Justicia y solidaridad para Puerto Rico 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 60, No. 4 Jan. 25, 2018 $1 Two-party DACA cruelty Migrants pawn in gov’t shutdown

By Fred Goldstein Roanoke, Va. Oakland, Calif. BULLETIN: As we go to press, WOMEN the Democratic Party leadership has agreed to end the government shutdown in return for a pledge FIGHT by Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell to “be fair” in taking up immigration. The lives of 800,000 BACK dreamers are in the hands of the 2-3 Senate and House Republican anti- immigration racists. Denver San Diego Jan. 22 — The present government shut- Minneapolis down crisis is essentially about immigration and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). There could be a surprise deal at any time that would put an end to the shutdown. But this crisis has already revealed much. In this struggle, the basic characteristics of the primary players have come to the fore. The relentless, brutal, racist cruelty of Donald Trump and the Republican Party has stood Seattle out. On the other hand, the cowardice and op- portunism of the Democratic Party leadership OAKLAND, PHOTO: MEGAN ZAPANTA; has been laid bare. SAN DIEGO, WW PHOTO: GLORIA VERDIEU; The cynics of the Republican Party tried MINNEAPOLIS, PHOTO: FIGHBACK!NEWS; DENVER, WW PHOTO: VIVIANA WEINSTEIN to force the Democratic Party into a deal to stop the shutdown by holding out a six-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The Republicans don’t care one whit about CHIP. Funding for CHIP was passed in the House on Nov. 3, 2017, and has been sitting in the Senate ever since. The health care of WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN MIGRANT 9 million children has been held hostage by the Repub- Grand Central Station, NYC licans as a wedge against the Democrats. At the same time, the Democratic Party leadership, RIGHTS in the person of Sen. Chuck Schumer, got on his knees before Trump, offering $20 billion for a border wall along the Mexican border as part of an attempt to get NOW! a last-minute deal and avoid a government shutdown. This craven concession to the racism, repression and Haitians massive militarization of the border is aiding Trump’s hard line on immigration. As such, it is unconscionable march vs. opportunism. It should be noted as well that the Dem- ocrats, led by Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, are mo- Trump 5 tivating an end to the shutdown by citing the need for military preparedness and planning. And beneath it all, it is clear that while there is a “shut- down” of many vital social services, with tens of thou- sands of government workers facing unpaid furloughs, the repressive apparatus of the state — the military, ICE, the FBI, courts, etc. — will continue to function.

DACA at core of shutdown struggle At the core of the shutdown is the struggle over con- DAYS OF RAGE tinuation of the DACA program set up by former Presi- WW PHOTO: DANTE STROBINO Continued on page 10 follow Dr. King’s legacy 6-7 Subscribe to Workers World 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/articles/donate/

Name ______KOREA: Olympic unity Email ______Phone ______EDITORIAL 10 Greensboro, N.C. Street ______City / State / Zip______Workers World Weekly Newspaper workers.org 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 212.627.2994 HONDURAS Solidarity needed 9 SYRIA U.S. spreads chaos 11 Page 2 Jan. 25, 2018 workers.org WW commentary Gymnasts bravely expose sexual abuse

By Monica Moorehead teams to participate in the Olympics. The fallout forced three top members of USAG to resign Jan. 22, including  In the U.S. Jan. 22 — Since Jan. 16 at least 120 current and retired the chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer. Two-party DACA cruelty ...... 1 women gymnasts have publicly denounced Larry Nassar, Gymnast Emma Ann Miller told Nassar: “Tell us about Gymnasts bravely expose sexual abuse ...... 2 the former doctor who sexually assaulted them starting the telltale signs that others at MSU, Twistars and USAG when they were as young as 6 years old. Every day doz- should have seen but didn’t. In one of your last public acts, Women march toward progressive unity, women’s liberation ...... 3 ens of women have testified in Ingham County (Michigan) actually help someone. Of course, we are aware that some Circuit Court about the horrors they suffered, many for knew, but there are likely many, many more opportunities Women’s health care attacked years, at the hands of this predator. these institutions and individuals had to stop you long be- on Roe v. Wade anniversary ...... 3 Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in prison after plead- fore Rachael (Denhollander) and the IndyStar article sur- Women activists on capitalism, imperialism ...... 4 ing guilty in November to federal child pornography faced.” (State News, Jan. 22) Boston organizers fight ICE, DCF ...... 4 charges. He is currently in the sentencing phase after Olympic gold-medal gymnast Aly Raisman stated with Women in ICE detention attempt suicide ...... 4 convictions of criminal sexual conduct. Judge Rosemarie righteous fury: “I didn’t think I would be here today. I was Haitians march to Trump Tower ...... 5 Aquilina is allowing every survivor, many of them Olym- scared and nervous. It wasn’t until I started watching the Seattle: Rally supports activist facing deportation . . . 5 pic medalists, to speak before she sentences Nassar. impact statements from the other brave survivors that I As a sports training doctor at Michigan State Univer- realized I, too, needed to be here. Detroit: #J20 targets system ...... 