Philippines: heat is on Marcos . • • • . . . • 3 TH£ Socialist Workers Party Nat'l Committee meets. 8 Castro on international politics ...... 10

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 50/NO. 8 FEBRUARY 28, 1986 75 CENTS Phila. Unionists, farmers back action hits fight against Hormel racist

BY JIM ALTENBERG violence AND ANDREA GONZALEZ AUSTIN, Minn. - Four thousand BY HALKET ALLEN unionists, farmers and their families, and PHILADELPHIA- In spite of the bit" students from all over the country gathered ter cold weather, 4,000 people rallied and here February 15 to protest attempts to bust demonstrated in downtown Philadelphia United Food and Commercial Workers against racist violence. Local P-9. The UFCW local has been on The march was organized by the Na­ strike six months against the Harmel meat­ tional Mobilization Against Racism. It was packing company in this southern Min­ initiated to put a spotlight on the racist na­ nesota town. ture of the Philadelphia city government Hundreds of steelworkers, auto workers, and its police force. teachers, truck drivers, refinery workers About 50 buses carried protesters from longshoremen, public employees, and hos­ Boston, Detroit, New York, Albany, pital workers marched carrying signs Washington, D.C., and many other cities. identifying their unions. Farm activists There were car caravans from several from the Midwest also participated, as well college campuses, including Amherst, as a number of high school and college stu­ Cornell, Brown, Oberlin, and in the dents. Philadelphia area from Swarthmore, Tem­ At the rally site, a large banner that read ple, and the University of Pennsylvania. "Guard out of Austin" was brought onto Unions sent buses from many cities as the stage. The National Guard, called out well. One bus from Detroit was sponsored by the Minnesota governor on January 21 , by United Auto Workers (UAW) Local15. remains in Austin herding scabs for Har­ It included auto workers and high school mel. Although there are several hundred students. The Albany, New York, Central scabs in the struck plant, production re­ MilitanUAdrienne Kaplan Labor Council sponsored a bus. mains minimal. Four thousand unionists, farmers, and students marched in Austin, Minnesota, Feb­ At the opening rally at JFK Plaza, West ruary 15 in national solidarity action with striking Hormel workers there. Philadelphia NAACP leader Chauncy In the week leading up to the march and Campbell told the demonstrators, "We must rally, the courts and big-business media protest the May 13 MOVE bombing that launched new attacks on the local. The press, however, failed in its attempt ing paperworkers from Ohio, and workers was heard around the world. We must sup­ On February 14 the right to picket was to undercut solidarity for P-9, and on strike against Libby in Kansas City. port the freedom struggle here and wherever further limited when Judge Bruce Stone, in thousands came for the rally. This reflects A spirited parade proceeded from the people are struggling for their rights." an amendment to an earlier injunction, lim­ the view among a growing number of local's union hall to Austin High School, Jim Bell , president of the New York City ited access to the area around the plant to working people that P-9's strike is an im­ where an indoor rally was held. The use of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, said, six strikers or supporters at any one time. portant battle for them. It demonstrates the the high school for the rally was a victory "Whenever racism rears its ugly head, we The judge ordered union officials and inspiration. working people are drawing in itself since Harmel had pressured school must fight and march like we did in the the union's consultant, Ray Rogers, to sign from P-9's determined fight to win a decent officials not to allow the union access to 1960s." letters of agreement with the injunction or contract. the building. Bell, a leader of the New York anti-apart­ face jail terms. A measure of this solidarity was the pre­ heid movement, also invited everyone to Newspapers across the country pub­ sence at· the rally of many workers who After Austin Mayor Tom Kough, a Har­ come to New York on June 14 for a march lished articles and editorials declaring that themselves are currently fighting for a de­ mel striker, welcomed everyone, Jim · against South Africa's apartheid regime. the strike was over and the union was cent contract. They included those on Guyette, president of Local P-9, spoke. He After the opening rally, the march busted. strike against the Chicago Tribune. strik- Continued on Page 5 stepped off, stretching over six solid blocks. Demonstrators chanted, "Police and Klan go hand in hand," "Hey, hey, ho, ho, racism has to go," and "Free Mandela, Caribbean conference calls jail Botha." There were banners from District 65 of the U A W, American Postal Workers Union, American Federation of State, for international actions County and Municipal Employees Local 1971, Amalgamated Transit Union Local BY MAC WARREN languages and cultural traditions, which tered some advances in this process. 1210, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, MANAGUA, Nicaragua - The Anti­ have been historically divided by the im­ Invited to the gathering were delegates and the teachers' union. Many college Imperialist Organization of Central Amer­ perialist powers. from organizations in Central America and campuses and high schools had banners. ica and the Caribbean, meeting here Feb­ Between the first meeting and the second the Caribbean who agree with the group's As the demonstration passed the ruary 8- 9, called for international protests one here, the Anti-Imperialist Organiza­ purpose. The meeting was not open to the Philadelphia police headquarters, chants of on April 28 against imperialist .military in­ tion has attempted to establish an effec­ press, but a news conference was held to "Free Ramona Africa, free Wilfreda San­ tervention in their region. tive, regionwide mode of communication annouoce the results of the meeting and tiago" rang out. and collaboration on political campaigns Ramona Africa is the only adult survivor The gathering also called for a February present a declaration adopted unanimously and activities. The second meeting regis- of the May 13, 1985, Philadelphia police 27 international day of protest against the Continued on Page 13 bombing of the Black organization International Monetary Fund (IMF) and . MOVE. On February 9 she was convicted backed plans for protests against U.S. of criminal conspiracy and riot and faces . President Ronald Reagan's trip to Grenada up to 14 years in prison. February 20 to inaugurate the new airport Latin American parties show Wilfreda Santiago is a young Puerto there. Rican who is being framed up on charges Thirty organizations from 18 countries support for Nicaragua of murdering a Philadelphia cop in May were represented at the meeting. They 1985. He is being held in jail without bail. came from Barbados, Cuba, Cura

BY ANDREA GONZALEZ morning in Austin, I met literally perience that the big-business of the strike in Austin, along with In other cities, such as Atlanta AUSTIN, Minn. - On Feb­ dozens of workers from cities media distorts strike coverage in reports from Fremont, Nebraska, and St. Paul, socialists have ex­ ruary 14, I boarded a plane for across the country who reported favor of the bosses. Because of and Ottumwa, Iowa, where over panded plant gate sales to include Minnesota. I was on my way to a that editorials and articles with their experience, these workers 500 workers honored P-9's piCket meatpacking houses in their area. rally the next day in support of much the same gloom-and-doom had developed a healthy distrust lines and were fired, helps to The interest in the strike among for the big-business press when it counter the big-business media meatpackers has spurred sales comes to reports on strikes. They campaign. The reports on solidar­ even at plants where . socialists were not convinced by these arti­ ity activities in other parts of the have never sold before. Maggie SELLING OUR PRESS cles that their support was no country both give a view of the McCraw and Tom Jaax, the Mili­ AT THE PLANT GATE longer needed for the P-9 strikers. widespread support the strike has tant correspondents in Austin, re­ These workers. wanted to read won among working people and port that they recently drove to Al­ the truth about the strike. So dur­ set an example of the kind of activ­ bert Lea, Minnesota, to sell at the United Food and Commercial line of the New York Times edito­ ing the February 15 parade, rally, ities needed by the embattled Farmstead meatpacking plant. Workers (UFCW) Local P-9 on rial had appeared in their local pa­ and socializing at the union hall, . local. They sold 35 single issues the first strike against Hormel here. As I pers. Militant sales were brisk. The important role the Militant time there. settled in for the flight , I began to The goal of the big-business Socialists sold single issues of the and PM can play in building sol­ Interest in P-9's. strike is espe­ read the New York Times. There I media was clearly to undercut sol­ paper and subscriptions. idarity with the strike has inspired cially high among members of the found an editorial entitled, "A idarity, confuse strike supporters, socialists in many cities to reor­ UFCW, including those members strike that failed." As I read the and demoralize strikers. This experience demonstrates ganize sales at plant gates that had outside the meatpacking industry. piece, I was surprised to find that Many of the workers at the sup­ the importance of selling the Mili­ fallen off. In New York City, for Socialists will want to expand the New York Times was talking port rally had been involved in tant and Perspectiva Mundial in example, socialists have reinsti­ plant gate sales to include other about Local P-9's strike. strikes and union battles them­ general, but especially at the plant tuted regular plant gate sales as workplaces organized by this That evening and the next selves. They know from this ex- gates. The on-the-scene coverage part of their strike support work. union. Major rights victory·in WW II internment case

BY PATTI IIYAMA Japanese Americans to stay in their homes military necessity to incarcerate Japanese In a press statement, Gordon Hiraba­ A Japanese American has won what from 8:00p.m. to 6:00 a:m. every night. Americans. Military officials had based yashi hailed the ruling as "a real victory." legal historians have called "the civil liber­ This case, as well as those of two other their decision to intern Japanese Americans "I feel today that justice has been served. ties case of the century." On February 10, a Japanese Americans who had resisted the on the racist argument that it was impossi­ The court has recognized the injustice com­ federal district judge overturned the con­ military-imposed curfew and/or evacua­ ble to tell loyal from disloyal ones because mitted against Japanese Americans during viction 44 years earlier of Gordon tion, has been compared to the U.S . Su­ they all look alike and have never become World War II ." Hirabayashi. Hiraoayashi had defied U.S. preme Court's pre-Civil War Dred Scott Americanized. But they told the Supreme In a related development, the U.S. Court government orders to report to a concentra­ ruling justifying slavery. In both cases, the . Court that the internment was necessary of Appeals overruled a district court's dis­ tion camp in Idaho during World War II. court uncritically allowed the government because there was no time to separate the missal of the class action suit of 125,000 The judge overturned Hirabayashi's to take action based solely on the victims' loyal from the disloyal Japanese Ameri­ Japanese Americans against the United conviction on charges of failing to register race . cans. States. This lawsuit, brought by the Na­ for evacuation to a concentration camp al­ Hirabayashi refused to be one of the In addition, the government suppressed tional Council for Japanese American Red­ though he refused to reverse Hirabayashi's 120;000 people of Japanese descent who reports from military and civilian intelli­ ress, delineates violations of the constitu­ conviction for violating a curfew requiring were evacuated from the West Coast in the gence agencies that concluded there was no tional and civil rights of Japanese Ameri­ summer of 1942 under the authorization of military necessity to evacuate and intern cans when they were forced into the con­ President Franklin Roosevelt's Executive the Japanese Americans because no cases centration camps. It seeks monetary com­ Nevada protest of Order 9066. They were incarcerated be­ of sabotage or espionage had been unco­ pensation for these violations. The U.S. hind barbed wire in I 0 concentration vered. district court had dismissed the suit on the camps in the desert or swamps. Many were Racist discrimination against Japanese grounds that the statute of limitations had / nuclear tests set given only 72 hours to pack and dispose of had been common since they began arriv­ expired. The Court of Appeals ruled that their property . They could take only what ing in the late 19th century. As with the the limitation clock began when the Con­ Nuclear testing by the U.S. and British they could carry in two bags per person. gressional Commission on Wartime Relo­ governments will be the target, of three Chinese before them, laws were passed Radios , cameras, and anything containing against their becoming citizens, buying cation and Internment of Civilians was es­ days of protest in Yucca Flats, Nevada, be­ metal (such as belt buckles, earrings, and · tablished by President James Carter in ginning May 31. Yucca Flats is the site of a land, marrying whites, and entering the silverware) were confiscated by the gov­ United States after 1924. Racist agitation 1980. The 'case can now proceed to trial. nuclear testing range used by both govern­ ernment when they boarded buses and The appeals court victory in the class ac­ ments. against them reached a crescendo after the trains. Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor. tion suit, as well as the overturn of Gordon The Reagan administration here and the Two-thirds of the evacuees held illegally Hirabayashi's Supreme Court conviction, government of Margaret Thatcher in Brit­ Evacuation from the West Coast and in­ without trial were citizens of the United ternment in concentration camps were log­ strengthens the fight for reparations, both ain have refused to join the Soviet govern­ States. Their sole crime was their Japanese in the courts and in Congress. A congres­ ment in ending nuclear testing. ical extensions of legalized racism. ancestry. And for that they paid with one to "The decision to overturn Gordon sional bill, which is expected to come up The Soviet government imposed a un­ five years behind barbed wire. The last this year, calls for $20,000 for each of the ilateral moratorium on nuclear testing in Hinibayashi's conviction for refusal tore­ camp was finally closed in 1946. port to a [concentration] camp knocks out 56,000 incarcerated Japanese Americans August and extended it for at least three who are still alive. months January 14. The reason the judge overturned the factual underpinnings of the Supreme Court decision in 1943," Mike Leong, one The U.S. government says it is opposed Hirabayashi' s conviction was governmen­ of the members of the Hirabayashi legal to banning nuclear testing because it wants tal misconduct. In Hirabayashi •s appeal to team, told the Militant in a telephone inter­ to use nuclear tests to develop Star Wars the Supreme Court in 1943, the U.S. gov­ 'Militant' Prisoner Fund view., space weaponry and expand its nuclear ar­ ernment failed to disclose evidence favor­ "That decisi<:m created a dangerous prec­ senal in other ways. able to Japanese Americans in the case. So The Militants , special prisoner the Supreme Court upheld his conviction edent, because it upheld the mass incar­ fund makes it possible to send re­ On May 31 a legal demonstration in on the grounds of "military necessity" after ceration of a people based solely on their duced-rate subscriptions to prison­ Yucca Flats will be sponsored by American the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the race. This overturn virtually nullifies that ers who need help paying for the Peace Test and the Nuclear Weapons Japanese government. decision. And with the court no longer val­ paper. Please send your contrib­ Freeze Campaign. A rally against nuclear But 20 years later important new evi­ idating the internment program, the valid­ ution to: Militant Prisoner Subscrip­ testing will be held the next day . dence was uncovered about the U.S. gov­ ity of the whole process of curfew, evacu­ tion Fund, 14 Charles lane, New American Peace Test plans to carry out ernment withholding, suppressing, and aJ-. ation, and internment has been put in ques­ York, N.Y. 10014. nonviolent civil disobedience June 2. tering evidence indicating that there was no tion ." The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant That's the way you'll get facts about Washington's war against working people at home and abroad: from Closing news date: February 19, 1986 South Africa, El Salvador and Nicaragua, to embattled Editor: MALIK MIAH workers and farmers in the United States. Read our pro­ Managing editor: posals on how to stop the U.S. government's support MARGARETJAYKO for the apartheid regime in South Africa, its interven­ Business Manager: tion in Central America and the Caribbean, and the em­ LEE MARTINDALE Editorial Staff: Rashaad Ali , Susan Apstein, Fred ployers' offensive here. Read our ideas on what it will Feldman, Andrea Gonzalez, Pat Grogan, Arthur take to replace this system of exploitation, racism, and Hughes, Tom Leonard, Harry Ring, Norton Sandler. sexism with a system that's in the interest of working Published weekly except one week in August and the people. last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026- At the plant gates, picket lines, and unemployment 3885), 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Tele­ lines, the Militant is there, reporting the news, par­ phone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Of­ ticipating in the struggle. To subscribe today, fill out the fice, (212) 929-3486. attached coupon. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Mili­ Enclosed is : o $3 for 12 weeks o $15 for 6 months tant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, STOP o $24 for 1 year o A contribution N.Y. 10014. , Name ______Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ APA.RJH£1 MASTER: Send address changes to The Militant, 14 Address ______Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a year, outside U.S. $30.00. By first-class NOW. City/State/Zip ------­ mail: U.S. , Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air­ Telephone ------­ mail rates to all other countries. Signed articles. by contributors do not necessarily rep­ U niori10rgan ization ------­ resent the Militant's views. These are expressed in edito­ Send to Militant, 14 Charles Lan e , New York, N.Y. 10014 rials.

2 The Militant Febru~rY, 28, 1986 . ·,~, ~,. •· . . Heat mounts on Marcos to get ·out BY HARRY RING With mass opposition to his rule con­ tinuing unabated, Philippine dictator Fer­ dinand Marcos is under powerful pressure -internal and external- to abdicate. Capitalist politicians in Washington and Manila see the depth of the popular oppos­ ition, which the theft of the recent presi­ dential elections could not conceal. They recognize there will be a big response to the call by Corazon Aquino, Marcos' elec­ tion-rival, for a 24-hour nationwide shut­ down the day after he reinstalls himself, as well as her call for a boycott of selected companies and banks tied to Marcos. The concern of capitalist politicians was summed up by Sen. Richard Lugar, who headed the team of observers to the elec­ tions. He urged Marcos to step aside rather than risk "power in the streets." The explosive character of the deepen­ ing confrontation is fueled by Marcos' de­ termination to hang onto power by any means necessary. He has threatened to es­ calate the repression and reinstitute martial law. Lugar's message to Marcos came on the Supporters of anti-Marcos coalition, Bayan, demonstrate in Manila, Philippines. heels of the quick reverse by his chief, President Reagan. In his initial response to the patent theft Apparently it was to this end that Reagan tions that might arise after the election." added. of the elections by Marcos, Reagan created envoy Philip Habib was dispatched to The dispatch added that the officers sup­ "This is a step-by-step approach to an uproar here and in the Philippines with Manila. ported the contention that Marcos had weaken Marcos, not a single karate blow," his pious speculation that the fraud and Initial indications on Habib's arrival in taken the election by fraud, terror, and said Aquino's chief counsel, Joker Arroyo. mayhem could have been "on both sides." the Philippines were that the Aquino forces murder. But the momentum of the protests may Four days later, on February 15, Reagan were not eager for such a deal. Earlier, on February 14, the paper re­ go beyond Aquino's prescription. switched course and conceded that the Habib met first with Marcos, and after­ ported: "A major question mark in the res­ Aquino did call for a major action - a "widespread fraud and violence" had been ward a Marcos aide said Habib had assured olution of the growing impasse is the nationwide work stoppage and boycott of "perpetrated largely by the ruling party." that Washington was not interested in tell­ Philippine military, which Mr. Marcos classes the day after Marcos' inauguration, · There apparently were divisions within ing them how to run the country. himself has said is seriously divided. reportedly slated for February 26. Such a the White House ranks on taking an anti­ But after he met with Aquino, one of her "A ·group of younger officers was ham­ national shutdown would clearly give fresh Marcos stand, with Chief of Staff Donald aides said she had given Habib an "earful," pered during the election campaign by impulse to the struggle. · Regan, Defense Secretary Caspar Wein­ telling him she would settle for nothing less senior officers in attempts to hold large In addition, she called for a boycott of berger, and CIA Director William Casey than Marcos' ouster. prayer rallies for clean elections." the San Miguel Corporation. Controlled by reported opposed. Meanwhile, the pressure on Marcos All of this reflects the depth of the polit­ a Marcos crony, it has a near monopoly on Nevertheless, the following day, top ad­ mounted. ical ferment that grips the country. beer and milk. She also urged withdrawal ministration officials said high-level resig­ The Catholic church hierarchy openly This is also attested to by Aquino's ef­ of funds from several banks linked to the nations could be expected from the Marcos came out against his control of the govern­ forts to moderate her postelection course. Marcos machine. cabinet and from Philippine financial in­ ment. She wants Marcos out. But like all Filipino The day after the boycott call, the price stitutions. During the elections, church officials capitalist politicians, she does not want to of shares in the San Miguel Corp. plum­ White House spokespeople said this will were critical of Marcos and indicated sym­ see his ouster lead to social revolution. meted 20 percent, and several banks on the confront Marcos with the problem of "not pathy for the Aquino presidential bid. But a Aquino is trying to chart a course that boycott list reported heavy withdrawals. only whether he can maintain physical con­ February 14 statement by the Catholic will permit a venting of mass anger while So far, Marcos seems to remain deter­ trol of the streets," but also whether he will Bishops' Conference of the Philippines keeping it within "safe" limits. mined to cling to power. Although it l)as have the necessary personnel to continue went much further. Prior to Marcos declaring himself the not succeeded in checking the mass of the governing. It charged Marcos with "a criminal use winner (his well-controlled national assem­ Filipino people, he continues the carnage. The purpose in leaning on Marcos, it of power to thwart the sovereign will of the bly certified he had won 53.8 percent of the It is estimated that at least 156 people were was further explained, was to compel him people." vote), Aquino had militantly declared she killed in campaign-related violence. And to work out a power-sharing deal with the The bishops hurled the accusation that would lead a program of massive demon­ the.killings have not abated sirwe. A week Aquino forces , "with Marcos hanging onto the elections had been won by "intimida­ strations and civil disobedience. after the voting, in Quirino Province, the power for a while." · tion, harassment, terrorism, and murder." On Sunday, February 16, she addressed bodies of ten opposition supporters were The statement declared that a govern­ a giant rally in a park in Central Manila. found, mutilated and decapitated. ment capable of such crimes "has no moral The turnout was estimated at up to a mil­ In addition to the repression, the Philip­ basis" and called for "active resistance to lion - as big as or bigger than her huge pine economy continues its slide into ever­ Can companies evil by peaceful means." campaign rallies. deeper crisis. One dramatic expression of Meanwhile, another crack in the ruling But at the rally, Aquino's message was this was the decision of the Central Bank of are struck by edifice was reported. A dispatch from carefully moderated. She even made a the Philippines to hike interest rates from Manila in the February 18 New York Times point of speaking in a near monotone to 21 percent to 30 percent. It was acknowl­ Steelworkers reported that "a group of reform-minded avoid arousing the crowd. edged this would bring a further reduction military officers iss~ed an appeal today to "She was deliberately low key," Teod­ in production. In each of the past two years, the gross national product dropped 4 BY PAT GROGAN soldiers not to use force against 'innocent oro Locsin, her speechwriter, said. percent. The United Steelworkers union called a and freedom-loving Filipinos' in any situa- "She feared causing a confrontation," he national strike against the four largest can manufacturers on February 17. Meeting in Bal Harbour, Florida, local union presidents representing Steelworkers N.C. socialists nominate unionist in the container industry voted 57 to 38 to strike after rejecting an offer from the Na­ BY MATT HUNTER "Working people are under fire in Nica­ "The Democrats and Republicans come tional Can Corporation. That offer was to HIGH POINT, N.C. - Rich Stuart took ragua where the U.S. government is trying together with big business against labor. set a pattern for agreements with the other the occasion of a regular meeting of his to overthrow a workers' and farmers' gov­ Just last week we saw a self-styled friend three container manufacturers. union local to tell his coworkers that he is ernment that has provided jobs, education; of labor, a Democratic governor, call out In addition to the National Can Corp., running for U.S. Senate this year on the land, and freedom to workers and farmer:s the National Guard to try to break the strike which has 2,200 workers, the other struck Socialist Workers Party ticket. for the first time in their lives. by Harmel meatpackers in Minnesota. companies are: Continental, Inc., which Stuart, 33, is a member of Amalgamated "In South Africa, the U.S. government "As working people, we need to discuss has 6,000 steelworkers; the American Can Clothing and Textile WorkerS Union Local is backing the racist government that beats issues like these among ourselves. As Co., with 4,500 union members; and the 319-T and works at Highland Yam Mills. and whips Black children and shoots down much hell as we're catching, we need to do union members struggling against the Crown Cork and Seal Co., with 600 union Ten Democrats and three Republicans some serious thinking. apartheid system of virtual slavery. members. The strike affects 75 plants are running for the seat being vacated by "My campaign will discuss the need for across the country. Republican Senator John East. Stuart is the "Here at home they are pushing down our standard of living to make the rich a working people's party, a labor party to The National Can Co. proposal offered only worker to enter the race. organize our side of the tracks. $400 lump-sum year-end bonuses instead On February 18 and 19, Stuart will offi­ richer and the poor poorer. Right here in our mill the company is cutting our pay, "A labor party organized by the unions of the wage increases demanded by the cially launch the socialist campaign at could fight for the rights of workers, farm­ union. news conferences in Greensboro, Raleigh, which is already way too low. And workers across the country .are threatened with ers, the unemployed, Blacks, and women The Steelworkers union has pressed for a and Charlotte. growing economic insecurity. the way our union fights for our rights here wage boost stressing that the can industry in this mill . has been profitable. A union spokesperson Following are the remarks Stuart made "Black people still face discrimination in pointed out that the $400 bonus would when he informed members of Local 319-T wages, education, housing, and employ­ "We need more unions in North Carolina work out to less than I 0 cents an hour over that he was a candidate: ment. - a labor party could help the fight to the three-year life of the contract. "I want to announce today to my fellow "Women are paid less-than men just be- . unionize the South. As in the basic steel industry, the con­ workers and union brothers and sisters that cause they are women. And right-wing ter­ "And a labor party could help our tainer companies have demanded separate I have been nominated by the Socialist rorists are bombing abortion clinics· while brothers and sisters in South Africa and contracts with the union, breaking the in­ Workers Party in North Carolina to be its Reagan helps their efforts to take away Nicaragua because we are all fighting the dustrywide agreements that have prevailed candidate for U.S. Senate this year. women's right to choose abor:tion. same fight and need unity and solidarity. for decades. "I have accepted this nomination be­ "Family farmers are being driven off the "With unity and solidarity in struggle, The last time the Steelworkers struck the cause working people need a voice that will land when growing numbers of people working people have the potential power to container industry was in 1971 . The strike speak out against the attacks against us by from here in North Carolina and all over govern this state and this country. We need lasted 30 days. the bosses and their government. the world are suffering from hunger. a workers' and farmers' government."

