• TRIBUNAL SUPREMO • EUA REZAGADO EN SALUD 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 58, No. 8 March 3, 2016 $1

Women’s History: ALBERT WOODFOX! Cuba’s Ana Betancourt. Page 5. Former Panther free at last By Gloria Rubac

Feb. 22 — Shouts of jubilation, tears of joy and big hugs were the order of the day on Feb. 19 as Albert Woodfox, the last imprisoned member of the Angola 3, walked out of the West Feliciana Parish Jail in southern Louisiana. On hand to give this unbreakable political prisoner a warm welcome were his brother, Michael Mabel, and other supporters. Woodfox raised a clenched fist and smiled. It was his 69th birthday, and what a present his release was! Around the world, from Louisiana to London, from Brooklyn to the Bay Area, from Texas to Tanzania, so- cial media buzzed, phone calls were made and emails were sent. In essence, they all said, “Albert is free! After nearly 44 years in solitary, Albert is really finally free!” Woodfox, Herman Wallace and Robert King were at Louisiana’s Angola Penitentiary, a former slave planta- tion, in the early 1970s, organizing against the horrific conditions there and trying to build racial unity. They had joined the Black Panther Party and formed a prison chapter. After a prison guard was killed in an uprising in 1972, Woodfox and Wallace were charged with his death. Along with King, they were thrown into solitary con- finement and became known as the Angola 3. Over the decades, they were forced to live in isolation and were denied basic rights. WW PHOTO: TONI ARENSTEIN Harlem rally to honor Malcolm X stands with Flint, Feb. 21. Editorial - Tear down the walls! 10 Herman Wallace was released from prison in 2013 just a few days before dying from cancer. His huge fu- neral in New Orleans drew hundreds of family, friends and supporters from his neighborhood but also many 2 other parts of the U.S. and some from Europe. • Chicago communities vs. police terror

A wonderful surprise A showing of the recent film “The Black Panthers: • Split them up? No, seize the banks! 3 Vanguard of the Revolution” had been planned at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center in New Orleans to honor Woodfox on his birthday. A panel discussion with for- • Wisconsin in struggle 6 mer Panthers and Angola 3 supporters was to follow, and the organizers were going to mail Woodfox the pic- tures. Instead, he and his brother walked into the hall. • Flint’s battle for water 5, 7 “You’d have thought that Beyonce had entered,” said Parnell Herbert, an activist, a playwright and a child- hood friend of Woodfox. “People were cheering and were absolutely thrilled to see Albert alive, free and in person!” On the stage was Malik Rahim and other members of the original Black Panther Party in New Orleans, along with Herbert, who had written and produced a play about the Angola 3 while living in Houston after Hurri- cane Katrina. PHOTO: JOE BRUSKY In the audience was Robert King, who was at the prison gates when Woodfox walked out. King had been released from Angola in 2001 when his conviction was • Zika and climate change 8 Continued on page 4

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Illinois meetings discuss Growing the movement against racist terror WW PHOTO: ANDY KATZ By Andy Katz Chicago  In the U.S. Black Liberation movement veterans Pam Africa and Albert Woodfox wins release ...... 1 Ramona Africa, along with Workers World Party Vice Illinois meetings discuss movement to fight racist terror . .2 Presidential candidate Lamont Lilly, met with local ac- Take over the banks! ...... 3 tivists for political discussions in Chicago and Rockford, Ill., on Feb. 20-21. Dozens of community members gath- ‘Uniting Voices Against State-Sponsored Violence’ . . . .3 ered to discuss building a movement against police terror, On the picket line ...... 4 mass incarceration and deportations. Oakland community rallies to stop ICE raids ...... 4 Pam Africa, a member of the MOVE organization and a Ana Betancourt: An imperishable Cuban woman . . . . .5 leader of the International Concerned Friends and Fami- ly of Mumia Abu-Jamal, spoke on the current state of the Youth: Fight the system that poisoned Flint! ...... 5 decades-long struggle to free the political prisoner. “The Wisconsin Labor-community joint struggles on the rise . .6 government didn’t just decide to give up on giving Mumia Class struggle in Wisconsin since 2011 ...... 6 the death penalty,” Africa explained. “It was the power of Flint residents demand water justice ...... 7 the movement that pushed for 30 years without compro- WWP Vice-Presidential candidate Lamont Lilly and other activists demonstrate in front of Cook County court and jail mise.” She also discussed the recent threat to Mumia’s life Lead in the street, lead in the sink ...... 7 in Chicago. through medical neglect as he battles hepatitis C. Obama plans unprecedented visit to Cuba ...... 9 “As long as you keep fighting, you are victorious,” Ra- land grabs. … What they call penitentiaries, we know are  Around the world mona Africa told attendees. “As long as you let your enemy really concentration camps for Black and Brown folk. We know that if they come at you, they can expect a fight, then have to use brutal terms to describe brutal realities.” Zika, microcephaly and global climate change ...... 8 you are victorious.” She is the only adult survivor of the Linarez, a Mexican immigrant and member of the Chicago U.S. continues endless war in Afghanistan ...... 8 1985 Philadelphia police siege and bombing of the MOVE Branch of Workers World Party, discussed the current crisis of Left forces lead protests in Moldova, face repression . . . . 9 house, which killed six adults and five children and de- raids and deportations. “In response to the repression and ter- Truce? Keep your guard up ...... 10 stroyed dozens of surrounding homes. ror by ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], the im- Lilly outlined his campaign’s 10-point program, which migrant community has fought back,” she said. “It is import- U.S. bombs Libya — again ...... 11 includes demands for reparations for slavery, full liber- ant to do all we can to support these actions and connect them Guyana commission: Burnham gov’t murdered Rodney . 11 ation and equality for women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, with the Black Lives Matter movement. The same police state  Editorial trans* and queer people, full rights for all immigrants, that deports our friends and families also guns down young Tear down the walls! ...... 10 an end to the capitalist system and more. (Trans* is used Black people in the street. Solidarity between our movements with an asterisk to indicate the spectrum of all the differ- can only make both of them stronger.”  Noticias en Español ent genders of people who do not conform to the either/or Olowu, a founder of University of Illinois Urbana-Cham- EUA rezagado en salud ...... 12 of male/female or of masculine/feminine.) paign’s Black Students for Revolution, delivered a powerful Tribunal Supremo ...... 12 “We already know there’s a war on Black lives, a war on performance of Dominque Christina’s poem “Karma.” the poor, the working class,” Lilly said. “What we have to do Mines, a representative of the Philly REAL Justice Co- is get organized, get smart, be proactive and not reactive.” alition, spoke on the repressive effects of “21st-century policing” in Philadelphia. Discussing ‘brutal realities’ Dorothy Pinkney, spouse of Michigan political prisoner In Chicago, local activists Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., Rev. Edward Pinkney, and David Sole, of Detroit Work- Daphne Jackson, Karen Olowu, Erica Mines, and Patricia ers World Party, spoke about the movement to free Rev. Linarez joined the discussion. Hampton Jr. is the son of Pinkney. For more information about this struggle, visit Chicago Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton, who bhbanco.org. Workers World was murdered while he slept by the Chicago Police De- In Rockford, there was also a rich dialogue between 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. partment and the FBI in 1969. “We are subjected to ter- the guest panelists and community leaders Pastor Mel- New York, N.Y. 10011 rorism on a daily basis,” Hampton Jr. said. “They use eu- vin Brown, of Kingdom Authority Church, and Victoria Phone: 212.627.2994 phemisms like gentrification to talk about their genocidal Sockwell. E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 58, No. 8 • March 3, 2016 Closing date: Feb. 23, 2016 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- and production is planned to satisfy human need. This Bob McCubbin outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, means of production. women. Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, make that change. That’s why for 57 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Carlos Vargas been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2016 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. 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By Stephen Millies mand of MBNA, a Delaware bank that in Africa, Asia and Latin America as well. Russian banks. They organized the peo- was the largest issuer of credit cards. This Like a reverse blood transfusion, the ple to take them over. One of the most popular planks of Sen. outfit, taken over by Bank of America in trillions locked in the banks represent We’re not talking about bailouts or even Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign 2006, moved from Maryland because unpaid wages heisted from the poor and nationalizing banks whose stockholders platform is to break up the big banks. state legislators refused to raise an 18 given to the rich. This wealth was taken are lavishly compensated. The Bolsheviks Sanders pointed out in a May 6, 2015, percent interest rate limit. Hunter Biden, from workers paid the minimum wage conducted a people’s takeover in which release: “The six largest U.S. financial in- a son of Joe Biden, became an MBNA vice at the local McDonald’s and Walmart. It the capitalist bankers got nothing. stitutions today have assets of some $10 president. was stolen from workers being paid pen- The new socialist banks became a vi- trillion, an amount equal to almost 60 President Bill Clinton vetoed similar nies an hour in garment sweatshops in tal part of socialist economic planning percent of the gross domestic product. legislation the year before. Yet then-Sen. Bangladesh and Honduras and palm oil that modernized the Soviet Union and They handle more than two-thirds of all Hillary Clinton voted for this “reform act.” plantations in Nigeria. allowed it to defeat Hitler’s war machine. credit card purchases, control nearly 50 The bill was so unpopular that it was Tragically, socialism was overthrown in percent of all bank deposits, and control voted down in the Republican-controlled Socialism and banks the Soviet Union by a counterrevolution. over 95 percent of the $240 trillion in de- House of Representatives. To his credit, Lenin, the leader of the Russian Rev- With the help of its socialist banking rivatives held by commercial banks.” then-Rep. Bernie Sanders voted against olution, was also concerned about big system, socialist Cuba has been able to These banks tower over society and it. A similar rotten bill passed Congress banks. In “Imperialism, the Highest survive despite being blockaded. cause misery to millions. Just from 2008 in 2005. Stage of Capitalism,” Lenin wrote a cen- The capitalist world market has made to 2014, some 5.4 million homes in the tury ago that “[banks,] concentrated in a inroads in the People’s Republic of China. U.S. were “repossessed” — that is, stolen Stop foreclosures now! few hands and exercising a virtual mo- Yet the banks there are still controlled by from their families. (tinyurl.com/avys5sk) So why doesn’t presidential candidate nopoly, extract enormous and ever-in- the socialist state led by a strong 90-mil- When the Pentagon invaded Iraq Bernie Sanders call for a moratorium creasing profits … [and] levy tribute upon lion-person Communist Party. which has twice, it was serving the interests of these on all foreclosures, evictions and utility the whole of society.” enabled China to grow despite the 2008 banks and Big Oil to open new areas for shutoffs? Hillary Clinton doesn’t either, Banks are supposed to lend money to capitalist world economic collapse. investment and exploitation. not to mention the Republicans. increase production. That’s hardly hap- Thousands of miles of high-speed rail- But is splitting up trillion-dollar banks Breaking up the big banks and insur- pening: Since 2000, six million manu- road tracks were built in China, financed like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, ance companies into a thousand pieces facturing workers have lost their jobs in by socialist banks. In the U.S., capitalist Citibank and Wells Fargo into mere mul- won’t stop racist lending practices. Big the United States alone. banks refuse to finance replacing Am- tibillion-dollar banks going to help? Even and small banks economically blockaded Where are bank loans for affordable trak’s 106-year-old Portal swing bridge smaller financial institutions will still be the overwhelmingly Black city of Detroit. housing? The bankers have lent billions over the Hackensack River in New Jersey, able to buy both parties in Congress and “From 1988 to 1990, only one building to build dozens of luxury condominiums whose openings often delay trains. throw people out of their homes. permit for a single-family home was is- instead. The average price of a Manhat- Unlike Bernie Sanders, Workers World Vice President Joseph Biden, then a sued in the entire 139-square-mile city of tan apartment in New York City is now Party Presidential candidate Monica Democratic senator from Delaware, was Detroit.” (New York Times, July 5, 1997) $1.87 million. (New York Times, July 1) Moorehead and Vice Presidential candi- a sponsor of the Bankruptcy Reform Act Why don’t we take over the banks in- Fearing an economic collapse, the date Lamont Lilly have no plan to pre- of 2001. That bill would have made it stead? JPMorgan’s CEO Jamie Dimon banks are hoarding their money. So are serve capitalist banking. They raise the much harder for people to declare bank- didn’t produce a dime in value for the $27 the world’s super-rich, who have $32 tril- need to smash the bankers with a social- ruptcy if they were unable to pay credit million salary he got last year. His bank’s lion in offshore tax havens. (Reuters, July ist revolution. card debts — debts with 23.99 percent $2.4 trillion in assets are drained not 22, 2012) The writer is a recently retired Amtrak interest rates, which are loan-shark rates. only from poor and working people in the Revolutionaries led by Lenin, called train dispatcher who crossed his fingers This act passed the Senate on the de- United States, but from millions of people the Bolsheviks, didn’t just split up the whenever Portal Bridge was opened. ‘Uniting Voices Against State-Sponsored Violence’

