Pipeline Fighters Defend Land & Liberty

MAY 2019, VOLUME 46, NO. 5 DONATION $1 PIPELINE FIGHTERS DEFEND LAND & LIBERTY

Protesting Bayou Bridge Pipeline which threatens Louisiana’s land and water. PHOTO/JULIE DERMANSKY Reunite families! Page 2

PHOTO/NATIONAL NURSES UNITED PHOTO/FERNANDO LOPEZ, SURVIVAL MEDIA AGENCY Medicare for All Surviving ‘Death Alley’ Page 9 IMAGE/PRAZIS IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK Page 7 Reunite families, stop the deportations The People’s Tribune is devoted to the understanding that an econom- for the sexual abuse of detainees immoral for us to tolerate it, it’s People have the right to ic system that doesn’t feed, clothe, EDITORIAL by guards. Then there was the a threat to everyone’s rights and migrate and to seek asylum. We house, or care for its people must be recent case of the Border Patrol freedom. must end the militarization of the and will be replaced with a system holding men, women and children The economic system is border, and stop the detention and that meets the needs of the people. To that end, this paper is a tribune of In mid-April, Laura Mara- under a bridge in El Paso behind a breaking down and can no lon- deportation of immigrants. The the people. It is the voice of millions diaga-Alvarado, an 11-year-old fence topped with razor wire. The ger provide for the people, so the immigrants are part of America’s of everyday people who are fighting girl now in Houston, received American Civil Liberties Union powerful are trying to protect working class. If we allow our- to survive in an America in crisis. It a deportation order terrorizing called the detention of migrants in themselves by destroying democ- selves to be divided, we will all helps build connections among her and her family. Laura faced outdoor pens “an unprecedented racy and turning us against each be living in poverty under a dic- these fighters and the awareness deportation back to El Salvador, a and extreme violation.” other. But millions are against tatorship of the billionaires. There that together, we can create a whole country that she had fled with her In Texas and elsewhere, the this assault on democracy and is plenty of everything for every- new society and world. mother and sister for fear of their separation of families, the caging human decency, and they are join- one. United, the people can take Today, technology is permanently lives. Deportation would have of children, the sexual abuse, the ing forces. One fighter in Texas control of this country and build eliminating jobs. Our needs can only be met by building a coopera- separated her from her mother tortuous conditions of detention, reported that those fighting for a true democracy where every- tive society where we the people, and sister, who had been given the raids and the unwarranted the human rights of immigrants one has all they need. Our motto not the corporations, own the tech- permission to stay in the U.S. arrests and deportations, the ille- are becoming stronger and more must be “All for each, and each nology and the abundance it pro- while they seek asylum. It turned gal refusal of requests for asy- united. “When we stand together, for all!” duces. Then, everyone’s needs will out that the deportation order was lum, the deaths of people in gov- we have unlimited power,” he be provided for. a clerical error, and a judge has ernment custody—it’s not only said. We welcome articles and artwork halted the order for now. But this from those who are engaged in the does not take away the inhuman- struggle to build a new society that ity of the immigration system. is of, by and for the people. We rely on readers and contributors to fund Houston Police Chief Art and distribute this paper. Acevedo denounced the depor- The People’s Tribune, formerly pub- tation order in a Tweet. “This is lished by the League of Revolution- heart-wrenching,” he wrote. “… aries for a New America, is now an Family values? American values? independent newspaper with an Judeo-Christian values? … The editorial board based in Chicago. Nazis enforced their laws as well. You don’t separate children from PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: their families! Ever! You’d have Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover story and editorials, reflect to kill me to take my child from the views of the editorial board. By- me simply because I was trying lined articles reflect the views of the to get them to a better place for a authors, and may or may not reflect better tomorrow. I am glad to be the views of the editorial board. on the right side of history.” Deadlines for articles and art: The Texas is more and more deadline for articles, photographs emerging as the front line of the and other art is the first of each fight for democracy and human month for the issue that comes out at the beginning of the following rights. The Texas SB 4 “show me month. For example, the deadline your papers” law was upheld by for the June issue is May 1. Arti- federal courts last year. Among cles should be as short as possible, other things it bans sanctuary cit- and no longer than 500 words. We ies in Texas and essentially makes reserve the right to edit articles to conform to space limitations. state and local police an arm of federal immigration authorities, People’s Tribune Editor: Bob Lee allowing them to question the Editorial Staff: Ran Dibble, immigration status of anyone they Brett Jelínek, Chis Mahin, arrest or detain. A bill currently Sarah Menefee, Joseph before the Texas House would Peery, Sandra Reid, Ben repeal in-state tuition for undoc- Schlotthauer, Cathy Talbott umented immigrant students. CARTOON/ANDY WILLIS National Office: There is also the Hutto immi- Phone: 773-486-3551 grant detention center at Taylor, American and Mexican artists are painting a mile-long mural on Toll Free: 800-691-6888 Texas, which became notorious the U.S.-Mexico border fence celebrating peace and unity. People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524 Chicago, Illinois, 60654 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.peoplestribune.org Facebook: fb.com/peoplestrib SUBSCRIBE TO THE PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE! 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Oakland, CA: [email protected] Washington, D.C.: 2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2019 www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib [email protected] Pipeline fighters defend land and liberty

and pull in Congress and pull at COVER STORY the state level? What’s going on, who’s minding the store? This “You think we live in a means we’re not in control.” democracy? The federal gov- Pipelines being constructed ernment will not protect you.” to carry these volatile fuels from “I’m angry because I feel points of origin to coastal refin- that private citizens no longer eries and ports, such as the Key- have rights; the country is now stone Pipeline System (includ- controlled by big business.” ing Keystone XL) owned by “They are taking our renew- TransCanada Corporation, run- able natural resources and ning from Alberta, Canada to allowing a few private investors Illinois, Texas, and Oklahoma; to sell it for their own private the Dakota Access Pipeline, that profit—risking our water, land, will cross four states from North erosion potential, the health and Dakota, to Patoka, in southern safety of people that live along Illinois, crossing beneath the the pipeline path; all this so a Missouri and Mississippi Riv- few guys can make a buck.” ers, as well as under part of These are the bold state- Lake Oahe near the Standing ments of common people— Rock Indian Reservation; the pipeline fighters—taking a stand Enbridge Line 3 from Alberta, to protect a way of life that is Canada, through the ancestral quickly disappearing as oil and homelands of the Anishinaabe [Above] Nebraska farmers Helen and Art Tanderup sign a deed gifting a piece of their land back to the gas pipeline corporations take people, the lakes and rivers of Ponca Tribe, alongside Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Chairman Larry Wright, Jr., and Ponca Nation of Okla- people’s land through eminent northern Minnesota, to Supe- homa Councilwoman Casey Camp-Horinek. The gifted land lies both on the historic Ponca “Trail of Tears,” domain with the aid of the fed- rior, Wisconsin, crossing more and the route of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which they all are fighting (see page 7 for article on eral government. than 190 bodies of water, jeop- pipeline fight). PHOTO/ALEX MATZKE, BOLD NEBRASKA Owners have been arrested ardizing the means of survival and charged with trespassing of the Ojibwe people; the Bayou up to big corporations, stand- on their own land. Water pro- Bridge Pipeline in Louisiana; ing shoulder to shoulder, despite tectors have been jailed for kay- and the Mountain Valley and differences and everything else aking on open water near pipe- Atlantic Coastal Pipelines and they use to divide us.” line easements. Leaders have other proposed lines through The fight is now over who been threatened and shot at. West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, the government is going to serve. Militarized security and sher- Pennsylvania and New York Will we, the people have a gov- iffs’ officers turned water can- are being challenged by farmers, ernment that protects the envi- nons on protestors at Standing ranchers, indigenous tribes and ronment, water, and our way of Rock, also using rubber bullets even nuns whose land is being life through democratic means, and concussion grenades, nearly taken by eminent domain with or will we have government dic- tearing the arm off one young or without consent by pipeline tated by for-profit corporations woman. companies with the blessing of which sacrifice all life for their Another pipeline fighter the courts. private gain? We must demand asks, “Is this the American The people are demanding that every politician answer to dream, is this what I grew up to be heard. They’re demanding the people the question, “Which Pipeline Fighters protesting the Mountain Valley Pipeline crossing paying taxes to support? Is this construction be stopped. They side are you on?” the Blue Ridge Parkway celebrate as construction was stopped the future of this country—that want renewable energy tech- along the entire 300-mile line when a judge revoked permits through the average American doesn’t nologies. And they’re organiz- See pages 6 and 7 for arti- national forest land last August. The people are determined to stop count at all, that it only matters ing. As one fighter said, “The cles on the fight for water and the pipeline corporations from using eminent domain for corporate if you have pull on Wall Street people of this land are standing the environment. gain, destroying natural resources. PHOTO/ WSLS 10 VIDEO

