MAY 15, 1981 75 CENTS VOLUME 45/NUMBER 18

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY /PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

Biggest antiwar march s1nce• Vietnam -PAGE 5

WASHINGTON, May 3: Giant march on Pentagon demands end to a·rms for El Salvador junta and protests Reagan's budget cuts.

Outrage over murder of Bobby Sands. See pages 2, 3. In Our Opinion VOLUME 45/NUMBER 18 MAY 15, 1981 CLOSING NEWS DATE-MAY 6

The British rulers-who present themselves But Thatcher's position is growing weaker. as paragons of morality for the Irish-have More and more people are seeing through her violated every moral precept in the hundreds "terrorism" scam. In a recent poll taken by the of years they have occupied Ireland. Their British weekly Guardian, 58 percent favored crimes have included the murders of hundreds British withdrawal from Ireland. of thousands and the theft of land from the Now is the time for thousands here in the Why Thatcher killed survivors, who were left to starve. United States to protest in the streets against Today British army murder squads are still Thatcher's policy. Now is the time for unions, Bobby Sands assassinating opponents of British rule. civil rights organizations, and others to add "I was only a working-class boy from a When it became impossible to maintain a their voices to the millions who insist that the nationalist ghetto, but it is repression that colonial grip on all of Ireland, the British demands of the nationalist prisoners m creates the revolutionary spirit of freedom. rulers artificially divided it in 1921. That Thatcher's jails be granted now! "I shall not settle until I achieve the libera­ imposed division is the root of today's vio­ tion of my country, until Ireland becomes a lence. sovereign independent socialist republic." To maintain their position in Northern These were the words of Bobby Sands, a Ireland, the British colonial rulers imposed member of the Irish Republican Army. He is systematic discrimination against Catholics. the latest in a long line of martyrs to the cause Sands was sentenced to fourteen years in of Irish freedom. He died at twenty-seven in prison, not for any "terrorist" act, but for possession of firearms. This right is denied to No aid to Pol Pot! the sixty-sixth day of a hunger strike demand­ The State Department told the media May 2 Catholics in Northern Ireland. But right-wing ing basic human rights for Irish political that it plans to step up U.S. support to forces Protestants who support British rule are armed prisoners. fighting the Heng Samrin government in to the teeth by the government through outfits The government of Prime Minister Margaret Kampuchea. The targets are the peoples of like the Eoyal Ulster Constabulary and the Thatcher deliberately killed Bobby Sands. Indochina, and above all the Vietnamese revo­ That government's cruelty has sparked a Ulster Defence Regiment. Together with the lution. growing storm of protest in Ireland and British army, they terrorize the working-class The army of ousted dictator Pol Pot, concen­ around the world. Catholic ghettos. trated in Thailand near the Kampuchean Many other nationalist prisoners are now on But when Catholics possess arms, that's border, makes up the great majority of the hunger strikes demanding their . rights. One, "terrorism." counterrevolutionary forces. This army was "Crime is crime"? What hypocrisy! Francis Hughes, is reported near death. responsible for the deaths of literally millions Thatcher killed Bobby Sands rather than Discrimination and oppression propped up of people during Pol Pot's reign. Washington grant such elementary demands as the right of by British bayonets have made thousands of hopes to forge a frpnt based on the Pol Pot nationalist political prisoners to wear their young Irish workers like Bobby Sands willing ·army, with Prince Norodom Sihanouk provid­ own clothing, receive weekly visits and letters, to fight fora free, united Ireland by any means ing a "liberal" cover. and associate with each other. necessary-including the ·sacrifice of their The prospective "front" is being described as Thatcher killed Bobby Sands rather than lives. nationalist. But Pol Pot's terrorist army-and The people of the Catholic ghettos know that end the reign of torture, forced confessions, anyone who allies with it-is hated by the "terrorist" and "common criminal" are tags kangaroo courts, and inhuman prison condi­ Kampuchean people. They, along with the tions that is British "justice" in Ireland. (The that colonial rulers hav~ always applied to Vietnamese, will fight to prevent its return. systematic use of torture by British forces in those who resist domination. Washington is trying to rekindle the smol­ Ireland was documented by the European The Margaret Thatchers of two hundred dering embers of war in Indochina. This policy Human Rights Commission in 1976.) years ago called George Washington a "com­ is a continuation by other means of the getwci­ . Above all, Thatcher killed Bobby Sands to mon criminal." dal war the American government waged arrogantly assert the British rulers' determina­ Not too long ago, Thatcher denounced Ro­ against the peoples of Indochina. tion to hold Northern Ireland as a colony. bert Mugabe as a terrorist when he headed the Unlike Reagan, American working people Thatcher tries to put a high moral tone on struggle against white minority rule in Zim­ share the hatred that the Kampuchean people her cruelty by portraying the nationalist pri­ babwe. Now he is the president of an inde­ feel for the likes of Pol Pot and his army of soners as "common criminals" and "terror­ pendent, Black-governed country. mass murderers. And as the facts become ists." "Crime is crime," she declared. The working people of the Catholic ghettos known, they will recognize the Reagan-Pol Pot But who made the laws Bobby Sands was answered Thatcher's propaganda by electing alliance as part of Washington's drive toward accused of violating? Who decides who is a Sands to represent them in Parliament. They new Vietnams. criminal in Northern Ireland? Who set up the know from bitter experience that it is Thatcher All support to the Pol Pot army and other courts that condemned Sands and the prison and the billionaries she represents who are the counterrevolutionary gangs in Indochina must that held him? real criminals and terrorists. cease. Washington should recognize the Peo­ Not the people · of Ireland, but the British Unlike millions of Americans, the Reagan ple's Republic of Kampuchea and the Socialist rulers. administration is standing behind Thatcher's Republic of Vietnam; end the economic block­ Even the reactionary New York Post con­ inhuman policy. He would like to follow her ade of these countries; and give massive ceded the point in a May 6 editorial: "That · example by portraying striking miners, Blacks amounts of food and other aid to help the Northern Ireland ·is now a colony is beyond who protest racist murders, and opponents of peoples of Indochina overcome the damage argument. That is exactly how Britain treats budget cuts as "terrorists," "subversives," and done by Washington 's war and subsequent and rules it, albeit prolonging the agony." "common criminals." policies.

Militant Highlights This Week The Militant Editors: CINDY JAQUITH ANDY ROSE Business Manager: NANCY ROSENSTOCK Editorial Staff: Nan Bailey, Nelson Blackstock, 4 Notre Dame protest set Poland: CP members seek 'renewal' Steve Bride, Fred Feldman, Nelson Gonzalez, Wil· 6 INS official testifies liam Gottlieb, Sue Hagen, Suzanne Haig, Diane Jacobs, Margaret Jayko, Malik Miah, Harry Ring. 7 Miner attends trial Vivian Sahner, Priscilla Schenk, Stu Singer. 8 Sales drive launched Published weekly except two weeks in Au­ 9 Political Rights Defense Fund gust, the last week of December, and the first 11 Andrew Pulley testifies week of January by the Militant (ISSN 0026- 3885), 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 16 Rail workers speak out 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) 19 Miners get union support Steel union candidates 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. speak out Correspondence concerning subscrip­ 29 Steelworkers march against nukes tions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Business Of. 4 Solidarity with Central America · fice, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. and Caribbean 10014. 10 DaybyDay Second-class postage paid at New York, 20-23 World News and Analysis N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a year, out­ 30 The Great Society side U.S. $30.00. By first-class mail: U.S., Union Talk An interview with a factory worker and Communist Party Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air­ What's Going On leader who is helping to lead the fight for democratic mail rates to all other countries. 31 LeNers rights and against privilege and corruption in Poland's Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily If You Like This Paper . . . represent the Militant's views. These are expressed governing party. Page 21. in editorials.

2 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Bobby Sands death sparks world protest By Suzanne Haig · · · ·. · representatives, which includes British Bobby Sands died May 5 in H-Block Labor Party leader Barbara Castle, at Maze Prison in the sixty-sixth day of condemned Thatcher for failing to take his hunger strike. He was twenty-seven. "positive action" to end Sands's hunger Sands was demanding the rights strike. associated with political prisoner sta­ The Soviet news agency Tass con­ tus for Irish nationalists held in British demned the British government for jails. But the Conservative government refusing to grant Sands's demands of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher "despite large-scale protests by world remained ruthless and implacable, dis­ public opinion." missing Sands as a criminal and even presenting his death as proof of her In the face of growing isolation, firmness. Thatcher stated in parliament that Sands, a member ofthe Irish Republi­ granting political status would be giv­ can Army, was elected to parliament ing Irish "terrorists" a "license to-kill." from his cell in April. He was the "This government will never grant thirteenth Irish nationalist allowed to political status no matter how much die in British jails as a result of a .mnger striking there may be. . . . hunger strike. "Mr. Sands was a convicted criminal. The world responded with outrage. He chose to take his own life," she In Northern Ireland, families poured claimed. into the streets in the Catholic neigh­ borhoods. Garbage can lids were According to news reports, one voice pounded to spread the word through the was raised in parliament to challenge working-class ghettos. Thatcher's criminal stand. Over shouts Thousands lined Belfast streets when . i of opposition from Conservatives, La­ bor Party member Patrick Duffy told Sands's body was brought to his par­ Supporters of the Irish freedom fight marching in May 3 antiwar action in Washington, ents' home. Black flags flew from D.C. Thatcher: houses, and hundreds stood in the rain "By appearing hard and unfeeling, or outside the home to pay their last re­ firm and determined, you have spectac­ spects. ularly illuminated for growing bodies of May 7 has been declared a day of 14,000 police and military reservists The 110,000-member International opinion in neighboring and allied coun­ mourning. Sands will be given a mas­ were put on alert in Northern Ireland. Longshoremen's Association is stagil)g tries, whose comments are flowing in sive martyr's funeral that day, led by Armed right-wing Protestant paramili­ a twenty-four-hour boycott of British hourly, your government's moral bank­ his IRA comrades. tary gangs paraded in the streets in shipping May 7. ruptcy and the colossal and criminal About 11,000 British troops and preparation for backing the British incompetence of Conservative govern­ troops in attacks on the ghettos. Even some Democratic and Republi­ ments of all times in their dealings with can politicians feel pressured to take Ireland." The Thatcher government was pre­ positions opposing the British govern­ But Michael Foot, head of the parlia­ ·N.Y. picket paring to use any violent explosion to ment's stand. mentary Labor Party, backed suppress the Catholic community and By Marc Lichtman The New Jersey Assembly passed a Thatcher's stand. divert world attention from the mis­ resolution May 4 hailing the "Honora­ NEW YORK-More than 4,000 treatment of the political prisoners. Not in vain people paraded and picketed here ble Bobby Sands, M.P ." for his "cour­ The British cabinet is now drafting May 5 to express outrage at the age and commitment" and denouncing More hunger strikers legislation that would disqualify cer­ British policies that murdered the "irrational and inhumane" policies But the Provisional Sinn Fein, the tain convicted criminals from running Bobby Sarids. of Thatcher's government. political wing of the IRA, urged "digni­ for parliament, according to the May 6 Some 500 people rallied on the fied" mourning. Sands's mother issued The Massachusetts Senate pro­ New York Times. Thatcher hopes to use steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral to a similar call. claimed Sands the "most recent and such a law to block Sands's constitu­ hear former attorney general Ram­ conspicuous victim of British injustice ents from electing another political sey Clark, onetime New York City The H-Block Armagh Committee re­ to the Irish people. prisoner to his vacant seat. Council president Paul O'Dwyer, leased a statement declaring that '.' the Grossly undemocratic moves like this and others. The rally was called by period leading up to the funeral should "The British government persists in will not stem the growing upsurge in the New York H-Block/ Armagh not be marred by any action which its occupation of that portion of occu­ Northern Ireland, nor the world out­ Committee. would detract from the dignity and pied Ireland which it seized by force rage at Thatcher's cruelty. "Bobby Sands died for human heroism of Bobby Sands's sacrifice or and rules with systematic injustice. The protests show that the movement rights," declared Clark. distract attention from the continuing That occupation, with its cruel inci­ against British rule in Northern Ire­ O'Dwyer compared the freedom hunger strike." dents of oppression is the root cause of land is on the rise. fight in Ireland to those in El the troubles of that otherwise peaceful Bobby Sands did not die in vain. Salvador and the Black ghettos of Three other Irish political prisoners land." America. He announced that the are currently on hunger strikes: Francis International Longshoreman's As­ Hughes, in his fifty-third day as we go 'Beacons of light' sociation had decided to stage a to press; and Patsy O'Hara and R.ay­ Thousands -took to the streets in three one-day boycott of British goods to mond· · McCreesh, in their forty-sixth cities in France to protest the death of protest the killing of Sands. day. Seventy more imprisoned nation­ Sands. "Margaret Thatcher has dis­ alists reportedly announced they will Protests were also reported in Oslo, Irish group posed not of Bobby Sands, but of begin hunger strikes. Norway; Athens; Brisbane, Australia; herself," declared Father Daniel In the United States, protests oc­ and many other cities. Berrigan. "She will go the way of curred in front of British consulates in under attack The Iranian government announced all pimping politicians." San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, A federal judge ruled May 1 that it would send a representative to The protest rally ended with the Boston, Chicago, New York, and other the Irish Northern Aid Committee Sands's funeral. Tehran radio carried a singing of "We Shall Overcome," cities. (Noraid) must register as a foreign message from President Abolhassan the theme of both the U.S. and agent with the government. The Bani-Sadr to Sands's parents. Bani­ Northern Ireland civil rights move­ In New York City, the 35,000-member government claims Noraid is an Sadr called Sands a "brilliant star" and ments. Transport Workers Union Local 100 "agent" of the Irish Republican The picket line grew in size as it called on bus drivers to keep their predicted his death would turn the Army. marched down Fifth Avenue to join headlights on all da~ May 7 to protest youth of Northern Ireland into "bea­ a demonstration already in pro­ Thatcher's callous policy. cons to light the path of the liberation Socialist Workers Party leader gress at the British Consulate, struggle." Andrew Pulley sent a letter to No­ called by Irish Northern Aid. By Some 200 TWU members, wearing r aid leader Frank Durkan backing this time, participants in the ac­ green ribbons for the Black children in Moral bankruptcy the committee's fight .against gov­ tions had numbered thousands. Atlanta, joined a picket line at the In the European Parliament, the 120- ernment harassment. The trial of Briti;>h consulate in Manhattan May 5. member caucus of Social Democratic the SWP's suit against government spying and harassment is presently going on in a New York federal courtroom. Below are excerpts from Pulley's letter: Read the ideas "This attack on your democratic and human rights is aimed at stop­ ping organized solidarity in this they're out to suppress country with the just struggle of Ireland for its freedom from British imperialism and military occupa­ 0 $2 for eight issues (new readers only) One of the most important trials of the 1980s is taking tion. place in a courtroom in New York City. At stake is the right 0 $5 for three months 0 $~4 for one year 0 New 0 Renewal "But support for the struggle of the of American workers to hold socialist ideas and to put Irish people is growing among those ideas in practice. Name American workers of all colors as Unfortunately, they're not going to let you watch it on Address they learn mote about the heroic C1ty fight of the H-Block and Armagh live television. But you can read about it in the Militant. State ._____ Zip political prisoners, especially Subscribe now. 14 Charles Lane. New Yo rk . New York 10014 Bobby Sands."

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 3 Major protest against Reagan set for Notre Dame May 17 The Chicago Religious Task Committee on El Salvador, a Notre Force on El Salvador has called for Dame University-based El Salva­ a massive demonstration May 17 dor solidarity group, has endorsed at 1 p.m. on the grounds of Notre the action, as has the Indiana Milwaukee conference hits U.S. Salvador policy Dame University in South Bend, Latin America Network. Indiana. Frank Forrestal reports that some 250 people attended an April 11 Other solidarity groups in the The protest has been caUed to region are planning to participate. conference on U.S. intervention in Central America, sponsored by the denounce the university adminis­ The demands of the protest will Coalition to Aid Nicaraguan Democracy/ Committee in Solidarity with the tration's decision to confer an ho­ be: Stop U.S. aid to El Salvador; People of El Salvador (CAND/CISPES). norary degree on Ronald Reagan, Withdraw U.S. troops, Cut the mil­ In the evening, a spirited solidarity rally was held with Rafael Cancel who will be addressing the student itary budget; Restore funds for Miranda, one of the five Puerto Rican Nationalists; Michael Donovan, body that day. FBI Director Wil­ human needs. brother of one of the slain missionaries in El Salvador; Anne Braden from liam Webster will also receive a the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; representa­ degree. For more information call or tives of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) of Nicaragua and Two weeks ago, when the univer­ write to: Chicago Religious Task Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR) of El Salvador; and others. sity announced its plans, over 800 Force on El Salvador, 407 South Joseph Gruber, vice president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, told the students turned out to protest. Dearborn, Room 370, Chicago, Illi­ gathering that trade unionists have to stand on the side of human rights. He In addition to the Chicago Reli­ nois 60605. Telephone: (312) 427- noted that for years the AFL-CIO leadership held the view that behind every gious Task Force, the Christian 2533. human rights activist was the red menace. "If that's the truth," he said, "then I guess I am a communist." Providence labor backs Salvadorans The Providence, Rhode Island, Central Federated Labor Council of the AFL-CIO, representing ninety-seven union locals in the city, passed a Protests demand truth on resolution in March calling for the withdrawal of U.S. advisors from El Salvador. The council also urged passage of House Bill HR 1509, which would prohibit U.S. involvement in El Salvador. disappearance of priest By Jon Hillson In that country, he said, "people do Kirkpatrick gets the silent treatment CHICAGO-The disappearance of a not disappear, they are made to disap­ More than 200 protesters, organized jointly by the NAACP, the El Chicago priest in San Salvador on pear." And the only forces capable of making such "disappearances,'' Dahm Salvador Mobilization Committee, and Catholic clergy, turned out to protest April 26 has provoked widespread out­ said, "are the military, the paramilitary the awarding of an honorary doctorate to U.N. Ambassador Jean Kirkpa­ rage here, directed at both the Reagan right wing, and the government they trick at commencement ceremonies at the University of Pittsburgh on April administration and the El Salvadoran military junta. are under the orders of." 26. In addition to the picket line, more than 140 faculty and staff members . President Reagan announced on signed a letter to the university chancellor denouncing Kirkpatrick and On May 6, according to State De- April 28 his "full satisfaction" with the maintaining that her·choice as a speaker was· "inconsistent with the ideals partment spokespeople, Father Roy "investigation" ordered by El Salva­ and goals of the university." Bourgeois entered the American Em­ dor's president Jose Napoleon Duarte. Meanwhile, WMAQ-TV, which also During her speech at the ceremonies, applause was very sparse as the bassy in San Salvador apparently un­ audience of 6,000 observed a protest of silence. has a news team in El Salvador, has harmed after being missing for ten tried to help the cover-up of Bourgeois's days. disappearance. Cuban film gets a 'surprising' review in Pittsburgh A Maryknoll Fathers media spokes­ On April 29 newsman Jim Ruddle In the April 15 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Cuban film Death of a person verified this report in a phone scolded a Maryknoll priest on the air, Bureaucrat was rated to be the "most delightful movie satire since 'Being interview with the 'Militant. ' Plans are via telephone from San Salvador, about There,' " a film featuring Peter Sellers. being made to organize a press con­ Bourgeois's "violation of journalistic George Anderson, the Gazette's drama critic, begins his review by ference as soon as Father Bourgeois ethics" in coming to El Salvador with a pointing out that, "There's a certain tempting irony about opening a movie returns to the United States, he said. news team while being a "known critic called 'Death of a Bureaucrat' on income tax day. of the government." "But the real news . . . is that it is the first Cuban film ever to l and a commercial booking in a Pittsburgh theatre." He then goes on to explain that "its only propagandistic purpose is on the side of humanity against unfeeling rigid governments that threaten to bury their citizens in red tape. That's a cause any right-thinking American can support-especially on this [income tax] day." After briefly describing the plot of the movie, Anderson notes that, "For an American, the freedom that [Cuban film director] Alea enjoyed in making his engaging film is surprising. He even makes .fun of a pompous head of a studio making ridiculous propagandistic posters, using an octopus to represent imperialism, with names of American corporations tied to each tentacle." He ends his review by pointing out that, "When ~ movie speaks so entertainingly across political gulfs, as 'Death of a Bureaucrat' does, it provides a heartening reminder that people and art transcend govern­ ments. . . ." Anderson's surprised reaction is why Washington has imposed a blockade against Cuba. Even the slightest rupture in the blockade brings "surpris­ ingly" favorable reviews of the accomplishments of the Cuban revolution. End the blockade now! - Nelson Gonzalez

The U.S. Blockade: A Documentary History Some 250 protesters picketed the U.S. "Newspeople," Ruddle lectured, "ar­ Federal Building on April 30 in Chi­ en't supposed to take positions," they're cago. They demanded the government supposed to "remain objective" and In J anuary 1975, Fidel Castro act to find Father Roy Bourgeois, a avoid "taking sides." said, " ... the blockade was a deci­ member of the Maryknoll order. sion taken by the United States for But Bourgeois didn't report news, he Bourgeois has been a central leader was a translator. In fact, he told reli­ the purposes of preventing eco­ of the Chicago Religious Task Force on nomic development in Cuba and of gious colleagues prior to his trip he El Salvador. He went there recently would "stick like glue" to the WBBM choking the Revolution. To tell you accompanying a WBBM news team as the truth, the fight has been a hard crew, out of fear of the government and an interpreter for the CBS-affiliate's the paramilitary gangs it operates. struggle. But we have survived." feature series on the Catholic Church. News of Bourgeois's disappearance The Chicago Religious Task Force on 80 pages, 8112 x 11 inches, $2.50. reached Chicago on April 27. On April El Salvador is organizing support for Published by the Center for Cuban 28, more than 200 people gathered at a · an independent investigating team on Studies. religious service for Bourgeois, where Bourgeois's disappearance. It would be Father Thomas Dahm placed "total composed of Maryknoll priests and Or der from Pathfinde r Press, 410 West Street, New York, New York 10014. (Include responsibility" for the missing priest's nuns and members of Congress. It $.75 for postage a nd h a ndling.) safety on the government of El Salva­ would work with a separate team dor. fielded by the U.S. State Department.

4 THE MILITANT MAY 15,1981 By Nelson Gonzalez Besides District Council 37 of attack on U.S. interventionism. He the march was the sustained enthusiasm The May 3 march on Washington, AFSCME, union contingents came from blasted the government's role not only and energy of the participants. This re­ D.C., against U .S. intervention in El Local 1199 of the Hospital Workers in El Salvador, but around the world. flected the youthfulness of the march, Salvador was the largest and most im­ Union, District 65 United Auto O'Dwyer also took several minutes to but also the level -of commitment and portant antiwar demonstration since Workers, and UA W Local 900. denounce British Prime Minister Mar­ willingness to back it up with action. the end of the Vietnam war. District 37 and the Black United garet Thatche.r and her disregard of the In an attempted provocation, forces March organizers estimated that over Front led off the march. Many religious just struggle of the Irish people. When backing the Reagan administration or­ 100,000 people turned out. Official po­ groups also had contingents. he urged the crowd to remember Irish ganized a counter-action on the fringes lice estimates put the size of the demon­ In addition, almost every left group H-Block leader Bobby Sands, there was of the May 3 demonstration. It was spon­ stration at 25,000, but even conserva­ participated, including Workers World spontaneous, sustained applause. sored by a group calling itself the Insti­ tive estimates from march participants Party, Youth Against War and Fascism, One of the most inspiring moments tute on Religion and Democracy. placed it at three times that size. Communist Party, Young Workers Lib­ came during the performance of "Sweet According to the May 3 New York The massive, peaceful, and well-or­ eration League, Communist Workers Honey in the Rock." The group had com­ Times, William Doherty, executive di­ ganized action was initiated by the Peo­ Party, Socialist Workers Party, Young posed a beautiful song describing the rector of the CIA's American Institute ple's Antiwar Mobilization (PAM) and Socialist Alliance, and the Democratic plight of the Black community in Atlan­ for Free Labor Development (AIFLD), actively built by numerous other organ­ Socialist Organizing Committee. ta. During the performance, the huge endorsed the right-wing action. izations, including the Committee in So­ Some marchers were veterans of the crowd was silent. Most demonstrators The counterdemonstration attracted lidarity with the People of El Salvador anti-Vietnam war movement. But for were wearing green ribbons. only 300 to 400 followers of the Rev. Sun (CISPES), Mobilization for Survival, the most part, the march was compo~d When the singing ended, the rally Myung Moon. National Coalition Against Registra­ of college-age and high-school youth broke out in chants of"Defend Atlanta's While counterdemonstrations in sup­ tion and the Draft, the National Black who had not participated in a national children, not the junta!" port of U.S. policy in El Salvador draw United Front (NBUF), and others. antiwar march before. "moonies," the solidarity movement is The most popular slogan was "No These youth represented a new gener­ FOR speaker gearing up for bigger and better actions. draft, No war, U.S. Out ofEl Salvador!" ation of fighters who are the driving After Bella Abzug and several others Heidi Tarver announced national so­ Many marchers tied this to Reagan's force of today's "Vietnam syndrome." spoke, Arnuldo Ramos was introduced lidarity actions on July 19 to defend the budget cutbacks. Co-chairing the rally were Larry as a representative of the Revolutionary Nicaraguan revolution and to protest District Council 37 of the American Holmes of PAM aand Heidi Tarver, rep­ Democratic Front of El Salvador. As he the Reagan administration's aid cutoff Federation of State, County, and Munic­ resenting the Ad Hoc May 3 Coalition came to the microphone, the crowd rose there. ipal Employees, for example, had a ban­ and CISPES. to give him the longest ovation of the Rev. Daughtry also urged support for ner that read: "American trade Sister Geraldine Blake, regional coor­ day. the Black United Front's protest May 13 unionists say: money for human needs, dinator for Central America of the "In the last few months, there have when South African Foreign Minister not war machines." Maryknoll Order, told how she had lived been over 5,000 people killed in El Sal­ Roelof Botha comes to Washington, Contingents came from as far away as in Nicaragua for nine years-through vador," he said. "Is this the way you D.C., to meet with Secretary of State San Antonio, Texas; North Dakota; and earthquakes, droughts, and two popular want to invest your tax dollars?" Tens of Haig. Florida. The Northeast and Midwest insurrections. thousands of people answered, "No!" As the May 3 demonstrators, along were well represented. Ten thousand al­ "The church will not hes1tate to take "Do you ~ant to empty America's cof­ with coal miners, rail workers, and oth­ so demonstrated in San Francisco. up the cause of the poor, not to ask for fers to save someone like Duarte?" ers are showing, the Reagan adminis­ charity, but to ask for justice," she de­ Again, the crowd shouted, "No!" tration hasn't seen anything yet. Internationalist character clared. Ramos ended by saying, "The great­ The large number of Latino partici­ She asked those present to pray for ness of this march will fill my compa­ pants on the Washington march high­ Rev. Roy Bourgeois, the Maryknoll pri­ triots with hope to continue the strug­ lighted the internationalist character of est who is among the latest to "disap­ gle .. .. We have only begun to fight." the protest. Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, pear" in El Salvador. She ended by call­ The demonstrators again rose to their Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, and Cu­ ing upon the U.S. government to halt all feet in a standing ovation. bans joined in. There were also many military aid to the junta. Rally participants showed a high lev­ AmeriEa's Iranians, Palestinians, Filipinos, and Michio Kaku, professor of nuclear el of receptivity and support for strug­ Haitians. physics and a leader of the antinuclear gles of oppressed peoples throughout the The Puerto Rican Socialist Party, An­ movement, explained the connectjon be­ world. Road tonio Maceo Brigade, Casa El Salvador, tween the nuclear industry and the Sal­ When Rev. Herbert Daughtry of and Casa Nicaragua came in organized vadoran junta. NBUF talked about the need to support Ta SaEialism contingents. Michael Donovan, brother of one of Grenadians, Nicaraguans, South Afri­ The National Black United Front the slain Catholic missionaries, deliv­ cans, Namibians, and Palestinians By James P. [annan brought a contingent of several hundred ered a short message. against U.S. imperialism, his speech paper $2.95 supporters, in addition to those brought Paul O'Dwyer, former New York city was well received by everyone. Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 by the Black Veterans for Social Justice. council president, unleashed a stinging Another noticeable characteristic of West Street. New York, N.Y. 10014