By Terri Kay and Gail Noble of Silicon Valley DE-BUG’s San Jose, Calif. Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project. The event was organized by Laurie Val- There was a packed house at the Afri- dez of Justice for Josiah, R.A.D., Silicon can American Community Service Agen- Valley DE-BUG and Cephus “Uncle Bob- cy, the gathering place of families with by” Johnson’s Love Not Blood Campaign. one common cause, on Feb. 20. Families The closing included a beautiful release with “Uniting Voices Against State-Spon- into the night of lanterns for each lost WW PHOTO: TERRI KAY sored Violence” came together to share family member. Families of victims of killer cops. San Jose, Calif. their grief and anger at the loss of their loved ones at the hands of the police. To- gether with their families, friends and supporters, they heard each other testify Black History Month Matters: about their lost loved ones. Families who testified included those of Antonio Guzman, killed two years ago SUPPORT WW by San Jose State University Police; Der- rick Gaines, killed at 15 by the South San The heroic Black Lives Matter movement Ferguson, Mo., August 2014. Francisco Police; Yamira Serrano Garcia, is the latest chapter in the centuries-long WW PHOTO: MONICA MOOREHEAD killed at 18 by a San Mateo County Sher- struggle to end the brutal, genocidal his- iff; Richard “Harpo” Jacqez, killed by tory of racism, starting with slavery, that and Brown people all around the San Jose Police; Phillip Watkins, killed permeates every aspect of U.S. life. How- country. We also expose the crim- by San Jose Police; Rudy Cardenas, killed ever, that continuing history of vicious op- inal injustice system that allows by San Jose Police; Frank Alvarado Jr. pression and criminal exploitation is not killer cops to walk free — like the killed by Salinas Police; and Alex Nieto, common knowledge today. one who arrested Sandra Bland in killed by San Francisco Police. That’s why Workers World makes a big Texas and the one who executed 12-year- If you appreciate that coverage and There was also a panel, which ad- deal of Black History Month, as we com- old Tamir Rice while he was playing with more, it’s time to join the Workers World dressed some of the questions and issues memorate the many sacrifices and valiant a toy gun in the park in Cleveland. Even if Supporter Program. We established it in related to the circumstances that allow struggles of African Americans from slav- the cop who murdered Laquan McDonald 1977 so readers could help us publish an- police forces across the country to kill ery to the present day to eradicate institu- in 2014 in Chicago was indicted, he might ti-racist, working-class truth and build the Black and Brown people with such cal- tionalized racism, root and branch, in this get a slap on the wrist like the cop who many campaigns needed to make qualita- lous impunity. Panel members included country. only served 11 months for killing Oscar tive, revolutionary change that crushes Cat Brooks from the Anti Police-Terror But, as you know from reading this Grant in Oakland in 2009 in cold blood. capitalism and ushers in socialism. Project; Tiny (Lisa Gray-Garcia) of Poor newspaper, Workers World doesn’t just WW bases our weekly coverage of the Write checks to Workers World and Magazine; Charles Fowler, a high school cover the Black struggle one month a ongoing Black struggle here, and the one mail them, with your name and address, teacher in East Side San Jose and sup- year. We write about it in depth all year, in Africa to throw off imperialist chains, to 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Floor, New York, porter of a youth collective called San every year. Our coverage includes the on the principle of self-determination: NY 10011. Or donate online at workers. Jose Regeneration Against Destruction racist poisoning of water in the majori- that oppressed people have the right to org/donate/. We are grateful for your or R.A.D.; Alexandria Peal Armstrong, a ty African-American city of Flint, Mich., fight to end all forms of inequality and in- help in building the revolutionary press high school senior and member of R.A.D.; as well as the daily cop murders of Black justice — by any means necessary. in the U.S. Page 4 March 3, 2016 workers.org On the

picket ineBy Matty Starrdust and Sue Davis

Minneapolis janitors stage protests Thousands of Twin Cities janitors, members of Service Employees Local 26, held picket lines outside the places they normally clean on Feb. 17. Working without a contract since December, the workers are demanding an immediate pay raise for both full-time and part-time janitors to $15 an hour as well as limits to an “ever-­increasing workload.” Inspired by Local 26, hundreds of nonunion janitors, mostly immigrants hired by contractors to clean stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s and Sears, protested the next day for fair wages and better working conditions. In addition to picketing stores where they work, some protesters blocked traffic leading to downtown Minneapolis to ­demand an end to racial and economic disparities in Minnesota. (minnesota.cbslocal.com, Feb. 17 and 18) WW PHOTO: JUDY GREENSPAN NLRB files complaint: ATI lockout violates labor law When Pittsburgh-based defense contractor Allegheny Technologies Inc. and Oakland community four subsidiaries locked out 2,200 members of the Steelworkers union (USW) at 12 plants in six states on Aug. 15, it violated federal labor laws, according to a 31-page complaint written by Region 6 of the National Labor Relations Board on Feb. 11. rallies to stop ICE raids ATI was cited for more than 20 instances of bargaining in bad faith, illegally inter- rogating workers and threatening to fire workers who went on strike. The ­complaint By Judy Greenspan ers and students from 30 Oakland schools was based on unfair labor practice charges filed by the USW in early 2016. Oakland, Calif. who have committed themselves to in- Steelworkers President Leo W. Gerard praised the citation: “The company has, forming the community about their rights since day one, engaged in a pattern of intimidation, manipulation and bad faith On Feb. 17, with the strong support and to organizing solidarity actions. bargaining in a blatant attempt to force hardworking people into accepting deep of the Oakland Education Association, María Robles, mother of an Oakland cuts in pay and benefits.” The complaint will be heard by an NLRB administrative students, parents and teachers rallied student, spoke about the pain and fear that law judge on May 23. (usw.org, Feb. 12; cantonrep.com, Feb. 12) outside Coliseum College Prep Academy, ICE causes in the immigrant community Stay tuned. This case has precedent-setting potential since many companies one of Oakland’s small public schools, where she lives. “We live in constant fear of have resorted to lockouts to curtail strikes in the recent period. to demand “safety” for undocumented deportation. We are regular families work- students and an end to Immigration and ing hard to survive,” Robles stated. Sea-Tac Airport workers sue for unpaid wages Customs Enforcement raids. On “Nation- Another speaker introduced as María, Despite a 2013 ballot referendum setting the legal minimum wage for transpor- al Walk-In Day for the Schools Our Stu- a member of “67 Sueños,” a local commu- tation and hospitality workers in SeaTac, Wash., at $15 an hour, an estimated 1,500 dents Deserve,” this coalition focused on nity organization fighting for the rights of airport workers, out of 5,000, are still being paid below the legal minimum. Work- the demand of “No ICE! Stop the attack undocumented students, stated proudly, ers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including janitors, baggage handlers, on Oakland families!” “We are not illegal. We are human beings.” cleaners, refuelers and others, filed class action suits Feb. 17 against more than a “It is our duty to stand up to ICE. We Edgar Sanchez, a teacher at Coliseum dozen employers. The suits accuse the employers of illegally withholding amounts support the teachers and students who College Prep and the son of undocument- as high as $20,000 per worker since the minimum wage was raised over two years are organizing this week all over our city,” ed parents, chaired the action and led a ago. (It was later adjusted for inflation to $15.24 by a city ordinance.) One lawyer said Trish Gorham, president of OEA. march into the school, where many stu- representing the workers estimates that the total withheld, including benefits and The Oakland teachers’ union passed a dents showed their support and solidar- overtime pay, is as high as $62.5 million. strong resolution last week opposing de- ity. Summing up the theme of the rally According to attorney Duncan Turner, though many wage-theft victims have portations and the appearance of ICE in and march, Sanchez said, “Our students come forward to demand justice, “We talked to a lot of people who were just too this community. and families have a right to stay together afraid” of losing their jobs. (Associated Press, Feb. 17) The rally was a coalition effort of teach- and feel safe.” Demand fair contract for U.S./Mexican copper workers The Steelworkers union in the U.S. and Los Mineros in Mexico filed complaints Feb. 18 accusing Mexican mining conglomerate Grupo Mexico and its U.S. subsid- iary, Asarco, of violating workers’ rights on both sides of the border. The unions Albert Woodfox, former Panther asked the U.S. National Contact Point for the Organization for Economic Coopera- tion and Development Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises to foster dialogue Continued from page 1 between the parties. Though the specific terms of the complaint are confidential, Court for the Middle District of Louisi- the USW has accused Tucson, Ariz.-based Asarco of multiple unfair labor practic- finally thrown out. After living in soli- ana ordered him released and forbade a es, including threatening workers, unlawfully implementing changes in workplace tary for 29 years, King has spent the last retrial. But the state of Louisiana imme- conditions and failing to negotiate with the USW and seven other unions at its five 15 years speaking around the world to diately appealed to the U.S. Court of Ap- U.S. facilities. The National Labor Relations Board has scheduled a hearing on the supporters of the Angola 3 and educat- peals for the 5th Circuit that stayed the complaints for March 15. ing people about the horrors of solitary release order. More than 2,000 USW members in Asarco’s copper mines, smelter and refinery confinement. His guiding promise when “Although I was looking forward to in Arizona and Texas have been working without a contract since June 2013. Even released was: “I may be free from Angola, proving my innocence at a new trial, con- though Asarco’s net income was $1.5 billion in 2013 — Grupo Mexico’s net income but Angola will never be free from me!” cerns about my health and my age have was $1.7 billion in 2013 — Asarco seeks to divide the workers by offering lower In an emotional reunion at the Ashe caused me to resolve this case now and benefits to new employees. The USW, the other U.S. unions and Los Mineros have Cultural Center, King took the stage obtain my release,” Woodfox said in a united against that and other changes. On Dec. 1, Asarco implemented portions of to the beat of African drums and gave statement after he was freed. He pleaded their so-called “last, best and final offer,” changing the workers’ compensation and Woodfox a big bear hug. no contest to a couple of lesser charges benefits without their agreement. The next morning Woodfox put roses instead of subjecting himself to another The filing comes as workers marked the 10th anniversary of an explosion at the on the grave of his mother, who had died trial, and was released on the basis that Grupo Mexico mine at Pasta de Conchos in the state of Coahuila that killed 65 work- in the early 1990s. He had been denied he had already served more years than ers. The bodies of 63 of those miners remain trapped underground. Representatives permission to attend the funeral. He said those charges called for. of the USW marched with Los Mineros members in Mexico City on Feb. 19 to demand he wanted to tell her goodbye. Woodfox spent nearly 44 years alone recovery of the bodies, compensation for the families of the victims, and prosecution In an interview with the New Orleans in a windowless 6-by-9-foot cell. He was of responsible company and government officials. The two unions have had a ­strategic Advocate, Woodfox said one of his first allowed out for only an hour a day. He alliance since 2005. (usw.org, Feb. 18) To demand that Asarco/Grupo Mexico offer a impressions of the world outside prison wasn’t allowed to have a prison job and fair contract to the workers, sign the petition at tinyurl.com/jigqsep. was having a wide, front-seat view of the ate all his meals in the cell, which was landscape as his brother drove him away separated from a hallway by metal bars. from jail. “It felt strange because I was Amnesty International had launched Capitalism at sitting in the front of his car rather than a worldwide campaign to free the Ango- a Dead End the back of a van,” Woodfox said. la 3 and end their solitary confinement. In a report released in 2011, Amnesty Job destruction, Held even after asked that Louisiana release the two overproduction For more information on these books and judge ordered his release men who remained in jail, as there was and crisis in the other writings by the author, Fred Goldstein, Family and supporters had expected no physical evidence that they had killed high-tech era go to LowWageCapitalism.com Woodfox to be freed last summer, after anyone and their confinement was a vi- Available at online major booksellers Judge James J. Brady of the U.S. District olation of not only the U.S. Constitution workers.org March 3, 2016 Page 5