Freedom of speech and the Assange arrest Donate to help us Regardless of how anyone feels about Julian Assange ing their song lyrics. The list goes on. The growing scope or Wikileaks, Assange’s arrest and the plan to extradite of restrictions on Americans’ freedoms goes back at least cover the fight to him to the U.S. for trial threatens everyone’s freedom to the Patriot Act of 2001. everywhere. In an era when the people are increasingly forced to save humanity His real crime has been to commit journalism—to challenge corporate control of society just to survive, free The People’s Tribune is a voice of and for reveal the dirty secrets of the powerful, especially those speech—including independent journalism—is ever more of the U.S. elites. important. As renowned journalist John Pilger has said, the fighters to save our planet and humanity Daniel Ellsberg, who was prosecuted for giving the independent journalism is key because “mainstream jour- from corporate destruction. We have been press the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s, noted that nalism doesn’t challenge the powerful except on a trivial invited to cover protests in Appalachia, the this is “the first indictment of a journalist, editor or pub- level.” Pilger said the Assange case represents “The aban- South and other places where people face lisher, and if it’s successful, it won’t be the last.” He called donment of basic democracy, which is based on dissent, environmental catastrophes. Won’t you the case “an attempt to rescind the freedom of the press.” on holding the powerful to account.” donate to help our reporters get their voices Freedom of speech in all forms—which is the foun- Assange must be released, and the phony charges and visions heard? dation of any democracy—has been under assault in the dropped. And we, the people, must do everything we can U.S. for years. In April, Reporters without Borders ranked to support and practice independent journalism and the Send donations to: the U.S. 48th out of 180 nations in terms of press freedom, right to protest. The corporations could gain complete People’s Tribune, PO Box 3524 down from 20th in 2010. Four states have passed bills control over our lives. Defending our rights to know the Chicago, IL 60654-3524 restricting the right to protest oil and gas pipeline con- truth and speak out is part of the fight to break the power Or donate via PayPal at peoplestribune.org struction, and at least eight others are considering such of the growing corporate dictatorship. laws. The government has threatened musicians regard- facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2019 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 3 Poor People’s Hearing: U.S. has abundant resources to end poverty By Austin Long-Scott ernment should guarantee housing and a stable life for everyone.” OAKLAND, CA —A homeless “We have seen that the Indus- technology worker living in his trial Revolution which produced van in a parking lot. A 17-year-old so many good jobs and strong high school student afraid climate labor unions in the 20th century change won’t let her live to have is almost dead,” Long-Scott said. children of her own. A husband “We have seen that its replace- snatched by Immigration and Cus- ment, globalization coupled with toms Enforcement (ICE), leaving the digital revolution—robots his wife and four children with- replacing workers—has changed out income. A demand to outlaw the way power politics is being landlords and make housing free. played. Workplaces as we have Those were just a few of the known them are disappearing. painful travesties described at a Corporations are getting richer mid-May “Poor People’s Hear- and richer with fewer and fewer ing” sponsored in the shadow of workers. Elected public officials Silicon Valley’s billionaires by are increasingly throwing their the Laney College chapter of the lot in with what global corpora- new Poor People’s Campaign in tions want, rather than what work- rapidly gentrifying Oakland, CA. ers need. This includes stripping The hearing explored “Hous- entire populations of their demo- ing Education & Healthcare For cratic rights.” All with solutions for Poverty & An estimated 200 people heard testimonies from people in fear of not making ends meet, and a discussion “We want a quality life for Homelessness.” of solutions to poverty and homelessness in Oakland, CA, as part of the Poor People’s Campaign. our children,” said Rachel Harral- An audience estimated at 200 PHOTO/MICHELLE SNIDER son from Parent Voices Oakland. heard there are 4,000 homeless our lives are not a priority.” quoted one of the 12 “Fundamen- uate economic exploitation, exclu- “We want safety. We want security. students at San Jose State Univer- “As an Uber driver I am one tal Principles” of the new Poor sion, and deep inequality.” We want the same things Google sity. A spring 2017 survey found catastrophe away from going back People’s Campaign, being orga- Prof. Kimberly King said wants.” 51.2% of the responding students to being homeless,” said student nized in 40 states: “We believe 68% of the estimated 3,000 home- The new Poor People’s Cam- in the Peralta system of 4 Bay Amy Marshall. that people should not live in or less living on Oakland’s streets are paign, co-chaired by Rev. William Area community colleges were “We have a capitalist crisis, die from poverty in the richest black while only 28% of Oakland Barber, is holding hearings nation- housing insecure, and 30.2% said a system crisis, not a crisis of nation ever to exist. Blaming the residents are African American. wide to lift the voices of the dis- they were homeless. People tes- the people,” said teacher Alicia poor and claiming that the United “Why is Trump saying there’s a enfranchised and dispossessed in tified they lived in constant fear Caballero. States does not have an abundance national emergency on the border America as part of a national call of not making ends meet because Ethel Long-Scott of the Wom- of resources to overcome poverty and not noticing there’s a national for a moral revival. “the state continually decides that en’s Economic Agenda Project are false narratives used to perpet- emergency in our cities? The gov- ‘We’re all human beings!’ says fighter for homeless rights From the Services not Sweeps ing to find a place to live and to get when the first thing in the morning action in Harbor City, CA back into the system. Trying to get at 6:00 a.m. they’re down here tak- back to living at home and we get ing our tents down. HARBOR CITY, CA —On April all of our stuff taken away on a And if you don’t take your 6 over 19 endorsing organizations daily basis. So how do they expect tent down you’re ridiculed and conducted an action at a house- us to move forward and progress threatened with getting arrested. less encampment in Harbor City, and get to school or get into a job Well I’ve heard somebody say that CA, demanding that “the City of when we can’t have a place to stay being homeless is not a criminal Los Angeles and all of its Depart- and we have to carry everything on act. So why am I getting arrested ments must change the approach our backs? for being a criminal? Why am I to unhoused communities in our This doesn’t make any sense being threatened if I’m homeless? public spaces, and provide health- to me, this is a Catch 22. I don’t If I’m homeless I should be getting based solutions and resources that know who is getting the funding, help and services, not being sent to improve living conditions for all of but for some reason they want to jail every day and losing my stuff. us.“ On any given day there are up keep this problem the way it is. Cause it doesn’t seem that that to 40 sweeps of unhoused encamp- They have all kinds of resources many of the community are against ments! More information is avail- they can provide for us so that we us because they’re all helping us. able at www.servicesnotsweeps.com don’t have to be out here. But for We’re all human beings. I mean it some reason they’re not providing doesn’t matter if you have a house Comments by Shadow: those resources. or not we’re still human beings. Good morning, my name is There’s a couple of people that We still deserve the same amount Shadow. I want to thank everyone help us tremendously, like Craig. of respect as everyone else. So I here for the service they’re provid- He’s one of the most tremendous want to thank everyone again and ing. Services not sweeps. Services people I’ve met in my life. This thank you for your time. instead of sweeps. We have been guy has helped me and has shown ridiculed by the police, we have me how I’m supposed to get out been robbed by the police depart- of here. But even in that, know- Shadow, an unhoused resident, ment. We have been treated like ing how to get out of here I’m still speaks about the need for the non-human beings by the police having to do that under a tent that’s city of Los Angeles to provide department. Who polices the put flat after 6:00 in the morn- services, not sweeps, as Pete police department is really what I ing so that I’m not sure how I’m White and General Dogon of LA want to know. supposed to get ready or present Community Action Network listen. We’re all homeless, we’re try- myself to society to do anything PHOTO/BILL ROBERSON

