MUNDO OBRERO • Victor Toro • Viva Palestina 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! July 23, 2009 Vol. 51, No. 29 50¢ Viva Palestina delegation faces hurdles as Convoy presses on with aid for besieged Gaza By John Parker in Cairo, Egypt, X Grassroots Movement, Movimiento Barron told the protesters, “The revolu- and Sara Flounders in New York Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA), tionary spirit of Palestine has ignited the EVICTIONS International Action Center, Internation- struggle. Those taking to the streets in the July 14—Organizers of the largest U.S. al Socialist Organization, Workers World U.S. and worldwide have earned the cred- STOPPED humanitarian aid convoy to Palestine in Party and the Answer Coalition. it for this breakthrough with the Egyptian Detroit tenants fight back 3 history spoke today by telephone from Bill Doares of the International Action government.” Cairo to 50 people protesting outside the Center and then Galloway, McKinney “They don’t want this to be successful Egyptian United Nations Mission in New and New York City Councilperson because they don’t want any more con- York. They updated supporters on the Charles Barron all spoke by phone to the voys,” said Barron. “They want to set an progress of the Viva Palestina effort. The New York rally in front of the Egyptian example with us. They were hoping that news was that the Egyptian government U.N. Mission. They told the protesters they would discourage us.” But Barron WW had agreed to allow more than $1 mil- that they expected to leave in three hours stressed that the convoy remains firmly

p lion in medical aid into Gaza, and that the for Gaza and that all the participants were committed to deliver the supplies and hoto:Mike convoy was expected to reach the border expected to get into the enclave, bringing break the siege of Gaza. with Gaza on July 15.

more than $1 million in medicines and He and the other speakers appealed to E il During the day it had appeared that medical equipment. the people demonstrating in New York to en f el

the Egyptian government was going to The 218 people in Egypt with the con- keep the pressure on to get the trucks and d deny passage into Gaza. This earlier news voy from the United States plan to carry all aid supplies through the Rafah border sparked emergency demonstrations in the medical materiel across the border by crossing. This crossing has been closed ‘LA LUCHA New York, San Francisco, Houston, Chi- hand if necessary. since June of 2007. cago and other cities throughout the U.S. The question of trucks had still not A petition being circulated by the In- CONTINUA’ The 218-person contingent of activists been settled. Egyptian officials had told ternational Action Center (available at At Stella D’Oro bakery 4 plans to bring wheelchairs, walkers and negotiators with the convoy earlier that of www.iacenter.org under the Action Alerts medical supplies to the people of Gaza. 47 vehicles donated to Gaza, only the two heading) states: “It is a violation of inter- A genocidal attack on Gaza in December ambulances will be allowed to enter Gaza. national law to deny [the Viva Palestina and January, on top of a two-year Israeli Gazans desperately need new vehicles in convoy] passage or to detain and harass siege and blockade of the area, makes this the area to provide various public services. them in any way.” The petition demands aid essential for the people there. The Viva Palestina U.S. convoy, which safe passage for the convoy as well as an RACIST SWIM The fact that the caravan hails from the left New York on July 4 for Cairo, Egypt, end to the siege of Gaza. U.S. gives the convoy added resonance, as had faced an increasing number of hur- For updates on the Viva Palestina con- CLUB Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. gov- dles laid out by the Egyptian government. voy, visit www.vivapalestina-us.org. n Met with protests 6 ernment aid in the world. And Israel uses U.S. weapons and missiles against the Palestinian people on a daily basis. Viva Palestina was organized by British Member of Parliament George Galloway, who organized a caravan from Britain un- der the same name in March. Galloway intends to organize future aid convoys to Gaza this year from Venezuela, Moscow, and again from Britain and the U.S. on Dec. 27, the year anniversary of the open- ing of Israel’s attack on Gaza. Participants in the delegation include former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney, who was imprisoned in early July by Israeli forces for attempting to bring aid into Gaza by sea with the Free Gaza Movement. Also participating are representatives of the Council on Amer- ican-Islamic Relations, Middle East Chil- dren’s Alliance, Cuba Coalition, Malcolm

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Workers World 55 W. 17 St., 5 Fl., NY, NY 10011 212-627-2994 Protest at Egyptian Consulate in New York on July 13 demanding the convoy be given safe passage to Gaza. ww Photo: Sara Flounders

IRAN & THE U.S. MOVEMENT 9 Mumia Abu-Jamal on U.S. hypocrisy 7 AFRICA & G-8 Lies & broken promises 8 Manifestación apoya indígenas de Perú

Page 2 July 23, 2009 www.workers.org Detroit salutes Cuba’s 50 years of revolution H In the U.S. Detroit salutes Cuba...... 2 Celebrate life of Irving Fierstein...... 2 By Cheryl LaBash Detroit Tenants win round against illegal evictions ...... 3 Atlanta homeless under siege ...... 3 A three-day summer Bakery workers threatened with plant closing ...... 4 celebration of the Cu- On the picket line...... 4 ban Revolution’s 50th GM’s ‘quick rinse’ bankruptcy...... 5 anniversary here in De- Protests stop deportations, breakup of family...... 5 troit also welcomed the 20th Pastors for Peace Immigrants’ art exhibit opens in Harlem...... 5 Friendshipment Cara- Outrage vs . private swim club’s racism...... 6 van. The message car- Reparations for some, not others...... 6 ried by this caravan is: Outpouring of love for Michael Jackson...... 6 “The time is now! Presi- NAACP asked to support investigation for Mumia...... 7 dent Barack Obama: Mumia Abu-Jamal on Hypocrites on the hill...... 7 free the Cuban Five, end the blockade of Cuba, Black firefighters fight for justice...... 7 end the travel ban and normalize relations.” H Around the world Programs review- Convoy with aid for besieged Gaza...... 1 ing 50 years of Cuban Africa and the G-8 ...... 8 cinema and music pre- Protest at G-8 summit...... 8 ceded the July 10 finale Anti-war movement debates Iran...... 9 of a dinner, live salsa Construction workers strike in South Africa...... 9 music and an awards WW photo: Cheryl LaBash U S. . spreads poverty in Central Asia...... 10 presentation. Honored Detroit youth, with artist Tyree Guyton (center rear), painted the van behind them for their work in soli- in honor of the Cuban Five. Fidel Castro on Honduras ...... 11 darity with the Cuban Indian court overturns anti-gay British-era law ...... 11 people were Detroit City Councilmember JoAnn Watson Heidelberg Project transformed the van into a mobile and attorneys Julie Hurwitz and Jerry Goldberg. Ange- work of art dedicated to freeing the Cuban Five. H Editorials les Meneses, a student at the University of Michigan and Ignacio Meneses of the U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange re- The butcher of Vietnam ...... 10 intern at the Hurwitz-Goodman law firm, read a state- viewed the history of Cuba’s struggle for independence ment from Hurwitz, accepting the award on her behalf. and self-determination and the advances in health care H Noticias En Español Representing Pastors for Peace, the Rev. Tom Smith and literacy won by the workers of Cuba and shared with Viva Palestina...... 12 accepted a very special vehicle joining the Friendship- a widening circle of humanity throughout Latin Ameri- Victor Toro...... 12 ment Caravan—a passenger van donated to the Cuban ca and the Caribbean—progress now threatened by the Workers Confederation by the U.S./Cuba Labor Ex- U.S.-backed military coup in Honduras. change. Renowned Detroit artist Tyree Guyton of the The Hon. Claudia Morcom emceed the program, Workers World which included an appeal for renewed struggle to free 55 West 17 Street the Cuban Five, Mumia Abu-Jamal and all U.S. political New York, N.Y. 10011 prisoners. Noted local photographers Jack Kenny, Ken- Phone: (212) 627-2994 Celebrate life of neth Snodgrass and Frank Hammer displayed pictures Fax: (212) 675-7869 from Cuba. E-mail: [email protected] Irving Fierstein, The caravan’s message will be heard in more than 130 Web: www.workers.org cities along 14 routes as it gathers tons of humanitar- Vol. 51, No. 29 • July 23, 2009 people’s artist ian aid destined for Cuba. The caravan travels to the so- Closing date: July 14, 2009 cialist island without U.S. government approval, along The International Action Center in New York will with the Venceremos Brigade, the U.S./Cuba Labor Ex- Editor: Deirdre Griswold host a memorial for people’s change and African Awareness, in an annual challenge Technical Editor: Lal Roohk artist Irving Fierstein on to the blockade. The groups are scheduled to return to Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, July 19 from 3-6 p.m. at the U.S. on Aug. 3 at border crossings in Texas and in Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson 55 W. 17th St., 5th floor. Buffalo, N.Y. n West Coast Editor: John Parker The memorial will in- clude speeches, cultural Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, performan­ces and photo Save this date— Greg Butterfield, Jaimeson Champion, G. Dunkel, displays of Fierstein’s Nov. 14-15 Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, revolutionary art. Food Kris Hamel, David Hoskins, Berta Joubert-Ceci, and refreshments will Join us in the fight for a socialist future! Cheryl LaBash, Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, be provided. Workers World Party— Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac Call 212-633-6646 for 50 years of struggle Technical Staff: Sue Davis, Shelley Ettinger, more information. n Bob McCubbin, Maggie Vascassenno Nov. 14-15 national conference in NYC Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, More details to follow. Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, Carlos Vargas Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator JOIN US. National Office Buffalo, N.Y. Durham, N.C. Rochester, N.Y. 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By Abayomi Azikiwe When a representative of the manage- called Stillwater Capital was actually the cial difficulties facing the owners. When Editor, Pan-African News Wire ment company arrived at Wellington owner. they are ordered to move by the manage­ Commons after 11:00 a.m. on July 10, he Later two officers from the Detroit Po- ment firms that take over operations, many Residents of the Wellington Commons was questioned by tenants, journalists lice Department arrived and went into residents are not aware of their rights. on Detroit’s west side have won the right and members of the Moratorium NOW! the building to talk with the manage- A great number of the evictions that are to remain in their apartments for another Coalition. A spokesperson for Elite Prop- ment. The cops later told the residents carried out by the private interests con- month. After receiving an informal letter erty, the management firm now control- that the owners of the building owed over trolling the properties are in fact illegal from management on July 9 stating that ling the building, said that it was not true $100,000 in past-due utilities bills. because they are not conducted through they would be required to leave the follow- that tenants had to leave by July 10. The actual amount of the bill could not the courts. ing day, the tenants began to ask why they Also, the management firm acknowl- be substantiated. Moreover, this was not According to government statistics, should have to move because of financial edged that DTE Energy would not shut off the fault of the tenants, whose utility costs more than 4 million people have lost their problems faced by the building owners. the utilities services on July 10. The Elite are included in their monthly rent pay- jobs since late 2007. Altogether nearly 30 Organizers from the Moratorium Property representative, who identified ments. million workers are either unemployed or NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and himself only as “Bob,” said the company Later, the representative of Elite said underemployed. The rate of foreclosures Evictions went to the apartment building wanted to place the residents in other that any resident could move into another increased by more than 30 percent during to inform the tenants of their rights and apartment buildings it manages. building supervised by the firm without the first quarter of 2009. encourage them to struggle against the “Bob” told the Pan-African News Wire paying a deposit. These problems reflect the need for a eviction. The coalition issued a news re- that the apartment building was owned The epidemic of foreclosures and evic- declaration of an economic state of emer- lease and attracted the local NBC-TV af- by a hedge fund from New York and that tions is a serious problem in Detroit and gency in Michigan and throughout the filiate, which covered the struggle exten- the firm had decided to go out of business. throughout the United States. In many country. A general moratorium on all sively from the evening of July 9 through One resident of the Wellington Commons cases, where people rent homes and apart­ foreclosures and evictions in the U.S. is July 10. told the PANW correspondent that a firm ments, tenants are not aware of the finan- needed. n Atlanta’s homeless under siege