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 5 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL Socialists defend rights of non-citizens Question Immigration official in court By Harry Ring swer. He then asserted that the review NEW YORK-A ranking official of was decided on because the State De­ the Immigration and Naturalization partment categorizes the SWP as a Service testified April30 in the Socialist "proscribed" organization and the INS Workers Party suit. The party subpoe­ felt the government should be "consist­ \ naed him to determine why the INS is ent" on the question. ) now moving to place the SWP on its list Who called the discrepancy to his at­ of "proscribed" organizations. tention? Such proscription would mean that "Mr. Salerno,'' responded Bertness. members or supporters of the party not An assistant U.S. attorney, Peter Saler­ born in this country would be subject to no is one of the government's defense possible deportation proceedings. Sup­ lawyers in the SWP suit. porters abroad could be excluded from entering the United States. 'Good reason'? INS official Glenn Bertness did con­ In a document submitted to the court cede on the stand that the agency had April 24, the INS stated, "It is now the given up on trying to characterize the position of the Commissioner of the INS SWP as an organization that advocates that good reason exists to believe" the the violent overthrow of the govern­ SWP should be declared a proscribed or­ ment. ganization. Instead, he testified, the INS is weigh­ How did the INS determine that the ing the "proscribed" category on the ba­ SWP should now be considered for re­ sis that the SWP advocates the "doc­ classification? Has some new evidence trines of world communism." U.S. law about the organization come to light? officially-and falsely-equates world No, Bertness explained. He had been communism with "totalitarian dictator­ referred to a legal decision in the depor­ ship." tation case of George Scythes, a foreign­ Although it was apparently decided born former member of the SWP. The J on earlier, the INS move was not public­ Continued on page 13 Militant/Diane Jacobs ly disclosed until the trial was under way. Formal notice was handed the SWP following testimony in the party's behalf by Brazilian-born jazz musician Gaudencio Thiago de Mello. What this case is about Socialists have always known The Socialist Workers Party and sweeping powers to issue "execu- Previously proscribed the government doesn't like them Young Socialist Alliance are de- tive orders" authorizing the most The INS had put the SWP on its "pro­ and, when ever practical, will hit manding $40 million damages for odious kind of secret police activ- scribed" list back in 1956. But it was them below the belt. illegal acts the government has ity-like FBI snoopers checking the forced to remove it from that category in Socialists have also understood committed against t h em- "loyalty" of civil service employees, 1966. that they're not the only ones who burglaries, wiretaps, victimization members of the armed forces, "de- In his testimony, Bertness, the acting get hit below the belt. of members, and more. · fense" plant workers. associate commissioner for enforce­ There are a lot of other people in They are also demanding a halt The socialist suit is aimed at ment, tried to explain why the INS is this country that the government to some of the "legal" things the these antidemocratic laws and ex- now trying to put the party back in that doesn't like. government does. ecutive orders as well as at the category. Militant unionists. Blacks and admittedly · illegal acts the govern- His testimony confirmed that the Latinos who demand their rights. For instance, there are laws ment has committed. They are move was in response to the SWP put­ Women who fight for full equality. which flatly contradict the Consti- asking the court to rule that these ting the government on trial. Opponents of war. Environmen- tution. Like the Smith and McCar- laws and orders don't apply to Under examination by SWP attorney talists. Gay rights. advocates. ran Acts, which make the advocacy them. Shelley Davis, Bertness admitted, "It Many more. of certain ideas illegal, even though If they win, the government will was only in connection with this case" All of these are on the govern- such advocacy is"g uaranteed by the have a hard time applying them to that the INS decided to review the sta­ ment's hit list. First Amendment. others. That's why everyone who tus of the SWP. The aim of the socialist suit is to The sochtlists are also challeng- wants a better life has a stake in However, after a court recess, Bert­ scrap the list. ing the president's little-known but the outcome of this trial. ness asked to clarify his original an- Newark picket line protests deportation threat By Vivian Sahner Mayer, con vener of the Religious Task ity, such as our deteriorating cities, the demonstrations in Philadelphia. NEWARK-Socialist Workers Party Force, Mobilization for Survival. escalating rate of inflation and unem­ "I wasn't even a socialist then. The and Young Socialist Alliance members "The present administration would ployment, and the cutbacks of basic INS called me in and started asking organized an informational picket line be better advised to address itself to human services.... " me questions about the Philadelphia at the Federal Building here on April the real threats to our national secur- Frank Askin, a Rutgers University Committee to End the War. They vi­ 30. sited· my boss. They even visited my Su:pporters joined in picketing and professor of law and general counsel for the ACLU, commented, "I would mother's boss," Camo said. distributing leaflets explaining threats suggest that the government attorneys by the Immigration and Naturaliza­ "It was one reason I didn't join the defending this case take a fresh look at tion Service to deport socialists and SWP until 1976, after I became a their constitutional law books and "affiliates." naturalized citizen." after so doing withdraw their sugges­ Lauren Selden, executive director of tion that the Immigration and Natu­ the American Civil Liberties Union­ ralization Service might in fact under­ SWP not only· target New Jersey, also joined the protest. He take punitive action against SWP "It's important to understand what told the Militant why. supporters." the INS is doing now," Camo con­ "The INS declaration is a clear sig­ tinued. "They aren't just out to get the nal that the Reagan administration SWP; the INS is used against anyone has the same mentality as those who Lori Paton case who has ideas the government doesn't sat in Washington during the worst Askin was the attorney for Lori like." days of the cold war," Selden said. Paton, a high school student who sued "This president will try to hide the the FBI for spying on her after she James Harris, the Socialist Workers attack behind his customary benign wrote a letter to the SWP in 1973. candidate for governor of New J ersey, smile, while he's pushing through Through that lawsuit Paton forced the also walked the picket line. Harris another era when those who seek FBI to destroy her files. called the INS move "a threat to eve­ change are labeled subversive and ryone's right of freedom of speech and therefore outside the protection of the Alan Swenson, program coordinator association." Bill of Rights." of New Jersey SANE; and Christine Carmody-Arey, coordinator of New "We have put the thought-control Solidarity messages J ersey National Organization for policies of the INS, the FBI, and other Other civil rights defenders sent Women, also sent messages. agencies on trial," said Harris. "The messages of support. government is trying to defend its Several foreign-born members of the actions by threats and intimidation. "I want to add my voice to those who SWP walked in the Newark picket line. condemn the projected addition of the Frank Camo, who was born in Italy, "But we aren't going to be intimi­ SWP to the Immigration and Nat~rali ­ told the Militant that the INS first dated. We're going to launch the larg­ zation Service's list of 'forbidden' or­ harassed him in the early 1'970s after est public protest of the INS move that ganizations," said Reverend Paul - ··Militant/ Sue Hagen he participated in anti-Vietnam war we can." 6 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 NEWS OF THE TRIAL IN THIS ISSUE In addition to coverage of day­ by-day events in the trial • Harassment in the army (page 11) against government spying, this issue contains a number • What's at stake for Blacks (page 9) of features highlighting the • Crimes against antiwar movement (pages 24-28) socialists' case. Building support for suit-...a central task By Malik Miah Mandigo said the main basis for the After four weeks, the main issues in FBI's investigation of the SWP is that the Socialist Workers Party and Young we are "subversives.'; He has submit­ Socialist Alliance suit against the gov­ ted a "secret affidavit" to the judge. Striking coal miners attend trial ernment have come forward clearly. The government alleges it contains Rich Poling and Tom Moriarty, The FBI's forty-five years of illegal evidence of "illegal acts" by socialists. two striking coal miners who work activity; the undemocratic "thought Yet the FBI has not arrested us! near Fairmont, West Virginia, control" legislation; and the govern­ In the 1940s and 1950s, the Smith came up to New York for a few ment claim to unlimited powers of the Act thought-control law was used to days to attend the trial. Both are presidency to "protect and defend the jail leading SWP and Communist members of United Mine Workers U.S. Constitution" are being brought Party members. Local 1949. into public view. Today the situation is different. The After their first day at the trial, I The stakes are high in the battle government and its finks are just as asked Rich what he thought. unfolding in New York's Foley Square. rotten as ever. But the working class "It's what I expected. The gov­ The central leadership of the SWP in and its allies-here and abroad-are ernment was very evasive and New York is devoting the bulk of its more conscious of their power and are they're trying to stretch it out. time and energy to lead this historic using it. "The way I see it is they're trying battle against the government's secret to exhaust you financially. That's police. All members of the SWP and Political context of trial the name of their game. They ob­ YSA, in branches, chapters, and trade This is the political context in which viously have more money than this union fractions, are now moving to put our case against the government oc­ organizatioh." maximum resources into this fight. curs. Our suit is one way to oppose the Poling said miners have had Andrew Pulley, th~ SWP's 1980 pre­ attacks of the Reagan Administration. their own experiences with govern­ sidential candidate, is helping to coor­ The more support it gets from the labor ment attacks on their rights: "I dinate the suit-support acti~ities from movement, Black organizations, would say whenever we have the party's national office. He told the women's groups, forces on the left, and strikes or problems, miners always Militant, "We are proposing to our others, the more pressure is exerted on see that particular part of our so­ \;>ranches that a radical shift take place the government and its informers to ciety-the government, the police, in the priorities of their work. As long leave us all alone. the National Guard, · whatever­ as the trial is going on, the party's It makes it harder for Reagan to always siding with the companies number-one national campaign is win­ pardon FBI agents; to harass Black against the working people. ning new support for the case and Party activists; victimize undocu­ "It always ends up that they're explaining the stakes involved in the mented workers; or to pass and carry the ones we end up fighting and trial. out antilabor legislation. coal miners know that. That's in "This case concerns all supporters of In other words, supporting the so, their tradition. They have a sense democratic rights-trade unionists, cialist suit against the government is of whose side the government is on. one more vehicle working people can "I think that's why there's a lot Black activists, women's rights sup­ RICH POLING pol'ters. use to fight back against the attacks of of empathy with your case." "The confrontation with the Immi­ the employers and government. gration and Naturalization Service We must remember that the govern­ will have special meaning to support­ ment is using the unlimited resources ers of the Salvadoran revolution and of the state to conduct its campaign political .blow against Reaganism and onstration in Washington, more than all political refugees of brutal dictator­ against us. They have an army of FBI, the political police. · 100 rail workers came to a reception ships whom the INS are threatening to INS and other agents to call upon­ sponsored by the SWP. They heard a deport." paid for by our tax dollars. Some examples report on the trial from Steve W atten­ Here are some examples of the maker, a pipefitter in a Conrail shop. Miners' strike PROF things people are now doing to back More than 5,000 pieces of a special The trial takes place at a time when The Political Rights Defense Fund the suit: PRDF fact sheet and petition on the other important political events are (PRDF) has been organizing support Seventeen people in Philadelphia, government's threats to deport social­ happening. These include the coal for the suit since 1973. PRDF has wide who regularly attend Militant Forums, ists were distributed at the May 3 miners' strike; a major antiwar protest endorsement from people who do not met to discuss the suit. They decided to antiwar action in Washington. Mili· at Notre Dame UniversitY in Indiana necessarily agree with the ideas and send out a 1,000-piece mailing and tant salespeople at the demonstration when Ronald Reagan and FBI Director views of the SWP and YSA, but oppose build a picket line against the INS reported high interest in the case. William Webster go there to accept the FBI's legal and illegal acts. decision to "review" the status of the People they talked to asked how the honorary degrees May 17; actions in Prominent sponsors include Douglas SWP. case was going, who was on the stand, support of Irish political prisoners; a Fraser, presid~nt of the United Auto In Chicago-Gary, socialist steel­ and how they could help. May 25 march· on Washington, D.C., Workers; Benjamin Hooks, executive workers are putting out a special piece called by the Atlanta mothers. director of the NAACP; Edward Asner; Money is badly needed for the suit. of literature to win support from co­ PRDF must raise $125,000 just to cover SWP and YSA members are active Jane Fonda; four of the Hollywood workers. Ten, who served prison terms for defy­ legal costs. (See page 9 for more de­ on all these fronts. It's all part and At the U A W-organized Budd plant in tails.) parcel of the same confrontation tak­ ing the House Un-American Activities Philadelphia, after one worker learned Committee; and many more. PRDF Socialists are asking for and getting ing place at the trial. This is how the of the trial, he pulled out his wallet and contributions on the job. There are also government sees it. In reality, they has raised thousands of dollars to help donated $5. defray legal expenses. many professional people-doctors, look at all of these actions as "subver­ In New Orleans, and several other lawyers, artists-and others who can Now that the trial is in full swing, sive activities." cities, PRDF has won new Black sup­ give large sums of money to the case. PRDF's role is even more important. The socialists will be taking the port. When Blacks hear of the For example, a PRDF supporter in Broadly supported PRDF rallies, with story of this trial to participants in NAACP's strong support for the suit, Racine, Wisconsin, aided by SWP speakers from a cross-section of the these struggles and asking their help. many want to do what they can to members from Milwaukee, recently FBI's victims, can become big events. help, too. organized a cocktail party. This can be Pulley said socialist workers think They in and of themselves can strike a After the ·massive April 29 rail dem- they should get support from individu­ done in many places. als and groups, such as the Commu­ The virtual news blackout on the nist Party, that have been victimized trial nationally (part of a failure by the by the FBI. He pointed to a recent capitalist media to report pro-working­ editorial in the Guardian newsweekly, class activities) means winning local which said: COME TO THE TRIAL news coverage is extremely important. "We believe it is incumbent upon left If candidates for public office, PRDF and progressive people to understand Show your support. endorsers, co-workers, or other support­ the far-reaching implications of the Daily from 10 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse, ers of the case come to New York and current trial. ... All progressive peo­ Room 302. attend the trial, they can return and ple would bear the brunt of an adverse Foley Square, New York City talk about the case on local radio and decision." TV, get press interviews, and speak The latest issue of In These Times MEET THE WfTNESSES FOR THE SWP AND THE YSA before unions, on campus and in high schools. features a story on the trial and an­ Each Saturday during the trial. Hear report' on the trial The most effective way working peo­ nounces regular coverage. proceedings. Find out what socialists stand for. Refreshmenh. At the trial, FBI Agent Charles ple can keep informed is by reading the Militant and Perspectiua Mundial. An IN MANHATTAN: IN BROOKLYN: accompanying article on page 8 details Malik Miah is a national chairperson of 108 E. 16th St., 3-4 p.m. 335 Atlantic Ave .. 3-5 p.m. a major sales drive underway for the the Socialist Workers Party. duration of the trial.

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 7 POLITI·CAL POUCE ON TRIAL Launch sales drive to back socialist suit By Margaret Jayko get every penny out of the government There are a lot of people in this that you're suing them for." country who don't like the FBI, the A woman in Nemicolon, Pennsyl­ CIA, or the Immigration Service-la vania, explained, "When they were migra. They're inspired by people who trying to organize the UMW A here, the are fighting back against these politi­ cops had rifles and machine guns and cal cops. would fire on us from the hills to People like the Socialist Workers terrorize and intimidate people. The Party and the Young Socialist Al­ FBI is just like cops. They're all liance, who have put the government crooks." on trial for its illegal spying and ha­ rassment. Learning about socialism But the commercial media isn't tell­ On May 4, Tom Moriarty and Rich ing. When it comes to revelations Poling, two striking miners from West about government crimes against so­ Virginia, came up to New York to cialists, Blacks, Latinos, women, and attend the trial for a few days. Rich unionists-crimes that are repulsive to has been reading the Militant for the majority of the American people­ about six months, and has been follow­ mum's the word. ing the trial coverage. Especially when the victims start He especially liked the testimony of winning a few rounds. Farrell Dobbs, the first witness and a longtime leader of the SWP. Big sales drive launched That's why members and friends of "Dobbs was very open about every­ the SWP and YSA have launched a thing. He wasn't trying to hide any­ new campaign to sell as many copies thing about it. I think reading his as possible of the Militant, and its testimony would give people a quick Spanish-language sister publication, overview of what the Socialist Workers Perspectiva Mundial. Party stands for," said Poling. The campaign will run until the end The Dobbs testimony gave a concise of the trial. explanation of many of the basic ideas Across the country, SWP branches, of Marxism. Many readers had a reac­ and YSA chapters are setting their tion similar to a woman in Brooklyn goals in this national effort to spread who recently bought a subscription. the word about the trial. They are discussing how many indi­ She said that she had learned more vidual copies they can sell each week, about socialism from reading Dobbs's as well as a goal for special introduc­ testimony than anything else she had tory subscriptions. The $2 introductory ever read. subscriptions will be attractive to peo­ The testimony of leaders of the SWP ple who are interested in following the that is run in the Militant and PM can trial every week. be used in classes introducing people to The drive got off to a fine start at the socialist ideas. May 3 Washington demonstration against U.S. intervention in El Salva­ Lots of opportunities dor. SWP and YSA members were There are many ways that Militant among the tens of thousands of demon­ 'Militant' and sales got to good start at May 3 dem­ and PM readers can use the papers to strators who had come to demand the onstration against U.S. intervention in El Salvador. Table displaying socialist liter­ get out the word about this courtroom U.S. get out of El Salvador. ature, above, also did brisk business. battle. Saturday tables at shopping malls May 3 and in Black and Latino communities, Militant and PM salespeople talked complete with banners about the trial, to many on the march. "Have you seen BROOKLYN------~ can be effective. the Militant! PM? It has full coverage The fact that the Militant and PM of the socialists' suit against the FBI, have the scoop on this trial will surely CIA, and INS." PROTEST NEW DEPORTATION THREATS boost sales at plant gates, rail yards, Many had already heard about it, and other worksites. through the few articles that have Speakers: The same is true for sales at high appeared in the capitalist press, or the Hector Marroquin, member of Socialist Workers Party under order of deportation schools and colleges. sympathetic coverage in several of the Elias Ayoub, Palestinian activist facing deportation radical papers. Puerto Rican Socialist Party representative 'Perspectiva Mundial' But, heard of it or not, the response Casa Nicaragua representative PM is the only Spanish-language was friendly and interested. Many who Ernesto Jofre, president, Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union publication that runs extensive cover­ came to Washington were demonstrat­ Local 169 age of the trial. ing against government policies for the Latinos, who have been a major first time and were eager to find out Friday, May 15, 8 p.m. target of la migra, can readily identify with the bold response of the SWP and about others who are standing up to 333 Atlantic Avenue Reagan. YSA in the face of the INS's threat to deport foreign-born members and sup­ ·Bill Scheer sold twenty-three copies Sponsors: Political Rights Defense Fund, Casa Nicaragua, Puerto Rican Socialist porters of these organizations. One of the Militant and two subscriptions. Party, Palestine Solidarity Committee. Latin American activist explained that He found the best way to sell was to Donation: $2. For more information call (212) 852-7922. talk to people about the trial. "Eve­ if the government wants to deport ryone's response was positive and con­ socialists, it'll go after activists in die cerned. People gave me donations and El Salvador solidarity movement next. wished us the best of luck." So, he was going to pay a lot of attention to PMs coverage of the trial. Maggie Trowe sold twenty-two Mili­ And fighters for Puerto Rican inde­ tants, one PM, three Militantsubscrip­ handed things. So they were pleased to tions, and ten copies of the Young in Atlanta, and many other social and pendence have first-hand knowledge of learn that our suit and trial have been political issues. Socialist. She would have sold more the government's use of the slander able to document a lot of it." The eight sales teams have visited PMs except, "many of the Latinos I "terrorist" to try and break them. By the end of the day, the socialists the coal fields of Pennsylvania; West spoke to already subscribed. had gotten out 1,650 papers and 10,000 Virginia; Birmingham, Alabama; Ken­ All of this makes sales of PM a "I'd tell people that the Militant has leaflets and brochures about the trial. tucky; southern Illinois; Utah; and Co­ priority. PM will find a warm welcome the views of the party that's putting Eighty-eight subscriptions were sold. lorado. among Latino workers, in communi­ the F.BI on trial. I invited anyone who So far, they've sold more than 750 ties, and at colleges and high schools lived in New York or visiting there to Teams to coal fields subscriptions, mostly to coal miners with large numbers of Spanish­ attend the trial. That way they could The thousands of coal miners now and their families. language speaking students. see for themselves how we're forcing on strike to defend their union are the government to show some of its certainly high on the government's hit Miners are certainly no strangers to Get out the truth! true colors." list. cops, spies, informers, and other gov­ The more light that can be shed on Don Davis helped staff the socialist In solidarity with these fighting ernment finks. The proud history of the hidden workings of Washington's literature table at the demonstration unionists, socialist miners and other their union includes the fight against political police apparatus, the less able where the Militant, PM, and suit litera­ members of the SWP and YSA have such company-inspired scum. So they they will be to use it against us. taken the Militant, PM, and informa­ can certainly relate to the socialists' ture were prominently displayed and The Militant! PM sales drive offers tion about the trial to coal towns battle with the boys m the White distributed. every reader the chance to help defend across the country. House. "We sold thirty-seven subscriptions and extend democratic rights. to people who wanted to keep up with Coal miners are interested in ex­ One woman miner in Utah had 'the trial proceedings. changing ideas with socialists about thought about voting for the SWP To order a weekly bundle of the the strike. But the sales teams have candidates in the last election after she Militant and PM, write to The Militant "People said they suspected the gov­ found that strikers are also interested had seen him on TV. She was very Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New ernment had done a lot of under- in the socialist suit, the racist murders supportive of the SWP suit: "I hope you York, N.Y. 10014.

8 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 What's at stake for Blacks in SWP suit By Malik Miah lowed this outstanding leader wher­ 1965 Voting Rights Act die. democratic and totalitarian methods of Why should Blacks active in unions, ever he went-here and abroad. The Senate Judiciary Committee's the FBI. Once they hear what is at civil rights, women's, student, and The FBI also followed Martin Luther subcommittee on the constitution plans stake in this trial, they will lend sup­ other organizations endorse and finan­ King Jr. until he was assassinated in to discuss banning affirmative action port-financial ·and otherwise-to cially contribute to the Political Rights 1968 while organizing support for programs. Sen. Orrin Hatch, chairman PRDF in this fight. Defense Fund? striking sanitation workers in Mem­ of the subcommittee, is introducing a PRDF gathers support and raises phis. FBI records document a scheme constitutional amendment to forbid money for the Socialist Workers Party to drive King out of political life or to federal and state governments to make and Young Socialist Alliance suit. commit suicide through the use of tape "distinctions on account of race, color PRDF is seeking to get at least recordings they claim to have made in or national origin." $125,000 in the next two months to pay his hotel room. for escalating legal expenses. The FBI also worked with police red PROF Rallies The socialist trial · concerns every squads to victimize and frameup Black PRDF rallies are being organized potential victim of the government's activists. Agents provocateurs infil­ nationwide to explain the stakes in the political police. The SWP and YSA are trated many Black groups like the socialist suit and its relationship to strong supporters of the Bill of Black Panther Party in New York other fightbacks against the govern­ Rights-while the FBI, Immigration City. ment. The aim is to get a broad array and Naturalization Service, and other of speakers-victims of FBI attacks governmental agencies openly claim Oppose Reagan's program and supporters of the case. These , the socialists' democratic rights can be Supporting the socialist suit, and speakers will include Blacks in the violated to "defend" the U.S. Constitu­ giving money to PRDF, is one way you trade unions, civil rights organiza­ tion. can oppose Reagan and his plans­ tions, and other groups. The rallies will Benjamin Hooks, executive director plans that include social cuts and strike a blow against Reaganism and of the NAACP, in a recent statement higher military spending, in addition racism. (A list of cities where these will explained clearly why Blacks should to stepping up practices directly op­ occur is on this page.) support the socialists: posed by the socialist suit. "The NAACP holds a profound re­ It is a way to answer the racists in There is deeply felt hatred in the spect for the democratic process and Congress. Members of the House and Black community-and among other feels that any illegal actions by a Senate openly talk about letting the working people, too-against the un- governmental agency or by the police: through illegal wiretappings, the use of provocateurs and other harassment tactics, have no place in this society." Other Black supporters of the suit include: Horace Sheffield, national se­ cretary of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and a member of the UAW's international staff; Cleveland Robin­ How you son, United Auto Workers District 65; Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Confer­ can help ence; activist Dick Gregory; Rev. Willie Add my name to the list of sponsors of the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist Barrow, vice-president of Operation Alliance lawsuit against government harass­ PUSH; Lucius Walker of the National ment Anti-Klan Network; Representatives John Conyers, Ron Dellums, Gus Sav­ Enclosed is $ to help defray legal age and George Crockett. and publicity costs of the suit

Name ______Blacks singled out Civil rights activists know first-hand Signature ______how the FBI's spies and counter­ Address------~------­ intelligence programs work. For de- - cades Blacks have been singled out for City ------~------special harassment, blacklisting, and State ______wiretapping. We have always been Union/Organization ______treated as second class citizens-or worse. Send to Political Rights Defense Fund, One of Malcolm X's bodyguards at MilitanUJohn Hawkins Box 649 Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. the time he was assassinated was a Board Chairperson Margaret Bush-Wilson and Executive Director Benjamin 10003. police agent. The FBI and CIA fol- Hooks of the NAACP, which recently endorsed socialist suit. olitical Rights Defense Fund rallies planned Supporters of the Political Rights Defense Fund are planning rallies across the country during May and June. Up-to-the-minute trial news on the Socialist Workers Party $40 million lawsuit against the government will be a main attrac-. tion. Victims of the government's political police-trade unionists, Black rights acti­ vists, participants in the women's movement, and others--will be featured speakers. For more information on the rally nearest you, call the numbers listed below.

May16 Los Angeles June6 New York (213) 225-3126 (212) 533-2902 May21 Burlington, Vt June6 San Diego (212) 691-3270 . (714) 234-4630 May29 Schenectady June 10 Miami (518) 374-1494 (305) 769-3478 May30 Louisville June 13 St. Louis (502) 587-8418 (314) 725-1570 May30 Philadelphia June 13 Portland f215) 927-4747 (503) 222-7225 May30 Salt Lake City June 14 Seattle (801) 355-1124 (206) 723-5330 May30 Twin Cities June 14 San Francisco (612) 644-6325 (415) 824-1992 May31 Detroit June 14 San Jose (313) 875-5322 (408) 998-4007 June6 Piedmont June 14 Oakland (919) 723-3419 (415) 763-3792 June6 Cincinnati (513) 751-2636

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 9 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL Lawsuit attracts l;lroad support Sponsors of the socialist suit against Edith Tiger the government's political police repre­ Director, sents a broad cross-section- of Ameri­ National Emergency can society. It includes political acti- . vists, trade unionists, Black rights Civil Liberties fighters, feminists, students, and civil Union libertarians. Among the many prominent support­ ers are: Michael Harrington, chair, Dave Dellinger Democratic Socialist Organizing Com­ WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT mittee; Douglas Fraser, president, Uni­ ted Auto Workers; Dick Gregory; John Noam Chomsky DAY 17: THURSDAY, APRIL 30 Henry Faulk; U.S. Rep. George Crock­ INS official Glenn Bertness testifies ett; Morton Sobell, Rosenberg case Ramsey Clark about why agency is now trying to put defendant; Edward Clinch, director, SWP in 'proscribed' category, which International Association of Machi­ could subject foreign-born members to nists, District 98; Daniel and Philip Bella Abzug deportation proceedings. Under exami­ Berrigan; Rafael Cancel Miranda of nation by SWP attorney, he admits the Puerto Rican Nationalists; and Ossie Davis action is response to party suit. . Andrew Young, former U.S. represen­ Veteran SWP leader George Breitman tative to the United Nations. begins testimony. It's a point-by-point If you would like to endorse the case Victor Reuther refutation of innumerable factual errors please fill out the coupon on page 9 in key government affidavit submitted and · mail to: Political Rights Defense by FBI agent Charles Mandigo. Fund, Box 649 Cooper Station, New York, N.Y., 10003. Rev. Joseph Lowery DAY 18: FRIDAY, MAY 1 President, Breitman continues dissection of er­ Southern Christian rors in, Mandigo's affidavit. Under cross Leadership Conference examination, government lawyers chal­ "Since its inception, the civil lenge Breitman's statements. Judge rights movement has been sub­ Griesa asks the government lawyers, do jected to illegal surveillance, disrup­ you deny the accuracy of Breitman's tion efforts, and harassment by the corrections? They do not answer. FBI. FBI agent Gary L. Stoops, supervisor "We must demand an end to FBI of the federal government's 'applicant interference in legal political activ­ loyalty unit,' takes the stand. ity that is guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of Rights. We have the right to DAY19:MONDAY,MAY4 speak out and demonstrate against Stoops continues testimony. Says unemployment, job discrimination, Justice Department never responded to cuts in social services, the attempts William Kunstler written FBI inquiry on policy on investi­ to repeal the Voting Rights Act, the "When the Socialist Workers gating SWP members applying for gov­ rise of Klan violence, and here, in ernment jobs after FBI announced end Party lawsuit goes to court, the Atlanta, the murders of our chil­ result will be one of the most impor­ to 'national security' investigation in dren. 1976. Judge expresses disbelief that no tant trials in American history for " ... I support the SWP's na- revealing the machinations of the answer ever came, demands real story. . tional suit, which will put question­ government in investigating dissi­ Stoops then tells of meetings where able operations on trial, as well as dent domestic groups." policy on handling such investigations their Atlanta efforts to stop these was agreed to. illegal activities at Lockheed." Cornelius Scully Ill, of State Depart­ Alice Peurala American Federation ment visa office, testifies a non-citizen President, SWP member would be denied visa, Edith Van Horn of State, County and although policy is not written down. United Steelworkers Municipal Employees of America Local 65 * International Representative, Kathleen Fitzgerald and Steven Horne United Auto Workers tell of FBI role in breaking up their "As a longtime activist in the National Association marriage by unsuccessfully trying to get labor movement and the civil rights Horne to inform on his wife when she movement, I feel strongly that all A. Whitney Ellsworth for the Advancement of was in the YSA in the early 1970s. political organizations must have Former chairperson, Colored People the absolute right to function in a Amnesty International free society ... . Our citizens must DAY 20: TUESDAY, MAY 5 National Lawyers Guild No session in morning. Barry Shep­ have the right of political expres­ I.F. Stone pard, SWP national co-chairperson, ex­ sion, without harassment and op­ plains SWP policy of destroying finan­ pression from agents of the federal California Federation government. For the foregoing rea­ Rep. John Conyers cial records in order to keep names of of Teachers, AfL-CIO members and contributors out of hands sons I support your suit in defense (D-Mich.) of political police. of the Bill of Rights." Sheppard states SWP opposition to Michigan Federation of totalitarianism in any form and outlines James Mangan Teachers, AFL-CIO historic and current positions of Marx- Cleveland Robinson Manager, . ists on relationship between socialism Secretary-treasurer, Twin Cities Joint Board Democratic Socialist and democracy-including opposition District 65 Amalgamated Clothing and one-party rule. Explains what is really Organizing Committee to United Auto Workers Textile Workers Union meant by 'dictatorship of proletariat.' "Government interference · and Says because of likely misunderstand­ Norman Dorsen harassment of political groups like National Alliance ing, term is not used often. Judge the Socialist Workers Party poses a Against Racist and Griesa questions Sheppard closely Chairperson, threat to all political groups, and about how socialist society will work American Civil Liberties must be stopped or our political Political Repression and how views of SWP compare with Union rights will soon disappear." those of British Labour Party. *Organizations listed for identification Operation PUSH only DAY 21: WEDNESDAY, May 6

SWP member Will Reissner tells of FBI harassment through visits to landlord and employer. His sister, Gabrielle Shel­ ley, says FBI held up her security clear­

COMING NEXT0 WEEK . .. ance solely because of brother's views. c Rev. Harold Hadley says FBI visited him after he married Reissner and Wendy Lyons in 1965. The next issue of the Militant tions of the law by six leaders of ticipation in and support to th!'l Barry Sheppard returns to stand. Ex­ will carry the court transcript of the SWP. The same Militant car­ Fourth International, especially plains SWP view on how decisions on George Breitman's refutation, line­ ried an article by Breitman outlin­ from 1938 to 1946. production of consumer goods will be by-line, of the Mandigo affidavit. ing some of the factual errors and Breitman also explains the made in post-capitalist economy. Says Breitman is a longtime SWP outright lies in the document. SWP's view of the notorious Taft­ SWP advocates peaceful election of leader. Hartley slave-labor law passed in workers and farmers government, which The March 13 Militant carried Breitman's court testimony pro­ 1947-particularly how the party will need changes in Constitution to sections of the affidavit, prepared vides new information not in his campaigned against it in the labor implement program. In cross examina­ by FBI Special Agent Charles first article and background infor­ movement at the time. tion, government focuses on SWP policy Ma~digo, concerning alleged viola- mation concerning the SWP's par- Don't miss this next issue. on financial record keeping.

