MAY 2012, VOLUME 39, NO. 5 DONATION $1

People gather in Spartanburg, S.C. to raise awareness about the murder of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. Photo/Alex C. Hicks Jr., AP Photo/Spartanburg Herald Journal

INSIDE: Trayvon Martin and the Healthcare for everyone 2 March on Crete immigrant detention center 4 Rise of Pelican Bay prisoner speaks 4 fascism in World Courts of Women 6 G8 meets to secure capitalism 8 America Occupy the PGA 12 Read story on page 3 An economic system that doesn’t feed, clothe and house its people must be and will be overturned and replaced with a system that meets the needs of the people. To that end, this paper is a tribune of those struggling to create such a new economic system. It is a vehicle to bring the movement to- gether, to create a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it.

Labor-replacing electronic technol- ogy is permanently eliminating jobs and destroying the founda- tion of the capitalist system. The people’s needs can only be met by building a cooperative soci- ety where the socially necessary means of production are owned by society, not by the corporations. We welcome articles and artwork from those who are engaged in the struggle to build a new society that is of, by and for the people. We rely on readers and contributors to fund and distribute this paper. The People’s Tribune, formerly published by the League of Revolu- Mental Health Movement and their allies barricaded themselves inside Chicago’s Woodlawn Clinic and set up a tent city outside to tionaries for a New America, is now protest the closure of half of the city’s mental health clinics. Follow on Twitter: #SaveOurClinics Photo/Brett Jelinek an independent newspaper with an editorial board based in Chicago.

PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: Healthcare for everyone Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover story and editorials, reflect the views of the editorial Where there’s a will there’s a way board. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors, and may or can easily be cured. That means to assert ourselves against the big- been tricked into a debate about may not reflect the views of the EDITORIAL that during the past ten years, oted interests of the few? The in- economics instead of morality. In- editorial board. 450,000 people died needlessly troduction of new technology is stead of the language of right and Anna Brown died a tragic death in our country. And this dreadful rapidly eliminating jobs—leav- wrong, today’s political leaders use Deadlines for articles and art: The in St. Louis, after being ordered to number is doubling every seven ing millions permanently unem- the language of budgetary account- deadline for articles, photographs leave the emergency room (ER) in years! Over a million people will ployed—and uninsured. Today, ing. They talk endlessly about “fis- and other art is the first of each month for the issue that comes out September of 2011. Police arrested die by 2022, unless this trend is with the factories shut down, Wall cal responsibility,” and cutting at the beginning of the following her after an ER doctor told them reversed. Do we care about each Street and the 1% will no lon- “the growth in entitlement spend- month. For example, the deadline she was healthy enough to go to other anymore? Is this the kind of ger provide medical insurance for ing.” In every country where the for the June issue is May 1. Articles jail. She died later that night from America we want to be? workers they don’t need. And with people have won universal health should be as short as possible, blood clots that went from her Our government’s leaders Congress, and the White House care, first they won the moral de- and no longer than 600 words. We ankle to her lungs. In the months don’t care about this deadly health controlled by the corporations, bate, and then ways and means reserve the right to edit articles to prior to her death, Anna Brown’s care crisis. So it’s no wonder that only a well-organized movement were found to make it happen. The conform to space limitations. home was destroyed in a tornado, many advocates for changes in our of the working class will be able to money is there. The 1% have it. and she lost her job and became health care system no longer place force the government to guarantee The bottom line is we need to People’s Tribune Editor: Bob Lee homeless. Her two small girls any hope in winning victories in that all the people will get medical end up with a system that provides Editorial Staff: Bob Brown, Brett were taken away from her by the Congress, or in the Democratic care. The health industry —insur- quality health care to everyone who Jelinek, Shamako Noble, Chuck child protective agency when they Party. There is a growing move- ance, pharmaceutical, and hospi- needs it, regardless of their ability to Parker, Nelson Peery, Sandra Reid found them living in a building ment of people taking shape who tal corporations—will not change pay. Single-payer gets us started on with no water or electricity. say that a thorough overhaul of willingly. We must act to make the the road to such a system, and puts People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524 You could say that Anna Brown the system is needed. This would government take them over and run us in the fight for a government that Chicago, Illinois, 60654 was down on her luck. You could include eliminating private health them in the interests of society. is controlled by the people, not the e-mail: [email protected] Phone: 773-486-3551 also say that blood clots killed her. insurance in this country, and re- All the other developed coun- corporations. In the name of Anna Toll Free: 800-691-6888 But in reality, it was the govern- placing it with a government-run tries such as Canada, Great Britain, Brown and all those who have died Fax: 773-486-3552 ment that killed Anna Brown and single-payer health insurance that France, Germany, Italy, and Japan in this inhumane health care mar- Web: www.peoplestribune.org the other 45,000 Americans who provides healthcare to everyone as have some kind of national health ketplace, let’s force the fight onto die every year because they cannot a human right. plan. Why has this never happened the high ground of morality. That’s Publisher: People’s Tribune get treatment for conditions which Do we have the collective will in America? It is because we have where we can win. ISSN# 1081-4787 Reach us at: Chicago 773-486-3551 Why the Movement Needs a Press Ann Arbor, MI [email protected] From the Editors Atlanta, GA [email protected] We are sometimes asked “Why does the movement to build a new America need a press?” The answer has to do with this moment Carbondale,IL in history. People are struggling just to get the basic necessities of life. Historical forces beyond anyone’s control have set the stage [email protected] for a new society to be built, but from this point on, how things turn out depends on what people think. This means that those of us Detroit, MI 313-438-6115 who are seeking fundamental change are engaged in a battle of ideas, a struggle to win the hearts and minds of the people. If we Houston, TX don’t raise the consciousness of the people and unite them around a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it, then we’ll P O Box 231281, Houston, TX 77223-1281 fail in our effort to build a just and free society. To win the battle of ideas, we need a press. Los Angeles, CA 310-548-6491 Oakland, CA Visit us on the web at www.PeoplesTribune.org [email protected]

2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2012 www.peoplestribune.org The Trayvon Martin murder and the rise of fascism COVER STORY

What does the Trayvon Martin case tell us about the crushing of democracy and the rise of fascism in America? Any fascist move- ment in America has to proceed from the most violent elements of our national history. The murder of Trayvon Martin is not simply rac- ism. It represents a racist form of fascist social development in the United States. There is a difference be- tween the lynchings of Blacks in 1932 and the murder of Black youth in 2012. In 1932 cotton was king. Cotton had to be picked with slave-like labor. The goal of the lynchings was to maintain slave-like conditions—to keep the Blacks subservient. Today, we are faced with a dif- ferent situation. With technology replacing labor and the growth of mass, permanent unemployment, the corporations need fascism to contain the coming upsurges of the people, who are going to demand a government and an economic system that will meet their needs. Today, the American ruling class is pushing the white poor down to the level of the Black poor. This pres- ents the possibility of unity among the poor, and this is a potential threat to the rulers. The goal of the violence today is to keep the poor from uniting against their common oppressor—corporate America and Corporate sponsored “Stand-Your-Ground” laws, in effect in Florida and 29 other states, justify the the capitalist system it represents. killing of unarmed victims by shooters who can claim immunity because they “felt threatened.” The economic and political cartoon/andy willis Sister/Brother, aspects of fascism—the merger of the corporations and the gov- lims, against the people being this history and use it for their pur- new society. Unity of the poor can you spare $20? ernment, the elimination of our forced out of the economy and poses. In this regard, they have a isn’t automatic. It has to be fought legal rights, the expanded pow- into destitution. It is seen in the tremendous advantage over those for by conscious people. The People’s Tribune ers for the police and military, imprisonment of millions and the of us who are fighting for a dem- What kind of society will we brings clarity to the etc.—are already in place. What fascist conditions in the prisons, ocratic America that serves the have? Will it be a society orga- is needed to finally impose fas- and in the denying of basic needs mass of the people. nized around a corporate ideol- growing movement. It cism is the development of a to the poor. It is seen in the mili- This points to the role of revo- ogy that says the individual has unites the movement fascist culture, the social expres- tarization of society, and in fas- lutionaries. Revolutionaries point no rights and that government has around a vision of a better sion of fascism. The killing of cist entertainment that glorifies out the immorality of the present no economic or moral responsibil- world and a strategy to Trayvon Martin was a manifes- violence, and in the effort to rally situation and paint a vision of the ity for the well being of the peo- achieve it. It has no paid tation of such a fascist culture. A communities to vigilantism. free and prosperous society that is ple? Or will it be a cooperative whole culture of fascist violence The fascist culture in Amer- possible if the people were in pow- society controlled by the people, staff and gets no corporate and hatred and disregard for hu- ica arises from the history of the er. They fight for all those who are where everyone’s needs are met grants. The paper is man life is taking hold. It takes slaughter of the Indians, slavery, being pushed out of the economy and where everyone can live a financed solely by our the form of terror against Blacks, and the whole concept of a white and crushed by the capitalist sys- happy, peaceful, cultured life? The readers. We need your against immigrants, against Mus- man’s country. The fascists inherit tem to unite in the struggle for a future is up to us. support to continue telling the truth.