Task Force has been in line to receive for By Dianne Mathiowetz brought the Task Force into open and the last three years. The mayor’s office Atlanta public opposition to powerful political and economic forces, especially since the has even sent letters urging the grant be On June 22, when temperatures soared run-up to the 1996 Olympics, when the denied. Despite the judge’s order of June into the mid 90s during a heat wave, At- floodgates were opened to large develop- 23, that the city administration stop inter- lanta’s water department turned off the ers and corporate interests. fering in the shelter’s fundraising efforts, water at the city’s largest homeless shelter. At that time, the Task Force filed suit the mayor’s office, once again, urged the The Midtown facility, which is oper- against the city challenging an ordinance grant be denied. ated by the Task Force for the Homeless, banning "urban camping"; it criminal- The Task Force says it has lost nearly houses some 700 men every night. Its 24- ized sleeping or lying in public places, i.e., 50 percent of its annual budget due to in- hour helpline also gives daily assistance parks. The organization has also effectively terference by political and business inter- to hundreds of low-income women, men challenged other so-called “quality of life” ests which seek to gain the land occupied and children. ordinances which criminalize being poor by the shelter. It is across the street from Community activists quickly respond- or homeless and encourage racial profiling. Emory University’s private Crawford ed to this crisis. Calls for water went out The city has supported the removal Long Hospital and within blocks of newly over the radio airwaves and to e-mail lists. of all public housing projects, begin- built million-dollar condominiums. The facilities’ operations—keeping it Cars, pick-up trucks and even the Georgia ning with the destruction of Techwood Photo: Art4TheHomeless Peace and Justice Coalition’s bio-fuel bus, Homes in the mid 1990s to build housing clean and functioning, providing secu- “Rosa,” pulled up to the shelter’s doors for Olympic athletes. This policy has dis- As other private and city-funded facili- rity, staffing the offices and more—are to unload cases and jugs of water. Port- placed thousands of low-income families. ties have closed, the Task Force facility has largely done by current residents and a-potties and pallets of ice were donated. However, the Task Force, working become the shelter of last resort. The Gate- formerly homeless people. The building Alternate shower and bathroom facilities with tenants at Bowen Homes—the lat- way shuttle bus drops off homeless people houses an art gallery and studio space were made available. est project to be bulldozed—has kept af- there in the middle of the night. Homeless where homeless artists can paint and ex- The shelter stayed open despite city of- fordable housing on the political agenda. patients released from Grady Hospital ar- press their creativity. ficials’ threats to padlock the doors. It has mobilized for City Council meet- rive there still in their hospital gowns. A projected coffee house and commu- The next day, Task Force lawyers and ings, pushed through resolutions calling The Task Force is legally prevented nity gathering place awaits the full res- supporters won a temporary injunction for a moratorium on foreclosures and from offering bed space to women and toration of water to become an ongoing and restraining order from Fulton County evictions, challenged the Department of children in the same facility as men. How- performance venue. Already, at a weekly Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville, who Housing and Urban Development’s poli- ever, on many nights its lobby is crowded open-mike night, spoken-word artists ordered the city to restore the building’s cies, and demonstrated at national meet- with dozens of women and their children and musical performers from among the water service. ings and conventions. sleeping upright in folding chairs. homeless population and the community Moreover, the judge authorized the The first U.S. Social Forum in 2007 Critics throw scurrilous charges at the gather to share their talents. Programs Task Force to pursue legal actions to prove used the Task Force building; the par- Task Force for its alleged “lack of results.” teach computer, photography and video “tortious interference” by the city admin- ticipation of homeless people and hous- They accuse the facility, by its very exis- skills and bicycle repair, and there are lit- istration. He ordered the city to turn over ing advocates was an achievement of that tence, of encouraging people to remain eracy and voter registration campaigns. documents referring to the shelter. Task gathering. homeless. Debi Starnes, a former City Anita Beaty, the Task Force’s direc- Force attorneys will take depositions from Over the last 15 years, the number of Councilmember and the city administra- tor, stresses that the coordinated attack city officials with the aim of revealing any homeless people has grown, given the lack tion’s “homeless czar” is the leading voice on the shelter is not the central issue, city collusion with business interests to of affordable housing and the low-wage in demonizing the shelter’s residents as even though it is an important facet of defund the shelter’s operations. service economy. They’re living on the “criminal elements” in the Midtown area. the struggle. The presence of thousands While local media reported the court’s streets of Atlanta, under bridges, in aban- She falsely blames the Task Force’s fund- of homeless women, men and children, order to restore the building’s water, doned buildings, in their cars and in parks. ing cutbacks on “ineffectiveness.” mostly African-American, on the main there was no coverage of the ruling that In 2003, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Frank- When Starnes told the media that hous- street of Atlanta, Dr. Martin Luther King the city should stop its interference in the lin announced with great fanfare a plan ing was available for everyone staying at Jr.’s birthplace, and the home of the Civil shelter’s funding operations. to end chronic homelessness in 10 years. the shelter following the recent water cut- Rights Movement, makes it clear that “the From its founding in 1981, the Task Millions of dollars were spent to reha- off, the Task Force challenged the City to city claims a history of progressive social Force for the Homeless has gained a repu- bilitate an unused jail. The Gateway Cen- provide it. No housing was forthcoming. change that it does not want to live.” tation as a fierce advocate for the right of ter was opened two years later, not as a The Task Force’s lawsuit seeks the doc- Task Force supporters are gearing up all to decent and affordable housing and shelter but with 270 spaces for men and umentation that would show that Starnes’ to pack the courtroom when its lawsuit for human dignity. Unlike many other 30 for women who enter into programs actions and those of other city govern- against the city goes to court on Sept. 21. agencies that provide only emergency geared to address the underlying reasons ment officials and business associations And the water crisis continues. On July shelter, food, medical care and clothing for their homelessness, such as unem- led to the blocking of federal, state and 15, unless another $8,000 is paid, the city for low-income and homeless people, the ployment, addictions, mental illness or private funding to the shelter. The facil- once again vows to disrupt service. The Task Force has also been a political voice, domestic abuse. Those who do not partic- ity was legally eligible for the funding and Task Force for the Homeless is soliciting championing their rights and demanding ipate are labeled “non-compliant” and are had complied with all requirements. donations of water and money. For infor- policy change, not charity. refused services at other agencies linked The city has refused to approve an an- mation, call 404-230-5000 or see home- This adamant position has often to the Gateway funding apparatus. nual $100,000 federal grant which the lesstaskforce.org. n Page 4 July 23, 2009 www.workers.org ‘La lucha continua’ On The Picketline By Sue Davis

After NLRB victory, bakery workers Union victory at Smithfield! After nearly 17 years of up-hill struggle, more than threatened with plant closing 5,000 workers at the Smithfield pork processing plant in Tar Heel, N.C., went to work July 2 under a union con- By Mike Eilenfeldt tract. Eighty-four percent of the workers, mostly Afri- Bronx, N.Y. can Americans and Latina/o immigrants, voted for the four-year contract negotiated by Food and Commercial The chant “La lucha continua!” Workers Local 1208. The contract, effective immediately, (the struggle goes on) resonated on guarantees such basic benefits as sick leave, time-and-a- July 2 as an elevated train rumbled half holiday pay, and a $1.50 raise to be phased in starting high above a large crowd of Stella with an immediate 40 cents. It also established a sorely D’Oro workers and their support- needed grievance process to address unsafe working con- ers. The workers, members of Lo- ditions and to stop management’s practice of disciplining cal 50 of the Bakery, Confectionery, or firing workers who protested injuries or disrespectful, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers racist treatment. The contract also guarantees the work- union, were returning to their jobs ers at least 30 hours of work each week, establishment of after a strike of nearly 11 months. a safety committee and company-funded safety training. Mostly immigrant women, the “We really did accomplish something with this union,” workers were not intimidated by the Mattie Fulcher commented about the workers’ hard- watchful eyes of Brynwood Partners fought victory. It’s especially impressive given that North security and city police as they pre- Carolina is a so-called “right-to-work” state with the low- pared to enter the plant one by one. est rate of unionization in the country. (Raleigh News & They had just won an important vic- Observer, July 3) tory from the National Labor Rela- tions Board, which ordered their WW photo: Mike Eilenfeldt BART workers to hold strike vote Marta Macia, one of Stella D'Oro strike leaders, on left. reinstatement by the company and Two BART unions, whose workers keep 350,000 San back pay. three-day National Labor Relations “Keep Stella D’Oro in the Bronx! Francisco Bay Area riders on the move daily, will vote on But Brynwood Partners, a ven- Board hearing. However, the judge Kick out Brynwood,” told the whether to strike the week of July 13. The contracts of ture capital firm that bought the found Brynwood guilty of unfair la- crowd: “We hope that we can gal- Transit Union Local 1555, which represents about 900 plant in 2006 and then demanded bor practices and ordered it to re- vanize the entire Bronx community train operators, station agents and power workers, and draconian cuts in pay and benefits, turn the workers to their jobs with behind the workers and Local 50 to Service Employees Local 1021, which represents about is appealing the NLRB decision back pay and to negotiate under the keep this factory in the Bronx. Stop 1,400 mechanics, custodians, safety inspectors and cleri- and threatening to close the Bronx previous contract. these predatory hedge funds and cal employees, expired July 8. Management has offered a plant down entirely in 90 days. And Local 50 President Joyce Alston, investment firms from destroying four-year contract with no raises for the workers for three so, “The struggle goes on.” who spoke passionately and elo- our community. It takes a village years and only a small increase in the fourth, unpaid days At a rally outside the plant, work- quently at the NLRB hearing, told to raise a child. It takes a village to off, and an increase in benefit contributions by employees. ers, union officials and supporters this reporter, “The strike has gone save a factory.” They say all this will save the transit agency $100 mil- denounced Brynwood for trying beyond Stella D’Oro. It has become Edwin Molina, member of Inter- lion over four years. The July 13 San Francisco Examiner to break their union in a drive for a symbol for the entire labor move- national Brotherhood of Electrical reports that the unions’ counterproposal, designed to save superprofits. ment. We have to stick together if Workers Local 3 and a leader in the $60 million in the first two years and $760 million over Mike Filippou, shop steward and we’re going to survive in this coun- Stella D’Oro Support Committee, 25 years—by postponing lifetime medical benefits for both strike leader, expressed the militant try. It’s time for working people told Workers World: “We played a workers and management from five to 15 years—“has been mood of the multinational workers who may not be in a union to realize major role in organizing commu- largely ignored during negotiations.” If the workers reject to this reporter, “We were prepared that you have to stand together in nity support for the workers and the contract, the unions plan to ask for a 90-day cooling- from the beginning, before we went order to maintain a decent standard developed a far-reaching network off period before returning to the table. Stay tuned. out on strike. They have no respect of living. Other than that we’re all of communication. We conducted for us.” going to be at the poverty level. It’s rallies, marches and fundraisers. Hawai`i workers contest furloughs Stella D’Oro workers believed going to be rich and poor and noth- We instituted a successful boycott Two Hawai`i state unions have united to block Gov. they had no choice but to strike. ing in between.” which ended when our workers got Linda Lingle from unilaterally ordering thousands of state A $5-per-hour wage cut for “un- Alston promised her members their jobs back. Members gained workers to take three unpaid days off per month, starting skilled” workers, most of them just before they returned to work, support from many local unions in- in July. The AFL-CIO blog reported June 29 that, accord- women, plus huge slashes in ben- “We do not intend for this to be the cluding Professional Staff Congress, ing to the unions, Lingle and top aides “apparently con- efits would grievously harm them end. It’s just the beginning of a new New York State United Teachers, tend that furloughs are not a required subject of collective and their union. So every single stage. We intend to pursue every United Federation of Teachers, bargaining. But that is obviously wrong. The furloughs worker honored the picket line as avenue available to us to stop this United Food & Commercial Work- involve significant reductions in both wages and hours, support for their strike grew. plant from being closed.” ers, Transport Workers Union Lo- which are both core subjects for collective bargaining.” Workers earning $18 or less per At the end of the day, workers cal 100, AFSCME District Council hour would have been cut to $13. reported filthy conditions in the 37, New York State Nurses Associa- However, in an attempt to divide plant, especially in the restrooms. tion and the Teachers Federation of N.J. workers ratify no-layoffs contract them, a few skilled workers earning They were angered to find 26 video Puerto Rico. State workers in New Jersey overwhelmingly ratified a up to $22 would get a raise. Every cameras surveying every corner of “Members of our committee new agreement that provides a no-layoff guarantee for 18 worker would lose vacation, holiday the factory—cameras that are mon- and Stella D’Oro workers met with months and creates a seven-day paid leave bank to offset and sick pay coupled with health in- itored in Connecticut. The union militant leaders from the United 10 furlough days. The agreement will help save as many as surance and pension cuts. will file a grievance, stating that Electrical Workers of Chicago, who 7,000 jobs in jeopardy due to the state’s budget shortfall. Lupe Alvarado, with 31 years at such cameras violate their contract were on a national tour in January. The contract covers members of seven Communication Stella D’Oro, had seen the original under the court order. They had successfully occupied Workers locals. Italian immigrant owners sell out Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez of the the Republic Windows and Doors to RJR Nabisco, which was then Stella D’Oro Strike Support Com- plant in December 2008 to keep it Unions swarm U.S. Capitol swallowed up by KKR in an historic mittee, who carried a sign reading from closing.” n leveraged buyout. Nabisco was then demanding health care plucked by Kraft, which spun off About 10,000 union members converged on the U.S. Stella D’Oro to Brynwood while the Low-Wage Capitalism Capitol on June 25 chanting “We want health care” to the union contract was outstanding. tune of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” One of the biggest, Lupe protested, “What are we going What the new globalized liveliest labor demonstrations in many years, the turnout to do with $10 in our pockets? What high-tech imperialism means was organized by Health Care for America Now, a broad- do we do with no health insurance? for the class struggle in the U.S. based labor-community coalition that drew unionists We made Stella D’Oro. When Stel- A timely new book by Fred Goldstein from up and down the East Coast and from the Midwest. la D’Oro started, they didn’t have describes in sweeping detail the drastic (Metro Washington AFL-CIO’s Union City, June 26) what they have now. Now it’s a rich effect on the working class of new tech- company.” nology and the restruc­turing of global NYC supermarkets forced The elite law firm Weil, Gotshal capitalism in the post-Soviet era. It uses and Manges has contracts with to pay back wages Karl Marx’s law of wages and other findings Chrysler and General Electric. Got- More than 50 workers at two supermarkets in Brooklyn, to show that these developments are not only continuing shal lawyers represented General N.Y., will each receive $20,000 in back pay, according Motors in recent bankruptcy pro- to drive down wages but are creating the material basis for to a settlement announced July 1. The workers were not ceedings. This union-busting mon- future social upheaval, the end of working-class compromise paid for overtime or only worked for tips. The owners of ster with 2,300 lawyers stood in and retreat and must end up in a profound revival Available at the stores pled guilty to criminal charges earlier the same for Brynwood Partners during the of the struggle against capital. www.Leftbooks.com week. (New York Daily News, July 2) n www.workers.org July 23, 2009 Page 5