4 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2019 www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib ‘Life is a marathon, not a sprint’ Remembering Nipsey Hussle By Carvell Holloway away clothes from his clothing store to parolees, not to men- On April 11, in the Afri- tion going to court to assist peo- can American tradition, a home- ple from the neighborhood fac- coming took place for Ermias ing trial. Nipsey sold his CDs for Asghedom (aka Nipsey Hussle), $100 or gave them away to those who had been shot and killed who couldn’t pay. in the Hyde Park neighbor- Nip was a gang member hood of Los Angeles on March who made music and videos 31. Tens of thousands of peo- with rival gangs. At the memo- ple, from youth to grandparents, rial for him, in front of 20,000 partied in the streets as his cas- people at Staples Center, Snoop ket made a 25-mile procession Dogg gave a moving tribute, not- through the streets of South Cen- ing that “For those of you who tral, Watts and the Crenshaw knew Nipsey Hussle personally, district. you knew that he had nothing The love shown for Nipsey but love for every gang member Hussle came in part from the from Southern California, I don’t music he made as a Grammy- care what neighborhood you nominated rapper. But only part. were from.” Nip was a product of the streets Nipsey Hussle was from an and relied on the very commu- immigrant Eritrean family and Nipsey Hussle mural in Atlanta, Georgia. PHOTO/XTAROS nity he came from to inspire him, so it was no surprise that during raise him, and financially sup- the 2016 presidential campaign Black love port him. He turned this around he and fellow rapper YG put out the police. aration is the enemy,” then Brown pride to raise up and financially sup- a video called “Fuck Donald Above all, the video, which continues: White people feel the same port that community. Trump.” The video spoke from has been viewed by 22 mil- as my next of kin He developed numerous the point of view of the streets lion people, is filled with the It wouldn’t be the USA businesses to provide for youth, (“Speaking for some people that spirit of unity which defined without Mexicans Carvell Holloway is a music the poor and others in the com- you probably ain’t know”) and Nipsey Hussle’s life. It If it’s time to team up then teacher in Compton, California. munity. He was known to give its context was the people vs. begins with the words. “Sep- shit, let’s begin Columbine’s 20th anniversary Notre Dame fire: provokes student campaign Anger at billionaires and Editor’s note: As part of the 20th anniversary of Columbine, the visions of a new society #MyLastShot campaign is a violence prevention project led by Billionaires from around the world pledged over $1 bil- students from Columbine High lion overnight to restore the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. School and activists across Although most people favor rebuilding the historic cathedral, the country. The following are they are angry at the reality that there’s plenty of money—but excerpts from the group’s state- not to take care of things like basic human needs, refugees or ment and others in the campaign. climate change. Some comments from the U.S.:

We were inspired by the “While I appreciate the beauty of the symbolic and iconic graphic imagery of Emmett Till Cathedrals, having visited Italy and seen its beautiful Cathedrals, and the movement his mother #MyLastShot campaign is a violence prevention project led by stu- including the Vatican … it does not compare to the importance created by showing the world dents from Columbine High School and activists across the country, of standing in solidarity with the Cathedral of the oppressed and what had happened to her son to make visible the victims of mass shootings, to make this violence poor, with groups such as Poor People’s Economic Human Rights by having an open casket at his impossible to ignore, and move politicians to action. Campaign, with the homeless and hungry, who are the Church, funeral. who are the Body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12 and Matthew 25, Isaiah People could see what racism call whether or not they want ties in this country burdened by 58) … It also should not be lost on people of Faith and people of really looked like and it helped to graphic imagery of their body everyday gun violence. good conscience that the sacred Cathedral of the deep ecology of spark the civil rights movement. to be published in the event they [We’re] making the public planet earth, the Cathedral of the planet, mother earth is being If Emmett Till, Napalm Girl, die from gun-violence by another realize that violence isn’t normal destroyed and we face extinction.” Little Aleppo Boy, Alan Kurdi person. … and it shouldn’t be normalized – Rev. Bruce Wright (the list goes on) helped create We hope that #MyLastShot in our country … these are real change because it didn’t cen- will never have to go into full people. These aren’t just another “And why is this loss deemed more valuable to white Euro- sor the truth, could we apply the effect … but rather it is used to one of the 40,000 going to be lost peans than the loss of a mountain, a stream, people’s livelihood, same logic towards gun violence? make a shocking point to those this year. health, and well-being for cheap coal? … Why does the media Could we show the true horrors in America who continue to be drag on and on about Notre Dame in the blatant absence of in an effort to create change? complacent to the country’s gun Participants in #MyLastShot reporting about mountain top removal, or historic Black churches Photography has changed the violence epidemic. would give consent to show their burning or mosques destroyed … or countless other losses … United States and the world. While this campaign is start- body at death through their sig- often with actual human suffering? Maybe this moment is a way Our goal is to essentially ing with the youth of America, it nature on a sticker that would go to reach people and help them understand [our] loss is universal, spark conversation around what is open to anyone and everyone on a card or their drivers license. and that the media is a reflection of dominant culture, not human gun violence really looks like. living in the country … gun vio- The family is asked to abide by values. Maybe then we can have empathy and action.” This project gives the power lence does not discriminate. the wishes of the person. —Excerpted from a Facebook user to the individual to make that There’s so many communi- facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2019 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 5 5 years and counting… Fix Flint now! Editor’s note: These are excerpts consumed. of a press conference held on day We call upon President Trump one of the fifth year commemora- to grant Flint a Federal Disaster tion of the Flint disaster. Declaration. Federal resources could have made Flint a model city By Reverend Monica M. Villarreal for recovery. … State government [is respon- FLINT, MI — “We stand here sible] to. … restore democracy today in front of the Flint Water and abolish the Emergency Man- Treatment Plant to commemorate ager Law that precipitated. … the the disaster that continues to affect poisoning of this great American the people of Flint. [It is] five city. The voters across Michigan years after the government on all rejected the aggressive law that levels failed to properly treat the remains on the books. … Unless water supply when the city began there is change, the Emergency using the Flint River on April 25, Manager Law will continue to Participants share a moment as a spirit-filled community forum winds down on the second day of events 2014. The community … is still harm Michigan. commemorating the five year anniversary of Flint’s water poisoning. PHOTO/LAURA GILLESPIE MACINTYRE in imminent peril. While national We urge Gov. Whitmer to keep news [failed] to be a check on her campaign promise to restore lic health risk. We implore the city for water rights. People should not Today, as a community we government, the voice and suffer- state supported bottled water for to stop water shut-offs and for the have to fear arrest for speaking out. light five lanterns to represent ing of Flint residents has not been Flint residents. Reopen the Water state to implement a water afford- We have yet to see account- each year of the water crisis and silenced. PODS and fund expansion of the. ability plan. Access to clean, safe, ability and justice. Flint families to memorialize the many people Today we will be heard. Flint’s … community HELP Centers [and] reliable and affordable water is a need government to settle