Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org

Sept. 18, 2008 Vol. 50, No. 37 50¢ Instead of saving people’s homes

Ataques contra Gov’t gives away billions las inmigrantes Gustavo y pobreza 12 to big mortgage bankers Federal law needed to stop foreclosures now!

By Jaimeson Champion receive a $14.1 million severance deal on top of the $17.1 million he has already banked since becoming CEO in Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson announced 2003. on Sept. 7 the government bailout of the two larg- est financial institutions in the world, Fannie Mae and Government for the rich by the rich Freddie Mac. In the past two years, millions of working families Combined, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own or have lost their homes to foreclosure and eviction, as the insure almost half the $12 trillion in mortgage loans in worst housing crisis since the Great Depression contin- the U.S. The government takeover of management is the ues to intensify by the day. Entire working-class com- largest intervention in the affairs of a private company munities have been destroyed as the tidal wave of fore- in history. closures continues to surge across the country, leaving Paulson’s announcement capped a tumultuous past boarded-up windows and “for sale” signs in its wake. few months at Fannie and Freddie, as mounting losses But the federal government has done absolutely nothing ‘NO WAR, on mortgage-backed securities, coupled with an inability of substance to help the millions of workers affected by NO POLICE STATE’ to raise new capital from investors, brought the finan- foreclosures. cial giants to the brink of insolvency. Fannie and Freddie Meanwhile, over the past year, the government has Republican convention protests 3 shares have plunged in value over the past year, falling rushed to the aid of nearly every investment bank and ' from over $60 a share to less than $5 a share. financial institution affected by the housing market melt- The rescue by the Treasury Department has been in down. The same financial institutions that helped spark the making since July, when Secretary Paulson quickly the crisis by underwriting predatory subprime mortgage convinced Congress to hand the Treasury Department loans are being bailed out left and right. a blank check with which to cover the massive financial The rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac comes in a DETROIT MAYOR RESIGNS losses at Fannie and Freddie. year where the federal government has already stepped But poverty the real 'scandal' 5 The bailout was made official this past weekend, as the in to rescue the fifth largest investment bank, Bear heads of both companies formally signed over control Sterns, take emergency control of Indy Mac, and provide to the federal government. Technically, the government constant monetary handouts to banks like Citigroup and has set up a conservatorship that has the option to buy Lehman Brothers through the Federal Reserve’s recently almost 80 percent of the common stock at low prices and invented Term Auction Facility. WW IN 1983 manages the business. About 20 percent of the stock is The government tells workers there is no money for still privately owned, but its value has decreased drasti- universal health care and no money to improve public The criminal cally in the past year. education, but when a financial institution runs into trou- Many workers whose pension funds were invested in ble, billions of dollars in bailout funds instantly material- invasion of stocks in these two entities will have their retirement sav- ize. Billions that could have been spent on human needs Grenada ings wiped out under the government’s takeover plan. like housing, healthcare and education will instead be Meanwhile, the financial tycoons who ran the compa- used to clean up the financial mess created by Fannie 11 nies into the ground appear to be escaping with golden and Freddie. parachutes. Former Fannie Mae CEO Daniel H. Mudd In his analysis of the state under capitalism, Marx stands to receive a $9.3 million severance package on top asserted that the capitalist government is set up to man- of the more than $12.4 million in cash and stock com- age the common affairs of the capitalist class. This fact pensation he has received since becoming CEO in 2004. has been evident over the past year, as the two ruling- BOSTON SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS Former Freddie Mac CEO Richard F. Syron stands to Continued on page 6 Win historic contract 4 DEMAND MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES! Fight-back from L.A. to Michigan 6-7

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address ww photo: ALAn poLLock Here, a popular movement stops a foreclosure in Detroit. Marches will take place Sept. 17 in lansing, Mich. and City/state/ZiP los Angeles, Calif. to demand a moratorium to stop all foreclosures and evictions. For information on the lansing Workers World march, to begin at the State Capitol beginning at 11 a.m., go to http://www.moratorium-mi.org/ or call 313-887- 55 W. 17 st. Ny, Ny 10011 212-627-2994 www.workers.org 4344. For information on the downtown los Angeles march, call Rosie at 213-494-8314 or John at 310-677-6407. Page 2 Sept. 18, 2008 www.workers.org www.workers.org Sept. 18, 2008 Page 3

Open letter to Barack Obama Despite heavy police violence Symbolism alone will No peace for war-makers at RNC H In the U.S. mined to march regardless. horses. In a standoff that lasted another Chanting “We all live in a racist police Gov't gives billions to big mortgage bankers...... 1 By Peter Gilbert St. Paul, Minn. The permitted rally began with an hour, protesters resisted rubber bullets state, a racist police state” and “F—k the not bring change Open letter to Barack Obama ...... 2 inspiring performance by the band and pepper spray, while dozens of others police,” the marchers eventually tried to No peace for war-makers at RNC...... 3 I have watched with keen interest and renewed hope John McCain spoke of combating Junkyard Empire and speeches from sat down and held the intersection of 12th escape the continual barrage of concussion Job losses signal change for the worse...... 3 as your campaign has mobilized millions of Americans “threats to peace and liberty” as he accept- youth leaders in FIST (Fight Imperialism, and Cedar, the main access to two inter- grenades and tear gas. Riot police on hors- behind your message of changing a political system School bus drivers win historic contract ...... 4 ed the Republican presidential nomina- Stand Together) and Students for a state highways from downtown St. Paul. es and motorcycles followed, surrounding that serves a small economic elite at the expense of the 27,000 machinists strike at Boeing...... 4 tion Sept. 4. Meanwhile, thousands of Democratic Society, as well as representa- Riot police then encircled the marchers the demonstrators on the Marion Street peoples of the United States and the world. Your elec- Labor cannot rely on the Democrats...... 4 demonstrators braved waves of riot-police tives from the Troops Out Now Coalition, in groups so they could charge into the Bridge over I-94, and unlawfully arrested tion as president of the United States, where slaves and The removal of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick...... 5 attacks to charge that U.S. imperialism is the ANSWER Coalition and the Colombia crowd and drag out dozens more lead- some 300 remaining demonstrators. Indians were long considered less than human under Coalition fights foreclosures in California...... 6 the greatest threat to peace and liberty Action Network. ers they had singled out for arrest. For The three-hour march had disrupted the law, will undoubtedly constitute a historic moment Hamtramck United fights rightist attack ...... 6 facing the world. Chanting “McCain says 100 years, we instance, they shot Anti-War Committee the war-makers’ celebration of imperial- in race relations in the United States. Michigan activists demand moratorium...... 7 Workers, students and other activ- say, ‘Out now’” and “End the occupation organizer Mick Kelly at point-blank range ism and exposed the true nature of the Yet symbolism alone will not bring about change. Our U . of Arizona linked to war on immigrants...... 9 ists held the streets for three hours to now,” marchers started down Cedar Street with a rubber bullet as he held the lead police as protecting not people, but profit at 5 p.m. Lines of riot police blocked the banner in the center of the crowd. and empire. young people, Black and Native alike, suffer from police Movement grows to free the Cuban 5...... 10 demand an end to the racist war on Iraq. brutality and racial profiling, underfunded schools, and Meanwhile, riot police attacked them marchers, who then turned up 12th Street Not only leaders were arrested, but also New Yorkers hear about Latin America...... 10 discrimination in employment and housing. I sincerely repeatedly with pepper spray, tear gas, and onto the John Ireland Blvd. Bridge, students from numerous local universities Legal fightback planned hope your campaign will inspire some hope among our concussion grenades, rubber bullets and where the riot police again blocked them. at their first protest, who were enraged The Anti-War Committee, the Troops H Around the world youth to struggle for a better future. I am, however, wooden clubs. About 50 people heading the march, that the war makers were celebrating Out Now Coalition and other organizations Who’s developing more wind power—U .S . or China?. . . 8 concerned that your recent statement on the Sean Bell Police infiltrators also attempted to including many leaders of the Anti-War attacks on the peoples of Iraq while their plan to work together to fight back against verdict, in which the New York police officers who fired Free Leonard Pelter and all political prisoners. Pakistani imprisoned in U .S ...... 8 lead the activists into dangerous situ- Committee, were arrested when they tuition bills and student loan interest rates the intense repression of the police through 50 shots at a young man on the eve of his wedding were U .S . attack in Pakistan widens Asian war ...... 9 ations. Ultimately, the police arrested refused to move until the police allowed keep rising. FIST activist and videographer lawsuits and political pressure. The ACLU Haiti reels from hurricanes ...... 11 almost 400 people: legal observers, inde- the march to pass. Elena Everett documented police soaking of Minnesota agreed to represent some of acquitted of criminal charges, displays a rather myopic was barred from the reservation by decree of the U.S.- WW in 1983 on criminal invasion of Grenada . . . . . 11 pendent and corporate media, medical Still determined, marchers turned a person in a wheelchair with pepper spray the more than 800 demonstrators unlaw- view of the law. Until the law is harnessed to protect the client regime of Richard Wilson, he won the popular workers, workers who were swept up in back to Cedar, pursued by riot police on as he tried to escape mounted police. fully arrested. The National Lawyers Guild victims of state violence and racism, it will serve as an vote, only to be denied office by extensive vote fraud H Editorials the raids and activists. At first the demonstrators focused on and the Center for Constitutional Rights instrument of repression, just as the slave codes func- and control of the electoral mechanisms. Wilson’s The Anti-War Committee orga- solidarity with the people of Iraq and the may also be involved. tioned to sustain and legitimize an inhuman institution. goons proceeded to shoot up pro-Means villages Hurricanes, Cuba and U .S . imperialism...... 10 nized the “No Peace for the War demand for troops home now. But after In response to city residents’ outrage, As I can testify from experience, the legal institutions such as Wanblee and terrorize traditional supporters Makers” demonstration on the final three hours of police attacks, many of the members of the Minneapolis City Council of this nation are far from racial and political neutral- throughout the reservation, killing at least 60 people H Noticias En Español day of the Republican National students and young work- have called for an independent commis- ity. When judges align with the repressive actions and between 1973 and 1975. Ataques contra las inmigrantes ...... 12 policies of the executive branch, injustice is rationalized Convention. The group had planned ers began to connect the sion to investigate the police department’s It is long past time for a congressional investigation Gustavo y pobreza...... 12 to march peacefully from the State violence of the St. Paul attacks on activists throughout the week. and cloaked in judicial platitudes. to examine the degree of federal complicity in the vio- Capitol to the Xcel Center, where police with that perpetrat- The writer spoke at the opening rally As you may know, I have now served more than three lent counterinsurgency that followed the occupation McCain was speaking, to protest ed daily against the people on behalf of FIST and the Troops Out decades of my life as a political prisoner of the federal of Wounded Knee. The tragic shootout that led to the the celebration of imperialist war. of Iraq and Palestine and Now Coalition and was arrested on the government for a crime I did not commit. I have served deaths of two FBI agents and one Native man also led Meredith Aby, a leader of the with the daily police vio- Marion Street Bridge. He was charged more time than the maximum sentence under the not only to my false conviction, but also the termina- Minnesota Anti-War Com­mittee, lence faced by immigrants with two misdemeanors: failure to obey guidelines under which I was sentenced, yet my parole tion of the Church Committee, which was investigating explained: “The eyes of the world and African Americans in a lawful order and participation in an is continually denied (on the rare occasions when I am abuses by federal intelligence and law enforcement are on John McCain tonight. We the U.S. unlawful assembly. afforded a hearing) because I refuse to falsely confess. agents, before it could hold hearings on FBI infiltration Workers World felt it was imperative that his mes- Amnesty International, South African Bishop of AIM. Despite decades of attempts by my attorneys to 55 West 17 Street sage of war did not go unchallenged. Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, my Guate­ma­ obtain government documents related to my case, the New York, N.Y. 10011 The police and the city of St. Paul lan sister Rigoberta Menchu, and many of your friends FBI continues to withhold thousands of documents that Phone: (212) 627-2994 decided to make downtown a Republican and supporters have recognized me as a political pris- might tend to exonerate me or reveal compromising Fax: (212) 675-7869 speech zone, but our demonstration chal- oner and called for my immediate release. Millions of evidence of judicial collusion with the prosecution. E-mail: [email protected] lenged their decision.” people around the world view me as a symbol of injus- I truly believe the truth will set me free, but it will Web: www.workers.org tice against the Indigenous peoples of this land, and I Vol. 50, No. 37 • Sept. 18, 2008 also signify a symbolic break from America’s unde- Cops violate demonstrators’ rights have no doubt that I will go down in history as one of clared war on Indigenous peoples. I hope and pray that Closing date: Sept. 10, 2008 a long line of victims of U.S. government repression, Police ignored the right of the organiz- you possess the courage and integrity to seek out the Editor: Deirdre Griswold along with Sacco and Vanzetti, the Haymarket Square truth and the wisdom to recognize the inherent right ers to march from the beginning. The cops martyrs, Eugene Debs, Bill Haywood, and others target- of all peoples to self-determination, as acknowledged Technical Editor: Lal Roohk had refused to issue a permit to march for ed for their political beliefs. But neither I nor my people by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, the requested time, even though permits can afford to wait for history to rectify the crimes of the Indigenous Peoples. While your statements on federal Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson had been issued for the same time and past. same march route for other days that Indian policy sound promising, your vision of “one West Coast Editor: John Parker As a member of the American Indian Movement, I week. Refusing to submit to unconstitu- Police assault on protesters at the Republican National America” has an ominous ring for Native peoples Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, came to the Pine Ridge Oglala reservation to defend the struggling to define their own national visions. If freed tional police pressure, organizers deter- Convention in St. Paul, Minn. traditional people there from human rights violations Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, Fred Goldstein, from colonial constraints and external intervention, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, David Hoskins, carried out by tribal police and goon squads backed by Indigenous nations might well serve as functioning the FBI and the highest offices of the federal govern- Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, Milt Neidenberg, models of the freedom and democracy to which the Bryan G. Pfeifer, Minnie Bruce Pratt ment. Our symbolic occupation of Wounded Knee in United States aspires. Job losses signal change for the worse 1973 inspired Indians across the Americas to struggle Yours in the struggle. Technical Staff: Shelley Ettinger, Bob McCubbin, for their freedom and treaty rights, but it was also met Until freedom is won, Maggie Vascassenno By Betsey Piette consumer confidence, said, “We’ve seen labor and at least 1.6 million “discouraged Youth unemployment has risen by an by a fierce federal siege and a wave of violent repression –Leonard Peltier # 89637-132 U.S.P. Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, declines every month, all year long ... but workers” who have given up looking for alarming 555,000 individuals over the on Pine Ridge. Lewisburg, P.O. Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, All the campaign slogans for “change” the declines have started to intensify, and jobs that no longer exist. It excludes 2.3 past three months, according to the Labor In 1974, AIM leader Russell Means campaigned for USA 17837 Carlos Vargas can’t hide the reality of a U.S. economy will continue through the end of the year, million prisoners, many who toil in slave Department. Even official statistics— tribal chairman while being tried by the federal govern- rapidly spiraling toward a recession that very likely into the first months of 2009.” labor conditions for pennies a day. which deliberately understate U.S. job Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator ment for his role at Wounded Knee. Although Means Aug. 28 neither McCain nor Obama can stop. Economic Policy Institute economists The 6.1 percent unemployment figure losses—can’t hide the miserable fact that Copyright © 2008 Workers World. Verbatim copying Workers were still sweeping up the con- Jared Bernstein and Heidi Shierholz say represents a national average, but for youth in the U.S. are losing their jobs at and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium fetti at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center after the jobless figures clearly show “the engine Latin@ and African-American workers, an unprecedented rate. Washington, D.C., JOIN US. National Office Buffalo, N.Y. Houston Richmond, Va. without royalty provided this notice is preserved. the Republican convention when the of job growth is not merely stalled, it is jobless rates are officially in double dig- New York City, Detroit and Chicago all Workers World Party 55 W. 17 St., 367 Delaware Ave. P.O. Box 595 P.O. Box 14602, Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published week- latest U.S. Department of Labor unem- solidly operating in reverse, and the job its. In August, unemployment for Black have youth jobless rates over 80 percent. New York, NY 10011 Buffalo, NY 14202 Houston, Richmond, VA 23221 ly except the first week of January by WW Publishers, ployment report sent the stock market market’s deterioration in August suggests workers reached 10.6 percent, with over While jobless rates for youth have con- (WWP) fights on all 212-627-2994; 716-566-1115 TX 77001-0595 [email protected] 55 W. 17 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone: (212) 627-2994. plummeting. these problems are deepening.” Bank of a half million more workers unable to sistently been the highest, the latest job issues that face the Fax (212) 675-7869 [email protected] 713-861-5965 working class and Rochester, N.Y. Subscriptions: One year: $25; foreign and institutions: According to the report released Sept. America economist Peter Kretzmer noted, find work than a year ago. This increase losses have mainly impacted adults 25 [email protected] Chicago [email protected] 585-436-6458 $35. Letters to the editor may be condensed and edited. 5, the official U.S. unemployment rate “The rapid rise in unemployment points is almost exclusively due to job losses years and older. The unemployment rate oppressed peoples— Atlanta 27 N. Wacker Dr. #138 Los Angeles [email protected] Articles can be freely reprinted, with credit to Workers jumped to 6.1 percent in August with to a U.S. recession.” (McClatchy) among Black women. for college graduates rose to 2.7 percent. Black and white, Latin@, P.O. Box 424, Chicago, IL 60606 111 N. La Brea Ave., #408 San Diego, Calif. employers shedding jobs for the eighth The Labor Department reports that The reported unemployment rate for For adults with less than a high school Asian, Arab and Native Atlanta, GA 30301 773-381-5839 Inglewood, CA 90301 World, 55 W. 17 St., New York, NY 10011. Back issues consecutive month, while revised num- over 2.2 million people have been added Latin@ workers reached 8 percent in diploma, the jobless rate jumped to 9.6 peoples, women and 404-627-0185 [email protected] 310-677-8647 P.O. Box 33447 and individual articles are available on microfilm and/ [email protected] men, young and old, Cleveland [email protected] San Diego, CA 92163 or photocopy from University Microfilms International, bers for earlier months showed even to jobless rolls over the past 12 months, August. A large number of Latin@ work- percent, the highest increase since May Baltimore 619-692-0355 greater losses. with a total of 9.4 million U.S. workers ers were employed in the construction 1996. lesbian, gay, bi, straight, P.O. Box 5963 Milwaukee 300 Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. A searchable 426 E. 31 St., Over 84,000 workers lost their jobs in unemployed as of Aug. 31, 2008. The trans, disabled, work- Cleveland, OH 44101 [email protected] San Francisco archive is available on the Web at www.workers.org. industry, hard hit by the collapse of the A change is coming indeed, though not Baltimore, MD 21218 216-531-4004 2940 16th St., #207 August. These job losses occurred across number of long-term unemployed—those housing market. because of the empty promises of cam- ing, unemployed and 410-235-7040 Philadelphia A headline digest is available via e-mail subscription. [email protected] San Francisco, CA 94103 broad sectors of the U.S. economy, from workers jobless for 27 weeks or more— paigning capitalist politicians. Record students. [email protected] P.O. Box 23843, Subscription information is at www.workers.org/email. The number of all single mothers who Denver 415-738-4739 If you would like to Philadelphia, manufacturing to retail and construction. rose by 589,000 over the last 12 months. are unemployed but receive no welfare high unemployment, coupled with the Boston [email protected] [email protected] php. know more about WWP, PA 19143 Automakers and auto parts suppliers But government figures don’t tell the assistance has grown to over 33 percent. housing and foreclosure crisis along with 284 Amory St., Detroit Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. or to join us in these Boston, MA 02130 610-931-2615 Washington, D.C. alone cut 38,000 jobs. whole story. Labor Department statistics Many women with children have stopped rising prices of food, fuel and other con- 5920 Second Ave., POSTMASTER: Send address changes to struggles, contact the 617-983-3835 [email protected] P.O. Box 57300, Economists predict things will likely count involuntary part-time jobs as full- looking for work, unable to afford child sumer goods, is bound to ignite a firestorm Detroit, MI 48202 Washington, DC 20037, Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., 5th Floor, branch nearest you. Fax (617) 983-3836 Raleigh, N.C. worsen. Ken Goldstein, an economist with time work. The new report excludes farm- care or transportation costs due to low- of rebellion among the working class. n [email protected] 313-831-0750 [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. [email protected] [email protected] the Conference Board, which reports on workers and undocumented-immigrant paying jobs. Page 4 Sept. 18, 2008 www.workers.org www.workers.org Sept. 18, 2008 Page 5

School bus drivers mobilize to win Real scandal behind historic contract The removal of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick

By Frank Neisser On the final day of negotiations on Aug. By Abayomi Azikiwe of the ruling class. A recent editorial writ- Boston 20, over 200 drivers filled the parking lot Editor, Pan-African News Wire ten by Michigan Chronicle Publisher Sam of the Local 8751 union hall where the Detroit Logan reprinted in the Detroit Free Press Militant rank-and-file action combined negotiations were taking place, and stayed attempted not only to blame the African- with a recognized struggle history and sol- throughout the day to support the nego- On Sept. 4 Detroit Mayor Kwame American masses for the current crisis idarity between labor and the community tiating committee. The negotiators for Kilpatrick pled guilty to two felony charg- but to call for the removal of the current has resulted in an historic contract victory the company, backed by representatives es and resigned from office. The criminal leadership in order to replace them with for USW Local 8751, the Boston School of the city, the School Committee and the case against Kilpatrick flowed from tes- white middle- and upper-class elements Bus Drivers union. The victory includes mayor, all had to walk through the mili- timony delivered by him and his former from outside the city. In a fierce response to Logan’s editorial, over $6 million in wage and benefit tant crowd of drivers to get to the negoti- BOSTON. Drivers rally in June in show of strength. WW PHOTO: Ed Childs chief-of-staff, Christine Beatty, during a enhancements, significant improvements ating session. civil suit that went to trial in 2007. Andrea Egypt, a leading member of the in working conditions and an historic The same struggle mood filled the nego- Charles Yancey have been strong sup- hearings where access to equal education In the civil trial the city was found guilty Michigan Emergency Committee Against agreement restricting the use of Global tiating sessions at the end of June and in porters, speaking at the solidarity rally was under attack. Their contract struggle of dismissing two high-ranking police offi- War & Injustice and a long-time munici- Positioning Systems (GPS), Homeland early July. On June 21, hundreds of drivers the union held on June 21 and on other was also a strong factor setting back the cers who claimed they were terminated pal employee, published a rebuttal in the Security’s high-tech supersurveillance rallied at the site of the company’s route occasions. Community activists includ- racists’ plans. after investigating alleged wrongdoings Aug. 10 Michigan Citizen which exposed incursion into the workplace. assignment process for summer runs with ing members of the Labor Solidarity Drivers won important protections by the mayor, Beatty and others within his the real agenda behind the advocacy for The contract battle was characterized the slogans “No contract, no work!” “No Committee of the International Action against abuse of global positioning sys- Executive Protection Unit. A $8.4-million the mass relocation of African Americans by full militant rank-and-file participation cuts, no concessions!” and “Will strike if Center and the Work for Quality parent tems (GPS). These protections can serve settlement was approved by the Detroit from Detroit. throughout. It succeeded in beating back provoked!” coalition have shown consistent support. as a model for other unions fighting this City Council as “damages” to the fired Egypt says in the editorial entitled all concessions and cuts demanded by the Community support was strong for Labor support was evident all along the homeland security type high-tech attack cops. “Sam Logan’s Recipe Will Breed a Worse company, winning new benefits like long the drivers’ struggle for a fair contract. way, organized by allies Tony Hernandez, on the workers. The union made signifi- This past January, the Detroit Free Disaster,” “He [Logan] forgets the key term disability insurance and protections The driver workforce is over 85 percent organizer for District 35, Painters and cant gains in restricting the abuse of GPS Press obtained text messages from the ingredients—that if left out—would not against reductions in force and abuse of of Haitian origin. The Black community Allied Trades, AFL-CIO, and IBEW local for cutting drivers’ wages and hours and mayor’s communication provider sug- describe accurately the real reasons for global positioning systems, and resolving radio station TouchRadio 106.1 hosted 2222 leader Miles Calvey. Over 250 sup- disciplining drivers. gesting that Kilpatrick and Beatty had lied the city’s decline. WW photo: Cheryl laBash “The billions spent to date on targeting a five-year backlog of grievances. several shows featuring the drivers, who porters from 15 countries and 35 states This big-brother style high-tech surveil- under oath during the civil trial. Protest at Mayor's Conference on Foreclosures, November 2007 in Detroit. Workers made these gains during a exposed the greed of First Student, the sent in an IAC Labor Solidarity Committee lance represents a clear and present dan- Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy Writer Abayomi Azikiwe is fourth from left. Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan in the so-called time of economic crisis, when concessions British transportation monopoly that has online petition to the mayor, the trans- ger to workers in every industry through- filed criminal charges against Kilpatrick war on terror. This military spending has and givebacks are the rule. Such a victory a sweetheart multimillion dollar contract portation director and the company vice out the country, from letter carriers to tow and Beatty. Consequently, the entire stripped federal funding from the City of showed how workers can fight back, rely- with the School Department plus $8 mil- president supporting the drivers. truck operators to taxi drivers. The school political establishment—the City Council, tion through grassroots involvement as a in 2007 incomes fell for the third year in Detroit.” ing on rank-and-file mobilization and lion in signing bonuses. The drivers’ struggle was organically bus drivers broke ground by challenging the state attorney general and the gover- left-wing trade union organizer with the a row. The state poverty rate is officially Egypt also points to the “trickle-down militancy. City Councilors Chuck Turner and connected to the community’s struggle Homeland Security and the state’s spying nor of Michigan—became involved. National Negro Labor Councils during the designated as 14 percent, one percent- economic seasonings of the Bush-Cheney to defend access to quality education for on the workers and thus becoming part of The mayor has been sentenced to 120 1940s and early 1950s. age point higher than the national level. administration and Congress that contin- oppressed communities. Together they management. days in the Wayne County Jail and five Young was brought before the It is estimated that one in three people ues to appropriate more war funding until confronted a racist attack by the may- The full text of the agreement on GPS years probation and ordered to pay $1 Legislative Committee on Un-American living in Detroit are impoverished, mak- we win, whatever that really means.” 27,000 machinists or and racist forces on the Boston City can be found on the union’s Web site at million in restitution to the city of Detroit. Activities during the early 1950s. He stood ing it the poorest large U.S. city. Flint and She continues, “The criminal banking Council. The union spoke out strongly at www.bostonschoolbusunion.org. n Detroit City Council President Kenneth V. up to right-wing Congressional members, Kalamazoo, Mich., each have a poverty subprime lending crisis has caused mas- Cockrel Jr. will assume Kilpatrick’s duties challenging their racist remarks and rate of 35.5 percent, higher than that in sive foreclosures in Detroit and through- strike at Boeing on Sept. 18 until a special election can be refusing to answer questions related to his Detroit. out the metropolitan region, putting held in 2009. membership and ties with the communist Michigan’s income level has fallen to working families and property taxpayers By Jim McMahan uge of layoffs and takeaways by Boeing, Labor cannot rely The corporate-controlled media have left. 27th in the country. It had been 19th in out of their homes, which gives them no Seattle even though Boeing recently has been 2003. “Michigan was the only state that choice but to leave the City and further made it appear that the major reason for Deepening economic depression hiring to meet a backlog of 3,600 plane Detroit’s worsening economic and social saw both a rise in poverty and a decline in erode the tax base.” The “Fighting Machinists” struck Boeing orders. on the Democrats! conditions was Kwame Kilpatrick. This In 1973 Young, with support from a income.” (Detroit News, Aug. 27) On Sept. 6 the Moratorium Now! at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 6 and immediately In the late 1990s and early 2000s, over could not be further from the truth. broad alliance of African-American politi- As a result of the surge in the poverty Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and the scenes he and Strickland told SEIU set up picket lines. Production on Boeing’s 50,000 Boeing workers were laid off in Dear Editor, Detroit, southeastern Michigan and the cal forces, along with progressive and lib- level in Michigan, it is estimated that 48.8 Evictions wrote an open letter to incom- officials that their opposition ‘would not backlog of $275 billion of plane orders Seattle alone. These weren’t “recession” Summer is ending, leaves are fall- entire state have been suffering for years eral whites, became the first Black mayor percent of children in Detroit live below ing Mayor Cockrel and the Detroit City be cosmetic. We were going to actively ceased. On Sept. 3, the International layoffs. They were intended to be perma- ing and kids are going back to school. from capitalist economic restructuring. of Detroit. He immediately set out to rid the official poverty line, which is $21,027 Council as a whole, challenging City offi- oppose it and actively campaign against Association of Machinists and Aerospace nent outsourcing layoffs. Parts making jobs Labor Day has come and gone, and with Before the current crisis, the city’s growth the city of racist cops and other munici- for a family of four with two children. In cials to petition Governor Granholm. it.’ ” Workers had rejected Boeing’s “best and for Boeing planes have been outsourced to seasonal regularity, union members are was fueled by the emergence of the auto- pal employees, instituting an affirmative 2006 the city’s child poverty rate was 43.9 The letter reads in part: “During the Perhaps Fisher, a career politician, final” contract ultimatum by an 80 percent many places around the globe, including once again being urged by their lead- motive industry during the early and mid- action program that was challenged by percent. The proportion of children living past year, while city government has been never had to go to work sick because vote and then 87 percent voted to strike. nonunion shops in Seattle. Meanwhile ers to work for the candidates of the dle decades of the 20th century. law-enforcement and other reactionary in poverty statewide rose to 19.4 percent, consumed with the mayoral crisis, thou- he couldn’t afford to lose a day’s pay. As a result, 27,000 machinists are on Boeing has garnered a fortune of $13 bil- Democratic Party. Tens of millions of Detroit played a major role in the rise political forces. above the national level of 18 percent. sands of Detroiters have lost their homes Perhaps Strickland, an ordained minis- strike at facilities in Kansas, Oregon and lion in profits in the last five years! dues dollars will wind up going to sup- of industrial unions, setting trends for However, compromises were neces- The massive downsizing in the automo- due to the foreclosure epidemic that has ter, never had to worry about being fired Washington state, 25,000 of whom work Machinists want to stop the flow of port these so-called “friends of labor.” many other struggles against the bosses. sary to maintain capitalist investments in bile industry has contributed immensely hit our city. Our neighborhoods are being by the flock if he stayed home with a sick in Seattle/Tacoma plants. outsourcing. They want to end the use of Yet time and time again the Democrats The efforts of the trade union movement Detroit. At the close of the Young admin- to the increasing poverty rate. In a Sept. destroyed. Property values have plum- child. Strike momentum built up to a fever contractors to deliver private vendor parts act against the interests of the work- developed alongside, and in conjunction istration, the city was suffering from mas- 5 Detroit Free Press article, Justin Hyde meted. Last Sunday, the New York Times As a UAW activist for 21 years I pitch after the vote tally. At that point, directly into the plants, work that was pre- ing class. Who can forget NAFTA, the with, the national struggles of the African- sive job losses, an inadequate and declin- writes, “Automakers and parts suppliers reported that 18 percent of Detroit’s would have liked to see, for once, some head union negotiator Mark Blondin viously done by machinists. The workers destruction of welfare and the bipartisan American population who fought segrega- ing public transportation system and the shed 38,000 jobs in the past 30 days, and homes are empty, the highest percentage anger on the part of the union leader- announced that he had just been contact- frequently say, “The money doesn’t matter support for wars against Korea, Vietnam, tion and institutional racism for decades. collapse of the municipal infrastructure. the industry has lost 127,800 jobs over the of any city except New Orleans. ship. Unfortunately Service Employees ed by a federal mediator and Washington if you don’t have a job.” The machinists’ Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Yugoslavia, In 1967 the African-American work- The second African-American mayor, past year, losses that powered the national “The people of Detroit cannot stand International Union 1199 has done Gov. Chris Gregoir, who told him Boeing strike mobilization has already stopped Afghanistan, Iraq again and (unless we ing class in Detroit rose up in rebellion. Dennis W. Archer, pursued a more mod- unemployment rate higher according to to wait one more day for the imposition the exact opposite and—without input wanted to return to the bargaining table. Boeing from outsourcing maintenance stop it) Iran? In the aftermath of that rebellion, African erate line and instituted policies that federal data released. of an Emergency Moratorium to stop from the rank-and-file or even the other The union leaders put off the strike for 48 jobs. Halting outsourcing and gaining Another example of the Democratic Americans, under largely working-class reversed some of the gains made under “The job cuts in auto manufacturing, foreclosures. ... We are formally request- unions that campaigned for Healthy hours and gave Boeing another chance. more good paying union jobs is something Party’s subservience to Big Business just leadership, fought to gain access to Young, especially affirmative action combined with 14,000 job cuts from car ing that as your first acts of this new Families—withdrawn the ballot initiative. But Boeing didn’t really want to negotiate. all workers are fighting for. occurred in Ohio last week. employment, housing, education and var- programs. dealers and auto parts vendors, were the period, Mayor Cockrel and Detroit City “We respect the governor’s wish to avoid It wanted to break the momentum of the The strikers want better pay too. The Early this year the state’s various ious political offices and structures. Since After Kilpatrick took office in 2002, largest contributors to the 6.1 percent Council both formally apply to Governor a negative and divisive fight that could strike and create disunity. big media always proclaim that machin- unions joined forces to collect the hun- the 1970s the owners of capital have stra- investments were made in downtown unemployment rate for August, according Granholm to declare a State of Emergency hurt Ohio,” stated Becky Williams, presi- The machinists in the hall were out- ists make over $20 per hour but more dreds of thousands of signatures needed tegically relocated outside the region into Detroit, including the construction of per- to the U.S. Department of Labor. The rate in Detroit and demand she use her police dent of SEIU District 1199. Apparently raged by this disruption. They had been than 5,000 make less than this. Seattle’s to place a proposal—compelling employ- areas where a higher rate of profit could manent casino hotels, tourists and enter- is the highest since September 2003.” powers to place a two-year Moratorium 1199 feels obligated to the governor for organizing for a strike for six weeks. They King5 TV interviewed a protesting wom- ers with 25 or more employees to provide be accrued through the super-exploitation tainment attractions and the emergence Michigan’s current official unemploy- on Foreclosures in the city. his purported support last year for the loudly denounced union leaders Blondin an machinist with two kids who is mak- seven paid sick days—on the ballot in of labor. of high-priced real estate developments. ment rate stood at 8.5 percent in July, the “This action will spur passage of Senate union’s effort to organize home health and district President Tom Wroblewski. ing $13.59 per hour after one year on the November. Union volunteers, including Detroit’s population was nearly 2 mil- The city hosted the All-Star Baseball game highest in the country, though the real Bill 1306 by the Michigan Legislature, care workers in Ohio. Since Boeing and the mediator wanted job. While the machinists so far have won me, took petitions to their union meetings lion at the beginning of the 1950s. The in 2005 and the Super Bowl in 2006. rate is actually much higher. which would place a two-year Moratorium This quid pro quo arrangement exem- to meet with International President Tom a $2.28 per hour increase in basic mini- and union picnics, to their churches, and census bureau now predicts that approxi- However, the surrounding neighbor- on Foreclosures throughout the state.” plifies corporate model business union- Fightback movement Buffenbarger, negotiations were moved mum pay, all those recently hired received out in the community. The petition drive mately 800,000 people reside in the city. hoods continued to decline. In recent