10 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Black vet: how Gls organized against war By Vivian Sahner On April 24, Andrew Pulley took the witness stand in the Socialist Workers Party trial against the government. Pulley was the Socialist Workers 1980 presidential candidate. His testimony-and the cross exami­ nation by government attorneys -touched on many of the key issues in the socialist trial. In particular, the FBI's use of informers, surveillance of socialists, and special hatred for Black rebels. The government also probed again the SWP's relations with the Fourth In­ ternational and other revolutionaries abroad. Pulley described how, as a can­ didate for public office and as a Young Socialist Alliance and SWP leader, he made several international trips. He told the court about his meetings with revolutionaries in Ireland, Japan, Aus­ tralia, France and other countries. (More on this in next week's Militant.) The first thing Pulley testified about was his activities as a GI opposed to the Vietnam War. SWP attorney Shelley Davis began by asking Pulley why he joined the Army in 1968. "I 'volunteered' because my probation officer gave me a choice of an incitement to riot charge or joining the army," Pul­ ley explained. Andrew Pulley on witness stand "The charge of incitement to riot came as a result of a protest in my high school; we were protesting the murder of Mar­ to attend anti-Vietnam war demonstra­ Pulley said he could only remember against their officers or to overthrow tin Luther King. tions in Atlanta. He said the largest two arrests-the high school protest capitalism although this is the long­ "The whole situation was one of a ra­ meeting on base included more than 150 over King's assassination and for truan­ term perspective." cist confrontation-in any case, no jus­ soldiers. cy from school. Pulley said no. SWP attorney Davis tice was to be coming my way." Faced "Weren't you also arrested in 1966," asked Williams for the source of the sup­ with a choice between jail, and the Thrown in stockade Williams demanded, "for being out late posed quote. Army, "I went into the Army." For this activity, he and seven other at night when you were a youngster?" Just as the socialists suspected, the . Pulley added that things weren't soldiers were thrown in the stockade It was one of the only times Pulley "statement" attributed to Pulley came much different there. "There was a sim­ and threatened with a court martial. looked amused on the witness stand. from the vivid imagination of an FBI in­ ilar atmosphere . . . there was a dou­ They faced up to ten years imprison­ "That's conceivable. I don't recall it," he former. ble standard of justice." ment on charges of demonstrating with­ answered. Williams told Davis, "This was pro­ out the approval of the post commander, Then Williams tried to show how dis­ duced within the Heisler documents." Ft. Jackson demonstrating in uniform, breach of ruptive Pulley was at Ft. Jackson. All Heisler was an FBI informer who infil­ In December 1968, he was transferred peace, and showing disrespect to an of­ he succeeded in proving was that trated the SWP until 1980. to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. ficer. hundreds of soldiers there opposed the "This was an informer report by Mr. "I was told as soon as I arrived to re­ war. Heisler?" Davis asked. port to the commanding officer . . . he The SWP, the YSA, and others op­ "Isn't it true there were over 150 men "Yes," Williams replied. told me they knew how to deal with posed to the war helped organize the GI in a gathering outside the barracks?" he Several times on the witness stand troublemakers. Civil Liberties Defense Committee on asked. Pulley explained to the court exactly "What this really amounted to," Pul­ behalf of the Ft. Jackson soldiers. Ber­ "Yes, definitely that many," Pulley why he never would have made such a ley explained, "was being harassed if trand Russell was the honorary chair­ answered. "I thought it was more." statement. you would talk about political subjects person of the committee. Meetings were "Isn't it a fact, Mr. Pulley, that there "That runs totally counter to every­ like the war in Vietnam or the question held across the country to discuss the were close to 300 men in that gather­ thing I did as a soldier and everything of the Black liberation movement." case, and thousands of letters of protst ing?" Williams continued. the Socialist Workers Party and Young Shortly afterwards, a soldier named poured into Ft. Jackson. Pulley agreed, "I thought it was more Socialist Alliance did in the antiwar Joe Cole came up and introduced him­ than 150. It was a pretty sizable gath­ movement," he said. self. Officers at Ft. Jackson were saying Army backed down ering of people." The Army finally backed down. After "We felt that the slightest illegal act that Pulley was a "Black power punk," would constitute a pretext where Gis and Cole wanted to meet him. two months they offered the soldiers a Mandigo slanders dishonorable discharge in lieu of a court would have been arrested, sent to jail or "Joe Cole brought me my first copy of Williams then quizzed Pulley on the what-have-you. the Militant," Pulley added. "It had an martial. Mandigo affidavit. In a document sub­ offer to order tapes of Malcolm X. The GI Civil Liberties Defense Com­ mitted to the court, FBI agent Charles "Not only that, it was totally incon­ "Of course, those tapes hit- right mittee sponsored a national tour for Mandigo claimed that Pulley told sol­ ceivable that an antiwar movement in home.... " Pulley after this victory. The purpose of diers to disobey orders and take up their this country involving soldiers or A growing group of soldiers began to the tour was twofold, Pulley ·explained guns against their officers. masses of people could be built if anyone meet regularly, listen to Malcolm's to the court. Williams asked Pulley if he ever said advocated what your document claims I tapes, discuss Black rights and the Viet­ "the Gls are not ready to take up arms advocated." nam War. "One was simply to explain what we had done in the Army. The importance Gls United Against the War of appealing to and drawing in military Later, Pulley testified, some of them personnel into the antiwar movement," founded a chapter ofGis United Against Pulley said. the War. Three of its members also be­ "Informing them, soldiers and sailors FBI frame-up trial in San Diego longed to the SWP. and airmen, that they had the right to By Michael Baumann The chief evidence against them ."I was new to this whole thing," Pul­ participate in the antiwar movement, Three union activists in San Diego's comes from tape recordings made by an ley said, "but I had an immediate inter­ the right to demonstrate and the right to National Steel and Shipbuilding Com­ FBI informer, and a pipe bomb found in est in being against the war as well as put out antiwar publications. pany shipyard face possible sentences of the informer's tool box. The major wit­ just my identity with the rights of the "Also," he said, "to try to convince the ness for the government is the informer Vietnamese people." up to forty years on conspiracy charges activists in the civilian movement that of plotting to blow up NASSCO's electri­ himself, Ramon Barton, who doubles as He was convinced that soldiers had an this had to be done, it was in fact possi­ a company spy. important role to play in the movement cal transformers. ble to do it." against the war. "And we felt that sol­ The three are David Boyd and Rodney The FBI tapes are equally tainted, ex­ diers have the right to and should voice Pulley told the court that he joined Johnson, both members of Ironworkers pert witnesses for the defense contend, their opposition to the war," he added. the YSA during this tour. Local 627, and Mark Loo, a member of for they contain large gaps during in­ They launched a "massive petition Machinists Local 389. Johnson and Loo stances. when the defendants tried to drive to solicit permission from our com­ Pulley's cross examination are also members of the Communist talk Barton out of any bombing. Workers Party. manding officer to discuss the legal The government didn't like Pulley's This is not the first time the CWP has question of the war . . . we got testimony at all. When the time came All three were fired last year in a union-busting drive following a demon­ been targeted for attack by the govern­ hundreds of signatures," Pulley told the for cross examination, they- tried to ment. In November 1979, five members judge. show Judge Griesa that Pulley really stration to protest NASSCO's notorious safety record. of the CWP were murdered by a group of "We did not attempt to meet if it was was a troublemaker. Klansmen infiltrated by informers from not off duty, and we circuited the peti­ Their trial, which opened April 28, "Is is true, Mr. Pulley, that you were the Treasury Department and the FBI. tion only when we were off duty." has all the earmarks of a continuation of arrested three times prior to the time the company's campaign against the Future issues of the Militant will re­ Pulley testified that they went from you went into the service?" government union, with the help of federal and local port further on this important political barrack to barrack encouraging soldiers attorney Edward Williams asked. police agencies. trial.

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 11 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL Government blocks SWP leaders from ··attending Fourth International meeting The United States government has directly inter­ vened to prevent the Socialist Workers Party from participating in the next important leadership gathering of the Fourth International-an Interna­ tional Executive Committee (IEC) meeting sche­ duled for May 7-14 in Europe. Government lawyers in the trial of the lawsuit brought by the SWP against secret police spying and harassment have subpoenaed central SWP . leaders who had planned to attend the IEC meeting and present reports there. Those subpoenaed are legally required to be available to appear in court on twenty-four hours' notice when the government presents its case. They cannot leave the country. Among the fraternal IEC members subpoenaed are Mary-Alice Waters, Barry Sheppard, Doug Jenness, Larry Seigle, and Pedro Camejo. SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes, along with Malik Miah, Fred Halstead, Andrew Pulley, and ble on twenty-four hours' notice for trial. Jose Perez are important witnesses in the SWP's direct case and are subject to recall to the stand on twenty-four hours' notice. stage of building sections of the Fourth Interna­ organizational issues led to a split in the Interna­ tional; tional and the formation of two public factions. Points under discussion "The Cuban revolution and the Castroist current; Speaking about these events in a talk in 1975, Waters, a national cochair of the SWP, was "The turn to industry and the political/organiza­ Joseph Hansen, a long-time leader of the SWP and planning to give a counterreport at the IEC meeting tional implications of this; the Fourth International, stated, "It is possible that to the draft resolution on the Cuban revolution and "Finally, a point dealing with some events of the split could have been avoided. [SWP leader the Castro leadership being presented by a majority immediate importance, which will be decided later James P .] Cannon was certainly of the opinion that on the basis of four possibilities: Nicaragua and we should try to avoid it. But among other handi­ Central America, Poland, Afghanistan or Iran." caps, it was not possible for the top leaders of the Williams particularly drew Barnes's attention to SWP to go abroad. That was during the height of one paragraph in the letter. It reported that the the McCarthyite witch-hunt, and the State Depart­ An editorial November 1980 United Secretariat meeting had ment banned known radicals from leaving the decided to change the dates of the IEC meeting country-unless, of course, they were being de­ from February to May in order to allow more time ported. Consequently we were unable to argue our for preparations. case at the congress where the international struggle of the United Secretariat. (The United Secretariat is The paragraph noted that "an initial proposal of culminated; and Pablo [Michel Pablo, the central an elected executive body of the IEC.) postponing it to April was made by the Bureau; but leader of the International Secretariat faction] took Sheppard, also a national cochair of the party, information we received on the dates of the law suit factional advantage of this situation." (See James intended to present a counterreport to the United trial of the SWP against the U.S. government, P. Cannon: the Internationalist, by Joseph Hansen, Secretariat majority's draft resolution on the world which must start on the 16th of March, raises Pathfinder Press, 1980.) situation and the tasks of the Fourth International. another difficulty. Finally, the USee decided on the Hansen himself unsucessfully attempted to ob­ Jenness, who is assigned by the SWP's National 6-12th of May. These dates are now definitive; they tain a passport to attend this congress. Committee to be resident in Europe to participate in won't be changed (except for possible minor modifi­ In 1962, when discussions were far along in the bureau of the United Secretariat, would have cations in case of unforseen technical difficulties), reunifying the Fourth International, an article presented a report on Afghanistan, outlining the even if the SWP case goes on beyond the date appeared in the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) that had SWP's views on this disputed question in the Inter­ presently foreseen." all the earmarks of a government plant. Released national. And this was not the last time that the govern­ from the Dispatch's Washington Bureau, the May Miah, a national cochair of the SWP, had planned ment raised the question of the SWP delegation to 15, 1962, article was headlined, "'Fourth Interna­ to present a counterreport on implementing the turn the IEC meeting. When Andrew Pulley, the SWP's tional' Revival Being Watched." into industry adopted at the 1979 World Congress. 1980 presidential candidate appeared as a witness "Efforts by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) to In addition, SWP leaders would have given coun­ for the SWP on April 29, Williams also asked him reunify the 'Fourth International' are being terreports on Poland and Nicaragua. whether or not he was planning to attend: Then, watched by high government sources," the article The IEC is the highest body of the Fourth right after Pulley left the stand, Williams handed said. Developments that were particularly noted International between world congresses. The IEC out another subpoena, this one to IEC fraternal were Hansen's trip to South America in October meeting, set for May, is the first since the November member Larry Seigle. and November 1961, his trip to Paris in December, 1979 World Congress. and a trip by an unnamed Belgian leader to the The government knew full well about the May Voorhis Act United States to discuss with SWP leaders. IEC meeting. It knew about the IEC agenda, the The SWP, one of the founding parties of the issues under dispute, and that SWP leaders were Fourth International in 1938, was forced to disaffil­ Bans on entering U.S. planning to attend and present reports. iate in December 1940, after Congress adopted the The government has also banned many leaders of In fact, Waters was handed a subpoena by U.S. undemocratic Voorhis Act on the initiative of Presi­ the Fourth International from legally entering the Attorney Edward G. Williams immediately after a dent Franklin Roosevelt. United States to attend conferences, give public pretrial deposition in which she indicated that she This disaffiliation means that the SWP is barred speeches, and meet with SWP members. It has was one of the. likely persons to attend the May IEC from making financial contributions to the Interna­ sought to obstruct entry by many other leaders of meeting. She explained that she had been a frater­ tional or casting decisive votes. Both Barnes and the International. nal member of the IEC since 1969 and had attended former SWP national secretary Farrell Dobbs testi­ Now the government is taking advantage of the many previous IEC meetings and world congresses. fied at the current trial that the SWP has continued trial of the SWP lawsuit to interfere once again in in every other way to politically support the Inter­ the discussions of the International. This is the IEC meeting raised at trial national and actively participate in its meetings. latest in the long record of harassment and repri­ The IEC meeting was again brought up by the The SWP has continued to serve in a fraternal sals by the capitalist rulers against the SWP and government during the trial itself. capacity on leadership bodies such as the IEC and the Fourth International. During cross examination, Williams asked United Secretariat. Barnes when he planned to visit Europe next. At the time the Voorhis Act was passed and the "I hope to go to Europe for the next meeting of the SWP disaffiliated, the international center of the Bolivian gov't frees International Executive Committee, which is sche­ Fourth International was functioning out of New duled for May because of very important political York City. It had been moved there in 1939 because Gonzalez Moscoso questions being debated there," Barnes replied. of the outbreak of the war in Europe. SWP leader Hugo Gonzalez Moscoso has been released by "But I don't know if I will be able to because of George Breitman testified during the current trial Bolivian security forces and has arrived in Sweden, obligations connected with the trial." Barnes added that the international center remained in New York, according to information received May 4. that he hoped the IEC meeting would be postponed. and SWP leaders continued to collaborate closely Gonzalez Moscoso, a long-time Bolivian workers with it, until the end of World War II. leader, had been arrested April 14. At that point, Williams submitted into evidence a Arrested along with him were Leon Kolle Cueto, December 4, 1980, letter from the United Secretariat Previous gov't interference first secretary of the Bolivian Communist Party, Bureau to sections and sympathizing organizations For more than forty year-s, the federal govern­ and Alberto Chavez, a leader of the Flour Workers of the Fourth International. The letter pertained to ment has sought to intervene in and disrupt the Union and a delegate to the Departmental Workers the dates and the proposed agenda of the IEC. It SWP's democratic right to meet and collaborate in Federation of Santa Cruz. indicated that resolutions were being prepared on this fashion with its co-thinkers in other countries. It is not known whether Kolle Cueto and Chavez important disputed questions. The letter stated that are still being held. the United Secretariat had "decided to propose the During the witch-hunt of the early 1950s, the following agenda: government used its powers to exacerbate difficul­ Telegrams on their behalf should be sent to the ties inside the Fourth International. In 1953 and Bolivian Embassy, 3014 Massachusetts Avenue "The international situation and the present 1954 the struggle over a series of political and N.W., Washington, D.C.

12 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 By Harry Ring Three thousand students and 250 pro­ pact, financial and emotional, of the NEW YORK-Dr. Morris Starsky, fessors signed petitions in his support. vendetta against him. former professor of philosophy, doesn't But the local FBI decided this was a Starsky was cross-examined by Jus­ match the traditional picture of an good time to jump into the fight and tice Department attorney Joseph Sher, academic figure. That was apparent help get Starsky. who represents the FBI and is appar­ from his April 29 testimony in the In 1970, they sent an anonymous ently deemed an expert on teachers the SWP trial. poison-pen letter to the faculty commit­ FBI gets fired. He had also cross­ Certainly, Starsky has impressive tee. examined SWP member Evelyn Sell, academic qualifications. He received a Despite the smear letter and pressure whom the FBI had gotten fired as a bachelor's degree with honors from the from the regents and legislature, the Headstart teacher in Texas. University of Rochester, a master's committee on tenure voted unamm­ Sher seemed intent on establishing degree from Brandeis, and his Ph.D. ously to keep Starsky on. that Starsky was no mere philosophi­ from the University of Michigan. Despite this, the Phoenix FBI ex­ cal socialist-that he joined protests But Starsky, a. member of the SWP, pressed satisfaction to Washington and pickets, sought publicity for is definitely not an ivory-tower intellec­ that its letter had "greatly tarnished causes, actively opposed the Vietnam tual. While teaching at Arizona State Starsky's standing and reputation in war, was in conflict with the regents University in Phoenix in the 1960s, he the academic community." and legislature-all of which Starsky helped organize the first antiwar The regents then utilized a legal had already stated. teach-in at Arizona State. He led cam­ loophole to terminate Starsky's teach­ Sher then came to the point of these pus free-speech fights. He helped or­ ing contract in 1970-despite the fact questions. He asked Starsky if he was ganize campus support for area union he had tenure, which should have "a very controversial figure." guaranteed his job. struggles and helped establish a chap­ MORRIS STARSKY Starsky replied, "Yes." ter of the American Federation of Starsky took legal action and a The point of the question seemed to Teachers. He served as an elector for federal court ruled he had been be that this gave the FBI the right to Socialist Workers candidates. wrongly dismissed. But it ordered a Starsky went to court, and the univer­ send poison-pen letters. For all these reasons, the FBI lower court to deal with another legal sity granted him a $20,000 settlement. Sher finally came to the climax of teamed up with ultraright Arizona trick. When Starsky left the university With the exception of one part-time his cross-examination. He read to politicians to drive Starsky off the. he accepted a year's sabbatical pay teaching job in Cleveland, that was the Starsky from a book another professor campus. that had just fallen due. end of Starsky's academic career. He had written about his case. In the Under examination by attorney The lower court ruled this meant he told the court that in the period that book, Starsky is quoted as telling his Charles Brennan, Starsky testified had accepted his dismissal. End of followed he applied for more than 200 wife that soon his "mission" in Ariz­ about what they did to him. case. faculty positions-to no avail. The ona would be completed. Right-wingers on the university's Meanwhile, Starsky testified, he ob­ word was out. Had Starsky actually made that board -of regents were unhappy with tained a teaching position at San From 1971 to 1978, he testified, he statement? Sher . demanded. Starsky Starsky being on the university fa­ Diego State College. But the local press obtained whatever work he could­ smiled and conceded it was possible. culty, and members of the state legisla­ started going after him, and his one­ clerical, legal researcher, parking lot Sher drew himself up and solemnly ture publicly denounced him. year contract WC\S not renewed. attendant, shoe store clerk. asked: "What was the nature of your The pressure built to the point in the Starsky then accepted a position as In 1978, he suffered a heart ailment mission?" late 1960s that the university's Faculty head of the Philosophy Department at and is now dependent on a social Starsky broke into laughter and Committee on Academic Freedom and California State College, Dominguez security disability pension. explained it was to complete his Ph.D. Tenure held lengthy public hearings Hills. Nine days before the term was to Under examination by attorney thesis. on whether Starsky should be retained. begin, his contract was cancelled. Brennan, Starsky described the im- Testimony was concluded.

By the most totalitarian means imag­ the handbook used by INS agents. This could become fair game for the INS. . . . INS witness inable. handbook, he advised, is "available" to Meanwhile, as the present probe of Continued from page 6 Bertness has instructed the INS re­ the public. the SWP gets under way, it remains list­ outcome of that case was the basis for re­ gional office in Vermont, which covers (That is, if someone wishes, they can ed in the INS handbook in category consideration. New York, where the SWP is based, to go to an INS office and ask to see the "III." Unlike proscribed category I, cate­ When was the Scythes decision review the case and make an initial rec­ handbook. After signing in, they will be gory III members or supporters· are not handed down? ommendation to him. legally subject to deportation. In 1962. ushered into a reading area and permit­ How will the Burlington INS deter­ ted to peruse the handbook.) But, Bertness explained, those in cat­ What was the nature of the ruling? mine if the SWP should be proscribed? egory III seeking U.S. citizenship can be That membership in the SWP was not It will ask the FBI. Another indication of how baseless investigated to determine their "person­ grounds for deportation! the INS case is, is that it deems it neces­ al attachments to the principles of the It was, as a matter of fact, the outcome It will get a second opinion from the sary to hang the "proscribed" label on Constitution and . . . disposition to the of the Scythes case that led the INS to CIA, and possibly one from the Secret the SWP on the basis of the frame-up good order and happiness of the United remove the SWP from its "proscribed" Service. charge of advocating "totalitarian dicta­ States." · category. In addition, Bertness testified, the torship." (An attempt by attorney Davis to INS will solicit the advice of its in­ The looseness of the charge was point­ have Bertness define "good order and Win with a loser formers. (He said the INS has a list of happiness" was ruled out of order by five INS informers who were or had ed up when Bertness was asked to define Now, on the basis of the very same world communism and responded that Judge Griesa.) case, nearly twenty years later, the INS been in or around the SWP, but the But the INS cops don't limit them­ agency hasn't contacted them in years.) such a determination would be made by proposes to again proscribe the SWP. "each Immigration judge .. . . " selves to assuring that foreign-born When the INS first went after Both attorney Davis and presiding SWP members or supporters aren't do­ But "generally speaking," he added, Scythes, an INS judge did order him de­ Judge Thomas Griesa queried Bertness ing anything to make people unhappy. "it is advocating the teachings or philos­ ported on the basis of his former mem­ on the procedure that would be followed For instance, while the INS does not at ophy, government or international of bership in the SWP. in making the final decision. present label the SWP proscribed, it has The INS judge ruled that the SWP ad­ Marx, Trotsky and Lenin to create a arbitrarily declared the Fourth Interna­ communist dictatorship, a totalitarian vocated the violent overthrow of the gov­ No right to appeal tional a proscribed organization. So has dictatorship." ernment and, also, that it advocated the State Department. The Burlington INS will make an in­ Pressed by Davis to define "totalitar­ the "doctrines of world communism." 'itial determination, Bertness re­ An INS appeals board upheld the ian dictatorship," Bertness opined that Double-edged weapon sponded. He estimated this could take it was "a government which only has judge on the count that the SWP advo­ from six months to a year. This labeling of the Fourth Interna­ one party. in which the difference be­ cated violent overthrow, so it didn't tional is neatly used as a further weapon Then he would consider this initial tween the party and the existing gov­ bother considering the second count of against the SWP. As Judge Griesa noted advocating "world communism." finding, in consultation with other ernment are indistinguishable." ranking INS officials. in looking at the INS handbook, while Scythes took the case to federal court. This, of course, has nothing to do with the SWP is listed in category III, its In 1962, a federal appeals court found He would then make a recommenda­ the policies of the SWP. A declaration of name is followed by "(Fourth Interna­ that the INS had failed to prove that the tion to the commissioner, who would principles adopted by its founding con­ tional)." SWP advocated violent overthrow of the make the actual decision. vention in 1938 declared that within the This despite the fact that, according to government and it ruled that Scythes Would the SWP have the right to be framework of defending the revolution, Bertness, the INS "can find nothing, in could not be deported. Since the INS ap­ heard before being classified as pro­ a workers' state would guarantee the searching for documentation," to estab­ peals board had not ruled on the second scribed, Davis asked. political rights of "opposition groups or lish that the SWP is formally affiliated count-advocating "world commu­ "No." parties." to the Fourth International. nism"-the federal court had no reason Would the SWP have the right to ap­ The SWP's uncompromising record in For years the Communist Party has to address itself to that issue. peal such a decision after it was made? the fight against Stalinist bureaucra­ been victimized by the INS as a "pro­ Now, says the INS, since neither its "No." tism testifies that the statement was no scribed" organization. Major efforts have own appeals board, nor the federal However, Bertness assured, once it's mere rhetoric. been required to defend Communist court, have ruled on where the SWP decided and the INS then moves to de­ While Washington props up such au­ Party members-real and alleged­ stands on advocating "world commu­ port someone on the basis of SWP mem­ thentic totalitarian regimes as the ones from denaturalization and deporta­ nism," this may be the legal basis for bership or support, the party could pro­ in El Salvador, Guatemala and Chile, tion proceedings. Over the years, some proscribing the organization. vide the person legal counsel. Bertness declared on the stand that, in of the frame-up victims have actually Would there even be a public notice his opinion, Cuba was a "totalitarian been forced out of the country. Kangaroo court that the party had been so classified? dictatorship." If the government were to succeed in How will the INS go about determin­ That could mean that thousands of putting the SWP in this category, it ing if Bertness is correct in his assump- . A little book foreign-born people in this country who would be another step toward totalitar­ tion that the SWP advocates totalitar­ No, Bertness explained. Only in the are partisans of the great liberating ian rule in this country. A hard fight ianism? sense that the SWP would be so listed in achievements of the Cuban revolution against it is essential.