GM’s ‘quick rinse’ bankruptcy Dirty deal for workers and retirees

By Martha Grevatt cludes another wave of job cuts for 4,000 den to strike. The Treasury had demanded that the non-unionized salaried employees on The attack on the UAW membership UAW VEBA take half of GM’s contractual A 100-year-old towering structure was top of the 20,000-plus union jobs on the is just the tip of the iceberg. GM plans to obligations in company stock. The other razed to the ground July 10. From its chopping block as part of the government- close at least 1,300 dealerships next year unions were not part of this deal, so their wreckage a new General Motors Com- ordered restructuring. Between now and employing around 60,000 mechanics, retired members will soon be losing most pany—miniature by comparison—has December 2011, 13 plants will close. salespeople and other workers. New York of their health care coverage. The IUE- emerged. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Gerber CWA retirees demonstrated outside the GM’s Chapter 11 filing, and its exit a Workers suffer heavy cuts overruled dealer objections, allowing the bankruptcy court, but their objections record-breaking 40 days later, has been Workers represented by the United sale of GM’s remaining assets to proceed. too were overruled. called a “surgical” or “quick rinse” bank- Auto Workers took huge wage and ben- Objections were also raised in bank- Also left behind in “Old Motor Co.” ruptcy. For workers and retirees, howev- efit cuts. Wages for newly hired workers ruptcy court by the International Union were potential liabilities in a class-action er, the damage can hardly be compared to are frozen at $14 an hour—one-and-a- of Electrical Workers-Communication asbestos exposure lawsuit and individual having an appendix removed or to clean- half times the poverty level for a family of Workers of America. The IUE-CWA rep- defective product lawsuits. The plaintiffs ing soiled linens. four—for the next six years. Retirees lost resents just less than 10 percent of GM’s may have no means of holding GM ac- The Pontiac brand is gone. The Saab, vision and dental coverage. 550,000 union retirees, while a few thou- countable for their suffering. Opel, Vauxhall, Hummer and Saturn For the next contract, which will run sand more belong to the Steelworkers Moreover, because the auto industry brands are in the process of being sold. from 2011 to 2016, the UAW agreed to or the Operating Engineers. The costs of is considered a “multiplier” industry, By the end of this year GM’s total U.S. allow an arbitrator to impose a “competi- their health benefits are not being trans- the drastic cuts in auto production are employment will stand at 67,000—down tive wage.” Under the terms of the U.S. ferred to the UAW-administered Volun- already hurting workers in steel, rubber, from 91,000 at this year’s start. This in- Treasury loan to GM, workers are forbid- tary Employee Beneficiary Association. Continued on page 11 Protests stop deportations and breakup of family By Jim McMahan leged “gang activity in the neighborhood.” “Don’t separate the family.” President Barack Obama, Homeland Se- Seattle He was racially profiled and locked up in On July 3, Marlon Barillas was taken curity head Janet Napolitano and other the detention center. Four other family to sign his deportation order and be fin- public officials. Congressmember Adam The Barillas family just won a big victory members were put in ankle bracelets. gerprinted. He refused both. He was Smith’s office was reported swamped against the war on immigrants. They had Back in 1989, when Marlon and his handcuffed, roughed up and thrown into with calls. faced imminent deportation and family sisters were little children, the family solitary, where for three days he suffered Officials told the family they had re- separation this month from the repressive had traveled across country to visit Con- from severe chest pains associated with ceived orders from Washington, D.C., to federal agency, Immigration and Customs rado Barillas’ ailing mother in New York. a previous heart condition. His arms release them. Enforcement. Due to a barrage of support At that time a deportation order was is- swelled up. Supporters called 911 para- The Barillas family members were messages to government officials and two sued against the whole family. The three- medics to the prison twice over the July given applications for work permits and public protests, five family members who generation family has now lived in Des 4 weekend. They were turned away. The asylum. They now have a lawyer who will had been detained won release. Moines, Wash., for 22 years. The children family says he was tortured to try to make seek to reopen and get a long extension of On July 6, Marlon Barillas, suffer- have grown up and had children of their him sign the deportation order but Mar- their case. This will stop imminent depor- ing greatly from a heart condition, was own, who are U.S. citizens. But this old lon remained steadfast and refused. On tation. released from the Northwest Detention order has come back to haunt them. It is Monday, July 6, he was released and the This is a victory for all immigrants Center in Tacoma, Wash. The same day another example of the unjust laws and four others’ ankle bracelets removed. fighting against the separation of families four other adults from this same Guate- racist persecution of this country’s huge The children were ecstatic. Four of and against raids, jailing and deporta- malan family, accompanied by supporter immigrant population. them faced becoming orphans if their tions. Legalization for all undocumented Kathryn Scott, had their ankle bracelets Members of the Barillas family, wear- mothers were deported. The family and workers! removed at the nearby Immigration As- ing ankle bracelets, together with their 10 supporters from the International Action Donations for the Barillas family’s legal sistance Center. children and supporters from the Inter- Center had put out a widely circulated fees can be sent to: St. Matthew San Ma- Marlon Barillas was arrested more national Action Center, held demonstra- appeal with a picture of the children and teo Church (earmarked “Barillas family than a month ago while washing his car tions in front of the Northwest Detention headlined, “Please don’t take our moth- legal fees”), 123 “L” St. NE, Auburn, WA in his driveway. The arrest was due to al- Center on June 20 and 26. They chanted, ers away from us!” It urged people to call 98002. This fight will continue!n Immigrants’ art exhibit opens in Harlem By Dee Knight All who attended the gal- New York lery opening were asked to sign an open letter to Presi- The first in a series of Immigrants’ Art dent Barack Obama de- Exhibits opened July 10 at the Rio II Gal- manding a moratorium on lery in Harlem, in a beautiful ceremony Immigrant and Customs En- complete with music, refreshments and forcement raids, release of opportunities to meet the artists. The all immigrant detainees, and show will be open there until July 24. It reunification of families di- will then move to Arts Horizons LeRoy vided because of detention. Neiman Art Center, also in Harlem, for The letter calls for a “single- another two weeks. tiered, full and unconditional The show is a remarkable mix of work process for acquiring citizen- by dozens of artists from across Latin ship for all undocumented America, Africa and Asia. The opening immigrants currently living was also graced by the hypnotic music in the U.S.” of Chilean guitarist Pancho and stirring It also demands full rights comments by leaders of Mujeres Traba- for workers regardless of jadoras por la Paz (Working Women for immigrant status, no guest Peace), based at La Peña del Bronx. The worker program, removal hosts encouraged guests to meet the art- or demolition of the border ists and buy their work–and take it home fence on the U.S.-Mexico bor- when the show ends later this month. der, and a halt to state and lo- Victor Toro, a founder of the Chilean cal police or sheriffs acting as Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR) who part of the immigration law enforcement struggles. All of it is a testament to the tion for Worker and Immigrant Rights, is currently fighting deportation, spoke system. Significantly, it also calls for mi- powerful creative genius and rich cultural Mujeres Trabajadoras por la Paz, Taller eloquently about the link between artistic gration services to be separated from the contributions of the growing immigrant Experimental de Arte (Experimental Art expression and mass struggle for immi- “national security” administration in the population. The show is an example of Workshop), La Peña del Bronx, Arts Ho- grant and workers’ rights. He and other Department of Homeland Security and how the flood of workers from other rizons, Rio II Gallery, The Shore Institute speakers highlighted the critical need for moved to the Department of Labor. countries has immeasurably strength- of the Contemporary Arts, and Rebel Díaz legalization for between 12 and 20 million Much of the artwork on display pow- ened the working class and progressive Arts Collective. For information contact immigrants in the U.S. who lack official erfully dramatizes the anguish and suf- movement in the U.S. [email protected] or call 212-568- papers. fering of immigrants, as well as their Sponsors include the May 1 Coali- 2030, ext. 208. n Page 6 July 23, 2009 www.workers.org Storm of outrage vs. swim club’s racism

