade Unions and the working people of through a visit to the CCNY campus. Zimbabwe we wish to express our militant solidarity on the launching and celebrating of the publication of Thomas Sankara's Ben Dupuy speeches and the Burkina Faso revolution. Editor, Harti Progres, New York Thomas Sankara reflected the revolu­ Few here in the United States know of tionary youth and vision so greatly desired Sankara's tremendous contributions to ex­ by the people of Africa, oppressed by im­ tending revolutionary theory, particularly perialist hegemony. We miss and mourn in the framework of forging a revolutionary this unwavering combatant of rare con­ society from an underdeveloped one in Af­ Militant drawing by Bob Allen sciousness. A !uta continua. rica. His messages were lucid and con­ Thomas Sankara crete. His teachings have particular rele­ Thomas Sankara Collective vance for those of us working in the Carib­ Paris bean and Central American context. Safiya Bendele Ernesto Godoy Director, Center for Women's Revolutionary Democratic Front­ In a country known as one of the poorest Adrian Saunders Development, Medgar Evers Farabundo Marti National Liber­ in the continent, the regime of Thomas ation Front of El Salvador, New York Sankara took as its principle the greatest Leader of the United People's College, New York possible limitation of economic and finan­ Movement of St. Vincent We wish to extend our solidarity with Here is a true revolutionary understand­ cial dependency and the increased utiliza­ the people of Burkina Faso and for the ef­ and the Grenadines ing that the rising of women is the rising of tion of the country's natural resources and forts to preserve Sankara's political ideals the nation. Thomas Sankara's commitment of the food and textiles produced there. I think that this book is of inestimable for peace and social progress in the book value to those of us living in the Third to humankind remains a sterling example In the four years available to the Bur­ for us . Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina kinabe revolution, it already changed the World who are struggling to throw off the Faso Revolution 1983-87. face of the country. A process of political shackles of our colonial and neocolonial past, and involve our people in the forging Sarah Santana aw~.kening in the countryside was under Areito magazine way, one which gained international influ­ of their own destinies. Mark Curtis ence. This influence was due to this gov­ As people working to disseminate the Frame-up victim currently serving ernment's humanism and strict standards, Terry Marryshow truth of Cuban and Latin American reality 25 years in an Iowa jail. qualities personified in the very person of outside and inside the United States, the Leader of the Maurice Bishop When I started serving my time in mid­ its leader. Patriotic Movement of Grenada Areito Collective congratulates Pathfinder on its publication of Thomas Sankara September, one of the three books I Basil Davidson Sankara will always be remembered as a Speaks, another important contribution to brought with me here to jail was Thomas Author and historian vertical revolutionary and anti-imperialist the integration of revolutionary thought Sankara Speaks. And mine have not been fighter who dedicated his life to the cause of from different cultures and latitudes. the only hands that it has passed through. I commend this book to everyone, wher­ eliminating poverty and underdevelopment ever they may be, who has a serious in­ not only in BurkinaFaso, but in all of Africa. Madjid Abdullah terest and care for the Africa of today and Thomas Sankara Speaks brings you closer to Polisario Front mission Mel Tapley the Africa of tomorrow. Thomas Sankara the man and his innermost thoughts and to the United Nations Amsterdam News, New York lived and worked and thought and spoke should be read by the revolutionaries. One great thing about Thomas Sankara for both. In a very short time, Sankara reversed was that he came to Harlem. the course of events in his own country, Grassroots Books Burkina Faso, where he played a central He mentioned about some thinking of Dennis Brutus Zimbabwe role in the dynamization of the economy, "Harlem as a trash heap." But he also Exiled South African poet democratization of the country, and the spoke of those who believe that "Harlem Thank you Pathfinder for making it pos­ participation of the people in the life of will give the African soul its true dimen­ This is an informative and inspmng sible to read Sankara in English. You 've their homeland. sion." book. It is especially useful for the infor- done a great job. He also made his ideas known in and He spoke of building not a world for beyond Africa, whether on the question of Blacks alone, but he said we have to teach justice, equality, or in worldwide problems other people how to Jove each other. He such as the debt, trade, underdevelopment, also talked about freeing our brothers in from Pathfinder and international cooperation. South Africa. THOMAS SANKARA SPEAKS Ohio nuclear workers on strike THE BURKINA FASO REVOLUTION 1983-87 Continued from back page ty and Health (FRESH) in late October, in­ sions about large-scale contamination from cluding many Fernald workers, FATLC "Those who believed in the strug­ the Fernald plant stem from a 1985 class­ President David Day, and three representa­ action lawsuit against NLO, filed by tives from Physicians for Social Responsi­ gle embarked upon by Sankara must 14,000 area residents for $300 million. bility. Thomas devote themselves to remaining true To protect NLO from liability, the DOE People at the meeting wanted to know if Sankara to his memory and conveying his admitted knowing about the radioactive they would ever be able to eat food from their Speaks materials leaking from the plant. NLO, gardens again, and why the DOE doesn't message to others." says the DOE, violated safety requirements test meat from local cows. Others asked if under orders , and therefore can't be held the plant could ever be reopened safely, and Thomas Sankara International accountable. William Vaugh, a former when clean-up of the site will start . Association, P•is Reagan administration official, said that One woman, when asked if she would the DOE took this course because "every move if she could, said with tears in her 260 pp., 89.95 To get this book: penny that went to safety programs was a eyes, "Tonight." Her father-in-Jaw died of Contact the Pathfinder bookstore nearest you listed penny taken away from manufacturing nu­ lung cancer, she has thyroid problems, and on page 12, or by mail from Pathfinder, 410 West St., clear warheads." · her husband has multiple sclerosis. ''I'm New York, N.Y. 10014. $9 .95 (please include $1 .00 DOE, as a federal agency, claims it can­ terrified what might happen to my three postage and handling.) not be sued for the damage inflicted upon kids," she added. "Everyone I talk to has For mail orders in Africa, Europe, Middle East: Central Books, 14 The Leathermarket, London SE1 3ER, England ; In Asia and Pacific: Hale & Fernald-area residents. cancer in their family." lremonger. GPO Box 2552 . Sydney NSW 2001. Australia. In Canada Following the DOE's admissions, more "Chernobyl was an accident," com­ P.O. Box 9600 , Station A. Toronto, Ont. M5W 2C7, Canada . than 250 people attended a meeting of the mented another person. "Fernald is no ac­ Fernald Residents for Environmental Safe- cident!"