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www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2012 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 3 More than 200 supporters of immigrant rights march on Palm Sunday to the site of a proposed for-profit immigrant detention center in the Immigrants’ Rights: small village of Crete, south of Chicago. Photo/Samuel Barnett Activists rally to block a ‘Guantanamo in the cornfields’ By Samuel Barnett tion between capitalism and the “non-institutional” design to “pro- Corporation of America and the ists within Crete to negotiations criminalization of immigrants, the vide the least restrictive environ- GEO Group to build and operate between the village board, Correc- CRETE, IL — More than 200 expansion and ‘cosmeticization’ of ment appropriate to the detention these facilities. The GEO Group tions Corporation of America, and supporters of immigrants rights the prison industry, and the impact population.” At this “normative was cited numerous times by au- ICE. Testimonials from the march- marched on Palm Sunday to the increased deportations is having residential environment with non- ditors in Texas for “atrocious and ers about abuses at Corrections site of a proposed for-profit immi- on families. institutional furniture and finish- horrific conditions” at its prisons Corporation of America prisons grant detention center in this small If approved by U.S. Immigra- es” deportees would be subjected across the state. A Corrections and the failures of immigration re- village south of Chicago. Local tion and Customs Enforcement to “enhanced but controlled free- Corporation of America facility in form under the Obama administra- activists and area residents were (ICE), the Crete facility would dom of movement” and clothed Arizona covered up the deaths of tion helped expand the context of joined by a coalition of Chicago- have 788 beds, making it the larg- in uniforms simultaneously de- nine detainees. In the past decade opposition. As we march on May- based organizations who set out on est immigrant detention facility in scribed as “non-institutional” and more than 100 people have died in day let us all bear witness that at- foot Friday, March 30, from Our the Chicago area and one of five “less institutional.” immigrant holding centers. This tacks on immigrants are part of the Lady of Guadalupe Mission on new centers nationwide. A report Despite the language of a more misery has reaped large profits for larger attack on the working class, 26th Street in Little Village. These issued by village officials and the ‘humane’ approach to deportation, both industry and the state as the and that the rights of immigrants activists, which included the Mor- controversial Corrections Cor- the Obama administration is con- cost of detaining and deporting are fundamental to the rights of all atorium on Deportations campaign poration of America describes an tracting for-profit prison corpora- immigrants has doubled in the past human beings. and the No Name Collective, “ideal facility” as LEED certified tions with dismal track records of five years. walked to highlight the connec- with “soft” interior settings and abuse and neglect like Corrections Broad opposition already ex- New voices echo from America’s prisons By Jose H. Villarreal to go along with being treated less than DOG FOOD beasts The support we received was over- Crescent City, CA — I was very happy whelming. Our shout was heard across the seeing your coverage of the hunger strike globe with prisoners joining across the U.S., in a country of Yosemite that occurred here in Pelican Bay starting on as well as from places like Canada to Aus- and Yellowstone, of stock July 1. As one of the participants, believe, tralia! It gave us a huge morale boost. me, when I say prisoners are very grateful for The real jewel that was carved out of certificates and golden the solidarity that so many people gave us. the rough in this occurrence was the previ- parachutes, of Apple Inc. As your article correctly points out, condi- ously unflexed muscle of a prisoner united tions here in the security housing unit (SHU) front. The state has not seen such solidarity and iphones, of Facebook amount to tortuous conditions. Prisoners here coming out of California prisons in a very have been sentenced to what amounts to “en- long time. California has the largest prison and fine dining, of billionaires hanced interrogation,” meaning you stay in population in America, along with the most and millionaires, of solitary confinement with no sunlight, no prisons (33). Thus the ability of prisoners in contact visits, no phone calls, no access to California to come together for such an act a cocktail lounge taking photos, no salt in your food, and no of civil disobedience is a real threat to the access to any social programs, i.e. classes for state. I think the state would much rather see on nearly every corner. rehabilitation to name a few of the depriva- any other state prison come together than of Chevron and luxury tions thrust upon the prisoners in SHU. The California. The problem of SHUs is merely SHU is not built for rehabilitation. It was built a symptom of the problem. The real prob- yachts, of missile to terrorize the general population in Califor- lem that maintains SHUs lies in the capitalist defense systems and a nia prisons into submission and to break those system itself, where profit is put above the prisoners. Most prisoners sent to SHU have illustration/Jose H. Villarreal people’s needs in a society. Rather than re- nuclear stockpile not committed any physical acts while in pris- Pelican Bay prisoner habilitating prisoners in a real way, the sys- on to land them in SHU, rather most are here tem creates more prisons and more SHU’s unlike any other, after having been fingered and informed on And yet the corporate media has not let where it buries more poor people, mostly many senior citizens and targeted by officials for being rebellious out a whimper about people here in America Latinos and Blacks. It is in these dungeons or viewed as leaders. Revolutionary prisoners tortured, of people held in isolation not for that a new voice is being found that echoes eat canned dog food seem to find themselves targeted for SHU the physical acts but for their ideas! For their out of these Koncentration Kamps and rings most. The state’s propaganda will say SHU is political beliefs, these decades long abuses in sync with shouts from around the world. in order to survive filled with the “worst of the worst” or gang have finally erupted like an old slave revolt Jose H. Villarreal is a prisoner, writer, art- members, but a look to prisoners’ records will in which the people would choose putting ist and poet. Jose can be contacted at: Jose show different. Many have been in these tor- our health on the line and, in some cases H. Villarreal #H84098, PBSP-SHU-C11-106, — Neeli Cherkovski tuous conditions for decades! people’s lives were jeopardized rather than PO Box 7500, Crescent City, CA 95532.