By Betsey Piette these Black kids doing. I’m scared they to the kids. We should not be experienc- When the movements of the 1950s and Philadelphia might do something to my child.” (July ing this in 2009. It’s a slap in the face of 1960s eventually led to legislation prohib- 11) where we are trying to move. We need to iting this type of overt racial bias, many The racist treatment and rejection of 65 A few days after this incident Creative send a message that this is not accept- whites with financial means established Black and Latina/o summer camp youth Steps’ check was returned. Their legal able.” (July 11) private pools. The Valley Club, for exam- at a predominantly white, private swim contract with the club was rescinded by “Whether or not any laws were violated, ple, was established just outside Philadel- club here in late June has unleashed a club president John Duesler, who later a “whites only” pool should be something phia’s city limits in 1954 when pressure storm of outrage from around the region told NBC10 television, “There was con- every American condemns,” noted Colo- was growing within the city to integrate and across the country, forcing the club to cern that a lot of kids would change the rofChange.org in an email urging action. municipal pools. The Lansdowne Swim reverse its stance. complexion and the atmosphere of the Club outside Philadelphia was integrated Creative Steps Inc. day camp paid club.” (July 9) Contracts with two other Struggle against racism— only in 1989 following a federal lawsuit. $1,950 to the Valley Swim Club in Hun- summer camps were also cancelled. then and now “Most Americans today live and recre- tington Valley, Pa., a suburb of Phila- “They didn’t like the color of my skin,” Speaking on WHYY’s Radio Times with ate in homogeneous social environments, delphia, so that the school-age camp- camper Jabriel Brown, 12, told the Phila- host Marty Moss-Coane on July 13, Jef- created in the post WWII period,” Wiltse ers—kindergarten through seventh delphia Inquirer. “It makes me feel mad. frey Wiltse, author of “Contested Waters: noted. graders—would have a place to swim on And sad.” (July 9) A Social History of Swimming Pools in “Residentially the U.S. is more segre- Mondays. Budget cuts that closed several Parents, their children and other con- America,” offered a historic look at deseg- gated now than we were in the 1950s,” public pools in Philadelphia forced the cerned community members gathered regation of pools in the U.S. Mary Catherine Roper, a staff attorney camp to seek alternate arrangements. outside the padlocked gates of the Val- In the 1920s and 1930s thousands of for the American Civil Liberties Union of However, when the African-American ley Swim Club on July 9 to protest the municipal pools opened throughout the Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia Office, speak- and Latina/o campers arrived at the discrimination. Protesters carried signs U.S. accessible to everyone. But after ing on Radio Times July 13, concurred. private pool on June 29 for their first reading “Drown racism” and “Jim Crow World War II, municipal pools went into The storm of controversy has forced weekly visit, the children were subjected swims here.” The swim club claims it has decline and private club pools prolifer- club members to vote to retract their ac- to overt racism by white members of the a diverse, multiethnic membership, but ated, particularly in predominantly white tions and Duesler has re-invited the camp- club. Children reported overhearing club Amy Goldman, a member for two years, suburbs, Wiltse explained. ers back to the pool, but Roper pointed members making racial remarks and wit- said she couldn’t remember seeing a Around the country civil rights activ- out that the apology won’t erase the nessed at least 20 white parents removing Black member this year. ists were challenging federal laws restrict- harm done to the children. “The club has their children from the pool soon after the Parents and staff at Creative Steps Inc. ing access of Black children to use public claimed it wasn’t racial but a safety issue, campers arrived. are considering legal action against the pools. Black children who attempted to yet I understand there was another group Marcus Wright, one of the young camp- Valley Club, according to executive di- use municipal public pools were frequent- of 80 children invited to the pool, and ers, told CNN about hearing remarks “that rector Alethea Wright. The club’s actions ly physically beaten by whites. there weren’t any questions raised about we ‘might do something to their children’ appear to be a violation of section 1981 In 1951, Rev. Harrison DeShields of safety,” Roper said. or we ‘might try to steal something from of the Civil Rights Act. The Pennsylvania South Philadelphia sued pool operators Creative Steps Inc. has not responded to them.’ One of the members shouted out Human Relations Commission has also across the city and suburbs, alleging dis- Duesler’s offer. Alethea Wright told CNN, that they would make sure we never re- launched an investigation. crimination. Two years later, State Sen. “They should have done that before. These turned.” Another Black youth reported Wright told CNN, “Parents are still Charles R. Weiner (R.-Phila.) offered a children are scarred. How can I take the hearing a white woman say, “What are all outraged. We are trying to explain racism bill to desegregate all public pools. children back there?” (July 11) n Reparations for some, not others By Dolores Cox legal justice to help repair the damage. trators continue to operate with impu- resolution apologizing for slavery and ra- New York Those who never have amassed enough nity. They give lip service in the form of cial discrimination. It was timed to coincide money to invest in Wall Street schemes on recent empty “apologies” without true re- with the celebration of Juneteenth, the day After Bernard Madoff was sentenced to such a scale, however, get no such recog- morse. They show no intent or attempt to commemorating the release from bondage 150 years in prison for his Ponzi scheme, nition of their demands for make restitution towards of enslaved Africans in Texas, two years one of his victims was interviewed by a social or economic justice. eliminating all forms after the Emancipation Proclamation went local television reporter while leaving the In 2009, millions of de- Commentary. of institutional racism, into effect. This resolution, however, is a courtroom. She spoke about how justice scendants of the victims of crimes against towards leveling the playing field or to- non-binding empty gesture and only sym- was finally served; that he got what he de- humanity perpetrated during the trans- wards repairing the resulting damages. bolic. It contains a disclaimer stating that served. And, she stated, “It was important atlantic slave trade and U.S. slavery still There was no bailout for the enslaved nothing in it supports or authorizes repara- that the damage be repaired.” await their justice. They still await restitu- Africans, just as there are no bailouts for tions by the U.S. government. The damage she was referring to was tion for being stolen from their land; for the poor, unemployed and marginalized This resolution is coupled with the seem- the loss of the money she had invested the loss of lives, family, culture, language, sectors of the working class today. Yet ingly steady erosion of affirmative action in his scheme. The repair was the pun- even their names; for theft of labor and we’ve seen repeated bailouts for greedy programs designed to close racial gaps and ishment for his crime and the hope that services; for the loss of income and ben- Wall Street bankers and investors—all at disparities and repair the damages rooted she would be recuperating some of that efits denied them from their ancestors’ the taxpayers’ expense. Most of the banks in racism. Even the 1965 Voting Rights Act money. The crime was stealing and the labor; for the hundreds of years of pain are prospering. AIG is paying out another has been challenged and weakened this perpetrator had been punished. At least and suffering, and for the legacy of slav- round of million-dollar bonuses to reward past June by the U.S. Supreme Court. This one amend had been made. The key is- ery and discrimination that continues to the guilty criminals. Bernie Madoff going court’s ruling allowed more state and local sues here are loss, greed and theft, crime, inflict harm. to jail was the exception to the rule; what jurisdictions to change their election pro- damage and reparations. Present-day capitalist rulers, those who we have seen, in general, is that if you are cedures and lessen federal oversight. It can The judicial system looked out for those have benefited from enslaved Africans’ rich and guilty of defrauding people, you have the effect of weakening the right to individuals who had enough money to in- free labor, continue to hold fast to the are allowed to still maintain a lavish life- political representation for Black and other vest in his scheme and who demanded practice of oppression, exploitation and style, unregulated. oppressed people. n justice for their losses. They received swift placing profit before people. The perpe- On June 19 the U.S. Senate passed a Outpouring of love for Michael Jackson By Julia La Riva stricting movement on the day of the with others who shared the same passion Staples Center, Los Angeles memorial—fans arrived days early in or- for the man, his music and his artistry. der to sign the large billboard-sized cards Countless stories were told to this report- Behind the scenes of the elaborate July 7 with Michael’s image. They also wanted er on July 6 by people who waited hours memorial service here for Michael Jackson to hover around one of the last known in line to sign memorial cards. Michael Photo: Julia La Riva Some of the thousands outside the arena. were the thousands of fans who had come places Michael had been while rehearsing had been the “theme music of their lives.” from all over the world. Without a ticket for his upcoming London tour, or to get a Everybody grew up with Michael and the loss of a young, great talent. People were or a hope of attending the service, held at glimpse of Michael’s former home, Nev- rest of the Jackson Five. not deterred from coming to Los Angeles Staples Arena in Los Angeles, they came erland. Throngs of people hung over free- From young children to senior citizens, even when they lacked access to the me- from every continent to pay tribute to an way overpasses, peering from skyscrapers they spoke as if Michael had personally morial service. artist who had personally touched their and street corners, in hopes of getting a touched their lives and sang or written While many gathered for the extremely lives. Upon hearing of his death on June glimpse of the funeral procession. songs just for them. Individuals from moving Michael Jackson Memorial in- 25, people jumped on planes from every Fans without the “golden” ticket to countless countries exchanged their sto- side the arena, thousands were out on the corner of the earth, most without a plan. attend the memorial were not satisfied ries with Angelenos, sharing the common streets of downtown Los Angeles paying They just knew they had to be near him. watching on television—as police, city of- thread of love for the music of the beloved their respects and showing their great ap- As the City of Los Angeles clamped ficials and media insisted—but traveled Jackson family. True devotion and un- preciation. From the entertainment capi- down on security, creating a protective near and far. They were drawn to pock- flinching loyalty were the shared language tal of the world, Michael Jackson reigns barrier for blocks around the arena—re- ets of downtown where they could be on the streets, tempered by sadness at the supreme. Long live the King of Pop. n www.workers.org July 23, 2009 Page 7