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 13 POLITICAL .POLICE ON TRIAL Targets of FBI victimization testify at trial In July 1971, a final decision was But, she testified, others declined to anything" but they insisted "they had made to terminate him. sign because they feared it could mean knowledge I was." Was tagged The explanation offered by the gov­ trouble for them. While one agent questioned Schlos­ ernment was worthy of the Salem This was apparent, she explained, ser, the other poked through his books 'disloyal' witch-hunt of the seventeenth century. from the questions people asked. and periodicals. If a person accused of being a witch Where do the petitions go? Do the po­ They kept claiming the SWP was a By Harry Ring denied it, that was considered conclu­ lice see them? The FBI? "violent organization," Schlosser said, NEW YORK---,. The persistent efforts sive proof of guilt. Who else but a witch She told of one woman who was inter­ "and that because of my association of the government to victimize would deny being a witch? ested in what the campaign was doing with them I was considered violence­ members of the Socialist Workers So it W;:iS with Evenhuis. He had, the but was unwilling to come to the cam­ prone and would have to be watched." Party was illuminated by the testi­ government asserted, made a "false paign headquarters. When he asked for specifics, "for proof mony April 29-30 of Kenneth Even­ statement" on his job application. He Another woman said she would like to of their statement, they would not give huis. A member of the Los Angeles had denied being a member of an help the campaign but would not under­ me any. They just repeated it two or SWP, Evenhuis is a letter carrier. organization advocating violent over­ take anything involving direct contact three times." Under examination by attorney throw of the government. with the organization. In questioning Schlosser about his Charles Brennan, Evenhuis described At the same time, the government She indicated she assumed Grant was job, the agents made clear that they al­ his experiences. noted, he admitted membership in the being followed. ready knew the answers, down to the Evenhuis joined the Young Socialist SWP. Grant told of a man who paid for a name of his supervisor and his exact Alliance in 1964 and the SWP four A Bureau of Personnel Investigation copy of the Militant, but wouldn't take take-home pay. This gave Schlosser rea­ years later. After joining the YSA he report stated: the paper, explaining he was concerned son to believe t_hat substantial question­ worked part time and attended a com­ "In light of that membership and about being seen with it. ing about him had already been con­ mercial aviation school. After four activity [in the SWP], his denial that "I don't want cops or the FBI following ducted at work, and that his job might years of study he obtained licenses the SWP seeks the overthrow of the me, or coming to my house," he said. be in jeopardy. that qualified him to be either a com- United States government by force and Grant received 13,688 votes against As a result, Schlosser dropped all pol­ . mercia! pilot or an airport traffic con­ his statement that he has not assisted the Republican nominee, the only other itical activity for nearly two years. Prior troller. in any such attempts and does not candidate in the race. In three Black to this he had been one of the leaders of Evenhuis then applied to the Federal condone that objective are not worthy · precincts she won more than 40 percent the local movement against the Viet- Aviation Administration for a con­ of belief. of the vote, despite the handicaps of FBI nam war. troller's job. "It is inconceivable that he could be harassment. It wasn't until 1975, when he heard He was interviewed and told he as active as he is . .. without knowl­ about the Political Rights Defense Fund qualified for the post. edge of the history and true purpose of and the suit it was conducting against the organization. Therefore it is con­ government spying that Schlosser re­ cluded that his negative answer to considered his decision. question 15a(2) of his application .. . "I saw a series of articles in the Mil­ was an intentionally false state­ itant about other people who had gone ment.. . . " through the same thing I had. Meanwhile, another SWP postal "I saw there was a way to stop this." worker, Duncan Gordon, fired on the same grounds, had gotten his fight into federal court. The court ruled the post office had not established valid Harassing grounds for the firing and ordered him reinstated. The post office decided to reinstate a teacher Evenhuis, with back pay. A decade later, he is still delivering mail, and the republic has apparently not suf­ fered from his doing so. Meanwhile, Evenhuis testified, peo­ ple knew of what he had experienced. This did not contribute to their sense of security in pursuing the politics of their choice. Mis wife Donna had also been a member of the SWP. But, Evenhuis testified, after he was fired, she was visited at her job by FBI agents. Con­ SHARON GRANT cerned about the well-being of their children, she left the organization. He sees the government as responsible for depriving her of her rights. Visits from Militant/Nelson Blackstock The government had little to offer by KENNETH EVENHUIS w ay of cross examination. Attorney Brennan then entered into snoopers the record the cases of four other civil By Michael Baumann Meanwhile, he had been classified Militant/Michael '"'"'"m'""" for the military draft as "1-Y"­ service employees who were targeted A visit he received from the FBI in MAUDE WILKINSON someone to be taken only in the case of for victimization because of their mem­ 1973 "scared the hell out of me," Mi­ a national emergency. bership in the SWP. These cases, Bren­ . chael Schlosser testified April 23. By Michael Baumann With that classification came a list­ nan told the court, established a clear Schlosser, a Vietnam-era veteran Maude Wilkinson was "shocked, ang­ ing of his various activities in the YSA pattern of such illegal governemnt from Allentown, Pennsylvania, told ry, and stunned" when she learned of an and sWP. activity, activity from which the SWP about the grilling two FBI agents gave FBI plot to get her fired from her teach-· Then came notice that he had been is now seeking injunctive relief. him following a $10 contribution to the ing job in Washington, D.C. rejected for the controller's job. The SWP presidential campaign. Wilkinson, a former member of the FAA told him it had been advised by "They said they wanted to talk to me Young Socialist Alliance, testified April the FBI of his membership in the SWP about my membership in the SWP," he 23 about her reaction when she learned and YSA. The FBI sent a virtually Candidate's said. "I told them I wasn't a member of of an anonymous poison-pen letter sent identical list of his socialist activities. to her employer in 1969. Evenhuis told the court he found it The letter , signed "A Concerned Citi­ highly objectionable that his political problems· zen," purported to be from one of her beliefs and activities were being pried By Harry Ring neighbors, seeking to "protect the D.C. into. And he flatly rejected the govern­ School System from the menace" of a so­ ment assertion that the SWP and YSA Sharon Grant was the Socialist Workers Party 1980 candidate for Con­ cialist teacher. advocated the violent overthrow of the It was actually concocted by the FBI government. gress in the Newport News area of Vir­ ginia. as part of a campaign to harass Wilkin­ But he was not in a position to She testified in the party's lawsuit son because of her views. challenge the FAA finding and to try "From reading these documents," she to compel it to hire him, he explained. April 24. Under direct examination by attorney Randlett Walster, she de­ told the court, "I learned that an agency He had married recently and had his scribed campaign experiences which of the United States government had first child to support. There were mort­ spied on my personal life, tried to use a gage payments on a new home. confirmed the "chilling effect" oft he gov­ ernment's long-standing campaign harassment technique to alienate me He took a job as a letter. carrier. against the party. from my parents, tried to malign· my character, and attempted to get me fired To obtain a Virginia ballot place, the Some three months later, he received from my job and ruin my teaching ca­ party gathered more than 3,000 signa­ a letter from the Civil Service Commis­ reer." tures on nominating petitions. sion repeating the same litany of Wilkinson said afterward that she charges against him and informing Grant testified that most people she was happy to see someone taking on the him he was disqualified from postal approached, at her workplace, or in FBI. employment. shopping malls signed the petitions. "The important thing about this suit," This time, he already had the job Some declined because they didn't sup­ she said, "is that it's helping to protect and was legally entitled to retain it port socialists being on the ballot, she Militant/Diane Jacobs my rights, everybody's rights, not just while he appealed this decision. added. · MICHAEL SCHLOSSER the members of the SWP." , 14 THE MILITANT MAY 15; 1981 Haig on human rights: forget it By Ernest Harsch few politically sensitive areas"; they terrorism, it is likewise seeking to keep­ In two recent speeches, Secretary of should be encouraged to evolve "toward it selective. Conspicuously absent from State Alexander Haig outlined the Rea­ a more democratic form" through the its tallies are terrorist actions carried gan administration's "new direction" in provision of U .S. assistance. out by numerous pro-American regimes: The real meaning of this dual ap­ foreign policy. • The Chilean military junta, which proach has become absolutely clear in As has already become evident in the came to power in 1973 through a U.S.­ the White House's recent policy moves. White House's intervention in El Salva­ backed coup, murdered some 20,000 On the one hand, it has taken action dor, that "new direction" involves workers and political activists in the against a number of regimes that it con­ stepped-up aid to right-wing dictator­ wake of the coup. siders "totalitarian." Credits for wheat ships and the labeling of any struggle • During the last months of the sales to Nicaragua have been cut off, for independence and social justice as shah's tyranny in Iran, an estimated food aid to Mozambique has been "terrorism." 60,000 men, women, and children were stopped, new threats have been leveled In the process, Reagan and Haig have gunned down for demonstrating their against Cuba, and pressures have been been employing an even more perverted opposition to the U.S.-backed butcher. concept of "human rights" than the pre­ put on various European countries to deny economic aid to Grenada. · • Since the beginning of 1980, ac­ vious Carter administration. Haig cording to Catholic Church figures, On the other hand, Washington has spelled this out in a March 31 "off-the­ some 19,000 Salvadorans have been been establishing closer ties with such record" speech that he gave before the killed or "disappeared" by the pro­ brutal "authoritarian" regimes as those Trilateral Commission in Washington. American junta in that country. in South Korea, Argentina, Chile, the In applying this "human rights" poli­ These are only a few examples out of Philippines, and El Salvador. cy, Haig said, "the first imperative is to many. They all point to the actual strengthen the U.S., its allies and Red menace returns "greatest source of international insecu­ friends, the main safeguard against the rity"-the imperialist government in ALEXANDER HAIG spread of totalitarian aggression." In an April 24 speech, Haig also tried Washington. As a result, Haig stressed, "we must to revive a standard U.S. justification be discriminating in our actions" in de­ for its aggressive actions: the specter of U.S. opposition abroad runs deep and cannot be turned a "Soviet danger." nouncing human rights violations. It is Haig's speeches have been aimed not around by wild charges of "internation­ Moscow, Haig charged, "is the great­ necessary, he said, "that we examine only at foreign audiences. They are also al terrorism." est source of international insecurity to­ the credentials and program of the oppo­ part of Washington's ongoing campaign day. Let us be plain about it: Soviet pro­ That is why they are now seeking to sition as well as the government." to try to undercut domestic opposition to motion of violence as the instrument of strengthen the powers of the FBI, CIA the arms buildup and moves to inter­ change constitutes the greatest danger and other secret police agencies. A fine distinction vene militarily in other countries. To justify this approach, Haig tried to to the world." In a report on steps taken to inflate draw a distinction between "totalitar­ The real purpose of such attacks on By continually harping on a fictitious the U.S. government's tally of "terror­ ian" and "authoritarian" regimes. The Moscow is to smear any struggle for so­ "Soviet danger," the U.S. rulers are hop­ ist" incidents, New York Times reporter former, he implied, were all those that cial change as nothing but an instance ing to confuse Americans about what is Charles Mohr commented that the new were hostile to or critical of U.S. policy; of Soviet-backed "terrorism" or "war by really going on in Central America, the figures could "be cited by conservatives they should be opposed. The latter were proxy"-to use Haig's words. Caribbean, Irim, and elsewhere. to justify increased surreptitious sur­ not so bad, he suggested, since they But while the Reagan administration But at the same time, they know that veillance of political dissidents at wielded "absolute authority in only a is attempting to broaden its definition of opposition to U.S. military moves home." Freedom of information: less of that too By Harry Ring been used by individuals, groups, and then attorney general, in 1977 put the The move was also scored by the The Reagan administration has the media to obtain important informa­ "demonstrably harmful" guideline'into American Society of Newspaper. Edi­ taken several steps to gut the Freedom tion on illegal activity by the FBI, effect. tors. In a May 5 statement, the editors charged: of Information Act. CIA, and other police agencies. The present decision to remove that "This action will greatly harm the Attorney General William French The change made by Smith May 4 guideline was sharply criticized by free flow of information .... Secrecy­ Smith has scrapped a guideline to the was to remove a guideline prohibiting Jack Landau, director of the Reporters' especially government secrecy-is in­ act. Meanwhile, the Justice Depart­ government agencies from withhold­ Committee for Freedom of the Press. imical to a free nation." ment is readying legislative proposals ing information unless they can estab­ He declared May 3 that the change Despite the many difficulties put in to Congress for more far-reaching "re­ lish that its release would be "demon­ would "severely restrict the public's the way of those seeking information form" of the act. On " Meet the Press" strably harmful" to the government. right to know government informa­ under the act, material has come to April 26, FBI director William Webster The law already contains nine ex­ tion." light confirming widespread illegal asserted the act includes a lot of "un­ emption loopholes under which re­ The intent, Landau charged, was to government activity. It is this the reasoned requirements." quests for information may be denied. send a "clear message" to agencies: Justice Department is now trying to Enacted in 1966, the statute permits These were so widely used by agen­ "When in doubt, keep it secret." citizens to obtain documents and infor­ cies as pretexts for denying informa­ shut off. mation from government agencies. tion that it ,evoked many lawsuits. Criticism . was also made by the Its response is typical of those who Particularly since Watergate, it has To ease that problem, Griffin Bell, American Civil Liberties Union. have something to hide. Anti nuke group smeared at Senate hearing By Margaret Jayko nuclear organization Mobilization for "Disinformation," according to Den­ through their teeth for the rest of the WASHINGTON, D.C.-On April24, I . Survival as being a tool of Soviet "disin­ ton, is used particularly to "attack the day. waited in line with about forty other formation." integrity and competence of the West­ Colby, the first witness, explained people to get into the hearings of the ern intelligence services, including the that "public support is an essential ele­ De Borchgrave wrote a book entitled newly formed Senate Subcommittee on CIA." ment of the struggle against terrorism." The Spike, which is a novel about "So­ Security and Terrorism. The message couldn't have been clea­ He said that it was necessary to use viet disinformation." Denton suggested According to opening remarks by Sen. rer-if you're against nuclear power, or "proper and legal tactics" when fighting that one of the fictional characters who Jeremiah Denton (R-Ala.), the hearings U .S. aid to the junta in El Salvador, or terrorists so that you don't create sym­ helped the Russians was really Wilfred were designed to assess the "terrorist don't like the repulsive crimes that are pathy for them. Burchett "by another name." Burchett threat to our freedom. and national se­ routine for the CIA and FBI, or just have Then he laid out his view of "proper is a radical journalist who spent many curity" which is being organized by the a different point of view-watch out. and legal." years in Southeast Asia. You're fair game for Denton and his boys He explained that the CIA should be "Soviets." William Colby, former director of the But it rapidly became clear that the -if they have their way. free of congressional scrutiny and ex­ CIA, pointed to the CIA Phoenix pro­ real target of these hearings is the empt from the Freedom of Information gram as an example of successful "anti­ But this isn't the 1950s. We've been American people. Act. And the FBI should be able to in- terrorist" activity. Begun in 1968, it or­ through Watergate, Vietnam, the so­ They want to convince us that there vestigate whomever they want. , ganized the murder of more than 20,000 called energy crisis, and the depression really is a threat to our "freedom" from He ended by saying he was a firm sup­ Vietnamese, who were targeted as com­ and cutbacks. Working people are suspi­ the Soviet Union and Cuba. porter of the recently enacted FBI and munists. He cited this example of go­ cious of the government. And angry. And that there are people in this CIA "guidelines." vernment terrorism as the most effec­ They are not going to be easily cowed in­ country who are agents of "internation­ Which tells you how much those tive U.S. program of the Vietnam war. to submission. al terrorism." guidelines are worth. Therefore, we must pull out all the Another big part of the intimidation But the government is trying. He claimed that the CIA no longer stops and let the FBI and CIA do their campaign was the repeated attacks on The hype began even before you got aids its right-wing Cuban terrorist bud­ jobs. the press by Denton and the witnesses, into the hearing room. You had to go dies that operate out of Florida. Most importantly, they want to intim­ accusing the media of being used by the through an airport-style metal detector, He also claimed that the CIA has nev­ idate people. Soviet Union during the war in Viet­ and then the guards searched your bags. er assassinated a foreign leader. That was the purpose of witness Ar­ nam and implying that they were heavi­ The witnesses swore to tell "the whole Though, he chuckled, "it was not for naud de Borchgrave's smear of the anti- ly infiltrated with Soviet agents. truth." That didn't stop them from lying lack of trying in the case of Mr. Castro."

MAY 15,1981 THE MILITANT 15 By William Gottlieb There were a number of workers workers out of jobs. They will repeal all claiming the proposed rail cuts wo1 and Stu Singer wearing green ribbons in solidarity employee protection, eliminate cost-of­ weaken American military capaci In an unprecedented display of unity with the Black community in Atlanta. living increases for railroad retirement He said railroads are necessary in action, all the rail unions in the An older man from Altoona, Penn­ benefits." achieve energy "independence." . United States called out their members sylvania, wore a hand-lettered sign: The railroad union leader warned this failed to generate much respor for demonstrations April 29. "Money for railroads, not El Salva­ workers not to believe company propa­ from the crowd. In Washington, D.C., 20-25,000 rail dor." ganda that they would be given other Kirkla~;-;l was loudly cheered, hl workers marched. Several thousand The rally was addressed by Fred jobs. ever, wbtn he said, " It is not the lal movement, but too many politicia who have lost touch with the aspi tions of working people." When UTU President Fred Hare Railworkers march on D. C. introduced Kirkland, he said, "La Kirkland just mentioned to me that we can get out a crowd like this tod< participated in protests in other cities. Kroll, head of the Railway Labor Exec­ "Conrail propaganda says you will what can we do on Labor Day?" Tl East coast rail service was sharply utives Association and Brotherhood of be hired by other railroads if you lose apparently referred to the idea rais curtailed by the midweek protest, al­ Railway and Airline Clerks; Fred Har­ your jobs. It's not true. We do not want several months ago about a natioP though no strike was called. The aim din, president of the United Transpor­ · to be in the lines of the .unemployed. demonstration by the labor moveme of the demonstration was to oppose tation Union; and AFL-CIO President We want the right to have a job." on Labor Day. But nothing more w Reagan's proposed budget cuts against Lane Kirkland. "We will win this battle," Kroll de­ said about it. the railroads. Kroll pointed to the fighting tradi­ clared, "through legislation or on the The cuts would end Amtrak pas­ tion of American rail workers. Refer­ picket line, like our brave brothers and After the rally, many rail worke senger service outside the northeast ring to the historic strike of 1877, Kroll sisters the coal miners." tried to lobby Congress. They got corridor, dismember the Conrail said, "In 1877 rail workers engaged in Kroll's speech was frequently cool response, however. freight system, and jeopardize the en­ an enormous strike, they were battered drowned out by loud applause, but also The very day of the rally the Sena tire railroad retirement fund. More down and killed, but it inspired other by calls of "strike, strike, strike." Any Commerce Committee voted to appro' than 70,000 rail workers could lose unions. The rail workers fought for mention of Reagan's transportation Reagan's Amtrak cutbacks. Th their jobs if Reagan's cuts go through. and won the eight-hour day. They led secretary Drew Lewis or budget-cutter would make the United States the on The Washington demonstration, on the fight to outlaw company unions." David Stockman brought boos and major industrial nation without a n a warm, sunny spring day, saw sign­ Kroll said that today's rail workers jeers. tiona! passenger rail system. The pri1 carrying union members march from "will fight just as long and just as Lane Kirkland spoke last. He tried to would include the loss of tens of tho· near Union Station to a rally at the hard to preserve our rights and save outflank Reagan from the right by sands of railroad jobs. steps of the U.S. Capitol Building. our jobs ... Many workers wore buttons and "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with carried signs reading Solidarnosc, the the mine workers and other workers name of Poland's independent union. and minorities striving to be part of There was a real sense among many of the American dream," he added. the rail workers that they were follow­ "The Reagan proposals will destroy ing the example of the militant Polish Conrail and Amtrak," Kroll pointed workers. out. "They will put 40,000 to 70,000 rail Rail bosses, union heads try to force pay and benefit givebacks By Stu Singer men's Union and the Brotherhood of On May 5, Fred Kroll, chairman of Locomotive Engineers. the Railway Labor Executives Asso- According to the New York Daily ciation, announced that officials of N ews, "The agreement-which is twelve of its fourteen unions had viewed as a message that the unions agreed to give up $200 million a are willing to give up large meas- year in wage and benefit hikes ures of protection in order to pre- union members would receive under serve the nation's railroads . . ." present contracts. · ~ay allow New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to take At a news conference with Kroll, over local Conrail commuter lines. Conrail Chairman L. Stanley Crane The MT A wants to put those Conrail said the union heads also agreed to workers under New York State's work rule changes. Crane said Con- Taylor Law, which prohibits strikes rail management would defer $28 to by public employees. $29 million a year in their salary in- The givebacks still have to be sold creases. to the two other unions and to the On May 4 Crane had announced rail union members. that Conrail had its smallest quar­ In addition, the plan has to be ac­ terly deficit in history. He attribut­ cepted by the Reagan administra­ ed this to laying off 6,058 workers in tion, which still threatens to end the last. year. Crane gave no esti­ funding of Conrail and Amtrak. mate how many more of Conrail's The rail unions are currently ne­ workers would lose their jobs under gotiating new contracts with all the the new work rule changes. railroads. The proposed concessions Two unions have so far refused to to Conrail will have an impact on approve the givebacks: the Signal- those negotiations.

Thousands of rail workers traveled to cut our jobs." Did he think nationalization was a About 150 demonstrators came from to Washington by bus. "Well, good luck. Maybe we'll see you radical idea? the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. At a big rest area in Maryland two there." "Radical? No. It's a smart idea." Many were from around Albany, New buses from a Conrail shop which were "Yeah. Come over to our march if York. They had signs printed up read­ following each other pulled in for a you get tired of talking to the politi­ Another engineer was standing ing, "Help the D & H succeed." half hour stop. A dozen other buses cians." nearby. He overheard the discussion. When a Militant reporter asked one were already there. The people milling After the rail workers' bus pulled out, "I never thought· about nationalizing to explain what the situation is with around the other buses were all wear­ one rider asked another who were the the railroads. But if it benefits the the D & H, he was immediately sur­ ing buttons with the initials "E.O.A." people on the other buses? country, we might as well." rounded by a dozen workers. "Get it right. No one ever explains what's happening. Get the facts." Everyone c r them contributed to the discussion. 'This·is a political demonstration' "We formed a coalition of seventeen unions. It's the first time we ever "You going to the demonstration?" "They're going to Washington to Actually, an informal poll of the negotiated together. "Yes, in Washington." protest welfare cuts. We're going to demonstrators came up with no con­ "We have to be like a fist-not sepa­ "Well, what does that button mean?'' Washington so we won't end up on sensus on what to do about the rail­ rate unions." "Economic Opportunity Act. We're welfare." roads, except for near unanimous oppo­ What's the problem with the D & H going to talk to the congressmen sition to Reagan 's cuts. now? against cutting the EOA community * * * But if there was no agreement on "It's mismanagement. That's 80 per­ services." At the demonstration, a young guy whether the railroads should be na­ cent of the problem. In 1966 it was "What does that have to do with the wearing bib overalls and a BLE sticker tionalized or run for a profit, there was . absorbed by a conglomerate. They've railroads?" (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin­ widespread agreement on what rail raped it. The profits are taken out, not "Railroads? What do you mean?'' eers) was asked what he thought of workers should do to save their jobs: put back into track or cars. "Aren't you going to the demonstra­ nationalizing the railroads. "Strike. Strike. Shut 'em down. We tion about the railroads?" should shut down every railroad in the "You come up to the yard in Mecha­ "Didn't know there was one. We're . country." nicsville, north of Albany. Sneak in "The workers should run it. Let the your camera. You won't believe how going because they want to cut the " If we strike now, everybody will get guys run it. If they sell Conrail they'll run down it is. anti-poverty funds. It's not a demon­ just have the same management peo­ an idea of what it will be like when stration, really." ple running it into the ground. Same they cut back the railroads the way "The federal government should "We're from Conrail. They're trying clowns, different circus." they want to." force a clean-up of the railroads."

16 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Jy Stu Singer erage $2,500 a year per person. rail labor. They are talking about how "The solidarity demonstrated here to­ After the April 29 rail demonstration, "What's happening on Conrail is part they can help each other in case there's day is a big step toward that labor party, tbout 150 workers went to a nearby ho­ of a huge economic crisis. When a strike." which is the road to the future." e! to participate in a meeting orga11ized Chrysler contracts were torn up, Ford Another speaker was from the Broth­ ·Y the Socialist Workers Party to dis­ and General Motors turned around and Response to miners erhood of Railway Carmen. uss the protest and the ge:neral situa- wanted the same thing. When John Hawkins took the mike "I don't care if you're a miner or a rail­ ion facing rail workers. · "If they can pull this off on us, you can and introduced himself as a member of road worker, or if you work in aviation • :r · or for the federal government. We're go­ The crowd at the SWP m~eting was imagine what will happen with contract United Mine Workers Local 6132, the ing to all have to stick together. I don't care if you're in the Socialist Workers Party, if you represent your own local, 'Two parties not worth a penny' or if you represent yourself. If we don't all stand together, we're all going to stand alone." Loud cheers and applause and shouts. ·epresentative of the rail workers and negotiations for all rail workers-what room erupted in cheers. It expressed the >thers who had participated in the large the management of profitable railroads, feeling one rail worker described as "re­ 'Pull together' lemonstration. For a majority of those spect for the people who are slugging it like the Burlington Northern, will de­ Then an older man, a brakeman on Jresent, it was the first meeting organ­ mand. out in the front-line trenches." Another the Chessie from Newport News, spoke: zed by the SWP they had ever attended. rail worker in the crowd jumped up to "I think it's time we nationalized the "I've been on the railroad for forty years. It began with short talks by SWP shake Hawkins's hand. railroads," Dunn concluded. This We're all going to have to pull together. nembers Tory Dunn and Steve W atten­ brought loud cheers. "As you all know, we've been on strike I don't want to talk to Reagan or Carter. naker. "We have so-called friends of labor for over thirty days," Hawkins said. "I I want to talk to you all. I've seen some Dunn, a Conrail engineer, referred to was mighty proud to see 20-25,000 rail­ who are not our friends at all. This is a hard times in my life. And I'm saying road workers marching together in the >ther rail shutdowns, like the Milwau­ political problem and we need a political one thing: let us all pull together." ·•ee Road and the Rock Island. "They fig­ answer. We need a labor party to repre­ street telling Congress what they could Another. brakeman from Newport .lred do the Rock Island was' w0rth more sent us in Congress." with those budget cuts. News, Joe Harris, spoke: "I'm from Lo­ iead than alive. That's what they're do­ "Mine workers throughout the coun­ cal 21 ofUTU. About fifteen of us made. ing to Conrail now. Socialist suit try are going to watch this demonstra­ the journey up here. You've heard tion on TV and be inspired by it. You're "They're talking about getting rid of "I'm asking your solidarity for the speeches. You've seen people going to W-70,000 jobs. For the people who are most important civil liberties case to af­ opening up another front against the talk to their representatives to express eft, there would be a $200 million pay fect the labor movement for a long same people who are trying to stick it to their feelings. But being here today, I ~ut each year for five years. It would av- time," Steve W attenmaker told the both of us." see the young people who are interested A rail worker shouted out, "How do crowd. "Today's rally has been a great in their future. It gives me a lot of hope example of solidarity and we need to they move that coal?" that the world is going to be in pretty Hawkins responded, "Some of it continue it." good hands." Wattenmaker works in Conrail's Eli­ moves by truck and some of it moves by zabethport, New Jersey, diesel shop. He rail, and I've been told by some railroad Tom Moriarty from Morgantown, is a pipefitter and member of Sheet Met­ workers that if we have picket lines up, West Virginia, United Mine Workers al Workers Union Local 396. you won't move that coal. I hope you ho­ Local 1949 spoke. Describing the socialist suit, he point­ nor that. "One of the guys I was talking to -?ut­ ed out, "The government claims they "Sometimes it's hard to tell who we're side today said that, when Reagan pulls have the right to spy on us socialists be­ negotiating against: the Bituminous back the curtain in his office and looks cause they don't like our ideas. That Coal Operators Association or Reagan. out the window, it's going to look more would justify government disruption of It looks like both. It's a shame that and more like Poland." There were the rail unions, since our unions don't we've been out for thirty days and the cheers. agree with the government, as was companies refuse to negotiate. shown today." The member of the carmen's union "What we're looking for, in addition to spoke again later in the discussion. He Wattenmaker invited rail .workers to our own strength on the picket lines, is attend the trial in New York City to works for Fruit Growers Express in solidarity from other unions. That can northern Virginia near Washington. show solidarity with the socialists and be displayed in all kinds of ways. Get all to learn from this example of how the of labor mobilized behind the mine "I want to tell you one thing," he said. government works. "See how closely workers' struggle. "You take one cent. It's only worth this suit is tied to the fight our unions about a quarter of one cent now. If you · "By sending out that first contract, are involved in right now," he said. take the Democrats as one side and Re­ the operators were striking a blow The microphone was open for anyone publicans as the other, you can see against our union. We have to get out to speak from the floor. Tom Pontilillo, plainly that what we need is not either the truth that coal miners aren't greedy chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive one. Engineers Local 501 in New York, took bastards, but are fighting to defend the floor. their union. "We need a representation of labor. "We came-to Washington on March 9 Neither one of the Democrats and Re­ "We are not going to ask Congress. publicans is worth one cent." The penny We are going to tell Congress what to for the black lung benefits protest. We he was holding in his hand went flying, were here in about half the strength do," he said. This met with loud ap­ to shouts and cheers from the crowd. plause. that you all were today. I think May 4 the textile workers are going to be A Black woman rail worker spoke. Joe Swanson from United Transporta­ marching here. tion Union Local 305 in Lincoln, Ne­ "We've decided our children are going to braska, spoke. He reported on how his "Somebody mentioned before that we have enough to eat. They will go to col­ lege. If Reagan does not want them to, local and others from the area partici­ need to put in the White House and Con­ pated in the March 28 demonstration in gress and every single state house in that's his tough luck." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, against nu­ this country people who would care With that, the meeting ended, but clear power. "There were 15,000 people about maintaining the rail system, who people stayed around drinking beer and in Harrisburg and 25,000 here today. It would care about Black children being talking for several hours more. A few shows me that when we're together murdered in Atlanta. That's why we discouraged people came in later who we're going to move. need a labor party representing us had been lobbying Congress. Their re­ "In Lincoln we have.a coalition of all working people. sults did not amount to much.

More than 600 copies of the Militant rail workers in the shops and yards unions and union leaders who were and works at the Amtrak headquarters were sold at the demonstration and around Altoona. Now there are 2,300 backing the rally. It included Miners in Washington, a few blocks away. about $100 of socialist books and pam­ and most of that will be lost if Rea­ union president Sam Church and the "Almost everybody in the office phlets. The literature sales were partic­ gan's cuts g through. There aren't heads of all the rail unions. 0 came out for this. We arranged to keep ularly good considering that the. Wash­ many other jobs in the area. just enough people there to keep it ington cops forced the SWP to take "We brought seventeen buses from One remark that got a lot of laughs going." down its literature table soon after it Altoona," one of them said. Altoona is was when United Transportation Un­ was put up. right in the middle of Pennsylvania. "I · ion President Fred Hardin introduced She introduced the chairman of her work in the office. My husband's an AFL-CIO head Lane Kirkland. local, Vince Benson. The young Black The Young Socialist Alliance distrib­ engineer. Railroads. That's all Altoona The only time Lane Kirkland ever man explained the tremendous pres­ uted 3-4,000 copies of their new folded is. PPG and the other factories are all sure from the ranks of the union on leaflet in support of the coal miners. worked for a living was a year or two laying off." at the beginning of World War II when the top leadership which led to calling A couple of petitioners got the signa­ What's the problem with Conrail? he was an officer on a commercial this demonstration. "It's remarkable to tures of 160 rail workers in support of "There's a lot of waste in manage­ ship. He rose to his position of promi­ have BRAC and UTU working to­ the socialist unionists fired by Lock­ ment. In my office, there's one supervi­ nence as the main flunkey for George gether like this. It's a new develop­ heed Aircraft in Marietta, Georgia. sor for every seven workers. In fact, Meany. ment." Marcia Gallo, one of the petitioners, there are these two computer operators. Hardin said: "Lane Kirkland was a What does he think about the idea of said that when she explained what And they have a supervisor just over a labor party? happened at Lockheed, many rail them. They know what to do, they working man. He still is a working workers would tell her stories of work­ don't need a supervisor at all." man. " "I've discussed this idea with people ers they knew who were unjustly fired An older worker is standing nearby. for a number of years. I never believed and how cops of all kinds have messed He sees the sign and hears us talking * * * you'd get a labor party until you had around with rail workers and their about Altoona: this kind of pressure from the rank and unions for years. "Altoona. The great horseshoe curve. Toward the end of the demonstra­ file. But this demonstration is a sign I've been through there many times. tion, a Black woman standing next to the pressure is there and it's starting to * * * We'll lose all that." a Militant reporter said this was her have an effect. second demonstration in Washington. "This is a political demonstration. Two women, both member of BRAC, * "The first time was two years ago It's not just for wages or working carried a banner: "Ghost town of the * * when we had that march for the Equal conditions. This IS a protest against East, Altoona, Pa. Thanks Ron." Fred Kroll chaired and gave the Rights Amendment." Reaganomics." They estimated there used to be 6,000 main talk. He read a list of other She is a member of BRAC Local 1906 -Stu Singer

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 17 ~P-Qrts from N.Y., Pittsburgh Rail action romotes political discussions / . . t<\ e- E F

Militant photos Recent labor actions against proposed budget cuts include, from left, April 29 march by rail workers and March 9 miners' demonstration. Right, UMWA Local 2258 Secre- tary-treasurer Carl Petro, a speaker at Pittsburgh Militant Labor Forum. The historic rail labor demon­ said, "this is breaking the fund. It is unions say we must give up everything "These proposals differ only to the stration in Washington April 29 more profitable for them to appeal the we can to keep Conrail alive. I say we extent that some groups advoc&te leav­ reflected tremendous pressure claims than to pay them right off. And are not going to give up a thing. What ing us with half a crumb, while the so­ from the ranks to respond to the to top it off, they want to further . got the Penn Central in trouble was called moderates would treat us to attacks labor is facing. There is a restrict the eligibility requirements. they didn't put their money into the three-quarters of a crumb," Pontilillo deep, thoughtful discussion going "That is why we marched on Wash­ railroad operation. We didn't do it." said. on among union members and ington, D.C., March 9. The govern­ Arnold explained the reduced crew working people in general about ment's strong-arm tactics and Rea­ agreements signed by the UTU in 1978 What cuts mean what is happening and what gan's cutbacks threaten unionism to help make Conrail profitable. Con­ "We all know too well what these should be done about it. itself. The only way we can make our rail management saw the UTU's work proposals would mean to us: over In the week preceding the dem­ point known is to show up in mass." rule concessions as a green light for 70,000 workers thrown out on the onstration, there were two partic­ Petro continued: "Reagan wants to the wholesale elimination of crew street; the destruction of the railroad ularly interesting meetings where make cuts that are unbelievable. If members on any pretext. retirement system; and a steady these- discussions emerged. They they take away our black ·lung bene­ stream of personal bankruptcies, fore­ were at forums sponsored by the fits, we'll lose school lunch programs, Fighting back closed mortgages and broken families 'Militant' in New York City and in special education, food stamps. The In 1979, the Conway, Pennsylvania, for all rail workers. Pittsburgh. unions fought long and hard to make UTU local called a series of protest "But the only question which has yet Below are reports on some of the these programs available. If we don't strikes. In the face of injunctions and to be answered is why? Why are these talks and discussion at those two save them now we'll never see them personal fines in the millions of dol­ the only solutions being discussed? forums. again." lars, the Conway workers stood firm. "The question has been avoided," he The strike . spread over the Conrail continued, "because the answer lies in . . . and bankruptcy system into four states. The company the exploitation of all the resources of Miners and Jack Arnold spoke next. He ex­ backed down and everybody was rein­ all the people, including transporta­ plained the history of Conrail. When stated with no penalties. tion, for private profit. It is avoided rail workers he was hired on the Pennsylvania "Now they are deathly afraid of us," because this exploitation is the center railroad in 1968, the railroad was Arnold concluded. "That's what the pin of the American capitalist eco­ exchange profitable. Then along came the New union is all about. Everybody is stick­ nomic system and has been for two York Central on the brink of bank­ ing together and not taking that bull­ hundred years. ruptcy. The merger of these two rail­ shit. The coal miners are standing "The United States is the only major experiences roads formed the Penn Central. firm, and if there is anything we can industrial nation in the world without By Doug Hord Money was drained out of the Pi:lnn do to help, we'll do it." a nationalized rail transportation sys­ PITTSBURGH-A number of min­ Central into real estate. A couple of Ginny Hildebrand, a Pennsylvania tem. What do Washington and Wall ers and rail workers met here at the years after the merger, the Penn Cen­ miner, chaired the forum. Earlier in Street know thaf the rest of the world Militant Labor Forum on April 24 to tral was bankrupt and in ruins. From the week, she visited Arnold's local doesn't know? Well, if they knew any­ discuss the fight against Reagan's the Penn Central, the Erie, and several meeting to report back to her miners thing about railroading we wouldn't be budget cuts. smaller bankrupt railroads Conrail local on preparations for the rail work­ where we are now." Carl Petro, secretary-treasurer of was formed. ers' April 29 march on Washington. Mismanagement crippled Conrail Local 2258 of the United Mine Work­ Over the next five years, the govern­ "We're out on strike and, although and Amtrak, Pontilillo explained. ers, and Jack Arnold of United Trans­ ment poured over $3 billion into fixing we are a strong union, we· need allies," "And they wan t us to pay for this portation Union Local 1418 spoke. Conrail up to where it is now. Hildebrand said. "What the rail unions mismanagement? No way!" "Now," Arnold said, "Mr. Reagan is Petro said, "The government studies are doing to fight the Conrail cutbacks saying no more dollars for Conrail. We is essentially to open up a second front Out for jugular Reagan always refers to show that are going to break it up and sell it back many recipients of black lung benefits against the Reagan administration, "The powers who run this country' to the same crew that made it go coal operators, and rail ·barons." don't have black lung. And I don't bankrupt in the first place. A real good and were responsible for the election of doubt this. My mother gets $286 a idea." the present government are out for month and she never set foot in a coal Reagan's plan would involve aban­ labor's jugular vein. Their even tual mine. But my father did. He died of doning half the railroad's 17,000 miles BLE leader: aim is to outlaw all strikes and impose black lung. of track and laying off up to 55,000 binding arbitration by a 'government "It cost my mother a husband and workers. neutral' on all la bor. . This must never me a father to get some of those "They put $3 billion into Conrail and 'Get labor party come to pass." benefits. She's entitled to some of that Reagan wants to sell it for $900 mil­ To answer this challenge, Pontilillo money. If they want to talk about lion," Arnold continued. "You talk off the ground' stated, it is incumbent upon labor to cutting the widows off, they are going about waste. By Steve Wattenmaker unite in a massive and permanent to have a fight on their hands." "Now that Conrail is about to turn a NEW YORK-Conrail and Amtrak show of political power. profit, the government is going to turn workers roundly condemned Reagan's "It's time to get the much-talked­ Profits in black lung . . . it back to the Penn Central or Chessie proposed budget cuts at a Militant about labor party off the ground. We Petro quoted at length from Coal or whoever. They'll . run it into the Labor Forum here April 27. have the talent, the answers, and the Age, the industry trade magazine. It ground again and come back looking The public meeting, "Can We Save numbers to get the American workers spelled out how the coal companies for another billion-dollar handout," he Conrail and Amtrak- Rail .Workers' where they should be. This is the routinely appeal 40 percent of the predicted. Speakout," attracted railroaders from perfect time to demonstrate it. claims awarded for black lung. Conrail management has its own New York and New Jersey. "Let the example of our Polish broth­ To continue paying the claims while plan for making the railroad profita­ Tom Pontilillo, chairman of Brother­ ers and sisters remain ever-fresh in our the appeals are settled, the fund must ble. Under this plan, 12,000 jobs would hood of Locomotive Engineers Local minds," Pontilillo said in closing. borrow at current interest rates. But be lost and a 10 percent wage cut 501, was one of those speaking at the "That through solidarity we can win, when the companies · lose the appe~l imposed. meeting. we must win, we will win." ~ they only have to reimburse the fund Arnold said, "Reagan has his plan, He denounced the whole range of There was more than an hour of free­ • at a 6 percent rate. Conrail came up with its plan. They're government proposals to deal . with wheeling discussion by rail workers at "In the industry's own words," Petro all no damn good. Conrail and the Conrail and Amtrak. the meeting.