December 9, 1988 The Militant 11 --CALENDAR------class, $3 for dinner. Sponsor: Militant Forum, African Escalation" on the defeat of South Afri­ CALIFORNIA Pathfinder Bookstore, Young Socialist Al­ can troops in Angola. Wed., Dec. 7, 7 p.m. BRITAIN Los Angeles liance . For more information call (612) 644- University Teaching Center Room 3.112, Uni­ Cardiff Victory for Hector Marroquin. Landmark im­ 6325. versity of Texas. Sponsor: African Students As­ Ireland: A Miscarriage of Justice. Speaker: migration case won after 11-year fight. Speak­ sociation; A Luta Continua; Pathfinder Book­ Peter Clifford, recently arrested under the Pre­ ers: Hector Marroquin, Mexican-born socialist MISSOURI store, Houston; University of Texas Chicanos vention of Terrorism Act. Wed., Dec. 7, 7:30 who recently won permanent residency in the Kansas City Against Military Intervention in Latin America p.m. The Bosun Public House, Angelina St., United States; Peter Schey, executive director, Glasnost, Perestroika, and the Soviet Union (CAMILA). For more information call (512) Butetown. Sponsor: New International Forum . National Center for Immigrant Rights. Transla­ Today. Speaker: Greg Nelson, Socialist Work­ 476-3667. London tion to Spanish. Sat. , Dec. 10, 7:30p.m. United ers Party . Sun ., Dec. 4, 6 p.m. 5534 Troost. Ireland: A Miscarriage of Justice. Speakers: Methodist Church, 1010 S Flower. Donation: Donation: $2 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum . UTAH Errol Smalley, secretary of the Campaign to $3 . Sponsor: Mark Curtis Defense Committee. For more information call (816) 444-7880. Salt Lake City Free the Guildford Four and uncle of Guild ford For more information call (2 13) 380-9460. The Palestinian Struggle Today. A panel dis­ Massive Aid to Nicaragua Now! An eyewit­ victim Paul Hill; Peter Clifford, recently ar­ San Francisco cussion. Sun., Dec . II, 6 p.m. 5534 Troost. ness report on the aftermath of Hurricane Joan. rested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Social Explosion in El Salvador: How Will Donation: $2 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum . Speaker: Regula Burki , M.D. Translation to Fri ., Dec. 9, 7:30p.m. 47 The Cut, SE I. Do­ the Bush Administration Respond? Speaker: For more information call (816) 444-7880. Spanish. Sat., Dec. 10, 7:30p.m. 147 E 900 S. nation: £1 . Sponsor: New International Forum . Arnoldo Ramos , international representative Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Forum. For For more information call 01-401-2293. Revolutionary Democratic Front-Farabundo more information call (801) 355-1124. Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador. NEW JERSEY Sun ., Dec. 4, 7 p.m. American Indian Center, Newark WASHINGTON, D.C. CANADA 225 Valencia St. Donation: $5-$7. Sponsor: Massive U.S. Aid to Nicaragua Now! Speak­ Reconstructing Nicaragua. Speakers to be an­ Montreal Committee in Solidarity with the People of El ers: Jim Moske, Young Socialist Alliance , nounced. Sat., Dec . 10, 7:30p.m. 3165 Mt. The Foreign Debt of the Caribbean: The Salvador. For more information call (415) 648- member United Auto Workers Local 950; Jim Pleasant NW. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Role of Canadian Imperialism. Speaker: 8222. Burchell, Northeast organizer for Quest for Labor Forum. For more information call (202) Susan Berman, just returned from tour of Carib­ Red, White, and Black Ball. Benefit party for Peace. Translation to Spanish. Sat. , Dec . 10, 797-7699. bean for Pathfinder publishers. Translation to Nicaragua hurricane relief. Sat., Dec . 31, 9 7:30p.m. 141 Halsey St., 2nd tloor. Donation: Why the Minimum Wage Should Be Raised. French and Spanish. Fri., Dec. 9, 7:30p.m. p.m. - 2 a.m. Caribbean Allstars, Diane Amos, $3 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more Speaker: Debbie Lazar, Socialist Workers 4274 Papineau, Suite 302. Donation: $3 . Spon­ DJ music . Longshoreman's Hall , 400 W Point information call (20 I) 643-3341 . Party, member United Steelworkers of America sor: Forum Lutte Ouvriere. For more informa­ (at Taylor). Donation: $14 , $15- $25 at door. Local 14287. Sat., Dec . 17 , 7:30p.m. 3165 tion call (514) 524-7992. Sponsors: S.F. Committee in Solidarity with the NEW YORK Mt . Pleasant NW. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Mil­ A Year of the Intifada: The Palestinian People of El Salvador, Nicaragua Information Manhattan itant Labor Forum. For more information call Struggle Today. Speaker: Abdullah Abdullah, Center, Community Action, Nest Foundation. (202) 797-7699. representative of the Palestine Liberation Or­ For more information call (415) 648-8222. Commemoration of South African Human ganization in Canada. Translation to French and Rights Day. Protest demonstration to demand Spanish. Sat ., Dec . 17, 7:30 p.m. 4274 FLORIDA that Mobil Oil cease its collaboration with WISCONSIN Papineau, Suite 302. Donation: $3 . Sponsor: Miami South African regime . Fri. , Dec . 9, noon. Milwaukee Forum Lutte Ouvriere. For more information Mobil Oil headquarters, 150 E 42nd St., be­ Nicaragua Today: Rebuilding in the Wake of call (514) 524-7992. Behind Changes in Political Attitudes of Cu­ tween Lexington and 3rd avenues. Sponsor: bans in Miami. A panel discussion. Transla­ Hurricane Joan. An eyewitness report . New York-Southern Africa Solidarity Coali­ Speaker: Harvey McArthur, former correspon­ tion to Spanish. Sat., Dec. 3, 7:30p.m. 137 NE tion. For more information call (212) 690-7180. 54th St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor dent with Militant's Managua Bureau. Transla­ SWEDEN Anniversary of the Palestinian Uprising. tion to Spanish. Sun., Dec. II, 3 p.m. 4707 W Stockholm Forum. For more information call (305) 756- Vigil to honor those who have given their lives 1020. Lisbon Ave . Donation: $3 . Sponsor: Militant Celebrate the Publication of Thomas San­ for the freedom and independence of Palestine. Labor Forum. For more information call (414) kara Speaks. Speakers: representative, Tho­ Fri ., Dec . 9. Assemble 4:30p.m at the Israeli 445-2076. mas Sankara Collective in Paris; Niilo Taapopi , MICHIGAN mission to the UN , 800 2nd Ave. (at 42nd St.). Welfare "Reform": An Attack on Working chief representative of South West Africa Peo­ Detroit March 5:30 p.m. to U.S. mission. Sponsor: People. Speakers: Sandi Sherman, Socialist ple's Organisation in the Nordic countries; Palestine Solidarity Committee. For more infor­ Workers Party, member United Auto Workers Yolisa Modise, representative of the Women's Justice for Mark Curtis! Speaker: Robert mation call (212) 964-7299. Bruce. Video of Mark Curtis' trial. Sat. , Dec. union; others. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Section of the African National Congress of 10, 7:30p.m. 5019 112 Woodward Ave . Dona­ Dec . 