the civil who lost their lives in this disaster. tap water is not safe to drink. a delivery program. … Flint resi- human right. … lawsuits so recovery can continue. May the human spirit that unites In May 2018, the state gov- dents should not have to rely on. Flint’s fight … highlights the Rather than labeling our chil- us all, bond us together in com- ernment … abruptly cut off Flint’s … charity to access basic services importance of civic engagement. dren or using punitive [school] sus- passion, hope, and service. We are bottled water supply, leaving that are the responsibility of the Flint has many water warriors pensions, children need proper sup- Flint strong.” everyone. … to fend for them- government. who. … have been fighting for the port services to mitigate the perva- selves, while residents pay one The World Health Organiza- truth of the water crisis. We must sive effects of lead. … poisoning. Reverend Villarreal is pastor of the highest water rates in the tion recognizes that without clean stop police brutality and dismiss We demand Medicare for all … at Salem Lutheran Church and an country for water that cannot be water and sanitation, there is a pub- charges against people standing impacted by the water crisis. organizer for Michigan United. Rebuilding a sustainable economy in West Virginia By Maria Gunnoe Vale is all about.” In Boone County, WV, Mother WEST VIRGINIA — On February Jones Community Foundation 26, 1972, the coal slurry impound- (MJCF) is demanding investment ments at Buffalo Creek failed, in our communities. Coal has left releasing 132 million gallons of the communities devastated and in black-waste water and coal sludge. dire poverty in the midst of mas- Seventeen towns were swept sive un-reclaimed mountaintop away in the flood. One hundred removal, water pollution, drug and twenty five were killed, 1,100 addiction, abandoned mines, coal injured, and over 4,000 left home- waste dams, and crumbling coal less. The remains of six babies and preparation plants. a 74-year-old were never found. MJCF is working with a Although after 47 years the survi- large group of unlikely allies in vors remain haunted by the event, the hopes of rebuilding a sustain- Maria Gunnoe, award-winning many West Virginians are unaware able economy. The people once environmentalist, is a founder of that it was not a natural flood. employed by the coal industry will Mother Jones Community Foun- One hundred and fourteen soon find gainful employment in dation (MJCF). MJCF is working coal slurry impoundments still reclaiming abandoned mining with others to insure there is not dot the West Virginia landscape, operations. another coal sludge disaster in Car dragged by toxic mud into a river after tailing dam collapses in restraining tens of billions of gal- Appalachian women have West Virginia. PHOTO/SCOTT DAVID recent Brazilian mine disaster that flooded mud into a city. PHOTO/FERNANDA LIGABUE, GREENPEACE lons of toxic mine waste. With brought all sides of the coal issue maintenance of these dams in to the table to discuss the future omy that supports our future gen- incremental decline, and with- of our area and to meet the mas- erations of Appalachians. out intervention, further disasters sive challenges at hand. West Vir- We will no longer tell our similar to Buffalo Creek appear ginia’s Republicans, Democrats, young people to “get your edu- inevitable. independents, scholars, coal min- cation and get out.” We want to With the increase in violent ers, coal operators, and award- rebuild a place that people want storms due to climate change, winning environmentalists have to come home to. there are sure to be more disas- a plan to sustain our people well MJCF is meeting this chal- ters like Buffalo Creek. In Janu- into the future and clean up after lenge and we invite all sides to ary of this year in Brazil, a tail- an industry that has no active plan join us and invest in the future of ing dam owned by Vale SA, a Bra- to clean up after itself. Appalachia. zilian mining company, collapsed, After 150 years of coal extrac- flooding millions of tons of toxic tion, we should have something Contact MJCF Execu- mud into the town of Brumadinho; to show for our sacrifice. MJCF tive Board for more informa- 206 people died and 102 are miss- is appealing to ALL entities that tion: Mari-Lynn Evans mlevans- “Blood on the Mountain” is a stunning documentary directed by Mari- ing. Scrolled on the town’s walls have profited from the demise of [email protected], 330-289-4514 Lynn Evans and Jordan Freeman about the bitter, ongoing strug- are these words, “Vale is a recid- our communities to invest and or Maria Gunnoe wvhollowgirl@ gle for economic and environmental justice in West Virginia. Go to ivist murderer … profit is what help us build a sustainable econ- gmail.com, 304-989-9581. bloodonthemountain.com. 6 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2019 www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib On these pages, the People’s Tribune brings you stories from the fighters in battle to save the Earth and humanity from corporate destruction. Please send us your story: [email protected] – The Editors Fighting to survive in ‘death alley’ By Bob Lee to come here and locate on the Mississippi River, because there’s The People’s Tribune recently a volume of water that will take interviewed Pat Bryant and Rob- all of the effluent into the ocean ert Taylor, who are among those and there’s so many contribu- fighting environmental poison- tors that that they would not be ing by the petrochemical indus- detected. Protesters march in St James, Louisiana, on Sept. 8, 2018. St. James, part of the area known as cancer try in what is known as “can- I have not seen a cumulative alley or death alley because of chemical pollution, is a small, predominantly black community at the end of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline. PHOTO/FERNANDO LOPEZ, SURVIVAL MEDIA AGENCY cer alley” or “death alley” along tally of what’s being put out in the the Mississippi River in Loui- air, but it’s choking. We’re kill- siana. Below are excerpts from ing people down here fast. There number one chemical at issue is wiped out, and it’s a largely black, we need to come together, and their comments. For a fuller tran- are so many funerals. We’ve been chloroprene. poor community. Fifteen hundred put aside any petty differences. script of these interviews, go to fighting against these companies We have an elementary times the national average—that And that’s not just black people, peoplestribune.org. for more than 30 years. And the school about 1500 feet from the is ungodly and inhuman. Is that because there are poor white com- state of Louisiana is still bringing plant, and those children are regu- really America? Is that the way munities right here in Louisiana Pat Bryant, a member of the these companies in and offering larly exposed to 300 to 400 times America feels about its citizens? that are suffering the same thing. New Orleans-based civil rights them free taxes. what the EPA has established as a I think that our Coalition We are going to fight for our rights group Justice and Beyond, and of safe level of exposure for human Against Death Alley (CADA) is to life and liberty and to be able to the Coalition Against Death Alley: Robert Taylor, executive beings. And it has gone as high going to be effective because it’s breathe fresh air, for our children Between Baton Rouge and director of the Concerned Citi- as 500 or 600 in what they call uniting all of the communities to have a chance to live. New Orleans we have over 200 zens of St. John’s Parish: peaks. up and down the river. We want petrochemical companies that are The community that I live According to the EPA, in the to unite all of them in Louisiana, Editor’s note: CADA will hold permitted to put anything they in, a little town called Reserve, census tract that I live in, we’re at and eventually all of the poor, dis- a march May 30-June 3 from want, just about, in the air, land there’s this DuPont Denka plant. a 1500 times greater risk than the advantaged people. We want to Reserve to the state capitol at and water. It’s a zone of national They are bombarding our com- national average for cancer. And unite all of these people all over Baton Rouge. For more informa- sacrifice and the regulation is so munity with 29 different chemi- the government is allowing that the country. We have to get them tion, see the Coalition Against lax that companies from Japan cals, which are the results of their to go on. To me, that is plainly to understand that as the group Death Alley Facebook page. and China and everywhere want manufacturing processes. The genocidal. Reserve is going to be that is designated as expendable, KXL Pipeline: Water protectors vow to never allow ‘black snake’ be built By Art Tanderup cies, but not to the president. It ican people and the laws of the specifically targets Section 401 United States. NELIGH, NE — On March 29th, of the Clean Water Act. The Congress provides jurisdic- water protectors gathered at the goal is to deny tribes and states tion over the Bureau of Land Rosebud Sioux Tribe Spirit Camp local control on Water Quality Management lands (BLM). The near Ideal, SD. They gathered on Certification. BLM has not granted a permit. that beautiful hill to celebrate the The second executive proc- The U.S. Army Corp of Engi- fifth anniversary of the founding lamation states that cross border neers has not granted permits for of the camp, and to show contin- infrastructure project permit deci- the pipeline crossing the Missouri, ued resistance to the Keystone XL