18 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Unions back UMWA strike By Stu Singer In the first large solidarity demon­ stration since the coal miners' strike be­ gan March 27 . 2,500 rallied at Point State Park in Pittsburgh April 30. The miners came mostly from West Virgi­ nia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Speakers included United Steel­ workers Vice-president Joseph Odorcich and District 15 Director Paul Lewis; Amalgamated Clothing and Textile April 30 demonstration in Pittsburgh Workers Vice-president Henry Dropkin; AFL-CIO International Representative Alan Kissler; Jesse Young, representing · supported. But all three were among the dues at all if things are so good?" coal industry, 2,000 UMWA anthracite the International Association of Machi­ speakers in a demonstration of unity A few days before the Pittsburgh ral­ miners in eastern Pennsylvania rejected nists and Aerospace Workers; and Ma­ against the operators. ly, Emery Mining Corporation, based in a proposed contract and went on strike rio Rosso, representing the maritime Church, speaking before a large group Utah, the largest underground coal pro­ May 1. unions. of miners for the first time since the con­ ducer in the West, announced ·its with­ Violence against union pickets by They all brought essentially the same tract was voted down, was booed and drawal from the BCOA and also asked company gunmen and state police in message. As the lAM representative put heckled a few times. But his acknowl­ the UMWA for separate negotiations. Virginia and Kentucky have continued. it, "The UMW are the shock troops of edgment to the miners, "You made your As the Militant goes to press, there In Virginia, where more than 200 state the labor movement. If the United Mine choice. I'll stick by it," seemed to be ap­ are reports that negotiations are sup­ police were sent into the coalfields to Workers go down, the rest of the labor preciated. posed to reopen May 7 between the UM­ keep nonunion coal moving, the cops are movement goes down also. We are be­ An independent coal operator, Jack W A and the BCOA. reported to be wearing T-shirts reading, hind you all the way." Henry, also spoke at the rally. Henry As we reported last week, there are "The Dalton Gang Rides Again." Virgi­ The demonstration was initiated by owns a mine in southern West Virginia, two cases coming before the courts nia Gov. John Dalton is notorious for us­ UMW A District 17 in Charleston, West where 150 UMWA miners work. He of­ where the royalty issue in the contract ing the state cops against strikers. Virginia. They originally called for a fered to negotiate with the UMWA se­ is challenged by the operators as being In Kentucky, the state police are us­ march on the headquarters of Consoli­ parately from the BCOA and offered to in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust ing airplanes to patrol coal areas. dation Coal in Pittsburgh. B.R. Brown, agree to the union's demands on some of Act. The Supreme Court announced In St. Louis, 250 miners from the president of Consol, wl1ich is owned by the key issues that led to the rejection of May 4 that it would rule soon on one of southern Illinois coalfields demonstrat­ Conoco Oil, is the chief negotiator for the first contract. these cases involving a suit by Kaiser ed outside a coal terminal May 4. The the Bituminous Coal Operators Associa­ These included getting rid of the for­ Steel against the UMWA. Kaiser, a terminal transfers coal from rail cars to tion. ty-five-day probation period and contin­ West Coast steel producer, is suing to Mississippi River barges. The rally was directed against the oil uing to pay a royalty to the union pen­ avoid paying the royalty on coal bought companies, which, along with the steel sion fund for any nonunion coal pro­ from Mid-Continent Resources. Mid­ Workers on the barges informed the companies, are the biggest coal produc­ cessed at a union mine. Continent is the operator of the Dutch miners that nonunion coal was secretly ers. Many miners carried signs de­ While there was applause that a coal Creek No. 1 mine in Redstone, Colorado, being sent to Tennessee Valley Authori­ nouncing big oil and B.R. Brown. operator agreed with some of the union's where an explosion killed fifteen miners ty power plants, which normally use UMW A District 5 (Pittsburgh area) contract demands, Henry received a in mid-April. union coal. President Donald Redman chaired the mixed reception. A Supreme Court ruling either way The terminal operator got a tempo­ rally. Redman, along with District 17 Wheri Henry described how great re­ could have an impact on the negotia­ rary injunction against the UMWA im­ Vice-president Cecil Roberts, had cam­ lations with "his" miners supposedly tions. mediately after the union show of force. paigned against the proposed contract, are, one miner in the crowd shouted out, In addition to the United Mine The injunction limits union pickets to which union President Sam Church had "Well, how come they're paying union Workers' strike against the bituminous four. Steelworkers reform candidates unite By Jon Hillson Balanoff said the joint effort of the But this arrangement has resulted in ations that our jobs are more important CHICAGO-Candidates for directors . five would "continue beyond the upcom­ massive layoffs, shutdowns, contracting than their goddamn greed," Ron W eisen of United Steelworkers districts repre­ ing election" until enough "progressive out of union jobs, and short workweeks told the media. When the union faces senting one-third of the union's 1.2 mil­ unionists are elected to office to properly that slash the wages of USW A negotiations for its next contract, he lion members announced a "united ef­ serve the membership. This movement members. said, the steel giants "are going to take fort to return our union to its member­ will continue no matter how we do in the Balanoff likened today's bosses to the us on, and we'd better be ready. They're ship" at a news conference here April election, because it is shared principles corporate labor haters who tried to block taking on the coal miners today." 27. that draw us together." "the organizing efforts of the 1930s. USWA District 31 Director James Bal­ Balanoff delivered a joint statement Against the attack, the international But the international has been "in anoff, who hosted the news conference, from the five, blasting the "buddy-bud­ has stood by helplessly. It has been so bed with the corporations so long it is head of the union's largest district, dy relationship our union has estab­ long since the international has fought should file for maternity leave," Weisen with 110,000 members in the-Chicago­ lished with the employers" and a dues back that it no longer knows how. But said. Gary area. He was joined by Dave Pat­ structure that fails to "leave enough mo­ our members remember." Steelworkers need to be wary of the terson, president of Local 6500, repre­ ney in most local treasuries to fight the Steelworkers have to reject the notion import scare, thirty-year-old Dave Pat­ senting more than 10,000 nickel miners companies' onslaught of contract viola­ that what is "good for management is terson told reporters. at In co in Sudbury, Ontario, USWA Dis­ tions." good for labor," Marvin Weinstock said. Canadian bosses attack U.S. imports, trict 6; Joe Samargia, president of Local The McBride regime and its predeces­ "It has never been that way." The U.S. employers attack Canadian im­ 1938, the 4,000-member iron ore min­ sors, Balanoff said, claimed that the union's position should be, he said, ports, and, he asked, who suffers? ers' local on the Mesabi Iron Range in "cozy relationship between the interna­ "what is good for labor is good for the "Steelworkers, in the United States and northern Minnesota; USW A staff repre­ tional and management promised us job country." Canada," Patterson answered. sentative Marvin Weinstock from security." Steelworkers have to "tell the corpor- Steelworker solidarity goes beyond Youngstown, Ohio, running for director the Canada-U.S. border, according to of District 27; and Ron Weisen, ·presi­ Joe Samargia. He explained how his lo­ dent of Local 1397 at the historic U.S. cal union worked with elected officials Steel Homestead mill in District 15 in and religious leaders to oppose U.S. mil­ the Pittsburgh area. Nomination challenges backfire itary aid to the Salvadoran junta. Why? The five candidates base themselve1;> By Stu Singer Board, which ordered votes to be "From a union standpoint, the majori­ on opposition to the union's top hier­ One response of the McBride ma­ taken over in two of the locals Weis­ ty of deaths and murders that have been archy headed by international Presi­ chine to the district director chal­ en had won, at the U.S. Steel Irvin going on are of union organizers," he dent Lloyd McBride. All five were active lengers has been to try to keep one of Works and at Fort Pitt Bridge Com­ said. supporters of the insurgent election them, Ron Wei sen, off the ballot. pany. campaign of Chicago Steelworker leader W eisen won both votes the second The five dissident candidates face stiff Ed Sadlowski's slate in 1977. District 15 ,. where Weisen is run­ time, guaranteeing his place on the opposition from candidates financed by Samargia and Patterson both led the ning, covers part of the Pittsburgh ballot. The win at Irvin Works was McBride's patronage machine. Balanoff largest strikes by major locals in the area, where the union's internation­ particularly impressive. In the first charged it "is well on its way to accumu­ union since the last election-four and a al headquarters is located. After balloting, only 257 workers voted. In lating campaign contributions of half months on the Iron Range and over Weisen won the required number of the revote, 858 steelworkers came $400,000 by dunning each staff repre­ six months in Sudbury. local nominations to appear on the out, giving Weisen a giant 519-339 sentative $300 to $500." McBride and the other four top offic­ ballot, incumbent Paul Lewis chal­ margin over the incumbent. It was a The Chicago Sun Tjmes later reported ers face no opposition but at least twelve lenged them. He filed a complaint fitting response to the heavy-handed that an unnamed union spokesman con­ of the twenty-one districts have contests • with the International Executive maneuver of the international. firmed this practice, terming it a "per­ for director. sona,!" decision.

MAY 15, f981 THE MILITANT 19 been received that there is fighting in traordinary number of irresponsible the streets in Havana. statements, lies and slanders. NEW YORK, April 17 (UPI).-At In Nicaragua, from whose eastern World news and analysis from ... 7:25 a.m., anti-Castro forces rose up in shores the invasion was launched, the several places in the interior of Cuba. headlines of Novedades and La Prensa One of the centers of activity was the participated actively in the disinforma­ province of Camagiiey. . tion campaign. MEXICO, April 18 (UPI).-The lux­ For example, oh Tuesday, April 18, Intercontinental Press urious Habana Libre Hotel, in the Novedades published a UPI dispatch combined Cuban capital, was totally destroyed datelined Miami on a request made by withlll})recor after an air attack on Havana. the Cuban Revolutionary Government NEW YORK, April 18 (AP).­ for blood donations. The headline of Farmers, workers and militiamen are the article read: "Castro Asks For uniting with the invaders and cooper­ Blood." On the same day, La Prensa ating with them in the liberated zone, printed a huge headline which said: which is expanding rapidly. "Invaders Receive Reinforcements." How capitalist press MIAMI, April 18 (UPI).-Invading forces today isolated the port of Somoza's complicity Bayamo, on the southern coast of The editorials of Novedades, run by lied about Bay of Pigs Oriente province. the Somoza family, reflected the com­ MIAMI, April 20 (UPI).-The prime plicity of the regime. On April 18, the April 19 was the twentieth anni­ • misrepresenting probable out- minister was incapacitated during last paper stated, "Far from respecting the versary of the Cuban Revolution's comes. Monday's air attack~ and is suffering democratic principles originally pro- victory against the U.S.-backed mercenary invasion at Playa Phony war diary ·Giron near the Bay of Pigs. The AP and UPI's April "war diary" .counterrevolutionary Brigade about the invasion of Cuba by mercen­ 2506, which carried out the inva­ ary forces in the pay of Yankee impe­ sion, was supplied with five armed rialism is frighteningly eloquent. In freighters, twenty-four B-26 this "war diary,' ~ as improbable as bombers, twelve transport planes, they seem, were the following dis­ and artillery and small arms by patches: the CIA. But no less important than the WASHINGTON, April 17 (AP).­ arms, money, and training pro­ Anti-Castro forces invaded Cuba today vided by the CIA was the propa­ in three places, and Santiago, the main ganda support provided by the city in the easternmost end of Cuba, imperialist media, which has may already be in the hands of the never ended its campaign of invaders. Castro's militia, as well as slander and disinformation the army and navy, have gone over to against the Cuban revolution. The the invaders. following article on this aspect of GUANTANAMO, April 17 (UPI).­ the Bay of Pigs invasion appeared Sources say that a group of invaders in the April 19 i·ssue of the Eng­ landed near Santiago de Cuba, some lish-language 'Granma' weekly, 65 kilometers from Santiago (sic). published in Havana. .. MIAMI, April 17 (UPI).-Stories are circulating that the Cuban navy has The image that the peoples of Latin rebelled. Naval stations were heard America received of the mercenary communicating with navy headquar­ aggression at Playa Giron, which was ters in Havana for more than an pour. launched from Puerto Cabezas [Nica­ MIAMI, April 17 (AP).-Most of the from physical and perhaps ·mental claimed by the anti-Batista revolution, ragua] on April 13, 1961, was essen­ 400,000-man militia recruited by Cas­ collapse. He is now under treatment. Castro introduced right after his tri­ tially the image that was presented by tro has now deserted, and the decisive umph the worst horrors and cruelties the mass· media. battle will take place within a few Deliberate omission as a system of government." On April That image was almost completely hours. Something very significant about 19, when the outcome of the invasion designed and manipulated by the U.S. NEW YORK, April 17 (UPI).-The these AP and UPI dispatches is that was still unknown, Novedades made news agencies Associated 'Press (AP) invading forces have occupied the city almost all of them have datelines an appeal: "The responsibility of all of and United Press International (UPI). of Pinar del Rio, the capital of the outside of Cuban territory. Also, there Latin America in view of the Soviet These agencies' ties to the State De­ province of the same name. The inva­ is a deliberate omission in all of them: threat in Cuba is to support the United partment and the Central Intelligence sion of the provinces of Matanzas and none of them say that the mercenary States morally and materially." Agency (CIA) clearly indicate that Santiago is progressing well. -brigade was trained by the CIA in The first mention in the Nicaraguan they are both instruments of U.S. im­ Guatemala and that the invasion was press of Puerto Cabezas being the base MIAMI, April 17 (AP).-The Isle of perialism. launched from Puerto Cabezas, on from which the invading ships left During those days in April 1961, AP Pines was taken by the rebels and Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast. appeared in Novedades on April 20, 10,000 political prisoners were set free and UPI applied the basic techniques The bourgeois Latin American ar­ after Brigade 2506 had been defeated, and joined the uprising. of disinformation-the essence of impe­ chives and newspapers of the time had surrendered and had been taken rialist propaganda-by: MEXICO, April 17 (UPI).-Prime record the information campaign un­ prisoner. • unscrupulously distorting or in­ Minister Fidel Castro has fled and his leashed by the CIA. At that time, Luis Somoza categori­ venting facts; brother Raul has been captured. Gen­ A review of the Nicaraguan papers cally stated in an interview with Nove­ • suppressing or concealing infor­ eral Lazaro Cardenas is negotiating Novedades and La Prensa gives us an dades that "At no time have there been mation about developments that went political asylum for Fidel. idea of what the peoples of Latin revolutionary elements in Puerto Cabe­ against U.S. imperialist policy; and MIAMI, April 17 (AP).-News has America were reading about the mer­ zas ready to ·invade another country." cenary invasion of Playa Giron. There It was precisely on April 20 that the have been very few periods in which absolute control the CIA had exercised the AP and UPI wires have carried so over P uerto Cabezas for several weeks 'Three Mile Island' in Japan much disinformation and infamy. The came to an end. One of Japan's worst nuclear acci- regulates Japan's nuclear plants. U.S. news agencies released an ex- From Intercontinental Press dents-in which fifty-six workers were Some of the spill seeped into the exposed to dangerous levels of radioac- gen.eral sewage system, which carries tive contamination-took place on water into nearby Urazoko Bay, a rich March 8. It was hot revealed, however, fishing ground. until April 20, as a result of an attempt- The company's crude attempt to Japanese Trotskyists sentenced ed cover-up by. the Japan Atomic · stifle news about the accident was the · Watada Kumeo, a leader of the J a­ opening. Despite the lar.gest police Power Company. second such cover-up effort this year. pan Revolutionary Communist League mobilization in Japan since the end of The accident at the Tsuruga power In J anuary it tried to suppress knowl- (JRCL), Japanese section of the Fourth World War II, a bout a thousand protes­ plant on the J apan Sea, nearly 200 edge about two incidents of leakage International, has been handed a ten­ ters succeeded in occupying the air­ miles west of Tokyo, has become a caused by cracks in a water heater. year prison sentence for his part in port, including the control tower. major issue in Japan, the only colJntry Once it had been caught, the com- mass demonstrations against the N ar­ Hundreds were arrested, including to have ever suffered a nuclear attack. pany shifted tactics and tried to min- ita airport three years ago. Thirteen members of the JRCL who were active The first signs of the accident were imize the seriousness of the accident. other persons, most of them JRCL in the building of the demonstration. discovered after government inspectors Akira Machida, the plant's general members, were given sentences rang­ In the trial of the fourteen activists the found abnormally high radioactivity manager, claimed that it was "no ing from four to nine years. government invoked a law designed in soil and water samples near the where near as serious as America's The fourteen will appeal their sent­ for prosecuting hijackers, which car­ plant, after it had been shut down Three Mile Island." Officials also pro- ences. Meanwhile, some 300 other dem­ ries particularly heavy sentences. April 1 for a routine check and mainte- claimed that the incident had been onstrators are awaiting trial. nance period. magnified by "Japanese emotionalism Construction of the Narita airport Although the airport has since been They then discovered that on March toward anything nuclear." has been a controversial issue in Japa­ officially opened, it has only one run­ 8 at least forty-five tons of radioactive Such "emotionalism" has already nese politics since the plans for it were way and continues to face considerable waste water had overflowed a filter resulted in the stalling of construction announced in 1965. It was opposed by opposition. tank at the plant. on new nuclear plants following the farmers who were slated to lose their Letters of protest against the verdict Fifty-six plant employees were or- widely publicized near-meltdown at the land to the airport and by residents of and sentences can be sent to J udge dered to mop up part of the spill with U.S. Three Mile Island plant in 1979. the area and others concerned about Hanajiri, c/ o Supreme Court, 1-1-4, plastic buckets and rags. The company Japan's own "Three Mile Island" at its environmental hazards. Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Ja­ claimed the workers were exposed to Tsuruga will undoubtedly bolster the Construction of the airport was con­ pan, with copies to the Airport Opposi­ only small amounts of radiation, but movement against nuclear power in tinually delayed by mass protests. On tion League, c/ o Shinjidaisha, 5-13-17, this was disputed by officials of the that country. March 26, 1978, thousands turned out Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Ministry of Trade and Industry, which From Intercontinental Press to demonstrate against its impending From Intercontinental Press

20 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Polish CP activist speaks on party 'renewal' The following interview was con­ the party authorities were elected by di­ ducted in February 1981 in Torun, rect vote at every level. Poland. Torun is a city of 230,000 in­ We have also thought about the par­ habitants, less than 100 miles south ty's role. Up to now our party had a role of Gdansk. The Towimor machine it should not have had. It duplicated the tool factory, which produces ma­ functions of the state (administration, chines for shipyards, is ·located in police). Therefore we think that we have To run. to do away with this situation where the During the August 1980 strikes in state apparatus in each arena is dupli­ Poland, the strike committee at To­ cated by the party apparatus; we have to wimor was built with the active par­ do away with this bureaucracy. ticipation of Communist Party We also must reflect on what the role members in the plant. Some of them of the Communist Party in the factory were elected to the strike committee. should be. It should be a force that Subsequently the strike activists makes proposals on all the problems and were elected to the plant's party not an instrument of the government. I leadership. would like to have that kind of party in The first secretary of the Towimor our country. To join this party people party group, Zbigniew Iwonow, was should have to wait one or two years to expelled from the party by higher show they know what to do, so we have bodies. But he was immediately re­ took place. on August 15, by using the words in meetings. When we think that quality rather than quantity. elected first secretary by the Towim­ party rule that stated that an election someone is a thief or a gangster, we say or party organization, despite his ex­ could be called when 30 percent of the it clearly. The people who do not want 'Thorough housecleaning' pulsion. members requested it. the party to go through a renewal are Q. People have spoken ofself-manage­ The interview with Iwonow was As a result of the new election, people not pleased to hear such talk, because ment on the factory level, but how do you conducted by Pierre Caen, and was who had been on the strike committee they are not used to working in this envision self-management on the level of published in the March 16 issue of became part of the party leadership at way. They think you should always ap­ all of society, so that the workers can be the French-language fortnightly 'In­ the Towimor plant. The first phase of plaud when the first secretary speaks, the ones who rf!ally make the decisions? precor.' The translation is by 'Inter­ our work was to help Solidarity, because without asking whether what he says is A. Today they say that the factories continental Press.' we had seen that it \vas very important good or not, and that you should not that the union grow. shout out that the person is an idiot and belong to us, but that is not true. They are in the hands of the government. The We very quickly realized that the is talking nonsense. Question. Can you tell us what took changes we had made in our party at the And I was expelled from the party on government is led by. a very limited place in the party unit inside the Towim­ plant level were still· not enough. We such questions of form rather than sub­ group, not even by the entire political or factory ? bureau of the party, but only some of the therefore sought to make contact with stance. It was a lit~le like the Inquisi­ members. And they are the ones who Answer. It began with the strike. other members of party o:rganizations tion. One Sunday I was told I had to make the decisions. Society as a whole Most of the party members in our facto­ who thought like we did. The party come to a conference on Monday, and on has no jnfluence, but It feels all the con­ ry supported the strike. Some were even group at the university was the first one Monday I was expelled. But the factory sequences of all their decisions. That is on the strike committee. One party to respond to this call. We were able to party group rejected this. So now I am a why we think that this reform must be member, Stanichesky, was even the del­ establish an interplant commission. We first party secretary who is not in the carried out as quickly as possible. egate from the strike to Gdansk. no longer had any confidence in what party! [laughter]. What should this reform be? A thor­ After the strike we very quickly real­ the authorities said. Q. How do you see the aftermath of the ough housecleaning throughout Poland. ized that the Solidarity union was like All the documents that the commis­ preparation of the congress? Me, I think that the factories must insurance for the people. But we had to sion works out are circulated in all the have greater autonomy and the workers seek some insurance within the party, rank-and-file bodies of the party, where A. Our positions are majority posi­ must be able to make the decisions. I im­ because the party had already gone they are discussed and people state tions in the party. Only a few thousand agine it as a body of councils of all the through so many crises that it could not whether or not they approve of the docu­ -with their families who are doing workers who would have shares in the survive another one. We became con­ ment. well-try to defend themselves . ... factory. Of course they could not sell scious that the most important thing These discussions deal with whatever these shares because those who had the­ was to proceed to really democratic elec­ the members want. We focus on ques­ For democratic elections most money would gain. The workers tions in the party. tions such as how we want to see the Q. How do you think democratic elec­ would be able to decjde how the enter­ Despite the resistance of the party party evolve in the future and how to tions can be imposed on all levels before prise should be developed, how to dis­ leadership at the city and departmental work with Solidarity. · the congress? tribute, how to find · sales outlets; it level, we were soon able to organize dem­ Because we are workers, we do not act ocratic elections in our plant, which like diplomats. We don't mince our A. We think that it would be good if Continued on page 23 'Daily World' writer slanders Solidarity leaders By Suzanne Haig Anna Walentynowicz, a leader of the and organizer of the Red Army-is latter were negotiating with officials Conrad Komorowski, a writer for the August strike in Gdansk; J acek Kuron irreconcilably opposed to the CIA and about recognition of Rural Solidarity, Daily World, which reflects the views and Karol Modzelewski, figures identi­ has always defended the gains of the the farmers organization. Several of the Communist Party USA, recently fied with KOR (the Movement for Polish revolution, while opposing the workers were so badly beaten that they returned from a six-week visit to Po­ Social Self-Defense, a group advocat­ antidemocratic practices of the govern­ had to be hospitalized. land. He gave a forum in New York ing socialist democracy in Poland); ing bureaucrats. Although Warsaw pact troops were City on April16, presenting his view of and others. Poles are all too familiar with maneuvering on Polish soil, ten mil­ the events. Komorowski linked them to a charges like those made by Komo­ lion workers joined a four-hour warn· The Communist Party leadership "Trotskyite world network and the rowski. False accusations of "Nazi­ ing strike March 27 to express their finds itself between a rock and a hard CIA." Also involved in the plot are an Trotskyite" plotting were used by hatred of these terror tactics. They place on this issue. Solidarity, the alleged espionage center in Sweden Stalin in 1938 to abolish the Polish CP recognized the Bydgoszcz attack as an independent union in Poland, clearly and former Polish landlords from Sile­ and murder its leaders. The party was attempt by diehard bureaucrats to roll . has the support of the working class sia, now resident in West Germany, reconstituted only after the German back the gains of the workers . and cannot easily be attacked. Millions who are said by Komorowski to be invasion of the Soviet Union. And new When the government agreed to pun­ of American workers strongly identify organizing a military force in West purges .on similar frame-up charges ish the brutal cops, a general strike with Solidarity, and with the aspira­ Germany. followed World War II. called for March 31 was cancelled. tions and struggles of the Polish work­ . During the discussion period Komo­ ers. Nazi connection? rowski was asked why the supposed Attack on farmers Komorowski topped it off with a hint enemies of the people had not been Komorowski attacked Solidarity's But the Communist Party, loyal to t;hat W alesa and the others have Nazi arrested. He replied, "If they were, the demand that Rural Solidarity be recog­ the privileged bureaucrats that rule in connections. Leaflets and swastikas Polish government would be called nized as a union of Poland's working Moscow, must defend or explain away have been found in Gdansk, he said. terrorist. The population is too lax. The farmers. Rural Solid~rity is "phony," their denunciations of Solidarity and Textbooks from West Germany are party cannot take action, because the he asserted. It has "no real base threats to Poland. turning up with maps showing Gdansk people have been poisoned." Arrests among farmers" and is "a pressure Komorowski claimed that the Soviet and the rest of Poland's Baltic Sea would be "used by their enemies." action by the reactionary leadership to government and the CPUSA strongly region as part of Germany. Komorowski claimed, "Many of the put the government in a difficult posi­ support Solidarity, viewing it as "a But how could a few fascist spies win workers are against the [Solidarity] tion." partner in the.building of socialism" in th'e support of millions of Polisn work­ leadership, because [it does] not care Komorowski spoke too soon. On Poland. ers? Does Komorowski think the Polish about the workers' grievances. April ·17, a day after his forum, the However, he asserted, elements in masses are fools, duped into following "They use terror, threats, and beat­ Polish government recognized Rural the leadership of Solidarity are pied piper Walesa back to capitalism? ings against workers," he asserted. Solidarity. "against socialism." These individuals · Komorowski presented no concrete The workers are "angry because these A lively discussion followed Komo­ endanger socialism to such a degree proof that Wales a and the others are leaders called a general strike [in rowski's presentation. It seems likely that Moscow-if all else fails-may linked to the alleged spy network, Nazi March] when the country has serious that a growing number of supporters of have to provide "brotherly assistance." leaflets, or other pieces of this elabo­ production problems." the CPUSA will reply to Komorowski This would "not be an outside inva­ rate conspiracy theory. by echoing Tadeusz Neckowicz, a Pol­ sion," he insisted. Nor did he explain why he had Garbled facts ish CP member: Who are these antisocialist elements thrown Trotskyists into this unappetiz­ Komorowski· was garbling the facts. "The authorities should not present that threaten to "destabilize the coun­ ing stew. Komorowski should be aware It wasn't Solidarity leaders who were the changes going on in our country as try"? that the Fourth International founded beating workers, but the Polish police. the work of antisocialist forces, but as None other than Lech Walesa, the by Leon Trotsky-who was Lenin's They attacked Solidarity leaders in a proper restoration of Marxist­ most prominent leader of Solidarity; collaborator in the Russian revolution Bydgoszcz on March 19 while the Leninist pri~ciples . "