17 , 7:30 p.m. 4707 W Lisbon Ave . Dona­ South Africa in Scandinavia; Mary-Alice Wa­ tion: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum . For TEXAS tion: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum . For ters, Pathfinder, New York; Eva Palm, metal more information call (313) 961-0395. Austin more information call (414) 445-2076. worker. Translation to English and Swedish. A Victory Over Apartheid. Showing of the Sun., Dec. II, 5 p.m. U-Forum, Birger Jarlsga­ MINNESOTA Cuban TV documentary "Response to the South • tan 61. Sponsor: Pathfinder. Austin Massive Aid Needed for Nicaragua. Speaker: Harvey McArthur, former correspondent for the Militant' s Managua Bureau. Class: "The Peas­ Iowa rally celebrates Marroquin victory ants' Fight for Land in the Nicaraguan Revolu­ tion ." Sun., Dec. 4, 3 p.m. , followed by dinner Continued from Page 6 flee for his life to the United States. American Community Center, "that sup­ at 5 p.m. "An Eyewitness Report on Hurricane said, "or because I'm an immigrant, but Affirming his intent to use his "victory porters of the Swift 17, including Mark, Joan and the Challenges Facing the Nicaraguan because we believe in Hector. We believe to the fullest for all who suffer political vic­ rallied on March 4, just hours before he Revolution." Sun., Dec . 4, 6 p.m. Donation: $5 in him as a human being who has the right timization," Marroquin told the crowd his was arrested, beaten, and framed up . And for all events. 407 112 N Main St. Sponsor: Mili­ tant Labor Forum. For more information call to be a political dissident and be in this top priority now is "to win justice, free­ he was a leader in the plant of the fight to (507) 433-3461. country." dom, and vindication for Mark Curtis." unite workers and defend the Swift 17." St. Paul G. W. Blake Blakesley, pastor of the Curtis, a 29-year-old unionist and politi­ Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church in Car­ "I know," continued Marroquin, "some Chile's Dictatorship in Crisis. Speaker: Her­ cal activist, was recently sentenced to 25 of my supporters defend Mark Curtis. min Vidal, professor of Spanish and Portuguese lisle, Iowa, hailed Marroquin for "refusing years in an Iowa prison, framed up on rape to buckle under the pressure to say some­ Some want to find out more and that's im­ at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, re­ and burglary charges. He is appealing his portant. And some don 't support him. I re­ cently returned from Chile. Translation to Span­ thing he did not believe because it would conviction. Until his arrest and beating at ish. Sat., Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. 508 N Snelling be easier to get residency." Washington spect this, but I have to speak out." the hands of Des Moines police last March, "Ours is the same fight ," emphasized Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Forum, used Marroquin's political activities and Curtis worked at the Swift packinghouse Pathfinder Bookstore. For more information Marxist ideas to try to deny him permanent Marroquin, "and that's why I urge all those call (612) 644-6325. here. Curtis, like Marroquin, is a member who supported me to unite to get this residency and deport him. of the SWP. Classes on Nicaragua. Two classes by Harvey brother out of jail." McArthur, former correspondent with Mili· Framed up on criminal charges Marroquin, Curtis fights: same issues tant's Managua Bureau. "Nicaragua's Land Re­ After the meeting, several participants form ." Sat., Dec . 17, 4 p.m., followed by Marroquin was the afternoon's featured Marroquin carefully explained the lies went to the Mark Curtis Defense Commit­ Nicaraguan dinner. "Ten Years of Revolution speaker. He discussed how he was framed and contradictions in the prosecution's tee office. A couple of workers from Swift on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast." Sat. , Dec . 17, up on phony charges of armed robbery, case against Curtis. He reviewed the links who hadn't made it to the rally showed up 7:30p.m. Party to follow . Translation to Span­ murder, and terrorism by the Mexican between his case and that of Curtis. "It was as well, and everyone watched a videotape ish. 508 N Snelling Ave. Donation: $2 for each police in the early 1970s, forcing him to here," he said, in the United Mexican- of excerpts from Curtis' September trial . --IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP·------Where to find Pathfinder books and dis­ 50311. Tel: (515) 246-1695. OHIO: Cleveland: 2521 Market Ave . Zip: Glebe. Postal address: P.O. Box 153 Glebe, tributors of the Militant, Perspectiva Mun­ LOUISIANA: New Orleans: P.O. Box 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: P.O. Sydney NSW 2037. Tel: 02-660 1673 . dial, New International, and Nouvelle Inter­ 53224. Zip: 70153 . Tel: (504) 484-6418. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. nationale. 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NEBRASKA: Omaha: 140 S. 40th St. Zip: St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7699, 797- Tel: (408) 394-7948. 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. 7021. NEW ZEALAND FLORIDA: Miami: 137 NE 54th St. Zip: NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. Zip: WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5517 Rainier Ave. Auckland: 157a Symonds St. Postal address: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: P.O. 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. New Brunswick: South. Zip: 98118. Tel: (206) 723-5330. P.O. Box 8730. Tel: (9) 793-075. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 877-9338. c/o Keith Jordan, 149 Somerset St. Zip: 08903. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: 116 Mc­ Christchurch: 593a Colombo St. (upstairs). GEORGIA: Atlanta: 132 Cone St. NW, Tel: (201) 828-1874. Farland St. Zip: 25301 . Tel: (304) 345-3040. Postal address: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 656- 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577-4065. NEW YORK: Mid-Hudson: Box 1042, An­ Morgantown: 221 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505 . 055. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 6826 S. Stony Island nandale. Zip: 12504. Tel: (914) 758-0408. New Tel: (304) 296-0055. Wellington: 23 Majoribanks St., Courtenay Pl . Ave. Zip: 60649. Tel : (312) 363-7322. York: 79 Leonard St. Zip: 10013 . Tel: (212) WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: 4707 W. Lisbon Postal address: P.O. Box 9092. Tel: (4) 844-205. INDIANA: Muncie: c/o Brian Johnson, 219-3679 or 925-1668. Pathfinder Books, 226- Ave. Zip: 53208 . Tel: (414) 445-2076. 619 112 N. Dill St. Zip: 47303. Tel: (317) 747- 8445 . SWEDEN 8543. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: 2219 AUSTRALIA Stockholm: P.O. Box 5024, S-12505 Alvsjo. IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave . Zip: E Market. Zip: 27401 . Tel: (919) 272-5996. Sydney: 181 Glebe Point Rd ., 2nd tloor, Tel: (08) 722-9342.