Ana Betancourt: An imperishable Cuban woman This guest article was contributed by On July 9, 1871, Betan- by the United States. Seven- ba Hernández, Haydeé Santamaría, Ce- friends in Cuba. court and her husband Igna- ty-seven years later, her ashes lia Sanchez Manduley, Vilma Espín are, By Rosa María Oliva Enríquez and cio were surprised by enemy were brought to Cuba and de- among others, worthy representatives Ildefonso Gustavo Díaz Sandoval guerrilla warfare in Rosalía posited, with well-deserved of women’s rights in Cuba, [expressing] del Chorrillo. Thanks to honor, in the mausoleum of the deepest longings of women for social Ana Betancourt de Mora was born in a ruse, she saved her hus- the Cuban Revolutionary equality. Camagüey, Cuba, on Dec. 14, 1832. As band’s life, but she was tak- Armed Forces, before finally Since the victory of the Socialist Rev- with all young, wealthy Cuban women, en prisoner, as arthritis in being placed in the mausole- olution in January 1959, Cuban women she took classes in religion, sewing, em- her legs prevented her from um raised to her memory in have been present in all fronts: occupy- Ana Betancourt broidery, music and home economics. fleeing. The [captors] kept her out- Guáimaro. ing management positions in the dif- 1832-1901 At the age of 22, she married Ignacio doors under a ceiba [tree] for three Of her Carlos Manuel de Cés- ferent political, labor and social organi- Mora y de la Pera, a young educated man months in the savanna of Jobabo as bait pedes, the Father of the Homeland, said: zations and in departments, as well as who believed in independence and who to attract Colonel Mora. “A woman, ahead of her century, asked fulfilling diverse and dissimilar tasks in was, according to Ana, “her teacher and Pressed to write to her husband to ask for the emancipation of the woman in health, education, art, sport and agricul- her best friend.” him to lay down his arms, Ana answered Cuba.” ture, among other areas. At the very beginning of the Ten Years energetically: “I prefer to be a widow of a Women like Ana multiply in Cuba; im- They grow bolder day after day, raising War [against Spain] on Oct. 10, 1868, man of honor than to be the wife of a man perishable examples have remained in higher the example of the charisma and Mora was one of the first to join the lib- without dignity and tainted.” the history, which together with her pro- the tireless labor of these “Marianas,” erating armed forces, while Ana devoted In these conditions she had to bear gressive dreams have also defended the who hoist the flag in defense of all the herself to sending materiel and clothes to with even a simulated execution. On Oct. inalienable rights of the woman. principles to which women have the right the rebels, as well as writing and distrib- 9, 1871, she managed to escape and hid in Names like Magdalena Peñaredonda, as tireless fighters for the solidarity and uting revolutionary propaganda. Havana but was located and deported to Amalia Simone, Mariana Grajales, Mel- the unity of the people. Chased by the Spanish authorities, she Mexico. A short while later she set- joined the rebels in Guáimaro on Dec. tled in New York. 4, 1868, exchanging the serenity of her In 1872 she visited the president home for the martyrdom of war. of the United States, Ulysses Grant, On April 14, 1869, her voice was heard asking him to intercede in favor of in Guáimaro, headquarters of the Con- pardoning the medical students im- stituent Assembly, when in a speech prisoned for the events of November full of patriotism she proclaimed the 1871. That same year she went to re- redemption of the Cuban woman: “Cit- side in Kingston, Jamaica, where in izens: the woman, in the dim and quiet November 1875 she received news corner of the home, was waiting patient- of the execution of her husband. She ly and resigned to this beautiful hour in returned to Cuba with the signing which a new revolution breaks her yoke of the Pact of El Zajón [which ended and unties her wings.” the Ten Years War]. And she added: “Citizens: here every- In 1882 she returned to New York, thing was enslaving: the cradle, the col- and in 1889 she went to Spain, where or and the sex. You want to destroy the she devoted herself to transcribing slavery of the cradle, fighting until death. the wartime diary of her husband, You have destroyed the slavery of color, while also maintaining active corre- emancipating the slave. The moment has spondence with Gonzalo de Quesada arrived to liberate the woman!” and other Cuban patriots. She con- Together with her husband in the jungle, verted her sister’s house into a site of she worked on the newspaper “The Mam- revolutionary activity. bí,” which featured interesting articles On Feb. 7, 1901, during a cold and about the life of the mambises [guerrilla dark evening in Madrid, the cele- Cuban independence soldiers] in the coun- brated patriot from Camagüey, Ana tryside, as well as the independence ideals Betancourt, died far from her natal of those Cubans committed to the fight. soil, which was occupied at the time free at last Youth say: Fight the system that poisoned Flint! but international law. Although plans for his life outside prison are still being formed, one thing The following is a leaflet distribut- ment close to 10 percent (which is an un- to put people back to work with good wages Woodfox intends to do is fight to end sol- ed by Detroit youth activists in FIST derestimate) and 20,000 vacant homes to fix the roads, feed the hungry and edu- itary confinement. He, Wallace and King -- Fight Imperialism, Stand Together caused by bank and tax foreclosures. cate our next generation? Democratic Gov. in 2000 filed a federal civil rights suit -- at the Feb. 19 mass demonstration de- The decision by the Democratic Na- Jim Blanchard presided over GM’s mass against the state of Louisiana for its use manding water justice in Flint, Mich. tional Committee to host its debate in plant closings, and [Democratic] Gov. Jen- of solitary. The trial is now set for June. On March 6 the two Democratic Par- Flint is the height of shameless oppor- nifer Granholm did nothing about the rac- Woodfox is likely to be the person held ty presidential candidates and nominee tunism. Neither the Democratic Party ist banks’ mass home foreclosures. longest in solitary confinement in U.S. hopefuls, former Secretary of State Hil- as a whole and certainly neither Sanders The disaster of Flint and other cit- history. lary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sand- nor Clinton have pointed fingers at the ies is not an issue of Republican versus Parnell Herbert told Workers World he ers, will take part in a televised debate source of the crisis: the major banking Democrat, but rather a fight between the plans to spend two months of weekends in Flint, Mich. Flint has been the subject institutions and the auto manufacturers. multinational working class and the cap- in April and May producing his play on of global media attention after it was re- Sanders has called for the resignation of italist class which profits directly from the Angola 3 so that “Albert can see just vealed that the city’s residents have been Gov. Rick Snyder, and Clinton has com- its attacks against us. We need an inde- one of the many ways people worked to- continually poisoned by the water com- plained of his not requesting federal aid pendent and militant movement, based gether and educated people about who ing from their faucets. for the city. Neither would dare demand among the working class and oppressed, the Angola 3 were and what torture they Flint, along with many other cities in reparations from General Motors and separate from the two major imperialist were living under.” the so-called U.S. “Rust Belt,” has been finance capital for those who have been parties and capable of challenging capi- As of Feb. 22, Woodfox has been out absolutely decimated by deindustrializa- lead-poisoned, particularly the 8,000- talist class rule and its ability to exploit of prison three days. Activists are mak- tion. These cities, primarily in the Mid- plus children who will be permanently us and put our very lives in danger. ing plans for many reunions and events. west and especially in Michigan, were damaged. They are not calling for crim- Our goal must be a revolutionary They want supporters to know that “Al- built from the ground up by the working inal charges against those involved in the movement with the power to overthrow bert will never be alone and will be sur- class tied directly to the auto industry. poisoning and cover-up. those who deprive us of homes, decent rounded by people who love him and plan Once hotbeds of militant trade unionism Many in the Democratic Party rightly jobs, food, health care, education and to take care of his pressing health needs. and a burgeoning revolutionary move- call for Snyder’s resignation, albeit for po- clean water. The resources exist, and it And everyone will get the opportunity to ment, they have been nearly destroyed litical gain, to regain the governor’s office. is the task of the majority to seize what meet him and support him on this new by the closing of the vast majority of pro- But if the criminal, anti-people Snyder we’ve built from the hands of the minori- road of his life.” duction facilities. Capitalism’s robotiza- were to step down and face jail time, would ty of exploiters who own it! Rubac is a longtime spokesperson for tion, offshoring and union busting have his successor, presumably a Democrat, be Visit, follow and contact us at face- the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Move- left these cities devastated. Flint has a 40 any less callous toward the working class? book.com/FISTdetroit, twitter.com/ ment in Houston. percent poverty rate, official unemploy- Would [that person] enact a jobs program FISTdetroit and [email protected]. Page 6 March 3, 2016 workers.org WISCONSIN By Workers World Milwaukee Bureau Labor-community joint struggles on the rise

A Day without Latinos Students, parents, teachers, staff and ¡Día sin Latinos! community supporters held several events before the start of the school day. They In the biggest mass action since the then walked into their respective schools 2011 occupation of the Wisconsin Capitol as powerful groups. Similar walk-ins took building, over 50,000 people took to the place at over 900 schools across the U.S. streets and occupied Madison, the state The MTEA and community forces capital, on Feb. 18. Coming from across vowed to continue their defiance of a law Wisconsin in buses and car caravans, signed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in Latino/a’s flooded the state capital to de- July 2015. mand an end to the racist attacks on their Named the “Opportunity Schools Part- communities. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO nership Program” or OSPP, the law states issued a solidarity message and other la- that a set amount of Milwaukee schools bor and community forces lent support. on an annual basis would be deemed The protest, sponsored by Voces de la “failures” and taken over and run by a Frontera and Youth Empowered In The commissioner to be appointed by the Mil- Struggle (YES), was in response to a series waukee County executive. A commission- of attacks on immigrants and two specif- State Capitol, Madison, Wis., Feb. 18. er would have parallel authority with the ic anti-immigrant bills. AB 450 would let PHOTO: JOE BRUSKY elected Milwaukee Public School Board police and public employees investigate but be accountable only to the county immigration status and detain undocu- public water and for more information: ­executive. mented people for deportation. SB 533 Stop a Flint disaster in Wisconsin! Stop water privatization! facebook.com/OccupyRiverwest Other outrageous language in the OSPP seeks to block a program created last year states that all workers at schools taken Due to mass protest across Wiscon- to provide local identification cards to Mil- Hands off our public schools! over would be fired and forced to reapply sin, notorious corporations such as Aqua waukee residents who cannot obtain Wis- On Feb. 17, walk-ins sponsored by the for their jobs. To be considered for rehire, America and Veolia/Transdev were tem- consin state ID because of immigration Milwaukee Teacher Education Associ- workers would have to waive their right to porarily stopped from purchasing publicly status or lack of documents or money. ation took place at over 110 K-12 public be represented by a union. owned municipal water systems. Current The powerful action was a joint com- schools in the city. Walk-Ins were also Only mass resistance, including school state law forbids majority ownership of munity-labor effort with strikes, business held in Green Bay, La Crosse, Racine and defense actions, mass walk-ins, packing water utilities by out-of-state companies. shutdowns and student walkouts. With elsewhere. school board meetings and other resis- Public advocates learned 40 percent of the workforce on dairy tance led by the MTEA’s in January that a bill to make farms being immigrants, the state’s dairy social justice orientation it easier to privatize public industry ran at a far lower capacity. El and community forces, has water systems was speeding Rey’s, a Milwaukee-based Latino-owned stopped the law from being through the Legislature. The business, closed all their facilities for implemented. state Assembly passed a mea- the first time in 38 years, encouraging The MTEA is also de- sure by voice vote on Jan. 12. workers to attend the Madison protest. manding that the state It was taken up by the Senate YES chapters played a decisive role in properly fund the dis- the week of Feb. 14. mobilizing youth and students at mul- trict, put an end to charter After an emergency social tiple schools and campuses in Madison, schools and privatization, media and phone call cam- Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and other and stop starving public paign, and protests at the Wisconsin cities. schools. The MTEA fol- state Capitol and other loca- There are signs that legislators are now lowed up the walk-in ac- tions, the Wisconsin Senate backing off on one of the bills, with the tions with a mass labor and took the vote off their calen- current Senate president stating it’s “not community march to the dar for now. It could be taken a priority.” county courthouse in Mil- up again in March. To support or for more information: waukee on 3 Feb. 20. To support the fight for vdlf.org. PHOTO: JOE BRUSKY Class struggle in Wisconsin since 2011