sions “shall be made solely by the Yellowstone, Cheyenne and Platte pipeline. President.” Why was this done? rivers as well as their tributaries. Many miles away, the leader A Great Falls, Montana, federal Attorneys for the tribes, the envi- of the United States withdrew the court halted construction of the ronmental groups and the land- 2017 KXL permit. Immediately KXL Pipeline when Judge Brian owners continue to challenge the afterwards he issued a new cross Morris issued an injunction until abuse of presidential power and border permit. That permit would further environmental review of the law. allow KXL to enter the United the U.S. State Department’s Pres- Meanwhile along the route, States from Canada and proceed idential Permit. That ruling has TransCanada continues to push Art and Helen Tanderup, Nebraska landowners who are fighting the approximately 1.2 miles to the been appealed to the 9th Circuit. forward with actions not defined KXL Pipeline. PHOTO/DONATED first shut off valve. Fearing a defeat in the 9th Cir- as “pre-construction” by the Mon- On April 10 President Trump cuit, the administration hopes to tana court. On the ground and “in power of eminent domain. in Meade County, SD. issued two more executive proc- fast track the project. the air” surveyors have been out This foreign corporation has TransCanada is not new to lamations. The first was “to avoid Our country was founded on working the route. Landowners also sent letters to local banks this bullying behavior; they have duplicative and redundant studies a checks and balances philosophy. in Nebraska who have not signed seeking “subordination” agree- been issuing false and misleading and reviews.” The new presiden- This guarantees that one branch of easements, recently received let- ments. This allows TransCan- claims for almost a decade now. tial permit appears to circumvent government cannot dictate. ters threatening them with emi- ada to collect if there is a prob- The water protectors continue restrictions under the National What has happened here is nent domain if they did not lem with a subcontractor. The to pray as they vow to never allow Environmental Policy Act and clear abuse of presidential power. sign easements by April 2. The landowner faces a potential lien this “black snake” to be built. other laws, because the statutes The profits of a foreign corpora- Nebraska route is currently in the on their bank note and mortgage. apply to executive-branch agen- tion trump the will of the Amer- courts, so TransCanada has no This scenario recently happened facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2019 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 7 Chicago elections: A sleeping giant awakens By Lew Rosenbaum a neighborhood high school CHICAGO, IL — A specter open. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, an haunts the ruling circles of Chi- educator and researcher, has cago: the specter of a working fought against gentrification and class that cannot find a job in exposed the corruption in the a city where many no longer UNO Charter School network. work. Only 30 percent of reg- Talking about Sigcho’s vic- istered voters went to the polls, tory in the April 2 runoff elec- but those who voted took what tion, Pilsen Alliance Board they had been fighting for in Chair Rosa Esquivel said, “Each their communities to the ballot one of us have put our hearts in box and told some of the long- the campaign. We really believe entrenched incumbents to get in something. We are tired, tired out of town. of all the corruption of [former Altogether, among the win- alderman] Danny Solis, tired of ners in the general election and the displacement and the dehu- the runoff, two incumbents and manization of people.” eight challengers represented These struggles come out of demands put forth by the peo- the polarization of wealth and ple: housing for all, fully funded poverty, caused by jobs being public education, defense of automated out of existence for- immigrant rights, and police ever. In this context, the legend- accountability. Three wards ary ability of the Democratic were so close that a recount may Party “machine” to mobilize Incoming alderpeople Maria Hadden, Mike Rodriguez, Daniel LaSpata, and Andre Vasquez protesting a tax be needed to decide if challeng- voters is dissipating. Organiza- giveaway to private developers, money that could be funding Chicago public schools. PHOTO/DONATED ers won. tions like United Working Fam- People are angry that gov- ilies (UWF), Reclaim Chicago has extensive Democratic Party with some supporting either one more important than speed. ernment has betrayed them. Six and others are claiming the alle- connections, she promoted her- or the other candidate. The real Ten aldermen are prepared socialists won their electoral giance of workers. After Maria self as an outsider and won all story is that the machine could to join forces to fight for a pro- battles, but this is not a battle Hadden handily beat the incum- 50 of Chicago’s wards. not bring out the vote. Even in gram of the working class, but for an abstract “socialist” idea. bent alderman last February She campaigned against the aldermanic elections, some real estate and corporate inter- A life-and-death fight, carried 26 with a program focused on Toni Preckwinkle, who has been incumbents outspent their chal- ests are still in control. We espe- out for the basic right to sur- schools and housing, she com- a Democratic ward committee- lengers by more than 5 to 1 and cially won the responsibility to vive, propelled these candidates mitted her volunteers to cam- woman since 1992 and chair of still lost. intensify the fight, as Andre to victory. paign in other key City Council the Cook County party since We won enough in this Vasquez put it, “for affordable Jeanette Taylor had been runoff races. April 2018. Preckwinkle also is election to whet our appetite. housing, for open and transpar- active in her local school coun- In the mayoral runoff, two president of the county board of Despite the low election turnout, ent government, and for a city cils for decades before running African American women faced elected commissioners. signs point to a sleeping giant that devotes its resources to its for office and had led a suc- off. The vaunted party that is awakening. How quickly people, not the corporations, not cessful hunger strike to keep Although Lori Lightfoot “machine” split down the middle, we don’t know, but direction is the private developers.” ‘We’ve found the enemy, and it’s not each other’ says winning candidate one who lived undocumented for you to do the dirty work. To keep the system afloat, who disagree with our cause but over a decade, I understand first- This is the game of corpora- to keep us from rising up, we remember… hand the ways in which our rac- tions in cahoots with opportunis- are told that we are each other’s The people of Dwight, are ist immigration system works to tic politicians looking to line their enemy. Immigrants are told to not our enemy. maintain a subclass of people and own pockets and serve their own avoid communities like Dwight, Our enemy is ICE. employs terror to keep us silent interest. They changed the rules because of how racist they are. Our enemy is a brutal system in our exploitation… I know the of the game to make it more prof- And residents in this community of mass incarceration and those American dream is not the reality itable for corporations to uproot have been convinced that immi- who profit from it. we encounter when we arrive. [It] and establish elsewhere; leaving grant refugees are the culprits of Our enemies are the politi- isn’t a reality for people whose communities like this one, bar- their suffering. cians who benefit from pitting parents, grandparents, and great ren and unable to support digni- And now, they are told that brother against brother. And sis- grandparents sought hope and fied life for their people. the only way out of their mis- ter against sister. refuge here in Dwight, Illinois These same corporations ery and desperation is to be the Repeat after me: We’ve Jenn Carrillo was elected to the generations ago. have invaded our home countries enforcers of misery upon immi- found the enemy, and it’s not Bloomington, Illinois City Coun- Today, we show up … in sol- to extract all the possible wealth grant bodies. each other. cil in April. PHOTO/WGLT idarity with the people here and from the people and the earth, There are going to be people throughout this part of the state, and when they have sucked us Editor’s note: Below are excerpts and throughout the country. Peo- dry, they move on to find the next from a speech by Jenn Carrillo ple whose struggle leaves them best things, leaving us in sham- made in Dwight, Illinois prior desperate, and eager to sustain bles, and forcing us to seek refuge So beautiful to her winning election to the their families, just like the fami- in neighboring economies. Here She was. Bloomington, Illinois City Coun- lies that the monied interests seek we are exploited, abused as work- cil in April, 2019. Jenn is a com- to attain. We come today to ask ers by another set of people seek- On the sidewalk munity organizer who fights with the people of Dwight, not to do ing to profit from us. And then we and for the people. the bidding of the real outsiders, are criminalized and hunted down Asleep. the suits who have no roots in this by yet another set of rich people I came to the U.S. as a child. community, and who sell human looking to extract profit from our – Ayat Bryant-Jalal As an immigrant, and as some- bondage for a buck, and expect misery.