12 The Militant December 9, 1988 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------What you don't know won't And no crook either? - Dan send Dan Quayle to the University Eau de B.O. - Donald and The maid will love them - kill you? - The British govern­ Quayle is no "intellectual midget." of Indiana law school for 6.8 mil­ Ivana Trump, British royalty, and New York designer Norma Kama­ ment persistently refused to dis­ - Richard Nixon. lion years. others have paid Keith Foster up to li offers custom-made furniture at close manufacturer's safety infor­ $10,000 to concoct a personal custom-made prices. But a real mation on pesticides, arguing the Who says there's no progress But not to worry- The chair­ fragrance for them. This involves deal is the stretch-silk satin sheets man of the Federal Home Loan - George Russell, a Baltimore hours of psychological probing, ($550 and $700 a set.) "Aren't Bank Board explained that when corporate lawyer, became the first plus having the subject wear a they great," she enthuses. "And the federal deposit insurance sys­ Black to be admitted to the "exclu­ handkerchief close to the body you can wash them." sive" all-male Maryland Club. tem was set up, the intent was to overnight. "Everybody has a sig­ cover "normal" losses, not the (The club does employ Black wait­ nature odor," explains Foster. Tip to claustrophobes - Ap­ ers.) catastrophic ones now being gen­ "It's like karma." Harry erated by the savings and loan in­ parently at capacity underground, dustry. Gardens of Memories, a New Jer­ Ring What a few $$$ can do - In­ Figures-don't-lie dep't. - A sey burial operation, is offering trigued that $20 billion may prove The esthetes - Those who dis­ study found there were excessive above-ground slots. Their ad: insufficient to buy out RJR Na­ parage the coarseness of the rich death rates at 12 percent of Veter­ "The clean burial - not under­ data could be used by rival com­ bisco, a reporter calculated what should note that in ultraplush Palm an's Administration hospitals. The ground with earth's disturbing ele­ panies. Now, to spur competition you can do with that amount. Beach, the garbage trucks are re­ chief honcho ordered a new study ments." The clincher: "Minimize in the field, the files are being Like, buy 225,988 median-priced moved at night to West Palm with a more "rigorous" statistical the trauma - seeing a loved one opened to manufacturers - but homes; sponsor 80 million im­ Beach so as not to mar the beauty method. The figure dropped to 3.5 buried underground only adds to not to the public. poverished children for a year; or, of the area. percent. the stress." W. Virginia socialists appeal ballot restrictions

BY JOANNE MURPHY the WVCLU is handling the SWP's ap­ vice-presidential, state, and local candi­ fees were paid under protest. CHARLESTON, W .Va. - A legal peal. dates this year would have totaled nearly The SWP filed a legal challenge to the challenge to West Virginia's undemocratic West Virginia, Perrone said, "imposes $5,000. To get the fee waived, SWP cam­ state's ballot requirements in April 1988. elections laws has been announced by the two kinds of restrictions, filing-fee require­ paign supporters would have had to submit The lateness of the decision on that suit Socialist Workers Party. ments and petitions signed by voters, that 20,000 valid signatures gathered on peti­ made it impossible to appeal in time for the Jim Gotesky, SWP candidate for Con­ we feel together are inappropriate." tions. November elections. gress from the 3rd C.D. during the recent The West Virginia law fundamentally This comes on top of the requirement Robert Bastress, a volunteer attorney for elections, told a November 3 news confer­ restricts the First Amendment rights of all that nominating petitions containing 7,357 the WVCLU and professor at West Vir­ ence here that the SWP would appeal a Americans to voice their ideas and partici­ valid signatures have to be submitted, even ginia University Law School in Morgan­ September 13 court decision. That decision pate in open political discourse," Perrone if the filing fee is fully paid. town, is handling the SWP's appeal. He kept the SWP presidential ticket, as well as said. Other ballot restrictions in West Virginia represented the SWP and other interested state and local candidates, off the ballot in Current West Virginia law requires can­ include early deadlines for submitting peti­ parties in a 1980 lawsuit that overturned as­ West Virginia for the November 8 elec­ didates of parties other than the Democrats tions for local office; requiring signers to pects of West Virginia's election law that tions. or Republicans who cannot afford to pay publicly state their intention to vote for the had kept virtually all candidates who were The appeal is being filed in the Fourth the required filing fee to collect four signa­ candidate whose petition they sign; and re­ not Democrats or Republicans off the bal­ Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, tures for every dollar of the fee that isn't quiring those collecting signatures to read lot from 1940 to 1980. Virginia. paid. It was amended in this way after the any potential signer the law stating that A Fair Ballot Appeal Fund has been es­ Bruce Perrone, president of the West SWP succeeded in getting on the ballot in signers give up their right to vote in the pri­ tablished to win backing for the SWP's ap­ Virginia Civil Liberties Union, also spoke 1984. mary election if they sign. peal, and to help cover printing and travel at the news conference. He explained why The filing fees for the SWP presidential, In 1986 and 1987, SWP candidates were costs. Endorsements and contributions can excluded from the ballot despite paying be sent to: WVCLU-Fair Ballot Appeal the filing fees and collecting up to triple Fund, P.O. Box 1509, Charleston, W . Va SWP '88 presidential vote totals the required number of signatures. The 25325-1509.

James Warren and Kathleen Mickells, dent, was credited with 6,628 votes. Socialist Workers Party candidates for Willa Kenoyer, presidential candidate of -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- U.S. president and vice-president, were of­ the Socialist Party, was reported as receiv­ ficially credited with II ,435 votes in the ing 3,412 votes. "Marxist" despite his own assertions to that November 8 elections, according to an As­ The Communist Party did not field a THE MILITANT effect. sociated Press canvass of election results in ticket in this year's presidential race. A SOCIALISTNE\'VSWEEKLYPUBL ISHEDINTHE INTERESTS Of THE INCJRKING PEOPLE 25t The groups expressed concern over mis­ all 50 states. The figures were released The New Alliance Party candidate Le­ Dec. 8, 1978 conceptions that might arise because Lee November 21 . nora Fulani, who was on the ballot in 50 H. Oswald had styled himself a "Marxist" states, was credited with 201 ,430 votes. The SWP ticket was on the ballot in 15 Millions of words have been written in a much-discussed telecast in New Or­ Libertarian Party candidate Ron Paul states and Washington, D.C., this year. In about the tragic events in Jonestown, the leans. was credited with 409,412 votes. 1984 the SWP was on the ballot in 23 states People's Temple colony in Guyana. Many Norman Thomas. six-time Socialist can­ Lyndon LaRouche, leader of a small fas­ and the District of Columbia and was cre­ of the accounts contradict each other, and didate for President, and leaders of the cist outfit, ran as the candidate of the Na­ dited with 24,687 votes. some are clearly pure fabrication. But one Communist. Socialist Workers, and So­ tional Economic Recovery ticket, and re­ thing is true of all these reports: they skirt cialist Labor parties and the Progressive In the 1988 voting, Larry Holmes, ceived 23,713 votes, according to the can­ the real meaning of the mass deaths. Labor Movement all contended that true Workers World Party candidate for presi- vass. When hundreds of human beings to­ Marxism opposed violence against indi­ gether commit suicide, taking their chil­ viduals. dren along with them, it begs the question to simply say that these people were dupes They cited Karl Marx, the German so­ of a crazed cult leader. The basic explana­ cialist. as having long battled terrorists tion is social and political. such as Mikhail Bakunin. the Russian ACTION PROGRAM It is neither an exaggeration nor an over­ anarchist who believed in destroying the simplification to say that capitalism is re­ state. sponsible for what happened in Guyana. Marx 's program for achieving social­ TO CONFRONT THE The people who fo llowed Rev. Jim ism, they held in substance. envisioned a Jones to Guyana were in blind flight. They class struggle. with the individual counting were trying to escape the exploitati on, the for relatively little . racism, and the pervasive brutality that are For the Trotskyites, [Socialist Workers COMING ECONOMIC CRISIS the indelible features of the capitalist soci­ Party National Secretary Farrell] Dobbs ety in which we live . said Trotsky had written a pamphlet in Pathfinder has published an Pathfinder, 410 West St. , New They were alienated from this society. 1934 on "The Kirov Assassination," in Action Program to Confront York, N.Y. 10014. Eng lish or And rightly so. The awful tragedy is that which he cited "the negative aspect of the Coming Econom ic Crisis Spanish pamphlet $1 each, they didn't know how to fi ght the evils of Marxism toward the tactic of individual capitalism, and fell victim to the warped terror." In this, Trotsky quoted an article proposed by the Socialist with a 50 percent discount on vision of a cult leader. he wrote in 19 11. Workers Party National Com­ orders of 10 or more. (Free for It said that "the capitalist state is not mittee. prisoners. ) French Lutte ou­ founded upon ministers and cannot be de­ The pamphlet is avail ab le vriere, $2 each. THE stroyed with them," because "the classes it serves will always find new men, the in English and Spanish . MILITANT mechanism remains whole and continues Includes "The Fight for a Send _ 100 _ 50 _ 10 Published in the Interest s of the Working People its work." Shorter Workweek, Yesterday How many in English? _ _ _ Dec. 9, 1963 Price 10e 'The onl y way that the political and and Tada{ by Doug Jenness. How many in Spa nish? ___ basic social problems of the human race can be settled in a civilized way," Mr. The pamphl et is available in How many in French? ___ (The Militant reprinted an article by Peter Kihss of the New York Times. His Dobbs said, "is for society to be guided by English and Spa nish. Enclosed is $ ______article was headlined "Accused Assassin majority decision, which is reached after In French, the Action Pro­ Name ______Belied Tenets of Ma rxism, Experts Here full and free public debate in which all points of view are heard. gram is avai labl e in the No­ Address ______Agree." Below are excerpts.) City ______" Individual acts of terrorism in the last vember 1988 issue of Lutte Political groups that consider themselves analysis can serve only the forces of reac­ ouvriere. State ______to be the exponents of Marxism contended tion who want to repress political and ORDER YOUR COPY OR Zip/ Postal Code _ _ _ _ _ here yesterday that Marxism opposed as­ constitutional liberties because they se ize Country ______sassinations or individual terrorism. Thus upon the individual terrorist act as a pre­ BUNDLE NOW! they argued that the man accused of assas­ text to attack the rights of society as a sinating President Kennedy was not a true whole ."