From death row Mumia Abu-Jamal on NAACP asked to support civil rights Hypocrites investigation for Mumia on the hill Taken from a June 20 audio column The New York Free Mu- at www.prisonradio.org. Read updates mia Abu-Jamal Coalition on Mumia’s case at www.millions- organized a press conference 4mumia.org. across the street from the As politicians rush resolutions through national NAACP conference Congress supporting the protesters in held in mid-town Manhattan Tehran, defending the principle of free- on the morning of July 13. dom to protest, their hypocrisy is even According to the coali- more blinding than their own myopia. tion’s press release, the main For it takes only a moment’s reflection goal of the picket line was to to recognize that they don’t give a tinker’s call on the NAACP “to fulfill a dam about the protesters. This is about promise it made in 2004, in a using resolutions as a weapon to further resolution that passed unani- mark Iran as the enemy, the dangerous mously, to the international other which “threatens” U.S. hegemony. community for a ‘new and As proof of political hypocrisy, one fair trial’” for Mumia. The can cock an ear to hear the hiss of silence NAACP is commemorating when protests erupt here in America, and its centennial anniversary. demonstrators get beaten, locked up and The coalition has orga- prosecuted for practicing their alleged nized a campaign demand- rights under the First Amendment. ing that U.S. Attorney Gen- Think back to the massive street pro- eral Eric Holder call for a tests against the police murder of Oscar civil rights investigation Grant in Oakland, Calif. People were into the case of Mumia, a Black political leaders of the NAACP on July 11 about Khader, WESPAC; Monica Moorehead, beaten, busted and had their cell phone prisoner who has been on Pennsylvania’s Mumia’s case. The NAACP is considering Millions for Mumia of the International cameras confiscated by the police. death row for more than 27 years. introducing a resolution at the conference Action Center; Daniel Myers, National Did Congress support these protesters? Holder, who spoke at the NAACP con- in support of Mumia’s right to a civil rights Lawyers Guild and Zayid Muhammad, Well, not yet. ference on July 13, has the authority to investigation. Prominent individuals who New Black Panther Party. Above, Rebel State and local politicians, when they instruct the Department of Justice to have called for a civil rights investigation Diaz, a Latino hip-hop duo, did a cultural said anything, called for calm, an end to conduct such investigations when there include actor Ruby Dee, Congressperson presentation. protests and some dissed the protesters is evidence of prosecutorial and judicial Charles Rangel, former Congresswoman The coalition and its supporters plan as “animals.” misconduct. Mumia was railroaded to Cynthia McKinney and others. to leaflet NAACP delegates with Mumia Sound familiar? death row due to suppressed evidence Those who spoke at the press confer- literature until the conference ends. An- I don’t speak Farsi, but it’s my guess and a racist conspiracy involving the pre- ence included Suzanne Ross and Sundiata other rally is planned by the coalition for that they don’t sound too different in siding judge, prosecutor and the police Sadiq from the coalition; Rev. Claudia de when President Barack Obama is sched- tone from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatol- during the original trial. Just recently, the la Cruz, Iglesia San Romero de las Améri- uled to speak at the NAACP conference on lah Ali Khamenei — in other words, ‘the Supreme Court refused to rule on one of cas; James McIntosh, Committee to Elim- July 16. system works — trust the system!’ his appeals. inate Media Offensive to African People; —Report & photo Why? Because that’s what states Members of the coalition met with Lynne Stewart, people’s attorney; Nada by Monica Moorehead always say. Protesters here in the U.S. have had their butts kicked for years—yes, years— in spite of so-called guarantees in the Black firefighters fight for justice constitution to free expression and the right to protest. By Stephen Millies an especially long shadow,” wrote Justice racism in all-white neighborhoods. Indeed, we need look no farther than Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her dissent. “It is the hallowed halls of Congress itself, spe- The opinion rendered by Supreme against this backdrop of entrenched in- Legacy of struggle cifically Rep. John Lewis (D.-GA), whose Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on June equality that the promotion process at is- Judge Kennedy, who’s from California, head still sports the scars from the police 29 upholding a firefighter promotion sue in this litigation should be assessed.” ought to visit the African American Fire- batons that battered him in Selma, when test in New Haven, Conn., that prolongs Admission tests didn’t keep the FDNY fighter Museum in Los Angeles. It’s locat- he protested against American apartheid. the racist status quo never mentioned a from hiring Edward McMillan after he ed in what was a segregated firehouse at A half a century later, and protesters noose. That’s what Black firefighter Abdul and three other white cops fired 41 bullets Central Avenue and 14th Street. still get beat downs from coast to coast for Lanaird Granger found draped across his at Amadou Diallo, unjustly killing the Af- The Stentorians of Los Angeles City, an demonstrating. And if they don’t get beat boots in his Brooklyn firehouse in 2005. rican immigrant on Feb. 4, 1999. The city organization of Black firefighters, helped down physically, they get beaten econom- (Daily Challenge, Feb. 11, 2005) had to pay Diallo’s family $3 million in start the museum. ically by lawyers, judges and DAs, who The noose was a death threat to Grang- compensation. Stentorian member Arnett Hartsfield squeeze them—as they pay for the right to er. Thousands of African Americans, Compared with other cities in the Unit- tells the story of what Black firefighters practice the freedom to demonstrate. Mexicans and Chinese in the United ed States, the FDNY’s hiring record is had to put up with in his book “The Old The U.S. Congress, which just a few States have been lynched with nooses. atrocious. Stentorians.” Hartsfield also remembered generations ago supported the brutal, The Fire Department of New York— Fifty-seven percent of Los Angeles’ fire- courageous white firefighters who defend- savage reign of repression over Iran un- not far from New Haven—is the country’s fighters, 51 percent of Philadelphia’s and ed their African-American comrades. der the Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), largest with 11,500 firefighters. More than 40 percent of Boston’s are people of color. Black firefighter George W. Bright and also supported his nuclear ambi- 2 million African Americans live in New The fire departments are 30 percent Black joined the Los Angeles Fire Department tions, could care less about the Iranian York City. As of March 2007 the city had in Baltimore and 23 percent Black in Chi- in 1897. After being promoted to lieuten- people. only 335 Black firefighters—just 3 percent. cago. (CCR, July 17, 2007) ant, all the city’s African-American and This is politics—pure and simple—and A mere 7.4 percent of New York’s fire- One third of Cincinnati’s firefighters Latino firefighters were put under his about using these protests as pretexts for fighters were Black or Latina/o. (Center were Black in 2003. command. But Bright wasn’t allowed to other, more nefarious goals. for Constitutional Rights news release, Behind the racism of New York’s fire command white men. Because of the brutish, bone-headed July 17, 2007) department is the racism of Wall Street. Black firefighters were allowed in only policies of the Bush regime, Iran emerged Even Bush’s Justice Department was The New York Stock Exchange refused to two Los Angeles firehouses until the mid from the carnage of the Iraq war period compelled to file a discrimination suit close its doors for Martin Luther King’s 1950s. An African-American firefighter as the strongest player on the board. against the FDNY in 2007. Billionaire birthday until 1998—a dozen years after it could only become a captain when a Black That’s because the U.S. took down their Mayor Michael Bloomberg did nothing. had become a federal holiday. captain retired or died. (Los Angeles deadliest enemy, Saddam Hussein. In 2006 there were only 32 women fire- Eight years ago Les Payne wrote a series Times, Dec. 13, 1997) The U.S. wants to reset the wheel by fighters in New York City. (Courier-Life, of columns in Newsday about the miser- In 1919 Wesley Williams became the sparking internal conflict Sept. 15, 2006) Firehouses could also be ably small number of Black firefighters third Black male hired by the New York and thereby weak- dangerous for lesbian and gay firefighters. in New York City. Payne pointed out that City fire department. Williams had to ening the Iranian Anthony Kennedy and the other four authorities don’t want African Americans fight racist whites in order to keep his government. We have Supreme Court justices who voted with seen as heroes and she-roes. (Newsday, job. He helped form the Vulcan Society, been here before and him in the New Haven case ignored this May 6, 2001) the organization of New York’s Black fire- it didn’t turn out well record of bigotry, which is widespread in Billionaires consider it socially danger- fighters, in 1940. (“So Others Might Live,” the last time. n fire departments across the country. ous for a Black or Latina/o firefighter to by Joseph F. Kett and Terry Golway.) Order Mumia’s book “Firefighting is a profession in which rescue a white child in Howard Beach or This is the legacy of struggle that the ‘Jailhouse Lawyers’ the legacy of racial discrimination casts Maspeth. Such lifesaving can cut through Supreme Court wants to reverse. n at Leftbooks.com Page 8 July 23, 2009 www.workers.org Africa and the G-8 Broken promises & worsening poverty By Abayomi Azikiwe mate change will only increase the vulner- The symbolic return home of the first the structural adjustment policies of the Editor, Pan-African News Wire ability of poor people as land and water U.S. president of African descent was well IMF and World Bank. These countries are degraded. Supporting small-scale received by both the governments and the were asked or advised to dismantle mar- This year’s Group of 8 Summit in farmers is vital, so that they are less reli- people. Nonetheless, Obama’s message keting boards and guaranteed prices for L’Aquila, Italy, once again demonstrated ant on the peaks and troughs of the global represented no real departure from the farmers’ products; phase out or eliminate the failure of capitalist economic policies food market and the multinational players traditional post-independence approach subsidies and support such as fertilizer, to bring genuine development to the Af- who dominate.” (Independent, July 11) of U.S. foreign policy towards Africa. machines, agricultural infrastructure, rican continent. The summit’s final day Robert Fox, the executive director of The bulk of Obama’s remarks criticized and reduce tariffs of food products to very discussed the G-8 providing aid to Africa Oxfam Canada, said in a blog on July 8 corruption and inefficiency on the part low levels.” (July 13) for agricultural programs. The fact that that “Performance on aid varies greatly of African states, with implications that Consequently, the rhetoric of Obama previous pledges of $50 billion made at among G-8 members but together they these problems were the root causes of is not fundamentally different than what the 2005 meeting in Gleneagles, Scot- fall $23 billion short of the target they poverty and underdevelopment. He made has been advanced through successive land, have not been met, however, made set in 2005. The result? At least 3 mil- little reference to the legacies of slavery, U.S. administrations. What is needed is African leaders even more skeptical about lion lives have been lost—women who colonialism and neo-colonialism as the an independent domestic and foreign pol- the role of Europe and the United States die needlessly in childbirth; children who real source of underdevelopment. icy based on the needs of African people in the future of the continent. fall victim to preventable diseases; per- The president visited the slave castle themselves, and not the policy imperatives The current economic crisis is having sons with AIDS whose lives are cut short at Cape Coast where he reflected on the of the U.S. and European imperialists. a devastating impact on African states. because they could not get treatment.” tragedy of the four-century-long Atlantic The continuation of the current system (All-Africa.com, July 8) slave trade. In his address before the Gha- From the G-8 to will widen further the income gap be- na parliament, however, he stated that al- the G-20 in Pittsburgh tween the Western capitalist states and Capitalist crisis: impact on women though colonialism created division and The next G-20 Summit is set for Pitts- the countries that have emerged from The declining economic and social conflict on the continent, this could no burgh, Pa., this September. The G-20 colonial and semi-colonial rule. The de- conditions in Africa and other so-called longer be viewed as a major impediment represents an attempt by the imperialists clining standard of living and increasing developing areas will inevitably have a to African progress. to broaden the discussions around eco- poverty rate in Africa will result in more damaging impact on efforts aimed at Obama’s remark that “the economic nomic issues to involve not only the so- job losses, greater food insecurity and so- achieving gender equality. If there is an problems in Zimbabwe could not be called High Income Countries but to also cial instability. increase in assistance for agricultural blamed on the West” received a cool re- engage other states such as China, India, ActionAid spokesperson Meredith Al- production, it is necessary to ensure that sponse from parliamentarians. It totally Brazil, South Africa, etc., which are for- exander said of the L’Aquila Summit that: the bulk of resources allocated go directly missed the mark in regard to the ongoing mer colonial and semi-colonial states that “Although the G-8 leaders reaffirmed to women. In many African countries, unequal relations between former colo- have experienced economic development their Gleneagles promises this week, their women are responsible for 80 percent or nial states and the imperialist countries. resulting from the evolving international own accountability report does not even more of food production. In Zimbabwe, the revolutionary African division of labor and economic power. acknowledge how far off track they are. Sabina Zaccaro writes, “The problem is National Union, Patriotic Front and the That the High Income Countries face This suggests that the Gleneagles prom- funding. According to the World Bank, the western-backed Movement for Democrat- grave economic difficulties provides ises are increasingly unlikely to be met. economic crisis and the new rise in food ic Change (MDC) factions have formed openings for workers and the oppressed It is another failure for the world’s poor.” prices could lead to 2.8 million more chil- an inclusive government, yet the United in both the developed and developing re- (Independent, July 11) dren dying by 2015 if no concrete action States and the United Kingdom continue gions to open a dialogue and plan joint United Nations figures indicate that is taken. Sixty billion dollars are needed to maintain economic sanctions. efforts to tackle the main forces behind the number of malnourished people over the next five years to fight infectious Ghana was praised for its osten- the crisis in capitalist globalization. Anti- around the world has risen since 2007. diseases and strengthen health systems in sible progress related to the notions of imperialists, social justice advocates and By the conclusion of 2009 the number is the developing world.” (IPS, July 8) “good governance.” Yet this state, which other mass organizations are mobilizing expected to surpass one billion, reversing Consequently, if no direct attention achieved national independence from to go to Pittsburgh in order to advance an declines made since the 1960s. Conse- is paid to the plight of women and chil- Britain in 1957, fell victim to U.S. imperi- alternative agenda that places the work- quently, the world economic crisis is ef- dren in the current global capitalist crisis, alist intervention after President Kwame ers, nationally oppressed and women at fectively eliminating the limited progress more people will be driven into poverty Nkrumah sought to place pan-Africanism the center of any development program. made since the triumphs of the national through shrinking incomes, increases in and socialism as the principal objectives of Efforts must be made to involve broad independence movements during the infant mortality, malnutrition and the de- the nation’s domestic and foreign policy. forces in the demonstrations surround- 1960s and 1970s. cline in labor productivity. A coup against Nkrumah in 1966 was fi- ing the G-20 Summit. Special appeals Jeremy Hobbs of the British-based aid nanced and engineered by U.S. imperial- should be made to the African-American, organization Oxfam said of the G-8 Sum- Obama’s message in Ghana ism through the State Department and the Latina/o, Asian-American, Native and mit, “For Obama it was ‘yes we can.’ For blames the victims Central Intelligence Agency. LGBT communities and other oppressed Berlusconi’s G-8, it’s ‘no we won’t.’ This Following the G-8 Summit in Italy, U.S. Since 1966, the International Monetary groups to attend and participate fully in summit has been a shambles, it did noth- President Barack Obama flew to the West Fund and World Bank have sought to the resistance efforts. ing for Africa, and the world is still being African state of Ghana for an official visit. remake Ghana in the image of the West. Rank-and-file workers and unem- cooked.” Referring to the next G-8 meet- Media pundits proclaimed that this was Consequently, it is not surprising that ployed people should be encouraged to go ing, he continued, “Canada 2010 is the his first trip to Africa since taking office, the Obama administration selected this to Pittsburgh and put forward an agenda end of the road for the G-8—all the prom- overlooking his recent speech in Cairo. country for the presidential visit instead that transcends and refutes the failed ises they have made are due. They have 12 These corporate media statements re- of states such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, “buy American” sloganeering that has led short months to avoid being remembered veal the ongoing racist notion of two Afri- which take a more independent stand. nowhere in regard to preserving workers’ as the ones who let the poor and the plan- cas, one north of the Sahara and so-called By blaming Africa’s economic and so- jobs and homes in the United States. et die.” (Independent, July 11) sub-Saharan Africa. The progressive forc- cial problems on its governments and It is only when the workers and op- Joanne Green of the Catholic Agency es on the continent have rejected these people, Obama’s talk provides a rationale pressed in the United States recognize the for Overseas Development stressed the colonial divisions and categories. for the G8’s failure to honor its commit- common interests they have with the plight need for aid to go directly to African farm- Despite all its challenges, the African ments to provide development assistance of the peoples of the developing world that ers and not to agribusiness companies: Union held serious discussions at its to the continent. a real international movement can be built “Tonight one billion people will go to bed summit in Libya July 1-3 around creating An article published in the Malaysian that will effectively end capitalism and im- hungry because the food system that rich greater economic, political and military Star noted that, “The decline in agricul- perialism and create the conditions for so- countries have created isn’t working. Cli- cooperation on the continent. ture in many African countries was due to cialism on a worldwide scale. n Quake victims, activists unite to protest G-8 summit By Greg Butterfield took buses from Rome, Milan, and the “The reconstruction hasn’t really The G-8—composed of the seven ma- regions of Tuscany, Puglia and Campa- started yet and for the last three months jor imperialist powers plus Russia—held Residents of L’Aquila in Italy united nia. They marched from another quake- the government has been getting ready their usual back-slapping photo-ops and with labor unions and anti-capitalist ac- affected town, Paganica, to a park in the for the G-8, not helping victims of the promised to take tepid measures against tivists from around Italy and Europe center of L’Aquila. quake,” said union activist Enrico Bernoc- global warming and poverty. President for a 10,000-strong march through the An earthquake struck the area on April chi. (Agence France-Presse, July 10) Obama used the platform to insist that no earthquake-stricken town on July 10, the 6, killing 300 people and leaving 70,000 Throughout the G-8 summit, L’Aquila further “economic stimulus” was forth- final day of the Group of 8 summit meet- homeless. Some 23,000 are still living in residents displayed signs and banners coming and that people suffering hunger, ing. Through the march and other actions, tent cities, while up to 30,000 more have reading “Yes we camp.” A play on U.S. unemployment and foreclosures should they overcame Italian Prime Minister been shifted to temporary housing in oth- President Barack Obama’s campaign slo- be content to wait. Silvio Berlusconi’s attempts to turn the er parts of the country. The disaster, and gan “Yes we can,” it aimed to draw global “When the G-8 talk about a crisis, it’s groups against each other with violence- the lack of action by media mogul Berlus- attention to the plight of the region and about supporting the same banks who baiting. coni’s right-wing government, have been Berlusconi’s hypocrisy in shifting the sum- provoked the crisis, and it never does any- “We are all residents of L’Aquila,” compared to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita mit to L’Aquila in order to defuse militant thing to help workers who bear the full chanted demonstrators, many of whom in the U.S. protests against the global capitalist crisis. Continued on page 10 www.workers.org July 23, 2009 Page 9 Anti-war movement debates Iran, the Middle East and U.S. wars By John Catalinotto A serious consideration of these ques- statements that he cannot have more the replacement of the neo-con regime tions must include an examination of U.S. U.S. troops.” fronted by Bush. So it’s consistent with The conflict in Iran that opened up imperialism’s goals regarding the entire Britain, too, has escalated its pres- their past misdeeds that the corporate with the June presidential elections there Middle East and Central Asia. The George ence in Afghanistan, with the result that media and all imperialist politicians—at has had an impact on the progressive and W. Bush administration used the 9/11 at- 15 British troops died in the two weeks least in North America and Europe—have anti-imperialist movement worldwide, tack as a pretext to justify U.S. military ending July 13. The Afghan occupation targeted the Iranian government over the including in the United States. Misun- aggression in the entire region—although is nominally under NATO command. elections and have praised the opposition derstanding the events has created some the real goal was to conquer its world- European leaders have ignored popu- demonstrations. confusion in anti-war ranks. This is espe- important energy resources. A look at the lar anti-war sentiment to send troops to Whatever the motive of the protesters cially dangerous after Vice President Joe news in the second week of July shows the Afghan front, basing their appeal on themselves in Tehran, the imperialists’ Biden on July 5 gave a virtual green light that this basic strategy remains in place. President Obama’s reviving U.S. popu- motive is to eliminate Iranian sovereignty to an Israeli attack on Iran. The anti-war larity in Europe after Bush brought its and reverse the 1979 revolution. movement must stay alert to protest any U.S. troops still in Iraq ratings to an all-time low. move in that direction. Some deceptive headlines gave the Support for the war is waning quickly N.E.D.