February 28, 1986 The Militant 3 Fighting Hormel's union-busting in one-company town· Reporter's notebook from Austin

BYTOMJAAX They also see it as a sellout of the over 500 AND MAGGIE McCRAW workers in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Fremont, AUSTIN, Minn.- The Geo. A. Hor­ Nebraska, who honored P-9's picket line mel Co.'s attempt to bust United Food and and were fired by the company. Commercial Workers Union Local P-9 has The strikers feel deep anger and personal deeply divided this small town of 22,000 betrayal. A woman who has worked for . people. Hormel for over 35 years expressed it this Strikers and supporters working in "War Room." This is hub of strike activity at Your support for UFCW Local P-9 or for way: "There are people I have worked with Local P-9's headquarters in Austin, Minnesota. Hormel determines where you shop, what for 20 some years. When I found out they restaurants you eat in, what bars you drink had

4 The Militant February 28, 1986 Socialist candidate joins solidarity rally

BY JON HILLSON And some curiosity. AUSTIN, Minn. - "Good for you!" One worker, Glenn Howden, though, "Glad to hear it." had a few things to say. He's a proud re­ "It's about time." tired P-9er, a "firee retiree," as his blue These were among the typical res{>onses button says. Prouder still, he said, because from striking members of United Food and he was the "labor representative" in Au- Commercial Workers Local P-9 and other . stin's local peace coalition in 1970. (He workers as. newly announced Socialist was spurred into action then when a 19- Workers Party gubernatorial candidate year-old he knew was killed in Cambodia.) Geoff Mirelowitz talked with solidarity He was a mover and shaker in the city's marchers here February 15 . first antiwar demonstration at the .time. Mirelowitz.is running against the Demo­ "This strike," he told Mirelowitz, "isn't cratic Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) gover­ over till we say it's over." nor, Rudy Perpich, who sent the National "Well, that's what I'm going to say all Guard into Austin to herd scabs for Hor­ over Minnesota," Mirelowitz said. mel. Like most P-9ers, Howden is no sup­ Mirelowitz, a member of the Interna­ porter of Rudy Perpich today. "But I'm tional Association of Machinists, was no looking forward to hearing more from stranger to a number of P-9 militants. He's you," he told the socialist candidate. been to Austin several times in the last few "Come back any time." Mirelowitz (left), socialist candidate for Minnesota governor, at strike-support march. months to help build support for the embat­ tled Hormel workers. "I saw the article about you in the [Min­ neapolis] Star," one striker said as he and Rally supports striking meatpackers Mirelowitz shook hands. ''I'm running to stand up for the P-9 strikers," the socialist candidate explained Continued from front page podium. Nicholas paid tribute to the mem­ enemy is our enemy. Your victory will be to the worker. "What happens here affects told the crowd that, contrary to the lies in bers of Local P-9, calling them "gallant our victory." working people everywhere." the media, the strike was not over wages, warriors who have given the rank and file Chanting "431 , 431 ," the crowd stood as There are nods of agreement on this "and never has been." The local, he said, across the country something to celebrate." Dan Vamer, chief steward of UFCW Local point. "And I'm running to say working was "fighting for a safe workplace - the While commending the strikers, 431 at Hormel's Ottumwa, Iowa, plant people need our own party, a labor party, a injury rate in the Austin plant is six times Nicholas criticized the top officials of the came to the podium. The chants reflect the real labor party," Mirelowitz added. higher than in the [meatpacking] industry labor movement for not aggressively sup­ deep appreciation felt for the more than "Well," one young striker said, "it's as a whole." porting the strike. He called on the AFL­ 500 members of that local who honored P- clear that the DFL doesn't stand for the Hormel is demanding the local sign a CIO to give full backing to it. 9's roving picket lines, shutting down the farmers or labor." contract that would gut the seniority and "We believe," Nicholas said, "that this plant. These workers have since been fired Talking with another young striker, the grievance systems, institute a two-tier strike is not only important for your indus­ by the company. socialist candidate pointed to his campaign wage system, and establish contractual re­ try, but is important for working people Varner told the crowd, "These 500 indi­ flyer, which headlines support for the P-9 strictions on workers' democratic rights. everywhere." viduals said to themselves, 'we not only strikers and demands an end to U.S.­ Guyette characterized the company's de­ Finally, Nicholas likened the latest in­ have a contractual right to honor those backed war in Central America. "It's all mands as an attempt to push back "30, 40, .junction against the union· to "the kind of picket lines but we have a moral right to part of the same picture," Mirelowitz said. and 50 years of collective bargaining." justice that they are dishing out in South honor those picket lines.'" "The rich use their media, their courts, and Blasting the new court injunction, Africa." The crowd rose to its feet with "It's not who's right," he continued, their cops against workers at home, and Guyette said it "cuts off the First Amend­ shouts of "that's right!" "but what's right. And we all know what's then threaten to invade countries like Nica­ ment rights of people." Jan Pierce, national vice-president of the right in this issue." ragua where the workers and farmers have Despite the obstacles, Guyette told the Communications Workers of America, The chants changed from "431, 431" to political power." crowd, "we intend to push ever forward to also spoke. The injunction, he said, means "22, 22" as the crowd again rose, this time Mirelowitz talked with a group of taco­ get that contract and tum this situation "that you can strike but you can't picket. I to honor Frank Vipp and some 50 other nite miners who are members of the United around. want to know what they call it?" members of UFCW Local 22 who honored Steelworkers union in the northern Min­ "There are no cowards here. We have "Hormel 's law," answered one worker P-9's picket lines at Hormel's Fremont, nesota Iron Range. They talked as P-9's people who are fighting against oppres­ from the audience. Nebraska, plant. They were fired for doing backers began to fill the street for the sion, standing up so that farmers can be Pierce reported on an important meeting so. march. ' heard, so that labor can be heard." recently held in New York. Sixty people ­ While in Ottumwa almost all workers "Me and my wife campaigned for Per­ In closing he said, "People coming here union officials, students, and community honored the picket lines, in Fremont only pich when no one else would. We rang ... gives us the sense that our fight isn't an leaders - met to begin to organize strike 56 out of 800 workers refused to cross the doorbells and knocked on doors for him," isolated fight. [It] gives us the strength we support in the city. Those at the meeting, picket lines. To show their pride in their the steelworker said. "And now ," he said, need from time to time. You give us the Pierce announced, adopted 100 striking action, these workers wore red-and-white to the laughter and agreement of a group of feeling that we are not alone, and we thank families as part of the "Adopt a P-9 Fam­ caps that read "I honored P-9's picket buddies, "I wouldn't cross the street to piss you for that." ily" financial aid program. He pledged that line." Vipp told the crowd that "we're hav­ on his grave." As Guyette concluded, everyone in the the group will adopt I 00 more families by ing a hell of a battle there." But, he Those strike activists who've worked crowd rose to their feet, applauding and the end of February. The meeting called a pledged, "with the help of the good people with Mirelowitz liked the idea of a union chanting, "P-9, P-9, P-9!" This chant, a tri­ rally to support the strike in New York for of Austin and the good people of Ottumwa fighter running for office, Many see it as a bute to the fighting capacity of this local's March, he added. we'll get all them [Fremont] people out." sincere gesture of solidarity with their members, was heard throughout the day's The communications workers official Hormel and the big-business media have struggle. actions. called on the labor movement in other repeatedly said that because of mine clos­ Most of the workers at the march have Henry Nicholas, president of the Hospi­ cities to follow New York's example and ings on the Mesabi Iron Range in northern never talked with a socialist before, so tal and Health Care Employees union, was support P-9. Your fight, Pierce told the Minnesota, laid off members of the Steel­ there 's a Jot of polite, friendly listening. warmly greeted when he came to the strikers and supporters, "is our fight. Your workers would come in droves to Austin to scab on the strike. Two busloads of Iron Range Steelworkers did come to Austin, not to scab but to support the strike. During the rally these Steelworkers stood up as the 'We have a right to not cross picket line' crowd gave them a rousing applause in ap­ preciation for their support. BY JEFF POWERS and many workers have 30 or more years On January 31 the business group took out Marsha Meekins, president of the Bak­ FREMONT, Neb. - This is a small seniority. They are justwaiting to retire." a full-page ad in the Fremont paper thank­ ery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers' town of some 27,000 people. The one big But it's not just older workers, another ing Hormel employees for continuing to · Local 326 in Detroit blasted the media for employer here is the Hormel meatpacking member of the Fremont local explained. come to work. characterizing the strike as a losing battle. company. A few years ago, Hormel "Even a lot of the younger guys are running To make clear that Hormel management The media, she explained, was trying to threatened to close this plant down - an scared. If Hormel closes," he explained, is deadly serious about keeping the Fre­ demoralize the strikers. To counter this action that would have a disastrous impact "they won't be able to find another decent­ mont plant open, all 56 workers who have campaign, she said, all supporters must on the town. paying job. With house and car payments, honored the picket line were fired . "go back home and convince everyone that Fear that Hormel would carry out this they would be up a creek." Explaining why he did honor the picket is even remotely touched by the labor threat has made the job of the roving pick­ Nevertheless, these workers said that line, one worker said, "Hormel moved movement that your future and mine rest ets of United Food and Commercial Work­ most of the union members here were re­ work from Austin to Fremont. P-9 has a with P-9." ers Union (UFCW) Local P-9 a challenge. luctant to cross the strikers' picketline. right to picket and we have a right to not Among the other speakers at the rally These strikers from Hormel's Austin, Min­ When Local P-9's roving pickets arrived in cross." were Ron Weisen, president of United nesota, operation - some 350 miles from Fremont, they said, a crowd of 200 to 300 Closing the Fremont plant is an impor­ Steelworkers Local 1397 near Pittsburgh; workers gathered in the parking Jot. They here - seek to convince the workers from tant part of P-9's strategy to win a quick Noel Beasley, regional director of Amalga­ had several lengthy discussions before de­ their Fremont sister local to honor the pick­ . settlement of its strike. "If Fremont goes," mated Clothing and Textile Workers Union et line. ciding to go in to work. one P-9 striker said, "we know that five in Chicago; and Stanley Fischer, president The roving pickets have successfully Since the pickets have arrived, these other smaller plants will go with it. Fre­ of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers workers said, the company is going to great shut down the Hormel plant in Ottumwa, mont is the biggest, the others are waiting Local 8-760 in Freehold, New Jersey. lengths to keep people inside the plant. Iowa. But so far only 56 out of 800 mem­ on what is happening here." Despite the attacks by the company, the bers of the UFCW local here have honored The parking lots have been moved so When asked what will happen if the Fre­ government, and the press, the strike is that workers coming in can't even see P-9's the picket line. mont plant remains open, the striker said, winning broader solidarity among working pickets at the front gate. This correspondent recently had an op­ "We are still going to win the strike. It will people across the country. Close to 300 portunity to talk with P-9's roving pickets Since the roving pickets arrived, over­ just take longer." workers at FDL, a Hormel subsidiary in here, as well as several of the Fremont time has not been scheduled in the plant. Dubuque, Iowa, refused to cross P-9's rov­ workers who honored the strikers' picket The management is not ~cheduling over­ The strikers are confident of victory. ing pickets February 17, bringing produc­ line. · time "to try to convince the people the "We have sent pickets to Hormel tion at the plant to a virtual standstill. These workers explained some of the oh­ strike is really not hurting them," another warehouses all across the country," a P-9 In Austin itself the struggle continues to stacles they face in building solidarity with worker said. roving picket said. "We know this strike is gain support. New forces are becoming in­ the Austin strike. The local Chamber of Commerce, an or­ hurting Hormel more than they will admit. volved in the battle. For example, youth The plant , one Fremont worker ganization of businessmen, has joined Hor­ All our pickets report the same thing - the have announced plans for a high school explained, has "been here for a long time mel' s effort to cut across union solidarity. shelves are bare." walkout in support of P-9 on February 21. February 28,-1986 The Militant Nicaraguan farmers from war zone talk with gov't leaders on production, defense

BY AARON RUBY vided by the one doctor who is already CERRO BLANCO, Nicaragua - "We present. The settlement will also benefit haven't come to talk at you and tell you the area economically by repairing roads what we know . We have come to hear from and improving transportation and provi­ you about your problems and questions and sions. to answer you." Then the question and answer part of the The statement was made by Reynaldo meeting began. The first peasant to speak Laguna, the local representative of the Na­ asked the question on everyone's mind: Resettlement community near San Juan del Rio Coco in northern war zone. Unlike tional Union of Farmers and Ranchers "Are we going to be evacuated as the com­ tens of !housands of peasants relocated in settlements such as this in Las Segovias (UNAG), to a gathering of some 130 peas­ munities of Ojoche, Varillal, and the others Mountains region, farmers of Cerro Blanco will not have to move. Defeats inflicted ants here on January 19. It was the first were?" on U.S.-hacked contras operating in area have made this possible. UNAG meeting ever held in the northern . In 1984 those communities and many war zone of San Juan del Rfo Coco. The others in the north were evacuated by the sure adequate distribution of basic goods in warehouse and coffee-processing plant and mere fact that the assembly took place re­ government due to the dangers posed by the countryside. the main food-supply warehouse for the gistered the progress being made by the the fighting . The goal was to provide them As one peasant put it when asked what town were all burned to the ground. Nicaraguan government in turning the tide with greater security as well as better living he thought about the assembly, the partici­ While they were prevented from taking against the U .S:-government-financed and working conditions. Brought together pation, and his expectations, "Well, the town, the FDN had demonstrated an mercenaries of the Nicaraguan Democratic and resettled under what were at first very there's more people here than not. Things impressive and intimidating presence. Force (FDN) . rudimentary conditions, the evacuees were are different now than a year ago. We have They then claimed that · the zone was Since the beginning oftheir military op­ provided with education, health services, more confidence in the revolutionary gov­ "theirs," and that it was just a matter of erations against Nicaragua, the "contras," and equivalent, if not better, lands. ernment. Things are more peaceful. What time before they would take control of San as they are known, have had a strong pre­ Despite the obvious difficulties and un­ we peasants want is to produce, to help the Juan del Rfo Coco. Some believed it to be sence in Cerro Blanco. happiness of most peasants at having to economy." true. The government delegation to the meet­ leave their homes and farms, the success of Today the FDN presence in the zone is ing was composed of representatives of the resettlement program in the area is best Merely participating in the assembly estimated at under 300 armed combatants UNAG, the Sandinista National Liberation demonstrated by the fact that of the 3,000 was a risky decision for many of those who are unable to operate in any but very Front (FSLN), the Ministry of Internal persons evacuated from their homes in the · present, and a year ago such a gathering small units. Commerce (MICOIN), and an agricultural zone, fewer than a dozen families have left would have been inconceivable. In this technician from the National Institute of resettlement communities, most to .go live context, UNAG had expected about 50 Changed relationship·of forces Agrarian Reform (INRA). Leaving early in with family members elsewhere. While peasants to come. The 130 present far sur­ In 1984-85, the coffee harvest in the the morning from San Juan del Rfo Coco, a there are no restrictions on their move­ passed even the optimistic predictions. zone was at a historic low of about 7 mil­ town located some 60 miles northeast of ments or activities, and they can leave any This historic gathering was the product lion pounds as contra attacks prevented the city of Esteli, the delegation passed time they want, most are now fully in­ of the policies and initiatives of the govern­ much of the crop from being picked. This first through Samarkanda, a state-owned volved in their new lives. ment in the countryside over the last sev­ year the harvest is projected to be around coffee farm that had been destroyed by the In response to the question about possi­ eral years. The changes brought about in II million pounds. contras during an attack in May 1984. ble evacuation, Laguna first explained why that period have reversed the economic Despite the increasl!d U.S. government Samarkanda is now being defended and the earlier evacuations had taken place. losses and the military situation in the aid to the contras, the Sandinista People's rebuilt by some 130 peasants, previously "The measures were for your own safety, zone . Army presence in the area has not been in­ landless or land-poor, who have come from due to the increasing military conflict in Two years ago, in the area surrounding creased except for one offensive between less fertile and productive regions. They those areas and the danger to the peasants." San Juan del Rfo Coco, the contras had an November 1984 and January 1985. will .be the beneficiaries of a plan to con­ He then asked those present, "Given that operative force estimated to vary between The changed relationship of forces in the vert the state farm into cooperatives and this was the reason the government was 1,000 and 3,000 troops. On May 19, 1984, area is explained by the combined policies some small private holdings. forced - at great economic cost - to an FDN force of I ,000-1 ,500 commandos and activities of the government directed at Setting off on foot, an hour and a half evacuate those areas, do you think there is launched the single-largest attack on any strengthening the revolution by deepening later the delegation reached the mountain a need to evacuate your community?" one town in the history of the current ag­ support among the peasantry and eliminat­ farm where the peasants were already After a thoughtful pause, they began to gression. Following a preliminary attack ing conditions that permitted the contras to gathering for the meeting. As more con­ answer "no." on the hamlet of Quibuto on May 18, the maintain themselves. tinued to arrive, the representatives mixed "Neither do we," Laguna replied, as the FDN attacked the town of San Juan del Rfo with the crowd, chatting and joking ._ gathering broke into smiles and vigorous Coco itself. The town, with 4,000 inhabit­ In particular, the resettlement program applause. ants, was initially defended by only 35 has freed large numbers of isolated and vic­ Resolve land shortage militiamen and later reinforced by volun­ timized communities from providing the In his opening remarks, Laguna More confidence teers and a company of soldiers of the San­ FDN with recruits, food, and information. explained the settlement being constructed Then the representative from MICOIN dinista People's Army (EPS). The construction of five settlements in at Samarkanda. The objective, he said, is asked if the rural supply store was meeting In the ensuing 13-hour battle, 36 Nicara­ Quibuto, Santo Domingo, San Lucas, El to resolve the land-shortage problem for their basic needs. There were no com­ guans were killed defending the town, and Narango, and Guanacastillo has cut the the peasants who are settling there and to plaints even after reiterating the question four large state-owned coffee farms were contras off from their former source of hos­ aid the surrounding community by estab­ several times. It was a testimony to the spe­ burned (including Samarkanda, the largest tages. lishing social services such as those pro- cial efforts made b)" the government to as- in the region). A privately owned In addition, an effective amnesty pro­ gram and propaganda campaign to con­ vince contras with family in the area to turn themselves in has produced significant re­ South African Women's Charter in 1IP' sults. Encouraged by the fact that the San­ dinista government has scrupulously lived In 1954, a conference of women of the working people." up to its promise that contras who turn ~rom throughout South Africa met _ Also on South Africa, the current, themselves in will be released and allowed m Joha~nesburg and ad_opted the · February 24 IP features a speech by to return to their families and farms, 237 Women s ~~arter and Alms. Many ANC President Oliver Tambo asses­ contras in the region accepted the amnesty of the parti_Cipants ~ere supporters sing the gains of the anti-apartheid INTERCONTINENTAL offer during the five-month period between of the Afr~can_ Nat1o_nal Congress struggle over the past year and the PRESS . July and December 1985. Nearly double (A~C), wh1ch IS leadmg the South key tasks facing it during 1986. that number returned to the region from Afncan freedom struggle. camps in Honduras during the same time The upcoming, March 10 Inter­ period. continental Press carries the full Haiti As part of a general change in agrarian text of the Women's Charter. policy, some state-owned farms such as Intercontinental Press is a biweekly Samarkanda are being turned over to pri­ This is not just a historical docu­ that carries more articles, docu­ Popular vate ownership, organized either as ment. Like the Freedom Charter, ments, and special features on world Upheaval cooperatives or as small individual hold­ which was drafted in 1955, it is still politics- from Europe to Oceania Brings Down ings. The expectation is that these units looked to by many of today's anti­ and from the Middle East to Central will be able to produce more efficiently, apartheid activists. According to America - than we have room for Duvalier especially given the economic limitations the ANC, "This Charter remains as in the Militant. Subscribe now. Tyranny imposed by the necessity of prioritizing de­ relevant today as it was when it was fense . adopted. ... The . majority of Enclosed is 0 $7.50 for 3 months. women in South Africa are still op­ 0 $15 for 6 months. 0 $30 for 1 More aware of benefits pressed and exploited by the racist Nicaragua South AfrlctJ year. The initiation oJ social programs such as apartheid system." · Borge on Problems ANC's Oliver Tambo Name ______of Atlantic Coast Outlines 1986 Goals health care, education, child care, and cul­ The Women's Charter outlines tural activities in the areas where they pre­ the conditions women, especially Address ______viously did not exist has made people What Was Behind the South Yemen Bloodbath? Black women, face in South Africa. City __ State __ Zip __ aware of the benefits offered by the revolu­ It puts forward their demands and L______~ tion. At the same time, the fact that many stresses that, as women, "we march Clip and mail to Intercontinental schools and health centers have been forward with our men in the strug­ Press, 410 West St., New York, NY closed down by contra murder and destruc­ gle for liberation and the defense 10014. tion is .a stark reminder to people of what Continued on Page 12