4 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2012 www.peoplestribune.org ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS Rachel Maddow Show uncovers scandal in Michigan By Claire McClinton AFSCME union members tem- porarily stalled implementation Breaking News: Claiming that the of PA-4, such as what occurred in font size was improper, the Michi- Flint where the Emergency Man- gan Board of Canvassers ruled ager was briefly removed from of- 2-2 to not certify the 220,000 plus fice. Violation of the state’s Open signatures gathered to overturn Meetings Act drove the suits but the PA 4 “Dictatorship” Law. A the Court of Appeals (clearly in stunned and angry crowd from the pocket of the corporate gov- around the state, rose to their feet, ernor) overturned them all. The pumped their fist at the Board, most recent court challenge may and shouted “SHAME! SHAME! be the one that makes the whole SHAME!” for several minutes. state and perhaps the nation stand The struggle continues. at attention. This suit was brought by Democrats against Republican MICHIGAN—Public Act 4, the legislatures. Emergency Manager Law (aka Dic- tator Bill) enacted last year along MI House Speaker Bangs Gavel: with hundreds of other laws may Rams Thru Legislation have been passed illegally. This Act allows Governor Snyder to The Michigan Constitution dispatch ‘Emergency Managers’ to states that laws passed are to be put cities and/or school districts around into effect 90 days after the legis- the state deemed “financially dis- lative session ends. This means the tressed.” The Emergency Manager Emergency Manager Law, which replaces the local government and was passed in March of 2011, may without the will of the people, would routinely not go into ef- set aside union contracts, sell off fect until at least January of this public assets, and even dissolve the year. However, there’s a provision Occupy Detroit march and rally in downtown Detroit. The rally was supported by the UAW and township or a city itself. in the Michigan Constitution that AFL/CIO last fall. Almost 1,000 people were in attendance. Photo/daymonjhartley.com The fascist state takeover of allows a law to be ‘fast tracked’. such cities as Benton Harbor, This process is called “immediate to allow for “immediate effect.” 546 laws have passed “immediate and the wrecking of public employ- Ecorse, Pontiac, Flint and recently effect” and requires a 2/3 vote. The The House Republicans knew full effect” without a 2/3 vote. ee unions, all eyes are on elected Detroit, is an affront to everything “immediate effect” provision ex- well they did not have the required All of this was uncovered dur- officials, both local and state wide, democratic that this country says ists to enable the implementation 72 votes. The Speaker banged the ing an airing of the Rachel Mad- Republicans as well as Democrats. it is. On Wednesday, February 29 of emergency legislation without gavel, hollered out, “So Ordered!” dow Show. Citizens are shocked History will not judge them on of this year, citizens from around delay in a crisis. House Democrats asking for a and appalled. They ask ‘Why did how many pot holes they filled or the state delivered nearly 250,000 When the House Republicans roll call vote were ignored. As a we have to learn these things from how many bottles of champagne signatures to Lansing to repeal the recently passed a law eliminat- result they headed to court. The a TV show?’ they smashed at this or that dedi- law. Meanwhile a flurry of lawsuit ing union dues deduction from Judge ordered a stay on the laws in As the struggle continues to cation, but more on what they did challenges out of Highland Park, teachers pay checks, they needed question, but the Court of Appeals organize against martial law, the to fight against the dismantling of Flint, and Detroit brought on by 72 votes (in a separate motion), overturned the ruling. Since 2010, destruction of the social safety net democracy in Michigan. Struggle to keep Chicago’s mental health clinics open Editor’s Note: The People’s Tri- lice vans as one last 10 pm, I was still Friends and allies rallied bune interviewed Kelly Hayes, a act of solidarity and “I Knew I had to Occupy” there. At some around them. A beautiful moment member of Occupy Chicago and protest… I wanted point, support- of solidarity, and the demand for Occupy Rogers Park. On April 12, the people who had ing those sitting a better world, sprung out of their people barricaded themselves in- been arrested to hear in seemed insuf- willingness to put themselves in side the Mental Health Clinic on us chanting, to know ficient. I needed that situation. the south side of Chicago. They that we were continu- to take a seat were protesting the threatened ing to fight for them. myself… these PT: Where will these patients go if closure of half of the total 12 city Watching through the people had made these clinics close? mental health clinics. window as they were every possible ef- KH: We already know. This isn’t arrested was heart- fort to reach out to theoretical. When local access to People’s Tribune: Kelly, what hap- breaking. Some of officials who were care is diminished, less care is re- pened and who were the protesters? these people are elder- in a position to ceived. It’s a no brainer. Less care, Kelly Hayes: Most of the people ly, and disabled. Even help them… for the mentally ill, means more who barricaded themselves inside with local clinics, they I know the incarcerations, more hospitaliza- were patients who depend on the struggle to maintain people who were tions, more homelessness, addic- services that these clinics pro- their routines. They arrested in that tion, despair, and suicide. This vide. Others included members are brave people, just clinic. They’re isn’t debatable. This is reality. of Southsiders Together Organiz- for struggling to live good people, and ing for Power (STOP), the Mental productive, function- their cause is just. The police arrested 23 people early Health Movement (MHM), and a al lives in the face of Seeing the police Friday morning April 13. Occupiers street medic… great difficulty. Their saw through that erected tents in a vacant lot across When the police made their bravery last night was barricade and take the street from the clinic. The tent city way to the clinic’s glass doors, inspiring. Protesters and police clash outside the Woodlawn Clinic. them away pained has been evicted three times since which were chained shut from the Watching their Photo/Brett Jelinek me in a way that that night, with ten more arrests the inside, the crowd locked arms and arrests was heartbreaking and we to save our city’s mental health I cannot express. In that moment, night of April 24. At press time, pa- tried to stand its ground. The po- wanted to do something more. clinics after attending a sit in with I could see the largeness of what tients and members of Occupy re- lice got very physical at that point. the MHM at City Hall. Occupy was happening. Here you had these main at the site. On April 25, occu- People were shoved around pretty PT: Why did you get involved with Chicago was supporting those sit- ill, struggling, goodhearted people, piers and Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle of hard. We were fortunate that there stopping the mental health clinic ting in and I was so moved by what who were so afraid of losing the MHM met with and appealed direct- were no serious injuries… closings? I heard, and by the gravity of what care they depend on that they barri- ly to Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody We decided to block the po- KH: I got involved with the fight these people were facing, that by caded themselves inside the clinic. Williams. More in the next issue.