-funded group calls When very large crowds of people took false impression that U.S. troops essen- as the casualties mount, in Britain as anti-Iran protest to the streets in Tehran on June 15 to pro- tially withdrew from Iraq on June 30. Yet well as in the rest of Europe and Canada. A group in the U.S. calling itself United test the election of President Mahmoud 134,000 troops remain in the country. Even the New York Times has had to 4 Iran has called for protests on July 25 Ahmadinejad, it appeared that this was They pulled out of 142 posts that were in- admit that the increased troop strength targeting the Iranian government. It says an authentic popular movement, even if side Iraqi cities, turning these posts over and military activity in Afghanistan, with this is in sympathy with the youth and its strongest base was in the more afflu- to Iraqi troops, but remain in 320 other an increase in civilian casualties, is help- women involved in opposition demon- ent parts of the city. posts around Iraq. ing recruiting by the Taliban and other strations there. The anti-imperialist Stop Young people and women apparently In some cases, rather than moving, the resistance forces. (July 3) War on Iran group, in response, issued were playing a large role in the protests. U.S. and Iraqi forces simply redefined the Along with Afghanistan is increased a statement exposing the connections of Some of the demands were for women’s city boundaries, leaving the troops where U.S. intervention in Pakistan. Both United 4 Iran with funding groups closely rights and other democratic rights that they were. Such was the case with the U.S. drones and planes are sent to bomb and associated with U.S. foreign policy—like were constrained by the religious politi- Army’s Forward Operating Base Falcon, rocket alleged “insurgent” targets, while the National Endowment for Democ- cal leadership of Iran’s revolution. It was which used to be located inside Baghdad. the Pentagon pushes the Pakistani re- racy—and argues against any support for easy for Western secular progressives to Now, with a new boundary drawn, the gime to send its army into border areas. these protests. identify with the protests. 3,000 U.S. troops there are “outside” the Both activities have increased civilian “U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s new But some big questions remained. city limits. deaths and created millions of refugees public threat against Iran underlines If the protests were progressive, why U.S. troops and higher paid merce- inside Pakistan. They have also increased the dangers of a new war in the Middle did all the imperialist politicians in Eu- naries are expanding and improving recruiting by opposition forces, some al- East and the desperate need for politi- rope and the United States and their their rural bases and even building new lied with the Afghan resistance. cal clarity within the anti-war movement corporate media take the sides of the op- ones. Even if the Obama administration concerning Iran,” the SWOI statement position? This is especially strange since sticks to the announced timetable, at U.S. policies in Palestine begins. the key players in the opposition, the can- least 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Washington’s policy toward Palestine “With his July 5 comments on ABC’s didate Mir Hossein Mousavi and former Iraq until at least the end of 2011. A war- has been to continue support for the Is- This Week, Biden opened the door to a President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, spending bill the Democrat-controlled raeli state, despite Israel’s refusal to even military attack when he said that the U.S. were themselves identified with the re- Congress just passed pours another $100 stop new settlements in the occupied would not stand in the way of an Israeli gime in the past. At the time, U.S. sources billion into the occupations of Iraq and West Bank and its brutal blockade of the strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, even charged Mousavi with responsibility Afghanistan. (Information from the web- Gaza territory. It is based on U.S. strate- calling such an attack Israel’s ‘sovereign for overseeing the 1983 blast in Lebanon site of Iraq expert Dahr Jamail—dahrja- gic interests in the region, which involve right.’” that killed over 200 U.S. Marines, since mailiraq.com) relying on the Israeli state as a weapon SWOI notes that some anti-war or- he was Iran’s premier then. against any liberation movement or sov- ganizations have endorsed the United 4 Rafsanjani, who is one of the richest Washington escalates war ereign government in the region. Iran action, including United for Peace people in Iran, is associated with increased on Afghanistan and Pakistan The U.S.-based media attacked the and Justice, and “urges them and other privatization of industry and banking and Meanwhile in Afghanistan, U.S. troop Iranian elections as fraudulent. But re- honest anti-war forces to reconsider their with opening friendlier relations with levels have already grown to 57,000 and member that in Palestine, Washington endorsement of the anti-Iran actions.” U.S. imperialism. This would necessarily are set to rise to 68,000 during the year. and Israel refused to recognize what they SWOI urges everyone instead to “come include cutting back on support for the According to McClatchy News Service, knew were honest elections that made out AGAINST current U.S. wars and the Hamas and Hezbollah liberation move- Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. Hamas the leading party in 2006. Since threats of a new war on the following ments and perhaps for Syria, and increas- commander in Afghanistan, said July 13 then the U.S.-Israeli alliance has used week in a National Day of Coordinated ing cooperation with the U.S. in Iraq and “that when he gives his assessment to force and withheld aid to try to drive Actions on Saturday, Aug. 1.” To read the Afghanistan. How would privatization the Obama administration next month Hamas from office. full statement and/or to participate, see and cooperation with the U.S. increase of what is needed to defeat the Taliban, Washington hasn’t altered its basic stopwaroniran.org. democratic rights inside Iran? he won’t be deterred by administration policy of occupation and control since E-mail: [email protected] 70,000 construction workers strike in So. Africa By G. Dunkel for Durban, the country’s major port on the Indian Ocean, as well as power stations South Africa is in a frenzy of construc- and a rapid rail line from the international tion in order to host the 2010 World Cup airport to Johannesburg and Pretoria, the soccer competition. Complaining of low capital, are also being constructed. wages, the 70,000 construction workers The average salary of construction work­ hired for the project walked off the job ers is 2,500 rand a month—about $300. July 8. The anger over management’s counter- The union representing them, the Na- offer is so high that 2,000 construction tional Union of Mineworkers, says they workers not in the union also walked out want a wage increase of 13.5 percent in Cape Town. They disrupted traffic, do- and more benefits, like parental leave. ing the protest dance toyi-toyi through Striking construction workers march in Cape Town. According to the NUM, all the involved the streets, chanting and singing. It was worksites in the country have been hit by reported that the cops used stun grenades the strike and 90 percent of the workers to disperse them. (News 24 web site) the union members for a vote by July 13. When the strike started on July 8, the are respecting the call to stay away. The World Cup of soccer, known as Testifying to the significance of the employers predicted it would last a day or Bush Radio web site reports that Dan- football everywhere but in North Amer- strike, the South African Minister of La- two at most. They pointed to the unem- ny Jordaan, spokesperson for the local ica, is the biggest sporting event on the bor, Membathisi Mdladlana, served as ployment rate, which Statistics South Af- organizing committee for the World Cup, globe. Some 2 billion to 3 billion people mediator for the talks. Besides represen- rica puts at 23.5 percent, and the financial says, “The workers have the right to strike watch it on television and hundreds of tatives from NUM/Building Trades, the weakness of the union and its members, if they feel they have legitimate grievanc- thousands of fans throng the stadiums. employers’ council and the local organiz- who have no strike fund and no savings. es.” He of course hopes “the strike can be Next year the World Cup will be held for ing committee for the World Cup, General They failed to take into account the whip resolved soon so that the stadiums can be the first time on the continent of Africa. Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi of the Congress of inflation, which is running at 8 percent, finished on schedule.” Dispatches from both Reuters and AP of South African Trade Unions attended, and the workers’ perception that their em- South Africa is upgrading five stadiums say an agreement has been reached on along with the chair of the parliamentary ployers were under a tight deadline. and building five new ones. A new airport the wage issue which could be brought to committee on labor, Lumka Yengen. It was the employers who buckled first. n Page 10 July 23, 2009 www.workers.org U.S. spreads poverty The butcher in Central Asia of Vietnam By Heather Cottin funded by billionaire George Soros, of lead- he death of Robert S. McNama- (Associated Press, July 6) Over 58,000 ing riots in Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi. (New ra on July 6 at age 93 gives new GIs ended up dead, with hundreds of Kyrgyzstan’s June 22 decision to keep York Times, July 7) Tmeaning to the old adage that thousands more wounded physically the U.S./NATO military base open at Ma- These same groups have encouraged the “only the good die young.” McNamara and psychologically. nas will enhance the U.S. government’s anti-communist Tibetan followers of the was secretary of defense under Presi- But by far the greatest damage was ability to wage its brutal war on Afghani- Dalai Lama in an attempt to foment unrest dents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. to the Vietnamese nation. Over 3 mil- stan. Seventeen miles from Kyrgyzstan’s against the Peoples Republic of China. Johnson and was the principal archi- lion Vietnamese–2 million of them capital Bishkek, the Manas base houses Economic crisis in Central Asia tect of the U.S. war against Vietnam. civilians—were killed during the war. over a thousand U.S. military personnel As early as 1964 the war was aptly The land was razed by carpet bombing. and hosts transport aircraft and mid-air fu- Like most of the former socialist coun- referred to as “McNamara’s war,” Napalm and Agent Orange used by the elling vehicles. tries of Eurasia, Kyrgyzstan is a nation with which didn’t bother McNamara one U.S. destroyed the country’s arable U.S. forces have had access to the Manas high unemployment, where factories are bit. “I am pleased to be identified with land and killed and maimed millions air base outside Bishkek since 2001. The closed after decisions made on Wall Street. it, and do whatever I can to win it,” more people. The deadly effects are base has been a transit point for 15,000 Kyrgyzstan ‘s inflation rate in 2008 was 24 he said at the time. (New York Times, manifest even today, generations later. troops and 500 tons of cargo per month percent. In 2004, the unemployment rate July 6) McNamara’s book “In Retrospect: en route to the war in Afghanistan. After was 18 percent. (www.infoplease.com) It’s He started his ignoble career as a The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam” Washington increased greatly the amount much higher now. In some regions, since statistical and systems analyst who be- was published in 1995. “We of the given to the Kyrgyzstan government for use then, unemployment has doubled. came a “Whiz Kid” at Ford Motor Co. Kennedy and Johnson administrations of the base, the regime decided to renew the The economic situation has only deterio- and its eventual president. McNamara acted according to what we thought lease. (Workers World, July 16) rated since the world recession began. Until was convinced that his analysis of the were the principles and traditions of A continuing conflict between Washing- now, economic troubles had been more or war proved the U.S. would conquer our country. But we were wrong. We ton and Bishkek has been over legal immu- less confined to the private sector, but to- Vietnam within a few years. were terribly wrong,” said McNamara nity, which U.S. soldiers had in Kyrgyzstan. day the Kyrgyz government is cutting jobs As the war escalated and he realized in an interview prior to the book’s In at least one case a soldier from the Manas and wages at state companies in the public the failure of his prediction, McNa- release. base was involved in the death of a local resi- sector. mara began to have “deep misgivings” The 2003 documentary “The Fog of dent, and Kyrgyz authorities could not pros- For youth the situation is intolerable. The about the war. Although he realized War” also featured McNamara rumi- ecute him, spurring a scandal in the country. youth unemployment rate before the recent the futility of the U.S. war in Viet- nating on his moral misgivings about (Russia Today, June 23) recession was 26 percent, while their share nam as early as 1967, he kept those Vietnam. Some even call McNamara Kyrgyzstan (formerly Kirghizia) is a rug- in the total population was lower than 20 thoughts to himself. a “liberal” for being so contrite in his ged country; the Tien Shan mountain range percent. Now their situation is even worse. McNamara’s seven-year tenure as later years, but this is a misguided at- covers approximately 95 percent of the According to the International Labor secretary of defense also included the tribute. He was sorry because he lost. whole territory. Kyrgyzstan borders Ka- Organization, after Kyrgyzstan privatized disastrous “Bay of Pigs” invasion of He was sorry because his statistical zakhstan on the north and northwest, Uz- industry “the number of poor increased to Cuba and the missile crisis that nearly analysis left out what history proved: bekistan in the southwest, Tajikistan on the more than 60 percent of the population” of led to a nuclear showdown with the the will of the Vietnamese people to south, and China in the southeast. over 5 million. Soviet Union. It included the U.S. defeat U.S. imperialism. Kyrgyzstan’s natural resources lure spec- This poverty has forced the migration of invasion of the Dominican Republic in McNamara spent his later years ulators. The capitalist government is al- hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz workers. 1965. being “sorry” while walking free. Did ways open for business. When it was part of About 70 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s poor re- Under McNamara’s tenure, the war he voluntarily surrender himself to the Soviet Union, there was socialist plan- side in rural areas. Since the end of socialist budget and influence of the Pentagon the Vietnamese people for prosecution ning. Now the capitalist “free market” has planning, the “decline in employment has increased exponentially and increased of his many war crimes and crimes lowered the living standards of the workers been compounded by the reduction or with- its domination over the civilian life of against humanity? Did he denounce and farmers. It’s so-called Tulip Revolution drawal of a range of subsidized goods and the United States, which continues to the role of the Pentagon in subjugating was aimed at accelerating the process of social services previously available to the this day. oppressed peoples around the globe? privatization. workforce, including ongoing education, McNamara left the Pentagon to work Did he lead any anti-war demonstra- Kyrgyzstan’s strategic location is key to skills training, supplementary nutrition, for 13 years as head of the World Bank. tions? U.S. military planning. Russia and China health care, and sports and cultural facili- There he ensured the domination of What the world’s people need are perceive that the U.S. government interfer- ties.” (www.ilo.org) U.S. capital in underdeveloped and not apologies from those who have ence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia This migration has produced a depen- poor countries around the world, help- exploited and tormented them. They is encircling them militarily. The United dence on remittances, where workers have ing to condemn millions more to lives need solidarity from their class sisters States ruling class is working toward the to leave to earn enough money to support of poverty and misery. and brothers in the imperialist coun- privatization and takeover of the vast natu- their impoverished families back home. Despite McNamara’s private “mis- tries to help overthrow this vicious ral resources of Eurasia. A meeting of re- As the world economic crisis accelerates, givings” about the war in Vietnam, the system so that the criminal inequality gional countries in Yekaterinburg, Russia, migrants face diminished opportunities number of U.S. soldiers dead, miss- caused by imperialism can be recti- in June mounted an unsuccessful attempt to work and hence send fewer remittances ing and wounded went from 7,466 to fied. n to counter the presence of the U.S. and its home. They also face declining wages in the more than 100,000 during his watch. NATO stooges in Central Asia and the Cas- countries to which they migrate. For the pian region. workers and peasants of Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyzstan has not only been vital to the outlook is bleak. U.S. war against Afghanistan. It sits on the The U.S. government’s multi-million-dol- Quake victims, activists border of China’s oil-rich Xinjiang desert lar bribe for use of the Manas airbase is un- province where the Open Society Institute, likely to change the deteriorating conditions National Endowment for Democracy and for Kyrgyzstan’s poor. Corruption is rife, unite to protest G-8 summit other U.S. agencies have courted bourgeois and unrest among the population will not be elements in its Moslem Uighur minority. bought off, since the government is unlikely Continued from page 8 The Chinese government has accused the to distribute this newfound U.S. money to hot air and take action to stop global Washington-based World Uighur Congress, the suffering workers and farmers. n brunt,” said protester Paolo Leonardi. warming. In Rome on July 7, nearly 30 protest- Actions across Italy ers were arrested as students clashed Protests were held in towns and cit- with police. The demonstrators set up ies throughout Italy in the days leading symbolic roadblocks on the main high- Marxism, RepARATIONS up to the G-8 meeting. way from Rome to L’Aquila. On July 4, riot police fired tear gas Also July 7, residents of the port city & the Black Freedom Struggle and clubbed marchers to prevent of Abruzzo demonstrated against Ber- An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. Edited thousands from approaching the U.S. lusconi’s racist anti-immigrant mea- by Monica Moorehead. Includes: military base in Vicenza, a city in sures and the harsh prison facilities for • Racism, national oppression and self-determination northeastern Italy. The Italian govern- detained immigrants. • Black labor from chattel slavery to wage slavery ment has agreed to a Pentagon plan Actions were also held in Turin, Sar- • Black youth: repression & resistance to double the size of the base, despite dinia, Naples and Sulmona. (Indyme- • Black & Brown unity: A pillar of struggle for human rights local opposition. Residents of Vicenza dia Italy) & global justice! rejected the base expansion in a refer- The next global protest mobilization • Are conditions ripe again today? 40th anniversary endum. (Reuters, July 4) will take place late September in Pitts- of the 1965 Watts Rebellion On July 7-8, Greenpeace activists burgh, during the G-20 Summit on the • Racism and poverty in the Delta • The struggle for Socialism is key scaled coal-burning energy plants economic crisis. For more information, Cover illustration by Sahu Barron • Domestic Workers United demand passage of a bill of rights across Italy, unveiling banners de- visit www.bailoutpeople.org. n manding that the G-8 stop blowing • Black Reconstruction: The unfinished revolution Order online from Leftbooks.com www.workers.org July 23, 2009 Page 11 ‘The coup dies or constitutions die’