6 The Militant February 28, 1986 New refinery contract blow to safety

as maintenance workers, and ARCO was I .I convinced that takebacks focused most heavily on maintenance would guarantee a "yes" vote from operations. The company also exempted 25 percent of the most senior maintenance workers from crossing crafts and offered slightly improved pensions in the hope of turning older workers against newer hires. This "grandfather clause" and the rumor of another "goiden handshake" (a big retire­ ment bonus for those willing to retire early) were clever ploys to win older workers to support the contract. Unfortunately, ARCO was more suc­ cessful in this strategy than it had a right to be. Despite some steps on the part of the union leadership to inform the members, many failed to recognize the long-term danger of these takebacks. Many at first believed it would be very difficult to beat back ARCO on this score since many refin­ ers had imposed similar speedup measures in past contracts. Although there was no general sentiment Members of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Locall-128 in 1980 demonstration in support of oil workers' strike. to strike, those who voted "no" made an at­ tempt to hold the line against manage­ BY DIANE JACOBS more seniority. The focus of their attack ganized and subject to layoff when their ment's onslaught. They cast their votes in CARSON, Calif.- Maintenance work­ was on the maintenance shops, where they job is completed. Previous contracts spite of a statement on the ballot saying , ers at Atlantic Richfield's Watson refinery were determined to implement "crossing guaranteed that ARCO would pay these "A 'no' vote constitutes a vote to strike." here led resistance to a proposed contract crafts." In practice, this means requiring companies the "prevailing wage" (what's Many disputed this, arguing that a strike last month. Members otOil, Chemical and highly skilled workers to do jobs other than generally paid union workers doing the was not the only alternative to ratification, Atomic Workers (OCAW) Local 1-128 those for which they were hired and same jobs) per worker even if the workers and a "no" vote simply meant that the con­ ratified the. contract 275 to 88, with about trained: machinists doing rigging and themselves never saw the full sum. ARCO tract would be sent back to the bargaining half of those eligible voting. pipefitting, pipefitters doing rigging and still saved money as they weren't required table. The new contract deals a blow to safety welding, riggers pipefitting and welding, to provide benefits. Under the new con­ Most opponents of the contract voiced at this refinery where only two months ago etc. tract, mechanic helper and some other concerns about safety. Last December, a five workers died as a result of a massive While our last contract permitted paint­ categories could now be paid as little as terrible explosion at this refinery killed five explosion. ers and carpenters to be used interchange­ minimum wage. This will undermine both and injured almost fifty . Now ARCO plans ARCO, like many refiners, offered a ably and pipefitters to be trained as riggers, our local and the only OCAW -organized to assign people previously unfamiliar with $1,000 bonus the first year and a two per­ it barred anyone from working more than contract workers in the refinery, who con~ those crafts to weld, pipefit, and rig. A cent wage increase the second. While not one craft in an eight-hour period. That stitute most of the mechanic helpers. They mistake such as improperly connecting a happy with what amounts to a decline in eight-hour provision was scrapped this will have to negotiate their own contract pipeline, dropping a piece of equipment on real wages in the face of inflation and in­ time around. later this year. live pipe, a faulty weld , or stray sparks creasing taxes, opponents of the contract Another defeat was loss of the "prevail­ ARCO's takebacks from its operators from an inexperienced welder's torch centered their fire on management ing wage" for some categories of contrac­ (who monitor the refining process) were could easily cause another explosion and takebacks in working conditions .. tors. The presence in the refinery of "con­ less drastic, although a new job-qualifica­ more injury and death. ARCO used divide-and-conquer tactics tractors" - independent companies free to tion procedure will require many operators We don't anticipate adequate training. to split maintenance workers from process hire nonunion labor - is already a blow to to learn more jobs more quickly. In a recent meeting with management, one operators and newer hires from those with the union. Most of these workers are unor- There are about twice as many operator~ machinist asked, "How will we be trained and what about our foremen? Will they have enough training to answer our ques­ Massey pushes to operate nonunion tions on the job?" "You' ll get your training in the field," they replied. BY DAVID SALNER On January 2, the UMWA filed a legal mines along West Virginia's Route 3. This same vagueness is reflected in the CHARLESTON, West Virginia - suit in federal court seeking to force Mas­ Massey recruited some laid-off miners contract language. There are no job de­ After a 15-month strike, union miners are sey to abide by the national contract. The and bosses from the area to run Elk Run , scriptions for so-called supercrafts and no returning to work at A.T. Massey-owned results of these legal actions are pending, but most of its employees live outside the limits on how the company can decide who coal mines and processing plants. United but one thing is certain: Massey has not area. Many are relatives of state police or will receive what kind of training on what Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pres­ given up its drive to operate nonunion. federal mine inspectors. equipment. We got verbal assurance but no ident Richard Trumka called off the strike Massey is attempting to bypass the "What you have at Elk Run is a classic," written guarantee that those who can't last December 20 following a National UMW A by opening unorganized facilities said UMW A Director of Organizing Ed­ learn new crafts quickly won't be dise'ip­ Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that in the heart of UMW A country. For exam­ ward Burke. "Buy up all these officials and lined or fired. Trumka said was a victory for the miners. ple, Massey's Elk Run complex was their families, and you have built-in loyal­ The NLRB ruling said that Massey was a opened nonunion in 1981 despite mass ties . . .. " single employer. According to UMW A union picketing. A federal court recently Elk Run is organized according to an un­ Supreme Court to hear found UMW A District 31 liable for $1.2 leaders, the ruling meant that since Massey safe but highly profitable scheme. The signed the 1984 national Bituminous Coal billion in damages allegedly sustained by miners who operate equipment such as a ballot-rights case Operators Association contract at two of its Massey during these protests. Complete mining machine, buggy scoop, or roof bol­ mines, it would have to implement the na­ with guard stations, Elk Run stands out as a ter make $50,000 a year based on a 10- BY DEAN PEOPLES tional contract at all of its struck mines. nonunion fortress among a string of union hour shift. But much of the necessary min­ SEATTLE - On January 13, the U.S. ing work, including safety tasks, are done Supreme Court announced that it will hear an appeal from the Washington state Secre­ by contractors working for $4-6 per hour. tary of State's office asking the high court This separate and unequal setup Chicago city unions get contract to reinstate parts of the state's election law strengthens Massey's hand at the expense of safety and cooperation among the work­ that were declared unconstitutional. BY JIM LITTLE eluded in the way the wages of building ers. On July 17, 1985, a victory for demo­ CHICAGO - For the first time in the trades unions and others will be deter­ cratic rights was won when the U.S. Court history of this city, workers here will have mined. Instead of the old formula of "pre­ Massey fuels competition among work­ of Appeals in San Francisco threw out sec­ a written contract. Previously, city workers vailing wage," where the workers get the ers at Elk Run by requiring miners to take tions of Washington state election law that worked under "handshake" agreements be­ equivalent of union wages in the private their tum as a boss. On a rotating basis, had the effect of barring almost all minor tween labOr leaders and the mayor. Almost sector, wages will now be determined on they supervise, report on, and grade each parties from the statewide general election all city jobs were part of the patronage sys­ the basis of the federal Davis-Bacon Act. other's attitude and performance for the ballot. The law had required minor parties tem, where workers got their jobs as favors This law says the average of bOth union company. to poll at least l percent of the vote during from Democratic Party politicians and and nonunion workers' wages in a given Massey encourages total subservience major party primary elections, as well as were required to work politically for these area will be used to determine the rate of by providing special benefits to those who fulfill ballot petitioning requirements. · politicians as an unspoken obligation of pay for "prevailing wage'' workers. City attend antiunion events such as the com­ }'he unanimous decision of the appeals employment. Mayor Harold Washington officials argue that this will mean a future pany support rally held in Charleston dur­ court in the case helps make it easier for vowed to dismantle the patronage system cut in pay rates since more and more work­ ing last year's strike. working-class candidates to challenge the during his 1983 campaign. For this reason, ers in private industry work .without the two parties of big business - the Demo­ Select Elk Run employees get paid vaca­ proponents of the new contract are touting protection of union contracts and have a crats and the Republicans. It will make it tions to Hawaii. Charley Daniels and lower pay scale. The Washington adminis­ easier for new parties to gain ballot status it as a blow to the old patronage system. Louise Mandrell are among the musicians tration has openly opposed the old "pre­ This new contract will affect ll ,500 imported for company celebrations. Such in the future, for instance, should a party of workers in some 43 different unions. It vailing wage" system based on union fringe benefits are a cheap way to purchase labOr or a Black party be formed. The Supreme Court case grew out of a contains some major concessions, includ­ wages. company loyalty and a complacent at­ Other concessions imposed by the city challenge to Washington state election law ing ano-strike provision. In most cases the titude. But coal mining is an occupation contract will mean pay cuts. Some work­ are a two-tier pay for Teamster-organized by the Socialist Workers Party. The SWP where loyalty to coworkers and a willing­ ers' pay will be frozen . Others will get 3, workers and a cut· in the sanitation truck appealed a U.S. District Court ruling that ness to fight for life-saving changes is what 4, and 5 percent increases over the three­ crews from four to three. excluded the SWP candidate for U.S. Sen­ counts. year period covered by the contract. In . The contract has been accepted by the ate from the general election ballot in bOth cases, this amounts to a cut in pay leaders of a 43-union bargaining group. It David Salner is a member of United Steel­ 1983. Lawyers for the SWP have filed a given the inflation rate. is subject to ratification by each union and workers of America Local 8621 in Nitro, brief to the Supreme Court urging it to up­ One of the biggest concessions is in- the Chicago City Council. West Virginia. hold the appeals court ruling.

February 28, 1986 The Militant 7 Hormel strike, U.S. war in Nicaragua: what's at stake for working people SWP puts priority on antiwar, P-9 support work

BY MARGARET JAYKO ants and workers have come to feel that this ing the Miskito questionas apolitical prob­ NEW YORK - The U.S.-organized is their revolution, and that it is worth lem and not a military or administrative war against the Nicaraguan revolution and fighting and dying for. It means the San­ one. They are fighting to win the masses the strike against the Hormel meatpacking dinistas can win more mothers and sons away from the contras and toward the rev­ M company by United Food and Commercial over to support for the draft. Moreover, olution. In doing this very difficult task, Jack Barnes, Socialist Workers Party Workers Local P-9 were the focus of atten­ confused peasants who went with the con­ the report emphasized, the Sandinistas national secretary, gave a report on U.S. tion of the meeting of the Socialist Workers tras are now beginning to return to take ad­ haven't flinched from even sharing cities or and world political situation to meeting of party's National Committee in New Party National Committee held here Feb­ vantage of the government's amnesty plan. political platforms with contra forces. York. · ruary 8-ll. The expansion of the land reform, This involvement of the Coastal peoples The report on the international and U.S. Barnes emphasized, lays the basis for - another new section of the oppressed - political situation presented by SWP Na­ drawing more of the toilers in the coun­ in the revolution "is a true extension of de­ conquest of the struggles of the workers tional Secretary Jack Barnes centered on tryside into direct participation in the revo­ mocracy in Nicaragua," Barnes said. and peasants in Haiti - and what is deci­ the current stage and significance of these lution and its mass organizations. In response, Washington is doing every­ sive for humanity - is that the masses of two battles and their links to the class But the Sandinistas' ability to do this, thing in its power to get the fighting going people in that country can now begin to or­ struggle in the rest of the world - from Barnes explained, is based on their success again on the Atlantic Coast. ganize themselves to have an impact on Haiti to the Philippines. in pushing the contras back, especially in their own destiny. the north, thus allowing the producers in Contras not defeated · "Real politics begins when large num­ Nicaragua-center of world revolution that region to have teachers, medical care, "The battle rages and the war of nerves bers of working people go through sets of Nicaragua, Barnes explained, is at the better housing, and other social advances deepens as the imperialists press to find the experiences, come to conclusions, go center of world politics. The depth of the_ made possible by the revolution. Deepen­ ways and means to openly fund and press through false leaderships, find an effective revolutionary changes there, where a ing the land reform, in tum, puts the mili­ forward the contra forces," Barnes con­ leadership - thus making it possible for workers' and farmers' government has tary victories on a firmer footing by ex­ tinued. He cited as an example Reagan's the toilers to take over," the SWP national come to power; the capacities of the San­ panding support for the government. demand that Congress openly increase its secretary explained. That is why the con­ dinista leadership; and the impact the revo­ But none of this is secure yet, Barnes aid to the contras by $100 million. quest and defense of democratic rights is so lution is having on all of world politics noted. As long as the grinding war con­ The main front where U.S. supporters of important to the working class. mean that the stakes in the growing con­ tinues, gains made can be turned back by the revolution can make an impact is The "ability to practice politics is the frontation between the Nicaraguan people successful contra offensives. answering the imperialists' lies about Nica­ greatest treasure of the vast majority of hu­ and U.S. imperialism are enormous. ragua and mobilizing the broadest forces manity," Barnes continued. The interven­ "This is where our deepest direct respon­ Abortion debate possible in visible antiwar actions, Barnes tion of millions of working people in the sibility lies" for solidarity work, as Wash­ The discussion and debate that have said. This is the best way we can help the fight to wrest political power away from ington continues to escalate the contra opened up in Nicaragua over whether to Nicaraguan workers and peasants buy the the exploiters and to wield it in their own (counterrevolutionary) war, said Barnes. legalize abortion, Barnes pointed out, is time they need to continue to broaden the interest is "the one thing that can lead hu­ Every move the Nicaraguan toilers another front in the war :.vith imperialism, base of the revolution and deal blows to the manity out of disaster." make, along with every antiwar act by sup­ as well as a further example of the revolu­ contras. Turning to the Philippines, Barnes porters of the revolution internationally, tion drawing in new layers of the oppressed New and negative factor pointed out that whatever the outcome of goes onto the scales to affect whether the Wtd exploited. Working-class women, as the elections, the most important thing is workers' and farmers' government will be they have increased their participation in Unfortunately, just as it's becoming that through their massiye mobilizations able to continue to move forward or production and defense, have bumped up clear that international protests could help and armed struggle, the Filipino people are whether it will be pushed back and forced against the obstacle of illegal abortion and tip the scales in favor of Nicaragua's revo­ wresting some space where they, too, can to fight the war within a ·worsening re­ are demanding that the laws be changed. lutionary government winning the fight to begin to practice politics. lationship of forces. To actually win the right to control their exist, Stalinist, Social Democratic, and lib­ own bodies will entail a showdown with eral forces internationally have backed off Most important labor struggle in decades Starting point: big gains on 3 fronts the main counterrevolutionary force inside from pursuing the antiwar fight. Instead, The strike by United Food and Commer­ The starting point for looking at what's the country - the Catholic church hierar­ Barnes explained, they favor reliance on cial Workers (UFCW) Local P-9, Barnes happening in Nicaragua today, the SWP chy - which is bitterly opposed to the arms talks between President Reagan said, is qualitatively different than any leader explained, is the fact that the work­ women's equality and which understands and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. strike battle we've seen in this country in ers and peasants have pushed back the and fears the significance of the increasing The upcoming summit will be one of decades. What's different is that members counterrevolution and made major gains on confidence of women in the revolution. many such meetings that have occurred be­ of this union have taken over their local three fronts in the past year. As with the land reform, the outcome of tween U.S. and Soviet officials since the and are using this democracy to exercise On the military front, the Sandinistas the struggle over abortion rights will be Soviet Union got nuclear weapons. Each some real power in their struggle to win have dealt severe blows to the ability of the deeply affected by the progress the San­ time, "an accord was signed and im­ against Hormel's takeback demands. contra forces to operate in large units inside dinistas are able to make in pushing back perialism escalated its war drive," and The Austin battle is not a fight over the the country. Most have been driven across the contras and in alleviating some of the there's no reason to think that the outcome right to strike, Barnes noted. "It is a fight the border into neighboring Honduras and economic pressures 4:aused by the war. in this instance will be any different, for the right to organize a strike that can Costa Rica, where they continue to carry Barnes said. win; a fight for the right of union members out attacks against Nicaragua. The success Atlantic Coast "Washington wants you to think that to engage in real politics- that's what the in dealing severe blows to these mer­ The third front where the Sandinistas Star Wars, not the war against Nicaragua, war's about in Austin," said Barnes. cenaries is due in large part to the qualita­ have made gains - and ·perhaps the most is the main problem, while they go ahead It is because the Austin meatpackers are tive improvement in the level of training, important, Barnes said- is on the Atlantic and beat on Nicaragua," he added. trying to win that they have sent roving organization, and combat experience of the Coast. The idea that Washington will voluntar­ pickets to Hormel plants around the coun­ Nicaraguan armed forces. They are also The eastern half of the country is where ily disarm as a result of signing some try. The fact that they have been successful better armed. the Miskito, Rama, and Sumo Indians live agreement is a utopian one. It will take a in getting workers to honor their lines in On the political and social fronts of the and where most of Nicaragua's Black citi­ victorious revolutionary struggle that over­ Ottumwa, Iowa, and a few other places war, Barnes continued, the most important zens reside. It is less developed than the throws the capitalist class and replaces it shows what can be accomplished with this recent development was the expansion of Pacific Coast and isolated from it. The with a workers' and farmers' government kind of use of union power. the land reform. All limits have been lifted peoples of the Atlantic Coast were not in­ to finally disarm the imperialist warmak­ on what land the government can take over volved in the 1979 revolution that over­ ers. Which ·side are you on? to meet the demands of the hundreds of threw the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Concentrating on support for abstract "The power of the meatpackers' struggle thousands of small peasants who have little Anastasio Somoza. The Sandinista Na­ calls for peace and disarmament accords, - the justice of their cause and the capac­ or no land to farm. tional Liberation Front had very little Barnes said, is a diversion from the real ity of their fighters - has forced everyone Some Sandinista leaders have pointed knowledge about this part of the country question: mobilizing the broad forces nec­ on both sides of the class line to take a out that the government had been too slow and made many mistakes in the course of essary to end the war and bring peace to stand in this strike," Barnes noted. in its distribution of land to the peasants up trying to involve the Coastal peoples in the Nicaragua. The governor, National Guard, cops, till now, thus providing the mercenaries revolution. It is within the framework of making the courts, and the big-business media have with unnecessary openings to win over These factors combined to make the area struggle against real wars a top priority that ganged up to attempt to isolate, de­ some impoverished peasants. a special target of the contra forces. The opposition to U.S. nuclear testing and de­ moralize, and defeat P-9. situation degenerated to the point where the mands for reductions in Washington's nu­ In response, the local, as part of mar­ Importance of land reform Nicaraguan government had to use admin­ clear arsenal can be most effective. shaling the forces needed to try to win this The key to consolidating the Nicaraguan istrative methods and take up arms in re­ fight, has reached out to labor's allies revolution, Barnes said, is the same as it sponse to a significant number of Miskitos Haiti: masses enter politics across the country. These fighters are link­ was in the Cuban revolution- meeting the being drawn into the armed Miskito contra The SWP National Committee met just ing up with. working farmers, Native immediate needs of the masses, first and groups. as Washington had rescued "Baby Doc" Americans, women, Blacks, Chicanos, foremost with a thoroughgoing land re­ But enormous progress has been made Duvalier from the wrath of the Haitian anti-apartheid fighters, antiwar activists, form. This is the only way to draw together on this front in the past year. The govern­ people and as the entire world watched the and other unionists to form a common a firm alliance between the workers and ment has agreed to grant regional govern­ violent fraud called the Philippines elec­ front, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder against peasants - the alliance that has prevented ment autonomy to the Coast. And it has tions . the common enemy. the Cuban revolution from being turned signed a cease-fire with virtually every "The battle is on to prevent U.S. military This points to an important lesson of the back and that is being forged today in the armed Miskito group. Some Miskito con­ intervention in Haiti" and to wrest breath­ strike, Barnes said. The fact that union of­ heat of the class struggle in Nicaragua. tras have returned to their villages in the ing space for the working people of that is­ ficials hold formal positions in support of By expanding the distribution of land, north. land to begin to take political action in their working farmers, or the rights of Blacks Barnes continued, a broader layer of peas- The Sandinistas, said Barnes, are treat- own interests, Barnes said. The greatest and women, or the fight against apartheid 8 The Militant February 28, 1986

--- Militant/Diane Shur Left, Miskito Indians in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, waiting for trucks to return them to their homes along Coco River. They were displaced in 1982 as a result of mercenary war. Right, Ottumwa, Iowa, farmers pro­ test Hormel's union-busting. or war in Central America does not lead to This is the way Teamsters Local 544 did noted Barnes. But if you only have defeats women, especially Black women, and it class struggle action by these officials. The it in Minneapolis in the 1930s, he noted. and can never see the way forward, defeats shows them resisting. The popularity of fact that they do hold these positions is im­ Those men and women led the struggle that tend to breed hesitation, demoralization, this movie, Barnes said, is a signal of portant - it gives union militants an open­ made Minneapolis a union town, opened and caution. Workers tend to radicalize and where the leadership of the working class ing to actively draw labor into important the d·oor to organizing over-the-road driv­ become more willing to fight back when can and will come from; another layer of struggles. But the positions don't mean that ers in the entire Midwest, and built the they see a way forward, when victories are leaders is being heard from. "And that is a the officials are willing to take concrete ac­ Teamsters into a potentially powerful scored despite and against the odds. great step forward." tion in defense of the membership. union. That's how the industrial unions and the Class-struggle experiences by union Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Solidarity work in theunions The war in Austin also shows - as did members, however- such as the ones P-9 were built: three successful strike battles in the Teamsters' drive in the 1930s - that In a report from the party's Trade Union is going through - always lead to progres­ 1934 got national attention and were ab­ the fight to transform the unions into or­ Bureau, Tom Fiske outlined the tasks of sive political thought and action by union sorbed and imitated by broad layers of the ganizations that fight for the interests of all party members who are industrial workers members. "The women and men who are working class. In Austin today, "what's at working people begins with battles over the in relation to the Austin strike. fighting in Austin have been changed for stake is a fight to win; for union democracy wages and working conditions of the union We want to get our unions, Fiske said, to the rest of their lives," Barnes said. to be proven better than dependence; for do everything they can to help win this members. political solidarity to be proven superior to one. And we will find many coworkers Working class, unions: center of politics Aspects of the democracy and reaching bureaucracy; for the capacities of the toil­ who will want to do the same. The Austin battle helps revolutionary out for allies that are features of the P·9 ers and their political abilities to be proven The P-9 strike, despite the open cam­ unionists and others see more clearly that strike have been seen in other recent bat­ superior to the middle-class bureaucracy paign against it by union.{'resident Wynn, the working class and its labor unions are tles, such as the 1983 copper miners' strike that pretends to speak for them," the SWP is officially sanctioned by the Interna­ moving to the center stage of politics. The in Arizona and Texas. But what makes P-9 leader pointed out. The longer and harder tional, with members receiving weekly union members who are leading this strug­ different is that enough elements of union and more courageously the workers fight, strike benefits. gle are beginning to think socially and to democracy, solidarity, and independence the higher go the stakes in this battle. It's important not to have any precon­ take political action against the local and have come together in one place to enable This is why UFCW International Presi­ ceived notions about the limits of what's state government. That's because this is the 't. the entire working class to get a glimpse, . dent William Wynn has publicly attacked possible to do in our unions in support of only way to win such a battle, especially in concretely, of the way forward - the line P-9, calling the struggle "suicidal" and this strike, Fiske said. Millions of workers the face of great odds. The P-9ers are a of march - for the U.S. working class "destructive." around the country are following the strug­ small vanguard grouping trying to do what against the employers and the employers' It doesn't even dawn on the union bu­ gle in Austin and are supportive . of the has to ·be done in the class struggle today government. reaucracy that the union is the membership; meatpackers. The P-9 strike fallson fertile when most other unions have either taken the officials think the union is their organi­ ground among working people who have concessions without a fight or lost the Labor need.s a victory zation. A struggle like the one being led by had several years of experience with the fights that they did wage. "We have to turn everything toward sup­ P-9 is viewed as a threat by the entire labor employers' demands for concessions. The taking over of the unions by the port for P-9," Barnes stressed. The U.S. officialdom because the power of its exam­ Workers are beginning to make a connec­ membership, Barnes explained, is the only working class and labor movement above ple challenges the notion of unions run by tion between their own fights against the road to preventing the unions from being all need a victory as a guide for a way to the officials for the ranks, as opposed to or­ bosses and P-9. defeated by the rulers' antilabor offensive, fight back. ganizations run and led by the entire mem­ During the discussion after Fiske's re­ because it's the only way to unleash union The working class learns crucial, valu­ bership. port, meeting participants, both national power. able lessons from fights that are defeated, The spirit in which workers across the committee members and organizers of country are coming to view this strike was SWP branches, described the P-9 solidarity epitomized by a sign displayed by a United work they were already carrying out in Auto Workers local in Arlington, Texas: their unions and cities. Cosmetics, Fashions, and the "Labor needs a victory. Support P-9." Cleve Andrew Pulley from Detroit, a The key task for the SWP, Barnes said, member of the United Auto Workers, re­ is to talk to the entire working-class move­ ported on plans to build a March I rally Exploifation of Women ment about the justice of this strike, the there for the strikers. stakes in it for all working people, and Joe Swanson, a longtime rail worker, anew what they can do to support it. described a meeting of unionists in New book from York to discuss what to do to back the 'The Color Purple' meatpackers. Pathfinder The process at work both in Nicaragua One coal miner in Price: Utah, who was and Austin of working people increasingly recently on strike against employer con­ Press taking the leadership of social struggles tract violations, bought a Militant and read and putting their stamp on them is also the coverage of P-9. His response was: what's behind the political debate over the "This is what we should be doing." movie The Color Purple , Barnes said. ·What's needed, Fiske said, is a sustained Based on a book by Alice Walker, it tells effort in every union to win the maximum the story of a Black woman in rural Geor­ solidarity with P-9. This is no one-shot gia in the first decades of the century who deal. There's much that can be done: send­ rebels against the violence, degradation, ing telegrams -and petitions to Minnesota and exploitation she suffers at the hands of Gov. Rudy Perpich demanding that the Na­ her husband. tional Guard strikebreakers be removed By Joseph Hansen Many .movie reviewers, liberal colum­ from Austin; getting locals to send mem­ nists, and some Black activists have con­ bers to Austin to meet the strikers and to and Evelyn Reed . demned the movie as racist, claiming that it see the situation for themselves; having P-9 with an introduction by perpetuates stereotypes of Black men as members come to our local meetings and Mary-Alice Waters violent and abusive. central labor councils to talk about their But it's important to defend The Color strike; getting locals to adopt a P-9 family; How do the wealthy owners of the cos­ Purple, Barnes said, because it reflects a joining the national boycott of all Hormel metics industry play on women's insec­ victory for the working class. products; and collecting money and dis~ urities to sell products and rake in profits? Women who are Black and women who tributing informational leaflets at the plant How are the standards of beauty de­ are fighters are becoming the subjects of gates. termined in capitalist society? society - the doers - and not just the ob­ How has the growing participation of jects - whom society does things to. Everyone has a stake in this struggle women in the labor force changed their Rather than simply being victims, "Black Thabo Ntweng gave a report from the view of themselves and their potential? women are carving out a hunk of the party's Organization Bureau on the tasks These are some of the questions that leadership of the working class and of the and perspectives for SWP branches. emerge from this new collection. It con­ battle. against all forms of reaction and op­ Both Ntweng and Fiske outlined a series tains a lively 1954 debate over the relation pression," he said. of tasks for the party - from antiwar work of the marketing of cosmetics and fashions to the exploitation of women . What its critics hate about this movie - to raising money to finance the organiza­ 144 pp., $4.95. Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. including a reactionary ideological layer in tion's activities. Please include 75 cents for handling. the Black movement - is that it tells some Building solidarity with P-9, Ntweng of the truth about the oppression of Continued on Page 16