The letter concludes with a request to ism at its worst. It’s time to abandon much needed to Orlando, Fla., far away from the work- little or no increase. Because of inequali- was successful and polls suggested the Vast areas of land are vacant as a result of years, the foreclosure crisis struck Detroit support the Sept. 17 mass demonstration these regressive strategies and organize ers, who in a show of strength had been ties like these, young workers are uniting measure would pass by a wide margin. razed homes, commercial structures, for- with devastating impact. In fact the over- Although the deepening capitalist crisis at the State Capitol in Lansing to demand the masses of unorganized workers who marching through the plants and holding with older union-experienced workers Needless to say, Ohio’s corporate mer industrial facilities and apartments. all economic conditions throughout the is clear in Detroit and throughout the state passage of SB 1306. hunger for a living wage, paid health care rallies outside. At the Everett plant 7,000 and becoming militant. elite were dead set against the Healthy Many of the former city-owned insti- entire metropolitan area, including both of Michigan, working class and oppressed Efforts aimed at ending the wars abroad, and the basic job security that is nonexis- marched during the day, and workers on The machinists are very united and Families Act. Democratic Gov. Ted tutions such as the Detroit Institute of city and suburbs, have been in constant people know these enormous difficulties resulting in the mass removal and slaugh- tent without a union contract. the night shift did the same. Workers also many say they’re prepared to stay out Strickland, elected in 2006 with broad Arts, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit decline. It has been reported that approxi- can in no way be placed solely at the door- ter of people in the so-called developing Hooray for papers like Workers World marched on the union hall. three months. They got over a serious labor support, at first appeared lukewarm Receiving Hospital and Detroit Zoo have mately half a million jobs have been loss steps of outgoing Mayor Kilpatrick. countries, must be linked with building a and candidates like Cynthia McKinney Boeing’s effort to derail their efforts speed bump with the 48-hour strike delay. on the matter, but in the end lined up been turned over to private interests. in Michigan since the beginning of this Nonetheless, the spokespeople for the strong fightback movement aimed at end- and Rosa Clemente, who represent a gen- failed. Union negotiators left the talks early Now they want to make real gains for solidly behind the capitalists. “Lt. Gov. Detroit’s first African-American mayor, decade. interests of capital are seeking to blame ing the continuing cycle of poverty and uine voice for workers and oppressed. with no agreement and the strike was on. labor in this country. They say, “It’s our Lee Fisher,” according to the Sept. 5 Coleman A. Young, who governed from A recent economic report released by Detroit’s political leadership and the oppression that is affecting growing num- The machinists’ strike comes after a del- time! This time!” n Cleveland Plain Dealer, “said that behind –Martha Grevatt 1974 to 1993, built his political reputa- the U.S. Census Bureau indicated that city’s population for the economic failures bers of people in the U.S. n Page 6 Sept. 18, 2008 www.workers.org www.workers.org Sept. 18, 2008 Page 7

Labor, community coalition Michigan activists demand fights foreclosures in California moratorium on foreclosures By John Parker BAYAN-USA, representing the Filipino community; Why California and Florida? Well, according to the By Kris Hamel MECAWI organizers began to popularize the demand Hansen Clarke of Detroit to draft legislation for a two- Los Angeles the South Asian Network; and the African American Mortgage Bank Associ ation, you can blame the lenders Detroit for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. In year foreclosure moratorium similar to the Michigan Committee of SEIU Local 721. Rev. Richard Estrada of and banks for that. As paraphrased by the Times: “Tricky February 2007 activists rallied outside the governor’s Moratorium Act in place during the Great Depression. Wednesday, Sept. 10, won’t be a day of “business as La Placita Church in Los Angeles and Rev. Meri Ka Ra pay-option adjustable-rate mortgages, which allow bor- People from around Michigan will demand the state state of the state address in Lansing. They demanded The Michigan Supreme Court upheld that law as con- usual.” Day after day newspapers advertise the “won- Byrd of KRST Unity Center for African Spirituality will rowers to pay so little that their loan balances rise, were legislature enact a two-year moratorium or freeze on Gov. Jennifer Granholm utilize her executive powers stitutional, basing its ruling on the U.S. Supreme Court derful opportunity” of buying bargain-basement-priced also participate. more common in California and Florida.” And these home foreclosures and evictions. As activists and vic- under Michigan law to declare an economic emergency decision in Home Building & Loan Association v. homes at various auctions. And, so far, this mid-Septem- Given the disproportionate effect the foreclosure crisis adjustable rate schemes, according to the bank associa- tims of home foreclosures and evictions rally at the and impose a moratorium on foreclosures statewide. Blaisdell, which upheld a foreclosure moratorium passed ber week was no exception. has had on people of color—Black and Latin@ commu- tion, were made to borrowers with decent credit scores. state Capitol Sept. 17 for Senate Bill 1306, they will do In March 2007, at a town hall meeting called by the in Minnesota in the 1930s. During the 1930s foreclosure But that Wednesday a block association and represen- nities have lost over $200 billion combined in personal In addition, subprime adjustable mortgages were offered so against a backdrop of economic devastation that has governor to discuss the economic crisis in Michigan, moratoriums were in place in 25 states. tatives of SEIU’s second largest union local in California, wealth as a direct result of the crisis—their rising influ- to “highest-risk” borrowers more frequently in California. engulfed this Midwestern state for over a decade. MECAWI leader and people’s attorney Jerry Goldberg along with the large and influential community organiza- ence in the movement to stop foreclosures comes as no So, if these banks admittedly created this crisis here Michigan leads the country in plant closings, unem- was heard on statewide media citing relevant case law in Moratorium NOW! Coalition launched tion Hermandad Mexicana, will be challenging the insen- surprise. in a state where it supposedly never rains, why is money ployment and poverty. It is one of the leading states in support of such measures and challenging Granholm to In April 2008, after a press conference announcing the sitive celebratory nature of these events. These organiza- raining down to bail out Freddie, Fannie, Indy and many terms of home foreclosures caused by predatory lending use her executive powers to alleviate the crisis. Although introduction of Clarke’s moratorium bill in the Michigan Who’s responsible? tions will protest at one of the major outdoor auctions of more to come, allowing them what Treasury officials and the avarice of the banks and mortgage companies. she then acknowledged her ability to do so, Granholm Legislature, MECAWI offered its next moratorium Los Angeles County homes. On Sept. 6 the Mortgage Bankers Association told the called “breathing room,” while homeowners and tenants For those who are current on their house payments, to this day refuses to even recognize the foreclosure organizing meeting to launch a statewide coalition. The Organizers plan to shame the auction organizers outside Los Angeles Times that “the one-two punch of declin- are gasping in debt and foreclosure. property values are plummeting as neighborhoods fill epidemic. Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and of the Norwalk Courthouse for acting like vultures. They ing home prices and resetting adjustable-rate loans in Given that California also suffers from high unemploy- with abandoned and stripped homes. In November 2007 MECAWI organizers began a broad Evictions was formed. Among the coalition’s multina- believe that instead of trying to find a solution to this state California and Florida is largely responsible for unprec- ment rates of over 7 percent compared to the nation’s SB 1306 allows homeowners to go to court for an campaign for a declaration of a state of emergency and a tional corps of activists and leaders are people who have of emergency disaster in California, these auctioneers are edented national foreclosure numbers.” The bankers average of 6.1 percent in August, according to the latest automatic stay to delay the sheriff’s sale for two years or moratorium. Organizing meetings were held and activ- faced foreclosures and evictions themselves, including cashing in on and exacerbating the misery of others. added that although California and Florida account for federal labor statistics, the crisis of foreclosures and evic- extend the redemption period from six months to two ists began mass leafleting and outreach. many women in the forefront of this struggle. According to realtytrac.com, California already has 18 percent of the nation’s population, they account for tions is far from over and will inspire more workers and years. The court would set a reasonable repayment plan They went to phony “prevent foreclosure” forums The coalition has held numerous rallies, demonstra- 338,000 foreclosures filed in 2008, making it the num- 39 percent of the nation’s foreclosure starts, which occur their unions here to come up for air and join the struggle for the two years based in part on the borrower’s income put on by the state attorney general, where lenders and tions, meetings and speak-outs. It successfully stopped ber one U.S. state in foreclosures, with one-quarter of the once a lender turns a delinquent loan over to lawyers. against this government’s latest war on the poor. n and ability to pay. The moratorium provides a reprieve bankers came to supposedly assist people behind in the foreclosure and eviction by Countrywide Bank of a 1,348,000 filed foreclosures countrywide this year. The for a long-suffering population whose economic pros- their house payments or in foreclosure. When they were disabled senior in Detroit. Activists have protested out- crisis in California prompted the union and community pects grow dimmer with each passing day. It gives people thrown out of Cobo Hall in Detroit, where the forums side banks and at residences facing foreclosure. They organizations to create a Labor/Community Coalition emergency relief while the struggle continues for a long- were held, attorneys took the city and the attorney gen- have engaged in several direct actions to move people’s to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions, which meets at the Gov’t gives away billions to big mortgage bankers term solution to the crisis brought on by the banks. eral to federal court, where they won a First Amendment belongings back in after bailiffs enforced the lenders’ SEIU Local 721 office located in downtown Los Angeles. Activists on Sept. 17 will demand that SB 1306 be victory guaranteeing the right of moratorium activists to repossession of their homes. This action will contribute to the building of a major Continued from page 1 take the offensive and advance working-class demands. moved immediately out of the Senate Banking and leaflet and petition at these events. The coalition’s legal team has represented dozens of press conference and protest at the Los Angeles down- class political parties have quickly come together to With the government now assuming the day-to-day Financial Services Committee, where it has languished MECAWI called another protest outside the gover- individuals with predatory loans and illegal evictions town Federal Building on Sept. 17, where the Labor- rubber-stamp the nonstop bailouts concocted by the management of the two mortgage giants, working-class since its introduction by Sen. Hansen Clarke in May, nor’s state of the state speech on Feb. 6 of this year. Some and stopped many foreclosures. Attorneys are challeng- Community Coalition will demand an immediate national Treasury and the Fed. Indeed, the U.S. Congress essen- and community organizations have the opportunity to and that public hearings immediately be held around the 150 people joined in a militant action demanding Gov. ing the legality of the Mortgage Electronic Registration state of emergency be declared along with a national mor- tially handed over its constitutionally designated power call on that same government to place a moratorium on state on the foreclosure and eviction crisis. Granholm declare a state of emergency and a moratori- System (MERS) in carrying out foreclosures. MERS, a atorium on foreclosures and evictions. To help mobilize of the purse by giving the Treasury Department a blank all foreclosures of mortgages held by or guaranteed by um. Victims of foreclosure and eviction and those facing recording service, holds no interest in home loans, yet it for this and future actions, contact the Labor-Community check for Fannie and Freddie. Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Paulson has announced a Economic crisis results in fightback foreclosure spoke on the steps of the Capitol demanding is the foreclosing party in tens of thousands of foreclo- Coalition at 310- 677-6407. bailout of the rich. It is an outrage that there is no govern- Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and relief. sures in Michigan and millions nationwide. The groups chose Sept. 17 to coincide with a mass pro- Developing a movement for workers ment aid for workers and poor people to keep a roof over Injustice (MECAWI) activists in early 2007 recognized Activists held demonstrations targeting the federal Coalition activists have distributed over 50,000 leaf- test action at the Michigan state capital of Lansing, which by workers their heads. that the foreclosure epidemic then in full swing in department of Housing and Urban Development for lets and have done outreach throughout Michigan. will demand the voting on and passage of a moratorium During these excruciatingly tough economic times for Coalitions in Michigan and California are holding pro- Michigan was the result of two important factors: rac- violating its own regulations by not allowing continued Organizers have gone to Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Grand bill in that state. workers, the federal government’s handouts to the banks tests on Sept. 17 (see articles pages 6-7) to demand such a ist subprime mortgages and predatory lending, already occupancies by tenants of FHA-backed homes after fore- Rapids, Battle Creek, Cheboygan, Ypsilanti and other The growing activism and influence of various commu- and financial institutions are blatantly criminal. Despite moratorium on a statewide basis. The national bailout of severely impacting workers, the poor and people of color closure. Progressive attorneys sued in federal court and cities, building a grassroots movement in support of SB nities of color is reflected in this latest struggle against eco- claims that the U.S. government is a democracy run by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac cries for a call for a national nationwide, coupled with a long-term economic depres- won the right of Detroiter Thelma Curtis to stay in her 1306 and a moratorium on foreclosures. nomic injustice here in Los Angeles—the city that saw the the people for the people, it is painfully clear that the rich moratorium on foreclosures to protect people’s right to a sion in a state where over 460,000 jobs have vanished in HUD home. largest demonstrations for immigrant rights. Some of the and their hirelings run the government for the benefit of home. n the last eight years. MECAWI activists worked closely with state Sen. Struggle to win moratorium continues major organizations that led those events, like Hermandad the rich. State Sen. Randy Richardville, chair of the bank- Mexicana Nacional led by Gloria Saucedo, are participat- Workers cannot afford to wait for another federal ing committee, has refused to move SB 1306 out of his DEtRoIt MoRIAtoRIuM on FoREcLoSuRES AnD EVIctonS, ww photo: ALAn poLLock; ing in the auction protest and the Sept. 17 action. The SEIU “stimulus” package or other band-aid solutions to lessen LonGESt wALk 2 photo: LAuRA AYERS; WORKERS WORLD PARTY committee, where it has languished since its introduc- Local 721 grouping initiating the Labor/Community coali- the economic suffering. Workers must unite in their own nEw YoRk DEMonStRAtIon AGAInSt u.S. InVASIon oF IRAq, ww photo: John cAtALInotto tion. Activists recently demonstrated outside the sena- tion was the Latino Caucus led by Rosie Martinez, who is common class interest and take the fight to the capitalists tor’s home in Monroe, Mich., after Richardville failed to also the executive board member of the Local. and their representatives in the government. The work- answer the coalition’s certified letter calling for public Also participating in both events are the organizations ing class must use this period of capitalist instability to Following the 2008 elections hearings on the bill. In an interview with journalist Diane Bukowski, Richardville said the coalition used a “terrorist approach” HAMTRAMCK UNITED. Challenges & tasks facing by protesting at his residence. He claimed there was no recession in Michigan and that “nobody forced people to take out mortgages.” our movement Bukowski listed some of the financial contribu- Fights attack on human rights ruling tors to Richardville’s last election campaign: HSBC North America, an international financing and mort- dent, Gary Glenn, began a petition campaign to overturn By Bryan G. Pfeifer gage corporation; the political action committees of Hamtramck, Mich. the ordinance. These reactionary forces gathered the conFEREncE Michigan Realtors, Comerica Bank, J.P. Morgan Chase required amount of signatures to secure a referendum and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Michigan A growing coalition called Hamtramck United Against on the Nov. 4 ballot to repeal the Hamtramck Human SAT•SUN • NOV 15•16 Manufactured Housing; Michigan Land Title Association; Discrimination is fighting back against right-wing forces Rights Ordinance. and the Mortgage Bankers Association of Michigan. (The intent on repealing the city’s recently enacted and very The Thomas More Legal Center, founded by Dominos nEw YoRk cItY Michigan Citizen, Sept. 7) progressive Human Rights Ordinance. The coalition is Pizza CEO Tom Monaghan, was the main force behind (place to be announced) Coalition organizers say they will continue to demand receiving widespread support from many Hamtramck the electoral defeats of affirmative action and same- t opI c S wILL I ncL u DE . Sen. Richardville and the banking committee call public residents as well as numerous organizations, including sex marriage in Michigan. Over the years it has been hearings on SB 1306 around the state. They will demand Michigan Equality and the Triangle Foundation. involved in numerous other attacks on women’s repro- An assessment of the elections, no matter who wins the new administration in Detroit make a formal appli- In June 2008 the city council passed by a 6-1 vote a ductive rights, LGBT rights and affirmative action. the deepening economic crisis— cation to the governor for a state of emergency and a Human Rights Ordinance with the support of Mayor Gregory Manore of Hamtramck United told Critical What is it and how can we fight back? foreclosure moratorium in the city. They will continue Karen Majewski. The ordinance expanded resident pro- Moment that the coalition was formed over the sum- to build a grassroots movement to stop all foreclosures tections to include sexuality and gender identity and mer to defeat the referendum. The coalition meets fre- Supporting the right to self-determination against imperialism and evictions. expression. The ordinance ensures that all residents in quently and has found widespread support within the in the Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Asia The dual catastrophe of economic crisis and mass this city of 23,000 are protected from discrimination in city and beyond for this struggle against reaction and & inside the U.S. foreclosures has now spread to every part of the United areas including housing, employment and use of public discrimination. pushing forward the class struggle=UNItY against racism, States. Michigan activists have inspired people elsewhere facilities. Said Manore, “We’re not going back.” Although opti- national oppression, immigrant bashing, to begin organizing in response, such as in Los Angeles, Hamtramck is a municipality located within the city mistic, he says the coalition knows this fight is far from women’s oppression and LGBT oppression where a new union-led movement is demanding a mora- of Detroit. It has a sizeable lesbian, gay, bisexual and over. torium on foreclosures in California. A victory won in transgender (LGBT) population and is also the most The coalition is now conducting door-to-door visits, Fight Imperialism, Stand together (FIST) Michigan will have important repercussions nationwide multinational city in Michigan. At least 22 languages are fundraising and literature drops. For more information • plenaries on organizing youth & students in the struggle to stop the crisis devastating poor and spoken in Hamtramck’s K-12 schools. or to help defeat the right-wing initiative, log on at www. • Discussion groups Why capitalism is the problem and SAVE THEworking DATE! families everywhere. n Shortly after this progressive vote, right-wing forc- hamtramckunited.org, e-mail: volunteer@hamtramck- • Strategy sessions • Music/spoken word es backed by the Thomas More Legal Center and the united.org or call: 313-719-0375. n Needs Socialism is the solution American Family Association of Michigan and its presi- Call 212-627-2994 www.workers.org —much more Page 8 Sept. 18, 2008 www.workers.org www.workers.org Sept. 18, 2008 Page 9

A study in contrasts U.S. attack in Pakistan widens Asian war Who’s developing more wind power— By Gloria Rubac inside Bush’s war council. charges. Though these charges have never during the attack. Even though the U.S. troops in been proven, he grew rich while Benazir Washington accuses the elder Haqqani The U.S. military carried out a pre- Afghanistan function under a NATO chain Bhutto was president and was given the of organizing recent attacks against U.S. U.S. or China? dawn commando raid in Pakistan by heli- of command, the Special Operations forc- nickname of “Mr. 10 percent,” implying and NATO forces in Afghanistan. He is copter-borne Special Operations ground es that carried out this attack answer only he was taking a cut from many business also accused of an assassination attempt ronmental impact and how each element By Deirdre Griswold of electricity from wind power but the “These barriers mean that electrical forces on Sept. 3, the first admitted incur- to U.S. commanders. deals. against Afghan president Hamid Karzai. in the web of industry fits with the others. infrastructure to transmit the power from generation is growing four times faster sion into Pakistan by U.S. ground troops In the days following the ground raid, A White House spokesperson said During the time Soviet Union troops were And that takes long-term planning. The technology for harvesting clean high-wind regions to areas of great popu- than transmission, according to federal since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. several strikes from remotely piloted U.S. Sept. 6, “President Bush looks forward helping defend the revolutionary Afghan What kind of planning is possible when power from the wind has improved great- lation density. figures.” The ground assault was on the vil- aircraft were carried out on both sides of to working with him, Prime Minister government in the 1980s, U.S.-armed fight- 500 different companies are competing ly in the last few years. That’s the good An article entitled “Wind Energy Bumps This problem also applies to solar pow- lage of Angor Adda in South Waziristan the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Gilani and the government of Pakistan ers were allied with Haqqani. According with each other to make the most profit news. It offers hope to countries all over Into Power Grid’s Limits” sums up the er. Some states, especially in the arid West, on the Afghan border. Pakistani officials According to Al Jazeera, on Sept. 4 on issues important to both countries, to the recent book, “The Bin Ladens” by out of the power grid? What kind of plan- the world that are reeling from the effects problem in the U.S.: “Wind advocates say get abundant sunshine and are well suit- said around 20 people were killed in the four Taliban fighters were killed and five including counter-terrorism and mak- Steve Coll, at that time Haqqani aided and ning is possible when each private capital- of climate change directly linked to the that just two of the windiest states, North ed to be sites for vast solar-power farms. attack, which drew a furious response wounded in a missile attack in North ing sure Pakistan has a stable and secure protected Osama bin Laden. ist interest has its own bought politicians, burning of fossil fuels for energy. Dakota and South Dakota, could in prin- But that sunny prospect is being dashed from the Pakistani government. Waziristan. economy.” (International Herald Tribune, U.S. imperialist destruction in the region who think only of how to please the corpo- But in the United States, the country ciple generate half the nation’s electricity because they won’t be able to transmit The Pakistani foreign minister, Shah On Sept. 5 a missile strike from recon- Sept. 7) has inflicted terror in both Afghanistan rate lobbyists who keep them in office? most responsible for global warming, the from turbines. But the way the national their power very far, either, without a Mahmood Qureshi, told Parliament naissance aircraft killed a dozen people in On Sept. 8, five missiles hit a compound and Pakistan where U.S. troops are sup- Meanwhile, many workers can’t pay prospect that wind power will replace grid is configured, half the country would major upgrade in the power grid. on Sept. 4 that the U.S. raid into South a group of houses in northern Afghanistan. allegedly belonging to one of Pakistan’s posedly fighting terrorism. The people of their bills for heat, transportation, lights dirty fuels on a meaningful scale any time have to move to the Dakotas in order to use And who wants to invest in making Waziristan violated Pakistan’s national Residents from the Pakistani village most prominent Taliban leaders in North Afghanistan and Pakistan have already and other essentials based on energy. The soon is very dim. What’s the problem? the power.” (New York Times, Aug. 26) that happen? Here’s where all the wran- sovereignty. He also said the raid failed of Miran Shah said the strike hit two Waziristan. The missiles killed 23 people, shown their hostility to Western occupa- oil and “defense” companies have foisted Capitalist competition and lack of plan- Many of the transmission lines are old gling and poisonous competition come in. to attack any so-called Taliban militants. residential compounds in Al Must, less including eight children, and injured 18. tion, and there is no reason to think this on the people a cruel war to control the ning are holding back the rationalization and weren’t built for modern demand. Privately owned power companies don’t Pakistan is the sixth most populous than a mile from the Pakistani border. Reports say Srajuddin Haqqani, son of hostility will diminish as U.S. and NATO oil-rich Middle East that has already cost of the national power grid, to the point More electricity just can’t be squeezed exist to provide more power to the people. country in the world, with over 172 mil- According to Ahsan Dawar, a journalist Jalaluddin Haqqani, ran the compound. military incursions kill more Pakistani They exist to make money, profits. They’re 20 or 30 times what it would take to fix where existing wind farms have to be onto them. lion people, and has the second largest in Miran Shah, among the dead were two Neither Haqqani was at the compound and Afghan civilians. n the electric grid. turned off just because transmission lines The article continues: “[E]xperts say interested in the bottom line—this month, Muslim population in the world after women, three children and several men Nothing less than a mighty upheaval of are inadequate. that without a solution to the grid prob- this year, not 10 or 20 years from now. Indonesia. of Arab descent. the working class in this country can cut By contrast, the People’s Republic of lem, effective use of wind power on a wide They don’t want to put their profits into Until this ground attack, NATO and On Sept. 6 Asif Ali Zardari was elected through the straightjacket of corporate China is forging ahead, moving in two scale is likely to remain a dream. upgrading the grid. U.S. forces in Afghanistan have carried president of Pakistan. Zardari is co-chair greed that is strangling this economy. years from 10th to fifth in the world in “The power grid is balkanized, with out numerous air strikes and artillery of the Pakistan People’s Party, formerly Competition prevents To see what is possible, let’s look at U. of Arizona linked production of wind power. And its plan about 200,000 miles of power lines divid- attacks in the border region of Pakistan. led by his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, who long-term planning China. In 2006, only 1 percent of its ener- to greatly increase the pace of production ed among 500 owners. Big transmission The U.S. occupiers of Afghanistan claim was assassinated in December 2007. gy came from wind—the same percentage over the next 10 years or so is boggling the upgrades often involve multiple compa- The more complex modern society that Al-Qaeda and pro-Taliban fighters Zardari will take charge of a country that the U.S. gets today. But it was already to war on immigrants minds of environmentalists and engineers nies, many state governments and numer- becomes, the greater the need to take into live in sanctuaries in northwest Pakistan’s that has been used, disrupted and divid- number one in the world in the produc- everywhere. China’s plan is comprehen- ous permits. Every addition to the grid consideration not only demand and sup- Pashtun tribal areas where they organize ed by the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Nearly By Paul Teitelbaum The university is using its proximity tion of off-grid wind turbine generators, sive, expanding not only the generation provokes fights with property owners. ply for a particular product, but the envi- attacks in Afghanistan. 