www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2012 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 5 Eliminating poverty and securing democracy: Only with Women’s Leadership rate investment in labor-replacing ernment controls on their behavior. prominent on the national agenda computerized and high-tech pro- In the US they buy elected officials since the concerted “welfare re- duction greatly reduces the number with campaign contributions, put- form” attacks of the 1980s and ear- of good jobs available for the work- ting tremendous pressure on gov- ly 1990s. Instead, those who face ing class, and is a key cause of the ernment to cut public services, to great hardship as primary caregiv- rise in poverty in the U.S. Even in deregulate industries, to have gov- ers, struggling to support families, countries where once-impoverished ernment promote corporate interests have been targets of “blaming the rural farmers are finding better pay- rather than the interests of ordinary victim” to benefit and serve the in- ing work in factories, it is often un- people. In the economic crash of terest of capitalism. der slave labor working conditions, 2008, both major U.S. political par- The 20th Century social contract as Apple Computer’s Chinese elec- ties joined in bailing out the interna- of a decent wage for a decent day’s tronics scandal has shown. Around tional financiers on Wall St., but not work has been shattered. Society the world, women remain at the the workers on Main St. Govern- desperately needs a new vision of bottom of the socioeconomic lad- ment services benefitting the entire a social contract that will meet the der, disproportionately impacted by society are privatized, from public needs of the 99%. To focus on the exploitation for profit. education to public water systems. experiences of women is not to ex- As the crumbling capitalist or- These attempts to put the power clude others, but to shine a light on der reorganizes itself in a desper- of governments on the side of max- the most glaring manifestations of ate attempt to maximize profits and imizing corporate profits, instead of poverty. The first step of healing is defend private property relations what working people need, have re- to bring out these stories, not iso- at all costs, women suffer. Women sulted in savage attacks on democ- lated from one another, but con- are half of our collective society, racy, seen most recently in Public nected in common cause. When we and the violence and oppression Act 4 in Michigan, under which the all work together to craft change, they experience in today’s economy state can neutralize local elected women’s healing starts to reverber- is a forerunner of the destruction officials, turning entire cities over ate throughout society as collective Occupy Oakland General Strike, November 2, 2011. spreading across our entire soci- to an appointed “emergency man- healing, allowing for rebuilding Photo/Nereocystis ety. One in five women in America ager” (a person or a corporation), community, human healing and re- has been raped in her life time and who can set aside union contracts pairing and healing the planet By Ethel Long-Scott defending democracy are central US women are poorer than men re- and privatize city services and pub- We are dedicated to educat- for securing a future for our coun- gardless of ethnicity or color and lic assets without gaining approval ing ourselves and society not only The World Courts of Women on try, humanity, and the planet. through all ages except childhood, of the city council or the citizens. to reject actions that objectify and Poverty in the U.S. comes at a criti- Any discussion of poverty, jobs, highlighting centuries old injustices This course is economically marginalize women, but to teach cal time in world history. A revolu- and education must be grounded in of oppression and exploitation. and politically unsustainable. The that women play a central role in tion in technology has overthrown understanding the 21st Century shift As society disintegrates, a back- growing polarization of wealth and forming up a new class that shares the 20th Century’s labor-based from a labor-based economy to a lash is developing that clamors for poverty is throwing millions into common economic justice inter- economy, globally pitting workers technology-based economy. Every- further restrictions of women’s poverty regardless of gender, col- ests, not only with each other, but, against robots and against each oth- where in the world, corporations are rights, trivializing the growing vi- or or nationality. The U.S. poverty increasingly, with men in similar er and shredding the old labor-based determined to increase their profits by olence against them, and turning a rate increased to 15.1% in 2010, economic position. The systematic social contract. Instead of creating becoming increasingly exploitive— blind eye to their downward spiral up from 14.3% in 2009. For single dismantling of the safety net points opportunity, an economy organized cutting jobs, cutting wages, cutting into destitution. mothers and children poverty con- to the importance of unity along for private profit now shuts out the benefits, substituting machines for Determined to seek profit by any tinued to explode: 32.5% in 2009 class lines as the only means of or- 99%. A new economic vision is im- people wherever possible. means necessary, corporations are to 34.2% in 2010. Even so, poverty ganizing our forces for the strug- perative. Abolishing poverty and The rapidly increasing corpo- using every means to get rid of gov- and how to address it have not been gles ahead. Goldman Sachs: An Oakland study in the struggle for public resources By Shamako Noble city. While city officials struggle President, Hip Hop Congress with choosing between defaulting and paying the loan back in full, OAKLAND, CA — We have entered Goldman Sachs holds to its un- a period in human history where the ethical contract, feeding off the life people must take control of their blood of their big bailout. Oakland government and corporations, or is not unique. watch and suffer as the corporations Goldman Sachs is just one of take over their government, piece by many corporate and financial in- piece and city by city. stitutions bailed out by the people The struggle in Oakland around that continue to chip away at the Goldman Sachs, typified by the co- quality of life. Recently, the city alition of SEIU, ACCE (Alliance of of Reno filed a lawsuit against Californians for Community Em- Goldman Sachs, accusing them powerment), Occupy the Hood, of misleading the city into issuing The Interfaith Tent and others is re- $210 million in bonds to finance flective of the current national and development in an unstable mar- international struggle around cor- ket. San Francisco International porations appropriating public re- Airport signed a rate swap agree- sources. This coalition’s demands ment in 2007 for $143 million. To- are to give the public all its money day that deal has a negative value back and reinvest it into jobs, com- of $22 million. Again, Goldman munity resources and programs. Sachs wins, and the public loses. This speaks to a series of trends Another trend is the tendency of that are sweeping America. government—local, state and fed- The first trend is of the- cor eral—to be mindful of the needs of Occupy Wall Street sit in at Goldman Sachs in New York photo/Clarence Elie Rivera porate and financial takeover of big money and neglect the demands America. The “swap deal,” a fixed of the citizens that put them in of- a space of public ownership? selves to be regulated, they must trol of their government and the interest rate loan that Oakland en- fice. What will it take for the people When corporate and financial be eliminated or controlled alto- corporations. tered years ago, is crippling the to get their resources returned into institutions will not allow them- gether. The people must seize con-

6 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2012 www.peoplestribune.org WHAT CAUSES FORECLOSURES? By Community Homeless unemployment rates cannot go ly addressing the foreclosure crisis. Alliance Ministry down because the foreclosure crisis Fact: Government programs since continues to depress consumer de- 2009 have only assisted a small SAN JOSE, CA — By the end of mand. The foreclosure rate cannot percentage of foreclosed on fam- 2012, there will have been 2 mil- go down because unemployment ilies. The recent $25 billion gov- lion foreclosures in California rates cannot go down. ernment settlement with the banks since 2008. What caused this cri- represents only 3 percent of the sis, and why is it being allowed to Corporate Crime $750 billion in negative equity lost continue? Myth: The government is prose- by homeowners from predatory cuting rogue bankers. loans. Some analysts estimate we Subprime Mortgage Crisis Fact: The government is allowing face 10 million MORE foreclo- Myth: Government programs forced the greatest fraud in human his- sures in the next decade, for a total banks to loan to “uncreditworthy” tory to go uninvestigated and un- of a QUARTER of all the mortgag- people like minorities and women. punished. Not only was fraud the es in the country. A government Fact: Predatory banks could “do method of choice for the lenders that represented people instead of bad all by themselves.” The hous- who created the subprime housing corporations would immediately ing bubble was created by unreg- bubble in the first place. It has be- nationalize the banks, stop fore- ulated Wall Street profiteers who come the norm for almost all ma- closures, and return foreclosed created irresistible incentives to jor banks carrying out foreclosures homes to their rightful owners and bundle subprime mortgages into Occupy Providence, Rhode Island since then, including “robo-sign- to the homeless and others in need worthless bonds and credit default Photo/Kevin James, www.fb.com/kevinjamesphoto ing”, perjury, forgery, and tax eva- of housing. swaps. Rating companies were sion. Assessor Phil Ting recently In California, 400,000 men, paid off to give them false triple-A later and had default rates signifi- conventional loans who lost their reported that 84% of foreclosure women, and children are homeless ratings, and subprime lenders were cantly lower than the unregulated jobs through no fault of their own sales in San Francisco were in clear every night. The government has encouraged to openly lie about private lenders. due to the crash of 2008. An eco- violation of the law. In the 1980s, trillions of dollars to bail out banks consumer loan qualifications. The nomic system is broken when it the FBI assigned 1000 agents to in- and finance wars, but claims it can- Federal Reserve Bank stimulated Unemployment cannot provide employment for its vestigate S&L fraud, while today in not afford to stop foreclosures and the entire process by artificially Myth: Foreclosures happened be- people at a time when so many ur- a crisis forty times worse, the FBI house the homeless. This is not a lowering interest rates. Fannie cause of “deadbeat” borrowers. gent human needs are going unmet. has only assigned 10 agents. question of resources, but of whose Mae, Freddie Mac, and banks reg- Fact: After the subprime collapse When companies “recover” by re- interests the government serves— ulated by the federal Community of 2007-2008, the majority of fore- placing workers with technology, Government Failure the corporations or the people? Reinvestment Act all got involved closures were against people with the situation only gets worse. Now Myth: The government is adequate- TRAPPED IN THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE By Rebeca Walker- work? SPEAKERS FOR A Marquez What of the people who ‘self medicate’ with NEW AMERICA I used to believe in drugs or alcohol to cope the American Dream. with harsh life circum- Then I lost my job, and stances because lack of Our speakers are in the forefront of with it went my income, support from the health the struggle for a better world. Our my health insurance and care system? eventually my savings. I Why is this happen- speakers bring a message of hope lost my car and my son ing? What is at the root of and the possibility of creating a new and I had to move in with all this misery? friends. The stress made When I ask myself this society whose wealth benefits all. me physically ill, and the question, I see that the ba- downward spiral made sic notion that every hu- me very depressed. I be- man has the right to health, Speakers are available on: came part of a new and food and a roof has been • Women and Poverty rapidly growing group replaced by the notion that living in the American corporate profit is more • Public education • Healthcare Nightmare. important than human dig- • Housing and Anti-foreclosure battles The American Dream nity. The American Dream taught us that in this land Occupy Detroit Photo/Daymonjhartley.com has become a Corporate • Immigration • Labor in the Rust Belt of plenty, freedom, and Dream—we can purchase And more democracy, everything is as much human dignity as possible if we put heart and hard What of the mothers who can’t we can afford, as long as we don’t work into it. It says we have so afford to work because of the high threaten corporate profits. (800) 691-6888 much opportunity that only the costs of childcare? As long as the main focus of [email protected] lazy will fail. What of the laid off workers healthcare, education, housing and That Dream never worked for who end up homeless because the food is profit, millions will be ex- www.speakersforanewamerica.com everyone, and as employers relent- job market is very limited? cluded. How are people supposed lessly slash benefits and cut back What of the people who go to thrive when their wages and ben- wages it is not working any more bankrupt due to medical bills? efits are slashed and they are pushed for millions of people. It is not What of the people who can’t out of an increasingly automated their fault that despite their heart afford rent even when working full economy? The supply of workers and hard work, they are not able to time? now outnumbers jobs and more and earn enough to house, feed, trans- What of the youth who start more full time employed workers port, educate and keep themselves their working lives deeply in- are unable to sustain themselves. and their families healthy. We have debted by college loans and find Millions of Americans share record levels of unemployment, themselves with very limited job this nightmare and the numbers are poverty, homelessness and hunger. opportunities? growing. Unless we act together to The safety net programs that guar- What of the people who lost their assure dignity, health and opportu- antee people their human rights in homes to foreclosure? What of the nity for all, our Dream is nothing but compassionate societies have been victims of violence who have lost a false illusion, and all but the very shredded and powerful forces push their ability to perform at work? rich will be permanently trapped in to eliminate them completely. What of the disabled who can’t the American Nightmare.