On Feb. 10, 2011, students and work- himself have engaged in vicious Jim Crow the revolutionary struggle of the masses immigrant rights organizations such as ers began to lead the historic occupation capitalist austerity, overturning or evis- themselves. Only the struggle educates Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) of the state Capitol building in Madison, cerating numerous laws benefiting work- the exploited class. Only the struggle and Indigenous youth fighting for their Wis., to oppose the racist, union busting, ers and communities, laws that were won discloses to it the magnitude of its own sacred lands and artifacts. Other high- Act 10 legislation. as concessions to the masses through power, widens its horizon, enhances its lights of class struggle include the suc- Ushering in one of the largest uprisings direct class struggle in the 1960’s, the abilities, clarifies its mind, forges its will; cessful Amalgamated Transit Union Lo- in the U.S. since the 1930’s, for weeks tens 1930’s and before. and therefore, even reactionaries had to cal 998 and United Auto Workers Local of thousands of workers and oppressed These included the biggest cuts to K-12 admit that the year 1905, the year of the 833 strikes in 2015. peoples occupied buildings and marched and higher education in Wisconsin histo- struggle, the ‘mad year,’ definitely buried These developments since 2011 are in Madison in efforts to kill Act 10. Doz- ry and the expansion of charter schools patriarchal Russia.” (“The Revolution of part of an uneven but ongoing process of ens of solidarity actions took place world- statewide. Numerous forms of deregula- 1905,” Jan. 1917) longtime workers and oppressed peoples wide, including a one-day shutdown of tion and privatization were implement- The austerity in Wisconsin has been across the state becoming increasingly the West Coast docks by International ed. Environmental protections were re- fought by the masses every step of the more skeptical of the Democratic Party’s Longshore and Warehouse Union mem- duced. way, in particular by those who were ability to deliver any relief for the masses. bers. Most provisions of prevailing wage youth and students in 2011 but are now They are looking for alternatives to the Ultimately, moderate or reactionary were reduced, “right-to-work” for less militant and class conscious workers. absolute misery and destruction inflicted union leaders tied to the Democratic and was implemented, tenure for faculty in Many are becoming leaders, identify with on them by the banks, corporations and Republican parties maneuvered to steer the University of Wisconsin system was socialism or are growing into commu- their political servants. Any illusions that the state Capitol occupation into the elec- eliminated and civil service protections nists. the capitalist system can be reformed toral arena. They launched a failed recall were gutted. Unemployment benefits These emerging leaders have known have been shattered. campaign against Wisconsin Gov. Scott were reduced while drug testing for wel- nothing but austerity and war, and have In the “Communist Manifesto,” Karl Walker to counter various sectors of the fare recipients was implemented. Planned no future under capitalism. They are be- Marx wrote: “What the bourgeoisie pro- working class who wanted direct actions, Parenthood was defunded. ginning to move to offensive battles as duces, above all, are its own gravediggers. including shutting down various capital- they learn that for the working class to Its fall and the victory of the proletariat ist industries or engaging in a full-blown Capitalist austerity creating gravediggers achieve any victory and in particular to are equally inevitable.” general strike. Act 10 was ultimately But because they’ve fought back, the achieve socialism, the masses must not It’s in this spirit that, despite the un- rammed through the racist, right-wing, masses in Wisconsin are learning. be locked into a series of unending defen- relenting austerity in Wisconsin at the Wisconsin legislature and signed into law In his “Lecture On The 1905 Revo- sive battles. present time, during the first week of the by Walker. lution” to a gathering of working-class This is bolstered by a new wave of mil- five-year anniversary of the 2011 state Since this major defeat for work- youth in Zurich, Switzerland, V.I. Lenin itant, oppressed youth and students in Capitol occupation, numerous class bat- ing-class and oppressed peoples, over wrote: “The real education of the masses Black Lives Matter formations such as tles were raging and erupting, including the past five years Wall Street’s political can never be separated from the indepen- Young, Gifted and Black in Madison and the 50,000-strong “Day Without Latinos” servants in the Legislature and Walker dent, the political and particularly from the Coalition For Justice in Milwaukee, on Feb. 18 in Madison. workers.org March 3, 2016 Page 7 Flint residents demand water justice

By Martha Grevatt tice that we are sick and tired of bottled The latest water-related tragedy in poisoned. The city had the highest poverty Flint, Mich. water.” Flint is the death of two teenagers who rate in Michigan at over 40 percent. Al- Judge Mathis demanded the $600 mil- died after smoking marijuana through most 20 percent of the population of “Ve- “Rebuild Flint” was the theme of a lion in federal aid that the U.S. Senate a water-based bong. Lead residue accu- hicle City” has no access to a vehicle. mass demonstration Feb. 19 called by is debating be released. Referring to the mulated in the water pipe during the 18 TV Judge Greg Mathis, originally from state budget surplus, he led the crowd in months residents were told the water was GM and the ‘system that poisoned Flint’ Detroit; the Rev. Jesse Jackson; and this chant, “The surplus is for us!” Rev. safe. Inhaling the metal, unsafe at any Flint’s job crisis was the subject of a Flint’s Concerned Pastors for Social Ac- Jackson demanded lead testing be made level, caused their deaths. The death toll front-page story in the Feb. 21 Detroit tion. One media source estimated there available for everyone. is now at least 11, counting nine people Free Press. Every zip code in the city has were “thousands,” mostly Flint residents. Because toxic Flint water was allowed who died from a Legionnaires’ disease lost jobs since 1998, with zip code 48505 (mlive, Feb. 19) The church that hosted to go untreated for 18 months, letting lead outbreak blamed on the water. losing 72 percent. Half the working pop- the pre-march rally was overflowing. leach into the water supply, all the pipes ulation must travel over 25 miles to get to The strongest message on signs, shirts are corroded and the water infrastruc- Solidarity for Flint’s besieged people work in the suburbs. and hoodies was “Flint Lives Matter,” ture needs to be rebuilt to make Flint’s The Baltimore People’s Power Assem- General Motors stripped Flint, the linking the brutality of trigger-happy po- drinking water safe again. Between the bly held a Flint solidarity demonstration city where it was founded, of most of the lice with the environmental racism that budget surplus and the “rainy day” fund, Feb. 19 and the New York City PPA fol- jobs that made Flint a prosperous work- contaminated Flint’s drinking water and the state has at least $1 billion and could lowed suit on Feb. 21. A demonstration is ing-class city of 200,000. That and the perpetuated the lie that it was drinkable. begin the process now. But the Legisla- planned in Los Angeles for Feb. 25. Activ- foreclosure crisis drove half the popula- Marchers chanted “Fix the pipes now!” ture and Gov. Rick Snyder, who finally ists hold weekly pickets of the governor’s tion away. The protest march passed by and “No pipes, no peace!” Another popu- acknowledged the lead problem in Octo- condo in Ann Arbor, calling for his arrest. the former site of the Buick City com- lar chant, referring to the criminal gover- ber and declared a state of emergency in A mass convergence on the state Capitol plex, opened in 1985 with a workforce of nor who allowed this disaster to happen, January, are sitting on the funds. is planned. 28,000, only to be shuttered and demol- was “Snyder’s got to go!” “Today we stand up for environmen- The state is not meeting even the min- ished seven years later. More than 150 This was the largest action so far in tal justice, we stand up for ourselves, imal needs of the population for bottled businesses have closed in Flint, many as the growing movement to demand jus- we stand up for our rights,” said Melissa water, despite activating Michigan Na- a consequence of GM’s pullout. tice for this majority-Black city. The Mays, founder of Water You Fighting For. tional Guard troops and using fire stations Members of Detroit’s Moratorium Now! whole world now knows how Flint was “At the end of the day we’re sick, we’re as water distribution centers. Solidarity Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions lead-poisoned by a racist governor, aided tired, we’re broke, we’re fed up, but at the donations from churches, mosques, syn- and Utility Shutoffs received many pos- by governor-appointed dictators called end of this march we will all know we are agogues, unions, schoolchildren, celebri- itive comments to a leaflet calling for emergency managers and cronies with no not victims. We are fighters.” Mays and ties, individuals and even prisoners are Snyder’s arrest and demanding GM pay scientific background at the misnamed her three children are all sick as a result keeping residents alive. $4 billion — out of its $9.7 billion record Department of Environmental Quality. of the water contamination. Underserved communities — the un- profits for 2015 — in reparations to Flint. The main demand of the demonstra- After the march, which ended at the documented, people with limited mo- Activists distributed Workers World tion was to replace all the corroded pipes water plant, there was a second militant bility and those in the poorest neigh- newspapers with Flint coverage and anal- and to start right now. “We’re sick and rally. Kristin Moore, speaking on behalf borhoods — still depend on dedicated ysis, while youth organizers with FIST tired of being sick and tired of being sick of Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, said, “The volunteers who go into their homes and — Fight Imperialism, Stand Together — and tired,” said Pastor Allen Overton of fight will not be over until we have new do needs assessments. passed out 500 flyers entitled “Fight the Concerned Pastors. “Today we serve no- pipes.” Flint was already suffering before being system that poisoned Flint!” Lead in the street, lead in the sink By Thomas Answeeney ses: “It’s funny how [Snyder] Baltimore calls this his ‘Katrina.’ [People] were very, very aware of the On Feb. 19, protesters with People’s state of those levies in New Or- Power Assemblies demonstrated here leans. But they were even more outside the Margaret Brent Elementary aware of lead in Flint. There was School in solidarity with Flint, Mich. They never any question of being able also spoke out against the ongoing lead to evade this. This was not an problem in Baltimore. Since 2007, all wa- act of nature! This was an act of ter fountains in Baltimore public schools genocide!” have been shut off. Students are offered bottled water, but that’s not enough. In New York City: many neighborhoods people still drink commemorate Malcolm X tap water in their homes. Even carbon fil- Activists in New York with ters used in pitchers only remove 52 per- the People’s Power Assem- WW PHOTO: SHARON BLACK Above, Baltimore. Below, Harlem, New York. cent of the lead, according to one study. bly, Black Lives Matter and Ariane McBride, Baltimore parent of environmen­tal justice five children, said, “It’s absolutely ridicu- groups commemorated the lous that the city has done nothing to fix 51st anni­versary of the as- this. You think about all the mental and sassination of Malcolm X emotional problems lead poisoning caus- with a rally and march to es. It really damns these kids for life. It’s demand justice for the peo- not just new pipes we need. We need so- ple of Flint and to oppose cial services, counselors.” environmental racism. The Martha Grevatt, who was part of the march went from the Har- Detroit Workers World delegation to the lem State Office Building to Flint rally the same day, spoke via tele- Harlem Hospital. phone to the Baltimore crowd. Describ- “Wake up and fight back! ing conditions in Flint and the demands There’s no greater message being made by the people, she noted that on this anniversary of the at least 11 people have died as a result assassination of the most of the crisis, including two teenagers on shining, brilliant, brave Feb. 14. The people there demand the ar- prince of the Black Libera- rest and prosecution of those responsible, tion Struggle to take to the including former emergency manager of people,” PPA activist Larry Flint Darnell Earley (Democrat), as well Holmes said. “We say jobs as Gov. Rick Snyder (Republican). are a right. A decent wage Elder C.D. Witherspoon, president of is a right. Clean water is a the Baltimore Chapter of the Southern right, too. That is a part of Christian Leadership Conference, gave the struggle against racism.” a riveting condemnation of Gov. Snyder Brenda Ryan contribut- and other officials involved in both cri- ed to this article. WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN Page 8 March 3, 2016 workers.org