February 28, 1986 The Militant 9 Castro speaks on international political Excerpts from report to the Third Congress of the Cuban Commm

The following excerpts are from the mediate-range missiles in Europe aimed at world, and the president of the United smallest countries of the continent. main report adopted by the Third Con­ the Soviet Union. This situation recently States himself has had to acknowledge [Applause] gress of the Cuban Communist Party reached its climax when the Star Wars pro­ what his spokesmen call positive aspects of However, Nicaragua and its young San­ held February 4-7 in Havana, Cuba. gram was announced. the proposal. dinista revolution provide the most con­ They are taken from the section of the Despite a powerful and growing popular The Reagan policy endangered world crete and ominous proof of imperialism's report on the international political situ­ movement in favor of peace - which peace and threatened all of humanity. But, return to the carrot and stick policy. True to­ ation. brought together the most diverse groups, in addition, the Reagan administration's its. aggressive and reactionary ideology and The report was given by the party's among them European workers and stu­ drive for hegemony and its activities as im­ as a warning to the whole continent, the first secretary, Fidel Castro Ruz. The dents and important sectors of the United perialist gendarme worsened the situation present U.S. administration is bent on de­ translation from Spanish is by the States itself - the possibility of nuclear in different parts of the world, particularly stroying the Sandinista revolution, forcing Cuban Communist Party. confrontation drew nearer. those that are potential hotbeds of tension. it to surrender and accept U.S. terms. Only recently have the first, still-feeble We should never overlook the fact that Nicaragua is suffering from a war that is During the years under review, a tense signs of the possibility of a return to de­ even if Reagan were to change his overall financed, directed, and carried out by the and complex international situation - on_e tente appeared. · attitude to global issues, it would not Pentagon and the CIA, using a mercenary of the worst in the postwar period - has The ominous course of U.S. foreign pol­ necessarily imply a c;hange in his regional army based in Honduras and Costa Rica .. prevailed, characterized by increasing icy has been held in check, to a large ex­ policies. In some places, such as Central But the course of history cannot be re­ threats to world peace and the growing tent, by the unbreakable commitment to America, Angola, and southern Africa, versed. The Sandinistas' firm and courage­ danger of nuclear war. This, amid one of peace made by the Soviet Union and the imperialism's policy of aggression has ous decision not to retreat has clearly the worst economic crises of the capitalist socialist countries, the determined opposi­ even gotten worse since Geneva. shown that Cuba was not an exception, that system, whose catastrophic consequences tion of progressive forces in Europe and all no country, regardless of its power, can fell hardest on the Third World countries. other parts of the world, and the staunch re­ Latin America and the Caribbean impose its arbitrary will on a revolution The responsibility for these deteriorating sistance of all the revolutionary countries A dramatic example of the return to the that resists. After years of heroic struggle international conditions rests entirely with and movements of the Third World to the big-stick policy proclaimed by Theodore to maintain its identity and to uphold the U.S. imperialism, especially President positions of force and blackmail taken by Roosevelt almost a hundred years ago and people's decisions, Nicaragua is still there, Reagan's administration. the U.S. in recent years. wielded today on a global scale by Reagan undefeated, with important social achieve­ In our Report to the 2nd Congress a few The clear, courageous, and flexible pro­ is the unprincipled and brutal occupation of ments to its credit, such as the agrarian re­ days before the beginning of Reagan's first posals repeatedly offered by the leadership Grenada. Playing its self-appointed role as form, and the great progress made in the term, we warned that we must be prepared of the Communist Party of the Soviet international gendarme, the U.S. govern­ fields of education and health. This despite for the grave dangers threatening the Union to preserve peace and halt the arms ment sent a powerful military force against the bloodshed and destruction it is sub­ world. We based our view on the policy race took the initiative away from the U.S. ,, ______jected to, which can be measured in the - proclaimed by the new U.S. administra­ government and its aggressive policy. This number of lives lost - already more than tion. It was a fascist foreign policy based forced Reagan - who had already ex­ The Sandinistas' firm and 12,000 - and in material losses worth. on chauvinist and militaristic principles de­ pressed his refusal to negotiate with the over 1 billion dollars. These lives sac­ signed to manipulate U.S. public opinion USSR - to agree to the Geneva meeting courageous decision not to rificed to Reagan's dirty war would mean, and raise the specter of an alleged Soviet and hold broad and lengthy discussions - retreat has clearly shown for the United States, the deaths of900,000 :I threat. This was intended to justify the talks that went beyond the official meetings citizens and material losses that would be theory of Rlilitary supremacy as the only between the two delegations - with Com­ Cuba is not an exception ... considered intolerable. Laboring under the way to defend what it calls U.S. interests. rade Mikhail Gorbachev, head of the ______,, war's economic burden, and mourning its This policy necessarily called for the Soviet delegation. [Applause] Geneva did dead, the Sandinista revolution firmly pro-­ reassertion of the role of international gen­ not result in any solutions, but it did give this tiny Caribbean island covering a little ceeds with its plans for a new independent darme assumed by the United States, reason to hope for a change leading to more more than 400 square kilometers [ 154 Nicaragua, democratic, nonaligned, and openly allied to reactionary and counter­ communication, which in tum would open square miles], wifh a population of ar9und pluralist. [Prolonged applause] revolutionary forces everywhere. the way for serious steps toward detente 120,000 and located thousands of kilomet­ The Yankees' inability to forcibly im­ The foreign policy adopted by the and peace. ers away from the United States. pose their policy in Central America is a Reagan administration was complemented The f"ct that those who base their poli­ Unfortunately, it is true that the errors symptom of a deeper phenomenon. During· on the domestic front by a set of measures cies on the pursuit of military superiority committed by the Grenadian revolution­ the five years under review, imperialist ' that benefited the wealthiest sectors of have declared that this is unattainable and aries themselves made this infamous im­ plans to govern Our America by means of U.S. society, while slashing funds for senseless; and that those who once pro­ perialist act easier. But this does not di­ genocidal military tyrannies experienced -a health care, education, and public assist­ claimed the possibility of winning a nu­ minish the U.S. government's crime crisis marked by the collapse of the Argen­ ance programs. Low-income groups, clear war now admit that that is impossible against international law and the rights of tine military junta and [Raul] Alfonsfn's among them the elderly, the unemployed, and therefore such a war should never start peoples. Nor does it lessen the significance victory [1983]; Uruguay's return to demo­ and large numbers of Blacks and His­ is, in itself, an indication of possible of the deaths of our friend Maurice Bishop, cratic life after years of bloodshed; the panics, were the hardest hit. This domestic change. the unforgettable builder of his homeland, democratic opening in a country as impor­ policy was accompanied by a process of On January 15, Comrade Gorbachev, in nor of the comrades who died al6ng with tant as Brazil; the establishment of a civil­ decapitalization of the economy of the keeping with the line and positions he held him, and the Cuban internationalist work­ ian government in Guatemala, where the Third World and the capitalist countries in Geneva, proposed a program of action ers who were compelled by that brutal oc­ repression of the military regimes installed themselves, caused by a sharp rise in inter­ for the rest of this century for the total elim­ cupation force to defend their dignity and by the CIA in 1954 left over 80,000 vj~~ est rates. All this is meant to cover the costs ination of nuclear weapons. This was the their lives in an unequal battle, for which tims among the missing, tortured, and of huge increases in military expenditures first time since the appearance of these they were ill-prepared. This also served as dead, and where the brave people and rev­ and rearmament, without raising taxes, awesome weapons of mass destruction - a lesson for us. olutionary movement have selflessly strug­ while promising to balance the budget. which had become a nightmare for all hu­ But the crudeness and brutality of the gled and resisted for years and now seek a Reagan and his advisers believed that manity- that such a categorical, resolute, Grenadian invasion barely scratched the negotiated political solution for their coun­ military expenditures would infuse the and concrete proposal had been made. For surface of President Reagan's policy on try, tao; and other notable changes on the sclerotic U.S. economy with new life, the first time, the struggle against nuclear Latin America. continent, which have left [Gen. Augusto] while simultaneously exerting unbearable weapons and their proliferation was based In El Salvador - a small, underde­ Pinochet [Chile], [Gen. Alfredo] Stroess­ pressure on the economic, scientific, and on not granting any country or group of veloped Central American country, whose ner [Paraguay], and [Jean-Claude] Duval­ technological resources of the Soviet countries the exclusive privilege of people have suffered for decades the most ier [Haiti] the sole survivors of a sinister Union and the rest of the socialist countries stockpiling them. The same was proposed brutal and corrupt tyranny, whose pro­ imperialist scheme doomed to disappear. to set back the gains of socialism. for chemical weapons. The principle of on­ Yankee and Yankee-made regimes have The establishment of the Contadora The U.S. administration pressured its site inspection was accepted. tortured, kidnapped, and murdered tens of Group, in which Mexico has played an out­ European NATO allies and Japan to join in Imperialism's previous pretexts for re­ thousands of citizens during the last few standing and positive role, is part of this this policy. Thus, while promoting new jecting Soviet initiatives in this field were years - Reagan poured billions of dollars picture. Despite weakpesses, inconsisten­ and .costlier arms buildup schemes, the thus neutralized. The Gorbachev program worth of arms and military and · economic cies, and the tendency of some of its mem­ U.S. government deployed 572 inter- has been well-received throughout the aid into the bloodstained hands of its bers to make concessions to Washington, genocidal rulers, in an attempt to uproot Contadora is an expression of Latin Amer­ the rebellion and impose a military solution ica's growing desire for respect for its _ From Pathfinder Press to the conflict at all costs. As in countries' sovereignty, peaceful solutions Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Viet­ to its problems without Washington's in­ 13 recent speeches and nam, and elsewhere, all this is done in the tervention or dictates, and for the preserva­ interviews by Fidel Castro name of defending world democracy and tion of each nation's right to choose the so­ U.S. security. cial and political system it considers appro­ covering the U.S.-backed war priate. against Nicaragua; prospects The Salvadoran revolutionaries' admira­ The fact that Uruguay, Argentina, ­ for defeating a U.S. invasion; ble resistance and capacity to adapt to the Brazil, and Peru back this effort through fighting conditions imposed by the the Support Group strengthens its Latin the international debt crisis; onslaught of sophisticated military equip­ American spirit. ment and top U.S. military advisers have the political situation in Latin From the very beginning, the Sandinista dealt a serious blow to imperialism's dream America; and Cuba's recent revolution enjoyed Cuba's solidarity and "revolutions" in the economy of CIJ.Ishing the rebellion. wholehearted support; Cuba's young The Salvadoran people have given the teachers, doctors, construction workers , and in defense. Includes imperialists an example of the heroism, in­ technical personnel, and - no need to hide interview with Excelsior on the telligence and fighting capacity of the Latin it - military and security advisers have need to cancel Latin America's American peoples - whom they have al­ been a modest expression of this solidarity. ways considered a strange and contempti­ $360 billion debt. 280 pp., $7. 95. Cuba has also participated in the search for ble blend of proud Spaniards, primitive In­ a negotiated solution to the Central Ameri~ dians, and ignorant Blacks- who are now To order, send $7.95 plus $.75 postage and handling can conflict, which should imply a com­ to Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., NY, NY 10014. showing the empire the limits of its power mitment on the part of the United States to and strength in El Salvador, one of the stop its acts of aggression against the Nica---

10 The Militant February 28, 1986

· ":'"• ... situation ist Party

raguan people. To demand that Nicaragua make commitments without this prerequis­ ite is tantamount to requesting the San­ dinista revolution's negotiated surrender and its renunciation of the country's sovereignty and independence. In the same vein, the need to find peace­ ful negotiated solutions to the war in El Salvador and Guatemala cannot be over­ looked. The [1982] Malvin~s episode confirmed .hat the· imperialists will not hesitate to :rample on the beliefs of an entire conti­ nent, whenever it suits U.S. interests, or even to support the violation of Latin America's integrity rather than come into conflict with its NATO allies. What an un­ forgettable lesson for the unwary! Only days before, U.S. relations with the Argen­ tine military junta were excellent. Agents of Battalion 60 l of Argentine military in­ telligence, in the service of the CIA, were in Honduras, training the first Somocista groups that were soon to attack Nicaragua. Between the Argentine mercenaries and the British army's Gurkha mercenaries, the Yankees preferred the latter. The Latin American and Caribbean sense of unity is on the rise. Despite certain Fidel Castro presents main report to Cuban Communist Party congress held February 4-7 in Havana differences, the Latin American Economic System - in which Cuba has participated of Velasco Alvarado [1968-75] and velopment with the blood and sweat of cen­ increase the needy Third World's purchas­ since its beginning - is an expression of Panama, who, together with many indi­ turies, were compounded, in recent dec­ ing power, and would set many factories in ·that unity. The Caracas Declaration and the viduals in different parts of Our America, ades, by increasingly abusive unequal the developed capitalist world - now Quito Declaration that preceded it refleCt have demonstrated the patriotic spirit on terms of trade, protectionist measures, plagued by unemployment - working at this common spirit. the side of the people that many military dumping, flight of capital to the centers of full capacity. The majority of present-day Latin Amer­ personnel can adopt and reclaimed the right economic power, and monetary and finan­ With regard to the development and fu­ ican governments refuse to accept Wash­ to be included in this struggle for our na­ cial manipulations that together gave rise to ture of Latin America, we maintain that an­ :ngton's demands, yet they do not call for tions' second and definitive independence. the debt and the current soci.al and econom­ nulment of the debt and implementation of the elimination of imperialism as such and ic catastrophe afflicting these countries. the New International Economic Order are even less do they question the capitalist Foreign debt The increase in interest rates imposed by not enough. Economic integration is essen­ system. Some propose structural changes, Caribbean nations are also suffering the Reagan government - ignoring even tial if we want a place in the world in the and others do not. The economic reforms its Western allies who were thrown into re­ 21st century. they are prepared to implemtint vary great­ from the effects of the capitalist crisis, the United States' protectionist measures, and cessions as a result - worsened the prob­ We need only remind those who cry ly in degree and, in some cases, they are lem and helped to tum the foreign debt into crocodile tears over the anticipated effects minimal. The issue is resistance to foreign the constant decline in the prices of their main export products . . These problems an insurmountable obstacle, not only to de­ on the financial resources of the developed domination, the repugnance of any self-re­ velopment, but even to the preservation of capitalist countries that, with the reduction specting government for being handled like have even· led to social outbreaks with a grievous number of victims in such coun­ the minimal subsistence levels achieved. in oil prices over the last year, those coun­ a satellite, the increasingly evident objec- When we proclaimed that the debt is un­ tries will save no less than $80 billion in . tive contradictions between the empire's tries as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haiti. payable, we did so based on irrefutable cal­ 1986. This would be enough to meet the ·interests and those of our peoples - all culations and reasonings. With every pass­ Third World's interest payments on the for­ these reinforce Latin America's necessary The highly touted Caribbean Basin In­ itiative [of the U.S. government] has only ing day and hour, the debt becomes more eign debt for an entire year. historical tendency toward development unpayable. The recent drops in the price of served as a mechanism to strengthen U.S. Of course, the economic crisis and the and definitive liberation and constitute the oil, as sharp as their increase was late in military, political, and economic control in huge unpayable foreign debt have also con­ indispensable prelude to the deeper trans­ 1974, should suffice to convince even the this region without solving its dire crisis in tributed to the historical convergence of the formations our region requires. oil-exporting countries of our hemisphere In this Latin American framework , non­ the least. peoples of Latin America and the Carib­ Among the Caribbean countries that are that once cherished the illusion that such a bean. Marxist currents such as social democracy huge debt could be paid. We are sure that can play a certain positive role. Even Euro­ experiencing difficulties is Puerto Rico, that sister Latin American nation that is debtors and creditors alike will arrive at the * * pean social democracy now takes more same conclusion sooner or later, and we prQgressive positions in response to the ,, ______hope that it will be through dialogue, and Relations with the United States most negative aspects of U.S. policy. not catastrophic crises, that such debts are It is hardly worth explaining - since it is The positions of European Christian Like it or not, U.S. will . declared dead and laid to rest once and for almost a logical sequel of U.S. policy all Democrats are not the same. It would be a all . If an attempt is made to implement the over the world- that, once in power, the mistake, however, to ignore the existence have to come to terms with inhuman payment formulas of the Interna­ present U.S. administration stepped up ag­ of progressive elements among Latin revolutionary Cuba, and tional Monetary Fund, it will be impossible gression against Cuba, tightening the eco­ America's Christian Democrats and Social to predict the magnitude of the social ex­ nomic blockade against our country and Christians. For this reason, it would be with changing world . . . plosions and the consequences such a step striving even more defiantly than any of the neither correct nor valid to identify all would provoke - without ever achieving previous administrations to impede our nor­ Christian Democratic governments that ------~--- ,, its impossible goal. mal financial and trade operations. Without emerge in the area as necessarily negative still suffering under the heel of Yankee co­ The formula proposed by Cuba is sim­ the least compunction, it proclaimed the forces. Not all are destined always to play lonialism. ple, understandable, and perfectly feasible: preparation of new plans for military aggres­ the sinister role. of Napoleon Duarte's The crisis that has jolted the economies that the governments of the developed cre­ sion and subversion against our country. It Christian Democratic government in El of Latin America and the Caribbean has ditor . countri.es assume the debts of the insisted on threatening us with the possibil­ Salvador. caused the region to fall back to 1977 per Third World countries, with their own ity of concrete military action, of "going to In addition to the Christian Democrats, capita gross product levels. Between 1980 banks, and that 12 percent of what is now the source," as one of its leaders put it, in there are Christians who are not necessarily and 1985, Latin American economies re­ invested in military expenditures be used to holding us accountable, with notorious Christian Democrats. They comprise hun­ gistered a meager 0.5 percent average an­ pay off the debts. high-handedness, for everything in Latin dreds of millions of people in Latin Amer­ nual growth which, in per capita terms, We are not proposing that the interna­ America and the Caribbean that ran counter i c~:~_. largely workers, farmers, and the mid­ represented a decline of 2.04 percent. In­ tional finance system go bankrupt, that the to U.S. aspirations of domination. With un­ dle strata, who will not be able to liberate flation rates were 5. 9 times higher. depositors in industrialized capitalist coun­ mitigated gall , it continues to violate our air­ themselves without building socialism, nor The foreign debt of Latin America and tries lose their money, or that the taxpayers space with SR-71 flights. can socialism be built without them. the Caribbean ran to $368 billion in 1985. of these countries pay more taxes. As we have already explained, the Liberation theology emerged in Latin In that year alone, Latin American coun­ Moreover, we contend that a simple an­ Reagan administration's threats and or­ America with great force. We see it not tries handed foreign capitalists $35.09 bil­ nulment of the debt will not solve the pro­ ganizational measures have only served to only as an honest commitment to the poor lion in interest and profits. Over the l a~ t found economic crisis of'the Third World strengthen our country's defense capability on the part of those who express their true three years, $106 billion in cash has gone countries; that the principles of the New In­ and tum our homeland into an impregnable Christian beliefs in this way, but also in its abroad for such reasons. ternational Economic Order adopted by the bastion. [Applause] political sense, as an expression of the de­ Today Latin America and the Caribbean United Nations must be implemented to In the midst of this state of ongoing U.S. sire of many Christians, consistent with constitute the world's most indebted re­ end unequal terms of trade, protectionism, aggression against Cuba, steps were taken their religious beliefs , to build a world gov­ gion. The gravity and scope of this prob­ dumping, usurious interest rates, and the to make it possible for Cuba and the United erned by brotherhood, equality, and justice lem have been widely debated in our coun­ monetary and financial manipulations on States to reach a limited immigration among men. try in the meetings of trade union leaders, the part of a few developed capitalist pow­ agreement [December 1984]. On that occa­ The military should not be neglected in women, young people, and intellectuals. ers; and that unconditional economic sol­ sion, we reasserted our policy regarding the struggle for Latin America's indepen­ The underdevelopment and poverty that idarity be extended to the poorest and most that country, namely, that it would be pos­ d.:.:.ce. Although the prestige of the men in these nations inherited from colonialism economically backward countries. sible for both parties to establish reasona­ uniform has been tainted by dishonor in and neocolonialism, and the historicl!l We have insisted that a correct solution ble commitments, independent of the many countries of our hemisphere, there plundering that they suffered when they to the problem of the debt, and implemen­ ideological abyss that separates the two are. others, such as in Peru during the time were forced to finance world capitalist de- tation of the New Economic Order, would Continued on Page 14