8 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2019 www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib In this electoral season, the People’s Tribune Vote for Medicare for All: will feature stories of the burning issues facing the American people and what they Healthcare for everyone demand any politician must do to solve them. — The Editors By the People’s Tribune in the 2020 presidential elections. trip airfare, hotel accommoda- A January 2019 Poll by Kaiser tions for a week and then enjoy- According to PBS, 44 mil- Family Foundation found that 56 ing the sights is cheaper. If you lion Americans don’t have health- percent of those asked favored bring your kids, the Mexican gov- care and another 38 million have “Medicare for All.” ernment won’t throw them into inadequate health insurance. Net- What do all these facts have cages. Quote, an insurance lead provider, in common? One, that healthcare Today’s Americans who are claims 130 million Americans has become such a huge issue in suffering from a private health- don’t have dental care. Millions this election cycle, that it even care system that kills them are of Americans are flooding into has the potential to cancel out tomorrow’s electorate that will Mexico yearly to get cheap med- Trump’s immigration rhetoric. vote it out. That private system ical and dental care, in far more Two, that a critical mass of Amer- is campaigning with propaganda numbers than the immigrants that icans is concluding that private that says universal healthcare for even Trump claims come to the health insurance must be replaced all is socialist, a threat to jobs, to United States. During April 2019, by some form of universal health- doctors and to care. United Health Group, the largest care for all. Bernie Sanders recently private healthcare insurer, suf- Health insurance and phar- shot back at that campaign when fered major losses to its shares maceutical companies make huge he said, “When we are in the while overall healthcare has profits by denying care and inflat- White House your greed is going been the worst performing sec- ing the costs of premiums, proce- to end. We will end the dis- tor in the stock market this year. dures, treatment, deductibles, co- grace of millions of people being Wall Street is blaming this on pays and medicine. How much denied healthcare while a single drug pricing reform and “Medi- so? So much so that Ameri- company earns $226 billion and care for all” proposals coming cans who go to Mexico for care its CEO makes $7.5 million in from many of the front-runners say that care there, plus round- compensation.” Electoral rally in Michigan last year. PHOTO/JIMWESTPHOTO.COM

Stacey Abrams There’s no resists Georgia democracy in Texas “Senate Bill 9 is part of anti-working-class pro-fascist legislation that voter suppression passed the State Senate and is now sweeping the Texas House. Back in sus her 48.7%, while Libertarian Ted Metz January, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) claimed that there was a trailed behind both with 0.9%. The fol- list of over 98,000 illegally registered voters in Texas. However, Federal lowing morning, Kemp resigned as Sec- Judge Fred Biery said there is no evidence of widespread fraud in Texas retary of State. and temporarily halted the search for illegal voters. With SB9, Texas Abrams challenged Kemp’s actions voters would face a state jail felony for providing any false information in the election because in his position he on their voter forms. Another part of SB9 says that if you provide purged voting rolls, disqualified voters transportation to polling places, you must complete forms stating the whose names varied across the state data- bases and he closed polling places. Sta- voter is physically unable to go without assistance.” cey Abrams gave examples of the “sys- — Manuel Torres, of the South Texas Resistance Movement temic dismantling of our democracy” by citing that thousands of Georgians were Stacey Abrams, who ran for governor in purged from the rolls wrongly, including Georgia, founded a voting rights group that is suing state officials over voting a 92-year-old woman who had voted in white vote than President Barack Obama, who is now governor, to disenfranchise irregularities. PHOTO/JOHN RAMSPOTT the same area since 1968. She was a civil Jason Carter, and Michelle Nunn. Pres- Black voters. rights leader. Abrams also stated that thou- ently, she is considering running either Presently, Georgia has a governor that sands stood in long lines for hours because for the Senate or making another run for won by not playing fair. Stacey Abrams has By Gloria Slaughter the polling places were understaffed and governor of Georgia. Her platform con- a bright future with her campaign against more than 300 had been closed. Thousands sists of expanding Medicaid insurance, voter suppression and has vowed to con- ATLANTA, GA — After Stacey Abrams of people had been put on hold with their prioritizing spending on public educa- tinue her Fair Fight Action. lost her bid to become the first African registrations and many absentee ballots tion and to overhaul Georgia’s criminal American woman to become governor of were not counted because voters had not justice system. Georgia, she said that she was angry, sad received them in time, and couldn’t meet Stacey Abrams lost the election by and despondent for eight days. But she the deadline to return them. 1.3 percent of the vote. She explained that turned this anger into action. She criss- But, on November 16, every county there was a massive increase in voter reg- crossed Georgia making speeches and ral- certified its votes with Kemp leading by istration and turnout for the 2018 elections People’s Tribune lying for free and democratic voting rights. 55,000 votes so Abrams stated that she and she revealed the systemic problems She founded the Fair Fight Action, a vot- could not win the election and she sus- that occurred. Thousands of Black votes discussion groups ing rights group that is suing Georgia offi- pended her campaign. She contends that in Georgia disappeared. Eventually, there Call or email us to find out if there cials over voting irregularities. because Brian Kemp oversaw the elections was a congressional oversight committee is a People’s Tribune discussion Her opponent, Brian Kemp, not only for eight years that there could not be free tasked with looking into charges of voter group in your area. ran against her for Governor but he over- and fair elections in Georgia. suppression in the Georgia November 2018 saw the elections as Secretary of State. On Abrams’ campaign turned out a record midterm elections. What they found is that (800) 691-6888 November 7, 2018, Kemp declared victory number of Black, Latino and Asian vot- there were intentional efforts by Georgia’s [email protected] over Abrams with 50.3% of the vote ver- ers and she won a larger share of the former secretary of state, Brian Kemp,

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2019 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 9 20/32 Movement: The end of labor peace in Mexico By Jose Torres and On the one hand, it reaffirms Manuel Torres what we already knew. It shows us that the multinational corpo- RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TX — rations and the ruling classes are On January 12, 2019 seventy global. And if we follow this line thousand maquiladoras workers of thinking, then the workers are in the northern region of Tamau- a global workforce, and as such, lipas, Mexico went on strike for it must seek unity across borders. the first time in decades, chant- This global corporate class ing “unity and join the walk- aims to exploit the workers to out.” (Maquiladoras are foreign- the max. Our brothers and sis- owned factories in Mexico where ters in Mexico are an example of imported parts are assembled by it. Even with the minimum wage low wage workers into products increase, Mexico continues to for export.) have one of the lowest minimum The workers’ demands were wages in Latin America. Mean- basic. The Mexican federal labor while, the corporations get a tax commission increased the fed- break in the free-trade zones. Cor- eral minimum wage by 20% and porations set up maquiladoras and a one-time 32% bonus. It’s from they quickly get their increases in here that the demand of “20/32” Strikers of the 20/32 movement in Mexico are write-in candidates for the City Council of Matamoros. They a matter of weeks. derives. The strike also inspired fight for cross-border unity of workers. PHOTO/DONATED The Coca-Cola workers and a wildcat strike wave that spread others in smaller factories have beyond factories to supermarkets $20 million. It directly affected labor commission of Mexico. workers. They have become the created a movement. The forma- and other employers, with all the the big three automakers Ford, The strike was led and started real leaders of the 20/32 Move- tion of the 20/32 movement is sig- workers demanding “20/32.” GMC and Chrysler. The major- by the rank file of the border ment. To control the strike and to naling the end of labor peace in According to the federal labor ity of the maquiladora employers maquiladoras. In the process, prevent it from