December 9, 1988 The Militant 13 -· EDITORIAI.S------Tho~nas Sankara on saving trees Let Yassir Arafat into U.S. and forests Editor Doug Jenness is on vacation. This week's col­ By barring Palestine Liberation Organization Chair­ estinian village of Deir Yassin in 1948, to massacres of umn is a selection from Thomas Sankara Speaks: The man Yassir Arafat from entering the United States to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon during the 1982 Israeli Burkina Faso Revolution 1983-87, recently published speak before the United Nations General Assembly in invasion, to the assassination of PLO leader Khalil Al­ by Pathfinder. New York , the U.S. government attacked the right of the Wazir last April. Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta, is a West Afri­ people of this country and the world to hear the views of Today, U.S. policy aims to strengthen the hand of the can country that won its independence from France in the representatives of the Palestinian people. Israeli regime as it attempts to crush protests in the West 1960. Sankara became president after a popular revolt This action is part of a decades-long campaign by the Bank, Gaza Strip, and other parts of Israeli-held Pales­ toppled an imperialist-dominated regime on Aug . 4, U.S . and Israeli governments to deny the legitimacy of tine . the PLO, recognized by the vast majority of the Palestin­ None of this is terrorism in Washington's book. The ian people as their representative, and to bar it from par­ U.S. rulers have bankrolled these crimes, and armed the ticipating in discussions or negotiations concerning perpetrators to the teeth. LEARNING ABOUT Palestine. The terrorist label is pinned instead on Palestinians Last year the U.S. government closed the Palestine In­ who resist- whether they do so with guns, stones, pic­ SOCIALISM formation Office in Washington, D.C., which distributed ket signs, pens, or speeches. material expressing the views of the PLO. The barring of Arafat from the United Nations session 1983 . A counterrevolutionary coup overthrew the San­ In June 1988 a federal court halted a Reagan adminis­ in New York also sheds light on the hypocrisy of Wash­ kara-led revolutionary government on Oct. 15, 1987. He tration move, backed by Congress, to close the PLO ob­ ington's attempt to pass itself off as a peacemaker in the was murdered. server mission to the United Nations. Middle East. The attempt to ostracize and silence the PLO shows Following are excerpts from "Save Our Trees, Our En­ that Washington, no less than the Israeli regime, is op­ The U.S. and Israeli rulers sometimes voice tactical vironment, Our Lives," a speech Sankara delivered to the posed to self-determination for the Palestinian people. differences over how to combat the Palestinian struggle. First International Tree and Forest Conference held in By smearing Arafat as a terrorist, the Reagan adminis­ Regardless of those disputes, however, U.S. diplomacy Paris on Feb. 5, 1986. They are copyright 1988, Path­ tration is trying to divert growing worldwide outrage serves to provide cover for the Israeli regime's continual finder. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. against the Israeli regime's expulsion and oppression of suppression of all those fighting for Palestinian self-de­ millions of Palestinians. termination. The denial of a visa to Arafat is one further * * * The state of Israel was founded in 1948 through the ex­ confirmation. My country, Burkina Faso, is without question one of pulsion of 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland and Workers, farmers, and everyone else who supports the rare countries on this planet justified in calling and the seizure of their property. Terrorism has been an es­ basic democratic rights should add their voices to the viewing itself as a microcosm of all the natural evils from sential component of the Israeli capitalist rulers' drive to worldwide demand that the U.S. government reverse its which mankind still suffers at the end of this 20th cen­ establish and maintain the oppression of the Palestinian decision and allow Yassir Arafat to speak at the United tury. people - from the slaughter of 250 residents of the Pal- Nations. Eight million Burkinabe have internalized this reality during 23 painful years. They have watched their mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters die, decimated by hunger, famine, disease, and ignorance. With tears in their eyes, they have watched their ponds and rivers dry up. Since 1973 they have seen their environment deterio­ rate, their trees die, and the desert invade the land with Youth and minimum wage giant steps. It is estimated that the desert in the Sahel ad­ vances at the rate of seven kilometers per year. [The The continued growth in the number of workers who other targets of discrimination. Sahel is a region of north central Africa, running from are paid below, at, or just above the federal minimum That's why Republican and Democratic politicians Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, where water wage is highlighting the urgency for labor of the fight for have blocked an increase so far - even the paltry in­ supplies are low and severe droughts have taken place.] a substantial increase. crease over three years to $4.55 an hour that was consid­ Since Aug. 4, 1983, water, trees, and life-ifnot sur­ A recently published study found that the real annual ered during the last session of Congress. vival itself- have been fundamental and sacred in all ac­ income of male workers aged 20 to 24 who did not finish The minimum wage is a measure of affirmative action tions taken by the National Council of the Revolution, high school had dropped 42 percent since 1973, to just that limits the employers' power to use gross inequalities which is leading Burkina Faso. $6,853 in 1986. The income of youth who graduated in wages to divide and weaken the working class. Work­ The Burkinabe people are now conducting a successful high school but did not go to college dropped by 28 per­ ers' success in unifying our forces is a decisive factor in struggle for a green Burkina. Ten million trees have been cent in the same period. today's struggles to defend our unions and working con­ planted under the auspices of a People's Development In capitalist society, wages are set from the bottom up. ditions - and in the big battles that are coming as the Program lasting 15 months. Holding down the minimum wage tends to keep the capitalist system enters a sharper crisis. I have come to join with you in deploring the harshness wages of all workers lower. There has been no increase in The unity needed to win these struggles will only be of nature. But I have also come to denounce the one the minimum wage, now at $3.35 an hour, since 1981. forged through the labor movement providing leadership whose selfishness is the source of his neighbor's misfor­ Freezing the minimum wage at this miserable level has and unstinting support to the struggles of the most tune. Colonialism has pillaged our forests without the helped make it easier for the employers to force big cuts exploited, least protected, and most discriminated least thought of replenishing them for our tomorrows. in living standards on young people, workers who have against workers. The demand for a higher minimum The unpunished destruction of the biosphere by savage no union protection, immigrants, Blacks, women, and wage is an important part of this struggle. and murderous forays on the land and in the air con­ tinues . We are not against progress, but we want progress that is not carried out anarchically and with criminal neglect for other people's rights. We therefore wish to affirm that the battle against the encroachment of the desert is a bat­ tle to establish a balance between man, nature, and soci­ Frame-ups 'in good faith'? ety. As such, it is a battle that is above all political, one whose outcome is not determined by fate . On November 29 the U.S. Supreme Court made it a lit­ den of proof further onto the defendant. It allows police We have to fight to find the financial means to exploit tle easier for police and prosecutors to railroad working to destroy or damage potentially vital evidence- unless our existing