Reflections by Comrade Fidel Castro, when the enormous mass of people await- cated less than 100 kilometers from Te- What is the objective of the military reprinted from Granma, July 10. ing him outside of the airport was being gucigalpa and reactivated in 1981 under base, the planes, the helicopters and the attacked by soldiers with tear gas and au- the Ronald Reagan administration—was U.S. task force in Honduras? Without The countries of Latin America were tomatic rifle fire. used by Col. Oliver North when he was any doubt they are only adequate for use struggling against history’s worst finan- His immediate reaction was to request running the dirty war against Nicaragua, in Central America. The war on drug traf- cial crisis within relative institutional or- that they [gain] altitude in order to de- and from there the U.S. government di- ficking does not require those weapons. der. nounce the events on Telesur and to de- rected the attacks against the Salvadoran If President Zelaya is not returned to When U.S. President Barack Obama— mand of the commanding officers of those and Guatemalan revolutionaries that cost his position, a wave of coups threatens to while on a trip to Moscow to discuss vital troops that they cease the repression. Then tens of thousands of lives. sweep away many Latin American gov- topics on the subject of nuclear weapons— he informed them that he would carry on That is the location of U.S. Joint Task ernments, or these will be at the mercy of was declaring that the only constitutional with the landing. The high command then Force Bravo—made up of personnel from the ultra right-wing military, educated in president of Honduras was Manuel Zela- ordered the landing strip to be blocked. In the three forces—which occupies 85 per- the security doctrine of the School of the ya, the ultra right-wing and the hawks in a matter of seconds, motorized transport cent of the area of the base. Eva Golinger Americas, an expert in torture, psycholog- Washington were making maneuvers for vehicles were obstructing the runway. reveals its role in an article published on ical warfare and terror. The authority of Zelaya to negotiate a humiliating pardon The Falcon jet made three passes, at a Rebelión web site on July 2, 2009, enti- many civilian governments in Central and for the illegalities attributed to him by the low altitude, over the airport. Specialists tled, “The U.S. military base in Honduras South America will become weakened. perpetrators of the coup. explain that the tensest and most dan- at the center of the coup.” She explains Those dark days are not very far back in It was obvious that before his people gerous moment for pilots is when fast, that “the Constitution of Honduras does time. The military perpetrators of the and the world such an act would be tan- small planes—like the one carrying the not legally allow for foreign military pres- coup would not even pay any attention to tamount to his disappearance from the president—reduce speed for touchdown. ence in the country. A ‘handshake-like’ the civilian administration of the United political stage. That’s why I think that attempt to return agreement between Washington and States. It can be very negative for a presi- It is a proven fact that when Zelaya an- to Honduras was audacious and brave. Honduras authorizes the important and dent who wants to improve that country’s nounced he would be returning on July If they wanted to put him on trial for strategic presence of hundreds of U.S. sol- image, like Barack Obama does. The Pen- 5th, he had decided to fulfill his promise alleged constitutional crimes, why not al- diers on the base, under a ‘semi-perma- tagon formally obeys the civilian power. to share the brutal repression of the coup low him to land? nent’ deal. The agreement was reached in The legions have not yet taken over con- with his people. Zelaya knows that it was not only the 1954 as part of the military aid the United trol of the empire as they did in Rome. Traveling with the president was Miguel Constitution of Honduras that was at States was offering Honduras … the third It would not be understandable for Ze- d’Escoto, the president pro tempore of the stake, but also the right of the peoples poorest country in the hemisphere.” She laya to now admit to stalling maneuvers U.N. General Assembly, along with Patri- of Latin America to elect the people who adds that “… the agreement that allows that would wear out the considerable so- cia Rodas, the Honduran foreign minis- govern them. the military presence of the United States cial forces that support him and only lead ter, a Telesur journalist and others, a total Today Honduras is not just a country in the Central American country can be to an irreparable attrition. of nine persons. Zelaya maintained his occupied by a coup, but it is also a coun- removed with no notice given.” The illegally overthrown president decision to land. I know for a fact that in try occupied by the armed forces of the Soto Cano is also home of the Aviation does not seek power, but he defends a mid-flight, when they were nearing Tegu- United States. Academy of Honduras. The components principle, and as Martí said: “One just cigalpa, he was informed from the ground The military base at Soto Cano, also of the U.S. military task force are partly principle from the depths of a cave can about Telesur broadcasting the moment known by its name of Palmerola—lo- made up of Honduran soldiers. be mightier than an army.” n