www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2012 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 7 Between a rock and a hard place The G8 meets to keep the global economy firmly in the hands of the capitalist elite By Laura Garcia and selling of cheap labor between developed and underdeveloped The watchdogs of the biggest countries—between global South world economies will hold a sum- and global North. The demand for mit at Camp David May 18-19, cheap labor in the dominant, “de- meeting as the Group of Eight veloped” countries is supplied by (G8). The heads of state are faced the abundant cheap labor in subor- with the task of restructuring cor- dinate, “underdeveloped” countries. porate private property in the era Global capitalists suck mi- of globalization. grants into the world market to The heads of state find them- minimize the cost of production selves between a rock and a hard (and maximize their profits)— place. As technology replaces whenever and wherever the labor more and more workers and wipes is needed. out more and more jobs, demand is Migration has become a cen- shrinking. Yet, the ceaseless drive tral issue in the 21st century. More for profit forces the owners of the people are on the move now than corporations to drive down the cost at any other point in human his- Thousands commemorate the historic 1965 civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery that of production by replacing workers tory and their numbers are rising. culminated with the passage of the Voting Rights Acts. Banners called for the defense of voter with computerized machines. Today some 214 million people and immigrant rights. Photo/David Sandoval As they eliminate jobs, cut worldwide live outside their coun- government budgets, and drive try of birth, compared to 191 mil- problems—the lack of jobs, the down wages, the capitalists deny lion as recently as 2005. deteriorating public education, the their workers sufficient money to Global capitalism has turned inadequate health services. The buy the goods they produce—and one out of every 33 people into a anti-immigrant campaign prepared this undermines the whole capital- migrant worker. the ground for Arizona and other ist system. Global migrant workers are states to pass draconian immigra- So globalization is worsening the most vulnerable sector of the tion laws. the divide between rich and poor. working class. They suffer the The U.S. is not alone in this; The richest 50 individuals in the most blatant violations of human other countries have taken such world collectively pay themselves rights, and they work under the measures. more annual income than they pay worst sweatshop conditions. The attacks on migrant work- the poorest 416 million people. Attacked from all sides, glob- ers cannot be allowed to continue. For the most part, these 50 capital- al migrants have become the In May, thousands will demon- ists live in the G8 countries, 20 in scapegoat for capitalism’s own strate, protesting not only unjus- the United States alone. failures. The capitalists’ divide- tified wars and global warming, They are the owners of cor- and-conquer strategy has painted but also immigration policies that porations such as Walmart, Mi- a bull’s-eye on the back of mi- make of the undocumented an ani- crosoft, Oracle, Google, Amazon, grant workers, turning them into mal of prey. Nike, Cemex, America Movil, and hunted animals. Vigilante groups, Workers can no longer allow Grupo Mexico. ICE, and police agents hunt them national boundaries to contain our There is a direct correlation down—at the border, on the job, in struggle. May Day 2011 in Chicago. Photo/Brett Jelinek between the G8, poverty, and church, and at home. Laura Garcia is the editor of migration. Migration has become the the Tribuno del Pueblo, the sister G8 policies foster the buying catch-all scapegoat for domestic newspaper of the People’s Tribune. May Day 2012 The editors respond: Race, class, & cover photos Working class unity is possible! A reader asked the People’s with common class interests and support among the workers for From the Editors Tribune why recent cover pho- a common enemy—the capital- American capitalism. Therefore, tos have seemed to feature more ist system. they are strategic; if they can be This May Day finds the world’s working class under attack. We whites than people of color. Another aspect is that the won away from supporting the are besieged by unemployment and poverty, austerity programs, the America is a diverse country, center of gravity of the struggle system that is making them (and rise of fascism and the threat of world war. Across the earth the work- and we are committed to show- in America has shifted in recent the rest of us) poor, and united as ers are struggling to find the way forward. There are dangers, but also ing the diversity of the struggle years. The process of electron- a class around a vision of a new opportunities. Today it is finally possible for the workers to unite. for a new society. However, we ics replacing labor is creating society, then we can bring this Globalization knocked down the barriers between countries. At did want to point out the think- a new class in America. Part of system down and build a soci- the same time, labor-replacing technology is permanently eliminat- ing behind our approach on the that new class has become dis- ety where no one is poor. Today, ing jobs, creating a new section of workers who have no place in cover photos. One aspect is that possessed, meaning their labor is we have the opportunity to reach capitalist society. They are forced to fight for a new society. we do battle with the ruling class no longer needed and they have them because they are becom- This fight for a new world has many faces – the migrants who by attacking their strategy. Their been stripped of everything they ing dispossessed, so we want to cross borders in search of work, those fighting to live on public aid strategy has been to paint pover- had—their jobs, their homes, show them in struggle and try to or low-wage jobs, the homeless, the unemployed, and those who are ty Black, when in fact two-thirds their health care, etc. Because raise their consciousness as part losing their homes to foreclosure, to name a few. of the poor in America are white. of historical factors, the most of the process of raising the con- Our fight is for a new society, where the people own the technol- The result of the ruling class’ ap- recent group to join that dispos- sciousness of the whole working ogy of production and cooperatively produce what we need. The key proach to poverty has been to sessed section is largely white. class. Getting people to under- to moving forward is working class unity around the demands of the divide the working class and These newly dispossessed are stand who and what is their en- impoverished. Humanity’s immediate demand is that resources be weaken the struggle. So we want being drawn from the formerly emy is the key to victory. diverted from warmaking and be used to meet human needs. to convey through our photos stably employed workers who The new technology gives humanity the opportunity to unite and that the poor are a diverse group have been the primary political The Editors create a bright future. But we have to fight for it.