water resources- that is, to finance drilling people to jail. the defendant can prove not only that the cops did so, but operations, reservoirs, and dams. This is the place to de­ A six-to-three ruling upheld the conviction in Arizona that they acted in a particular state of mind: "bad faith." nounce the one-sided contracts and draconian conditions imposed by banks and other financial institutions that of Larry Youngblood, who had been found guilty of kid­ Given the difficulties of proving such a thing, the high napping and sodomizing a I 0-year-old boy, even though preclude our projects in this area. These prohibitive con­ court decision will make it easier for cops to frame people ditions bring on traumatizing indebtedness, robbing us of the police had mishandled the victim's clothing so that it up through destruction of evidence. was impossible to determine whether semen residue was all meaningful freedom of action. The frame-up trial of political activist Mark Curtis in Neither fallacious Malthusian arguments - and I as­ Youngblood's. Youngblood insists that he was mistak­ Des Moines, Iowa, last September, provided an example enly identified by the victim. sert that Africa remains an underpopulated continent - of the way the government uses the presumption of guilt, nor those vacation resorts pompously and demagogically "Unless a criminal defendant can show bad faith on the as opposed to innocence, to shape the way evidence is de­ part of the police," declared Chief Justice William Rehn­ called "reforestation operations" provide a solution. We veloped and presented in criminal trials. Curtis was con­ are backed up against the wall in our destitution like bald quist in the court majority's opinion, "failure to preserve victed of rape and burglary and has now been sentenced and mangy dogs whose lamentations and cries disturb the potentially useful evidence does not constitute a denial of to 25 years in prison. due process of law." quiet peace of the manufacturers and merchants of mis­ Rehnquist conceded the "likelihood" that the evidence At the trial , police specialist Paul Bush said that there ery. in this case could have exonerated Youngblood. But, he was no evidence that Curtis had been in physical contact Explained in this way, our struggle to defend the trees insisted, the defendant must show that the police knew with the alleged rape victim - including no exchange of and the forest is first and foremost a democratic struggle that the evidence would be helpful to the defense when pubic hairs between them. Bush admitted, however, that that must be waged by the people. The sterile and expen­ they destroyed or damaged it. he had made no effort to determine whether pubic hairs or sive excitement of a handful of engineers and forestry ex­ The ruling is a severe blow to the right of defendants to physical evidence pointing to any other possible perpe­ perts will accomplish nothing. be presumed innocent. The presumption of innocence, trator were present. Nor can the tender consciences of a multitude of established as a legal principle over centuries of struggle, Bush had operated, in reality, on the assumption that forums and institutions - sincere and praiseworthy is vital to working people in our fight to defend ourselves his job was not to find out who, if anyone, committed the though they may be - make the Sahel green again, when against a system of justice that is stacked against us. alleged crime, but to hunt for evidence against Curtis. we lack the funds to drill wells for drinking water just a The ruling class has launched many attacks in recent Rehnquist asserted that the new standard set in Arizona hundred meters deep, and money abounds to drill oil years aimed at eroding this right. Under the 1984 federal v. Youngblood "limits the extent of the police's obliga­ wells 3,000 meters deep! Bail Reform Act, for instance, judges may imprison ac­ tion to preserve evidence to reasonable bounds." As Karl Marx said, those who live in a palace do not cused persons without bail if they are deemed to be po­ In fact, the ruling is a green light not only to police think about the same things, nor in the same way, as tentially dangerous - in effect finding them guilty and sloppiness and negligence , but to the suppression, de­ those who live in a hut. This struggle to defend the trees punishing them before the trial takes place. struction, and alteration of evidence as part of outright and the forest is above all a struggle against imperialism. The decision in Arizona v. Youngblood shifts the bur- frame-ups. Imperialism is the pyromaniac setting fire to our forests and savannah.

14 The Militant December 9, 1988 Airport workers oppose Michigan nuclear waste dump

Editors' note: The following letter appeared in the waste all over the country without needing a nuclear ac­ the dump in south central Michigan. November issue of The Local Lodge 141 Transporter cident to do it for us .. .. "Mary Sinclair, co-chair, Don't The Hillsdale Organization for the Preservation of the newsletter of International Association of Machinists Waste Michigan; founder, Great Lakes Energy Alliance. Environment (HOPE) organized with Don't Waste Local 141 . Local 141 organizes mechanics, ground As much as 4 million cubic feet of radioactive wastes Michigan, and mobilized 3,500 people from the rural are to be disposed of at a site within the Great Lakes farming community of 70,000 to protest the dump. watershed during the next 20 years . Ninety-nine percent Widespread and intense public opposition to the dump of the waste will come from nuclear plants. The state and caused the Waste Dump Authority to hold a public hear­ UNION TALK federal governments want us, the working people and ing. More than I ,000 residents packed the Hillsdale High farmers, to foot the bill for this disposal, just as we have School gymnasium. crews, and ticket agents who work for Northwest and been forced to pay higher taxes and utility costs to sub­ Opposition to the dump continues to grow as other airlines at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Local sidize the nuclear power companies. thousands of working people and farmers learn of the 141 member Mark Friedman sent us the newsletter. The Low Level Radioactive Policy Act of 1980, backed dangers of radioactivity and the fact that any accident in "I had discussed the October 28 Militant story '40-year by the private producers of radioactive waste, gave dis­ transportation or storage could mean the deaths of tens of disaster at government nuclear plants,' with subscribers posal responsibility to the states. This encouraged states thousands. at work," Friedman told the Militant. "Then several of us to join together in compacts. Michigan joined the Mid­ Don't Waste Michigan proposes the following: Radio­ started circulating the enclosed letter at work, and instead west Interstate Compact in 1982 and has now been cho­ active waste should not be permanently disposed of in the of a few cosigners, we ended up with 60!" sen as the future site for the neighboring six states. The Great Lakes Basin; radioactive waste should not be dis­ A coalition of environmental and antinuclear groups construction of a costly facility in the area containing 95 posed of above water tables; waste should remain at the from Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio have formed the Tri­ percent of the country's surface freshwater is an enorm­ reactor sites in temporary, above-ground, monitored, re­ State Coalition to stop the construction of a nuclear waste ous and stupid risk. trievable storage until the plant is shut down; and they dump in south central Michigan. They are linking up Soon after the decision to have Michigan "host" the should be shut down now. Michigan must withdraw from with groups in other states as well. nuclear dump, activists joined together, speaking out at the compact now. Waste Commission public hearings. Antidump spokes­ You can help keep Michigan from becoming a nuclear * * * people got favorable coverage, especially after Demo­ waste dump. Call or write: Don't Waste Michigan, 227 "We will be Chernobylizing ourselves by scattering cratic Gov. James Blanchard announced his support for Custer Ave., Lansing, Michigan 48912, (517) 487-6873.