Zika, microcephaly and global climate change

By Lyn Neeley deposit their eggs and produce billions of harmful to ­animals and humans. by the insecticide pyriproxyfen, added to offspring. Health officials in several countries Brazil’s drinking water a year and a half Are deforestation and global climate A virus is a protein shell surrounding are asking women to delay having babies ago to kill Zika-carrying mosquitoes. Dr. change responsible for the Zika crisis RNA. When allowed to proliferate, vi- because of the suspected link between Medardo Ávila Vázquez’s team wrote, sweeping across equatorial countries in ruses evolve quickly because they multi- Zika-infected pregnant women and the “Malformations detected in thousands the Western Hemisphere? Are spikes in ply rapidly and because RNA is unstable, spike in infants born with microcepha- of children from pregnant women living microcephaly and Guillain-Barre caused they mutate easily. Scientists don’t know ly. Yet contraceptives and abortions are in areas where the Brazilian state added by the mosquito-born Zika virus, the in- how they evolve, which makes develop- expensive and hard to access in these pyriproxyfen to drinking water is not a secticide pyriproxyfen or a combination ing vaccines difficult. mostly Catholic countries. Abortions are coincidence.” of factors? Deforestation increases global warm- tightly restricted; women can be impris- These researchers, who call themselves “Deforestation has an important part ing. Trees store carbon and contribute to oned for having them. “Physicians in Crop-Sprayed Towns,” not- to play in the re-emergence of many an animal-friendly atmosphere by pro- On Feb. 18 the Pope conceded to tem- ed that previous Zika epidemics did not ... pathogens” such as Ebola and Zika, ducing oxygen and removing carbon di- porary contraception use, as “the lesser cause newborn microcephaly, even where claims Robert Wallace, evolutionary oxide through continual photosynthesis. of two evils,” but repudiated abortion. 75 percent of the population were infected. biologist and public health expert. His Slashing and burning forests releases Previously, the church only condoned Sumitomo Chemical Company, a Monsan- forthcoming book is called “Big Farms stored carbon dioxide and reduces pho- the often unreliable “rhythm method” to partner, manufactures pyriproxyfen. Make Big Flu: Dispatches on Infectious tosynthesis worldwide. “Deforestation of contraception. If Zika can spread (tinyurl.com/gqej4br) Disease, Agribusiness, and the Nature in tropical rainforests adds more carbon through sexual activity, the rhythm The Cuban newspaper Granma noted of Science.” Wallace says that many dioxide to the atmosphere than [all] ... method is useless. on Feb. 10, “The most disadvantaged will mosquito-borne flaviviruses have re- cars and trucks on the world’s roads.” continue to suffer the consequences of ma- emerged: Dengue, yellow fever, Chikun- (Scientific American, Oct. 13, 2012) What causes microcephaly? jor pharmaceutical companies, which deal gunya and malaria. (TheRealNews.com, Many mosquitoes live in warm cli- In Brazil, the Zika virus has been found with profit, not a viable solution to stop the Feb. 12) mates near the equator, but as warmer in microcephalic fetuses’ brain tissue and possible pandemic outbreaks of diseases, Transnational corporations backed by weather increases toward the poles, so surrounding amniotic fluid. “Before the especially those affecting poor nations.” big finance, and government and private do habitats in which pathogen-carrying [Zika] outbreak, the seven states in trop- Socialist Cuba, renowned for its public investments by agribusiness, banks and mosquitoes can thrive. Infectious patho- ical northeast Brazil where microcephaly health programs, has prevented a Zika others drive deforestation. Wallace says, gens have existed for thousands of years, first appeared reported about 40 cases outbreak by monitoring fevers and carry- “They are all land grabbing, all acceler- but have become a critical problem with [annually]. By Nov. 17, just those seven ing out an aggressive campaign against ating the deforestation and development global climate change. states had 400 reported cases.” (New Aedes aegypti, the Zika-carrying mos- with real world consequences upon the York Times, Feb. 19) quito. Nonbiodegradable containers, used resulting epidemiologies. … New York Women and poor people hit hardest Zika has also been linked to Guil- tires and plastic bags that collect water and London, among other sources of Zika mutated quickly when it left the lain-Barre, a rare disorder in which the make ideal habitats for mosquitoes to lay capital paying for deforestation, [are cre- forest and island-hopped around the immune system attacks nerve cells. It can their eggs. ating] the world’s worst hot spots.” Equator. Today’s Zika virus stems from a develop into complete paralysis and lead One of the first countries to develop Scientists are reluctant to link climate relative that infected Polynesia two years to death. Twice the usual number of cases biotechnology companies, Cuba now ex- change to Zika, Wallace explained: “It ago. have been reported in Colombia since the ports biotech and medical products and could lead to career suicide. Government The World Health Organization pre- Zika outbreak there. Brazil, El Salvador vaccines to five continents. Cuban in- agencies are in a tight spot politically, re- dicts there will be 4 million cases of Zika and Venezuela have seen similar spikes, fants are immunized against 13 diseas- luctant to fund studies that might … link in the Americas by the end of 2016. Hit which also happened in Polynesia. es using mostly Cuban-made vaccines. [the] broader economy to global warm- hardest are people living in Brazil, the Dr. Juan Manuel Anaya believes that They have eliminated mother-to-child ing and deforestation.” epicenter, and the surrounding countries Zika is involved in almost all the Guil- transmission of HIV-AIDS and syphilis Forests are complex ecosystems that with high poverty and unemployment lain-Barre cases seen in Cucuta, Colom- and paved the way for generations to live have evolved over millions of years. Mos- rates. People can’t afford preventative bia, where the virus has been found in free from those diseases. quito-borne viruses are kept in check by measures like air conditioning, window some victims’ blood or urine. Viral infec- “Cuba is famously proactive when it the diversity of forest species. Although screens and insect repellants. Some 85 tions often trigger Guillain-Barre. Anaya comes to fighting tropical diseases — the forest can harbor many infections, it is percent of Haitians can’t afford electricity. is launching a study at the Universidad acquiring experience that will be use- hard for mosquito-borne viruses to find a Insecticides are controversial in both del Rosario into the possible link of Guil- ful now that the whole world is turning large number of hosts and multiply. their possible harmful effects on hu- lain-Barre to Zika, which will look at pre- into the tropics,” wrote the Feb. 2 Nation Deforestation rips out the forest, re- mans and their ability to wipe out in- vious exposures to toxins or other virus- magazine. Last year, El Salvador suf- placing it with cities and monocultures, sects that quickly develop resistance to es. (National Public Radio, Feb. 19) fered 50,000 cases of dengue and the which are ripe with hosts for mosqui- the poisons. Conservatives and some Dominican Republic had 17,000 with to-borne viruses. In these “wastelands,” health officials propose using DDT Pesticides also suspect 103 fatalities. But Cuba had 1,641 cases mosquitoes can reproduce rapidly, says to control Zika. The U.S. government Argentinian scientists reported on and no deaths. This shows what’s possi- Wallace. Pools of water allow females to banned DDT in 1972 because it was Feb. 3 that microcephaly may be caused ble in a socialist country. U.S. continues endless war in Afghanistan

By Carl Lewis tion soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, events, increasing ground troops and drone at- present, the number of civilians killed Congress allowed the president to by- tacks in Afghanistan. has been 26,000 and 29,000 wounded. Using smoke and mirrors in Afghani- pass congressional authorization for Overall, the wars of aggression in Iraq, stan, the Obama administration is seek- declaring war. This facilitated U.S. inter- Human costs of the war Afghanistan and Pakistan have killed ap- ing to convince the world that there will ventions throughout the region against The enormous waste of human lives, proximately 210,000 civilians, according be “an eventual drawdown” of U.S. and any government it deemed an obstacle to especially among Afghan civilians, is the to the Watson Institute of International NATO forces. A closer look at U.S. im- imperialist interests. price paid for continuing this war. In Oc- and Public Affairs at Brown University, perialism’s strategic goals of a “pivot to In an interview with USA Today on tober of 2015, Washington announced a while other sources estimate this number Asia” reveals that the 15-year war’s goals Dec. 29, Army Gen. John Campbell reversal of its “exit strategy.” The Penta- as being much higher, especially with re- include obtaining an economic foothold exposed the truth about the so-called gon will keep the level of ground troops, gard to the casualties in Iraq. in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders withdrawal from Afghanistan: “My in- excluding “Special Operation Units,” to U.S. forces have suffered approximate- Iran, Pakistan, ­China and the rich oil tent would be to keep as much as I could approximately 10,000. This was also to ly 2,326 deaths and 20,083 maimed and and gas resources of the former Soviet for as long as I could.” Campbell said he be accompanied by greater reliance on air wounded in Afghanistan. Civilian con- republics in Central Asia. was confident the Obama administration strikes by traditional aircraft and the in- tractors employed by the U.S. have had This geopolitical strategy is consistent would go along with his assessments. tensification of the use of drones. 1,173 fatalities. Among both Iraq and Af- with the so-called New Silk Road Policy “Every time I have gone to the President The result of the increase in the use of ghanistan war veterans there is an aver- announced by former Secretary of State and said, ‘I need X,’ I have been very, U.S. airpower was demonstrated with the age of 22 suicides a day, besides thousands Hillary Clinton in 2011 with the object of very fortunate that he’s provided that. So horrific attack last October on the hospi- of veterans suffering from post-traumatic gaining economic hegemony over Rus- he has been very flexible.” tal in Kunduz operated by Doctors With- stress disorder and substance abuse. sia, China and Iran. The U.S. occupation This “flexibility” has cost the working out Borders. There, a U.S. AC-130 Flying (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, sta- of Afghanistan has always been a prof- class and the oppressed $1 trillion for 15 Gunship killed 42 patients and staff. tistical breakdowns for 2014-2015) it-driven war of economic conquest and years of this unjust and criminal occu- Doctors Without Borders demanded an Despite the continuation of a U.S. pres- plunder. pation of Afghanistan. Before transfer- independent investigation of this atrocity, ence, Washington has been losing out in Since 2001, U.S. foreign policy has ring out of his command, Gen. Campbell which they described as a war crime. Afghanistan. Units from both the Afghan aimed at regime change in that region testified and told Congress that Afghan- Overall, the number of civilian deaths army and police forces are defecting to to bring in governments subservient to istan still needed U.S. support at the and casualties has reached a staggering the insurgents and some have been turn- U.S. interests. By passing the “Authori- same level and would need it for years. and numbing amount: from 2001, the ing their weapons on their officers and on zation for Use of Military Force” resolu- The Obama administration reacted by beginning of the U.S. invasion, to the U.S. instructors. workers.org March 3, 2016 Page 9 Obama plans unprecedented visit to Cuba