1,200 people in Pakistan have been killed Tucson, Ariz. to the border to strengthen its ties to each of which could produce from 100 The Bush administration has criticized in bombings and suicide attacks in the the war machine and expand its rela- watts up to 10 kilowatts of energy. These Pakistan recently for not doing enough past year. University of Arizona President George tions with corporations like Boeing and were being supplied to communities that to stop attacks against NATO and U.S. Reuters reported on Sept. 5 that health Shelton announced his intention to Raytheon. Meanwhile, it tosses workers Pakistani imprisoned in U.S. otherwise might get no electricity at all. forces in Afghanistan from bases inside officials were seeing an outbreak of chol- “transform” the University of Arizona. aside and raises the tuition for students. China had begun building wind farms— of Pakistan. era in refugees in northwest Pakistan. This Sept. 3 announcement came in the While Arizona state cuts back needed it had 59 such farms with 1,854 wind This raid could signal the beginning of a An estimated 300,000 people have fled wake of a $20 million budget reduction social services and prepares to lay off turbine generators. It was number 10 in Protesters demand: ‘Free Aafia Siddiqui!’ broader campaign by Special Operations the fighting in the area, according to mandated by the State legislature. His workers in other state agencies, the fed- the world for in-grid installed wind pow- inside Pakistan, a secret plan that U.S. the International Committee of the Red lengthy memo called for “restructuring,” eral government is handing out millions By Heather Cottin er capacity, generating 1.26 gigawatts. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has Cross. “consolidations” and “becoming more for scientists to develop new devices for (Ecoworld, July 15, 2006) A gigawatt is 1 reportedly been advocating for months “The most immediate need remains efficient”—all code words for staff lay- terrorizing and hunting down people. U.S. troops in Afghanistan shot Dr. billion watts. access to clean water and sanita- offs. The $20 million budget cut is part As the capitalist economic crisis deep- Aafia Siddiqui and took her into custody Just two years later, China has moved tion. No food, health care or shel- of a whopping $2.2 billion state budget ens there are more and more towers, in July. She lies in solitary confinement in up from 10th to fifth place in the world. ter is going to be of any good if deficit which is 20 percent of the entire surveillance cameras, always-on stadium the Manhattan Detention Center, with an Its installed wind capacity is now at least people get water-borne diseases,” state general fund. lights, and brutal ICE and Border Patrol open scar from her sternum to her lower 6 GW. (treehugger.com) said Pascal Cuttat, a Red Cross Within hours of this announce- Agents occupying the communities as well abdomen. She has not seen her lawyer, And this is just the beginning. “In April official reporting at a Sept. 5 news ment, Shelton joined U.S. Department as the border areas in this state. These Elizabeth Fink, because if she leaves her 2008 the National Development and briefing. of Homeland Security Undersecretary developments show the need for protests cell she faces an excruciating strip search. Reform Commission revised its 11th Five During Saturday’s voting, Jay Cohen and Democratic U.S. Rep. to demand that the millions of dollars Aafia Siddiqui is a 36-year-old Pakistani Year Plan Period plan for wind power the problem was underscored Gabrielle Giffords to announce a $16 squandered on technology for repression national who is a graduate of MIT and development from 5 GW to 10 GW by in the northwestern Pakistani million grant from DHS to create the be used for jobs and human needs, not for holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from 2010. ... More impressively, wind power city of Peshwar when a suicide National Center for Border Security and war and occupation. In Arizona in partic- Brandeis University. On a visit home to industry statistics show that by the end car-bomber rammed a police Immigration Research at the university. ular the militarization of the Southwest Karachi in 2003, she was disappeared of 2008 China’s total installed base of checkpoint, killing 16 people and This money will be used to develop detec- border is an issue that directly impacts along with her three children. Her family wind power production will have already wounding more than 80, accord- tion, surveillance, sensor networks and both documented and undocumented believes the U.S. government captured, reached 10 GW, two years ahead of the ing to Al Jazeera. other technologies for use in militarizing workers and all students. n tortured and incarcerated her. revised plan. Some experts are estimating Zardari succeeds Pervez the Southwest border. The U.S. government claims Siddiqui that by 2010, the total installed capacity Musharraf, who resigned last is an Al Qaeda terrorist. Federal officials for wind power generation in China will month under threat of impeach- deny knowledge of her whereabouts for WW photo: Heather Cottin reach 20 GW and that by 2020 China’s ment. Before that, Zardari spent Workers’ solidarity. the last five years. But on July 17, U.S. New York’s Pakistani community protests treatment of jailed Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. installed base of wind power will total 100 11 years in jail on corruption troops arrested her outside the gover- prison in Afghanistan. No one knows yer, Elizabeth Fink, explained at a trial GW.” (“China’s Wind Power Industry— has no borders. nor’s office in Afghanistan’s Ghazni prov- where her two youngest children are. on Sept. 4 in Manhattan that Dr. Siddiqui Blowing Past Expectations,” Renewable ince after police searched her handbag “We believe Aafia has been in custody could not appear for trial because the strip Energy World, June 16, 2008) and allegedly found documents on mak- ever since she disappeared,” said one of search she must undergo each time she “China will likely achieve its target ing explosives as well as descriptions of her lawyers, Elaine Whitfield Sharp. (New leaves her cell is physically unbearable. of getting 15 percent of its energy from New York City landmarks. This story is at York Times, Aug. 5) When Fink last saw her, on Aug. 11, Dr. renewable sources by 2020” (ecogeek. odds with the one the Afghan police tell. In Pakistan and the U.S., scores of pro- Siddiqui was disoriented and begged Fink com), much of this from wind. According to the Afghan officials, Siddiqui testers have condemned the detention to send food she was given to her son in Just 60 years ago, China was an impov- was arrested with maps of Ghazni, a city and torture of Siddiqui and demanded her his prison in Afghanistan. erished, underdeveloped country. Today in central Afghanistan, including one of release. If there was to be a trial, Pakistanis Hundreds came to the trial on Sept. it has shown its remarkable prowess in the governor’s house. claim that, “She should have faced a court 4 and gathered afterward to protest the the Olympics while also showing the When U.S. troops requested Siddiqui of law here in her own country.” (Daily unjust treatment of Dr. Siddiqui. Chanting, world how to move toward sustainable be handed over to them, Afghan police Times, Pakistan, Aug. 11) “Free, Free Aafia Siddiqui!” Pakistani, development. SEPT. 27 refused, so U.S. soldiers disarmed them. Pakistan has been a client state of the African-American and north American What made this possible was a mass, The U.S. troops, “thinking that she had U.S. for decades. Ex-dictator Musharraf speakers called for an end to CIA torture revolutionary movement led by Mao explosives and would attack them as a sui- allowed the U.S. and NATO to bomb civil- prisons in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party National Day of Action cide bomber, shot her and arrested her.” ians in its northern provinces, along with Guantánamo in Cuba, and Somalia. They that, in 1949, broke the power of the capi- Organize an action in your area! The U.S. troops claimed she somehow man- permitting the arrest, disappearance and denounced the policies of the U.S. that talist and feudal ruling classes who had aged to grab an M-4 rifle in a police station detention of thousands of Pakistanis. have placed this young mother literally in prevented the Chinese people from reach- 100 + cities and shot at them. (Reuters, Aug. 14) Many Pakistanis are enraged over the U.S. the crosshairs of U.S. imperialism. n ing their true potential. n Human rights groups said they believe claims of extraterritorial jurisdictions, October 1 marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, with draconian budget cuts Dr. Siddiqui had been secretly detained which violate international laws. Market Elections How Democracy Serves the Rich By Vince Copeland at the federal and state level . We need money for education, health care, The May 1 Coalition, which fights for rights for undocumented immigrants, sent a del- since 2003, much of the time in U.S. custo- After Dr. Siddiqui was shot, she was Every four years, big money chooses the presidential candidates. Copeland shows how mass egation to the Sept. 7 Labor Day march in New York City along with tens of thousands of movements can upset even the best-laid plans of the ‘king-makers.’ Who has been excluded from housing, and other human needs, not endless war for empire! dy at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. flown to the U.S. in the custody of FBI unionized workers. v o t i n g ? H ow were electoral politics used to betray Black freedom after the C i v i l Wa r ? Dr. Siddiqui’s 12-year-old son is still in agents, in agony and confused. Her law- For information or to endorse, go to www.StopWarOnIran.org —Report and photo by Anne Pruden Order online from Leftbooks.com Page 10 Sept. 18, 2008 www.workers.org www.workers.org Sept. 18, 2008 Page 11 Movement grows Haiti reels from hurricanes; Hurricanes, Cuba to free the Cuban 5 By Cheryl LaBash tion, thereby affirming a June 4 decision U.N. occupiers fear rebellion by a three-judge panel that upheld all and U.S. imperialism Ten years ago on Sept. 12 five heroic convictions, but found that the sentenc- By G. Dunkel Press, children followed U.N. trucks, cry- It’s not as if the U.N. didn’t know Cuban men were brutally torn from their ing for three of the Cuban heroes was ing out, “I’m hungry! I’m hungry!” the dangers that Gonaïves faced, homes and families in Florida, subjected ithin the last few weeks three Unlike Cuba, whose doctors help excessive. The court ordered the original Hurricane Ike brushed by Haiti Sept. Another, unnamed official told AFP since it lies on a flat plain between the worldwide without threatening nations’ to a trial that even U.S. federal judges Miami judge, Joan Lenard, to resentence destructive hurricanes— 7, dumping major rainfall that forced the that convoys attempting to take food to Gonâve Gulf and deforested moun- Gonaïves, Haiti. called “a perfect storm” of prejudice, WGustav, Hanna and Ike—have sovereignty, U.S. “humanitarian assis- Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and residents of Gonaïves to flee to higher the affected areas have been “attacked tains. In 2004, after Hurricane Jeanne and then unjustly condemned to prison Fernando González, letting the outra- ripped across the Caribbean before hit- tance” has often been accompanied ground or climb up on their roofs once by famished people.” There is no power devastated Gonaïves and left over 3,000 The U.S. financed, politically support- terms ranging from 15 years to double life geous sentences of the unjustly convicted ting the U.S. All three did substantial by the U.S. military. Think Somalia, again. Hurricane Hanna a week earlier across most of northern Haiti, largely cut people dead and its economy destroyed, ed and helped organize the Feb. 29, 2004, sentences. Gerardo Hernández (two life sentences damage to revolutionary Cuba as well Bosnia and every other intervention had also flooded the city, the fourth larg- off from the rest of the country by land- the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of coup against President Jean-Bertrand The call to free the Cuban Five, as they plus 15 years) and René González (15 as devastating Haiti and causing hun- that is disguised as “humanitarian.” est in Haiti. slides and flooding. Humanitarian Affairs commissioned a Aristide, who had been democratically are known, spans the globe and is growing years) stand. dreds of deaths there. Ike, which hit all With U.S. imperialism already active In late August, Hurricane Gustav left The video clips on YouTube from report on “Floods in Haiti.” The report rec- elected by the Haitian people. Aristide inside the United States, too. This struggle Even the appeals court had to recognize along the island from Santiago