spreading, state Mexico. These workers know that Secretary Luisa M. Alcalde, the were forced to come to an agree- other smaller plants and factories riot police attacked the strik- they are the most exploited, and minimum wage increase would ment with the striking workers on were left out, like the Spellman, ers. Three workers ended up in the ones that are a step away from be higher in the northern border February 1. Tapex, Toyoda, Gosel, and Coca- the hospital. Word was spread- being in the streets. These work- states due to the free-trade zones Yet there were some employ- Cola workers who are paid $17 ing throughout the border region, ers understand they have no ties and the lower taxes for the big ers who preferred to close their dollars per week and who work up to Reynosa and west to Juarez to the corporate class or to any multinational corporations. factories instead of giving the 10-to-15-hour days. and El Paso, Texas. political party that wants to take In one week of the strike, workers the federal minimum These workers have become What are the lessons for the over the movement and take it off the maquiladora industry lost wage increase set by the federal the most militant and conscious workers of the 20/32 movement? its natural course. Mexican autoworkers are not to blame for plant closures just walk to work or take a bus to work Part 2, Chrysler and make pickup trucks, SUVs or cars and By Al Gladyck walk home or take a bus home. On February 26, 2019, Chrysler DETROIT, MI — The original Chrysler announced that it would convert a closed Corporation was founded in 1925 by Wal- engine plant and convert an open engine ter Chrysler from the remains of the Max- plant on Detroit’s southeast side next to well Motor Company. its Jefferson North plant where pickup • As of May 11, 2015, Chrysler has 26 trucks and Jeep SUVs are built. It will also factories open around the world. 17 of upgrade the Jefferson North plant. All of those factories are in the United States. this will cost $4.5 billion. • As of May 11, 2015, Chrysler has a On the next day, February 27, Chrysler joint venture in Cairo, Egypt named announced that it was laying off 1371 auto- Arab American Vehicles since 1977. workers by running its Belvidere Assembly That means that Chrysler owns 49% of plant near Chicago, IL on two shifts instead Arab American Vehicles which builds of three. The Jeep Cherokee is built there. Jeep civilian and Military vehicles. Experience tells me that means they are • As of May 11, 2015, Chrysler has going to replace that plant when upgrades closed 29 factories around the world. to Jefferson North and the new Chrys- Nineteen of those factories were in the ler plant planned in Detroit are completed. CARTOON/GARYVARVEL.COM United States. A sideline story is that Detroit billion- • As of May 11, 2015, Chrysler has 5 aire Matty Moroun owns some of the land factories open in Mexico. that Chrysler wants to build the new plant (From List of Chrysler factories on Wikipedia.) on. Community members in the area say Chrysler, like GM and Ford, is a global that Chrysler wants the city to drive them ‘Voices from the Border’ entity just like the rest of the auto industry out once again, using eminent domain. Speakers who traveled to the border to bring back the voices of the around the world. All of Chrysler’s facto- They do not exist in Chrysler’s eyes. refugees to the public, and other experts on immigration, are available ries are owned by Chrysler. They can build I can only say that we must support to speak. Speakers discuss visions of a society that is organized around a factory or close a factory when ever they autoworkers, whether in the United States meeting people’s needs, and where people are no longer divided by want and where ever they want. or in Mexico and the autoworkers need borders, gender, race, religion or age. The autoworkers around the world do to support one another around the world. Speakers include Maria Martinez, Los Angeles; Margarito Diaz, Chicago; not own the factory they work in or the Workers everywhere want to be able to pro- Laura Garcia, Chicago; Gloria Sandoval, San Joaquin Valley; and others. vehicles they build. They have to go into vide for their families. They do not want to debt to buy them from the company just see their lives or communities destroyed. It Contact Speakers for a New America at 800-691-6888 or like the non-autoworker. Or they could is the same situation for all of us. email [email protected] to bring a speaker to your city.

10 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2019 www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib Some of the many recent worker protests and strikes, including (left to right) farmworkers, West Virigina teachers, GM auto workers, and grocery workers. PHOTOS [LEFT TO RIGHT]/FACEBOOK (LEFT TWO PHOTOS), JIMWESTPHOTO.COM, AND UFCW LOCAL 328H May Day: Fight for a new society beginning to take shape By Richard Monje conditions are changing dramati- ing class. highest number of major work significance for the entire work- cally. Many factors influence the As a result, workers are find- stoppages since 2007, when there ing class. There are indications May Day commemorates the speed and depth of those changes, ing new and creative ways to fight. were 21. The number of workers of this development for the other battles for the 8-hour day from and one of the most fundamen- The communities first affected by involved in 2018 was the high- sectors as well, and many are 1886 and afterward. It is recog- tal is the application of technol- the economic crisis came under est since 1986, when 533,000 emerging daily. nized the world over as the day ogy to production. The transition attack and were isolated from workers were involved in work This is becoming obvious when workers and their organi- away from national agricultural other sectors of the working class stoppages. This is an interesting from the discussions around the zations reflect on and summarize economies and peasant produc- by those attacks. As minorities, development. elections. Many candidates and their experiences, and strategize tion to mechanized and globalized as women, and as immigrants On the other hand, the social representatives of the fronts of about what direction to take going agricultural production has driven (to name a few), the expansion struggles are evolving in such a struggle are beginning to artic- forward. millions off the farms to the cit- of their rights and advances has way as to influence the develop- ulate the reshaping of our strat- The working class strug- ies, and to migrate to other coun- been systematically blocked or ment of an awareness and con- egy and tactics in the form of pro- gles are influenced by the fight of tries. These changes are affecting has suffered setbacks. Discrimi- sciousness that can lead to a new grams for solving our problems workers as workers, and by the whole continents. nation, police attacks and denial revolutionary plan of transforma- through transforming the politi- struggles based on how workers Technology has also been of services and opportunities tion. Increasingly, the immigra- cal and economic system. Those live in their communities and the eliminating jobs by the tens of (over affordability) are obscured tion struggle is not just for the of us in the fight should do every- rights extended to or denied to thousands for the last 50 years. by the media’s anti-working class undocumented. The police kill- thing we can to keep it on track the various sectors of the work- In the United States this has dev- propaganda. ings of African Americans and toward where it is already headed ing class. astated whole cities, and certain On the front of workers as the discrimination and isolation historically—a whole new society The crisis of capitalism con- communities especially, and more workers, in 2018, there were 20 associated with them is not sim- that puts the needs of the work- tinues to affect the entire globe— recently it has affected all com- major work stoppages involving ply a question for African Amer- ers first. economic, social and political munities and sectors of the work- 485,000 workers. This was the icans, but of moral and political VA system as model for healthcare access and delivery? By Megan Rokey in the U.S. today. They are often ulation. Otherwise there will be erans Aid and Attendance bene- tary service. poor, and the Vietnam-era veter- pressure to underfund it. fit could be the solution to help The Aid & Attendance and DETROIT, MI — As a health- ans are getting to an age where In our current privatized offset these rising care costs. A Housebound pensions provide care professional and Senior Care they need more health care. The system, healthy adults (or their wartime veteran or their surviv- additional monthly income over Advocate, it’s a call I get often: VA has pioneered quality initia- employers) pay private insur- ing spouse with limited income and above the Basic Monthly “I am a veteran and I want to go tives, delivery system changes ance companies huge amounts may be eligible to receive a non- pension. To be eligible for either, through the VA for my medical and an electronic medical record of money for their entire work- service connected pension (this one must also meet the require- needs, because they will take that is far ahead of the private ing lives, and not one penny of means that the need for care does ments for the Basic Pension. care of everything. How do I get sector. Veterans’ service organiza- that helps take care of them when not have to result from one’s mil- The VA’s innovative health started?” tions praise the VA, even as they they grow old. How great would itary service). There are three lev- system and these additional ben- Navigating the VA system complain about waits, precisely it be if instead, a small portion els of VA Pensions: efits could be an excellent model is a challenge, without the right because of its high quality. of that money actually went into 1. Basic Pension/Improved for Single-payer national health help, so I often refer these patients But any health care program the same insurance pool that will Income—for healthy veter- insurance. An improved Medicare and clients to VA Care Managers that benefits low-income indi- take care of us when we are old ans over the age of 65 with low for All will offer a single tier of and elder law attorneys so veter- viduals and families (including and really need health care and incomes high-quality care to everyone. It ans (and spouses of veterans) can the VA, because today the poor prescription drugs? 