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 21 Class struggle deepens in Honduras. By Lars Palmgren of the on-going teachers strike told us, United States and Panama. The Hon- and has been controlled for many TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras-There "The revolutionary leadership is still duran air force got special credits to years by anticommunist lead~rs linked are six national daily newspapers in in diapers." buy ten new Bell VH-liH ("Huey") to the trade-union bureaucracy in the Honduras, more than in either Nicara­ The material situation for the major- helicopters. In the list of U.S. military United States and the CIA-supported gua or El Salvador. And yet the total ity of Hondurans is terrible. Three material to Honduras there are items American Institute for Free Labor population is just slightly more than quarters of all children under seven identified as "classified products"-a Development. Recently, however, the 3.5 million, and half of the adult popu­ years of age are malnourished. Half category only used for very sophisti- class struggle tendency has gained lation is illiterate.· But all these papers the adult population has a daily intake cated equipment. influence in several important organi- do not express any real range of differ­ of under 1,500 calories. fn the last ten The fact that last year's elections zations, such as the 12,000-strong un- ent political opinions. Positions falling years consumption of corn and beans, drew widespread participation and ion SITRATERLO, on the United outside the two big capitalist parties, the staples of the Honduran diet, has that this year's probably will too, does Brands banana plantations; the big- the National Party (PN) and the Lib­ actually declined. not however mean that U.S. imperial- gest peasant organization, ANACH; eral Party (PL) are limited to a few In spite of land reform programs, ism's plans are going to be accepted by and the biggest teacher federation, paid advertisements. most of the peasants are landless and the Honduran masses. The revolution- CORPRASUMA, with 18,000 members. depend on seasonal agricultural labor. ary struggles in Nicaragua and El There are supposed to be presidential The revolutionary struggles in Nica­ elections in Honduras in November or During long periods of the year unem- Salvador have had a big influence on ployment in the countryside is as high Hondurans. ragua and El Salvador have had a December 1981, and the campaign significant impact on the traditional as 75 percent. That can be seen in the big mass spectacle is already in full swing. left parties as well. The elections of April 1980 were the mobilizations since 1978, and particu- Despite their mutual accusations, the first in over ten years. Lacking revolu- larly since the election of April 1980. An intensive discussion about the capitalist parties are campaigning tionai'y leadership, most Hondurans Mobilizations are broader, more mili- lessons of Nicaragua and El Salvador around a common slogan: "Honduras saw the elections as a minimal way to tant, and more political than ever has already led to splits in both the is different," or as La Prensa, the most influence the political situation. The before. For example, the fight for free PCH and the PCML. reactionary daily paper says: "We here surprising victory for the Liberal Party education reached almost insurrec- ·In spite of tpese splits and divergen­ in Honduras are not like those people represented not so much support for tiona} proportions in some villages and in Nicaragua and El Salvador. We ces, the different groups seem to be the Liberals as revolt against ten years towns, where the whole population more willing to carry out united ac­ hate violence, love peace, and solve our of corrupt military dictatorship. went into the streets and confronted problems with free elections." The tions than ever before. This has been the army. In the major cities mobiliza­ shown by the solidarity work with El radio adds: "Nobody needs to be liber­ U.S. bolsters military tions led by the teachers union and ated here." Salvador and Nicaragua, and in dis­ Washington's plans call for using including students and their parents cussions of creating an electoral front the Honduran military to smash all have taken over roads and bridges and Real difference called the Honduran Patriotic Front attempts to form a guerrilla movement occupied ministries. (FPH). There is some truth to the statement in Honduras, support the Salvadoran Militant struggles have developed in that Honduras is different. It is a fact army in its "Operation Sandwich," defense of trade-union leaders. At the So even if Reinaldo is right in that that over 80 percent of the voting-age and last, but not least, carry out con­ Rosario Mining corporation the 1,500- the revolutionary leadership in Hondu­ population participated in the elections stant harassment of Nicaragua along member union carried out a victorious ras "is still in diapers," it seems that for the Constituent Assembly in April the common frontier. one-week strike to protest the firing of the tendency is toward rapid maturity. 1980. They did that despite a boycott There are indications that Washing­ their president. The capitalists seem to understand called by the Revolutionary Patriotic ton would like to make the Honduran Peasant cooperatives in the north, this quite well. Why else are they Front (FPR) which was organized by army the gendarme of Central Amer­ which used to be forced to sell their imitating their Nicaraguan and Salva­ the Moscow-oriented Communist Party ica. The army already has 30,000 men, bananas to the multinational compan­ doran class brothers and getting their of Honduras (PCH), the Communist most forcibly recruited, and the air ies for processing, carried out strikes money out of the country? Last year Party, Marxist-Leninist (PCML, a split force has about twenty modern war demanding control of the processing capital flight from "H onduras from the Communist Party), the Social­ planes and more armored helicopters. plants. amounted to $200 million. It seems ist Party (PASO), and the Christian During the last year U.S. military that not even the capitalists believe Democratic Party (PDCH). aid reached a new high of $3.5 million. Unions and the left their campaign slogan about "the Hon­ The real difference in Honduras, Increasing numbers of Honduran offi­ The trade-union movement in Hon­ duran difference." however, is that, as Reinaldo, a leader cials are taking special courses in the duras is relatively strong but is divided From Intercontinental Press The plight of Salvadoran refugees in Honduras By Lars Palmgren "In the beginning it was all right. share. They had heard that the refu­ This contrasts sharply with the LEMPIRA PROVINCE, Honduras­ But when the light came the hell gees did not have enough to eat. treatment given the 15,000 Somozaists A thousand people used to live in La started. They shot at us from the The new refugees in Los Hernandez who fled from Nicaragua after July 19, Virtud, a small, forgotten, almost inac­ mountains, and airplanes came and brought the total number in Honduras 1979. They were given residency cards cessible village on the Honduran fron­ shot at us too. In the ~nd a helicopter to almost 40,000. Most are around La and work permits. tier with El Salvador. It had no elec­ hovered in the air above us for at least Virtud or in the area bordering the Before leaving Los Hernandez we tricity, school, teacher, or doctor. half an hour shooting, shooting. . .." province of Morazan. talked about the future with the refu­ Now 3,000 people live in La Virtud. The response of Honduran peasants According to the United Nations gees. "We feel a tremendous gratitude The 2,000 new inhabitants are refu­ to the refugees has been impressive. refugee commissioner in Tegucigalpa, toward our Honduran brothers and gees from El Salvador. Another 6,000 "They are our brothers," one man who Charles Henri Bazouche, 40 percent of sisters," one of them says, "and we to 7,000 refugees live in the surround­ now has his house and farm full of ref­ the refugees are less than seven years hope we will soon be able to pay them ing area. ugees says. "We must support each old. Another 40 percent are women, back for their help." On March 18, more than 4,000 new other." , and the rest are mostly old men. "Because," he states with great se­ refugees poured across the border. A striking example of that support The refugees do not have any real riousness, "we have no plans to stay They are concentrated in a place called occurred March 24, the anniversary of political status in Honduras. They here very long. This is a situation that Los Hernandez, an hour's walk from the assassination of Salvadoran Arch­ cannot leave the border area· and do must change. We all long to return to La Virtud, toward the Rio Lempa that bishop Oscar Romero. Hundreds of not have permission to work. The the struggle for our victory. And then separates the two countries. peasants came to the camp loaded with government recently decided the refu-' we will remember those who helped us There are still no tents in Los Her­ food for the refugees-pigs, chickens, gees must carry a special identity card here." nandez. Plans have been made to move vegetables, whatever they had to at all times. From Intercontinental Press the refugees four kilometers in from the dangerous border, but the military has not yet given permission. So all the thousands of refugees are concen­ trated in a small enclosed area. Two days before we arrived a refugee was shot to death by a Honduran soldier. "He did not stop when I told him to," was the motivation offered by the soldier. Even more than Honduran soldiers, the refugees fear Salvadoran soldiers and members of the right-wing para­ military organization ORDEN, who have crossed into Honduras several times. The day we arrived in Los Yes! Start my subscription now! Make checks payable to: Hernandez a Salvadoran plane flew 0 INTRODUCTORY OFFER. Send me three months of IP for $8.75 . Intercontinental Press over the area and dropped several 0 Send me six months of IP for $17.50. 0 Send me one year of IP for $35. Mail to: bombs. Intercontinental Preas The biggest reason for fear, however, Name ------41 0 West Street is what happened when the refugees New York, N.Y. 10014 crossed the Rio Lempa. "We started to Address ------~-- cross at night so they would not see City/State/Zip ______c______us," an old man leaning on a stick tells Canadian Rates: $41 for one year; $21 for six months. Send for rates to other countries. us.

22 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Behind Syrian-lsraeli clash in Lebanon By Janice Lynn The latest confrontation in Lebanon between Syrian and Israeli forces has underscored the danger of a full-scale war breaking out in the Middle East. Fighting between Israeli-backed rightists and Syrian troops stationed in Lebanon broke out at the beginning of April. The Israeli regime, which has been MEDITERRANEAN SEA urging the rightists on and which openly admits that it is supplying them with arms, took advantage of this latest outbreak of fighting to JORDAN launch new air and land attacks ,~~ against Palestinian refugees in south­ em Lebanon. Then on April 28, the Zionists escal­ ated their provocations against the Syrian forces. Israeli jet fighters flew into central Lebanon and shot down

12 ~ . 000 PllntirliaM ill two-·'syrian helicopters. Four Syrian ll!liledArlll(l!lirnrl, soldiers were killed. In response, the Syrian regime Death destruction In Beirut. Israelis supplying anna to Christian rightists and launching new attacks against Palestini- moved antiaircraft missiles across the an refugees in southern Lebanon. border into eastern Lebanon to defend against any further Israeli attacks. U.S. military and diplomatic plans in Moscow. It was one thing putting Washington has now begun talking Haig's visit the Middle East. pressure on the Syrian regime, but about bringing peace to Lebanon and Behind the Zionist military attacks Syrian President Hafez al-Assad re­ quite another to open up the danger of resolving the situation "through politi­ has been a stepped-up campaign by fused to go along with the Israeli­ confrontation with the Soviet Union. cal and diplomatic means." But its Washington against the Syrian re­ Egyptian Camp David accords. He aims remain the same-to maintain gime, which coincided with a visit to denounced Washington's abortive raid Fears full-scale war imperialist domination in the Middle · the Middle East by U.S. Secretary of into Iran, formed an alliance with the A war in the Middle East could also East with the aid of the Zionist regime State Alexander Haig. anti-imperialist Libyan regime, signed lead to the overthrow of Egypt's Sadat. in Israel. Haig gave his approval to the Israeli a twenty-year friendship treaty with Would the Egyptian masses tolerate Washington has moved full steam attacks against Syrian forces when he Moscow, opposed the Iraqi invasion of Sadat just sitting idly by and not ahead to secure new military bases in declared in Jerusalem April 6, "We Iran, and is now opposing the Israeli­ coming to the aid of the Syrians if they the Middle East, build a Rapid Deploy­ view the brutality of the Syrian action backed Phalangists. were under attack by the Israeli re­ ment Force for use in the Persian Gulf, against the Christian enclave as a On April 9, a congressional commit­ gime? and is providing massive military aid very, very serious tum of events which tee voted to cancel $130 million in Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi for both the Israeli and Egyptian re­ is unacceptable by any measure of economic aid to Syria. And it was pledged his country's resources to de­ gimes. appropriate international standards." announced that Reagan was seeking feat Israeli aggression. Even King Since the overthrow of the U.S.­ Haig had nothing to say about the no aid for Syria in 1982. Khalid of Saudi Arabia and Kuwaiti backed shah of Iran, the Israeli regime brutal Israeli raids, nor those by the On April 11, the Senate Foreign leaders-among the most servile of has become even more central to the Israeli-backed Christian rightists, Relations Committee denounced the proimperialist rulers-made verbal U.S. rulers' plaris in the Middle East. against Palestinian refugee camps and . Syrian role in Lebanon and seventeen declarations of support for Syria in the "Our defense requires that we should Muslim villages in southern Lebanon. senators urged Reagan to call for the event of a war with Israel, indicating resist the hectic efforts currently being Just four days earlier, however, Rich­ withdrawal of Syrian troops. their assessment of how the masses in made to fill our region and to surround ard Allen-President Ronald Reagan's "The new American attitude has their countries would react if such a it with foreign military bases and national security adviser-made clear apparently freed Israeli strategists to war breaks out. forces with no other aim but to subject our area to imperialist and Zionist Washington's position. Over nation­ consider more extensive involvement The danger of a full-scale war in the demands," declared Assad May 3. wide television, Allen declared that Is­ in Lebanon," noted New York Times Middle East led the State Department The workers movement around the raeli raids into southern Lebanon were correspondent David Shipler April 29. to issue a statement April 29 publicly world must demand: U.S. Hands Off "hot pursuit of a sort and therefore dissociating itself from having "given the Middle East! Stop Israeli Aggres­ justified." Israel's aims a 'green light' to Israel to undertake sion in Lebanon! Prominent Arab-Americans and sev­ Israeli military figures began to talk any military actions in Lebanon." eral Arab-American groups imme­ more openly about their real aims. In From Intercontinental Press diately denounced Allen's statement, an April 18 article, Shipler reported Nevertheless, U.S. officials loudly calling for his resignation and a repu­ that Brig. Gen. Yaakov Even bragged: protested the fact that the Syrian diation of his comments. "We are on the offensive. We are the missiles in Lebanon were Soviet-made But the following day, the White aggressors. We are penetrating the so­ and even began to float rumors that U.S. to send House issued a statement defending called border of the so-called sovereign Soviet advisers had accompanied the All(!n's position. state of Lebanon, and we go after them missiles into Lebanon. troops to Sinai wherever they hide." Of course, the Israeli F-15 and F-16 U.S. assails Syria jet fighters that were used in strafing In a major step toward establish­ One of Washington's main concerns, Washington has been stepping up its runs against Syrian positions are all • ing a permanent military presence noted New York Times Washington pressure against the Syrian regime American-made, as are the majority of in the Middle East, the U.S. State reporter Bernard Gwertzman April 30, because it has become an obstacle to · weapons supplied to regimes through­ Department has announced plans to "was the success of Syrian forces last out the Middle East. send American troops as part of a weekend in dislodging the Phalangists "peacekeeping" force in the Sinai, from a mountain ridge overlooking the Soviet ambassador to the U.S. Anat­ between Egypt and Israel. Christian areas. . . ." oly Dobrynin denied the reports of The 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Soviet advisers in Lebanon, and on treaty coming out of the Camp Dav­ ... Poland Begin revealed that Washington had May 1, even Haig had to admit that id accords called for a "peace-keep­ Continued from page 21 been kept abreast of Israeli decisions the rumors were unfounded. would be a reform of the entire manage­ ing" force established by the United and said that the Reagan administra­ Nations after Israel completed its ment of the factory. Marketing would tion understood Israel's motives for Hypocritical concern have to be expanded. withdrawal from the Sinai. The So­ intervening. Along with their propaganda viet Union has said it would veto The Reagan administration made no against a supposed Soviet threat, Q. How do you view the collaboration such a UN force. criticism of the Israeli regime for Washington and Tel Aviv have made In announcing plans to go ahead between the party radicals and Solidari­ shooting down the Syrian helicopters. much of their "humanitarian" concern ty? with the force on its own, the U.S. · During the entire month of April, for Lebanon's Christian population. government said it would supply A. There are many areas where we Washington was egging the Zionists "We do not want war with Syria, but most of the funds and probably half think the same way, especially in the on. we will not allow the Syrians to take of the 2,500 troops. The force would area of social policy. Neither the party But the escalation of the fighting over Lebanon and annihilate the be located at several strategic nor Solidarity can be isolated from the between the Israelis and Syrians be­ Christians," warned Israeli prime min­ points, would be highly mobile, and problems of the moment. Under present gan to go further than the U.S. govern­ ister Begin April 28. include helicopters and other vehi­ conditions, it is impossible for Solidarity ment was banking on. The fighting Syrian troops have been stationed in cles~ · to focus solely on economic problems, as threatened to escalate into a full-scale north-central Lebanon and have been Washington is pressuring New the government would like it to. Our dif~ war. This was more than the imperial­ in control of Zahle since 1976. In these Zealand, Australia, Peru and other ferences with Solidarity relate to inter­ ists were prepared for at this time. five years there have been no massa­ governments to volunteer their cres of the Christian population, no national policy. We are working under Washington had to take into account troops as well, but so far is having very specific conditions. Unhappily, in campaign of genocide. The same can­ little success. the Iranian revolution and its impact not be said of the indiscriminate bomb­ your country, you have better condi­ in the Persian Gulf area, as well as the This force will have nothing to do tions. ings and shellings by Israeli forces. revolutions and anti-imperialist strug­ with peace in the Middle East. It The latest fighting is a Syrian re­ will be another move to bolster im­ gles in Central America, southern sponse to military actions by rightist Africa, and Indochina. perialist domination of the region At this point the interview had to forces. It was the Israeli-backed Chris­ and a new danger to the Iranian rev­ end because the party control com­ In the immediate Middle Eastern tian rightists who took the offensive olution, the Palestinian people, and · mission arrived at the party's facto­ area, the Syrian. regime' a relations action. It is they and the Israeli regime all the oppressed masses ;n the area. ry offices. with the Soviet Union posed the possi­ who hold full responsibility for the -From Intercontinental Press bility of a wider confrontation with killings in Lebanon.

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 23 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL FBI CRIMES AGAINST ANTIWAR· MOVEMENT Testimony of Fred Halstead

Fred Halstead, a long-time leader of the Socialist Workers Party and a chief organizer of many major dem­ onstrations against the Vietnam war, took the stand April22-23 in the socialists' suit against government spying. Halstead's testimony covered nu­ merous efforts to disrupt the anti­ war movement, now proven to have been the work of the FBI. Also taken up was his extensive travel abroad as a socialist journalist, participant in deliberations of the Fourth Inter­ national, and international spokes­ person for the anti-Vietnam-war movement. Halstead was questioned first by SWP attorney Shelley Davis, then cross-examined by Assistant U.S. At­ torney Cathy Silak. His testimony follows below. It has been excerpted for reasons of space.

Davis: Will you state your name, please? A: Fred Halstead. Q: Whe n did you join the Social­ ist Workers Party? A: In 1948 . . Q: What leadership positions if any have you held in the Socialist Workers Party? Halstead addresses April 27, 1968, antiwar demonstration In San Francisco: 'We built the movement wherever we could. We A: I h ave been a member of the advocated that It carry out activities of as broad a nature as possible, reaching out to as many people as possible, and par­ National Committee since the early ticularly to the working people.' 1960s. From time to time I have been on the Political Committee. A: I was on a picket line. I was others, "Bring the troops home now." speak to Gis in the war zone and find Q: What was your occupation in working in a General Motors plant and Q: Was that also the attitude of out what they had to say too. approximately 1948? there was another plant, Square D, the Socialist Workers Party? On the way I stopped in Japan, A: I was a merchant seaman and across the street from that which was A: We were probably among the where I met with some Gis and talked went part·time to school at UCLA. on strike. I was helping on the picket first, not the only the people in the to them and met with the Japanese Q: Did there come a time when line picketing. antiwar movement, but among the peace movement and had several con­ you ceased working as a merchant The police came and rounded up the first who advocated that the movement ferences there. seaman? pickets and I was arrested. They pay attention to talking to Gis. On the way back, since Vietnam was A: Yes. Shortly after I joined the charged me with a specious charge, I was of the opinion that Gis could halfway around the world and it is no Socialist Workers Party I received a armed robbery. But there hadn't been be reached. There were others in the more expensive to come back through letter from the Coast Guard, which any robbery, and I wasn't armed so the movement that didn't think so. Europe, I stopped in Germa ny and licenses seamen, saying they would charges were dropped as soon as we But I remembered when I was a GI spoke to Gis there. not validate my seaman's papers be­ got before a judge. in the Navy. Right after the Second Judge Griesa: Did you speak to cause I was a member of the Socialist World War, I was on a ship in China, troops in South Vietnam? Workers Party, which was listed that Appeal to G Is and there was a going home movement Halstead: Yes. year on the Attorney General's subver­ Davis: [Enters into evidence series to get us out of there among the Gis. I Davis: [Enters into evidence bogus sive list. of FBI documents showing Halstead wasn't a leader of it but I saw it. news article, drafted by FBI for Army Q: Could you sail without vali­ was placed on the National SecuritY Leaflets were passed out, discus­ to circulate in overseas press to "de­ dated papers? •Index within two years of joining SWP sions, and delegates elected to meet­ crease the effectiveness of Mr. Hal­ A: No, I could not. and was designated a "key figure" on ings and even mass demonstrations. stead's efforts to contact military per­ Q: Did this have any other effect list following his election to party This was in a shooting situation. There sonnel."] on your career choice? National Committee. Also introduced was a civil war going on in China Can you tell us what reactions, if A: Yes. are documents showing FBI kept ex­ which they got us involved in, which any , y ou encounter ed from Gls Q: Can you tell us what that tensive files on Halstead's 1968 presi­ we didn't know about until we were when you went on your trip? was? dential campaign. Davis then ques­ involved in it. A: I got no hostility whatever from A: I was going to school to train to tions Halstead· about FBI report on one Eventually they did pull us out of any of them. They were all polite, be a school teacher. The counselor said of his campaign speeches.] there. So I knew that Gis were think­ listened to me in a friendly way. Most given I was a member of the Socialist Mr. Halstead, I direct your atten­ ing human beings and could be of the Gis I met in Vietnam · did not Workers Party, in the atmosphere that tion to where it says that you reached with an antiwar message. have my position, did not agree with existed, there would be no chance of spoke at a Militant Labor Forum Q: What actions if any did you me. But all of them were willing to becoming a school teacher either. on October 6, 1967, quoting you as urge Gis to take with respect to listen and anxious to listen. saying: the war in Vietnam? A minority,'" a small minority, were A union activist 'In order to stop the war an A: Most of all to think about it and outright in favor of the war but even Q: Were you active in any other appeal must b e made to the organ­ exercise their rights as citizen soldiers, those were not hostile to me. union capacity subsequent to that ized workers and the Gis,' refer­ to express their point of view to their A larger minority were outright time? ring to the war in Vietnam. Congress people in letters and any against the war, agreed more or less A: I had to go to a different line of Did you ever make that state­ legal way they could- including going. with my position: we should just get work. I worked at several jobs. ment? on demonstrations where that was out totally. I was a hod carrier and I was active A: I frequently m ade similar state­ permitted, which it was in the United The great majority were just making in the hod carrier and labor local in ments. It was our view that the war States, out of uniform. up their minds. They were confused on Los Angeles. was wrong, it was not in the interests And putting out newspapers, GI the question but quite anxious to hear I worked in aircraft supply plants of the common people in this country newspapers, discussing the matter, different points of view and quite where I was a ctive in the organizing and that the working class, particu­ letting their views be known. They pleased that somebody from th e States drive of the Automobile Workers union. larly the organized working class in after a ll h ad more rights than anybody came to talk to them about it. Finally, I learned the trade of gar­ the unions, could be a powerful force in else, in our view, to object to this war. ment cutter and that has been my opposing it. Role in antiwar movement trade to this day and I was active in We attempted to reach them with the Trip to Vietnam Q: We re you active in the move­ the International Ladies' Garment antiwar message and encourage work­ Q: In the course of your cam­ ment against the war in Vietnam? Workers Union. ers, unionists, to become involved in paign did you have occasion to A: Yes, I was. Q: Were you ever arrested in antiwar activity. travel overseas? Q: In what way did you partici­ connection with a labor strike? Similarly, the Gi s, because they were A: Yes, I did. pate? A: Yes, in Detroit in 1954. the strata of the population that h ad Q: Wher e did you go? A: I was on the leading committees Q: Can you describe the circum­ the most direct interest and we advo­ A: I went to South Vietnam. That of the major national coalitions of the stances? cated the slogan together with many was the main purpose of my trip, to movem ent tha t organized the big dem-

24 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 onstrations in Washington and New the relationship between the SWP because they believe tactically it would fully and in an orderly fashion. York. and Young Socialist Alliance and be premature and turn people off." Griesa: All right. I was also on the executive commit­ the National Peace Action Coali­ We did everything we could to make tee or administrative committee of the tion? those demonstrations peaceful and Role in demonstrations major, the largest of the local coali­ A: We were two of the groups in­ orderly because we thought it was the Davis: Specifically, what role tions, which was the Fifth A venue volved in it. There were many, many right thing to do for all kinds of rea­ did you play in the various an­ Vietnam Peace Parade Committee. other groups also involved. We were sons. tiwar coalitions you belonged to? I was on the staff of the Fifth very active, hard-working in that coali­ We didn't want to get shot and A: In addition to being on the infor­ Avenue Peace Parade Committee for a tion. But we were just a part of it, clubbed and get anybody else shot and mation committee and engaging in period of time. along with other people. clubbed. · general discussions and expressing a Q: For what period of time were 'Q: To your knowledge, did the The part about our controlling, I point of view, I was usually given the you on these committees? SWP or YSA ever control either have already answered that substan­ assignment of working on or being in A: From 1965 on one or another of the National Peace Action Coali­ tially. We didn't control, we were part charge of the logistics and marshals, them, until 1975. tion or the Student Mobilization of the leadership along with a lot of or monitors as they are called in the Q: Are you familiar with the Committee? other people. west. SWP and Young Socialist Allian­ A: No, those were very large coali­ They were very large demonstrations Q: I would like to direct your ce's participation in the antiwar tions involving as I say hundreds of and we did use whatever organiza­ attention to Plaintiffs' Exhibit movement? groups and getting out demonstrations tional skill and discipline we had to 217, which is a memorandum A: Yes, I am. I was the most promi­ of hundreds of thousands of people, at make them as big as possible and as dated January 14, 1972, from Chi­ nent member of the SWP involved in a time when the total membership of educational as possible and peaceful cago [FBI office] to Director FBI. this work. I frequently consulted with the SWP and the YSA did not exceed a and orderly. I call your attention to Page 2 many of the SWP members and Young couple of thousand. where it says: Socialist Alliance members who were We were part of it and an important October 1969 Moratorium 'Halstead was SWP candidate for involved in it. part of it, but along with a lot of other Judge Griesa: Was this demon­ President in 1968 and is a member Q: In what way did the SWP and people. stration-the text here talks about of the Chicago branch of SWP. He YSA participate in the antiwar Q: Can you describe the process a demonstration in Washington in has been named chief marshal in movement? by which decisions were made in April 1971 involving 300,000 peo­ every major national march since A: We had advocated that the move­ the antiwar coalitions you were in ple. Was that the- 1967, including the April 24, 1971, ment demand of the government the like the National Peace Action Halstead: That was April 24, 1971. march on Washington.' immediate withdrawal of all U.S. mil­ Coalition? Griesa: Was that the one that Is that statement true, Mr. Hal­ itary forces from Vietnam, now. Bring A: They were made in open discus­ was called the Moratorium? stead? the troops home now. Immediate with­ sions and there were sometimes very Halstead: No, the Moratorium took A: It is somewhat exaggerated. drawal. sharp discussions and sharp disputes. place in October 15, 1969, and it was I was the co-chief marshal. There We built the movement wherever we At big conferences, by majority, after followed by another very large demon­ were usually two of us. And on many, could. We advocated that it carry out long discussion and open conferences. stration, November 15, 1969. most of the major demonstrations. activities of as broad _ a nature as Then they were carried out by smaller Griesa: The Moratorium was There were probably some that I possible, reaching out to as many committees, which also had open dis­ again when? wasn't, that wasn't the particular posi­ people as possible and particularly to cussions and disputes and majority Halstead: October 15, 1969, fol­ tion I held. But on most I did. the working people and the Gis, for votes. _ lowed by a very large demonstration of , Q: How were you chosen as reasons I have given. There was an attempt to reach con­ November 15-it actually took place chief marshal? We advocated that the demonstra­ sensus on most questions but some­ three days, that demonstration. It A: By the coalition. Whatever the tions that were carried out be carried times it came to a vote. started on November 13th and went legal body of the coalition was. When out peacefully and in an orderly fa­ through the 15th. the preparations for the demonstration shion and be as large as possible. FBI view of movement Griesa: Also in Washington? would get under way there would be a We advocated that it be a nonexclu­ Davis: [Enters into evidence a 1976 Halstead: The Moratorium was in committee meeting which would divide . sive movement, that it include every­ FBI document recommending con­ Washington and many cities across up the tasks and because of our expe­ body who was opposed to the war and tinued investigation of SWP and YSA.] the country. Millions of people partici­ rience and inclinations usually it who was willing to demonstrate The final paragraph on Page 24 pated in that. ended up choosing me and Bradford· against it in an orderly fashion. starts: Griesa: Now, in Washington, Lyttle from the committee as the co­ Those were our positions. That's 'An example of the Trotskyites' this one that is referred to here in chief marshals. what we fought for, what we worked ability to infiltrate and control April '71, was this bigger as far as Q: What were the marshals hard for. mass action groups was their con­ Washington was concerned- trained to do in the event of a Q: Did the SWP and YSA partici­ trol in 1971 of the National Peace Halstead: Yes, this was the biggest violent disruption? pate in various antiwar coalitions? Action Coalition.' of all. A: To prevent the violence if we A: Yes, frequently. I would like to direct your atten­ Griesa: Did the SWP participate could or to isolate it if we couldn't, as These national coalitions that I men­ tion to the top of Page 25 where it in the Moratorium? best we could. tioned were coalitions of hundreds of 'says: Halstead: Yes, and November 15, We developed a number of tech­ groups-political groups, trade unions, 'NPAC. Under the organization 1969, as well. We were part of the niques in consultation with various churches, pacifist groups, student and discipline of the Trotskyites groups organizing the demonstrations Quaker groups who were effective in groups, regional groups. A local coali­ formulated plans for mass demon­ as well. this-in cooling potentially or even tion like the Fifth Avenue Vietnam strations in April 1971 in Wash­ I · was chief marshal for the No­ violent situations without using vio­ Peace Parade Committee was a coali­ ington, D.C., and San Francisco, vember 15, 1969, demonstration. lence ourselves. tion of 150 groups around New York, California.' Griesa: What do you mean chief We would do that by interposing a and we were two of the groups in­ They describe the demonstra­ marshal? mass of sturdy bodies, for example, in volved. tions in the middle of that para­ Halstead: I organized the logistics a situation; to break up a fight, talk it We were frequently involved in the graph as: and technical aspects of the demon­ down. Sometimes if there were at­ leading committees and worked to­ 'One of the largest demonstra­ stration together with another person tempts by some group to rush the stage gether with others to advocate the tions in our capital's history, who was co-chief marshal, whose and destroy the demonstration or in­ largest possible demonstrations and where an estimated 300,000 per­ name was Bradford Lyttle. jure the prominent people on the speak­ educational activity, referenda which sons demonstrated.' Griesa: Of the whole demonstra­ ers stand, we would have to make a would put the issue to the voters in Then directing your attention to tion, not just for the SWP alone? wall of bodies with arms locked and cities where it was possible to get it on the last sentence: Halstead: No, the whole demon­ prevent that rush. the ballot, which was very difficult to 'The organizational skill and stration. I was working for the coali­ We would organize thousands of do, teach-ins, that sort of activity. discipline of the Trotskyites was tion and we organized the technical such marshals for the major, big dem­ Q: Can you briefly describe the demonstrated by the masses they aspects getting the permits from the onstrations and less for the smaller organizational structure of these were able to mobilize for that dem­ authorities setting up- ones. antiwar coalitions? onstration.' Griesa: November 1969, you There were times when there would A: Yes. They were composed, as I Mr. Halstead, are these state­ said you were the chief marshal or be an attempt from within the demon­ said, of many different groups. There ments I just read correct? co-chief marshal? stration by provocateurs or just by were representatives or people from A: There is a grain of truth in some Halstead: The co-chief marshal, people who had the idea that they these groups who offered to speak for of them but a lot of them are tenden­ there were two of us. wanted to lead the demonstration off those groups, on usually a steering tious, particularly this one where they We also organized the marshals, who the permitted route. In that case the committee. There would be smaller state: were several thousand people trained marshals were usually instructed to let subcommittees to carry out specific "They did not advocate violence not . to provide information, make sure the them go but to .explain to the mass of tasks like organizing a particular part because they abhorred violen'ce but thing went smoothly and went peace- Continued on next page of the demonstration or a particular educational campaign. All of these meetings were open to anybody who wanted to come and observe. There were frequent conven­ tions or conferences at which the basic decisions for the next period would be taken. Antiwar Coalitions Q: Are you familiar with the National Peace Action Coalition and the Student Mobilization Com­ mittee? A: Yes. Q: Were these organizations or­ ganized in the manner you just described? A: Yes, generally. Q: To your knowledge what was could be reached with an antiwar menage.'