8 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2012 www.peoplestribune.org Food or fascism for the homeless? By Eric Sheptock laws under the guise of caring by stating concerns about food-borne The winds of change are blow- illnesses which the homeless are ing and people all over the world no more susceptible to than the are becoming socially aware— general public is. knowing that something is gravely Due to the government’s aus- wrong with society and wanting to terity measures in the face of do something about it. increasing poverty and unmet Well the problem is fascism needs, many homeless people and its effects are most directly have moved into Occupy encamp- and intensely felt by the home- ments around the world—some less—a community which many as active participants; some for people love to hate or ignore, the free amenities. Encampments which often doesn’t fight for itself have asked that all those present and which the government finds to participate in direct actions. How- be easy prey. ever, as we are fighting for a sys- There is the story of Anna tem that guarantees that all people Brown, a homeless woman who have their basic human necessi- was arrested in September 2011 ties, we should gather donations because she refused to leave the and distribute them to people in emergency room of a Hospital need whether or not they involve in St. Louis after receiving inad- themselves in direct actions. equate treatment. She visited two This would cast the movement other hospitals about leg pain. So, in a more positive light. Further- Occupy Houston protest of the big oil companies in front of Houston City Hall. at the third hospital, after being more, people whose bellies are Photo/ Maria Elena Castellanos “seen” by a doctor, she sat in a full are more likely to join in dis- wheelchair in the emergency room cussions about social theory, the for seven hours until the police problems with the existing system carried her out. and the new society which we are She was accused of being fighting for. (This is similar to the Anti-food sharing law high and addicted to pain killers Christian principle of witnessing to and was placed on the floor of a the lost through your behavior un- jail cell where she died moments til they want to know what drives passes in Houston later from blood clots in her legs you.) So, let’s strike a balance be- By Maria Elena Castellanos orders, learning disabilities, con- The faces of the estimated after they traveled to her lungs. tween making demands on the sys- genital birth defects—abnormal 13,000 homeless children, men (There is YouTube video of her ar- tem and helping our fellow citizen. HOUSTON, TX — The Houston brain development due to lack of and women who will feel the im- rest and of her lying on the floor Ms. Brown, becoming one of City Council passed an anti-food a access to nutritious whole foods. mediate negative impact of this of the jail cell moaning in extreme many victims of capitalist eutha- sharing law, set to go into effect The corporate media mischarac- anti-charity law, haunt me. I am pain.) The hospital, in typical cap- nasia and people being jailed for on July 1, that will shut down the terizes the law as a “feeding the also concerned about the fate of italist fashion, allowed an indi- helping the needy, should cause voluntary distribution network homeless law.” In fact, low-in- thousands of low-income families gent person to die. Now they are people to ask, “Are we becoming of surplus food to the hungry in come children, pregnant women who depend upon many unofficial defending their actions by saying a fascist nation?” But for our revo- Houston. This law will also suffo- and unemployed youth depend charitable groups and individu- that some blood clots are unde- lution to be successful, the move- cate any future OccupyWallstreet upon informal distribution net- als for access to nutritionally rich tectable when, in fact, they didn’t ment should begin to develop the type of lengthy protests in Hous- works of free food. whole foods. make a good-faith effort to find out new system, which we are fighting ton. The occupation of a public The City Council passed this Houston is seeing a surge what was wrong. to create within the existing system space can only be carried out with Chapter 20 food-sharing ordi- in calls for the replacement of As if police arresting home- which we are fighting to dispose of, the food and moral support of hu- nance, with fines up to $500, per the eleven Houston City Coun- less people for sleeping or satis- lest we create chaos and give rise manitarian, food-sharing groups. infraction for feeding five or more cil members who voted to adopt fying other human needs in pub- to all-out, overt dictatorship as a An outcry is developing against people without a city permit (if this mean-spirited and uncharita- lic was not enough, various cities means of regaining order. So, let us the law. on public property) or for feeding ble food-sharing-restrictions law. have made it illegal for people to “be the change we want to see in the Healthcare professionals re- people on private property without Please launch your own drive for feed the homeless in parks or other world” by providing for the needy, port that at least 25% of Houston’s written permission from the pri- recall elections. outdoor venues (which is in direct in effect, swelling our ranks and re- children already “go to bed hun- vate property-owner. Petitions are already circulat- contrast to Galatians 5:22-23: “… placing the dying system of capital- gry every night.” Many say that The U.S. corporate-government ing to repeal the anti-food sharing goodness… Against such there is ism. “From each according to abil- the new law will cause serious ill- has long used food as a political law. The new law was a hot-but- no law.” Cities veil their draconian ity; to each according to need.” nesses, including brain mood dis- weapon in extending its corporate ton topic at the 99% Spring Train- interests into foreign countries. ing community meetings held in The International Monetary Fund Houston. Groups and individuals has imposed austerity conditions vowed to bring banners and peti- Guns kill. Education helps you live upon other countries for many de- tions demanding repeal of the law By Simuel Ramey arrested after putting a handgun talist system won’t educate those cades as a condition to renegotiate and for the recall of Houston’s in a locker. who it cannot exploit. The vio- their loans. Hungry people world- ‘City Council. This will be part of From elementary school to At Virginia Polytechnical lence we are seeing in our com- wide are getting desperate. On the immigrants’ rights, May Day college, classes are overcrowd- Institute and State University, munities is a reflection of the vio- April 4, 2012, a pensioner in Ath- activities on May 1. Opponents ed. Budgets have been slashed. 32 people were killed and 25 lence the corporate government is ens, Greece killed himself because are talking passionately about this Teachers have been laid off. wounded. meting out. We have to root out he reportedly refused to scrounge cruel law at community meetings, Schools have become violent. What accounts for this the cause of the problem: the cap- for food in the dumpster. community radio stations, Span- • A North Little Rock elementary violence? italist system. Now the chickens have come ish-language media, on youtube school student was suspended We’re living in a violent soci- Without knowledge, we do home to roost in that this law crim- and on the Internet. after shooting a fellow student ety. It starts at the top, among the not possess the tools required to inalizes the charitable food distri- Food-sharing-restrictive laws with a BB gun. 1% who rule this country. They secure our future. Students have bution of surplus food to the hun- or outright bans on feeding the • At Jacksonville High School in initiate the violence, whether to learn. Without education, we gry in a major U.S. city. This will homeless are already “on the Arkansas, a teacher brought a through wars for profit, torture, cannot critically evaluate what force people to buy food rather books” in about 24 cities and gun to school. A student saw it police killings, or the social and we are told. We cannot determine than get it for free. It will result in towns, including: New York City, in her purse and stole it. economic devastation for millions truth from fiction, which allows more profits for the big food cor- NY, Philadelphia, PA, Orlando, • At Columbine High School, of Americans. Public schools are for the crimes of capitalism to porations at the cost of imposing FL, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, San 13 people were killed and 21 in a deplorable state because the continue. We must replace guns increased hunger and sickness. Diego, CA and Wilmington N.C. injured. labor replacing technological rev- with knowledge. We must learn • At the Metropolitan Career- olution is eliminating the need for how to create a new society that Technical Center, a student was an educated workforce. The capi- cherishes human life. www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2012 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 9 Constitutional or not, it’s a win-win for the health insurance industry By Katie Robbins bankruptcies due to inadequate in- inseparable from the entire law and surance plans, will continue. the entire law will be struck down. The recent Supreme Court The Supreme Court’s rul- 4) Upholding the law: This Su- hearing on the constitutionality of ing, expected by the end of June, preme Court has a track record of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or could have a number of different ruling in favor of the corporate in- “ObamaCare,” has reopened the outcomes. terests (see Citizens United), and false debate surrounding the Presi- 1) The punt: The Court could the ACA is based on legislation dent’s signature legislation. punt the decision on the constitu- crafted by the health insurance in- Whether to uphold or strike tionality of the law until after the in- dustry. This should not be a sur- down the ACA isn’t about how to surance mandate goes into effect in prising outcome. provide truly universal healthcare 2014 and someone has actually been If the law is thrown out and the in a sustainable way. Common fined for not purchasing health insur- status quo in healthcare continues, sense solutions such as improving ance. The court would then take up the insurance companies are left and expanding Medicare to every- the case again in 2015 when people with a playing field stacked in their one were kept completely off the have to provide proof of health in- favor without regulations that may table as the law was being written. surance when they file their taxes. eventually threaten profits. Costs The ACA is designed to bail 2) Throwing out the mandate: will continue to skyrocket; more out the for-profit healthcare in- The Court could toss out the man- people will be without insurance. dustry before their profits flat line date declaring it unconstitutional, If the ACA is upheld, many of and the court’s decision will reflect affirming the arguments that man- the law’s provisions won’t be en- how best to do that. dating people to purchase private acted for another two years, plenty The health insurance industry health insurance is beyond Con- of time for the industry to whittle spent $1 million a day to influence gress’ role of regulating interstate down regulations that get in the the national healthcare reform de- commerce. The rest of the law could way of profits and still have the 30 bate in their favor. Written by Liz remain intact allowing some of the million customer stimulus. Fowler of the nation’s largest in- beneficial provisions to be imple- The Supreme Court will rule surer, WellPoint, the law deliv- mented such as the Medicaid ex- according to what is best for the ers 30 million new customers and pansion and the regulation of health corporate interests. Upheld or $447 billion in taxpayer subsidies insurance company practices. struck down, the for-profit health- directly to the private health insur- 3) Throwing out the whole care model continues to take public ance companies. thing: If the mandate is deemed un- money for a public good and make If fully implemented, the ACA constitutional, the court rules that obscene profit. The opposition to will leave at least 23 million peo- entire law must be struck down. the legislation mostly came from Occupy Oakland General Strike, November 2, 2011. ple uninsured, egregious insurance Without the mandate, the ban on people saying the law doesn’t go Photo/Nereocystis company practices such as charg- preexisting conditions restrictions far enough in making healthcare ing older people more for policies, and community rating provisions a right. Recognizing the enemy denials and delays in approving would drive up costs and reduce in this debate is a first step toward care, and high rates of medical coverage. The mandate is therefore building unity in fighting back. My Father’s Offhand Reply CABRINI EVICTIONS: I wonder how many miles you walked How they make us homeless as a mailman before your knees finally surrendered? By Joseph Peery en, but no one gets an “explana- tells them they have 30 minutes to