to beyond occupying the former Yugoslavia, Iraq 77 people dead in Haiti. Hurricanes Gonaïves show people swimming and ommended, “To prevent or reduce future and his party Fanmi Lavalas wanted pierces the fabricated media campaign the impact of the violent anti-Cuba para- Havana, even left four people dead, fatal- and Afghanistan, any “assessment team” Hanna and Ike left over 500 dead and wading through waist- or neck-high effects of storms and floods the general justice and real economic development, against Cuba and exposes Washington’s military organizations headquartered in ities that the socialist organization within must be seen as a potential threat. all land routes to Gonaïves cut, accord- water, while U.N. troops with body armor environmental conditions on forestation, which would have uncovered the rapa- 50-year-long dirty war to undo the Cuban Miami. On Aug. 9, 2005, a three-judge Cuba had previously been able to avoid Thus it should come as no surprise ing to the U.N.’s Humanitarian Affairs and helmets watch. A number of foreign sanitation and (water) infrastructure are cious murders and repressive thievery revolution, recolonize Cuba and rob the panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals even while absorbing the punishment of that the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Commission. aid workers and reporters have made it the main factors to improve.” that the U.S. utilized to control Haiti for Cuban workers of the better life they have overturned all the convictions because a these powerful storms. Affairs suggested that instead of Alta Jean-Baptiste, head of Haiti’s Civil clear that “social unrest” by people who A U.N. report on environmental deg- its own purposes. built through socialist planning. change of venue to a nearby Florida city That Cuban leader and former sending an “assessment team” and Protection Office, told Agence France are desperately famished was considered radation or any other social problem So Aristide was removed and the U.N. The Five have endured periods of iso- had been refused in the original 2001 tri- President Fidel Castro would make these “humanitarian help,” the U.S. could Presse on Sept. 5 that large portions of the extremely likely. generally doesn’t carry much weight. But brought in to carry out the U.S. mission. lation in “the hole” and separation from al. This decision was later reversed by the hurricanes the topic of one of his mes- help most by simply ending the block- city remained under floodwaters, and up Last April, revolts over the high price of ever since June 2004, when the U.N.’s The U.S. had more demanding tasks at their family members. Washington has entire 11th Circuit, but opened an official sages is itself a sign of their importance. ade that for almost the entire 49 years to 70 percent of its 300,000 residents have food led to the collapse of the government. Minustah (United Nations Stabilization hand that required great resources, like denied entry visas eight times to Olga window on the case. Fidel called attention to the great losses of Revolutionary Cuba’s existence has been without water or food since Sept. 1. A new government with its cabinet minis- Mission In Haiti) took over from the U.S., the invasion, occupation and ongoing war Salanueva and Adriana Pérez, spouses of of fruit, vegetables and grains, exhorted been an obstacle to the normal growth Children in a Gonaïves orphanage were ters was only formed on Sept. 5, the same French and Canadian troops then occupy- in Iraq. Since that time, with U.S. inter- Gerardo Hernández and René González, U.S. favors terrorist bombers his fellow citizens and especially politi- of Cuba’s economy and has cost Cubans so hungry that U.N. troops, mainly from day the U.N. was finally able to repair a ing Haiti, the U.N. has been the occupy- ests no longer threatened in Haiti, the two of the Five. On July 16, Adriana Pérez Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada cal cadres to self-sacrifice and thanked hundreds of billions of dollars of lost Argentina, reportedly gave them their wharf in Gonaïves and get a relief ship in ing power and responsible for conditions, desperate situation there has received lit- friendly countries like Venezuela, Russia, value. was denied a visa for the ninth time and Carriles, two of the architects of the vio- own rations. According to the Associated with some supplies. including keeping a lid on social protests. tle attention in the major U.S. media. n China, Vietnam and even tiny East Timor The Ministry pointed out that presi- notified that the denial is permanent. lent attacks on Cuba, walk free on the for offering aid. dential candidate Barack Obama had But the Five receive the love of the streets of Miami today. George Bush Sr. Along with the human solidarity we suggested a 90-day suspension of the Cuban people, who demonstrate in the pardoned Bosch. Venezuela wants to feel for our brothers and sisters, whether blockade to allow aid to be sent. A nice millions for their return to their home- try Posada Carriles for the 1976 midair in Cuba, Haiti or on the Gulf Coast of gesture. But how much better would land, and widespread respect and support bombing of Cubana 455 out of Barbados The criminal invasion of Grenada Mexico and the United States, there be a simple lifting of the blockade that as diverse as from Amnesty International that cost 73 civilians their lives. The U.S. is a political dimension to any natural would stop the outrageous restrictions to an engineering college in Nepal that refuses to honor Venezuela’s extradition disaster that must be taken into account. on normal trade between two neighbor- hosted a meeting of 200 students and request and refused to obey the Montreal Pentagon prepared aggression for over two years professors on Aug. 31. The bushels of let- Treaty that requires Washington to either U.S. imperialism has attempted to take ing countries, besides allowing Cubans Following are excerpts from a report plans two days beforehand and sent a ters and cards sent to the Five let prison extradite Posada or try him in the U.S. advantage of the damage caused by and others inside the U.S. to send help to that first appeared in the Nov. 3, 1983, cable to the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, administrators know these prisoners have Before Posada illegally entered the Gustav and Ike to offer “humanitarian people in Cuba hurt by the hurricanes? issue of Workers World. WW editors Barbados, that said: millions of friends. U.S. in 2005, he and two co-conspirators assistance” to be preceded by an “assess- It is a normal sentiment to want to planned three different front pages “Grenada has not and is not threatening Who are the Cuban Five? were convicted in Panama of preparing to ment team.” send aid to the Cubans as well as the for that issue. First was a scientists’ the use of force against any country, and we The Cuban Five, who include Ramón bomb a full university auditorium in 2000 We should remind readers here that Haitians hurt by the winds and flood- protest of U.S. first-strike missiles in do not have any such aspirations. We reit- Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando to kill Fidel Castro at the Iberio-American when New Orleans was devastated by ing. But in Cuba’s case, more important Western Europe. This was pushed aside erate that the lives, well-being, and prop- González, came to Florida following a Summit. Panamanian President Mireya Hurricane Katrina three years ago, Cuba than material aid from people in the U.S. as a bomb strike in Lebanon killed 241 erty of every American and other foreign wave of terror bombings at Havana hotels Moscoso pardoned the three, then left offered to send medical teams for imme- would be a movement that demands the Marines occupying that country. Then citizen residing in Grenada are fully pro- WW during the 1990s, bombings designed to office and moved to Miami. On June 30 diate field-hospital-type assistance— U.S. government finally put an end to the U.S. invasion of Grenada became a tected and guaranteed by our government. in 1983 threaten Cuba’s tourism industry. The the Panamanian Supreme Court over- something the Cuban medical system the criminal blockade. last-minute lead story as well as a war … There is absolutely no basis whatsoever Five’s mission—a mission against terror— turned this pardon. has great experience in—and Venezuela And while we’re at it, we should also crime. See www.workers.org to read the for any country launching an invasion of aimed to peacefully monitor counterrevo- In a move that may forestall removing offered to pay to fly the Cuban doctors make sure that the five Cuban heroes entire article. our beloved country and homeland.” lutionary attackers organizing from U.S. Posada to Panama to serve out his prison in—and all this was rejected by the U.S. who have been in U.S. prisons for the A second “justification” given by the territory. term, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals government without regard for the well- last 10 years be free to return to their By Deirdre Griswold Reagan administration for its mas- Although headlines characterized them ruled on Aug. 14 to reinstitute charges being of the mostly Black New Orleans country (see article, this issue). n sive military intervention is that it was as “spies,” the U.S. government admitted against Posada for entering the U.S. ille- survivors. Oct. 26–In less than a day, the Reagan asked to “restore order” by countries of during their trial that no classified docu- gally and lying to a federal agents. It will administration’s cover story for its brutal the Organization of Eastern Caribbean ments were used by any of the Cuban Five. allow Posada to continue the good life in and unprovoked invasion of Grenada has States. To give the operation a “multilat- As appeal attorney, Leonard Weinglass Miami until he is called to court in El Paso, regime and installing a new government run into the many hundreds. Cuban con- unraveled. The tragic internal struggle eral” cover, 300 soldiers and police from For 25¢ a day you can become a Workers World supporter has often stressed, “None of the charges Texas, at some point in the future. friendly to the U.S. These “war games” struction workers at the southern airport inside Grenada was merely seized on by six Caribbean countries were flown into involved violence in the U.S., the use of According to the Fifth Circuit Court of were staged on the Puerto Rican island of are reported to have put up a heroic fight Workers World is able to publish anti-war, anti-racist news because we are truly independent. Reagan as a pretext for sending in troops Grenada after the U.S. troops had taken weapons or property damage.” Appeals decision, which outlined his his- Vieques. against the invaders. The last six died You can’t get anything like it in any of the big business controlled media. We have no corporate to overpower the people of a small but over the island’s two airports. Since their sentencing in 2001, the tory as a CIA operative, Posada’s bloody Grenada protested to the U.S. that this fighting rather than surrender, while backers or advertisers. We rely completely on your donations. revolutionary Black state struggling for But, in fact, even according to the struggle to free the Five has been both career is well known in the upper echelons “exercise” was in fact a dress rehearsal hundreds of other Cuban workers gave up A donation of $100 a year is just about 25¢ a day. Become a member of the Workers World self-determination. Charter of the OECS, such an invasion is in the streets and in the appeals court. of the U.S. government, which continues for an invasion of Grenada. It pointed only when they ran out of ammunition. Supporter Program and help build the newspaper year round. Within hours of the start of the invasion, illegal. Moreover, the U.S. is not a mem- This Sept. 2, the 11th Circuit Court in to back this terrorist bomber. n out that an area of southern Grenada is Secretary of Defense Weinberger and Sponsors who contribute $100 a year or more receive a year’s subscription to the print edition President Reagan was telling the world ber of the OECS, while some member Atlanta denied a request for reconsidera- actually called “Amber,” while the island Joint Chiefs of Staff head General John of the newspaper, a monthly letter, five free trial subscriptions to the print edition, and a book that its main purpose was to safeguard the nations of the organization, like Trinidad chain is known as the “Grenadines.” Vessey told a press conference this after- from WW Forum. lives of 1,000 U.S. citizens in Grenada. and Tobago, refused to go along with the Two days before the death of Maurice noon that the former Governor-General Send a check or money order using the form below. The Pentagon has barred newscasters invasion. Bishop, Vice President George Bush was of Grenada, appointed by the British To contribute using a credit card, use our secure online Web site at www.workers.org from Grenada while the invasion is going These fabricated excuses used by the visiting Jamaica and its right-wing lead- Crown but jailed after the 1979 revolu- Choose a Supporter Program option: New Yorkers hear on. Even though it is only 50 miles from Reagan-Pentagon clique for their crimi- er, Edward Seaga, who was elected after a tion, had been “rescued” and was aboard Barbados and accessible by boat in a few nal action assume that the invasion was $75 Enclosed to become a WW Supporter. $100 Enclosed to become a WW Sponsor. CIA-financed campaign of destabilization a U.S. ship. hours, no reporters have been allowed to planned only in the last few days, since an $300 Enclosed to become a WW Sustainer. One time donation of $ ______. brought down his predecessor, Michael While Weinberger and Reagan talk about Latin America file stories from the island. internal political struggle resulted in the Manley. Please send me more information about the Supporter Program. about restoring “democracy” and allow- Charles Modica, the chancellor of St. tragic death of Prime Minister Maurice Clip and mail to the address on the bottom of the coupon Bush chaired the Crisis Management ing the Grenadians to “elect” whom they George’s University School of Medicine Bishop and other Cabinet members on The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle Ecuadorian ambassador Maria Fernanda Group meeting in the White House choose, there have been several reports in Grenada, where there are 650 U.S. Oct. 19 and the seizure of power by the sponsored an event on Sept. 5 in New Espinosa, Nicaraguan ambassador Maria Situation Room on Oct. 20 that recom- that the Governor-General, a vestige of students, has said that he felt there was military. York highlighting the growing leftist Rubiales De Chamorro, and Venezuelan mended the launching of the invasion British colonialism, may be restored by the Subscribe to Workers World newspaper no danger to the safety of the students. However, there is evidence that not movement in Latin America. ambassador Aura Mahuampi De Ortiz. force. It is obvious that his Jamaican trip U.S. to head a “provisional government.” Workers World Newspaper on the picket lines for 50 years (ABC-TV Nightline, Oct. 25) only did the U.S. line up its Caribbean The well-attended meeting, with about Two participants in the Bolivarian was not an innocent excursion but part of Reagan is boasting of “success” in Trial subscription: four weeks for $1 The Parents Network, a group of rela- puppets for the invasion before the death 300 people in the audience, was held in Circle’s July trip to the Bolivarian Republic the preparations for the intervention. achieving his military objective of physi- tives of U.S. students in Grenada, had sent of Bishop, but that the plans for an inva- Send me a year's subscription to Workers World for $25 the Great Hall of Cooper Union and fea- of Venezuela, Larry Hales of the youth Professor Wendell Bell of Yale has cally overwhelming Grenada’s defenses a telegram to Reagan on Monday urging sion were actually drawn up over two tured special guest speakers from Bolivia, organization FIST (Fight Imperialism, advanced the theory that CIA agents in (although this is by no means certain, him not to take “precipitous or provoca- years ago! Nicaragua, Ecuador and Venezuela. The Stand Together) and Robin Garcia, Grenada “were scheming to overthrow even now). But this shocking atrocity has tive action at this time.” In August 1981, U.S. Marines and Army Name Phone Cuban ambassador was invited but missed gave reports about their experiences in Bishop and egged on Bishop’s detrac- left U.S. imperialism almost totally isolat- Moreover, the Grenadian Revolutionary Rangers staged a “mock” invasion of a the meeting because of an approaching Venezuela. tors.