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 25 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL

Continued from preceding page Americans showed up during the Q: Can you tell me what the cussion on the two dates but it was the marchers that was not the permit­ Democratic mess last month. Sandcastle refers to? finally settled. ted route and tell them what was the Balls. As usual the NMC [New A: Slang for Columbia University. route and filter out those who wanted Mobilization Committee] com­ This purports to be from one Bernie, Opposed confrontations to go away. pletely exaggerated the whole Sandcastle Class of 1971. Also, this Q: Referring to the next para­ There were times when that wasn't thing from start to bloody finish. was received in an envelope without graph where it says, 'Chicago's the wise thing to do and we actually ROC was there close up tight with any return address. Vietnam GI takes a rather dim made a wall and locked arms and the pigs. Where were you pal? Judge. Griesa: This was another view of the whole bit. Their oppo­ stopped people, like for example near Where was SMC? Where in hell anonymous letter you and others sition is natural when you figure the White House where the authorities was YSA-SWP?' received. Right? that the YSA'ers are trying t o take specifically had instructed us not to let Can you tell us what the inci­ Halstead: Yes. the starch out of the GI move­ anybody go that way because tney dents referred to are? Q: Turning your attention to the ment.' Can you explain what this would be hurt if they did. A: Yes. This refers to a demonstra­ second paragraph where it says refers to? Then we would make a wall, some­ tion that took place in Chicago in mid­ 'Speaking of April 6, the original A: Well, there was a newspaper, a thing like a very large line in a football summer on the occasion of the Demo­ plans of SWP-YSA called for the newspaper aimed at Gis that was put iine and just hold it and not let people cratic Party convention, of the Peace March to be held on that out in Chicago and this is just trying go through that way and those were nominating convention. date, the same date on which the to stir up hostility between the writers the kinds of methods we used. There was a demonstration there. It Christian World celebrates Easter. of that newspaper and the publishers got a great deal of publicity and in­ The master plan was presented to of it and the YSA. FBI pens an 'open letter' volved a riot which was characterized the Fifth A venue Peace Parade by We were generally cooperative in the Davis: [Enters into evidence letter as a police riot. It was a bloody affair. Rick Wadsworth, Joanna Misnik movement. written by FBI in 1966 and mailed It was not a large demonstration, only and several other kids a few Q: Then referring to the final anonymously to numerous antiwar about 12,000 people. weeks ago.' item where it says, 'The truth of groups.] The Young Socialist Alliance and Then it goes on to say, 'Let's the matter is that the SWP/YSA/ Did there come a time when you the Socialist Workers Party were not make it April 5th on Fifth Avenue. SMC Coalition has never had the received a letter entitled, 'Open part of the leadership of this demon­ We don't want the plastic society guts to play it like it really is. A Letter To Trotskyites'? stration and did not build it. too pissed off.' march to confront the establish­ A: Yes. I received this in the mail Judge Griesa: Who was not? Can you tell us what that refers ment and find the landscape craw­ without a return address on the enve­ Halstead: The Young Socialist Al­ to? ling with pigs, since you can't sell lope. liance and the Socialist Workers Party, A: This refers to a meeting of the The Militant to pigs, they cut and Q; Mr. Halstead, directing your because we disagreed with its funda­ Fifth Avenue Vietnam Peace Parade run. You will never see Matilde attention to the period of March mental political thrust, which was to Committee, which called the demon­ Zimmermann with battle wounds.' 1966, can you briefly describe the support one of the candidates in the stration in New York City for April Can you tell us what that refers situation in the antiwar movement nominating convention, a peace candi­ 5th. to? at that time? date, either McCarthy or some peace There had been an original proposal A: Yes. There were proposa ls that A: Yes. This was a period when candidate. to call it for April 6th, which was there be confrontations with the police there were centrifugal forces operating, We already had a candidate, which Easter Sunday. on this particular demonstration. a near split in the movement, a lot of was me for president of the United I had supported the April 6th date The great majority in the Fifth difficulty and disagreement and argu­ States and Paul Boutelle as vice­ because it would have been easier for Avenue Vietnam Peace Parade Com­ ment. president, and we didn't want to repres­ Gis to make it on that day. They can mittee ca me down hard against that, There had been a conference in late ent ourselves as appealing to the Dem­ get off duty on Easter easier than other including the YSA and the SWP. I was 1965 of the National Coordinating ocratic Party delegates to nominate a days, and this demonstration had been the SWP spokesman in this argument. Committee to End theW ar in Vietnam, different candidate. That's the reason specifically called as a GI-civilian dem­ We pointed out that it was generally which was the national coalition at the we were not involved in this demon­ onstration against the war. never a good idea to seek those con­ time. stration. It was a political reason. That's what that particular phrase frontations, but it was particularly At this conference there was a dis­ But this letter we now know was refers to. important to avoid any arrest situation pute, an argument that dominated the written from the FBI purporting to There was some argument between on this demonstration because there conference. It was essentially over come from somebody in ROC, the the two dates and finally we settled on would be active duty Gis involved. It is what slogan was to be used, whether it l{adical Organizing Committee, defiles April 5th and even those of us who one thing for a student to get arrested would be immediate withdrawal or the SWP for being cowardly and not were in favor of the other date agreed and spend the night in jail. It is something like bring the troops home wanting to engage in fights with the to go on April 5th. another thing for a GI to get arrested. now, some form of withdrawal, or some police and that was one of the tricks That's what that refers to. He gets in trouble with his service and other slogan that implied that the that these FBI people wanted to do. Q: Turning your attention to the it is much more serious. United States should stay there for On the one hand they'd accuse us third paragraph- some period of time. of secretly advocating violence and on Griesa: So this letter criticizes Keep it peaceful In this discussion the Young Social­ the other hand go around the move­ what? So, it was very important and I was ment and rail against us because we the chief marshal, appointed the chief ist Alliance and the Socialist Workers Halstead: Well, there was a lot of didn't and because we eschewed it and marshal of this demonstration ,· and Party argued strongly for the imme­ heat about this argument, about dates, did everything we could to keep it organized the monitors to keep it diate withdrawal position. so they criticized the Fifth Avenue The discussion became very heated peaceful. peaceful. Peace Parade Committee for making it Now, this is a statement villifying and as I say the movement was almost on the 5th, I suppose. split. There was considerable heat 'Notes from Sandcastle' the SWP and the YSA a nd Matilde . absorbed by the Young Socialist Al­ Q: Did you ever receive an a­ It is a ridiculous, tendentious state­ Zimmermann, who was a prominent liance and the Socialist Workers Party nonymous letter entitled 'Notes ment that somebody was afraid to member of the SWP, for not wanting to in many circles for having fought so from the Sandcastle'? have it on Easter because, according to fight with the police. That's what hard at that conference for their point A: Yes. this, they would be afraid that the "pigs" means here. of view. Q: I hand you Plaintiffs' Exhibit "Christian World" would beat us up or "You will n ever see Matilde Zimmer­ It was in this context that this letter 214AA for identification. something. That's absurd, but that's mann with battle wounds, chums," arrived, trying to stir up the differen­ Is this the letter you referred to? what they are referring to. and so on. This was the sort of thing ces and add to the vilification about us; A: This is a copy of it, yes. There was some heat about the dis- that the FBI was trying to sell in the make it more personal and more bitter. Griesa: When you said 'arrived,' what did you mean? ./ F.:'.:l( vxrn:n ~rsru covJ~ t;,.,;\i~'""r . .... Halstead: Received it in the mail, without a return address. It was an Memorandwn anonymous letter-in that sense "ar­ -I&VUNIT£0'? rive." Other people received it, too. Not ·~ . . only people in the SWP but other _.SOCIALIST •:OilX!:P.S P~ - --DISTfoUI'TIOll PitOGMM people in other organizations told me ' ;IS-SUI!. they received this letter and what was I it all about. Some of the more experienced people recognized that it was something from outside the movement but we didn't know just where. It was just some sinister force trying to stir up differences. Other people were misled .by it. It wasn't until we got this document from the FBI that we knew that it was of FBI origirr. Davis: [Introduces a poison-pen letter FBI wrote and circulated in 1968.] Mr. Halstead, did the re come a time when you r eceived a letter regarding the SWP and YSA p a r­ ticipation in demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968? A: Yes. Q: I direct your attention to the paragraph whe r e it says: In 1970 the FBI mailed a red-baiting leaflet, supposedly from an antiwar activist, to 'cause disruption in the peace movement 'So over 100,000 protesting .•• and to minimize the growing Influence of the SWP.'

26 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 movement, villifying us for wanting the mail in an envelope without any lot of prominent figures in the Black awful lot of our time in meetings. peaceful, legal demonstrations. return address. community in Washington [were Q: Mr. Halstead, as part of your Now, this demonstration did occur. It contains a picture of two geese, listed] on the letterhead. participation in the National It did have a hundred or more than a one marked "New MOBE" being vio­ We didn't know at the time but this Peace Action Coalition did you hundred active duty Gis in tront of the lated by one marked the "SWP," and had been a genuine group which had have occasion to travel abroad? demonstration, out of uniform, but some vile language about the SWP and been put together for some particular A: Yes, on an occasion in 1972, there identified with a paper hat that said myself and other people. activity. That activity had passed and was a conference called in Paris, the "Gis for Peace" and of course they had Q: Directing your attention to was over and the group was actually World Conference on Peace and Inde­ the GI haircut, which most students the period of February 1970, can defunct but the individuals listed on pendence for Indochinese people. It did not have in those days. you _briefly describe the situation the letterhead were real individuals. was sponsored by the Stockholm Peace We had one difficult time preventing in the antiwar movement leading We received that letter and it con­ Conference of the World Peace Council a confrontation because there was a to this letter, to this leaflet? tained within it a demand upon the and it was held in Versailles, a suburb group that came into that demonstra­ A: Yes, once again the movement antiwar coalition that it pay one dollar of Paris. tion, headed by a man called Demmerle, was in a crisis; there were centrifugal per demonstrator who was going to I attended that as part of an NPAC a group called Crazies, who had forces and there were many people come -to Washington. That it would delegation. poles, on the end of which they had falling away. We had a very successful have been hundreds of thousands of Q: Can you briefly describe what placed pigs' heads that they had demonstration in the fall, which was dollars to the Black United Front. took place at this conference? bought at butcher shops and they the Moratorium, November 15th. And This created terrible consternation A: Yes. There were two American walked into that demonstration and people were very hopeful it would inside the committee. There were those delegations there. By this time another they taunted the police, wherever the affect the government but we were told of us who looked at it and said well, coalition called the Peoples Coalition police were, with these pigs' heads. Our that it had no effect at all, that the this is just ridiculous on the face of it, for Peace and Justice had been formed monitors had to separate them off. It president watched a football game and it is some kind of a phony. These in the United States. There were actu­ was rather difficult but it was a very so on and people believed that, a lot of people wouldn't do this. ally two national antiwar coalitions large demonstration, something like people believed that was true. But there were others who felt very there, the National Peace Action Coali­ 100,000. We now know it had a great effect sensitive about the .fact there weren't tion and the other one. Each sent its When they finally got up to the but at the time it wasn't public and so very many Black people in the leader- own delegation to this conference. bandshell in Central Park, the Gls there was a lot of frustration and There was a discussion there on the were sitting on benches in front of the elements of division. Once again, the various proposals made by these two stage, there were a few policemen there SWP and the YSA were hanging in delegations as well as other proposals at the stage. It was city property and there trying to keep it together, and made for action, demonstrations, pro­ they had the policemen there to guard this is just another attempt to ridicule testing the war in Vietnam around the it and these people with the pigs' heads us and for that. The New Mobilization world. came up near to where the Gis were Committee was in crisis. It did almost Then there was a resolution passed and taunted the police and tried to dissolve except that-as a matter of which included part of the NPAC provoke them with these pigs' heads. fact I attended a meeting which was proposal, which was a demonstration Fortunately on that occasion these for the purpose of dissolving the organ­ for April 22, 1972. There were dele­ officers were particularly cool and did ization and while we were in that gations there from all the Indochinese not provoke and our monitors were meeting, the news came that Cambo­ countries, as well as from many coun­ able to separate that situation out. dia had been invaded. So we set that tries around the world. But it was very close, very close. point aside and went ahead and organ­ I participated in informal conversa­ There could have been a violent con­ ized the demonstration against that._ tion with a number of them. That is frontation right-involving these Gis. what happened at the conference. A number of them could have been Disruption Program Q: Did you have occasion to involved in it and gotten arrested and Davis: Your Honor, I would like speak with any representatives of been in real trouble. And that's what ·to call your attention to the cover the National Liberation Front at this letter, that sort of thing is what memo of that dated 2/13/70, to this conference? this letter is aimed to provoke. And Director FBI from SAC [Special A: Yes, I spoke to one representative that was paid for with our tax money. Agent in Charge] New York en­ of the National Liberation Front of , Silak: I move to strike the last titled 'Disruption Program' where Militant/Harry Ring South Vietnam over lunch. statement of the witness, your Ho­ it indicates the leaflet 'Fly United' A.J. Muste: 'He was one of the people Two things stand out in my mind nor. was sent to 230 selected individu­ who was Instrumental In Introducing In about the conversation: Griesa: Motion denied. als and organizations in the New the American strike movement In the One was that he recognized me. He Q: You mentioned Mr. Demmer­ Left and related groups. 1930s the sit-down strike. He was a · said he recognized me from my pic­ le. The second paragraph in that piece of American history and venerat­ tures in the Militant, which indicated What role, if any, did he have in same exhibit indicates: ed as such.' that he had read it and apparently this demonstration? 'The leaflet was designed to followed the American scene with cause disruption in the peace ship committees at that time. There some closeness. Surfaced as informer movement primarily in the New had been earlier. The second thing was that I asked A:-He led the Crazies, the group Mobilization Committee to End the The two most prominent Black fig­ him if it were true, a report that I had called the Crazies, with the pigs' War in Vietnam and to minimize ures who were promineRtly against the seen that the NLF had given instruc­ heads. the growing influence of the SWP war were Malcolm X and Martin tions to its military units not to fire And he later surfaced as an FBI in the movement. It is also de­ Luther King and both had been assas­ upon American Gls if they were not informer in a different case, a case not signed to cause consternation and sinated by this time. fired upon. He said that· was true. involving the antiwar movement, confusion in the SWP itself.' That by that time in the war they years later -showed up testifying, What is more there were many other crises going on in the Black commun­ had become convinced the majority of turned out he was an FBI informant, * * * the American Gls were not in favor of and had been. ity. Most of the Black leaders, while Davis: [Introduces letter FBI circu­ the war. I said I had become convinced Griesa: In what organization? there were many against the war, were lated in 1970, with expressed aim "to of that also. Halstead: In the Crazies. not spending their time on -these com­ cause splits within NMC (New Mobili­ But he went on and said they are not Griesa: You don't claim he was mittees. - zaton Committee) leadership by pitting even being ordered into offensive com­ an FBI informant in the SWP? So there was a disproportionate rep­ the non-Trotskyites against radicals bat. They are generally being kept Halstead: No, he was not. He defi­ resentation and this was a matter of who are members of the SWP."] around their bases. nitely was not. In one of these, in the concern to all of us. Have you ever received a copy of But some of the people on the com­ The main problem now was the Crazies, I suppose, . but where he sur­ bombing. Then I asked him how the faced in the court case was in regard to this? mittee thought we should negotiate A: Yes. Once again I received this in with this group and got ahold of some­ population was standing up under another group that had nothing to do that. He said it was very difficult but with the antiwar movement. the mail without any return address. one who claimed to be from the Black Q: I direct your attention specif­ United Front and went through long they weren't going to break under it. Davis: Your Honor, I would like That was about it. to direct your attention for a mo­ ically to the third paragraph, negotiations and didn't get anywhere. where it says: In the first place we didn't have any Judge Griesa: Is that the same ment to the cover memorandum group called the Vietcong? attached to this letter and direct­ 'Over the past several years the such money, and there was no possibil­ Trotskyites have literally taken ity of paying it. Halstead: Yes, the NLF was re­ ing your attention to the first pa­ ferred to by its enemies as the Viet­ ragraph where it says, 'The note control of the body proper and have repeated resisted efforts to Forged letter cong. from the Sandcastle was sent to Q: Where did you see a report on individuals and organizations just recruit black brothers into NMC Finally it came out that one of the leadership. In addition they have very prominent figures, Julius Hobson, the National Liberation Front pol­ prior to their participation in the icy? demonstration on April 5, 1969.' seen fit to use the good offices of the first elected Black representative in the NMC to further their own poli­ Washington-he was on the school A: It was reported in the newspap­ The last sentence in that para­ tical aspirations, nebulous as they board and that was the first elected ers here and it was unconfirmed. I just graph states that the letter 'was are. - position in the city there-he told us, wanted to ask that question of him. designed to disrupt plans for the 'I have been sicked on more than look, this is phony, forget it. He ex­ Q: Did you have any other occa­ demonstration and create ill-will one occasion by the promises made plained what this group was and some­ sion to speak outside the United between SWP /YSA and other par­ to the Black United Front, prom­ body is pulling your leg. States regarding the anti-Viet­ ticipating non-Trotskyist groups ises not kept; promises made with After that it was resolved, and it nam War movement? and individuals.' the mouth and not the heart. The turned out this letter had been written Judge Griesa: Wait a minute. When you talked about the This document is captioned 'SWP attitude of the Steering Committee by the FBI, forged and written by the toward the UF was and is. a matter FBI. bombing, you understood him to Disruption Program,' 214AA. I mean the U.S., the only problem would like to submit it into evi­ of disgrace.' We know that because the FBI man was the U.S. bombing? dence. Are these statements correct? who did it left the FBI and wrote a long article about it in the New York Halstead: Not the only problem. A: No, they are slanders. This mat­ They wanted the American troops out * * * Review of Books. ter of the Black United Front [came up] Q: What effect, if any, did this but the way their people were getting Q: Did there come a time when during the time we were organizing the letter have? killed in the north was by U.S. bombs. you received a copy of the leaflet November 15, 1969, Moratorium. The Griesa: How were the other peo­ entitled 'Fly United'? committee received a letter on a letter­ A: This caused considerable discus­ ple getting killed? There were A: Yes. Once again I received this in head which said Black United Front. A sion and bad feelings and took up an Continued on next page

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 27 POLITICAL POLICE ON TRIAL

Continued from preceding page see what was going on, what the new Q: At the time that he became a States the usage is very narrow. It some other people getting killed regime was like, what had happened. pacifist he had left the Marxist refers to somebody who is principally besides their people, right? I visited the sections of Managua in movement? opposed to violence as such, even in Halstead: Yes, sir. which the uprisings had taken place, A: He had been a pacifist to begin self-defense, and who eschews it. Griesa: Did you check into that? the large working-class section, a nd with ba:ck in the First World War. Eschews carrying arms, for exa mple, Halstead: There was fighting going talked to the people who had taken Q: How do you know that? under any conditions, even in self-de­ on between the Saigon Army-the arms in hand and risen against the A: I know it from reading history fense. ARVN-and the NLF. This was a civil National Guard, fought and held their books about that period. There was one That is what Muste was in the First war. neighborhoods for about two weeks, a that I would recommend you read, by World War, up through the early '30s. The Americans were backing the little more than two weeks, were forced Nat Hentoff, called A Biography of But the experience of the strikes and ARVN with air cover and bombing but to retreat to a city to the south called A.J. Muste. the many times successful attempts to by that time the Americans, according Masaya. A.J. Muste was a Lutheran preacher crush them with violence and the to him, were not generally being sent I went there and I spoke to a number in the First World War. He found methods that the workers had to use in into ground combat. They were in of people there who were in that fight­ himself opposed to that war on a order to defend their picket lines, made positions around their bases. ing. That's where they fought until pacifist basis, being opposed .to vio­ him modify his views somewhat. He Under those conditions he said their they defeated the National Guard and lence. still tried to introduce the methods-be­ people had orders not to fire upon the Somoza left the country. He found himself unable to counsel cause at that time he was a leader of Americans unless fired upon. I took pictures of the people and the · the families of the soldiers who had some of these strikes-of nonviolence, buildings and the damage of the earth­ been killed along the lines that were by which he meant Gandhian n on-vio­ * * * quake that had happened in 1972 suggested, that he should tell them this lence. It has a particular meaning. which the Somoza regime had not re­ was necessary for the defense of the It means revolutionary positive ac­ Q: Did you ever attend any built and so on, and interviewed chil­ country and so on. He found that he tion of a massive kind that does not meeting of the International Exec­ dren and all sorts of people. could not believe that. use violence. He was one of the people utive Committee of the Fourth In­ When I came back to the United So he left the pastorage and went to who was instrumental in introducing ternational? States I made a little tour and gave a the Quakers. into the American strike movement in A: Yes. talk with a slide show from these Pardon me if I am little bit non­ the 1930s the sit-down strike. Q: Do you recall when that was? pictures in solidarity with the Sandi­ plussed. It is something that young You see, before that you would have A: That was sometime toward the nista revolution. people should know. situations where the m ajority of the end of 1972, also in Europe. Q: Did you ever meet with any Q: Mr. Halstead, you testified workers in a plant would want the Q: Can you briefly describe what members or· sections of the Fourth before that Mr. Muste was one of union, would even vote for it, would go took place at that meeting? International while you were in the founders of the antiwar move­ out on strike. A: As I recall, the part that inter­ Nicaragua? ment. Was everyone who was in­ But there were many unemployed in ested me, that I spoke on at least, was A: There is no Nicaraguan section volved in the antiwar movement various places that the bosses could a discussion about Latin America. I of the Fourth International and there someone you described as a paci­ hire under the press of hunger to walk spoke very strongly against the posi­ was not at that time. But there were fist? through the picket lines th at they tion taken by the Ninth World Con­ other visitors from afar who were A: No. In the United States the word couldn't hold it. gress, the guerrillaist position, and in members of the sections of the Fourth pacifist, the usage in American Eng­ So fights would start on the picket favor of the view that the tendency in International. lish is somewhat different than over­ line. To avoid that, Muste, a mong resistance to the military dictatorships As a matter of fact, Hugo Blanco seas. others, introduced the idea of occupy­ in Latin America would tend to be in was there, had come from Peru also to For example, in Japan the word ing the plant, sitting down in the plant the cities among large populations and take a look a t the Nicaraguan revolu­ pacifist refers to anybody involved in so you could win a strike without vio­ unions and so on. tion and there were two or three people the peace movement. But in the United lence. That was confirmed in my view by there from Europe and another Ameri­ my trip .to Argentina where I went to can or two who were members of the report on the election campaign there. Socialist Workers Party, Barry Shep­ Judge Griesa: How did you char­ pard, I think was one of them, and we acterize it, the guerrillaist posi­ met sort of as an ad hoc group of tion? members of the Fourth International Halstead: Well, there was one posi­ and friends and excha nged views of tion which was that under the military what we thought about this situation dictatorships in Latin America, that and this new regime and the Sandinis­ the only way that could be effectively tas. We decided that we were plea- fought, because it would be so tight . santly surprised and pleased by what and nothing could happen in the ordi­ we found there and that the govern­ nary political way among the city ment seemed to be doing about the best populations or urban populations, was it could for the common people under from the countryside with epoch long the circumstances, that the Sandinis­ rural guerrilla warfare. That was the tas were a genuine revolutionary position. group. We decided to recommend to the Then there was the other position, sections of the Fourth International that it was more likely that urba n that they pay close attention to these masses would become involved, that developments. there would be all sorts of different kinds of democratic openings and de­ CROSS EXAMINATION velopments for working in unions, and Silak: Mr. Halstead, yesterday so on. That was the other position. you referred to an A.J. Muste, a Griesa: The majority position prominent pacifist, one who was was the first one about guerrilla active early years of the antiwar warfare? movement in the mid '60s. Halstead: It had been at the Ninth Is the person you referred to World Congress. yesterday the same A.J. Muste Griesa: In 1969? who with James Cannon formed Halstead: Yes. At least that was the Workers Party in 1934? the position adopted. I wasn't there. A: One and the same. I was as sur­ Guardian/Jerzy Griesa. But that was the major­ prised as you were to find that out. I Sign of the times: anti-Reagan protest on street below courthouse April 23, during ity position at the Ninth World thought he was a historical figure who Halstead's testimony. Songs and speeches from demonstration could be clearly Congress, right? disappeared somewhere and I re­ heard in courtroom, as Halstead told of FBI efforts to disrupt such actions. Halstead: That is my understand­ member some time I found he was still ing. alive, had become the most prominent Griesa: The second position was American pacifist. Out Now! A Participant's Ac­ the position you were speaking in All that time he h ad maintained count of the American Move­ favor of, right? friendly relations with everybody that ment Against the Vietnam War Halstead: Yes. ha d been associated with him even by Fred Halstead. Davis: [Questions Halstead about · though he disagreed with them on two visits to Argentina during rise of various political points. He was a piece • A vivid and valuable account of a mass popular workers movement there, about his of American history and venerated as movement that had a tremendous impact on election to Control Commission of such. modern history .. . an important contnbution. Fourth International in 1974, and It was one of the reasons why he Noam Chomsky about meetings of commission h e at­ could help to bring this movement tended. Then asks:] together on a n ational scale for the Have you had occasion to travel • Out Now' is an exceptionally well-researched first time in a really effective way. He and interesting book. abroad subsequent to the meetings succeeded in doing that just before he Sidney Lens you just described? died at the age of 81. It was his last great work. Trip to Nicaragua Q: Did h e ev er b elong to the • Out Now' brings back v1v idly the who le sto ry of the struggle to end the Vietnam War. It is told by A: Aside from fishing trips to Mexi­ Socialist Worke r s Party? . one of the key o rgan1zers who knew personally all co, I think that- I think the only time A: No. The Socialist Workers Party the others. and he pulls no punches. It tells not was when I went to Nicaragua. was formed in 1938. Muste h ad only how the vanous demonstrations were carried out. but of the angu 1shed controversy and dedica- In late August of 1979, about six dropped out of the Marxist movement tion that went into the planning · weeks after the triumph of the Sandi­ in 1936, had gone back to the church, Dr. Benjamin Spock nista forces against the Somoza forces ha d become I think by 1938- he was in Nicaragua, I went there then. I probably a pastor a t the Presbyterian stayed for less than two weeks. The Labor Temple, something like tha t. A Monad Press book. 759 pages. 59.95 (1 nclude purpose of my trip was, a nd this was Later on he came on the staff of the $.75 for postage). O rder from Pa! h f , ~~ er Press 4 1 0 West Street. New York. Ne ., v : ·• ' JC: '! an exciting development, I wanted to Fellowship of Reconciliation.