By Cheryl LaBash ferred to as “the Special Period.” Zamora wrote in his book, “What I Despite incredible suffering and short- Learned about Cuba by Going to Cuba,” President Barack Obama is scheduled ages caused by the sudden sharp crisis, that the word in 1995 in Miami was that to visit Cuba on March 21-22. He is the socialist Cuba closed not a single school counterrevolution in Cuba was in full first sitting U.S. president to do so since or hospital, for which the Cubans are swing, fueled by the privations of the Calvin Coolidge, 88 years ago in 1928. rightly proud. When the Cuban socialist Special Period. Urged by his spouse, Two years after the 1959 Cuban Revolu- planners decided to expand tourism to Zamora decided to see for himself. He tion, Washington first prevented U.S. res- relieve the economic crash, CIA-trained, found to his surprise that the right wing idents from seeing Cuba for themselves U.S.-based paramilitaries launched a in Miami had been lying. Although Cuba by imposing restrictions — in force except Demonstration against the blockade. wave of terror bombings on Cuban hotels was facing great economic stresses, it from 1977-1982 — on those who wanted and restaurants. was a country functioning normally: Cu- to traverse the fabled 90 miles from Key without a passport — the U.S. had re- At that grave moment, the Rev. Lucius bans attended school and went to work. West, Fla., by ferry or the short plane ride fused to renew Worthy’s passport after Walker, from the Interreligious Foun- Strikingly different from what he saw on a charter flight from Miami. he filed stories from the Soviet Union dation for Community Organization, on visits to other Latin American coun- During that period, it took a struggle and People’s China. proposed to mobilize Pastors for Peace tries, where armed military and police to confront, circumvent or defy the U.S. Beginning in 1969 with the Vencere- Friendshipment solidarity caravans. patrol everywhere, the calm in Cuba was regulations banning travel to Cuba. Cuba mos Brigades, hundreds of revolutionary Starting in 1992, these caravans traveled not enforced by state repression against is still the only place on the globe where a youth defied the blockade by traveling throughout the U.S. and gathered human- the people. That visit changed Zamora’s special U.S. government-granted license through Mexico or Canada to do volun- itarian aid to take to Cuba to symbolically view of Cuba and his actions. is required before traveling. The license is teer work to support the Cuban Revolu- break the U.S. blockade and travel ban. still required, even if now the restriction tion. This defiance became a movement. Pictures of U.S. Border Patrol agents Now is the time to end the blockade means checking a box and certifying that Some even made the trip to Cuba on a wrestling — out of the hands of minis- The National Network on Cuba, the In- your personal visit to Cuba falls into one converted cattle ship that encountered ters to block the Friendshipment and ternational Committee for Peace, Justice of 12 permitted categories. stormy seas. of the “Little Yellow School Bus,” which and Dignity and IFCO/Pastors for Peace Looking back, travel to Cuba has been In those early years — and every subse- was held at the Texas border with hunger all issued statements regarding Obama’s dangerous, even deadly. The first mid- quent year — the VB participants openly strikers on board, are now iconic in the visit. The statements all called for height- air bombing of a commercial passenger declared they were traveling to Cuba in struggle to show solidarity with the Cu- ened popular action to end the U.S. block- aircraft was of Cubana 455 in 1976, as it defiance of the travel ban. One early brig- ban Revolution. ade of Cuba, to take place on March 21- left Barbados. The architect of the plane adista’s notes and literature were seized Many who visited Cuba, especially 22 and continue with Days of Action in bombing, anti-Cuban terrorist Luis Posa- at the Canadian border on her return, but those who took part in solidarity actions Washington, D.C., on April 18-22. da Carriles, still lives freely in Miami un- she still proudly displays the machete she with the VB or Friendshipment Caravans, The NNOC statement asserts: “The ma- der U.S. protection. Agencies organizing used to cut sugarcane. will attest to the enduring personal im- jority of United States people want nor- travel to Cuba located in New Jersey and In one of the most dangerous mo- pact that seeing Cuba had on them. mal diplomatic and economic relations Florida have been bombed by terrorist ments in Cuba’s history, counterrevolu- Even Miami-based attorney Anto- with Cuba. The majority of United States groups. tions in the Soviet Union and Eastern nio Zamora, who actually took up arms people see Cuba in a favorable light ac- The U.S ban forbids travel and threat- Europe restored capitalism to socialist against the Cuban revolution in the 1961 cording to a recent Gallop poll. We must ens to punish those who dare to go to Cuba’s main trading partners. Cuba lost U.S. Bay of Pigs invasion at Playa Girón, remind our elected officials in Washing- Cuba. In 1961, soon after the U.S. broke the buffer of partners it traded with on was changed by a visit. Zamora was cap- ton that it is time for them to take action diplomatic relations and initiated the the basis of solidarity. At that time, in tured in 1961 and served two years in Cu- to end all aspects of the blockade. Let’s economic, commercial and financial the early 1990s, the unprecedented U.S. ban prisons until he was repatriated to show Washington our faces; let’s make blockade, noted African-American jour- economic, commercial and financial the U.S. He then helped to found the vir- Washington hear our voices. We are the nalist William Worthy was arrested and blockade fell full force on Cuba and its ulently anti-revolution Cuban American people who want and demand a just poli- jailed in Florida for traveling to Cuba people. Those difficult years were re- National Foundation. cy toward Cuba.” Left forces lead protests in Moldova, face police repression

PHOTO: ALEXANDER V. GUTOVSKI By Greg Butterfield The prisoners raised left or been expelled from the old Party of their fists outside and Communists of the Republic of Moldava. On Feb. 15, seven anti-fascist political chanted in solidarity with Red Bloc leadership turns the tide prisoners in Chisinau, the capital of the the protesters as they eastern European country of Moldova, were herded into a police The Red Bloc campaign spread like were brutalized in court by armed riot van to be returned to jail. wildfire. Pensioners, students and work- police, while a three-judge panel looked Demonstrators surround- ers occupied city halls and held mass as- on. The prisoners are leaders of a pop- ed the van, rocking it, semblies in towns and villages across the ular uprising against a pro-West, oli- until forced back by trun- country. The regime was forced to step garch-backed regime. cheon-wielding riot cops. back and temporarily halt the rate hikes. The movement sweeping Moldova has a In Chisinau, the Red Bloc erected a powerful left, anti-fascist and anti-imperi- Demonstration surrounding courthouse in Chisinau, Moldo- Popular uprising tent city outside Plahotniuc’s home and alist wing. Because of this — and despite va, defends political prisoners. against oligarchy staged protests at his businesses and me- the country’s modest size — this move- surrounding the courthouse and blocking Moldova is also in the throes of a pop- dia holdings. At this time, Red Bloc lead- ment threatens to upset the reactionary traffic. Later, masked riot police, carrying ular uprising against oligarchy and neo- er Petrenko was cast as “Public Enemy tide throughout the region, built up over shields and swinging clubs, attacked the liberal reforms. No.1” by oligarch-controlled media. decades by Washington/Wall Street and action. (MoldNews.md, Feb. 15) On Jan. 20, dramatic footage was This mobilization of the working class, the Western European imperialist powers. The political prisoners — including Pe- broadcast around the world of protesters rooted in the anti-fascist traditions of Moldova, a former republic of the Soviet trenko, Grigorchuk, Mikhail Amerberg, entering and occupying the Parliament Soviet times, began to shift the center of Union, is a small country of about 3.5 mil- Alexander Roshko, Andrei Druz, Oleg building in Chisinau, as a new govern- gravity in the protests toward those who lion people in eastern Europe. To its north Buzni and Vladimir Zhurata — were vio- ment headed by Prime Minister Pavel favor friendly relations and economic and east is Ukraine, where a U.S.-backed lently arrested on Sept. 6, during a protest Filip was sworn in two days after receiv- partnership with Russia. They reject the coup powered by fascist gangs seized against the Western-backed government ing the U.S. State Department’s blessing. NATO military alliance and oppose unifi- power two years ago, unleashing a war dominated by oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc. The current wave of protests was cation with pro-West Romania. on Russia’s western border. To its south is The prisoners, known collectively as sparked in 2015 with the revelation that The Red Bloc began to build a pole of Romania, a member of the NATO military the “Petrenko Group,” were denied re- leading politicians appointed by the attraction in the movement of the left, alliance ruled by a U.S. puppet regime. lease by the judicial panel on Feb. 15 country’s top oligarch and political king- anti-fascist and anti-EU forces. Since a One of the prisoners, Grigory Petren- — despite four leading European par- maker, Vlad Plahotniuc, had embezzled protest of tens of thousands in central ko, leader of the leftist Red Bloc party, liamentarians agreeing to serve as their more than $1 billion from Moldova’s Chisinau on Sept. 6, which is where seven had his wrists “cut to the bone” by his guarantors, which under Moldovan law is banking system. Red Bloc activists were arrested, a class- handcuffs as he was dragged from the sufficient for pretrial release. At first, in early 2015, the protests struggle-based movement headed by the courthouse, according to his spouse, Lilia After the judges announced their de- were dominated by pro-“Euro-integra- Red Bloc has overtaken the pro-Euro-in- Petrenko. (1News.md, Feb. 16) cision, the political prisoners held a sit- tion” forces, including the ultraright, tegration forces. The left pole has been Another prisoner, Pavel Grigorchuk, down protest. Armed police in riot gear which seeks the country’s merger with playing the leading role in the recent youth leader and editor of the commu- swept the media from the courtroom, Romania. But in the summer of 2015, mass demonstrations against the new re- nist news site Grenada.md, was dragged pushing reporters, family members and the recently formed Red Bloc party led gime, which, as before, is dominated by headfirst down a flight of stairs. Others friends of the prisoners down corridors a working-class campaign to turn back protégés of Plahotniuc. were dragged by their feet. and stairs before brutalizing the prison- government-mandated utility-rate and The shift in momentum is clearly vis- Outside, more than 1,000 protesters ers. The attack in the courtroom was cap- fuel-price hikes. This party includes inde- ible in the words and actions of the pro- held an angry but peaceful demonstration, tured on a cellphone video. pendent leftists and communists who had Continued on page 10 Page 10 March 3, 2016 workers.org Commentary Truce? Keep your guard up Tear down the walls! By John Catalinotto State group (I.S.) declared a “caliphate” and began to menace imperialist inter- The news that the Obama administra- ests in Syria and Iraq, that Washington At last. After 43 years and 10 months tion has finally agreed to a partial truce began to alter its uncritical support for banished to a 6-by-9-foot cell by Louisi- over Syria with Russia did not bring true the Syrian opposition. ana prison authorities, Albert Woodfox relief to those concerned about the Syri- But even when the U.S. claimed to was released – on Feb. 19, his 69th birth- an people or about the danger of a wider be attacking the I.S., those in the U.S. day. Woodfox’s bravery, strength and war. The confrontation between nuclear establishment who never wanted to re- integrity inspired his many supporters powers was at least postponed, and it linquish the goal of “regime change” in worldwide. may get worse yet. The anti-war and an- Syria balked. Despite the propaganda The Angola 3 — Woodfox, Robert King ti-imperialist movement in the United campaign against I.S., little was done to and Herman Wallace, all African Amer- States better stay on the alert. degrade these reactionaries’ position in icans — were exiled to solitary confine- The Turkish army has been shelling Syria. ment for decades for protesting racial Kurdish areas across the border and It was only last fall, when Russia inter- oppression inside the hellhole known as threatening invasion. The U.S. neocons vened at Syria’s invitation, that the Rus- Angola prison. (See article in this week’s are complaining that Bashar al-Assad is sian-Iranian-Hezbollah-Syrian offensive WW by Gloria Rubac.) Their case and still president of Syria. The Saudi Arabi- began to erode the military position of the that of African-American journalist and Albert Woodfox walks out of prison. an regime is reported to be seeking nucle- Islamic State and al-Qaida-like groups. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, ar weapons. Peace hasn’t come yet. The neocons and all the imperialist strat- also isolated for decades, among others, ratus, including prisons, has been erected In the corporate media’s current cover- egists are frustrated by their inability to put a global spotlight on U.S. prisons’ use to protect capitalist property and ensure age of the war on Syria, there is an on- control events, no matter how much they of this heinous practice and other tortur- that the wealthy can continue to squeeze going attempt to blame the Damascus destroy, as their experience in Iraq, Libya, ous treatment of prisoners.. ever-greater profits out of the labor of the government for everything that happens Yemen and now Syria shows. They are all Woodfox describes the horrors of pro- working class. The state’s role is also to to the Syrian people. Stephen Kinzer, a the more frustrated now that the support longed isolation, causing some prisoners suppress struggle and resistance. The former New York Times correspondent of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah for their to be catatonic, scream or self-mutilate At greater the gap between rich and poor, who currently is a senior fellow at the Syrian ally has improved the chances for times, he suffered from claustrophia and the more workers and oppressed people Watson Institute for International Stud- a victory over the reactionaries. panic attacks. But Woodfox avidly read end up in prison. ies at Brown University, called this cover- In that Boston Globe article, Kinzer ar- newspapers, watched television news and age “one of the most shameful episodes in gues that only by supporting the Syrian To rebel is justified thought about politics. He says prisoners the history of the [U.S.] American press.” government forces can the Islamic State who could not read or write suffered even WWP set up the Prisoners Solidarity (Boston Globe, Feb. 18) group be defeated. more, as they had no mental diversions. Committee some 45 years ago in solidar- Since the corporate media’s coverage Despite Kinzer’s rational argument, “Solitary confinement is the most tor- ity with prisoners rising up against their of Syria constantly distorts what is hap- there is no reason to expect those in pow- turous experience a human being can be horrific conditions. During the heroic pening there, a review of recent history er in the U.S. would follow his advice. It put through in prison. It’s punishment Attica uprising in 1971, which New York is necessary. In 2011, after a short period would not be the first time in history that without ending. It is evil. We have to stop officials brutally repressed, prisoners in- of unarmed protest, a conflict began be- militarists overestimated their own abil- this,” Woodfox told the Guardian news- vited the PSC to come to the prison and tween the regime on one side and armed ity to control events by using force. Let’s paper on Feb. 20. Woodfox vows to direct tell their story to the world. reactionary groups of the al-Qaida type not forget that every European imperial- all his efforts to “ending the barbarous This newspaper has supported many on the other. These groups were armed ist power before World War I believed it use of solitary confinement.” prisoners’ struggles and rebellions in and financed by Saudi Arabia as well as could quickly defeat its enemies. The U.S. has the highest incarceration print and on picket lines throughout our Turkey and other NATO powers, and all On Jan. 23, while Secretary of State rate in the world, with 2.3 million pris- history. This is a cornerstone of our polit- were cheered on by the imperialists, in- John Kerry was promoting peace talks oners. Some 80,000 are held in solitary ical program. WW has backed the Ango- cluding Washington. about Syria, Vice President Joe Biden confinement. This racist criminal (in) la 3, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Native prisoner The result has been nearly five years of was in Ankara promising support to the justice system disproportionately jails Leonard Peltier, the Move 9, the Cuban a reactionary international war against Turkish regime, which had asked the U.S. African Americans and Latinos/as, who 5, Oscar López Rivera, Lynne Stewart, Syria’s legitimate, sovereign government. to be more aggressive in Syria against together make up the majority of inmates Russell Maroon Shoatz, and hundreds of Reactionary, sectarian fighters provided Russia. Whether this two-sided approach and are more likely to be banished for other political prisoners over the years. the “boots on the ground” against the is a negotiating tactic or a sign of a differ- years in isolation. WW hailed the courageous hunger Damascus government. The warfare has ence in the administration, it leaves the Not only must solitary confinement strikers in California’s correctional facili- killed more than 250,000 Syrians, about danger of a wider war in place. be ended, but the entire rotten prison ties. Hundreds of prisoners at Pelican Bay two-thirds of them Syrian soldiers and Those inside the U.S. who want to fight system needs to be uprooted. Decades State Prison led the first action in July pro-government civilians, and has driven against war can only take a short breath ago the founder of Workers World Party, 2011. They sought humane treatment and millions of Syrians into exile, including with the danger of a major war still in Sam Marcy, called prisons “concentra- an end to solitary confinement and oth- into Europe, but mostly into the region. view. They had better be ready for what- tion camps for the poor.” The poorest and er “intense torture.” Quickly, more than U.S. imperialism and its allies, includ- ever happens next, ready to stand up most oppressed people make up the vast 6,000 inmates at 11 prisons joined them ing the Turkish regime and the Gulf mon- against any U.S., NATO, Turkish or Saudi majority of those behind bars, victims of Despite repressive policies meant to stop archies, are responsible for this horror. It escalation in their war against Syria and both capitalist exploitation of the work- just such resistance and collective action, was only in mid-2014, when the Islamic its allies. ing class and the added-on national op- the will to resist prevailed. Two summers pression that comes from this country’s later, 30,000 prisoners in isolation and racist history of slavery and imperialist general population throughout the state’s expansion. penal system joined two hunger strikes. Marcy’s understanding of the state was This newspaper’s editorial page wrote based on Marxism: the repressive appa- on Sept. 7, 2011, after the first hunger strike: “Prisoners are among the most exploited and repressed workers. … As the global capitalist economic crisis wors- Protests in Moldova ens and jobs disappear, the jail and pris- on population inside the U.S. will swell Continued from page 9 with even larger numbers of desperate Euro-integrationist DA Platform, which oppressed workers. In the interest of at first tried to isolate the left forces. Now, building the broadest class solidarity, the however, the DA Platform has had to ad- progressive movement must support the just its actions in response to mass pres- demands and tactics of prisoners, who are sure, and has even joined with the left- an integral sector of the working class.” ists in the Civil Forum coalition calling WW’s slogan “Tear down the walls!” for unconditional release of the political was the right one during the Attica rebel- prisoners, along with early parliamenta- lion, and it is the right slogan now — with ry elections. (Omega, Feb. 4) “the new Jim Crow” mass incarceration, A poll taken after the January protests warehousing of the jobless, provision of showed that if parliamentary elections cheap/slave labor for corporations and were held soon, the more leftist Party continuing abuse of prisoners. of Socialists and Our Party would win We join Albert Woodfox’s call to “End a decisive victory, with the DA Platform solitary confinement in U.S. prisons!” coming in third. The current governing and say: The prisons are the crime! Tear WWPHOTO: GLORIA RUBAC parties were far down the list. down the walls! Demonstration outside courthouse in Baton Rouge, La., in 2012. workers.org March 3, 2016 Page 11 U.S. bombs Libya — again