2. Aid & Attendance—for would address wait times in an utilize their well-deserved bene- are more likely to join the mili- In addition, the VA has a spe- veterans over the age of 65 that organized way, be transparent and fits—and make the most of them. tary) is politically vulnerable to cial benefit called “Aid and Atten- require assistance with their activ- accountable, and allocate medical There are often long wait times budget cuts or calls for privatiza- dant Care”. If you are a veteran ities of daily living resources based on need, not abil- but because the benefits can be tion, and is likely to suffer from overwhelmed with the high cost 3. Housebound—for veterans ity to pay. really beneficial, most of our cli- more problems than a health sys- of long-term elder care, such as with a disability rating of 100% ents and patients are willing to tem that benefits everyone—rich paying for assisted living facili- that prevents them from leav- wait for this top-notch care. and poor, young and old, soldiers ties, home care aids, adult day- ing their home, but it does not There are 22 million veterans and civilians, i.e., the entire pop- care, or skilled nursing, the Vet- have to be related to their mili-

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2019 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 11 Stop the cover-up of contaminated Benton Harbor water By Rev. Edward Pinkney tamination to the water supply. went out to get more testing, This is of utmost importance. A which confirmed that there is a BENTON HARBOR, MI — I review of the financial informa- major lead and copper problem in am the current President and tion finds the city presently lacks the city of Benton Harbor’s water. CEO of Black Autonomy Net- an adequate financial mechanism This resulted in more testing and work Community Organization, to conduct necessary improve- the distribution of water filters for better known as BANCO. I am ments to hire necessary staff to all of the residents. also Pastor of God’s Household properly maintain and operate the We must confront the Ben- of Faith, and a community and water system. We strongly advise ton Harbor city manager and Ben- state activist. Last year, BANCO the city manager and the Mayor ton Harbor mayor and force them partnered with Freshwater Future to work with a qualified financial to tell the truth about the water. to complete water testing for res- consultant to identify the revenue Clean water is a human right. idents in Benton Harbor for lead necessary to support operation I am available to speak about and other metals after the city fell and maintenance and to imple- these issues. I have engaged out of compliance with the Lead ment effective revenue collection young people in voting activ- and Copper Rule. methodologies. Investment from ism across the country. I have The Michigan Department the city’s rate payers is essential organized workshops on various of Environmental Quality Grand for resolving the below signifi- issues including social justice and Rapids District Office wrote cant deficiencies and for ensur- environmental issues, and med- Mayor Marcus Muhammad and ing the long term vitality of the ical and mental health issues in City Manager Darwin Watson a water system.” the justice system. I am the recip- letter stating, “The major findings Neither the other remaining ient of many awards, including below indicate a number of areas elected officials of Benton Har- the State of Michigan Outstand- needing immediate attention by bor, nor the citizens of Benton ing Citizen Award. Please contact Rev. Edward Pinkney [left] with members of the Poor People’s the city, many of which have the Harbor, were provided a copy of me at 269-925-0001. Campaign stand in front of Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, potential to impact public health the letter from the Department of MI prior to the distribution of free water to the people in the town. by allowing or introducing con- Environmental Quality. BANCO PHOTO/VALERIE JEAN Unanimous Is Not Enough: The struggle continues Voices of By Joseph Peery Benton Harbor and Ted Quant “Whirlpool has destroyed our community, [with] As the struggle continues tactics used in gentrification across the United States. on the part of the Unanimous Is We only have one high school and they have torn that Not Enough movement to free “ ” down and apart to coincide with the name change all those wrongfully convicted by the state of Louisiana’s Jim they plan to implement for the city and high school, Crow 10/2 law, it reminds us They are looking to change the name of the City from of when author William Faulkner Benton Harbor to Harbor Shores, which will soon once said, “The past isn’t dead, it erase history out of children’s minds for generations isn’t even past.” to come. God loves his people. But Whirlpool is in Louisiana’s voters made it control and when you (Whirlrpool) make more or clear by a margin of two to one, that there shall be no more non- just as much as the state itself, what can we do unanimous jury laws in their without any resources?” state from 2019 moving for- — Colin Aiden ward. But, the Unanimous Is Not Enough movement asks us, “Isn’t Jim Crow just as wrong in 2019 as anytime in the past? have inscribed in it … universal 13th Amendment, which should And if so, shouldn’t the new law white manhood suffrage, and the be called the re-enslavement be retroactive to include all those exclusion from the suffrage of amendment, that has kept slavery unjustly convicted in the past but every man with a trace of African alive and well in the United States still incarcerated?” The ‘pow- blood in his veins. We could not because of the clause that reads ers that be’ have answered that do that on account of the fifteenth slavery is abolished, “except as this would be damaging to the Amendment.” Official Journal of a punishment for crime whereof state’s economy. It seems jus- This cartoon was drawn for Belinda Parker Brown, of Louisiana the Proceedings of the Constitu- the party shall have been duly tice has no place in a multi-bil- United International, by an inmate. tional Convention of the State of convicted.” lion-dollar prison industry that Louisiana, 1898. Page 380, left The political battle lines are extracts profit from unpaid convict sarily at hard labor, by a jury of Also at the 1898 Convention, column. forming now for elections in labor. This reality is rooted in a twelve, nine of whom concur- Article 197 was designed to dis- Such laws, so explicitly white 2020. Support Unanimous is Not past of slavery and racism, and we ring may render a verdict.” (Lou- qualify black men from voting or supremacist, combined with the Enough. Join the fight in your continue to be haunted by them isiana State Constitution, Arti- registering to vote in every con- 13th Amendment, somehow sur- state against modern day slavery both because neither has ever died. cle 116. Trials With or Without a ceivable fashion. The convention vived the Civil Rights movement and voter suppression. The 10/2 law, originally 9/3, Jury, Page 148.) At Louisiana’s president, Earnest B. Kruttschnitt and today give us a Louisiana that finds its origins in the 1898 Lou- 1974 Constitutional Convention in his closing remarks said, “We regularly practices illegal voter Contact Belinda Parker isiana Constitutional Convention it was changed from 9/3 to 10/2 have not drafted the exact consti- suppression and is the most incar- Brown of Louisiana United and it reads as follows: “Cases in to avoid possible Supreme Court tution that we should like to have cerated state in the most incarcer- International/Unanimous Is Not which the punishment is neces- action. drafted; otherwise we should ated country in the world. It is the Enough at 269-369-4751.

PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2019 | WWW.PEOPLESTRIBUNE.ORG | FACEBOOK.COM/PEOPLESTRIB | 12