-LETTERS----- IQ\'ttf ~~ f:flt!f'tfC\'hDo~~ Nicaragua solidarity Iran (/;~#( I work at Aquascutum, a garment I want to write to you about factory in Montreal. I'm a member some of the developments here of the Amalgamated Clothing and since July 18, when the Iranian Textile Workers Union. government accepted United Na­ When a coworker of mine told tions Resolution 598 calling for a me about the hurricane that hit cease-fire in the eight-year-old Nicaragua, we decided to set up a Iran-Iraq war. table in our cafeteria at work to Right after Iran accepted that collect money for Urgence Nicara­ resolution the Iraqi government gua, an emergency coalition of in­ started its biggest military attack ternational aid groups and unions. ever against Iran. Workers from Greece and Ja­ maica had done this when disas­ There was a massive response ters hit those countries and so we by Iranian working people to this were able to get the company's attack. Hundreds of thousands permission. We made up a poster went to the war fronts as volun­ and a box and got some leaflets teers. I think this was the biggest with a few details about the people mobilization in Iran since the war of Nicaragua. began . What struck us most was the I volunteered to go, and fin­ fact that most people hadn't even ished the preparatory work, but heard about the hurricane. I my­ was told that more people had self hadn't seen it on the news. gone to the fronts than they could Nevertheless, we collected $94 handle. Every day some 350 peo­ "Greetings. We are from the government. We are here to help you." and had a few good discussions ple died of thirst in the Khuzistan with people. Some people learned front because it was hard to get But Isserman was best known as sweep of this legal victory. about Nicaragua for the first time . water to so many people. Around the globe I'm a prisoner at the Texas De­ one of five attorneys defending Chris Rayson Everyone who I spoke with was The Iraqi army was pushed back partment of Corrections. How could leaders of the Communist Party Newark, New Jersey appalled at the amount of aid Can­ so fast that they were astonished. I go about receiving your paper? from frame-up charges in the 1949 ada gave to Nicaragua as com­ In my opinion if anybody wanted Smith Act trial. Among the II CP Correction pared to hurricane relief to Ja­ to find out whether the Iranian rev­ I was introduced to the Militant leaders framed up were Eugene In coverage of the New York maica ($900,000 as compared to olution was alive or not, the an­ by one of my comrades. It was re­ Dennis, Benjamin J. Davis, Jr., book launching of Thomas San­ $13 million). Everyone felt as I swer was given clearly on July 28 , ally a shock to me to know about Henry Winston, John Gates, Gil kara Speaks, Burundi was incor­ did that the aid to Nicaragua when the attack was definitively what's happening around the Green, Carl Winter, and Gus Hall. rectly referred to as a West Afri­ should have equalled that sent to beaten back. globe. It's very hard for me to find The Smith Act was first used can country. Burundi is in east­ Jamaica. out what's going on due to the fact central Africa. In the past our union has passed Only after its forces were against leaders of the Socialist that I don't watch TV, nor do Ire­ Workers Party and of Teamsters resolutions urging aid to Nicara­ pushed back did the Iraqi regime ceive any papers. gua. I sincerely hope that more agree to negotiate. Local Union 544 in Minneapolis workers can do what we did to So that's the purpose of writing in 1941. At that trial 29 people show solidarity for the people of After the UN-sponsored nego­ to you: so that I'll be up to date on were indicted and 18 were rail­ that country and help them rebuild tiations started, there was a big what's happening. roaded to prison, including James and stand free to fight and defend move by the right wing in Iran to A prisoner P. Cannon, national secretary of the revolution . We know that the disarm the Pasdaran (Revolution­ Rosharon, Texas the SWP; Farrell Dobbs, a central Nicaraguans are a strong people, ary Guards), the force that has leader of the Teamsters' local and but they need all the help we can spearheaded the war effort. A pro­ Abe Isserman national labor secretary of the give them. posal was taken to the Iranian par­ I attended a meeting recently to SWP; and Albert Goldman, the Monette Bouvier liament to dissolve the Pasdaran honor Abe Isserman, who died in party's attorney. Goldman con­ Montreal, Canada into the army, which is left over April at the age of 87 . ducted the legal defense of the from the shah's regime . 1941 Smith Act defendants. Isserman was a prominent labor As if I was there The move met with resistance. and civil rights attorney in the In the 1949 trial of Communist I write this letter out of hunger. Four thousand commanders and 1920s, '30s, and '40s. Maurice Is­ Party leaders, the defense lawyers A mental hunger. You are one of leaders of the Pasdaran gathered in serman, his grandson and author were punished along with the de­ the sources that can provide cer­ Tehran in a "seminar." After this, of a book on the Communist Party fendants . Isserman went to jail for tain vitamins for the mind and en­ the proposal was withdrawn from during the 1950s witchhunt titled four months and was disbarred rich my entire being. the parliament for six months. Which Side Were You On ?, said at from practicing law for 13 years, until 1961. I'm a prisoner and striving to A lot of propaganda is being the meeting that Isserman rep­ uplift my political consciousness. resented workers in "labor cases carried out by the Resalat news­ Many of those attending the The Militant special prisoner One of the brothers here lets me ranging from farm workers in New paper, the voice of the bazaar­ meeting worked with Isserman fund makes it possible to send see your paper once in awhile, but Jersey to miners in Idaho and that based merchants and clerics, in and had also been victimized by reduced-rate subscriptions to he can't always give me the paper he knew people ranging from A .J. defense of free enterprise. It sees the witchhunt. Gil Green spoke, as prisoners who can't pay for because he has other brothers Muste to Gerhard Eisler." the root of Iran's economic prob­ did Rep. George Crockett of them. To help this important seeking knowledge also. I'd like lems as the present governmental The invitation to the meeting Michigan. Crockett was also one to ask if I can be placed on the list cause, send your contribution controls on foreign trade and ad­ noted that Isserman was the attor­ of the attorneys representing the to: Militant Prisoner Subscrip­ so that I can receive a subscription vocates uncontrolled economic re­ ney for the American Civil Liber­ 1949 CP defendants. tion Fund, 410 West St., New to the Militant. lations with the imperialist coun­ ties Union and a member of its na­ The prominent constitutional at­ York, N.Y. 10014. You have some good writers tries as the way out of scarcity and tional board from 1935 to 1939, torney Leonard Boudin chaired the and when you go to cover a story inflation . resigning in 1939 in protest at the Isserman memorial meeting . Bou­ The letters column is an open you give a lot of points other pa­ One can say that this is the expulsion of a founding member, din led the legal team representing forum for all viewpoints on sub­ pers leave out. I feel as if I was biggest debate that is going on Elizabeth Gurley Flynn of the the SWP in its historic suit against jects of general interest to our there myself with the reporter, car­ among Iranian working people. Communist Party . He also rep­ FBI spying . In that case, not only readers. Please keep your letters rying loads of film and writing They are discussing capitalism and resented the Jehovah Witnesses in did the government lose, but it brief. Where necessary they will pads. Thanks for a job well done. whether it can solve our problems. their fight against compulsory re­ was forced to pay the legal fees in­ be abridged. Please indicate if A prisoner A.H . citing of the Pledge of Allegiance curred by Boudin's law firm in the you prefer that your initials be Stormville. New York Tehran, Iran to the U.S. flag. course of the trial, increasing the used rather than your full name.