By Abayomi Azikiwe diate impact on [I.S.]’s ability to facilitate the Pentagon will continue to launch Obama. “At the same time, we’re work- Editor, Pan-African News Wire its activities in Libya, including recruiting air raids and special operations strikes ing diligently with the United Nations to new [I.S.] members, establishing bases in against rebel leaders. try to get a government in place in Libya. Over 40 people were killed by Penta- Libya, and potentially planning external And that’s been a problem.” (New York gon F-15E fighter jets in a bombing op- attacks on U.S. interests in the region.” Obama escalates Pentagon role in Africa Times, Feb. 16) eration Feb. 19 in Sabratha, Libya, which (Associated Press, Feb. 19) The Obama administration has come However, the interim regime in Libya was said to have targeted an Islamic State This attack comes amid growing under criticism for its war against Lib- designed to merge the competing factions group (I.S.) training camp. The air strike, threats by United Nations envoy Martin ya in 2011. Over the last seven years, the based in Tobruk and Tripoli denounced 50 miles west of Tripoli, was aimed at I.S. Kobler to mobilize a 6,000-person mil- U.S. has continued its escalation of mili- the bombing by the Pentagon, saying the operative and Tunisian national Noured- itary occupation force that would inter- tary interventions and building bases in operation took place without the consul- dine Chouchane, who had been linked to vene in Libya to impose a proposed unity various areas throughout Africa. tation of either faction. The lack of unity an attack on the Bardo Museum in neigh- regime between two rival factions vying U.S. Africa Command (Africom) troops and uniformity of action among the re- boring Tunisia in March 2015. He was for international recognition. The unity number in the thousands in the Horn of gimes is raising doubts about the viabili- accused of arranging the arrival of I.S. accord between the two regimes is de- Africa state of Djibouti, spreading out ty of the imposed government. operatives in Libya. signed to pave the way for a deployment operations into Somalia and Ethiopia, Tunisia, which was designated last The Pentagon said Chouchane was of imperialist-led troops with the approv- along the Indian Ocean basin across Cen- year as a significant non-NATO state by killed in the bombing. The attack follows al of the militia-backed juntas in both tral and West Africa, and into the Gulf the Obama administration, has escalated similar airstrikes in June and November Tripoli and Tobruk. of Guinea. Pentagon and CIA personnel its security operations aimed at keeping aimed at other I.S. leaders. The proposed United Nations peace- work in close cooperation with other im- armed groups from entering the country The Pentagon claimed, “[Chouchane] keeping force would be led by Italy and perialist states seeking domination of the from Libya. Although Tunisia is sometimes facilitated the movement of potential include troops from Britain, France and continent’s governments through trade, called “the only democracy to emerge” [I.S.]-affiliated foreign fighters from Tuni- other allied states. Britain has already diplomatic maneuvering, intelligence from the uprisings in the region during sia to Libya and onward to other countries. said it is planning to launch air strikes penetration and military “partnerships.” 2011, the government in Tunis has main- Destruction of the camp and Chouchane’s inside Libya. (Daily Mail, Jan. 31) “We will continue to take actions where tained close ties with the Pentagon and removal will eliminate an experienced fa- Absent the consolidation of the accord we’ve got a clear operation and a clear with one of its principal allies in the Middle cilitator and is expected to have an imme- bringing together the two Libyan camps, target in mind,” stated President Barack East, the monarchy of Saudi Arabia. Guyana commission confirms Burnham gov’t murdered Walter Rodney

By Abayomi Azikiwe demanded a thorough inves- — the ruling PNC, the opposition PPP led to secure the extradition of Smith/John- Editor, Pan-African News Wire tigation into the circum- by Cheddi Jagan and the WPA headed son from French Guiana.” stances surrounding by Rodney — claimed to be socialist, but The independent Justice for Walter A long-delayed investigation his death. efforts by the WPA were clearly aimed at Rodney Committee is calling for the full into the assassination of Afri- It took the com- the removal of the Burnham government. report to be submitted to the Guyana Na- can-Caribbean historian Wal- mission two years to Prior to Rodney’s assassination in 1980, tional Assembly as well as the family and ter Rodney (1942-1980) has complete a 155-page the historian and politician was charged, supporters of the martyred historian. concluded that former Presi- report outlining its along with other WPA members, with an The Justice for Walter Rodney Com- dent Forbes Burnham of Guy- findings. However, arson attack on a government facility. mittee is demanding, according to the ana was behind his murder. the struggle for full Rodney was facing prosecution on article, that President Granger “must Although that was the assump- disclosure is ongoing in these charges even as he continued to or- recognize the historical significance of tion after Rodney was killed by an Guyana, where tremendous ganize and speak out against the PNC ad- this inquiry, not only as a means of bring- explosive communication device in his opposition has for decades demanded a ministration. Those close to Rodney say ing closure to an aspect of Guyana’s sad brother’s car on June 13, 1980, the Burn- probe into the assassination. he believed there was a plot underway to history over the last 50 years, but as a ham government claimed that the his- The controversial inquiry began under take his life. measure that, if dealt with properly, can torian, who led the opposition Working the previous administration of President aid the beginnings of the long awaited People’s Alliance, died during an attempt Donald Ramotar of the Progressive Peo- Obstacles to making report public and lofty ideal of reconciliation, and the to bomb a prison near where the incident ple’s Party. The People’s National Con- There was a delay in the printing of the expectations of Guyanese at home and took place. gress, the ruling party at the time of Rod- commission report, and it has still not abroad for a new beginning.” The Commission of Inquiry was con- ney’s assassination, has been resistant to been made fully public or presented to vened in 2014, some 34 years after the cooperating fully with the investigation. Guyana’s legislative body. Rodney’s contributions assassination of Dr. Rodney, a leading fig- Forbes Burnham, who held power in Current Guyana President David to socialist thought ure in the intellectual and political affairs Guyana from 1964 until his death in 1985, Granger, a former commander of the Rodney was a well-known and influen- of both Guyana, a small South American was said to have felt threatened by Rod- Guyana Defense Forces, held that posi- tial Pan-Africanist and Marxist historian country east of Venezuela, and the Afri- ney and the WPA, which sought to bridge tion at the time of Rodney’s assassina- as well as a political activist, who studied can world as a whole. His comrades in the the political gap between the majority tion. Granger has been a leading figure in at the University of the West Indies and Working People’s Alliance, along with the East Indian and African populations. the PNC for years. the University of London and held a fac- Rodney family and colleagues throughout All three major political parties in Guy- The COI report concluded: “Prime ulty position for years at the University of the international community, have long ana during the late 1970s and early 1980s Minister Burnham knew of the plan and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. was part of the conspiracy to assassinate After working in Tanzania and as a vis- Dr. Walter Rodney. Given all the relevant iting scholar in several higher education- facts, events and circumstances set out al institutions, including the University in the report, we unhesitatingly conclude of Michigan in 1972, Rodney was invited that Gregory Smith was not acting alone by the University of Guyana to take a fac- but had the active and full support, partic- ulty position. However, the government Sin virus de Zika, EUA rezagado en salud ipation and encouragement of, and/or was of Burnham blocked the appointment in aided and abetted by the GPF (Guyana an effort to prevent Rodney from teach- C0ntinua de página 12 Hay que destacar estas cifras sobre la ex- Police Force), the GDF (Guyana Defense ing in the country of his birth. Los estudios realizados por respetadas trema riqueza capitalista una y otra vez Force), agencies of the State and the polit- Rodney remained and later organized organizaciones de salud internacionales cuando se habla de las condiciones de de- ical directorate in the killing of Dr. Walter the WPA, bringing together several left y nacionales y la preocupada cobertura terioro para millones de personas. Rodney.” (Demerara Waves, Feb. 20) and Pan-African organizations. His pres- en los principales medios corporativos Ignorar la creciente concentración de The COI stated that Smith, an opera- ence in Guyana politically challenged no pueden cambiar esta dinámica. La la riqueza, oculta la esencia del proble- tive of the GDF, carried out the assassina- the image of the Burnham government, clase dominante empresarial en EUA, ma. Los 62 multimillonarios más ricos tion of Rodney and was then sent to near- which sought to portray itself as a sup- con su enorme control sobre el aparato del mundo, muchos de los cuales utilizan by French Guiana, a colony of France. porter of African liberation movements político, ha sido capaz de sabotear con- su influencia financiera para controlar la Smith is said to have died in 2002. and socialism. stantemente iniciativas gubernamen- política de Estados Unidos, tienen ahora According to the same article, the re- At the time of his assassination, Rod- tales que podrían revertir seriamente la riqueza que la mitad más pobre de la leased COI report concluded: “We accept ney was writing a seminal “History of the esta falta, por una razón: ganancias. La población mundial. Su riqueza ha aumen- that Gregory Smith, renamed Cyril Mil- Guyanese Working People,” published concentración de la riqueza en cada vez tado desmesuradamente. Hace solo cinco ton Johnson, received State assistance in incomplete form after his death. His menos manos tiene prioridad sobre las años, había 388 súper-ricos cuya riqueza in going to French Guiana. The choice of book entitled “How Europe Underdevel- necesidades humanas. igualaba la de la mitad de la humanidad. country was deliberate and was no doubt oped Africa,” initially published by the Esta es la única estadística que está Solo para ampliar esto al 1 por ciento de informed by the fact that (the) French government of Tanzania in 1972, remains aumentando en una tasa nunca antes los más ricos del mundo, ellos ahora poseen government, of which French Guiana a signature text on the role of imperial- vista — la concentración de la riqueza más que el otro 99 por ciento combinado. was a Department, had a policy opposed ism in the continuing struggle for genu- en manos de un pequeñísimo grupo de Este es el principal obstáculo para to the death penalty. In short, it would ine liberation and socialism in Africa and propietarios corporativos y financieros. todo desarrollo humano. have been difficult, virtually impossible, internationally. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