1HE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 . Demonstrators say no New England safe energy meeting On Saturday, May 16, the New Sweitzer, national legislative repre- England Labor-C onference for Safe sentative, Brotherhood of Railway Energy and Full Employment will and Airline Clerks; Jerry Gordon, to Rocky Flats plant hold a conference for trade union- national coordinator, Labor Com- By Rose Peery posed today, more clearly than ever ists to discuss nuclear power ha- mittee for Safe Energy and Full DENVER-''The United Mine Work- before in the history of this country is zards and the nuclear industry's Employment; and Charles Kama- ers give support to your rally, and I'm guns or butter," he said. "No longer effect on jobs. noff, economist and energy consul- glad to be here today. The striking guns and butter. It's either guns, for Featured speakers for the confer- tant for New York State. miners also need your support." the nuclear arsenal, or butter, for hu­ ence are Tom Twomey, national Gene Duran, representative of the man needs." director of COMPAC, United Mine The conference will be held at the Coal Miners Political Action Commit­ Gordon also called on the marchers Workers of America; Kevin Mahar, Kennedy School of Government, tee from United Mine Workers District to support the mine workers. "When president, International Union of Harvard University. Registration 15, was greeting 5,000 people who had the miners, the United Mine Workers, Electrical Workers Local 201; Don begins at 9 a.m. marched to the state capitol here April marched on Washington March 9 to 25. preserve black lung programs, they They were demanding an end to the were saying No! in their own way to building of plutonium triggers for nu­ Reagan's war program." clear warheads at the Rocky Flats Later in the rally, Patrick Thomp­ plant, sixteen miles from Denver. It son, a former worker at the Rocky Steelworkers march was the fourth annual demonstration Flats plant, spoke. He had been a demanding the plant be shut down. pipefitter at the plant until he left in The demonstration started at the 1975 after being contaminated. He Auraria Higher Education Center. Al­ stressed that workers at the plant did against Bailly nuke most 4,000 people marched from there not like building bombs. to the capitol. Many contingents par­ "The interest we can show in produc­ By Jon Hillson fired plants," Balanoff said to a round ticipated, including one from a high ing Ptlaceful, non-destructive jobs for BURNS HARBOR, Ind.-Nearly 800 of cheers. "We in the l!nit~d Steel- school. these people is going to be what they anti-nuclear power demonstrators, led workers are for progress, hfe: Jobs, and About a dozen railroad workers from really need," he said. by a contingent of some 200 Steel- protection. Nuclear e~ergy 1s not t~e various unions passed out information workers, protested the construction of power and the energy of the future. _It s Father Ron Weissbeck , a Catholic OQ. the April 29 actions called to protest the Bailly 1 reactor here on April 25. the energy of death and destructwn, priest from Fort Collins, Colorado, cuts in Conrail and Amtrak. Some The cheering, chanting, sign-waving and we're against it." called for "joining our brothers and members from a Teamsters union local action dwarfed an earlier, pro-nuclear Balanoff was seconded by Fred sisters in El Salvador who are strug­ participated, as well as several health counter-demonstration of seventy Hershberger, president of USWA Local gling for our basic dignity." workers. called by the Lake County Leadership 12775, which represents NIPSCO's · Jerry Gordon of the Labor Commit­ Other speakers addressed the prob­ Council, a local group of Reaganite production workers. The utility, he tee. for Safe Energy and Full Employ­ lem of uranium mining, particularly on businessmen, lawyers, and building said, "doesn't care about you, they care ment addressed the rally. "The issue Native American lands. trades union officials. about the almighty dollar. That's their The antinuclear march was called by only criteria. They only want to make the Bailly Alliance and Porter County money, not save lives and protect the Citizens Concerned About Bailly. Citi- public around this area." zens Against Nuclear Power, based in · USWA Local 6787 at Bethlehem Wash. antilabor bill nearby Chicago, cosponsored the event Steel, 500 yards from the Bailly site, along with Indiana United Steel- organized the biggest union contingent targets ferry workers By John Sorenson In response to this, labor officials, lib­ SEATILE-Legislation to put Wash­ eral Democrats, and Gov. Spellman ington state ferry system workers un­ reached an informal agreement for com­ der state civil service, eliminating pulsory arbitration of all disputes in the union representation and outlawing vital Puget Sound ferryboat transporta­ strikes, has been enacted by both houses tion system. of the state legislature here and awaits All such "compromise" solutions now only the signature of the Republican appear to have failed, and there is talk governor, John Spellman, to become among union members and officials of a law. general strike as a "last resort." If Spellman does not sign the anti­ Under these circumstances, an exten­ union bill and refuses to veto it, it auto­ sive discussion among workers has been matically becomes law on May 19. provoked by the dictatorial stance of the A veto is being urged by the union politicians in the two capitalist parties. movement and by some influential sec­ Worker militancy was demonstrated tors of the employing class. Gov. Spell­ in the fifteen-day strike of 1,000 tugboat man has criticized the draconian legis­ workers that halted shipping in Puget lation and claims to favor a more moder­ Sound and Alaska earlier this year. ate form of union control, retaining a no­ That strike was settled when members strike clause, but providing for union re­ of the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pa­ cognition. cific (IBU) voted to return to work. They The bill would allow possible $5,000- went back on March 31, having won a-day fines for a union that violates a most of their demands. Dangers of nuclear power brought out many unionists and environmental activists. court injunction against striking. The way the strike was conducted and On April 6 ferryboat workers carried the gains that were made is an example workers locals 1010, 6787, 12775, 13796 at the rally. Local 6787 President out a twelve-hour walkout to protest the of the changes going on in the union and 1834 and the Porter County Cen­ David Wilborn led it in chanting, "No threatened legislation. The politicians movement. tral Labor Council. nukes!" in the state capitol called the strike When the IBU returned to work, In February 1981, the Nuclear Regu­ He blasted the steel giant for giving "blackmail." strike coordinator Barry Binsky an­ latory Commission (NRC) gave the its blessing to the neighboring nuclear nounced "a tentative agreement con­ Northern Indiana Public Service Com­ generating station. "Bethlehem Steel tingent on the resolution of three adden­ pany (NIPSCO), Bailly's owners, the ain't never told us the truth," Wilborn dums to the master contract." His state­ green light to drill pilings for the plant, said. "They've always lied to us. They ment contrasts with the usual pledges of despite the failure of the nuke to meet want 600 workers to stay inside that Subscribe to "mutual respect and cooperation" of­ any of the NRC's site guidelines. · [steel] plant and close it dowh [in the fered by union officials and employers Construction had been stopped in event of a Bailly emergency]. That's Intercontinental Press when strikes are concluded. September 1979, when NIPSCO's li­ their evacuation plan. Do I see any Intercontinental Press is a unique The effectiveness of the tugboanitrike cense expired. Its renewal, and the volunteers?" source for political developments by a union that only one year earlier start up of drilling, has sparked in­ Not a hand went up. throughout the world . IP is the only Eng­ had been thought by employers to be creased anger here, particularly in the According to the NRC, Wilborn said, lish-language magazine with a full-time weak and almost helpless is testimony labor movement. nuclear plants are supposed to be built bureau in Nicaragua, providing weekly to the power of union solidarity on the "Steelworkers in northern Indiana in "non-populous areas." But 6,000 reports on the development of the revo­ Pacific Coast. are sick and tired of being ripped off by USW A members work at the mill. "I lutionary upsurge in Central America. IP Last year the Inlandboatmen freed corporations like NIPSCO," USWA guess the NRC doesn't think steel­ correspondents provide our readers themselves from organizational ties District 31 Director James Balan off workers are people," he.said. with in-depth coverage of events such with the corrupt Seafarers Internation• told the crowd at the Bailly gate. The Wilborn said NIPSCO's recent major as the Iranian revolution, the freedom al Union and subsequently voted to af­ energy monopoly will "do anything to accident at Bethlehem ~hould convince struggle in South Africa, and the filiate with the International Long­ make a fast buck." anyone of the dangers of the Bailly workers struggle in Poland. shoremen's and Warehousemen's Bailly, Balanoff said, is a "threat to nuke. Many of the documents, speeches, Union. the health and life of working people The multi-million-dollar accident last and interviews we publish appear no­ At the present time, with the antila­ and our families." The head of the month turned the northwestern Indi­ where else in English. Why not sub­ bor bill now before the governor, union 110,000-member district, USWA's larg­ ana night-time sky orange frorri huge scribe? solidarity is badly needed. The April 6 est, questioned how other labor unions mill fires. More than 300 workers are $35 for one year. strike by ferry workers, the first politi­ make their energy policy decisions. In still laid off after damages crippled cal strike here in a long time, shows the $17.50 for six months. District 31, he said, "we do it by sections of the workplace. determination of unionists to resist such $8.75 for three months. discussion and voting. The last three A day after the demonstration, the laws. 41 0 West Street district conferences voted against results of a Gary Post-Tribune poll New York, N.Y. 10014 Bailly being built." showed only 34 percent of northwest­ John Sorenson is a former member of Nuclear power should be replaced by ern Indiana residents favor the com­ the Sailors Union. "cheaper, safer, cleaner, modern coal- pletion of the nuclear power plant.

MAY 15, 1981 THE MILITANT 29 The Great Society Harry Ring

Affinity group-Tricky Dick Congressional wit-As the Senate confidence were only business and ad hired to help improve the public image Nixon, who was pardoned for any Commerce Committee approved Rea­ execs and Congress members. of cops. crimes he may have committed while gan's proposal to ice most passenger president, sent bottles of champagne to train service, Sen. Barry Goldwater Right off-Seeking re-election, Pas­ Felt and Miller, the convicted FBI waggishly suggested the surplus cars saic city council member Joseph Lipari For your coffee table-A New burglars whom Reagan pardoned. Said could be used to base the portable MX had a campaign slogan in Spanish York publisher is offering a book that Miller, "I think he's a fabulous guy." missiles. He might have added that if urging people to vote for him. But an assertedly contains excerpts from the the Pentagon ran them like Conrail alleged typographical error turned writings of the world's greatest Cut their tongues out?­ did, it would scare the Russians to "vote" to "bote," or throw out. thinkers, bound in what is described as Ultraright Sen. S.I. Hayakawa says he death. a rare wood and gilded in 24-karat intends to introduce a constitutional gold. $2,500. amendment making English the sole Militant subscription, anyone?­ A good cop is hard to find-The official language. With so many Span­ A growing number of readers of the Dade County, Florida, sheriffs office is ish-speaking people here, he's afraid capitalist press are learning the score. offering $500 finder's fees to people How about dogs, cats and canar­ that by the year 2000 they'll be de­ In a poll, 61 percent said they believed who help recruit deputies for the Mi­ ies?-Pope John Paul II says nudity manding to make Spanish a second "little" or "only some" of the news. ami area. Two ad agencies, one white­ robs the human body of dignity and official language. Ranking below journalists in public owned, the other Black, have been moral character.

Union Talk El Salvador: Seattle-machinists talk out issues The following column is by Boeing worker be suppressed. The struggle in El Salvador is not a movement has fought for years to get. We need to Jim Levitt, a member of Seattle's Interna­ struggle for 'communism' imposed from outside. It oppose his attempts to _get us into another war." tional Association of Machinists and Aero­ is a fight that grows from the real conditions faced These remarks, too, are met with applause and space Workers, District 751, Local C. Levitt by the Salvadoran people." some shouts of "right on." also works with the Labor Task Force of the He thanks us for listening to him. The audience The discussion continues under new business, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El has been attentive throughout. . with a resolution calling for an end to all U.S. Salvador. Local President Warren returns to the micro­ military and economic aid to the governing junta in phone. He has recently attended an lAM legislative El Salvador. Five or six people speak, including April16, 1:15 a.m. About 125 members of Interna­ conference in Washington, D.C., where he heard a several whom I have never seen before. tional Ass6ciation of Machinists and Aerospace presentation on El Salvador. "It's obvious," he A young steward from the Everett plant recalls a workers District 751, Local C, are attending the says, "that there's a lot more happening in El tale of oppression of Salvadoran farm workers he second-shift local meeting. Local C, with over 12,000 Salvador than we're hearing about." He hopes the had heard from a family friend ten years ago. After members, is the largest of four locals representing members will discuss this a bit under good and the meeting he will buy a "Stop U.S. Intervention in the work force at Boeing's Seattle area plants. welfare. This is the first time I've heard a union El Salvador" button and ask for five more. Tonight's meeting is a bit smaller than usual. official encourage discussion on a big political The debate is interesting in many respects. It is Fewer of the young workers are here. Many of the issue. completely open and free of name-calling. A motion members in attendance are shop stewards. It looks Good and welfare rolls around. Eva, a machinist to table the resolution, a favorite maneuver used to to be another uneventful meeting. apprentice and a · member of the Committ.ee in kill discussion, is voted down by the membership. Local President Ralph Warren opens the meeting Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, takes The question surfaces again and again, "Is this with the pledge to the flag. Minutes from last Warren up on his suggestion to discuss El Salvador. union business?" month. Then a surprise: at the very last minute he The next speaker is an older man who is upset by A sizable number of the members say yes, al­ has received a request for a guest speaker, whom he the discussion. "When I come down here at one though not enough to pass the resolution. The "yes" has then invited. Would we please ·welcome Ricardo o'clock in the morning I want to talk about union vote includes some members who only a month ago Melara, representative of the Democratic Revolu­ business. If people want to talk about El Salvador voted against a union resolution condemning Klan­ tionary Front of El Salvador? or the ERA or other things like that, they should type attacks. Some of those who vote no or abstain Speaking through a translator, Melara explains stay around and do it after the union meeting." He want to learn more about El Salvador and the U.S. that he and five other FDR representatives are on is greeted by applause from about half the role there. And many still have their doubts that tour in the United States to reach the North Ameri­ members. this is "union business" since it doesn't pertain to can people with "the facts about the situation in El I take the floor to explain that this is union our contract with Boeing. Salvador, · and to appeal to us to halt . the U.S. business. "Our tax dollars are going to support a But no one spoke up in support of U.S. interven­ intervention in his country. military dictatorship that crushes unions. If Rea­ tion in El Salvador. No one professed belief in He tells us, "Union rights in El Salvador do not gan succeeds in sending more troops to El Salvador, Reagan's "white paper" on the war there. The best exist." He points out that many of the union halls we know who they'll be: some of our members, or political discussion in Distriet 751 in years made it in El Salvador have been bombed. "Any meeting our brothers and sons. We're opposed to Reagan's very clear that no one is ready to march off to war. like this would be considered subversive and would cuts in social services-services that the union The "Vietnam syndrome" is alive and well. What's Going On

CALIFORNIA film. Fri. , May 15, 7:30 p.m. 3883 Broadway. Dona­ St. and Broadway. Ausp: May 16th Coalition. For tion: $1 .50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more informa­ more information call (212) 580-481 3 or 683-2084. UTAH SAN FRANCISCO tion call (219) 884-9509. SALT LAKE CITY ATLANTA MURDERS: HOW TO STOP RACIST FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN NORTHERN IRE­ ATTACKS. Panel: Mel Mason, Seaside City Council, SCHENECTADY LAND. Speakt~ rs: Dan Dickeson, former writer for Socialist Workers Party; others. Fri., May 15, 7:30 Intercontinental Press/ lnprecor, Socialist Workers p.m. Western Addition YWCA, 1830 Sutter St. Dona­ IRELAND: STRUGGLE AGAINST BRITISH RE· STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM IN NORTHERN IRE­ PRESSION. Speaker: Richard Lucy, vice-president LAND. Speakers: Austin Devine, former Irish politi­ Party; others. Sat., May 16, 7 p.m. 677 S. 700 E. tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information Donation: $1 .50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more call (41 5) 824-1992. of Irish Northern Aid, Chicago. Film: 'The Patriot cal prisoner; Anni McAvoy,. Socialist. Workers Party. Game.' Fri., May 22, 7:30 p.m. 3883 Broadway. Fri., May 15, 7:30p.m. 323 State Street. Donation: $2. information call (801) 355-1 124. Donation: $1 .50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more information DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN ABORTION WAS information call (219) 884-9509. call (518) 374-1494. ILLEGAL? Panel discussion on the Human Life Amendment. Speakers: Page Melish, National Or­ WASHINGTON, D.C. ganization for Women; Patti Post, Religious Coali­ BOBBY SANDS: WHAT HE LIVED FOR. WHAT tion for Abortion Rights; Sylvia Weinstein, Socialist HE DIED FOR. Speakers: Marc Strumpf, Washington Workers Party. Fri., May 22, 8 p.m. 3284 23rd St. MINNESOTA OHIO chapter, Smash H-Biock Committee; Barbara Pryor, Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more infor­ TWIN CITIES TOLEDO recently returned from Northern Ireland. Fri., May mation call (41 5) 824-1992. BEHIND THE STRUGGLE IN NORTHERN IRE­ EVOLUTION VS. 'SCIENTIFIC CREATIONISM.' 115, 8 p. m. 3106 Mt. Pleasant NW . Donation: $2. LAND: 'CREGGAN.' Prize-winning documentary on Speakers: Peter· Archer, Socialist Workers Party; Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information call the struggle in Northern Ireland. Sun., May 17, 7 p.m. others. Sat., May 9, 7:30p.m. 2120 Dorr St. Donation:· (202) 797-7699. Humanities 106, Janet Wallace Fine Arts· Center, $1.50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information GEORGIA Macalester College. Donation: $2. Ausp: M,acCARD call (419) 536-0383. ATLANTA in cooperation with Twin Cities Militant Forum. For FILM: 'WITH THE CUBAN WOMEN.' Speaker: Lea more information call (612) 644-6325. Bockman, Socialist Workers Party, recently returned WEST VIRGINIA from Cuba. Sat., May 9, 7:30 p.m. 509 Peachtree St. NEW YORK CITY MORGANTOWN N.E. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For RALLY. National Black United Front protests SHOULD ABORTION BE LEGAL1 A debate. more information call (404) 872-7229. NEW YORK visit of South African Foreign Minister to U.S. Speakers: Nancy Makler, member United Mine MANHATTAN Wed., May 13, Isaiah Wall, 42nd Stand 1st Ave., Workers Local 1702, Socialist Workers Party; Wanda INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR REPRO­ 12 noon. March to South African Mission, 300 E. Franz, state president, West Virginia Right to Life. INDIANA DUCTIVE RIGHTS. March for reproductive freedom. 42nd St. For more information call (212) 596- Fri., May 15, 7:30 p.m. Pathfinder Bookstore, 957 GARY Sat. , May 16, 12 noon. Assemble at Bryant Park, 6th . 1991. University Ave. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant Fo­ 'EL SALVADOR: REVOLUTION OR DEATH.' A Ave. and 41 st St. Rally at 2 p.m. Union Square, 14th rum. For more information c.all (304) 296-0055.

30 THE MILITANT MAY 15, 1981 Letters

On SWP suit approximately 6,500 people. The testimony by Farrell The people are being· forcibly Dobbs, Jack Barnes, and relocated in the largest mass others in the trial of the U.S. removal of Indian people since government is the best ever the Cherokee Trail of Tears in developed on behalf of the 1800s. The people from the socialism. It tells openly-for J.U.A. have -refused to move all to see and hear-that civil from their traditional rights and constitutional homeland and say that any guarantees are the real such removal would be a form concerns of people, rather than of genocide. the worn-out phrases tossed The federal government about carelessly by Republican fabricated the "Navajo-Hopi and Democratic politicians. land dispute" and consequently John Enestvedt a public law (P.L. 93-531) and Sacred Heart, Minnesota relocation program were formed in order for Peabody Coal and other energy corpotations to gain access to a coal deposit. The federal 'Revitalization'? government recognizes that A report unveiled by the there is twenty-two billion tons director of the Philadelphia of coal lying underneath the library system is entitled, "The lands of the two Nations. Free Library and the On April 18, the Hopis Revitalization of technically got jurisdiction of Philadelphia." the J .U.A. Since that time the It proposes putting branch Traditional Dine People (of libraries on a three-day Teesto) have passed a schedule, having one crew staff resolution to resist relocation two branches, and reducing the and livestock reduction of any holding of adult fiction because kind. "it is easily and inexpensively A.I.M. for Freedom Survival Group available in retail stores." socialism -down here in guerrilla-controlled areas, has that of halfway houses, work If this is revitalization, we'd 1728 8th Avenue Oakland, CA 94606 southwestern Oklahoma. been featured. release centers, victim hate to see what Thomas Atwater Intentionally or not, the reimbursement, and the like. "strangulation" looks like. Lawton, Oklahoma reports have generally been U.S. District Judge W. W. Albert Cassorla . critical of the U.S. Justice has, hopefully, touched Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vietnam coverage government's position, with the conscience of Texans to Thank you very much for ABC 'Nightline' much valuable information that fact, by his decision. your continuing coverage of Militant readers might tune being provided. After all, there was another Federal land grab the revolution in Vietnam. The in ABC's "Nightline" (11:30 M.K. federal order which many The Traditional Dine article in the April 17 edition of p.m. every weekday night). San Diego, California erroneously denounced as "too (Navajo) People and the the Militant on "The This program has had a expensive" and which was traditional Moqui (Hopi) differences between the number of interesting in-depth attacked by several states as People of the former Joint Use Vietnamese and the Chinese reports on El Salvador in the "federal encroachment." It was Social albatross the Emancipation Area (J.U.A.) are now facing revolutions" is especially past month. Several times Alex The Texas prison system is Proclamation. the reduction of their livestock, helpful. Drehsler, the San Diego Union an exorbitantly expensive which is the first major step It is tough, but quite reporter who has written A prisoner monolithic example of man's Texas leading to the relocation of exhilarating, speaking out for interesting reports from inhumanity to man. It is a social and financial albatross which hangs about the neck of all taxpaying Texans; and its The 'Militant' special pri­ concept of picking cotton and soner fund makes it possi­ Our party is your party picking up pecans as ble to send reduced-rate "rehabilitation" only reflects a subscriptions to prisoners horrid, festering sore in society who can't pay for them. To 0 I want to join the SWP. THE MILITANT is the voice of the and a great waste of human help out, send your contri­ 0 Send me __ copies of The Changing Face resources. This need not be. bution to: Militant Prisoner Socialist Workers Party. of U.S. Politics: Building a Party of Socialist To believe that the Texas Subscription Fund, 14 IF YOU AGREE with what you've Workers at $7.95 each, Enclosed is$. ___ prison system does anything Charles Lane, New York, read, you should join us in 0 Please send me more information. but punish is to hallucinate. New York 10014. fighting for a world without Those who say otherwise offer Name only pretexts, while the truth is Address ______war, racism, or exploitation-a hidden by masks of personal City ______socialist world. motives. The letters column is an open State Zip The present imbroglio which forum for all viewpoints on JOIN THE SWP. Fill out this coupon Telephone ______pits the state of Texas against subjects of general interest to and mail it today. Union/Schooi/Org. the U.S. Department of Justice our readers. Please keep your SWP, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. is a good thing. Perhaps now letters brief. Where necessary even the most myopic will be they will be abridged. Please able to see that the most indicate if you prefer that your intelligent, economical, and initials be used rather than JOIN THE SWP common sense approach is your full name. ·. If You Li._ This Paper, Look Us Up Wtiere to lind the Soci•list Workers P.-ty, Young Soei ..•st Alli•nce. •nd soe• ..ist books •nd p.-nphlets

ALABAMA: Birmingham: 8WP, YSA, 205 18th St. S. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 131 W. Main NEW YORK: Capital District (Schenectady): SWP, RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, 52 Earle St., Cen­ Zip: 35233. Tel : (205) 323-3079. #102. Zip: 40202. Tel: (502) 587-8418. YSA, 323 State St. Zip: 12305. Tel: (518) 374-1494. tral Falls. Zip: 02863. ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. McDowelL LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 3207 Dublin St New York, Brooklyn: SWP, YSA, 335 Atlantic Ave. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 Berkman Zip: 85006. Tel: (602) 255-0450. Zip: 70118. Tel : (504) 486-8048. Zip: 11201. Tel : (212) 852-7922. New York, Manhat­ Dr. Zip: 78752. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 5442 E. Grand. CALIFORNIA: Oakland: SWP, YSA, 2864 Telegraph tan: SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip: 10003. Zip: 75223. Tel : (214) 826-4711. Houston: SWP, MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 Green­ Ave. Zip : 94609. Tel : (415) 763-3792. Los Angeles: Tel : (212) 260-6400. New York: City-wide SWP, YSA, YSA, 806 Elgin St #1 . Zip: 77006. Tel : (713) 524- mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel : (301) 235-0013. SWP, YSA, 2211 N. Broadway. Zip: 90031. Tel : (213) 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip : 10003. Tel : (212) 533- 8761 . San Antonio: SWP, YSA, 337 W. Josephine. 225-3126. San Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, P.O. Box 837. Zip: 2902. Zip: 78212. Tel: (512) 222-8398. 92101 . Tel : (714) 234-4630.San Francisco: SWP, 01004. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, YSA, 216 E. 6th UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 677 S. 7th East, 2nd YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel : (415) 824-1992. • Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: 02215. Tel : (617) 262-4621. St, Winston-Salem. Zip: 27101. Tel: (919) 723-3419. Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel : (801) 355-1124. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 44 Race St. Zip: 95126. Tel: MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA. Tel: (313) 663-7068. De­ OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 2531 Gilbert Ave. Zip : VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport News): SWP, (408) 998-4007. troit: SWP, YSA, 6404 Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. 45206. Tel : (513) 751 -2636. Cleveland: SWP, YS(\, YSA, 111 28th St Zip: 23607. Tel : (804) 380-0133. COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. 12th Ave. Tel : (313) 875-5322. 2230 Superior. Zip : 44114. Tel : (216) 579-9369. Tole­ WASHINGTON, D.C. : SWP, YSA, 3106 Mt Pleasant St. Zip: 80204. Tel: (303) 534-8954. MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, YSA, 1012 do: SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel : (419) NW. Zip 20010. Tel : (202) 797-7699. Baltimore-Wa­ FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 1237 NW 119th St. .­ 2nd Ave. South, Virginia, Minn. Send mail to P.O. Box 536-0383. shington District: 3106 Mt. Pleasant St. , NW., Wa­ North Miami. Zip : 331 67 ._ Tel: (305) 769-3478. 1287. Zip: 55792. Tel: (218) 749-6327. Twin Cities: shington, D.C. Zip: 20010. Tel : (202) 797-7021. OREGON: Portland: SWP , YSA, 711 NW Everett. Zip: GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 Peachtree St. NE _ SWP, YSA, 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. PauL Zip: 55104. WASHINGTON: Olympia: YSA, Room 3208, The Ever­ 97209. Tel : (503) 222-7225. Zip 30308. Tel : (404) 872-7229. Tel: (612) 644-6325. green State College. Zip: 98501 . Tel : (206) 866-7332. ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 1301 W. Green, MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, 4715A Troost. PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State Col­ Seattle: SWP, YSA, 4868 Rainier Ave. South_ Zip : Room 284. Zip : 61801 . Chicago: SWP, YSA, 434 S. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. St. Louis: SWP, lege. Zip : 16444. Tel: (814) 734-4415. Harrisburg: . 98118. Tel: (206) 723-5330. Wabash, Room 700. Zip : 60605. Tel: (312) 939-0737. YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 631 30. Tel: (3 14) 725- SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 3255. Zip : 17105. Philadelphia: WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, YSA, Box 3761. INDIANA: Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. Zip : 1570. SWP, YSA, 5811 N_ Broad St Zip : 19141. Tel: (215) Zip : 25337. Tel : (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Indianapolis: SWP, NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP. YSA, 11-A Central Ave . 92 7~4747 or 927-4748. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 1102 YSA, 957 S. University Ave. Zip : 26505. Tel: (304) YSA. 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. Tel: (3 17) 283- Zip : 07102.Tel: (201) 643-3341. E. Carson St. Zip : 15203. Tel: (412) 488-7000. State 296-0055. 6149. • NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, YSA, 1417 Cen­ College: YSA, P.O. Box 464, Bellefonte. Zip: 16823. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 4707 W. Lisbon IOWA: Cedar Falls: YSA, Box 352. Zip: 50613. tral Ave. NE. Zip: 87106. Tel: (505)) 842-0954. Tel : (814) 238-3296. Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 445-2076.

MAY 15; 1981 THE MILITANT 31 THE MILITANT Mothers in Atlanta urge sup rt for May 25 rally Steel union, other labor bodies, endorse action By Suzanne Haig being brutally murdered throughout Three international unions, the Uni­ the nation at alarming rates? ted Steelworkers of America, the Uni­ "For the betterment of our children's ted Food and Commercial Workers, lives, for victory over society's injusti­ and the American Federation of State, ces, we need you in Washington, D.C., County, and Municipal Employees, are on May 25." among the growing list of endorsers of So far buses are being organized in the May 25 rally in Washington, D.C., Boston; Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; Bal­ protesting the killings of Black chil­ timore; New York; St. Louis; Kansas dren in Atlanta. City, Missouri; Jersey City, New Jer­ The action, called by the Committee sey; Buffalo; and Atlanta, according to to Stop the Children's Murders, will a staff member at the committee's take place Monday, Memorial Day, at office in Atlanta. the Lincoln MemoriaL Assembly time Plans are under way for buses to is 11 a.m. The program begins at 1 come from as far away as California p.m. and Toronto, Canada. At a press conference held in Wash­ In New York City, District 1199 of ington April 30 to announce the rally, the National Hospital Union plans to Camille Bell, chairperson of the com­ send twenty buses for members and mittee and mother of Yusef Bell, one of their families and District 65 of the the twenty-six slain childr~n, asked, United Auto Workers is planning to "How in God's name can America send a couple of buses. flourish when our young people are Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party 1980 candidate for president of the United States, stressed the impor­ tance of the rally in an interview with Brooklyn rally the Militant. "May 25," he said, "has the potential Atlanta mothers, leaders of Committee to Stop Children's Murders,. at April 30 press to aid Atlanta to bring together trade unionists, the conference to announce May 25 rally. From left, Venus Taylor, Willie Mathis, Camille In New York City a "Mother's Black community, students and all Bell. Press conference was held at national AFSCME headquarters. Day March for Action," endorsed people opposing Reagan's racist poli­ by a large number of organiza­ cies, cuts in social services and the tions, will be held May 10 in Brook­ government's failure to find the killers lyn. Assembly is at 3 p.m. at Utica or to protect the Black community in On April 17, more than 1,500 Blacks Washington rally. The Pittsburgh Avenue and Eastern Parkway. The Atlanta or around the country. and their supporters rallied on the Courier endorsed May 25 and its edi­ rally will be held at Classon "All people opposing this govern­ steps of the federal building in San torial on the action appeared on the Avenue and Eastern Parkway at 5 ment inaction should be in Washing­ Francisco. On April 18, in drizzling front page of the St. Paul Recorder. p.m. ton," he said. rain, more than 2,000 demonstrators Dick Gregory and others have put For information call, Coalition of Endorsers of the action include: D.C. marched in a candlelight procession to together public service announcements Concerned Black Women: (212) 638- Mayor Marion Barry; Coalition of Mosswood Park in Oakland, chanting for Black radio stations. 0413. Black Tra de Unionists; Martin Luther "Save the children, find the killers!" Leaflets and other m aterials are District 65 of the United Auto King Center; Jesse Jackson, Opera­ Some 4,000 to 5,000 people marched available at 'the Atlanta Committee Workers has called a "Save the tion PUSH; National Black Independ­ through downtown Phoenix to show office. For further information includ­ children, JOin the mothers of ent Political Caucus; Congressional support for the Atlanta Black commun­ ing on buses contact: Atlanta" rally on May 14, 5-7 p.m., Black Caucus member Walter Faun­ ity on April 26. The action was spon­ Committee to Stop the Children's at District 65 headquarters, 13 As­ troy; and others. sored by the Progressive Interest Murders, Washington, D.C.: 1025 tor Place. Group, local and state chapters of the Vermont Ave., N.W:-;-Suite 1240, 20005. Call (212) 673-5120 for informa­ Protests around the Atlanta killings NAACP, Black Student Union of Phoe­ (202) 783-6627. Atlanta: 859 112 Mar­ tion. continue to occur across the country. nix College, and others. tin Luther King Drive, 30314. (404) 525- These can h elp build May 25. The Black media is also building the 7892.

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