tion” either. get out. I wonder how many dogs you had to mace CHICAGO, IL — With the tak- Such a large number of people Even if they are lucky enough to in self-defense and ing over of public housing by pri- are being evicted because of this immediately get a lawyer to chal- how many letters you faithfully delivered? vate corporations comes countless policy that there aren’t enough lenge the Agreement, which has le- ways to evict residents and make lawyers to defend them. Once in gal flaws, as well as the obvious vi- The distances you traveled them homeless. Let’s look at some court, many are tricked into sign- olations of due process above, they in Texas over the years of them. ing agreements waiving their right can still be denied access to their must truly be beyond all calculation. During the Clinton Adminis- to “trial by jury” or “discovery,” CHA file where evidence exists tration the “One Strike” policy preventing them from obtaining that can exonerate them. Accord- was enacted. It applies only to evidence that may get the evic- ing to the CHA Ombudsman, pri- I remember you coming home public housing residents and can tion overturned. If the agreement vate companies managing mixed soaked in sweat like salty tears have you evicted for merely an is broken in the slightest way, they income units may be able to do this just wanting to unravel arrest of anyone, even a guest as- are back in court facing immediate because of Tenant Selection Plans sociated with your address in any eviction with no rights. “Notice to which, again, tenants are supposed but I would leap on your back way. How this applies to you is in Appear” in court is supposed to be to receive but do not. as if you were a horse the Chicago Housing Authority mailed or hand delivered. How- In the end, that corporation’s without a saddle (CHA) Lease, Part I Terms And ever, in some cases this isn’t done, private property rights are ruled Conditions, and other documents and proof of that is in the court file more important than your rights and greet you with my little boy’s salutation of: residents are supposed to receive. downtown in the Daley Center. as a human being and the eviction “Dada play toys! Dada play toys!” Most residents don’t receive these, Court proceeds without the resi- stands. As bad as this all sounds, it and proof of that is in their files at dent present to defend themselves is exactly what happened, includ- Recently reflecting on such childish joys, the management office. The Lease, and an eviction is ordered. Their ing all the above, to a 33-year old I said to you: Part 2, states that a thorough ex- first awareness of this is when the single, unemployed mother of 2, planation of the Lease is to be giv- Sheriff appears at their door and today at eviction court. “Man, that must have been a pain, to come home after a long day of work and have this little jerk jumping all over you WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! demanding for you to play.”

The People’s Tribune welcomes your comments, especially on our covers and But your reply, dear father, stopped me short, editorials. Your feedback helps us stay on course as a paper that points the way because I didn’t expect you to suddenly say: forward to a new cooperative society. “Are you kidding me? That was the best part of my whole damn day.” Email [email protected] or call 800-691-6888 toll free. — The Editors Daniel Klawitter.