February 28, 1986 ~ The Militant 1l Meeting of Latin American. parties

Continued from front page Puerto Rico and called for support to the Puerto Rican independence struggle. "The Sandinista revolution is the strug­ gle of all the Americas," said Berrfo~. Exiled Haitian leader Gerard Pierre­ Charles was the third speaker at the open­ ing se~ion, along with Ortega and Berrios. (See p~ige 20 story on participation of Hai­ tian leaders.) Who was there The number of participants in the confer­ ence exceeded the Sandinistas' expecta­ tions, Arce said when the meeting closed. Delegates came from communist, social democratic , liberal, social Christian, Christian democratic, and conservative parties as well as left-wing ~nti-i~peria~ist and populist groups and natiOnal hberat10n forces such as the Salvadoran Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. Seven delegations came from parties that head governments: the American Members of Directorate of Sandinista National Liberation Front and Ruben Berrios (far- right) of Puerto Rican Independence People's Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) Party at Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean. in Peru the Dominican Revolutionary Party i~ the Dominican Republic, t~e People's National Congress Party m these governments are subject to the "pres­ ragua. Negreiros said Peru would continue. August 1985. The problem posed by the Guyana, the Communist Party in Cuba, t~e sure, blackmail, and threats of the U.S. to support the Contadora and Lima groups growing foreign debt of Latin American Sandinista National Liberation Front m government," which seeks to make the but made no public commitment to further and Caribbean countries was frequently Nicaragua, the Colorado Party in Uruguay, Contadora and Lima groups complicit with aid to Nicaragua. raised in the Managua discussions. and the Conservative Party in Colombia. the U.S. aggression against Nicaragua. He Armando Hart, of the Cuban Com-. Armando Hart explained that the prob­ Of the governments that make up the called for Latin Americans to fight so that munist Party Political Bureau, also ad­ lem of the debt had become interwoven Contadora Group, only Colombia's ruli~g Contadora will stand up to these pressures dressed the closing session. He reported with the U.S. intervention in Central party participated in the Managua confer­ and "resolutely defend Latin American in­ that Cuba has pledged to increase its aid to America and that this had led different par­ ence. The Contadora Group is made up of terests." the Nicaraguan people in response to any ties to seek a way to unite. the Colombian, Mexican, Panamanian, increase in U.S . aid to the mercenaries try­ "We must banish forever all sec­ ing to overthrow the Sandinista revolution. and Venezuelan governments. Its stated Discussion on action tarianism," Hart told the delegates, "and goal is to negotiate a settlement to the mil­ He called for broader and stronger denunci­ try to unite in our cause all patriots who are Ortega explained that the purpose of the ations of U.S. intervention and for appro­ willing to fight." itary conflict in Central America. conference was "strengthening the unity of The governments of Argentina, Brazil, priate initiatives for action to be taken in In closing the meeting, Bayardo Arce Latin America around and in defense of the each country. described the conference as a "successful Peru and Uruguay have formed a support Nicaraguan revolution" and "militant and group for Contadora known as the L_ima Throughout the conference many dele­ and productive experience." The discus­ active solidarity" against U.S. intervention gates spoke of the continentwide impact ~f sions and exchanges of opinions were use­ Group. Of the Lima Group, representatives in Central America. - from Uruguay and Peru participated in the a possible U.S. invasion of Central Amen­ ful, he said. The delegates from different Some delegates raised proposals for ca. S~veral said that the.experiences of the countries came to know and understand the conference here . such actions. Pascal Allende, representing Some Social Democratic figures were U.S. support for Britain's war against Nicaraguan revolution better. the Chilean Movement of the Revolution­ Argentina in 1982 and the U.S. invasion of Many parties held bilateral and multilat­ present at the conference, including dele­ ary Left, was applauded when he proposed gates from the Dominican Revolutionary Grenada in 1983 · showed the need for eral meetings during. the course of the con­ that the conference draft a "Declaration of greater unity against future interventions. ference. These laid the basis for future col­ Party, the Peruvian APRA, and Gui~lermo Managua" in favor of peace and against in­ Ungo, president of the RevolutiOnary Due to the range of political views laboration, said Arce. All the specific pro­ tervention. Allende also proposed the for­ among those at the gathering, however, posals raised in the discussion would be Democratic Front of El Salvador. How- . mation of an international peace brigade to ever Latin American Social Democratic delegates did not come to any agreement circulated to all the participants so that carry out ongoing solidarity projects in on common activity coming out of the con­ each party could decide which actions it Jead~rs from countries such as Chile and Nicaragua. This brigade would fight to de­ Venezuela did not attend. ference . could undertake. fend Nicaragua in case of a U.S. invasion, The success of the Managua conference Those parties that did not participate at Allende said. Foreign debt the invitation of the FSLN clearly felt that served to send another warning to Wash­ Allende also proposed that parties with Many of the participants in the meeting ington that any invasion of Nicaragua will to do so was more of an identification with representation in government raise propos­ the Nicaraguan revolution and a sharper re­ had been at the continental conference on meet with massive opposition in Latin als for economic aid to Nicaragua. the foreign debt held in Havana, Cuba, in America. jection of U.S. policies than they were Members of the Anti-Imperialist Organi­ willing to make. zation of the Caribbean and Central Amer­ U.S. pressure on the Contadora Group ica met here immediately before the San­ dinista government-sponsored February Philadelphia antiracist action At the time of the Managua conference, 10-12 conference. (See story on page 1.) representatives of the Contadora a~d Lir;na These delegates from 18 countries adopted groups were in Washington meetmg With a schedule of dates for common protest and Continued from front page the Philadelphia Labor Committee Against U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz. solidarity actions this year. They then par­ the African National Congress gave greet­ Apartheid; Lenore Friedlander of the Com­ Ortega noted in his opening speech that ticipated in the broader conference where ings from his organization. "We, the · mittee in Solidarity with the People of El they urged support for the activities on the people, who are dedicated to end racist Salvador; Ralph Acosta, state representa­ planned dates. apartheid in South Africa, are here to show tive; Rev. Paul Washington, Church of the Nicaragua farmers Other conference delegates demonstra­ solidarity with the struggle in southwest Advocate; and Rita Addessa, Philadelphia in war zone tively avoided discussion of any specific Philadelphia," he said. "This is a part of Lesbian and Gay Task Force. action proposals. . the same struggle we face in South Africa. The demonstration had been built in Luis Negreiros, personal representative South Africa has to be isolated politically, Philadelphia by leafleting teams that went Continued from Page 6 culturally, financially, and in every other to downtown Philadelphia, to high schools the contras have to offer. of Peruvian President Allin Garcia, was a featured speaker at the final session. He way . We will not rest until we have power, and college campuses, factories, garment More than anything, the changes in the power, power!" . · shops, and oil refineries. Posters on the region around San Juan del Rfo Coco are stressed his support for "political pluralism" and "mixed economy" in Nica- Digna Sanchez from the Puerto Rican 1_3 march were also plastered around the city. due to the character of the FSLN leader­ Defense Committee said, "As Puerto RI­ ship, its roots among the working people of cans we can give testimony about racism in Nicaragua, and the special efforts made to Puerto Rico. We have been denied our understand and respond to their needs. rights, our homeland, and our language has Good sales at Feb. 15 At the end of the assemtily in Cerro been outlawed. Forty percent of women of BY HALKET ALLEN Blanco, the host brought out a guitar and childbearing age have been sterilized." PHILADELPHIA- The Pathfinder lit­ accordian. As the party began, a number of . Sanchez spoke out against the FBI raids erature table at the February 15 National peasants came up to speak with members that took place in Puerto Rico August 30 Mobilization Against Racism march and of the government delegation. Among and called for freedom for the 13 Puerto rally here was one of the most attractive them were relatives of seven former FDN Rican political prisoners arrested in those book displays at the action. members who had accepted the amnesty raids. Books on Central America; women's offer and been released in a public cere­ Another speaker was Doris Pechkurow, liberation; the Black struggle in the United mony two weeks earlier to return to their president of Philadelphia National Organi­ States, featuring speeches by Malcolm X; families. As the peasants talked, Laguna zation for Women (NOW). She said that and southern Africa were displayed on five commented to them, "You know that if "women are not reproductive vessels of full-size tables with an attractive anti­ those individuals had been Sandinistas, the any government or church. We call on apartheid banner overhead. contras wouldn't even have taken them Philadelphia to move forward and go down Many people were interested in Nelson prisoner, much less released them." T~e to Washington, D.C., March 9 to support Mandela's The Struggle is My Life. The family members and others nodded m abortion rights." yellow book could be seen in many agreement. . NOW had a literature table at the rally people's bags, backpacks, or pockets by As one of the peasants put it, "We want with information about the March 9 dem­ the end of the day. to support the revolution. The contras don't onstration in Washington, D.C. A number The display had people milling around it offer us any hope ." of young women carried proabortion rights from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More than Aaron Ruby is a U.S. citizen who has been signs in the.march . $800 in literature and 20 Militant subscrip­ teaching history, geography, and English Conference selected Ruben Barrios of Other speakers included Bernie Denkin, tions were sold. to junior high school students in San J~an Puerto Rico to speak on behalf of all del­ educational director of the Amalgamated Sixty-six people attended an open house del Rio Coco for two years. egates at opening session. Clothing and Textile Workers Union and ·sponsored by the Young Socialist Alliance.

12 The Militant February 28, 1986

- ~- - Caribbean conference Continued from front page idarity among the peoples of Central Amer­ interpren by the participants. ica and the Caribbean in the fight against The fight against imperialism and U.S. imperialist domination. CENTRO DE PRENSI\ I~TERWACIO~Al aggression in the region was the central Rafael "Fafa" Taveras, president of the concern of the meeting. Anti-Imperialist Organization and general The delegates celebrated the victory of 'secretary of the Dominican Socialist Bloc, the Haitian people in overthrowing the explained to the Militant that the Caribbean hated. Duvalier dictatorship. This vict()ry islands historically were "isolated from was seen as a powerful incentive to cement each other, separated by language, and the growing collaboration and solidarity many only recently winning independence. among anti-imperialist organizations. This meeting makes it possible for many Solidarity with Nicaragua in its fight militants to discover ·the historic dimen­ against Washington's dirty war was a cen­ sions of the region and the possibilities for tral focus of the meeting. The fighting action." people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and The advances being made by the San­ South Africa were saluted. dinista revolution in uniting the six differ­ The group's declaration called for the ent racial groups that make up the Nicara­ Caribbean region to be declared a zone of guan population were clearly recognized peace, independence, and development. by participants in the meeting. There was The combination of IMP-imposed austerity great interest in the project to establish re­ and the increased deployment of im­ gional government autonomy on Nicara­ perialist military forces throughout the re­ gua's Atlantic Coast, inhabited by Afro­ gion came in for heavy condemnation. Caribbeans, Indians, and mestizos. Militant/Mary-Alice Waters The group's declaration pointed out that Guerrilla Commander Lumberto Camp­ Press conference after meeting of the Anti-Imperialist Organization of Central Amer­ "these policies are behind the Caribbean bell, head of the Sandinista National Liber­ ica and the Caribbean. Left to right: Clement Rohee, People's Progressive Party of Basin Initiative, which seeks to tie the ation Front in the Atlantic Coast's Southern Guyana and coordinating secretary of organization; Rafael "Fafa" Tavares, Socialist Caribbean region to the political and mili­ Zelaya Province, addressed the meeting. Bloc of Dominican Republic and president of group; and Lumberto CampbeU, San­ tary plans of the United States, without at He explained that Nicaragua historically dinista leader in Southern Zelaya Province. all resolving the region's serious social and has been part of the Caribbean as well as economic problems." Central America. The visit by Reagan to Grenada Feb­ Campbell told the delegates that "the au­ representatives of the Farabundo Marti Na­ wide consciousness. ruary 20 was called "an attempt to for- tonomy of the indigenous peoples and tional Liberation Front of El Salvador, Rojas recalled that "On May 1, 1980, -malize the neocolonialism of that sister communities will serve to create a true na­ Communist Party of Cuba, Workers Party speaking to over 1 million Cubans in country" and condemned as "an act of im­ tional unity where all the social sectors that of Jamaica, Dominica Labor Party, Puerto Havana's Revolution Plaza with Daniel perial arrogance, an insult to all Grenadian were previously exploited and oppressed Rican Socialist Party, Guatemalan Na­ Ortega and Maurice Bishop at his side, patriots, and an affront to the peoples of the will participate in the construction of a tional Revolutionary Union, and the Work­ Comrade Fidel Castro said that Cuba, Nic­ Caribbean." new, multiethnic and multilingual Nicara­ ers Revolutionary Movement of St. Lucia. aragua, and Grenada were three giants ris­ guan society." The declaration also backed "all the Participants in the meeting also attended ing up at the very threshold of imperialism, people who are still waging fights against The participation of Nicaraguans from the February 10-12 conference of Latin proclaiming the dignity and integrity of the colonialism, as in the case of Puerto Rico, the Atlantic Coast in the meeting was American and Caribbean political parties, peoples of our Americas." the Virgin Islands, Martinique, Guade­ greeted with enthusiasm by other confer­ sponsored by the FSLN. They played a sig­ Rojas stated that "it was our revolution, loupe, Guyane, and the Dutch Antilles." ence participants, who recognized the im­ nificant role in the discussion. Many participants commented on the portant contribution the Nicaraguan revo­ more than any other recent historical significance of the group's ongoing effort lution can make . phenomenon, which linked our fraternal to achieve political coordination and sol- The meeting reelected those who had Role of Grenada revolution peoples across the Caribbean Sea." been serving as its officers and coordinat­ Among the delegates from the Anti-Im­ Summing up the importance of the Anti­ ing committee. "Fafa" Taveras is the perialist Organization to address the Imperialist Organization meeting here, Haitian leaders at group's president, and Clement Rohee, in­ FSLN-sponsored gathering was Don Rojas "Fafa" Taveras told the Militant, "I think ternational affairs secretary of the People's of the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement that perhaps the best thing that ·will come Nicaraguan conference Progressive Party of Guyana, is the coordi­ of Grenada. He pointed to the role of the out of this is a strengthening of the determi­ nating secretary. Grenadian revolution in laying the founda­ nation of the political organizations in each Continued from back page The coordinating committee consists of tion for the development of a new region- country to increase solidarity actions." around now is for the unconditional return of all the exiles,'' explained Polo. "Then we will see what other common actions we can take. That will give us a chance to sit down together and discuss political per- Garment workers discuss Haiti, Cuba spectives." · ~ BY ART GERICH and one Cuban shipping clerk immediately One of the Haitian operators and I were Impact in Dominican Republic MIAMI -Thursday night January 30 said to the Haitian operators, "Now that talking about what actions were planned Delegates at the conference reported that the rumor hit the streets here that the hated we've gotten rid of one dictator we need to the following week in the Haitian commu­ the struggle in Haiti had had a big impact in dictator of Haiti, Jean-Claude Duvalier, get rid of the other: Fidel Castro." One of nity when the Cuban shipping clerk ap­ the Dominican Republic. Haiti and the had fled that country. This sparked many the Haitian workers responded that proached us and said to me, "Duvalier, Dominican Republic are the two countries spontaneous street celebrations here in Duvalier would probably flee to Cuba Fidel, different systems, same crap." Ire­ that share the large Caribbean island of "Little Haiti." This same excitement where she was sure he would be welcome. sponded with "No, not the same crap." In Hispaniola. Hundreds of thousands of Hai­ showed up at work the next day. (It was There seemed to be general agreement be­ both Spani~h and Creole I then quickly tians live in the Dominican Republic, in­ only later Friday that the rumor proved to tween both Cubans and Haitians that explained the gains that workers and farm­ cluding tens of thousands of seasonal be false. Duvalier fled one week later.) Duvalier and Castro were both hated dic­ ers in Cuba won through their revolution workers who cut sugar cane. In the garment shop where I work the tators. The three Cuban operators then started The impact on the Dominican Republic day started off quite .differently than usual. Throughout the day other Latino work­ shouting about how bad communism in has been extraordinary, Rafael "Fafa" Shouts of "Divalye aile" (Duvalier has ers expressed ·solidarity with their Haitian Cuba is. Taveras, general secretary of the Domini­ gone) and "Power to the people!" greeted coworkers by approaching them periodi­ Discussions about the Cuban revolution can Socialist Bloc and a leader of the every worker who passed the Merrow sew­ cally with chants of "Down with between my Haitian coworkers and me Dominican Left Front, told the Militant. ing-machine operators. After about 20 Duvalier!" continued over the following week. Opin­ "The situation in Haiti has brought forth minutes of congratulating everyone the Following the 2:00p.m. break I finally ion is now divided as to whether life in the immense sympathy and solidarity the Haitian women in this department started had the opportunity to join the discussion. Haiti and life in Cuba are the same. Dominicans have for the Haitian people," sewing together bits of red and blue mater­ he said. This has undercut the traditional ial into Haitian flags to hang above their racist, anti-Haitian prejudices fostered in machines. As more Haitian coworkers ar­ the Dominican Republic and will have "tre­ rived, the dancing and chanting inten­ U.S., France bicker over Baby Doc mendous repercussions" for the struggles sified. in both countries, he added. We could hardly hear the 7:30a.m. bell BY FRED FELDMAN in this case it is a question of a persecutor." Taveras is also president of the Anti-Im­ signaling us to begin work, such was the Who will provide a safe hideout for The government of Liberia, a West Afri­ perialist Organization of Central America volume of the excitement. But by 8:00, Jean-Claude Duvalier, the mass murderer can country ruled by a U.S.-supported dic­ and the Caribbean. Parties and movements with much chattering going on, the and thief who was recently ousted as dic­ tator, initially offered asylum. But from 18 countries met at a plenary of the machines started up. tator of Haiti? Washington, which en­ Duvalier turned thumbs down. Anti-Imperialist Organization immediate­ At 10:15 the Merrow department shut gineered his escape, has yet to find a taker. The French rulers threatened to send ly before the Conference of Latin Ameri­ down and my Haitian corworkers and I One problem is Duvalier himself. Hav­ . Duvalier to the United States. No way, said can Political Parties. (See front-page gathered to listen to the Haitian radio ing stolen up to $500 million from the Hai­ U.S. officials. Anita Stockman, a spokes­ story.) They issued a declaration to the broadcast. The news stated that Duvalier tian people, he would like a nice place to woman for the U.S. State Department, said conference that saluted "the courage of the had left. Screams, tears, and laughter fol­ spend it in. He has applied for political Duvalier "is inadmissible as an undesirable Haitian people" as an inspiration for other lowed and then silence again as the an­ asylum in France. His lawyer says and undocumented alien." Stockman also Caribbean peoples. nouncer continued. This went on for ap­ Duvalier wants "to forget." noted: "There is a large Haitian exile com­ The Anti-Imperialist Organization also proximately 20 minutes. After the pro­ munity in the United States. Security French officials say they let Duvalier "solidarized with the struggle for a true de­ gram, two of the operators ran around the would be a major problem for Duvalier come to France after the Reagan adminis­ mocracy in Haiti" and opposed any U.S. shop with red-and-blue flags screaming here." tration requested them to do so. Both gov­ military intervention there. "Divalye aile!" The rest of us just danced She warned that the U.S. government ernments defend their decision by saying Taveras reported that a large solidarity around the sewing machines chanting and might come under strong pressure to extra­ that the alternative was a "bloodbath" in rally with Haiti had been held in Santo singing. dite Duvalier to Haiti if he came here. Haiti. "Bloodbath" is the imperialists' Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Re­ Everyone in this predominately Latino Both the New York Times and Washing­ word for what happens when the victims of shop was interested in the news and started public, on February 8. Any U.S. invasion repression get their hands on the perpe- ton Post published editorials stressing the to crush the popular rebellion in Haiti, he following reports on the Spanish-language trators. · importance of guaranteeing U.S. -support­ said, would be seen as an attack on the stations, which went on a campaign to ed dictators a haven when they are toppled. Dominican people. There would be mass equate the Duvalier dictatorship with the The French government claims it will A secure retirement, after all, is one of · support for Haiti, and contingents of revolutionary leadership of Fidel Castro not grant permanent asylum to Duvalier. the fringe benefits offered the Duvaliers, Dominicans would go to Haiti to fight the and the Cuban Communist Party. Asylum in France, claimed Prime Minister Marcoses, Somozas, and shahs for their invasion, he concluded. Three of the Cuban Merrow operators Laurent Fabius, "is for the persecuted, but services to U.S. big business.