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 26) ed around the world. Not one of its major Military Council had been assuring the Caribbean island code-named “Amber” Address Email storm. The night ended with a musical per- The Pentagon refuses to release allies in NATO has supported the inva- U.S. that it could absolutely guarantee and belonging to an island chain called Bernard White, program director for formance from Yerba Buena, while par- Grenadian casualty figures and speaks sion, not even Britain, which still nomi- the safety of Americans there. Today’s the “Amberdines.” The scenario followed City State Zip WBAI, moderated the event, and the ticipants and the speakers mingled and of “scattered pockets” of resistance, but, nally exerts some authority over Grenada Philadelphia Inquirer reports that by the Defense Department involved “res- Workers World Newspaper speakers included Bolivian ambassa- enjoyed refreshments. according to the Grenadian representa- as a Commonwealth country. n Grenada had learned of the U.S. invasion cuing” U.S. nationals from a “Marxist” 55 W. 17 St. 5 Fl., NY, NY 10011 212-627-2994 www.workers.org dor to the U.N. Hugo Silves Alvarado, —Workers World New York bureau tive at the UN, the dead and wounded Mhndo Obrero ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países, uníos! La lección de los arrestos de ICE en Laurel, Mississippi Los ataques contra l@s inmigrantes perjudican a tod@s l@s trabajador@s Por Teresa Guetiérrez en moteles. Esto hizo que l@s activistas negr@s en un área, l@s blanc@s en otra y tienen siempre que intentar inscribir a los alertaran al movimiento sobre la redada l@s latin@s en otra. trabajadores como miembros del sindi- Al mismo tiempo en que el Partido antes de que ocurriera. cato. Para mejorar su posición para nego- Demó­crata hacía promesas a la gente La Howard Industries es actualmente Se precisa movimiento de masas ciar un contrato, el Local 1317 comenzó de este país durante su convención en la fábrica más grande de transforma- Sin embargo, las noticias de la redada a trabajar fuertemente para inscribir a Colorado, la redada inmigratoria más dores de distribución. Es la empresa más en Laurel, Mississippi, no son totalmente trabajador@s inmigrantes. grande hasta la fecha ocurría en Laurel, grande en Laurel así como en el estado, negativas. El rumor de que ICE había lan- “Fue entonces cuando ocurrió la reda- Mississippi. empleando cerca de 4.000 trabajador@s zado la redada en la fábrica como resul- da”, observa. El 25 de agosto la Agencia de Inmigación de todo el estado. Su valor neto es de mil tado de una llamada del sindicato puede y Aduanas (ICE, siglas en inglés) llevaba millones de dólares. Este año la OSHA, ser precisamente eso: un rumor. Puede ser ¿Qué será necesario? a cabo otra de sus redadas racistas en la (organiación que supervisa la seguridad totalmente falso. Algunos reportes notici- Miles de oficiales sindicales asistieron fábrica de equipos eléctricos, Howard en los lugares de empleos), condenó a la eros dijeron que la supuesta llamada fue a la Convención Nacional Demócrata. Industries. Howard con $193.000 en cargos por 54 hecha hace dos años. ¿Cuáles fueron los pensamientos sobre las Más de 595 inmigrantes fueron arres­ violaciones de seguridad. El hecho es que Howard Industries ha redadas en Laurel o Postville? tad@s. Inmediatamente 475 de los traba- En 1997, bajo la necesidad constante de estado en medio de una campaña organi- Las dos redadas fueron abiertamente jadores fueron llevados al centro de deten- expansión capitalista, la compañía abrió zativa sindical. Ha sido una campaña sind- antisindicales. ción en Jena, Luisiana aproximadamente la Howard Technology Park en Ellisville, ical muy progresista, en la cual los orga- ¿Hubo un esfuerzo durante la conven- a 120 millas de Laurel. Mississippi. nizadores han luchado por incluir a l@s ción para pasar una resolución condenan- Jena ha sido el lugar de una serie de Esta planta recibió grandes subsidios del trabajador@s inmigrantes, documentad@s do estas redadas antiobreras y racistas? ataques racistas en contra de la comuni- estado, cerca de $30 millones, pero para el e indocumentad@s, al sindicato. ¿Se produjo un grito de protesta y por jus- dad negra. Allí en septiembre del 2006, año 2007, ningún inquilino se había muda- L@s trabajador@s african@-ameri­ ticia que posiblemente no fue mencionado tres horcas fueron colgadas de un árbol do. Los 5.000 empleos prometidos por la can@s sí aplaudieron pero lo hicieron en los medios masivos de comunicación? después de que seis estudiantes negros división de computadores de la compañía cuando algunas de las familias latinas ¿Fue sofocado este grito, como fueron osaran sentarse bajo un árbol al que en 1997 nunca se materializaron. llevaban a cabo una protesta frente a la sofocadas las protestas afuera de la con- infamemente se le conocía como “el árbol La redada del 25 de agosto en la Howard planta el 30 de agosto demandando los vención en contra de la guerra y a favor de blanco.” dejó una corriente de suspicacia en la cheques salariales de l@s trabajador@s los derechos inmigratorios? Los ataques iniciaron un movimiento comunidad inmigrante, la cual es primor- detenid@s en Jena. L@s trabajadores El movimiento sindical enfrenta enormes masivo por la justicia para los 6 de Jena, dialmente latina. Activistas laborales y pro negr@s salieron para estrechar la mano problemas ahora que una profunda crisis incluyendo una de las más grandes mani- derecho para l@s inmigrantes reportan de las familias latinas. económica capitalista se desarrolla. La festaciones en contra del racismo en que l@s latin@s tienen ahora temor de Much@s de l@s trabajador@s de respuesta a estos problemas está frente a décadas. salir de sus casas; las tiendas y los restau- Howard, negr@s y blanc@s, salieron a nosotr@s: enfocarnos en forjar solidari- rantes que sirven a la comunidad latina se estrechar la mano de las familias latinas. dad entre tod@s l@s trabajador@s, para Las redadas son estrategias para ven casi vacias. David Bacon, un periodista progresista que puedan resistir mejor el asalto de los dividir y conquistar Algunas de las noticias sobre la reda- que ha escrito mucho sobre las condi- empresarios. Esa ha sido la lección de Defensor@s de los derechos inmigrato- da han sido calculadas para profun- ciones de vida de l@s trabajador@s inmi- todos los grandes períodos de luchas y vic- rios temían que los trabajadores en Laurel dizar la división entre l@s trabajador@s grantes, escribió en Truthout.org el 31 de torias sindicales. enfrentaran cargos similares a aquellos estadounidenses y l@s trabajador@s agosto: “Las tensiones entre la compañía y Hay much@s militantes sindicales hoy impuestos contra los trabajadores empaca- inmigrantes, especialmente l@s el sindicato incrementaron después de que que están intentando hacer esto precisa- dores luego de la terrible redada por la ICE indocumentad@s. el acuerdo de las negociaciones colectivas mente. Mientras los sindicatos celebran el en Postville, Iowa, en mayo de este año. Los reportajes en la televisión y los se acabó a principios de agosto. Según Día del Trabajo, sus líderes tienen que saber En Postville, los trabajadores no recibi- periódicos, tanto en inglés como en espa- un trabajador inmigrante … el sindicato que a menos que tiendan lazos de solidari- eron cargos de violación a las leyes migra- ñol, dicen que la redada supuestamente estaba pidiendo un incremento salarial de dad a todos l@s trabajador@s inmigrant- torias sino cargos de robo de identidad—el ocurrió como resultado de una denuncia a $1,50 la hora y una mejora en los benefi- es, documentad@s e indocumentad@s, y cual es una felonía, mucho más seria que la ICE por un miembro de un sindicato. El cios por vacaciones. Los beneficios médi- provean no solo apoyo verbal, sino ayu- cualquier violación de inmigración. sindicato en la fábrica es la Internacional cos también son un tema de discusión … da material a l@s incontables activistas Sin embargo, como resultado de la indig- Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. porque el costo del seguro médico familiar que trabajan sin cansar y heroicamente, nación pública por la redada en Postville, Telemundo, una importante estación es más de $100 a la semana. mayormente sin un salario para defender hasta ahora solo unos pocos de los inmi- nacional de televisión en español, reportó “Mississippi es un estado con leyes anti- los derechos inmigrantes, la clase domi- grantes de Laurel han recibido cargos de que algunos de los trabajadores en la sindicales”, sigue Bacon, “y los contratos nante de este país y los capitanes de la robo de identidad, lo cual ya es demasiado. fábrica aplaudieron cuando la ICE cap- colectivos no pueden requerir que los tra- industria como los de Howard Industries Y como en Postville, la ICE preparó la turó a los inmigrantes. También reportó bajadores de una empresa pertenezcan al seguirán ganando la guerra en contra de redada reservando muchas habitaciones que la ICE separó a l@s trabajador@s sindicato. En vez de esto, los sindicatos tod@s l@s trabajador@s. n Es la pobreza, no Gustavo, quien trae la muerte al Caribe Por G. Dunkel tantes, antes de dirigirse al norte hacia los ella. Aludes de lodo, muy comunes en las bién era muy pobre en el pasado. Pero Estados Unidos por el Golfo de México. zonas desforestadas del campo haitiano, luego de su revolución socialista en 1959, Mientras Gustavo era todavía una tor- De las aproximadamente 90 muertes sin duda resultaron en muchas víctimas. Cuba se ha enfocado en la salud y el desar- menta tropical con vientos menos de 70 que fueron reportadas durante la trayec- Haití es decididamente el país más rollo de su pueblo. Antes de que llegara millas por hora pero con fuertes lluvias, toria de Gustavo por el Caribe, alrededor pobre de todos los que fueron azotados el huracán, evacuó a 250.000 personas rozó ligeramente la República Dominicana. de 75 fueron en Haití, ocho en la República por Gustavo. Aún si el gobierno hubi- como una precaución. Comités de defensa Luego se fortaleció hasta ser un huracán Dominicana y ocho en Jamaica. Ninguna era querido hacer una evacuación, no civil visitan a cada familia para anuncia- de categoría 1 — de 5 posibles — mien- muerte fue reportada en Cuba, aunque hay autobuses para mudar a la gente ni rles que viene una evacuación, y luego tras pasaba por el sureste y el suroeste de algunas personas fueron heridas por suficientes caminos pavimentados para vuelven a visitarlas para asegurarse de Haití. Se forteleció más mientras pasaba escombros lanzados por el viento. acomodar los autobuses. Y aún si tuviera que tod@s hayan salido, incluyendo l@s por Jamaica y las Islas Caimanes. El número de muertes reportado en los caminos y los autobuses, necesitaría de la tercera edad y l@s discapacitad@s. Al llegar a Cuba la tempestad ya había Haití puede subir. “Hay regiones afectadas edificios para resguardar a las masas de Las comunidades son evacuadas juntas alcanzado ser un huracán de categoría 4 por el huracán donde nuestros equipos gente y proveer un lugar donde pudiera y saben a dónde van para que las familias con vientos de 140 millas por hora. En no han podido penetrar,” dijo la directora alojarles y distribuir alimentos, cosas que no estén separadas. L@s doctor@s en la el pueblo de Paso Real de San Diego en de protección civil, Alta Jean-Baptiste a Haití no tiene. comunidad van con sus pacientes para el oeste de Cuba, las rachas alcanzaron reporteros en Port-au-Prince, añadiendo Los países capitalistas más desarrolla- garantizar que las medicinas como la las 212 millas por hora, un nuevo récord que la mayoría de muertes ocurrieron en dos, Estados Unidos y Europa, han cas- insulina y otras estén disponibles. nacional, según un portavoz del Instituto el sureste de Haití. tigado intencionalmente la economía de Cuba sufrió significativos daños físicos Cubano de Meteorología. (MSNBC.com) “La mayoría de las víctimas murió Haití desde hace muchos años cuando una a sus cosechas y edificios en esta tormen- La furia del huracán pasó por la Isla de cuando se cayeron sus casas, o fueron revolución exitosa de esclavos derrotó allí ta extremadamente violenta, pero hasta la Juventud en Cuba, luego por la parte matados por árboles que les cayeron al régimen colonial francés a principios el mediodía del primero de septiem- oeste de Cuba pero no por la Habana, de lo encima. Otros se ahogaron cuando tra- del siglo XIX. bre, ninguna pérdida de vida había sido cual se salvaron sus dos millones de habi- taron de cruzar ríos acrecentados,” dijo La mayoría de la gente en Cuba tam- reportada. n