Bio: www.coloradopoetscenter.org/poets/klawitter_daniel 10 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MAY 2012 www.peoplestribune.org Fighting for justice by court watching By Robin Yeamans put in jail this system will.” Although a U.S. Supreme Across the U.S., people are Court case, Brady v. Maryland, re- fighting the court system, often as quires all prosecutors to turn over it tries to take their children or drag to the defense all exculpatory evi- them or their loved ones into the dence—which might tend to prove prison industrial complex. They one’s innocence—withholding ev- learn: don’t go through this alone! idence is not uncommon, and the Banding together, especially to do prosecution gets to choose when court watch, is a major tactic used before trial they’ll reveal the evi- to try to avoid the catastrophe that dence. In states like California, court can inflict on victims. at the first court appearance the In Silicon Valley, California, a prosecution gives the accused a community group called DeBug’s “discovery packet” with a copy Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project of the police report and perhaps pulls together activists, victims, other items. But in Michigan this legal workers, and family and doesn’t happen; one must demand friends to deal with cases, mostly the information to get it. Rev. criminal. But they also support Pinkney says, “Don’t plead guilty and encourage people with other until you see your police report!” types of cases, such as a civil suit With his guidance more than 175 when a family member is killed by young people have been saved a law enforcement taser. from becoming fodder for the pris- DeBug meets weekly and on industrial complex. helps each person make a plan Also, when Rev. Pinkney court for the next week regarding the watches, he pays $15 to buy the re- court case. As the court action cording of the entire day—all the Chicago artist Chris Drew was arrested for selling his art. He was then charged with a felony for threatens to engulf one like a huge criminal cases heard that day. This audio-recording his own arrest. Photo/donated wave sweeping them out of their can be of extreme importance in life as they knew it, DeBug helps assuring that the recording will not them remain on their feet and take be tampered with later. Unfortu- steps one week at a time to keep nately, in California they don’t use The First Amendment on fighting. Read more about this recordings but use human court Justice Project at acjusticeproject. reporters, and it would cost thou- com. Raj Jayadev, an organizer for sands of dollars to buy even one and The Right to Survive the project, reports, “By bringing a day’s transcripts. This leaves the community organizing ethic to the record open to being altered, and courtroom, we learned we can dra- with computerized stenographi- Artist Honored For First Amendment Fight matically change the outcome of cal machines, there is not even Occupy Rogers Park (Chica- the Right to Survive by Art. cating the public to the variety of cases, keep families together, and a paper trail, just readily altered go) presented artist Chris Drew an CD: We are talking about the real artists missing in public. change the landscape of power for electronics. award for his fight for free speech, First Amendment right to survive The movement regenerates an our loved ones entangled in the Rev. Pinkney works in the com- and for his work for many years by selling our art in public spaces art movement to sustain its needs criminal justice system.” munity to educate people about organizing community artists and that is required for change art to in public. Activities take place in In Michigan Rev. Pinkney does what’s happening even before giving them the skills and oppor- exist and build a public audience. low-tech one or two day a week court watch every single week. He they’re arrested. People are cau- tunity to express themselves. As re- This is the right above all that activities sustainable by a core of began court watching in 1999 and tioned to assert their 5th Amend- ported earlier in The People’s Tri- should be defended by our very dedicated artists at costs affordable says, “I didn’t know about the court ment right to remain silent, not to bune, Chris was arrested for selling lives. It’s the most important right. to a volunteer movement that takes system back then and couldn’t be- talk to the police. People who fol- his art patches without a peddler’s In Chicago and too many other lo- place in public… These patches lieve what I was hearing. Now I low this standard advice tend to do license, a charge that was dropped cations it has been abandoned as are sewn on clothes, pinned up in know that every person they can better in their court struggles. when the police discovered he was useless, a move that has margin- a creative variety of ways. They audio recording his own arrest. In- alized artists and dwarfed our art have a life that goes on promoting stead he was charged with felony scenes in public. [See Chris Drew’s your voice. This is a solution. eavesdropping, with a potential blog www.c-drew.com/blog] Artists have been using the Art sentence of 15 years. This interview Patch Project to protect our stolen NATO and the threat is excerpted from his remarks. You have said you are looking rights with growing awareness, es- for a core of workers to re- tablishing a foundation to build on. of world war What do you mean by awaken the Art Patch Project. The fact is we have less right to sur- “change-art”? Can you elaborate on this? vive by our art in Chicago in public From the Editors Chris Drew: Art for [social] CD: Please use the Art Patch Proj- than most places of the world. And change vs. art for art’s sake: Art ect to make Chicago Change. we have a first amendment guar- Every day we see economic crisis, cutthroat competition for mar- is always both, because the act of Bluntly put, I am dying* and the Art antee in this right. And we are not kets, the rise of fascism, and the drive toward war. What is going on? art is self-expression, which is the Patch Project needs new energy… fighting for it. We have given it up. And how do we divert resources from war-making to human needs? act of expressing the self in flux— We must teach citizens of Chi- We have given up our most basic The world’s markets are shrinking as technology replaces labor, in change. The economic system cago to stand up for their rights and right. It is your duty to change this. wipes out jobs and the ability of consumers to buy. The competition that developed around art—art for demonstrate the central role art has among the giant corporations for shrinking markets is increasingly collectors, for curators and art as in this process… Using art we have How does your work relate to the vicious, and will lead to more poverty and war. an investment—separated itself changed the eavesdropping law. Occupy Movement slogan “It’s Resistance by the world’s people is gathering, and the capitalists from art for change when desir- Let’s extend this to artists’ rights not one thing. It’s everything”? seek to crush it by instituting fascism. Poverty, fascism and war go able. “Change art” being feared and set an example of using art to CD: What most people see is hand in hand under capitalism. The threat of world war—that could by the moneyed classes had to be fight for First Amendment Rights. small and unconnectedness. But it destroy humanity—looms on the horizon. discouraged during its dangerous The Art Patch Project is a win-win is connected. It’s about the whole When the NATO ministers gather, they will talk about how to lifetime… Community art keeps concept. Artists submit designs and thing, and art is the key… to our use their military alliance to crush any resistance to the aims of rearing its beautiful head, genera- are encouraged to promote their freedom. We use the art patch to global capital. tion after generation, by different art on line on the art patch. The illustrate how to fight for freedom, The world’s people have nothing to gain by fighting one anoth- names, movements and artists. Art Patch Project promotes artists’ demonstrate that [artists] have er in the interests of capital. Humanity is ultimately fighting for a rights on line on the patch. Volun- tools to fight for that freedom. world where the people own the technology of production to coop- Explain the connection between teers print and give away the many *Chris was diagnosed with eratively produce everything we need for a civilized life. The imme- first amendment rights and flavored art patches over time edu- lung cancer a year ago. diate demand is “Money for Human Needs, Not War.” www.peoplestribune.org MAY 2012 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 11 TENSIONS ARE BREWING IN BENTON HARBOR, MICHGAN By Rev. Edward Pinkney ing the Occupy movement to support human rights in housing, in addition to BENTON HARBOR, the push back against bailouts of fraud- MI — Tensions are ulent banks that are stealing our homes brewing in Benton and our lives. Democracy is non-existent Harbor, Michigan, here in Benton Harbor. We have our very over the impact own dictator. We must stop all dictators. on the residents The Occupy movement is an inter- of the Senior national protest movement directed PGA Champion- against social and economic inequality. ship. The residents will occupy the PGA Its primary goal is to make the economic from May 23-27, 2012. structure and power relations in society The residents are disappointed that fairer. Different local groups have dif- Whirlpool and Kitchen Aid will be ferent focuses, but prime concerns are sponsors of the Senior PGA. The Senior big corporations like Whirlpool, Kitch- PGA Championship will make its first en Aid and the PGA, as well as other appearance in Michigan in 2012 at the global financial systems that control the Jack Nicklous Signature Golf Course world, disproportionately benefit a mi- which is part of the 530-acre Harbor nority and undermine democracy. Cooling towers for nuclear power plants in Shell Bluff, Georgia. Shores development in Benton Harbor. The phrase “99” is a political slogan Photo/Adriane Harden The Harbor Shores, Whirlpool Corpo- used by protestors of the Occupy move- ration and Kitchen Aid are the leading ment. It was originally launched as a forces in the gentrification of the city of Tumblr blog page in late August, 2011. Benton Harbor. It refers to the concentration of wealth Environmental In addition, Harbor Shores is pump- among the top 1% of income earners ing millions of gallons of water from the compared to the 99%. The top 1% near- Paw Paw River free of charge and re- ly tripled their after tax income over the fuses to pay the city of Benton Harbor last thirty years according to a Congres- racism in shell any money for water. The residents’ wa- sional Budget Office report. ter rate has tripled and it is expected to Occupy the PGA! IT IS NOT go even higher. ABOUT ONE THING. IT IS ABOUT bluff, georgia This is the reason Occupy PGA is so EVERYTHING! LET’S TAKE OVER important. We are committed to escalat- THE TAKEOVER! By Adriane Harden states. “But a lot of us got something else. We got cancer. I lost sisters, brothers and SHELL Bluff, GA — Environmental cousins to cancer, and every family I know racism occurs when hazardous industries has lost somebody to cancer.” and facilities are placed in and near poor, Since the early 1980s, Burke County minority communities. Environmental rac- residents have experienced a veritable can- ism can also be connected to the exclusion cer epidemic. Located along what is al- of minority groups from the decision-mak- ready the fourth most toxic waterway in the ing process in their communities. nation, Shell Bluff is across the Savannah Construction is underway for new twin River from a former nuclear weapons man- nuclear reactors in Burke County, Ga., at ufacturing plant. Nearby Waynesboro resi- the Vogtle plant. According to Southern dents rely on wells for bathing and drinking Company (which is building the reactors), water, which makes them highly vulnerable the creation of the nation’s first new nucle- to the radioactive contamination of local ar reactors in 30 years will result in new ground water. jobs and more economical resources for the On February 11, 2012, Bobbie Paul of poor and mostly Black communities around Wand, Rev. Samuel Mosteller, President of Protest the corporations and bankers at the Senior PGA Championship Shell Bluff and other Burke County cities. the GA State Unit of the Southern Christian tournament at the Benton Harbor golf tournament May 23-27, 2012. But some residents are asking if nuclear Leadership Conference (SCLC), The Peace reactors are really the solution. Why is Burke and Justice Coalition, Dianne Matheowitz, We are the 99% and the 1% will be there. Saturday, May 26 is the big County still one of the poorest corners of the AIC, Burke County Residents and supporters day. Join us! Call Rev. PInkney, President, BANCO at 269-925-0001 for state a quarter century after Southern Com- joined for a day of remembrance of the nu- information. Photo/Brett Jelinek, olafimages.com pany brought its first pair of local reactors clear disaster at Fukishima in Japan on Feb- online in 1987? They also want to know: If ruary 11, 2011, and to warn about the dangers the old and new reactors will be safe, why of nuclear radiation and the effects that two People’s Tribune won’t Southern Company or the federal new reactors would bring to Burke County. P.O. Box 3524 PRESORTED government pay to monitor radiation levels Bribing poor communities with jobs STANDARD in Burke County? And most of all, why are in exchange for sickness and death. Is this Chicago, Illinois 60654-3524 U.S. POSTAGE cancer rates more than 50 percent higher in what environmental racism looks like? Return service requested PAID communities near existing reactors, accord- The Nuclear Regularatory Commission CHICAGO, IL ing to the Centers for Disease Control? (NRC) and Southern Company have stated PERMIT NO. 874 Trading clean energy and jobs for the that the plants in Burke County are safe. It health of poor Black citizens without inves- is the NRC’s policy to allow plants to mon- tigating the long-term effects fits the defini- itor themselves? tion of environmental racism precisely. “Some people did get jobs,” former For more info, contact Adriane Harden Shell Bluff resident Annie Laura Stephens [email protected] 678-653-2012

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