February 28, J986 The Militant 13 South Africa's rulers escalate killings Continued from back page by the U.S. State Department as "impor­ K waNdebele is to be proclaimed "inde­ trol. We want a new constitution where we As Desmond Tutu pointed out January tant" and "welcome." pendent" later this year. Under present can all work for a free and just South Af­ 3I , "What is the point of giving citizenship The Reagan administration and the U.S. law, which remains in force , those as­ rica." to voteless people." capitalist media made much of Botha's at­ signed to it will lose their citizenship in The regime's determination to defend When Foreign Minister Roelof Botha, tempt to sweep apartheid under the rug as South Africa. white supremacy at all costs is causing seeking international support for the re­ an "outdated concept." In fact, the white On February 6 armed cops arrived in the deepening divisions among South Africa's gime, suggested to foreign reporters that minority government has not used this village of Uitvlagt in the Moutse district capitalist class and its political representa­ South Africa might someday have Black word to describe the racist system for some near Pretoria and forced the population to tives. On February 7 Frederik van Zyl presidents, the president exploded in out­ time . As Botha pointed out October 3I, sign documents saying they wanted to be Slabbert, · head of the Progressive Federal rage. The cabinet member retracted his "the word 'apartheid' had long ago fallen moved to the Lebowa Bantustan. About 20 Party (the main white opposition party) res­ statement "which," said President Botha, into disuse in government circles, being re­ families were forced to leave. Their homes igned his seat in parliament. On February "makes it possible for him to continue in placed by the term 'separate develop­ and land have been designated as farmland I3 Alex Boraine, another member of par­ his post." ment.'" for whites. liament, said he would resign also. Botha said legislation would be drafted Chris Heunis, Botha's minister of con­ Most of the Moutse district, populated Slabbert urged negotiations with the out­ to remove "existing influx control meas­ stitutional development and planning, by people of Pedi tribal origin, were forci­ lawed African National Congress and ures," such as the hated pass laws, with summed up the regime's policy: ''I'm not bly assigned by the regime to the KwaN­ others. "Apartheid is not up for negotia­ laws to control "orderly urbanization" of trying to change separate development. debele Bantustan. tion," he said. "It has to go completely. Africans. I'm trying to extend it further." The Botha government appeared to gain What is up for negotiation is its alterna­ As the Washington Post pointed out Feb­ Botha's talk about "sharing of power" no ground iqside South Africa with the pro­ tive." ruary I, "orderly urbanization" is a racist between segregated communities signals posal to reform the racist system, be it The African National Congress con­ code word signifying "a substitute system his determination to preserve the Bantustan called "apartheid" or "separate develop­ demned Botha's speech. In London, ANC of influx control that would allow only system, which has been used to plunder ment." Executive Committee member Joe Slovo those Blacks with jobs and housing to live Africans of their land and force millions of Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, head of the voiced conclusions that have been reached in the cities." The white regime would still them to live in overcrowded and im­ K waZulu Bantustan and collaborator with by growing numbers of South Africans: control where Blacks can live. poverished reservations. the regime, expressed interest at first in "Within the constitutional framework, Botha claimed that "a single education · The process of pressuring Bantustans to joining the council. As opposition grew, he there is no way forward for 90 percent of department" would seek to "progress to­ accept a phony independence will also con­ dropped the idea. the people short of combining political ac­ ward the goal of parity in the provision of tinue, as Botha indicated when he offered Ntatho Motlana, head of the Soweto tivity with acts of revolutionary vio­ education." to appoint representatives of "the govern­ Civic Association, declared: "We don't lence. . . . Our task is to intensify the But F. W. de Klerk, minister of home af~ ments of the self-governing national states" want all these contortions on the same armed struggle against the Botha regime fairs in Botha's cabinet, insisted that segre­ to the powerless advisory council . theme of apartheid and white minority con- and its instruments of force." gated housing and education would be pre­ served. Botha made no move to lift the state of emergency. Castro.on internat'l political situation He proposed that the government might negotiate the release of Nelson Mandela, Continued from Page 11 Cuba is not reluctant, as we have often in resisting throughout these 27 years, our the leader of the outlawed African National governments. Thi~ would be possible in the said, to discuss its long-standing differ­ proven loyalty to principles , the determina­ Congress, who has been imprisoned for context of respect for our sovereign equal­ ences with the United States and to search tion with which we have embarked upon more than 23 years, in exchange for the ity and renunciation of the absurd and into­ for peace and better relations between the the task of creating a new world and a just Soviet government's release of Anatoly lerable pretensions of interference that two nations - aims our party once again homeland, the confidence and security Scharansky and Andrei Sakharov and the have generally characterized U.S. policy reaffirms before this Congress. [Applause] with which we are laying the foundations Angolan government's release of a South toward Cuba for over 25 years of revolu­ We believe that this would help to improve of our future, and the heroism with which African army officer captured in Angola. tion. the political climate in our area and have we have defended and are capable of de­ (Scharansky was allowed to leave the During the four months that the agree­ some measure of influence on international fending our revolutionary achievements Soviet Union February II in an unrelated ment was in force, we scrupulously hon­ politics. But it would have to be based on have earned our people the right never to development.) ored our obligations, but, suddenly, in a the most strict respect for our status as a be ignored or underestimated. [Applause] As an African National Congress broad­ provocative way and with hardly a few country that will not tolerate any infringe­ Moreover, the bonds we have estab­ cast explained, to "shift the blame for the hours' notice, the United States, through a ment on its independence, a country for lished with billions of human beings all continued illegal imprisonment of Nelson superfluous and offensive action, decided whose dignity and sovereignty entire gen­ over the world with whom we share com­ Mandel a and other political prisoners to the to carry through its paranoic plans to start erations of Cubans have fought and died . mon interests show that we are not lone Soviet Union and Angola, Botha has subversive AM radio broadcasts against This will only be possible when the United fighters . Rather they prove that we form dragged in the names of Soviet citizens our country [May 1985] . It even had the ef­ States is ready to negotiate seriously , in a part of a multitude determined to win in its who have nothing to do with South Af­ frontery to use the name of our national spirit of equality, reciprocity, and absolute fight for survival, peace, freedom, and jus­ rica." hero [Jose Marti] for its station . We there­ mutual respect. · tice. Like it or not, the United States will Botha's speech was immediately praised fore decided to suspend the agreements. The time when the empire could do as it have to come to terms with revolutionary pleased in our country is in the distant past. Cuba, learn to live with it and with a Our perseverance, tenacity, and firmness changing world. [Prolonged applause] Do you know someone who reads Spanish? 'PM' builds abortion actions Socialists hit Mich. ballot restriction On March 9 in Washington, BY ROA Y A ABBASSI tures of registered voters. D.C., and on March 16 in Los DETROIT - The American Civil Perry Bullard, chair of the Michigan House Judiciary Committee, stated, "It is Angeles, thousands of supporters Liberties Union (ACLU) joined with elected officials and representatives of sev­ extremely important here to recognize that of women's rights will take to the eral parties to denounce new moves to re­ this is an essential part of the democratic streets to defend the right of a strict access to the Michigan ballot. process, the ability to put ideas before the woman to choose abortion. Mar chemos "If there is anything that appears to be voters and not to have to meet the tremend­ These important demonstra­ por el traditional in Michigan political history, it ous burden of getting 45,000 signatures to tions will help begin to counter is the hostility of the state government, the do that . the assault by the U.S. rulers on derecho two major political parties, and the legisla-. abortion rights and on women's Lasker Smith of the Communist Party dela tive election committees to the rights of and Charles Congdon of the Libertarian rights in general. third parties to gain access to the ballot," What is at stake in the fight for r_t ·, ~ muJ· er al Party also denounced the new efforts tore­ }t}.r, said Howard Simon, executive director of strict ballot access. women's right to choose? What the Michigan ACLU at a January 28 news was it like for women in the U.S. · ~ ~ , aborto legal conference here. ~ ').1\\C 1 Washington: 9 de marzo before this medical procedure was r \., ~Los Angeles: 16demarzo A bill being considered by the Michigan legalized in 1973? What did it House of Representatives, House Bill Pressure forces judge take to win it? The new issue of EUA HAITI 5089, included a provision to raise the Siguen firmes los Masas exigen sus number of signatures for so-called "new" to withdraw from trial Perspectiva Mundial describes obreros en huelga derechos tras Ia this historic battle that shows aH'Itra Ia Hormel ca1da de Ouvalier parties from I9,996 to 45 ,597 . of abortion opponents why women are so determined to The provision was voted down before fight to defend this right today. the news conference, returning the require­ Also in the new issue of PM is working people and the oppressed ment to its present, restrictively high level. Superior Court Judge Joseph Hannon re­ first-hand coverage of the Hormel in the U.S. and around the world. But the bill has yet to come to a final vote, moved himself from a case involving nine meatpackers' strike in Austin, jSuscribete ahora! and further moves to restrict ballot rights opponents of abortion rights arrested at the may still be made. January 22 antiabortion protest at the Su­ Minnesota, and the vital labor sol­ "The phony excuse given for continuing preme Court in Washington, D.C. idarity that this struggle is gener­ Subscriptions: $16 for one year; $8 for six months; Intro­ to require almost 20,000 signatures is a The protesters were demonstrating ating. fear of so-called "frivolous" candidates against the 1973 Supreme Court decision in This issue also has an interview ductory offer, $3.00 for three months. crowding the ballot," said Kate Kaku of the Roe v. Wade that made abortion !~gal. with Susana Munoz, who won an Socialist Workers Party. "Yet access to the After the first witness had just started to award at the recent Latin Ameri­ ballot is the minimal requirement for elec­ testify, Hannon told a courtroom crowded can film festival in Havana, Cuba, 0 Begin my sub with current issue. tions that claim to be democratic. with antiabortion activists that he had par­ for her film, Mothers of the Plaza She noted that the SWP has been on the ticipated in the January 22 action along de Mayo. ~arne ------­ Michigan ballot since 1946 and had beaten with his law clerk, John Ingram. They had back several "attempts to keep us and other joined the right-wing march but stopped Address ------­ working-class parties off the ballot." short of the Supreme Court building where Perspectiva M undial is the City/State/Zip Kaku expressed her support for Detroit the nine were arrested. Spanish-language socialist maga­ Congressman John Conyers' HR 2320 bill, Hannon did not decide to step down zine that every two weeks brings Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., which would further democratize the ballot from the trial immediately. It was only you the truth about the struggles of ~ew York, ~y 10014. for federal elections. She urged that Michi­ after some pressure from the National gan follow his proposal, which requires Abortion Rights Action League and others "new" parties to submit only I ,999 signa- that he finally withdrew from the case. 14 The Militant February 28, 1986 ·-BUILD THE MARCH 9 AND 16 ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIONS!--

The National Organization able to collect enough signatures BY ED JOSEPHSON with all women in defense of their a 21-year-old senior who is one of for Women has called two abor­ to qualify for the ballot. Department 1802 hard-won rights. the coordinators of the chapter. tion rights actions- in Wash­ Because the initiative would On March 9, thousands of sup­ The chapter is having three ington, D.C., for March 9, and have permitted the use of public porters of women's rights will fund-raising events to help pay for in Los Angeles for March 16. funds to prevent a pregnant demonstrate in Washington, What? the bus to Washington, D.C., for The theme of the actions is a woman's "imminent death" after the March 9 demonstration: a D.C. , in a "March for Women's Right-wing anti-abortion-rights "National March for Women's "every reasonable effort is made to Lives" sponsored by the National dance, a raffle for a restaurant din­ Lives" to keep abortion and fanatic Joseph Scheidler, a foun­ preserve the life of the unborn Organization for Women. The ner, and a car wash to be held on birth control safe and legal. child prior to the abortion," it was der of Pro-Life Action League, Susan B. Anthony's birthday - march, which is endorsed by the which specializes in harassing NOW is involving a broad considered too liberal for some Coalition of Labor Union Women, appropriately called the Susan B. range of women's rights, Black, right-wingers. women at abortion clinics, Anthony Car Wash. has been called to defend the right explained some of his group's phi­ Latino, student, and labor or­ of women to safe, legal abortion The chapter is also planning to ganizations in building the A second initiative, called losophy in an interview with the and birth control. publicize the demonstration with marches. "Choose life," would make no ex­ Chicago Tribune. "Most people in regular information tables on cam­ ception to the ban on the use_ of In recent years, the right to the prolife movement have a cer­ For information on the Wash­ abortion has come under heavy at­ pus, a mass mailing, and a posting ington march, contact National public funds for abortion - even tain morality and believe sex is not tack both by right-wing "Moral of the rally leaflet on campus and March for Women's Lives, 1401 to save the lives of pregnant for fun and games," he said. "I around Baton Rouge. women. Efforts to get enough sig­ Majority"-type groups and by the think contraception is disgusting New York Ave., NW, Washing­ U.S. government. Here in Michi­ When the chapter was chartered natures to qualify this initiative for - people using each other for ton, D.C. 20005; telephone (202) gan, antiabortion forces are in the fall of 1984, one of its first 347-2279. For information on the November 1986 ballot are con­ pleasure." threatening a referendum to cut off actions was to organize a counter­ the Los Angeles march, 1242 S. tinuing. demonstration to a huge antiabor­ La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, Medicaid funding for abortions, which would prevent many poor tion rally at the governor's man­ Calif. 90035; telephone (213) California is one of only 13 Baton Rouge sion. Twenty-five proabortion 652-5576. states and the District of Columbia and working women from exercis­ ing their legal right. Antiabortion pickets showed up as compared that still provide public funds for campus NOW with 5,000 right-wing antiabor­ abortion. A focus of the March 16 forces want us to return to the days Antiabortion when thousands of women died tionists. "But we had a big effect," West Coast March for Women's chapter gears up EI-Mogazi said. "In spite of our Lives will be the defeat of any each year from illegal back-alley initiative won't abortions. for March 9 small size, we got half the press such attempts to cut off public coverage." be on ballot funding for abortion. Many of the most vocal oppo­ BY KATY KARLIN The LSU NOW chapter in­ An antiabortion initiative in nents of abortion, from Ronald BATON ROUGE, La. - The itiated a fundraising practice that California won't appear on the Reagan to Jerry Falwell, also op­ chapter of the National Organiza­ has already caught on in other June 1986 ballot. The initiative UAW newspaper: pose other basic rights of working tion for Women (NOW) at chapters. Before the antiabortion was aimed at eliminating Medi­ abortion rights people such as the right to union­ Louisiana State University, demonstrations take place, NOW Cal funding for abortions for poor ize, the right to decent, affordable founded a year and a half ago, is members solicit a financial pledge women. a question of health care and education, and the part of a growing movement for each right-winger who shows It was called "The Children's right to equal .employment oppor­ among young women who feel the up. The proceeds go to pay for the Fund" by right-wing opponents of solidarity tunity. The antiabortion campaign need to organize around the de­ abortions of women who can't af­ abortion rights. Initiative support­ is part of a general attack on the fense of abortion rights and other ford them otherwise. ers tried to convince people to The following article is re­ labor movement, on women, and feminist issues. The chapter has also· organized back the reactionary proposition printed from the Local 22 Stew­ on minority groups. Following the Like other NOW chapters, LSU an escort service for women enter­ by proposing that money not spent ard, newspaper of United Auto motto that "an injury to one is an NOW is busy gearing up for the ing the abortion clinic, who are on abortion go to aid handicapped Workers Local 22 in Detroit, injury to all," all unionists need to March 9 demonstration for safe harassed by right-wingers. children and babies born prema­ Michigan. It appeared under the unite to defend the rights of work­ and legal abortion and birth con­ El-Mogazi said that the chapter turely. headline, "Labor union women ing women. A strong labor pre­ trol. "This is designed to be the has grown to 25 members, but the Supporters of the proposition back 'March for Women's sence in Washington on March 9 biggest proabortion demonstration number of activists around the announced that they had been un- Lives.' " will demonstrate our solidarity in history," said Dina El-Mogazi, chapter is greater. Reveal U.S.-trained Honduran military death squads

BY HARRY RING two U.S. officials and a Honduran military unit known as the 316 Battalion, the outfit helped finance the Argentinian training. Recent developments in Central Ameri­ officer, speaking anonymously, Jet it be that was doing the murdering. Then, apparently, when the Argentinians ca continue to underline Washington's re­ known that the CIA provided training for This was confirmed by Dick McCall , an pulled out because Washington backed actionary role there. special Honduran army police units that aide to Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Britain in the 1982 Malvinas war, the CIA In Honduras it was disclosed that over a systematically sought out and murdered at Bruce Cameron, former legislative director took direct charge of training the Honduran three-year period, several hundred asserted least 200 people tabbed as leftists. of Americans for Democratic Action. killers. leftists were murdered by military death One of the U.S. officials said the CIA Honduran and U.S. sources also said Disclosure that U.S. agencies were squads. The squads were trained by the had not been directly involved in the kill­ that Argentine military advisers and Nica­ transporting supplies to the contras by way CIA. ings, "but they knew about it, and when raguan contras were also involved in the of El Salvador came after one plane had to And in El Salvador it was disclosed that some people disappeared, they looked the killings and disappearances. make a forced landing and another one U.S. agencies and hirelings have been il­ other way." Argentinian "experts" who had partici­ crashed. The Salvadoran government takes legally transporting military supplies Members of Congress knew about this in pated in the massive right-wing death the official posture that it is not involved in through El Salvador into Honduras. The 1984, but said nothing. squad operations in their homeland were aiding the Nicaraguan mercenaries. supplies are for the Honduran-based, U.S. ­ According to reports, a Honduran mili­ brought into Honduras in 1980. They During 1984, supplies to the contras sponsored Nicaraguan counterrevolution­ tary officer, now dead, told congressional helped train Honduran units and Nicara­ were flown through El Salvador on a regu­ aries, the contras, who are waging war staff members in 1984 of the CIA involve­ guan "freedom fighters." lar basis , officials now concede. This route against the Nicaraguan government. CIA ment with a secret Honduran intelligence One source said the CIA may have Continued on next page sea and air attacks on Nicaragua were also launched from El Salvador in 1984. Meanwhile, in El Salvador, two rank­ and-file National Guard cops were con­ Costa ·Rica, Nicaragua normalize relations victed of slaying a Salvadoran and two U.S. emissaries. But the officers who or­ BY PAT GROGAN ezuela. Ortega wrote that he "deplored the fact dered and supervised the murders remain The government of Costa Rica officially The Costa Rican government broke off that the actions Nicaragua is obliged to take free. resumed diplomatic relations with Nicara­ diplomatic relations and went on a cam­ in order to defend its territory and its na­ At the same time, Reagan has asked gua on February 13. Relations between the paign to whip up war hysteria against Nic­ tional sovereignty against incursions from Congress for $54 million for expanded two countries were cut off by Costa Rica aragua within the country. mercenary forces coming from other cqun­ training of Central American police units last May following a border incident in This was at the same time that the Hon­ tries resulted in the deaths of two members - in the name of combating terrorism. which· two members of the Costa Rican duran army staged a series of CIA-backed of the Costa Rican Civil Guard." This is in addition to Reagan's request for Civil Guard were killed. border provocations against Nicaragua Ortega reiterated that Nicaragua "does $100 million in aid for.th e Nicaraguan con­ On May 31, 1985, the Sandinista army from the north as part of Washington's not nurture any desire to attack Costa Rica tras. attempted to dislodge a group o( U.S. ­ stepped-up war drive. and only wants to base its relations with In the 1970s, in the wake of shocking backed mercenaries who had set up a base Both Costa Rica and Honduras have that brother country on a peaceful, mutu­ exposures of wholesale torture and murder, on the Nicaraguan side of the San Juan been the staging grounds for contra attacks ally respectful , constructive coexistence. Congress barred U.S . training for such River, which separates southern Nicaragua against Nicaragua since 198 1. Given the for the benefit of peace between both police units. Later, an exception was made and Costa Rica. It was after some of these military situation created on both borders, peoples and governments." . for combating "terrorism." The "excep­ contras (counterrevolutionaries) had fled Nicaragua had taken the initiative in mak­ In its response, the Costa Rican govern­ tion" is now being made the rule. across the border back into Costa Rica that ing proposals to reduce tensions. ment said that it viewed "the explanation The two convicted Salvadoran gunmen the two members of the Costa Rican Civil In the case of Costa Rica, Nicaragua had given by the Nicaraguan government" of admitted that five years ago they had en­ Guard were killed. proposed setting up a demilitarized zone the events last May as "effective steps to­ tered a restaurant and shot down Mark The Costa Rican authorities immediately along the border supervised by the Conta­ ward a permanent, respectful , and peaceful Pearlman, Michael Hammer, and Jose accused Nicaragua of being responsible for dora countries and other countries with coexistence between both countries." Viera. Viera headed a government-spon­ the deaths, without presenting any proof. whom both Nicaragua and Costa Rica have sored token land reform program. ·Hammer Nicaragua denied the charge, pointing to good relations. But the Costa Rican gov­ Barricada reported that "Nicaragua and Pearlman were advisers ·sent by the evidence that the CIA-backed contras had ernment refused to participate. completely supported the Costa Rican pro­ American Institute for Free Labor De­ carried out the attack in order to make it Negotiations for the resumption of nor­ posal to initiate a thorough discussion on velopment, a CIA-funded outfit. look as if Nicaragua had crossed the fron­ mal relations between the two countries permanent mechanisms to guarantee that The two cops testified the killings were tier. have been going on for some months. border incidents will not be repeated, as ordered and supervised by Army Lt. The Costa Rican government refused The February 14 issue of Barricada, well as to establish - through discussion Rodolfo Lopez and Capt. Eduardo Avila, Nicaragua's offer of an immediate investi­ daily newspaper of the Sandinista National with the Contadora Group and the Conta­ along with a right-wing businessman, Hans gation of the events by a joint Nicaraguan­ Liberation Front, reported on a February dora Support Group [governments of Christ. Costa Rican commission or by the Preven­ 12 letter to Costa Rican President Alberto Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay] - a Three witnesses corroborated this, but tion and Control Commission of the gov­ Monge from Nicaraguan President Daniel permanent-commission to patrol the border the Salvadoran courts refused to act. ernments involved in the Contadora talks Ortega that opened the way for the nor­ for the security and confidence of both In Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, - Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Yen- malization of relations. peoples."