GM’s ‘quick rinse’ bankruptcy Dirty deal for workers and retirees

Continued from page 5 The U.S. government at present holds will be able to extract bigger profits from the silence over the dealer closings af- glass and a host of related industries. A a 60-percent stake in the new GM. The a smaller and lower-paid workforce. fecting tens of thousands of unionized number of major auto parts companies UAW VEBA, the governments of Canada Between GM and Chrysler, more than mechanics, such as those around New have filed or are expected to file for Chap- and Ontario, and GM bondholders hold 30,000 union jobs in the plants are York City who belong to UAW Local 259? ter 11 bankruptcy. Whole communities the other 40 percent. disappearing. Even given the unprec- What about the IUE-CWA retirees who are affected by plant closings. edented role of the state, this devastat- are getting a raw deal? Government aids big capital For 40 days and 40 nights workers ing attack on the working class seems What happened to the old union prin- and their families watched their futures The White House Auto Task Force— incomprehensible. The other factor was ciple, that an injury to one is an injury to drown. This was not a “quick rinse” but a which orchestrated this massive transfer the acquiescence of the top leadership of all? flood of economic destruction. of wealth out of the hands of the workers the UAW. Rank-and-file workers need to orga- and retirees who created it—was drawn When UAW President Ron Gettelfin- nize themselves at the grassroots level. Bosses happy entirely from the ranks of finance capital ger spoke out over GM’s plans to im- Some way we must map out a strategy to Not everyone is hurting, however. If and their think tanks. Now that he’s done port a new small car to be produced in fight to overturn these rotten contracts one catches GM CEO Fritz Henderson his dirty work, Task Force Chair Stephen China, GM then agreed to instead keep a and demand our right to our jobs. or the new chairman, Edward Whitacre Rattner plans to quit and go back to Wall Michigan plant open and build the sub- Martha Grevatt has worked at the Jr., cracking a smile, it’s for good reason. Street. When GM Co. is returned to pri- compact there. That’s one fewer plant Chrysler stamping plant in Twinsburg, The new company has erased $40 bil- vate hands—which Rattner claimed will closing, which is good, but why didn’t he Ohio, for 22 years and is an active lion in private debt, and now only owes occur without much delay—stockholders demand that no plants be closed? Why member of UAW Local 122. the government $11 billion. Now that wages, benefits and the workforce itself have been reduced, Henderson gleefully announced, “We have the important Indian court overturns parts of the business necessary to make the company great again.” (Detroit Free Press, July 14) anti-gay British-era law The so-called industry analysts are feigning astonishment at the speed with By LeiLani Dowell lonialist conquest of countries around the cia, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. which GM completed the sale of its assets world, the British empire criminalized In the Middle East, British colonialism to the new company. Even the Chrysler A court in India’s capital has made a homosexuality. made ‘The Indian Penal Code’ the law of bankruptcy took two days longer. historic decision in overturning a law “As the British colonial empire ex- the land in Aden, Bahrain, Kuwait, Mus- In the past, the process of using Chap- that banned sex between people of the panded,” Feinberg states, “its overlords cat and Oman, Qatar, Somaliland, the ter 11 bankruptcy to break union con- same gender. The law, section 377 of the imposed and enforced Article 377 and Sudan and what is today the United Arab tracts and force huge concessions—as Indian Penal Code, was imposed on the similarly worded edicts against ‘sodomy’ Emirates.” (Feb. 1, 2008) in steel, airlines and auto parts—lasted Indian people by the British when they in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Activists fighting for the overturn of several years. It was the intervention by colonized the country. It declared “carnal Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myan- section 377 argued that not only was the the capitalist state, beginning with the intercourse” to be “against the order of mar, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, the law a violation of fundamental rights, but Bush administration, which sped up the nature,” with penalties of up to 10 years Straits Settlements of Singapore, Penang it also discouraged safe sex in a country process here. By threatening to deny bail- in prison. While few were criminally and Malacca, Hong Kong, Fiji, the Ma- with 2.5 million cases of HIV. The ruling out funding and forcing GM—and also prosecuted under the law, many lesbian, lay Peninsula and Burma, Sri Lanka, the by the Delhi High Court applies only in Chrysler—into liquidation, the govern- gay, bi and trans people were persecuted Seychelles and Papua New Guinea, ‘Brit- the capital state of New Delhi; however, ment illegally interfered with collective and harassed because of it. ish’ Honduras (today Belize), Jamaica, Indian activists are hopeful that it will bargaining and scared the workers into Writing in Workers World newspa- Anguilla, the ‘British’ Virgin Islands, the serve as a stepping stone for the reversal granting givebacks that the bosses were per’s “Lavender and Red” series, Leslie Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Bahamas, of the bigoted British law throughout the all too happy to accept. Feinberg described how, through the co- Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and St. Lu- country. n M ndo Obrero ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países, uníos! EN SOLIDARIDAD CON GAZA Caravana de ayuda desafía bloqueo israelí Por John Parker de buena voluntad hacia los palestinos ñadas en la reciente guerra por parte de necesidad de atención médica. Cairo, Egipto con el fin de fomentar las conversaciones Israel, según un reportero de Al Jazeera Se ha informado y verificado por per- para liberar a un soldado israelí en poder que estaba en Gaza el 27 de junio, o para sonal médico que por lo menos 75 tone- 6 de julio—La primera delegación de del gobierno de Hamas en Gaza. la reconstrucción de la mitad de los hos- ladas de uranio empobrecido se lanzaron Viva Palestina USA salió el 4 de julio con Sin embargo, Hamas no lo va a liberar pitales destruidos. en esta pequeña franja de tierra que con- el parlamentario británico George Gallo- sin obtener a cambio la libertad de los El Comité Internacional de la Cruz tiene 1,5 millones de personas. Los efec- way al Cairo desde donde 200 personas y muchos prisioneros políticos que lan- Roja informó el 29 de junio que las per- tos de la contaminación por la radiación una caravana de camiones transportarán guidecen en cárceles israelíes, que ha au- sonas que viven en Gaza están “atrapadas debido al uso de estas armas fabricadas millones de dólares en suministros médi- mentado en más de 20 desde el secuestro en la desesperación.” El informe señala en Estados Unidos son cada vez más evi- cos a la frontera de Gaza. La delegación por parte de Israel de Cynthia McKinney que el pueblo de Gaza, cuyos hogares dentes en la población de Gaza. exigirá la entrada a ese territorio, cuya y de los/as otros delegados internaciona- fueron destruidos durante los 23 días Pero los crímenes de Israel no cesaron población ha sido privada de las necesi- les y la tripulación del barco Espíritu de de la guerra relámpago israelí, sigue sin el pasado mes de enero. Tres días antes dades básicas debido al bloqueo israelí. la Humanidad en el mar fuera de la juris- refugio a pesar de las promesas de casi de que nuestra delegación aterrizara en Los/as delegados pasaron el día ante- dicción de Israel el pasado 30 de junio. $4,5 mil millones en ayuda. Esto se debe El Cairo, fue asesinado Hyam Ayash de rior empacando los materiales y tuvieron El artículo declaró que Israel aumen- a que Israel rehúsa permitir que el ce- 17 años en Mughraqa en Gaza, el 2 de ju- que desempaquetarlos en el aeropuerto y taría el suministro de café, té, sopas, mento y otros materiales de construcción lio por un proyectil disparado desde un llevarlos al avión. carne, pescado y productos enlatados y entren a la Franja de Gaza. tanque israelí. Al vestir camisetas de color azul con la restablecería el envío de combustible, Pero el genocidio por parte de Israel Es evidente que toda ayuda, no im- bandera palestina, los/as delegados son ropa, utensilios de cocina, y gallinas no se limita a negar la construcción de porta cuán pequeña, se necesita urgente- fácilmente identificados/as, tanto en el ponedoras a Gaza antes de Ramadán, edificios. El informe expone que Israel mente en Gaza, ya venga por el Espíritu aeropuerto JFK en Nueva York de donde que comienza en agosto. imposibilita que los/as pacientes reci- de la Humanidad o por Viva Palestina. salieron y aquí en Egipto, donde la recep- Esto debe quedar asociado a los avanc- ban asistencia médica al impedir que los Sin embargo, lo que más se necesita, es ción ha sido buena. es que se están realizando para liberar al suministros médicos entren a Gaza. exponer la naturaleza genocida del blo- Según un artículo en un periódico co- soldado israelí. Todos/as en Egipto, el cual limita queo israelí y ejercer presión internacio- mercial repartido en nuestro vuelo de Aunque se crea que esta negociación con Gaza y mantiene el bloqueo israelí nal para exigir que cese de inmediato. EgyptAir titulado “Israel considera aliv- por parte de Israel es genuina, los pro- en la frontera—desde la gente en las Este es el objetivo de muchas de estas iar embargo de Gaza”, dice el reportaje ductos mencionados no incluyen algunos calles a los taxistas y toda persona que misiones a Gaza. que el Ministerio de Defensa de Israel ha de los más esenciales como lo son el ace- sigue los acontecimientos en Gaza—está El escritor es miembro de la recomendado un levantamiento parcial ro y el hormigón necesarios para la re- expuesto/a al hecho de que la población delegación Viva Palestina USA del embargo sobre Gaza como un gesto construcción de las 47.000 viviendas da- de Gaza se encuentra en una intensa Comité de Defensa de Victor Toro Asilo político para Victor Toro ¡Amnistía ahora! para millones de inmigrantes indocumentados/as

El 6 de julio de 2007, Victor Toro fue Sarah M. Burr será el 26 de agosto del arrestado por la patrulla fronteriza de 2009 a las 9:00 a.m. en el 26 Federal Pla- EEUU, una agencia del departamento de za, New York, NY 10278. Seguridad de la Patria, mientras estaba a El equipo de defensa de Victor ha so- bordo de un tren de Amtrak en Roches- licitado asilo político en la audiencia del ter, Nueva York. Lo transfirieron más ad- 18 de enero del 2008, bajo sección 208 elante a la cárcel de Auburn, Nueva York del acta, retención de retiro bajo sección en el condado de Cayuga. La fianza fue 241(b)(3) del acta, relevación bajo Art. fijada en 5.000 dólares el mismo día de la III de la Convención Contra la Tortura, detención. La fianza fue pagada el lunes 9 Piquete 12 p.m. a 1 p.m. así como la cancelación del retiro bajo de julio de 2007 y dejaron libre a Victor el sección 240A del Acta. mismo día. todos los viernes Desde su llegada a EEUU, Victor y Victor es un ciudadano y nacional de en el 26 Federal Plaza Nieves fundaron la organización sin Chile que fue encarcelado y torturado de- fines de lucro La Peña del Bronx que bido a su oposición al gobierno ilegítimo (Esquina NE. - Worth y Lafayette en NYC) proporciona ayuda muy necesaria a la de Pinochet (1973-1990), le fue dado un Victor Toro a primero de mayo en NYC. comunidad del sur de Bronx. pasaporte para la salida solamente en El Comité de Defensa de Victor Toro 1976 y declarado muerto el año próximo exige del Departamento de Seguridad por el dictador Pinochet. Él entró a EEUU de la Patria que concedan asilo político a sin documentos adecuados en 1984 y ha Victor. permanecido en EEUU desde entonces. Para más información, involucrarse La persecución de Victor está bien docu- con el Comité de Defensa de Victor Toro, mentada y su trabajo político ha sido tema enviar donaciones o aprender más sobre de libros, incluyendo el libro de Alistair MO foto: Deirdre griswold sus derechos: Carlos Moreno, Esq. y Abi- Horne “Pequeño Terremoto en Chile”. permanente legal de EEUU. comité de defensa de Victor Toro (VTDC) gail Cushing, Esq. NY May 1 Coalition Además, Victor fue añadido a la lista junto Un aviso para aparecer (NTA) fechado lanzó una campaña de cartas para cambi- E-mail: [email protected], al líder del MIR, Miguel Enriquez y el líder el 6 de julio de 2007 ha sido publicado ya ar el lugar y el equipo legal presentó una [email protected], Abigail_Cush- del P.S. Carlos Altamirano entre otros, por el Departamento de Seguridad de la demanda para cambiar el lugar de Búfalo, [email protected], [email protected] como una de las trece personas más bus- Patria acusando a Victor de violación de Nueva York, al Bronx, Nueva York, donde Tel:718-292-6137 212-631-7555 (641) cadas por la dictadura apoyada por EEUU residir y entrar en los EEUU sin docu- vive Victor. La corte de Búfalo concedió 715-3900 ext. 97869# de Augusto Pinochet en 1973. Su esposa, mentos adecuados. Una fecha para apa- un cambio de lugar el 10 de septiembre. P.O. Box 739, Bronx, NY 10454 Nieves Ayress, es ciudadana estadoun- recer en la corte fue fijada para el 12 de La próxima y última audiencia de Victor (Dirijan los cheques a “Las Peñitas Inc.”) idense y su hija, Rosita Toro, es residente septiembre de 2007 en Búfalo, NY. El para aparecer ante la juez de migración www.1mayo.info