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Editorial 16 de febrero de 2016 Scalia, Sin virus de Zika, EUA rezagado en salud

Por Sara Flounders mejora constante. Pero no en EUA. Con- Por primera vez en al menos 50 años, la Tribunal Supremo sidere las estadísticas sobre el índice de mayoría de las/os estudiantes de escuelas Ahora que la atención está en los re- muertes maternas, calculadas durante y públicas en todo el país se consideran de cientes nacimientos de más de 4.000 hasta 42 días después del parto. “bajos ingresos” y con necesidad de nu- y democracia bebés con microcefalia - cabezas anor- A nivel mundial se ha producido una trición básica, según un estudio de 2015 malmente pequeñas - en Brasil, un constante disminución de la tasa de mor- por la Southern Education Foundation. El juez del Tribunal Supremo Antonin país en desarrollo con una historia de talidad materna. EUA es el único entre Por supuesto, la creciente pobreza de Scalia, conocido por sus decisiones reac- opresión colonial y profunda pobre- los países desarrollados, donde lo con- las/os niños está conectado a la creciente cionarias, racistas, anti-mujer, anti-gay y za, es hora de examinar la mortalidad trario es cierto. pobreza de sus madres y padres. Todas contra la clase obrera, las cuales él disfrazó infantil y materna, y la longevidad en Un informe de la CNN el 1 de diciem- las familias, pero especialmente las en- como eruditas y precisas interpretaciones EUA, uno de los países más desarrolla- bre de 2015, en base a estudios realiza- cabezadas por madres solteras, se ven del texto legal, murió repentinamente el 13 dos y ricos del mundo, pero con un gran dos por la revista médica The Lancet y afectadas por salarios que han estado de febrero. Recordando su nombramiento a número de personas muy pobres y una el Centro para el Control y la Prevención cayendo durante casi 30 años, según un la corte en 1986, algunos pueden decir que historia de racismo virulento. Mientras de Enfermedades (CCPE), declaró: “Es informe del Centro de Investigación Pew. su muerte llegó 30 años muy tarde. Tenien- los informes sobre microcefalia se con- difícil de comprender cómo los Estados La esperanza de vida en EUA, a pesar do en cuenta el dicho de que se debe decir virtieron en noticias internacionales, el Unidos, una de las naciones más ricas del de los impresionantes avances en la solo cosas buenas de los muertos o nada en New York Times, el Washington Post y mundo, es ahora uno de los ocho países ciencia médica, no se ha mantenido al absoluto, no decimos nada. otras fuentes de noticias reportaron el - entre ellos Afganistán y Sudán del Sur - día con el resto del mundo desarrollado. Pero sí tenemos algo que decir sobre el 1 de febrero que, de acuerdo con la Ac- donde el número de mujeres que mueren Los EUA se ubican por debajo de otros Tribunal Supremo de los Estados Unidos ademia Americana de Neurología, se es- como resultado del embarazo y el parto 41 países en la esperanza de vida. (TSEU). Reacciones políticas iniciales a la tima que 25.000 recién nacidos reciben está subiendo. ... Dos estudios, uno de la Universidad muerte de Scalia sugieren que habrá una un diagnóstico de microcefalia cada año “En primer lugar, los números: Hace de Wisconsin que evaluó datos de 1992 batalla real dentro de la clase dominante en EUA. A diferencia de Brasil, donde se más de 25 años, en 1987, hubo 7,2 a 2006, y el otro de la Universidad de — en este caso entre los dos partidos políti- sospecha que el brote del virus Zika sea muertes maternas por cada 100.000 na- Washington que abarca desde 1985 has- cos capitalistas grandes – sobre el próximo la posible causa, aquí no existe esa rel- cidos vivos en EUA, según el CCPE. En ta 2010, encontraron que la esperanza de nombramiento. Se espera que las próximas ación. La microcefalia puede ser causada 2011, ese número se duplicó, pasando a vida femenina se había estancado o dis- decisiones del TSEU resultarán en votos de por muchos factores, pero la prevalencia 17,8 muertes por cada 100.000 nacidos “. minuido en un 45 por ciento de los con- 4-4. La batalla puede ser un conflicto tan de microcefalia en EUA debe ser evalua- Los totales crecieron peor aún, a 18,5 dados de EUA. Aunque los avances en la amargo como las próximas elecciones pres- da junto a otras noticias devastadoras en muertes maternas por cada 100.000 na- medicina y la tecnología han prolongado idenciales, aunque una sin el voto popular. el cuidado de la salud infantil y materna cidos vivos, en 2014. la esperanza de vida y han disminuido La pregunta es: ¿Puede la clase trabajado- en este país. Una mujer en EUA tiene más de 10 las muertes prematuras en general, las ra entrar en esta batalla interna de la clase veces la probabilidad de morir por una mujeres en casi la mitad de los condados dominante con demandas independientes? Racismo y mortalidad infantil causa relacionada con el embarazo que en los EUA estaban muriendo cinco años De las tres ramas del gobierno de EUA Estados Unidos tiene la peor tasa de una mujer en Austria, Bielorrusia o Polo- antes de lo que lo hicieran sus madres. — la rama legislativa, el Congreso; la rama mortalidad infantil de los países indus- nia, según el abarcador informe “Estado Esta caída por debajo del resto del ejecutiva, el Presidente; y la rama judicial, trializados o desarrollados, mayor que de las Madres del Mundo 2015”, publica- mundo desarrollado respecto a la mortal- el Tribunal Supremo — el Tribunal Supre- cualquiera de los otros 27 países desar- do por Save the Children. El informe ad- idad infantil, en el porcentaje de niñas/os mo es la menos democrática. Sus miem- rollados, según un informe del Centro virtió: “Es el peor rendimiento de cual- nacidos con defectos congénitos graves, bros no son elegidos, son nombrados por para el Control de Enfermedades en quier país desarrollado en el mundo”. en mortalidad materna y en la esperan- vida por el Presidente y son aprobados por 2014. El Washington Post llamó al re- Casi todos los comentarios sobre este za de vida es especialmente alarmante, el Senado el cual está compuesto de mil- porte del CDC una “vergüenza nacional”. continuo deterioro en EUA explicaron ya que ha estado ocurriendo bajo condi- lonarios, y ha sido el baluarte más estable (29 de septiembre, 2014) que en cualquier otro país industrializa- ciones que se consideran normales. Pero de opresión y explotación de clase. El TS El informe del CDC encontró altas ta- do, todas las mujeres tenían acceso a la al alerta detrás de todos estos estudios defendió a los dueños de esclavas/os en el sas de bebés con bajo peso al nacer y de- atención médica gratuita o de bajo costo, está la creciente conciencia de que EUA no siglo 19 y a los grandes capitalistas y ban- fectos de nacimiento. La mayoría de estos incluida la anticoncepción. está preparado para hacer frente a crisis queros contra la clase trabajadora y los problemas son causados por nacimientos El deterioro se extiende mucho más allá nuevas o extraordinarias, ya sea el brote pueblos oprimidos en los siglos 20 y 21, prematuros, que son muy altos en EUA. de los problemas de salud inmediatos. de un virus nuevo o no estudiado como el con solo unas pocas excepciones en tiem- En general, la tasa de mortalidad in- Zika, una catástrofe climática o un colap- Aumento de pobreza infantil pos de gran lucha de masas. fantil - bebés que mueren antes de su so económico que causaría más estragos En un artículo del 20 de julio de 1989, primer año - en EUA se ha reducido de 9 La pobreza infantil en EUA es también en las vidas de millones de personas que el presidente del Partido Workers World muertes por cada 1.000 nacidos vivos en el peor de los casos en el mundo desar- están luchando para apenas sobrevivir. - Mundo Obrero Sam Marcy escribió que 1990 a 6 en 2013. Esta cifra, sin embargo, rollado y que crece día a día. Continua página 11 a pesar del proceso de ampliación de los coloca a EUA detrás de otros 25 países derechos de voto a las/os afroamericanos, industrializados. Incluso Cuba revolucio- mujeres y jóvenes desde que fue escrita naria, que ha estado bajo un bloqueo EUA la Constitución, “ha habido un proce- durante más de medio siglo, tiene una so social y económico simultáneo que es tasa de mortalidad infantil más baja: 4,63 superior en fuerzas. Ese es el proceso de muertes por cada 1.000 nacidos vivos. concentración del poder en instituciones Sin embargo, esto no es todo. Para la no democráticas. Proviene de la concen- América blanca, la tasa de mortalidad tración de los medios de producción en es de 5,2 muertes infantiles por cada manos de una clase dominante que tiene 1.000 nacidos vivos, mientras que para la el poder y lo distribuye en las zonas más América negra la tasa es más del doble: propicias para ella. Así que no es acciden- 11,5 muertes por cada 1.000 nacimien- tal que el poder en última instancia deba tos. Esto significa que los bebés negros ser ejercido por el Tribunal Supremo. Ese en EUA tienen una tasa de superviven- es más fiable para ellos, más conservador cia más baja que los bebés en otros 64 y que responde solo a aquellos que les han países, poniéndolos aproximadamente al designado” (Para leer el artículo completo, nivel de Tailandia. ver tinyurl.com/hqbw146) Hay que destacar el papel y la respons- Mientras que los partidos Demócrata y abilidad de la clase capitalista por este Republicano chocan entre ellos sobre si el desastroso fracaso aquí en el centro del Tribunal Supremo debe ser un obstáculo imperialismo mundial. El obvio impacto flexible o rígido para el progreso social, la del racismo en todos los niveles de la so- clase trabajadora y los pueblos oprimidos ciedad de EUA y en todos los niveles de deben utilizar la apertura creada por este los servicios sociales debe ser combatido. conflicto para exponer la naturaleza anti- democrática de la corte y exigir el fin de su Muertes maternas aumentan en EUA papel como órgano designado a defender el En la mayor parte del mundo, las es- dominio de la clase de los súper-ricos. tadísticas de salud están mostrando una