February 28, 1986 The Militant 15 --CALENDAR------

on Haiti. Sun., March 2, 6:30p.m. 46 112 Race NEW JERSEY 7:30p.m. 767 S State, 3rd floor. Donation: $2. ALABAMA St. Donation: $3. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information Birmingham For more information call ( 408) 998-4007. Newark call (801) 355-1124. Solidarity with the Hormel Strikers. Speak­ Film: Malcolm X: The Struggle for Freedom. ers: Darryl Turner, member of United Food and GEORGIA Presentation to follow. Fri., Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. WEST VIRGINIA Commercial Workers Local 422, just returned 141 Halsey St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Charleston Atlanta Labor Forum. For more information call (201) from fact-finding trip to Austin, Minnesota; Tribute to Malcolm X. Sun., Feb. 23, 7 p.m. We're Moving On: Rally for 18th Anniver­ 643-3341. · Bob Singleton, farm organizer. Sat., Feb. 22, 611-A Tennessee Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: 7:30p.m. 205 18th St. S. Donation: $2. Ausp: sary of the Atlanta Militant Bookstore. Speakers: Rev. Fred Taylor, Southern Christian Militant Labor Forum. For m~re information Militant Labor Forum. For more information NEW YORK call (304) 345-3040. call (205) 323-3075. Leadership Conference; Stephanie Collins, Albany member United Auto Workers Local10; others. Morgantown Rally in Defense of Women's Rights: Cele­ Sat., Feb . 22, 7 p.m. 504 Flat Shoals Ave. SE. ARIZONA brating Generations of Women In Struggle Support the Hormel Strikers. An eyewitness Donation: $2 . Ausp: Socialist Workers Party the World Over. Speakers: Jeanette Mothobi, report. Speaker: Sara Lohman, member Amal­ Phoenix and Young Socialist Alliance . For more infor­ gamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union Defending Abortion Rights - What's At women's division, African National Congress mation call (404) 577-4065. and Young Socialist Alliance. Sat., Feb. 22 , Stake for All Working People. Speakers: of South Africa; Josefina Elizander, Casa Nica­ 7:30p.m. 221 Pleasant St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Francisca Cavazos, community organizer; Sue ragua; Dorothy Cotton, civil rights activist; MARYLAND Militant Labor Forum. For more information Adley, Socialist Workers Party; representative Carol Reachert, National Or~anization for call (304) 296-0055 . of Phoenix National Organization for Women; Baltimore Women; Colia Clark, SUNY A Afro-American representative of Arizona Coalition of Labor U.S. Aggression Against Nicaragua, an Eye­ Studies Department; others. Mon ., Feb . 24, 7 Why Support a Woman's Right to Choose? Union Women. Translation to Spanish. Sat., witness Account; Speakers: Gertrude Hughes, p.m. Campus Center Ballroom SUNY A, 1400 Speakers: Sister Barbara Ferraro and Sister Pat­ Feb. 22, 7 p.m. 3750 W McDowell . Donation: antiwar activist recently returned from Nicara­ Washington Ave., Donation: $3. Ausp: ricia Hussey, signers of 1984 abortion rights ad , $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ gua; John Lemon, Socialist Workers Party; rep­ SUNY A Women's Rights Coalition and Stu­ under threat of dismissal from tHeir order. Sat., formation call (602) 272-4026. resentative from Casa Baltimore. Sat., Feb. 22, dent Association . For more information call March I, 2 p.m. West Virginia University, Col­ legiate Room in Mountainlair building. Ausp: Hormel: the United Food and Commercial 7:30 p.m. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Donation: (518) 442-5640. Center for Women's Studies, Morgantown Na­ Workers Local P-9 Strike. Video showing of · $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ formation call (301) 235-0013. Manhattan tional Organization for Women. Nightline interviews with Local P-9 President Tribute to Sandino and International Sol­ Jim Guyette and an International representative idarity. Speakers: Bill Gandall, 77-year-old ex­ WISCONSIN of the UFCW. Presentation to follow by Glenn MICHIGAN Marine who fought against Sandino who is now Orlic, member International Association of Detroit a supporter of the Sandinista· revolution, will Milwaukee Machinists Local 763 and Young Socialist Al­ Grand Opening of Militant Bookstore, with speak about his experiences; showing of The Hormel Strike, Workers Fight Back liance. Translation to Spanish. Sat., March 1, 7 Cuba and Nicaragua: An Eyewitness Report. documentary film, Living at Risk, about a fam­ Against Union-busting. Speakers: Sandi Sher­ p.m. 3750 W McDowell Rd . Donation: $2. Speakers: Nancy Burton and Mark Franklin, ily in the Nicaraguan revolution . Sat., Feb. 22, man, member Amalgamated Clothing and Tex­ Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ Young Socialist Alliance and Socialist Wor.kers 3-10 p.m. P.S. 41, 116 W 11th St. Donation: tile Workers Union Local 64 and Socialist mation call (602) 272-4026. Party. Sat. , Feb. 22. Grand opening begins 5 $5. Ausp: Casa Nicaragua. For more informa­ Workers Party; others. Sat., Feb. 22 , 7:30p.m. p.m., forum at 8 p.m. Donation: $2. Twenty tion call (212) 769-4293. 4707 W Lisbon. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more information call (414) CALIFORNIA percent off all Pathfinder Press books. 2135 How to Support the Hormel Workers and 445-2076. Los Angeles Woodward Ave. Ausp: Miiitant Bookstore and Stop Union-busting. Panel discussion. Speak­ Haiti: What's Going On. Speakers: Greg Jack­ Militant Labor Forum. For more information ers to be announced. Translation to Spanish. Health Care for People or Profits? A panel discussion. Speakers: Doug Nance, assistant son, representative of Young Socialist Alliance. call (313) 961-0395. Fri., Feb. 28,7:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:30p.m. 79 professor UWM School of Nursing; Karen Mur­ Bilingual forum in English and Spanish. Sat., Leonard · St. Donation: $2, dinner $3. Ausp: March 1, 7:30p.m. 2546 W Pico Blvd. Dona­ MISSOURI Militant Labor Forum/Foro Perspectiva Mun­ phy , Concerned Citizens for HMO Reform; and tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum . For more Kansas City dial. For more information call (212) 226-8445. Lenore Holyon, Socialist Workers Party. Sat. , March I, 7:30p.m. 4707 W Lisbon Ave. Dona­ information call (213) 3.80-9460. Keep Abortion Safe and Legal. Video show­ tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum . For more ing of Silent Scream followed by The Facts Oakland NORTH CAROLINA information call (414) 445-2076. Speak Louder. Panel discussion to follow with Bitter Cane. Award-winning documentary film Greensboro on Haiti. Sat., March I, 7:30p.m. 3808 E 14th representative from Planned Parenthood and with Etta Ettlinger, member of Socialist Work­ B!ack Women and the Fight to Defend Abor­ St. Donation: $3. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. tion Rights. Sun., Feb. 23, 5 p.m. 2219 E. For more information call (415) 261-3014. ers Party and United Auto Workers Local 93. U.S.-trained death Sun ., Feb. 23, 7 p.m. 4725 Troost. Donation: Market St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor San Francisco $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ Forum, 15 percent off all titles in Militant squads in Honduras Bitter Cane. Award-winning documentary film, formation call (816) 753-0404. Bookstore during Black history month. For on Haiti. Fri., Feb. 28, 7:30p.m. 3284 23rd St. Stop Union-busting - from Austin, Min­ more information call (919) 272-5996. Continued from previous page Donation: $3. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For nesota, to Kansas City, Missouri. Panel dis­ more information call (415) 282-6255. OREGON has been reactivated, they say, because of cussion. Sun., March 2, 7 p.m. 4725 Troost. problems with the Honduran government, San Jose Donation: $2. Ausp: Mi.Jitant Labor Forum. For Portland Bitter Cane. Award-winning documentary film more information call (816) 753-0404. Socialist Workers Campaign Open House. which has shown some reluctance at hav­ Hear Amy Husk, Socialist Workers candidate ing the materiel flown directly from the for U.S. Senate, report back from her recent trip United States to the contra bases on the to Austin, Minnesota, in solidarity with Hormel Honduran-Nicaraguan border. SWP discusses Hormel, Nicaragua war strikers. Sat., Feb. 22; 5-8 p.m. 2732 NE The spotlight was put on the Salvadoran Union. Ausp: 1986 Oregon Socialist Workers ferrying operation with the two plane mis­ Continued from Page 9 Mundial at plant gates, in working-class Campaign Committee. For more information haps. In both cases, Salvadoran troops said, is the central campaign of every communities, political events, on cam­ call (503) 287-7416. quickly sealed off the areas, with both branch today. What happens to P-9, puses, and at high schools are key to get­ TEXAS Washington and San Salvador claiming ig­ Ntweng noted, will affect the Black strug­ ting out the truth about the battle and norance of the incidents. gle, the March 9 and 16 national abortion spreading the word to larger layers of Dallas Previous information on the funneling of rights demonstrations, and the efforts to working people. Celebrate Black History Month. contra aid through El Salvador came to Forum: "Malcolm X, the Meaning of His build a movement against the U.S.-or­ light last year when Costa Rican police ar­ Farmers Ideas Today." Speakers: Janet Brammer; ganized war in Central America. others. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 22, rested five foreign mercenaries at a contra Everyone has a stake in this struggle: The Austin strike has already won sig­ 7:30p.m. 132 N Beckley Ave. Donation: $2 . camp in that country. students, anti-apartheid activists, members nificant support from working farmers, Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. Two of those arrested - one from the of the National Organization for Women, who are attracted by the combativity of Books on Black struggle and the fight against United States, the other from Britain - NAACP and other Black rights and these fighters and who are beginning to see apartheid. Pathfinder Bookstore. Hours: Thurs . said they had initially flown from Miami to women's rights groups, Chicanos, Puerto that workers and farmers have a common and Fri ., 12 noon to 8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 9 a military airport in El Salvador. They said Ricans, and unionists. They should all be enemy. The Austin struggle, it was pointed p.m. Sun., 12 noon to 4 p.m. 132 N Beckley the plane was filled with guns ard ammo encouraged to go to Austin, adopt a P-9 out, will accelerate the development of a Ave. for the contras and was piloted by a Cuban For more information call (214) 943-5195 . family, boycott Hormel, and send mes­ fighting farmers' movement in the Mid­ exile. sages of support to Austin. west. And it makes it easier for working UTAH They said Salvadoran soldiers reloaded The weekly Militant Labor Forums, farmers to see that the unions really can be Salt Lake City ·the cargo onto a smaller plane, which took SWP election campaigns for public office, changed from organizations that care only Unionists Look at the Hormel Strike: What it on to the contra camp in Costa Rica. Pathfinder bookstores - all should be part about defending the jobs of an ever-shrink­ Is at Stake for Working People. Speakers: All of this supposedly without the of the campaign to support the strike. ing membership into fighting organizations Dave Whipp, recording secretary of Interna­ knowledge of Washington, which main­ Sales of the Militant and - its sister that are part of a common front against the tional Association of Machinists Local 1525; tains a powerful radar surveillance system Spanish-language publication Perspectiva employers and the government. others. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 22, in El Salvador. --IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 504 Flat NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 Dallas: SWP, YSA, 132 N. Beckley Ave., Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder Shoals Ave. SE. _Zip: 30316. Tel: (404) 577- Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. 75203. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, bookstores. · 4065 . NEW YORK: "Capital District (Albany): YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd floor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326-5853 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- or 326-5453. YSA, 79Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 219- Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758 . Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 3679 or 925-1668. Socialist Books, 226-8445 . (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) West McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel: LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401 . Tel: (919) 355-1124. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118 . Tel: (504) 486- 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA , 8048 . OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA , 4945 Pad­ News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave., Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND:Baltimore:SWP, YSA,2913 dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133 . 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235- Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 15105 St. Clair Ave . WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 0013 . Zip: 44110. Tel: (216) 451-6150. Columbus: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel : (202) SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel : MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 02097 . Zip: 43202. Toledo: 797-7699. (619) 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: SWP, YSA, 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. Tel : (419) 536-0383. 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: San Jose: SWP, YSA, 461/z Race St. Zip: MICIDGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE (206) 723-5330. 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Woodward Ave . Zip:48201. Tel: (313)961-0395 . Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 W MlNNESOT A: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA , 508 PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, 6IIA Tennessee. Zip: 25302. Tel: (304) 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE 644-6325. (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, N. Highland Ave. Mailing address: P.O. Box 0055 . Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753- 4789. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362-6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA , YSA, P.O. Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 3109 S. Grand, TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose , 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 222-4434. #22. Zip: 63118. Tel: (314) 772-4410. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. 445-2076.

16 The Militant . F~~rpary 28, 1986 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------'-----~. ,. -----'-- Senior jollies - Why do some haven't adjusted to lower in­ Sure, it's complicated .....:... The Separate but equal, right? - fast $350, but notes he helps keep older folk shoplift? Well, explains comes. House "ethics" committee cleared Several Detroit-area corporations an eye on the park. Dr. Leonard Kaye, a Columbia Rep. Dan Daniel (D-Va.). He's have advised their executives that University gerontologist, some of Oh - Reagan said to knock off the chap who accepted free plane they will no longer pay their mem­ them are long-time criminals no that noise about the Pentagon buy­ rides home, to golf outings, etc., bership dues in the Detroit Athle­ Capitalism, it's wunnerful - ing $600 toilet seat covers. What from Beech Aircraft, a war con­ tic Club, which recently reaf­ Lease a big, fully equipped plant, they bought, he explains, was tractor. He also "erroneously" firmed its male~only membership rent-free, and the owner guaran­ molded plastic lids that cover the billed taxpayers for auto trips that policy. But Ford and Chrysler said tees to buy your total product at toilet. were actually made via Beech­ they will continue paying execu­ top prices. Why not? Courtesy the craft. The committee said he tive dues. A Ford spokesman said Pentagon, General Dynamics has didn't fully understand the rules such an aircraft plant in Fort This is it-We've made a final the company also pays for female Harry on freebies. executives in women's clubs. Worth. LTV turns out aerospace bathtub choice, the Sensorium. products in a government-pro­ Ring Molded acrylic with gold-finished Probably a majority of us - vided plant in Dallas. And Grum­ grip bars. Control the various "To many American taxpayers, Fair housing - Boston-area man Aircraft enjoys several on water speeds with a cordless the good life involves not only en­ housing is among the most expen­ Long Island. longer strong enough for heavy­ phone that also operates the stereo joying lunch at '21,' front-row sive in the country. But not for duty crime. Some feel lonely and system and wall TV screen. seats at the Metropolitan Opera, a Richard Leary, administrator of wantto be noticed. (By the rent-a­ Another control deals with appli­ . mid-winter trip to Miami Beach, Brookline, a prosperous suburb. Thought for the week cop?) Others are responding to ances, etc., around the house. Call or an orchid-growing hobby-but He rents a house owned by the "There are a lot of governments stress. To be sure, the doc agrees, from the office, airport, or car and writing them off as a business ex­ town. A neat six rooms and elected by fraud."- White House poverty is one such stress. But instruct it to draw your bath. pense as well." - New York situated in a park, it could bring chief of staff Donald Regan on the often it's not hunger. They just $25,000 plus installation. Times. maybe $1 ,500 a month. He pays a Philippine elections. 'Move Your Shadow': broad picture of apartheid

Move Your Shadow: South Africa, Black and White other one-third to the blacks, the browns, and the animals KwaNdebele, Lelyveld discovered, spent "up to eight by Joseph Lelyveld. Times Books, New York. $18.95, in the game parks)." hours a day on buses." 389 pages, hardcover. What is perhaps most useful is his portrait of the home­ While ethnic origin is supposed to be the criteria for land system, the heart of apartheid, and its devastating homeland residency, Lelyveld points out that it is fre­ BY AUGUST NIMTZ impact on Blacks. quently baseless. At the same time he describes how the In 1966, New York Times reporter Joseph Lelyveld, Apartheid, or the separation of the races, is necessary, homeland policy promotes "tribalism" -which is the re­ after almost a year in South Africa, was forced to leave Lelyveld argues, because "once you think of the society gime's intention. He also shows how the Black elite who the country because of the government's objections to his as a whole, it is impossible not to think of the distribution have emerged to administer the homelands benefits from of the land - 50,000 white farmers have 12 times as such policies. much land for cultivation and grazing as 14 million rural Lelyveld perceptively points out the "logic" of the sys­ blacks - or of the need to relieve the pressure in those tem - why it carries out such an insidious policy. "The BOOK REVIEW portions of the countryside that have been systematically apparatus must go on . . . because it is up against the turned into catchment areas for surplus black popula­ human instinct for survival and the imperatives of black articles. More than a decade later, the regime, to his sur­ tion." rural development in South Africa, all of which point to prise, allowed him to return as the paper's correspondent. Apartheid is the racist answer to this dilemma. "It is an antithetical program: moving people out of the re­ Lelyveld was anxious to go back to see if there had in­ the ultimate divide-and-rule strategy, dividing the land serves, not in , and land reform in the presently sacrosanct deed been positive changes in the country as apologists into racially designated areas and bogus homelands and white areas." · for the regime had contended. His new book, Move Your the population into distinct racial castes and sub­ Lelyveld's major problem is his assessment of the Af­ Shadow, based on his second stint - from 1980 to the castes ...." The homelands, to which virtually all Afri­ rican revolution. He is convinced that the regime has en­ beginning of 1984 - convincingly refutes the claims of cans are assigned on the basis of ethnicity, he confirms, trenched the apartheid system in such a way as to make it Pretoria's defenders. are the regime's creations and have little or no basis in the virtually impregnable. There is no revolutionary leader­ Lelyveld's book provides the reader with a broad and historical reality of Africans. ship in his opinion that could topple the racists. The Af­ at times detailed picture of the evil character of the racist The regime, Lelyveld points out, also subdivides Afri­ rican National Congress (ANC), he says, "may be one of apartheid system. He wrote the book in the form of a "re­ cans into "six distinct impermeable or semi-permeable the world's least effective 'liberation movements' . . .. " porter's notebook," that is, as a personal account of his categories." Urban-rural, homeland-non-homeland, and Had he been in South Africa when the current upsurge experiences and observations. · commuter-non-commuter differences .are the bases for · began-in August 1984·, he might have come to ·difrerent' He presents the figures demonstrating the "gap be­ the distinctions. conclusions about the prospects for real change. The al­ tween black reality and white reality." In order to maintain the fiction of the homelands, the most constant mobilizations of the Black masses since "It can be shown," he writes, "that the 4.5 million government has instituted what Lelyveld correctly calls then, in which the African National Congress has played . whites have more than 250,000 swimming pools and "forced busing" - the reason so many Africans have be­ a leading role, belie Lelyveld's assessment. At no time in 800,000 servants; that the per capita white income may come commuters. The "lucky" ones are those who can its history has the regime been as vulnerable as it is be as much as 15 times higher than that of blacks; that the commute to work everyday as opposed to those who are today, and at no time have the Black masses been as con­ white 15 percent of the population has reserved more allowed to visit their families only once a year. Many of fident in their struggle and in the leadership of the ANC than two-thirds of the land for its own use. (leaving the the "fortunate" commuters from the new homeland of as they are now. Portland rally: 'End attacks on abortion clinics'

BY AMY HUSK additional abortion rights supporters were PORTLAND - More than 300 support­ also unable to get inside the room. ers of abortion rights came out for a rally As the meeting was beginning, those of here on January 24 to demand an end to the us on the inside heard chanting from the campaign of violence against abortion hallway. At first we thought it was the clinics and family planning centers in the right-wingers. Then the chair announced area. The rally was held at the Portland that our supporters who couldn't get in State University campus and was cospon­ were chanting down the crowd of right­ sored by the PSU Women's Union and the wingers. They stayed outside throughout Community Clinic Defense Coalition the entire rally chanting "Pro-choice" and (CCDC). The CCDC was formed in Au­ "Not the church, not the state, women will gust 1985 to respond to attacks on local decide our fate." abortion clinics. Before the speakers were introduced, the The rally came at a time of heightened chair read a list of endorsers of the rally. attacks on abortion rights in Portland. Pick­ The list of 19 organizations included the eting by antiabortionists at area clinics has Coalition of Labor Union Women, Na­ increased, and in December lethal mail­ tional Abortion Rights Action League, bombs were sent to area family planning Portland Rainbow Coalition, Portland Na­ and abortion facilities. Fortunately, the tional Organization for Women, Portland bombs were discovered, and no one was · Democratic Socialists of America, the Mil.itarJ1tiK.C. injured. Socialist Workers Party, and others. Many Julia Hicks of Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union spoke at January of the endorsing organizations had litera­ In the week prior to the event, antiabor­ 24 Portland rally in defense of abortion rights. tion fanatics circulated a letter urging a big ture tables inside the room. turnout for the rally to pack the auditorium Julia Hicks of the Amalgamated Cloth­ with abortion opponents. This would not ing and Textile Workers Union was the Oregon faces a challenge to state funding back." be the first time that the right-wingers have first speaker. Hicks is a long-time activist for abortion by opponents of abortion This was also the message delivered to trie~ to disrupt meetings in support of abor­ in the civil rights movement and is cur­ rights. They are working to place an anti­ the rally by Kathy Fredericks, president of tion rights in this area. rently active in the Vancouver, Washing­ abortion referendum on the November bal­ the Portland chapter of the National Or­ Organizers of the rally were prepared for ton, chapter of the NAACP. She is a mem­ lot. ganization for Women (NOW). She invited the attempted disruption. The coalition ber of Portlanders Organized for Southern The rally demanded an end to the ter­ everyone to participate in the National went on a campaign to alert abortion rights African Freedom. rorist campaign against local clinics, which March for Women's Lives. These two supporters. Rally organizers also trained She described the "pro-life" people as provide abortion and birth control services. marches, sponsored by NOW; are demand­ monitors and arranged for campus security the same "people who were wearing white Dr. Peter Bours, who runs a clinic in Forest ing that abortion and birth control remain and city police to be present. sheets when we fought for our civil rights." Grove, Oregon, described the harassment safe and legal. They will be held in Wash­ By 7:00p.m. when the doors to the rally She also talked about the effects of the - including death threats - that he has ington, D.C., on March 9 and in Los were to open to the public, the room was Hyde Amendment on poor and minority been subjected to. His clinic was one of the Angeles on March 16. already filled to capacity with 200 support­ women. The Hyde Amendment is a bill targets of the December mailbombs. He ers of abortion rights. About 70 antiabor­ passed by Congress in 1976 that cut off all concluded his remarks by saying, "We Amy Husk is the Socialist Workers Party tionists were unable to enter. About I 00 Medicaid funding for abortion. Currently, have to be more vocal. We have to fight candidate for U.S. Senate from Oregon.

February 28, 1986 The Militant 17 -· EDITORIALS------~ Malcolm X: How rulers' media Protest U.S. attack on Angola smears oppressed "U.S. , South Africa, hands off Angola!" Botha in Geneva, Switzerland. Protests on that theme should be the response of every As he was informing the Senate Foreign Relations Malcolm X was gunned down in Harlem'sAudubon opponent of apartheid and U.S. military intervention to Committee of the arms shipments February 18, Crocker Ballroom on Feb. 21, 1965. He was one of the most out­ the announcement that Washington is sending antiaircraft urged Congress to adopt a resolution demanding that the standing revolutionary leaders in the history of U.S. missiles, antitank missiles, and other military hardware Angolan government negotiate a settlement acceptable to working people. The possible role of the U.S. govern­ to the National Union for the Total Independence of An­ UNITA and its South African backers. ment in his assassination has never been clarified because gola (UNIT A) . The Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency has ex­ of the official cover-up that followed . This is an act of war against the government and pressed hope that stepped-up military pressure on Angola Malcolm X saw support for struggles of the oppressed people of Angola. will bring about a military coup against the government. around the world as key to Black liberation. During much UNIT A is a terrorist outfit that already gets large A South African military blockade against Lesotho re­ amounts of arms and money, as well as military person­ sulted in the overthrow of that country's government by a nel, from the apartheid regime in South Africa. UNIT A military coup January 20. operates as part of the racist regime's 10-year war against OUR Washington has been involved in the war against An­ Angola, a war that has taken more than 10,000 Angolan gola from the beginning. lives. REVOLUTIONARY The virtually public arms shipments to UNIT A are a Shortly before Angola became independent in 1975, way of covertly stepping up Washington's support to the thousands of South African troops poured into Angola. apartheid regime's war. Some 4,000 South African They marched on the capital city of Luanda where lead­ HERITAGE troops currently occupy parts of southern Angola. ers ofthe independence struggle had established a gov­ The Angolan government is a target because it politi­ ernment. The South African regime's goal was to over­ of 1964 he toured Africa and the Middle East, seeking cally supports the struggle against apartheid and the inde­ throw this government and impose one based on UNIT A support for the Black struggle in the United States and pendence fight in Namibia, which is occupied and ruled and other rightist forces. learning about the world revolutionary struggle. as a colony by the South African government. It was later revealed that Washington had collaborated He was outraged when the U.S. and Belgian govern­ Washington's move to send arms to UNITA comes with the apartheid regime at every step in the invasion ments sent troops and planes to crush a popular uprising shortly after Jonas Savimbi, who heads the UNIT A ter­ and had provided at least $32 million to UNIT A and its in the Congo (now Zaire) in 1964. On Dec. 13, 1964, rorists, received a royal welcome from President Reagan allies. Malcolm spoke to a rally at the Audubon Ballroom about during a· two-week visit in this country that began on Jan­ The invasion of Angola was turned back only after the this crime - and about the capitalist media campaign uary 28. arrival of thousands of Cuban volunteer troops requested that tried to justify it. It comes after Assistant Secretary of State Chester by the Angolan government. The speech, excerpted below, is published in Malcolm Crocker urged the Chevron Corporation to withdraw its Every opponent of apartheid and U.S. intervention X Speaks, © copyright 1965 by Pathfinder Press and re­ investments from Angola and after his February 12-13 should stand with the Angolan people and their Cuban al­ printed by permission. It is available in paper for $5.95 meeting with ·south African Foreign Minister Roelof lies against the escalating attacks. plus 75 cents for postage and handling from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 * * * French troops out of Chad I, for one, would like to impress, especially upon those who call themselves leaders, the importance of realizing the direct connection between the struggle of the Afro­ On February 16 the French government landed 200 In 1983, Paris dispatched 3,000 combat troops to Chad American in this country and the struggle of our people combat troops in its former African colony of Chad. It to counter important military advances by the rebel forces all over the world. As long as we think - as one of my sent 15 Jaguar aircraft backed up by Mirage fighters and led by Oueddei. Oueddei was driven from power by the good brothers mentioned out of the side of his mouth here blew up an aircraft in northern Chad. Another 1,500 imperialist-backed forces of Habre in June 1982. Oued­ a couple of Sundays ago - that we should get Missis­ French troops in the neighboring Central African Repub­ dei's Transitional Government of National Union has re­ sippi straightened out before we worry about the Congo, lic have been placed on alert. ceived support from Libya. you' II never get Mississippi straightened out. . . . The attack was ordered by French President Fran~ois After a year-long intervention, backed up by tens of We have to realize what part our struggle has in the Mitterrand to shore up the imperialist-dominated regime millions of dollars in military aid from Washington, the over-all world struggle. Secondly, we need allies .. . . of Hissene Habn! against a rebel offensive led by former French imperialists calculated that the Habre regime But when we realize how large this earth is and how Chadian President Goukouni Oueddei. could survive for a while without the presence of French many different people there are on it, and how closely The French government portrayed itself as protecting troops. However, French military advisers remained. they resemble us, then when we turn to them for some Chad from "foreign" aggression by Libya, which borders The French government continued to use Chadian air sort of help or aid or to form alliances, then we'll make a on Chad. space and military transit facilities, and large amounts of little faster progress . . . . Two U.S. aircraft carriers remain off the Libyan coast. French military aid were poured into the Habre regime. I think it's important to show the importance of keep­ Carrier planes recently "intercepted" more than a dozen Now Chad's former imperial master has decided to ing an open mind . .. . We never like to think in terms of Libyan planes. U.S. officials have said that the arrival of step in once again to bolster the Habre regime and main­ being dumb enough to let someone put something over a third aircraft carrier in March may set the stage for a tain French imperialist domination. This domination has on us . ... But you and I are living in a very deceitful and move into Libya's Gulf of Sidra, whi~h some openly brought poverty and death to the Chadian people, who tricky country which has a very deceitful and tricky gov­ hope will provoke a clash. have a life expectancy of about 40 years and a per capita ernment. .. . The French imperialists have taken advantage of the annual income of $70. war hysteria being whipped up against Libya in order to They take the newspapers and make the newspapers cover their aggression in Chad. Working people in this country and throughout the blow you and me up as if all of us are criminals, all of us This is the third time that France has directly inter­ world should take a strong stand against the aggression are racists, all of us are drug addicts, or all of us are riot­ vened in the former French colony since Chad won its in­ by Washington and Paris by demanding, "French troops ing. This is how they do it. When you explode legiti­ dependence in 1960. The first time was in 1969. out of Chad! Hands off Libya!" mately against the injustices that have been heaped upon you, they use the press to make it look like you're a van­ dal. If you were a vandal, you have the right to be a van­ dal. The press is so powerful in its image-making role, it Attack on citizenship rights can make a criminal look like he 's the victim and make the victim look like he's the criminal. . . . If you aren't The United States government wants to revoke the in the Israeli parliament and as Israel's ambassador to the careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people U.S. citizenship of Meir Kahane. Kahane, who founded United States. who are being oppressed and loving the people who are the racist Jewish Defense League in this country, is now The same tolerance was not practiced when socialist doing the oppressing .. . . a member of the Israeli parliament and leader of the fas­ opponents of the capitalist government were involved. Right now, in the Congo, defenseless villages are cistic Kach Party. The U.S. government attempted in 1964 to lift the being bombed, black women and children and babies are The February 5 New York Times said that a State De­ citizenship of and deport Joe Johnson, a member of the being blown to bits by airplanes. Where do these air­ partment brief laid out the position that "an American Socialist Workers Party. They charged he had voted and planes come from? The United States ... . [The media] Jew's religious and political affinity for the state of Israel run in elections as a socialist while living in Canada some won't write that American planes are blowing the flesh may form part of the basis on which he can be deprived of years before. Four years later, after Johnson had waged a from the bodies of black women and black babies and his American citizenship." widely supported defense campaign, the government black men. No. This move against Kahane must be opposed. dropped the effort. . Why? Because they're American planes. As long as Kahane is a racist terrorist who belongs behind bars for As government repression met more resistance during they're American planes, that's humanitarian. As long as his crimes. He boasts of having organized bombings of the 1960s, court decisions blocked the government from they're being piloted by anti-Castro Cubans, that makes Soviet offices in this country. In Israel he and his thugs using this provision of the McCarran-Walter Act against it all right. Because Castro's a villain, and anybody organize racist violence as part of a campaign to drive all political dissenters. who's against him, whatever they do, that's humanita­ Arabs from Israel and territory occupied by it. The government is now attempting to expel author rian .... But the government's action is not intended to put a Margaret Randall from the United States. Randall gave They take the press with their ability to control you stop to the violence of Kahane and his racist gangs. If the up her U.S. citizenship (having been misinformed by a with image-making, and they make mass murder, cold­ government wanted to do that, it could start by arresting U.S. official that this was necessary) when she sought blooded murder, look like a humanitarian project. All the killers of Alex Odeh, West Coast regional director of Mexican citizenship in 1961. She did this in order to be these thousands of black people dying, butchered, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Al­ able to work in Mexico. you have no compassion in your hearts whatsoever for though the FBI said publicly that the Jewish Defense Now the government claims that she cannot live in this them, because the victim has been made to look like he's League was "the possible responsible group," no arrests country because her books supporting the Cuban, Nicara­ the criminal. . . . · have been made since the October II murder. guan, and Vietnamese revolutions "go far beyond mere So I say, brothers and sisters, it's not a case of worry­ The U.S. government has long sought the right to deny dissent, disagreement with, or criticism of the United ing about what's going on in Africa before we get things U.S. citizenship to people on the basis of their "political States and its policies." straight over here. It's a case of realizing that the Afro­ affinity" or their political actions in other countries . . Removing Kahane's citizenship will give the govern­ American problem is not a Negro problem, or an Amer­ The 1952 McCarran-Walter Immigration and Nation­ ment a handle for attacks on the citizenship rights of ican problem, but a human problem, a problem for hu­ ality Act passed during the antidemocratic witch-hunt those accused of "political affinity" for Nicaragua, Cuba, manity. When you realize that, when you look at your following World War II, stated that anyone who voted or the Soviet Union, Vietnam, Angola, Palestine, Iran, and illy problem in the context of the entire world and see ran for office in a foreign election would lose citizenship. · Libya, or other countries where revolutions or revolu­ that it is a world problem, and that there are other people This stricture has never applied to close allies of the tionary struggles take place. on this earth who look just like you do - who also have U.S. rulers such as Moshe Arens, an Israeli capitalist The move to revoke Kahane's citizenship threatens the the same problem- then you and I become allies and we politician who maintained dual citizenship while serving democratic rights of all . can put forth our efforts in a way to get the best results.