December 9, 1988 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT CLUW backs abortion rights march Labor union women's convention supports April 9 demonstration

BY ILONA GERSH SEA TILE- On the final day of the Co­ alition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) national convention, delegates voted unan­ imously to support the abortion rights dem­ onstration called by the National Organiza­ tion for Women (NOW) for Washington, D.C., on April9. The CLUW convention, attended by more than I ,000 delegates and observers from a range of unions, took place here November 17-20. The April 9 March for Women's Equal­ ity and Women's Lives was originally called by NOW to support the Equal Rights Amendment, slated to be reintroduced into · Congress next year. But recent right-wing attacks on abortion clinics around the coun­ try; attempts to reverse the Jan . 22, 1973 , Supreme Court decision legalizing abor­ tion; and passage of three antiabortion ref­ erenda during the recent elections led NOW to change the focus of the national march and rally . NOW is also planning to hold January 22 actions around the country to defend abortion rights.

NOW President Molly Yard addressed Militant/Holbrook the CLUW convention and urged delegates National Organization for Women (NOW) sponsored last national demonstration for abortion rights in March 1986. NOW to convince their unions to defend abortion President Molly Yard urged delegates to recent CLUW convention to involve their unions in defense of abortion rights. rights. The labor movement is an important ally of women and their fight for equality, she explained. "This is a struggle for working women, Ohio nuclear workers on strike just as it is for women from all walks of life," Yard said. "We can't begin to speak BY VAL LIBBY, GREG SACK, Westinghouse's demand that workers pay is a slap in the face." of freedom for women until we have the AND MORRIS STARSKY more for health insurance and medicine, The health dangers to workers and area right to decide whether or not to bear chil­ CINCINNATI - More than 600 pro­ and accept a reduction in the length of residents from Fernald made headlines dren. No woman is free without the right to duction workers at the Fernald uranium­ long-term disability coverage. The unions around the country in mid-October after the control her reproductive life. It's a wom­ processing center have been on strike are also opposing company proposals to DOE admitted that for nearly 40 years, an's right to say what she will do with her against Westinghouse Materials Co. of subcontract work and to combine jobs, thousands of tons of radioactive uranium body." Ohio since October 7. The workers are both of which would worsen the already waste had been secretly released from the members of 14 unions that make up the unsafe conditions in the plant. plant into the surrounding environment. Following the vote, convention partici­ Fernald Atomic Trades Labor Council "I don't think we would have gone out if pants rose in a standing ovation. Runoff from the plant had carried (FATLC). it wasn't for the medical benefits they want 167,000 pounds of uranium waste into the Attending the convention were officials Westinghouse operates the Fernald facil­ to take away," said one striker. Another Great Miami River. Some 268,000 pounds and members of the Auto union, Steel­ ity, which is located in a farming area 18 worker pointed to the millions currently had been discharged into the air as dust, workers, Machinists, International Ladies' miles northwest of here, under a contract being spent to repair and upgrade the Fer­ and another 12. 7 million pounds was Garment Workers' Union, Amalgamated from the Department of Energy (DOE). nald facility, which was built in 1951. stored in leaky pits at the plant. The pits are Clothing and Textile Workers' Union, In­ Materials using uranium and plutonium are "Right now, you can see them pouring mil­ above the Great Miami aquifer, which is a ternational Union of Electronic Workers, produced there for the U.S. nuclear weap­ lions of dollars in to fix up the offices and source of drinking water for parts of Ohio, Service Employees' International Union, ons arsenal. Production has been stopped fix up the beauty of the place," said Stanley Indiana, and Kentucky. The DOE has also American Federation of State, County and since the strike started. Bippus. "And then for them to want me to stockpiled 2.4 million pounds of thorium at Municipal Employees, and other unions. One of the main issues in the strike is pay my own health insurance, or part of it, the plant. Exposure to thorium is nearly as dangerous as plutonium as a cause of bone cancer. In September the FA TLC revealed that at Oregon vigil aids threatened farmers least 13 and possibly 50 workers had been exposed to plutonium contamination in two BY JANET POST sure is automatic for farmers who do not Oregon, who helped staff the vigil, said incidents from 1985 to 1987. The unions, PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon farmers · submit the applications or show they are Chen is wrong about farmers . The current pointing to the fact that any exposure to facing possible foreclosure organized a 45- eligible for relief. The 200,000 FmHA bor­ problems of farmers come from years of plutonium is dangerous, have been fighting hour vigil over Thanksgiving at the Inter­ rowers are among the poorest of the 2. 1 accumulated hardships imposed by the for independent testing and company-paid church Center here. million U.S. farmers . government, he said. medical treatment for all workers. Farmers staffed telephones, and debt­ Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who "For many years, the government has In the early 1980s, environmental ridden farmers and ranchers throughout the chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, had a plan to eliminate a large number of groups and area residents began educating state were urged to call in for advice on re­ predicts that 9, 000 to I 0, 000 farms nation­ farms," said Loe. 'The top corporations about the threat posed by Fernald. They structuring their debts. The vigil was coor­ ally will be foreclosed on in the near fu­ want to control the price of food like they pressed for government action. dinated by Common Ground of the Ecu­ ture. control the price of energy." menical Ministries of Oregon. Under a federal law enacted earlier this "The corporations and banks also want In 1984 workers at the plant defied a Organizers chose a 45-hour time span year, a farmer's loan must be restructured to grab up more land as substance to back government gag-order and began reporting for the vigil because of the 45 days that if a mediator determines that it would be the dollar," he continued. "The price of huge uranium dust leaks to the public. The thousands of farmers across the country cheaper for the FmHA to do so than to go land in some states has fallen by 40 to 50 unions campaigned to force the govern­ now have to file debt restructuring applica­ through foreclosure proceedings. percent since 1979-81 , while interest rates ment to tell the truth about the extent of tions with the Farmers Home Administra­ To qualify for debt restructuring, farm­ on equipment and supplies have gone from water and air pollution at Fernald. tion (FmHA). ers must prove that failure to make loan II percent to as high as 20 percent." In 1985, after being forced to test some In late October, the FmHA began send­ payments was due to circumstances AI Troutman, a farmer from Aurora, water wells near the plant, the U.S. ing out notices to 83,000 farmers who are beyond their control. They must draw up a Oregon, also helped staff the farmers' Geological Survey reported that the level more than 180 days past due in their loans. five-year economic plan showing that the vigil. Troutman's farm was sold in late of radioactive material in three wells was The notices instructed the farmers to show loan can be repaid if the debt is restruc­ November in a sheriff's sale. He has filed 40 times the federal limit. cause why their farms should not be taken tured. Included in the extensive informa­ for Chapter 12 bankruptcy under the bank­ Faced with growing public scrutiny and from them . Some 750 Oregon farmers re­ tion required in the application are an aerial ruptcy act passed for small farmers with pressure, Fernald' s previous operator, ceived the delinquent-loan warnings. photo of the farmer's land and a list of crop debts under $1.5 million. NLO, pulled out in 1986 and Westing­ The two-and-a-half pound notices also or livestock prices. "It's impossible to measure the stress on house took over the operation. In 1987 contained applications for debt restructur­ David Chen, director of the FmHA in farmers right now ," Troutman said. "Every Westinghouse dumped a ton of uranium Ing. Oregon. blamed some of the foreclosures day there's a new problem. Thousands of and a half ton of toxic chemicals into the The FmHA has given estimates ranging on farmers who "don't know how to man­ farmers across the country are having to environment. as high as 50 percent on the number of age a farm ." spend Thanksgiving filling out these forms The reason for the DOE's recent admis­ farms that could be foreclosed on. Foredo- Roger Loe, a farmer from Silverton, to save their own farms." Continued on Page 11

16 The Militant December 9, 1988