18 The Militant February 28, 1986 Women coal miners discuss abortion rights action

The following is a guest column by Clare Fraenzl. the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to in­ belong, had already endorsed it. Other members of the Fraenzl is a coal miner, a member of United Mine crease participation of women miners in union activities · group thought it would take time before we could get the Workers of America Local1197, and secretary of the and to address the special problems of women miners.) UMWA to endorse a proabortion rights action. Pennsylvania Women Miners Support Group. Our group had never formally discussed the question Since neither a national gathering of women miners of abortion rights before so we decided that the best thing nor any of the other support groups have discussed the The idea of a massive march on Washington to defend to do was have an initial discussion to see how our mem­ issue of abortion rights yet, or the national march, we de­ our hard-won abortion rights is getting a good response bers felt about abortion rights. cided not to officially endorse the march, but that many among Pennsylvania's women coal miners. At the Janu­ The discussion was a lively one. One woman pointed of us would participate as individuals. We felt that we ary meeting of the Pennsylvania Women Miners Support out that without abortion and contraceptive rights, needed more information and further discussions, both in women can't make any decisions about our lives. our own group and with women miners around the coun­ Another said she had had an illegal abortion and never try. To help the process of discussion, though, we de­ wanted another woman to have to go through what she cided to invite a representative from NOW to our next did. Another woman was noncommittal about abortion, meeting. WOMEN but expressed concern that antiabortionists might attack Some women thought that getting involved in proabor­ the march. Several others just liked the idea of women tion activities would make the support group more attrac­ IN REVOLT getting out and demonstrating. They felt a visible pre­ tive to other women miners. But others felt that it would sence of so many women would help combat the pres­ turn off many who might otherwise join our group. Pat Grogan sures that stepped-up attacks on women's rights were cre- We all agreed, however, that this issue is just begin~ ating for us on the job. . ning to be talked about in our union, and that we had One miner said she thought we should get the UMWA made a good start by discussing the issue among our­ Group we discussed how to relate to the March 9 demon­ involved in supporting the march. She pointed out that selves. A number of us have decided that we want to go stration called by the National Organization for Women our union had defended women's right~ in the past by to the march, and we are sure that as news of the action (NOW). (The Support Group is part of a network of supporting the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. spreads through the mines, other miners, both male and women miners and their supporters organized by the Coal Other unions are supporting the march, she said, and the female, will join us. Look for our hard hats March 9- Employment Project. Support groups work closely with Coalition of Labor Union Women, to which many of us we'll be there! Balto. Steelworkers protest mill dept. closing

BY REBA WILLIAMS AND JOE KLEIDON want to get rid of it so they can bust the union. These one time themselves, professed their support for steel­ Last December 18, Bethlehem Steel closed down the companies want to bust the unions so they can go back to workers. But they also blamed steelworkers for their cur­ shearing tin plate lines at its Sparrows Point plant in Bal­ $3 an hour." rent dilemma. One.even said, "Steelworkers were sitting timore, costing Ill workers their jobs. The company Bud White, a shop steward from the shears area, told back, watching television, and that's why things have transferred the · work formerly done by members of the meeting, "We get the same old story- 'you're not gotten to this point." United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 2609 to producing enough.' The company is taking the easy way A young Black worker took this head on and got the a low-pay, nonunion plant in the Baltimore area. out. Us young guys have a lot to lose. We're going from most enthusiastic applause when he proclaimed during On December II , a week before the shutdown, more the tax rolls to the welfare rolls." the open mike period that "the politicians have come here than 200 steelworkers, their relatives, and other Balti­ District 8 director of the USWA, Dave Wilson, tonight and talked their trash; whatwe need is action!" more area residents attended a rally called by Local 2609. explained, "Our shearing tin plate is not being hurt by He drew attention to the fact that he was still wearing his The meeting was called to protest the shutting down of foreign competition. It's happening because Bethlehem work clothes because he was too tired to change when he Steel refuses to invest $1.8 million. It's legally wrong, got home from work. "I fell asleep, picked my wife up, contractually wrong, and morally wrong because we and came right to this meeting," he said. "Our political reached an agreement for the crew size to last five years." and union leaders have held office while things got UNION TALK Wilson described a conversation he had with ·Balti­ worse." He indicated that many stef:Iworkers had come to more Mayor William Shaeffer. Shaeffer supports the the meeting because they are beginning to realize that ac­ the shears lines and to pressure Bethlehem Steel to invest Baltimore Economic Development Corp., which has tion by steelworkers themselves is needed to improve in modernization of the antiquated equipment in the backed the development of a local mini-mill where the their situation. finishing mills. Major local press and TV stations nonunion wages are $6 an hour with no benefits. This is After the meeting, lively discussions took place. Many covered the meeting. Also in attendance were a handful the type of production facility that Bethlehem Steel ad­ of the women at the meeting who were steelworkers t ook of local politicians and representatives of elected public mitted it was negotiating with to send work that its shears note of the fact that very few women were left in the mill. officials. performed. Wilson said he explained to Shaeffer that the With the loss .of the shears jobs, a large percentage of mayor was ensuring a lower standard of living with his women stand to lose their jobs. A number of steelworkers The union had been negotiating with the company for policies. Wilson added that Shaeffer accused him of not commented, usually with anger or annoyance, that a more than a year in an attempt to save at least some of the understanding economics. meeting like this one should have been held a year ago jobs on the shears. "This is not an economic recovery, it's a sickness," when the threat to shut down the shears became well Marian Wilson, a union shop steward who served on Len Shindel told the meeting. Shindel, a grievance com­ known. the negotiating committee, told the public meeting, "We mitteeman in the shears area, went on, "Nothing will turn worked long and hard. We came up with a proposal to the your stomach more than watching a steel mill rusting Joe Kleidon is a member of USWA Local 2609 at Spar­ company that would keep 31 jobs. The company didn't away." rows Point. Reba Williams is an unemployed member of want it." Wilson, who has worked in the mill for 34 A number of the politicians, claiming to have relatives the International Association ofMachinists. Both partici­ years, continued, "They want to get rid of the mill. They who are steelworkers, or to have worked in a steel mill at pated in the December 18 meeting. -LEII"ERS------.,....--.,....---- Hands off Libya one cop, wounding another, and subscribe to 12 weeks of the Mili­ Picketers slogged through wounding a ride-along passenger. tant. freezing rain at the Federal Build­ Penn was forced to defend himself Tia Murchie ing in Detroit to demand "Hands last March when Donovan Jacobs Williamsburg, Virginia off Libya" on February 1, the date and Thomas Riggs, both San Reagan's new anti-Libya sanc­ Diego cops, stopped his truck, Abraham Lincoln began yelling racist slurs and then tions were supposed to take effect. In the month of February falls Anti-apartheid and antiwar ac­ started beating him with their ba- the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, tivists joined members of the All tons. . the leader of the social forces that Peoples Congress, Socialist Vernon Bellecourt, a leader of fought and won the second North the American Indian Movement, Workers Party, and Young American revolution, popularly Socialist Alliance in the protest. was the featured speaker at the known as the Civil War. The gov­ rally. He compared Penn's case to Thirty-five people participat~d. ernment established by Lincoln that of framed-up Indian activist chanting "Boycott South Africa ­ and the then newly organized Re­ Leonard Peltier. hands off Libya!" publican Party was a popular, rev­ Many of those who spoke drew Arab organizations and activists olutionary dictatorship, suppres­ the links between racism in the in the Middle Eastern community sing and repressing pro-Confeder­ U.S. and the apartheid system in who were contacted about the pro­ ate activities in the North, and or­ South Africa. test reported an increase in visits ganizing with iron determination Richard Reeves from the FBI. the war against the slaveholder re­ San Diego, California This fits in with the announced bellion in the South. intentions of the government to Lincoln himself calls to mind step up attacks on the democratic the organizer of victory in another rights of foreign-born workers, as 'Another point of view' civil war that started in 1640, well as the rights of U.S. working When flyers appeared on cam­ stretched over a decade, and is people in general to live and work pus last semester celebrating the known as the English Revolution. where we choose. arrival of "another point of view" Wagner The man: Oliver Cromwell. "Oh, there'll always be family farms, but it'll be the du Pont family Joanne Murphy on political issues, many students The astonishing similarity of and the Rockefeller family." · Detroit, Michigan at my traditionally very conserva­ these two hit me after reading Lin­ tive university were excited. With coln by the noted historical the discovery that our new chapter novelist Gore Vidal. He doesn't story is told entertains and edu­ The letters column is an open Sagon Penn rally of Young Americans for Freedom draw any connection between Lin­ cates the reader. You could even forum for all viewpoints on sub­ The fightto defend Sagon Penn was merely a more dogmatic ren­ coln and Cromwell - that's my draw some modem-day parallels jects of general interest · to our received a big boost as hundreds dition of the most common views correlation, but on the level of to Nicaragua under the Sandinis­ readers. Please keep your letters of supporters rallied in the San here, we realized our excitement high drama and adventure, once tas. brief. Where necessary they will Diego Black community January was precipitous. you pick this book up you will find So come now, let's celebrate, be abridged. Please indicate if 25. With the hope of actually intro­ it hard, very hard, to put it down. get a copy of Vidal's book. you prefer that your initials Penn, · a 23-year-old Black ducing another point of view, sev­ The book is 99 percent history and Derrick Morriso'! be used rather than yo~r full youth, stands accused of killing eral of us have pooled resources to 1 percent fiction, but the way the New Orleans, Louisiana name.

February _28~ 1~ : · · T._e, 1\;tilitant · 19 · THE MILITANT 'Heroic struggle of Haitian people' Haitian leaders participate in Nicaragua conference

legal restrictions set up by Duvalier, ac­ June 1984, for example, demonstrations cording to PUCH General-Secretary Rene broke out in Cap-Haltien and Gonalves Theodore. This means exiles will have to against officials who had taken food do­ apply for a visa from the Haitian govern­ nated by relief organizations. They sold it ment. A Duvalierist Jaw outlawing the instead of distributing it to hungry people. Communist Party is still in effect, and this Thus, by putting all the blame on the would be used against any opponent the Macoutes, the new regime hopes to keep junta does not approve of, said Theodore . the army, police, and old government In an interview with the Militant, An­ structure intact, said Polo. They would tonio Polo, a leader of the Union of Patriot­ serve to stabilize the new regime, repress­ ic and Democratic Forces of Haiti (which the ing any popular challenge to it. PTH is part of) , explained that the U.S. gov­ "The people are demanding land, work, ernment had decided that Duvalier was no and freedom," said Polo. "Freedom means longer able to control the Haitian people freedom to organize unions and peasant, and defend U.S. business interests. With student, and women's organizations. With­ the outbreak of massive protests last year, out these organizations, there can be no the United States decided it was time to guarantee of freedom." change the Haitian government, he said. For united action of left Tontons Macoutes The Haitian delegates at the conference The junta and its U.S. backers are at­ strongly supported the perspective of tempting to shift all the blame for the united action by Haitian left organizations. bloody repression suffered under Duvalier These groups are small, and most exist onto the hated Tontons Macoutes, said mainly in exile, although some, including Polo. This 15,000-strong political police the PUCH, PTH, and FPLH, also have un­ Gerard Pierre-Charles speaking at opening session of Conference of Political Parties force backed up Duvalier's rule through derground organizations inside Haiti. of Latin America and Caribbean, held in Managua, Nicaragua. violence and terror. They stole land from "The Haitian struggle lacks a fundamen­ peasants and robbed workers and mer­ tal element, as we have learned from the BY HARVEY McARTHUR pressed, the poorest country in Latin chants. The Macoutes have been the targets Sandinista revolution," said Pierre­ MANAGUA, Nicaragua- "We opened America." of popular anger since Duvalier's over­ Charles. "[It lacks] a political-military van­ this meeting of Latin American political The Haitian delegates also agreed that a throw, and some have been executed by guard that can take power." parties by listening to the message of a key test of the new government would be angry crowds. On February 10, the junta Antonio Polo told the Militant that the people who just expelled the Duvalier dic­ whether it allowed the unconditional return announced that the Tontons Macoutes had return of the exiles would be crucial to tatorship," declared Nicaraguan President of all political exiles. This will be impor­ been dissolved. building a united revolutionary movement. Daniel Ortega in his opening speech to the tant for the development of the revolution­ However, Polo emphasized, the army "We need concrete projects of unifica­ Conference of Political Parties of Latin ary movement in Haiti, according to a del­ and regular police were also used to repress tion," he said, "but it is not clear what these America and the Caribbean here. egate of the FPLH. Many leaders have the Haitian people. The Leopards, an elite could be now." The parties that exist clan­ Gerard Pierre-Charles, a well-known been forced to Jive in exile for years, some army unit trained by the U.S. Army at destinely in Haiti are small and have little Haitian historian and leader of the United since the early days of the Duvalier regime bases in Panama, was especially brutal in experience working with each other, he Haitian Communist Party, was a keynote in the late 1950s. attacking demonstrations. Many govern­ said. speaker at the opening ceremony. He The junta has said it will allow the return ment and military officials were responsi­ "A common demand we can unite shared the platform with Ortega and Puerto of exiles, but only according to current ble for the massive corruption in Haiti . In Continued on Page l3 Rican Independence Party leader Ruben Berrios, "I bring you a message of joy and dig­ nity," said Pierre-Charles. "The people of S. Africa rulers escalate killings Haiti have liberated themselves from one of the most horrendous dictatorships in the BY FRED FELDMAN promised "equal treatment and oppor­ can government. Demands for a system of world. At least 42 people were reported killed tunities." There was no mention of equal majority rule based on one person, one "Tomorrow, it will be Chile and the day in South Africa during the l 0 days preced­ rights. He said some Blacks would be of­ vote were rejected on the claim that "our after, Paraguay," he added . fered membership in a "national statutory nation is a nation of minorities" where only Pierre-Charles paid tribute to the "ex­ ing February 17, as the white minority re­ gime continued its efforts to crush the anti­ council ," which could advise the govern­ "the sharing of power between com­ traordinary, quiet, difficult, and heroic apartheid struggl~ ment but exercise no legislative or execu­ munities" is possible. This is the seg­ struggle of the Haitian people." He also In January alone at least 169 died- the tive power. regationist language that has always been pointed to the example set by the Nicara­ highest death toll in any month since the used to justify white rule and apartheid. guan revolution. "I tell you that Sandino is There was no suggestion of conceding current wave of antiracist protests began in ours," he explained. "The Sandinista revo­ Blacks the right to vote on the South Afri- Continued on Page 14 August 1984. Well over 1,200 people have lution has inspired the Haitian youth who been killed since then -the overwhelming defied and finally defeated the [Duvalier] majority by troops and cops. Death squads dictatorship." backed by .the regime are also responsible The United Haitian Communist Party N. Y : Haiti film draws crowd for a growing number of murders. (PUCH), the Haitian Workers Party More than II ,000 people have been ar­ Haiti receive about $2.60 a day in wages ," (PTH), and the Popular Front for the Liber­ BY RASHAAD ALI rested for anti-apartheid activity since the ation of Haiti (FPLH) had delegations at NEW YORK - One hundred fifty and that "sugar-cane plantations are patrol­ beginning of 1985-8,000 under the state led by round-the-clock watchmen on hor­ the Managua conference. people packed the weekly Militant Labor of emergency proclaimed July 20. Many Forum to see the award-winning documen­ seback and in jeeps who seek out troub­ . The overthrow of Duvalier, the charac­ remain in jail, where they are subject to tary on Haiti, Bitter Cane. An introduction lemakers among the cane cutters. Ameri­ ter of the current military junta, the future frequent beatings and torture. to the film was provided by the film's di­ can factories are surrounded by high wire course of the Haitian struggle, and the role On January 28 many Black students rector, Ben Dupuy . fences , and the Macoutes [Duvalier's pri­ of U.S. intervention in Haiti were the topic ended a prolonged boycott of schools, Dupuy also edits the Haitian weekly vate army] armed with Uzi submachine of many discussions at the conference. heeding a call by the Soweto Parents' newspaper Hai"ti Progres and is the spokes­ guns guard the doors of each industry." Crisis Committee. The SPCC says the person for the Committee Against Repres­ New junta condemned The film was clandestinely made in 1984 boycott will resume at the end of March if sion in Haiti. He announced at the forum with the help of the Haitian Liberation All the Haitian delegates condemned the the government does not meet its demands, that the committee is organizing a demon­ Movement. It includes interviews with newly installed military junta and charac­ which include repair of damaged schools, stration in Washington, D.C., in April to peasants, workers, merchants, landown­ terized it as an attempt to continue the old release of jailed students and teachers, lift­ protest "the installation of a Duvalierist ers, and U.S. businessmen. regime without Duvalier. They pointed out ing of the ban on the Congress of South Af­ junta under the auspices of the United Bitter Cane shows the U.S. military oc­ that four of the six members are officers of rican Students, and ending of the state of States" and the threat of North American cupation of Haiti, which lasted from 1915 the Duvalierist army. emergency. military intervention in Haiti. The action to 1934. The presence of the marines and a "The Haitian people have not struggled, The bloodbath by the white regime and will also condemn the interference in succession of U.S. -backed dictators have not invested so many human lives so the continuing struggle by the Black major­ Haiti's internal affairs conducted by the opened up Haiti to U.S. corporations. that a military junta would be installed in ity were the backdrop to the January 31 U.S. State Department. power," said Pierre-Charles. "The struggle speech by President Pieter Botha to the Dupuy explained that the "Haitian Participants at the forum included has been for an advanced democracy, and opening session of the white parliament. In people want a government without the people from Haiti, Dominican Republic , while the accomplishments so far represent that speech, Botha promised modifications friends of Duvalier in it." Puerto Rico, Peru, and Bolivia. They a big advance, we know that the Haitian in the system of white domination .• ' Bitter Cane documents the superex­ showed a deep interest in the developments revolution has many demands and has "Our country today is a symbol of the ploitation of the Haitian workers and peas­ taking place in Haiti. barely begun. It is a question of resolving expansion of freedom," he said. Stating, ants and the brutal repression they faced For more information on the April the problems of a country with 85 percent "We have outgrown the ... outdated con­ under the Duvalier dictatorships, which Washington action call the Committee illiteracy, resolving problems of misery cept of apartheid," he asserted, "We accept lasted more than 28 years. Against Repression in Haiti at (718) 434- and malnutrition, problems of the most op- one citizenship for all South Africans" and Dupuy pointed out that the "workers in 3940.

20 The Militant Fe6ruary 28, 1986