5 sity in East Lansing for over 25 years, Nassar had access “I am here to face you, Larry, so you can see I have re- Autoworkers demonstrate to save jobs ...... 5 to hundreds of young girls and women whose parents gained my strength, that I am no longer a victim. I am a Bay Area reclaims King’s radical legacy ...... 6 entrusted him to take care of their children’s chronic in- survivor. N.C. city workers launch campaign on King Day . . . . 6 juries. Over 150 gymnasts have sued Nassar for assault “I have represented the United States of America in two Celebrating Dr. King’s legacy ...... 6 under the guise of “medical treatment.” Many of these Olympics and have done so successfully. And both USA Days of Rage tackles Trump regime ...... 7 women continue to suffer from depression, anxiety, Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee post-traumatic stress and other disorders as a result of have been very quick to capitalize and celebrate my suc- Florida organizer: ‘Help sustain prisoner strike!’ . . . . 8 the abuse. cess. But did they reach out when I came forward? No.” Inauguration protesters’ charges dropped ...... 8 One by one these gymnasts, who suffered in silence (CNN, Jan. 19) Mumia hearing postponed ...... 8 with internal pain and trauma for many years, felt em- MSU claims it is carrying out an investigation of its powered for the first time to speak directly to Nassar in complicit role in this scandal, but isn’t that comparable to  Around the world court. The women provided graphic and shocking details the fox guarding the chicken coop? Will such an investi- Cuban brigade anniversary celebrated ...... 9 of what Nassar did to their bodies. Many thanked the gation actually get to the root cause of what took place for Hondurans protest fake election ...... 9 #MeToo movement for showing them they are not alone at least a quarter-century? Greece: Strikes defend workers’ rights ...... 11 in surviving sexual abuse. Shouldn’t there be a broad, independent investigation U.S. spreads chaos in Middle East ...... 11 that includes gymnasts, their parents and women’s orga- Nassar could not act alone nizations, with the survivors in the forefront? And what  Editorial More and more details are emerging that show that did the mainstream media know — before these brave DPRK creates Olympic unity ...... 10 Nassar did not and could not carry out his horrendous gymnasts collectively refused to be silenced any longer acts in isolation. In fact, some of the women went to the — about what many consider to be the largest scandal in  Noticias en Español authorities at and outside MSU with complaints about U.S. sports history? ‘Justicia y solidaridad para Puerto Rico’ ...... 12 Nassar, only to be dismissed and ignored. Gymnast Ra- Under capitalism, all athletes, be they pro or amateur, chael Denhollander stated, “You don’t get someone like are viewed as commodities to make profits for institu- Larry Nassar, you don’t get a pedophile who is able to tions like MSU, USA Olympics and the corporate media. abuse without there being a culture surrounding him in The scandal that has erupted at MSU and international- Workers World that place.” (ESPN, Jan. 16) ly over the treatment of these superexploited gymnasts, 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. This culture included MSU administrators; Kathie many of them star athletes, exposes the systemic patriar- New York, NY 10011 Klages, the former women’s gymnastics coach at MSU; chy and sexism that exist throughout society and which Phone: 212.627.2994 Great Lakes Gymnastics; Twistars USA Gymnastics Club will only be eradicated with the revolutionary uprooting E-mail: [email protected] near East Lansing; and USA Gymnastics, which grooms of the entire capitalist system. Web: www.workers.org Vol. 60, No. 4 • Jan.25, 2018 Closing date: Jan. 23, 2018 Join us in the fight Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, for socialism! Kris Balderas Hamel, Monica Moorehead, Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-­ Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with Minnie Bruce Pratt; Web Editor Gary Wilson Leninist party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even make Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; We are a multinational, multigenerational and multigen- it to college. Black and Brown youth and trans people are Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash dered organization that not only aims to abolish capital- gunned down by cops and bigots on a regular basis. Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, ism, but to build a socialist society because it’s the only WWP fights for socialism because the working class Bob McCubbin, Jeff Sorel way forward! produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should re- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of main in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capital- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, the world and the planet itself in the never-ending quest ist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, for ever-greater profits. Capitalism means war and aus- owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guar- Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, terity, racism and repression, joblessness and lack of antee basic human needs. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, hope for the future. No social problems can be solved Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac under capitalism. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Andrea Bañuelos, Alberto García, Teresa Gutierrez, has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Carlos Vargas education or anything else — unless they can pay for it. branch near you. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp Copyright © 2017 Workers World. 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By Minnie Bruce Pratt tuary City. Support to stop hydrofracking was strong, as For the second consecutive year, mas- Colorado is hard hit by the sive demonstrations led by women swept Trump administration’s cut- through the United States, countering ting of environmental safety the wave of right-wing reaction intensify- regulations to favor large oil, ing under the Trump administration. gas and mining corporations. Corporate news commentators would Signs against U.S. wars were PHOTO: WUWF have us think that millions of people in few but attracted much posi- the streets were simply a buildup for the tive comment. 2018 U.S. elections. USA Today’s head- A contingent of over 1,000 Na- line actually read: “The real march is on tive people protesting the murders Election Day.” and disappearances of Indigenous Boston women led the Seattle march of But for the crowds this year from Aus- PHOTO: HOWARD ROTMAN tralia to Zambia, for the 200,000 in New more than 50,000 people. The WW PHOTO: SUSAN SCHNUR York City and the 14,000 in Knoxville, contingent was followed by a large Tenn., Jan. 20 was a day of struggle toward contingent of Muslim women. Baltimore important to stand a new movement for women’s liberation. Gabriela Oakland (Calif.) orga- WW PHOTO: ANDREW MAYTON with those who are At the grassroots, those organizing for nized a militant and spirited contingent Bay, APIQWTC-Asian Pacific Islander targeted by a spe- progressive unity in this new wave are with over 100 strong. They chanted, with Queer Women & Transgender Commu- cific oppression fighting for women’s liberation to be an- drums beating, “No Trump, no KKK, no nity, Aypal: Building API Community and take their lead, ti-racist and anti-imperialist, pro-work- fascist USA,” “When I say trans, you say Power, Banteay Srei, Boomshake Music, Cleveland especially when er and pro-union. They are celebrating justice!” and “Rise up, resist! No need for International Women’s Alliance, Mu- it has the chance people with disabilities as well as LGBTQ killer cops or jails. The whole damn sys- jeres Unidas y Activas, League of Filipino to expose and reject reactionary actions sexuality and respect for genderqueer, tem is guilty as hell.” Students-SFSU, National Ecumenical Fo- that discourage unity. ... Any movement gender-fluid and trans people. Here are Their call to action read in part, “We rum for Filipino Concerns-North Califor- that denies the most oppressed is a frac- some snapshots of the Women’s March. must highlight the economic, political nia Chapter and Workers World Party. tured movement and must be challenged. In New York City, demonstrators in- and cultural aspects by connecting how Perhaps as many as 100,000 people We remain forever in solidarity with Pal- cluded the art installation group, Brick imperialism perpetuates and worsens marched in San Diego, while the official estine, along with the many progressive by Brick, wearing patches with wom- Violence against Women in all its forms. estimate of the marches in Los Angeles women, LGBTQ, Black, Brown, Asian, en-hating comments by Trump. Echoing Let us RISE to protect women, trans reached 600,000. Due to the presence of white and Jewish voices against U.S. im- a movement chant for a prominent politi- and gender non-conforming people, and a pro-Zionist speaker for the racist, apart- perialism, the apartheid state of Israel cal prisoner, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, our children! Let us RESIST econom- heid state of Israel, the LA event was boy- and racism.” (Entire statement available we’re going to free Mumia Abu Jamal,” ic exploitation of our women! Let us cotted by Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to at workers.org.) they stood for hours against the impris- UNITE for the self-determination of all Return coalition, and by PAWA, the Pal- Contributing to this article were onment of sexual abuse. oppressed people to fight for their basic estinian American Women’s Association. Devin Cole, Phebe Eckfeldt, Rebecka Workers World Party women, including rights and livelihood!” In solidarity, the International Action Jackson, Terri Kay, Andrew Mayton, trans women and gender-nonconform- Co-sponsors of the contingent includ- Center-Los Angeles and Workers World Bob McCubbin, Jim McMahan, Susan ing people, and supporters in Boston, at- ed Gabriela SF, ASATA- Alliance of South Party-Los Angeles did not attend, issuing Schnur, Maggie Vascassenno, Gloria tended a rally of 4,000 at the Cambridge Asians Taking Action, Anakbayan East a statement reading in part: “It is more Verdieu and Viviana Weinstein. Commons. Their revolutionary solidarity in placards and signs read: Trans Women ARE women; Solidarity with Haitian, Lat- inx and African People; The Revolution Is Women’s health care attacked Female, Free Ahed Tamimi and All Pales- tinian Political Prisoners; and Time’s Up for racism, sexism and white supremacy. on Roe v. Wade anniversary In a Baltimore crowd estimated at well over 5,000, the Women’s Fightback By Sue Davis as yet another attempt to deny wom- single mothers, young women, those with Network said NO to the racist, sexist, an- en access to “evidence-based” abortion disabilities, those living in rural areas ti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ and anti-poor The notoriously women-hating, bla- care. (Rewire, Jan. 19) and women who have been subject to do- “Trump agenda.” tantly white supremacist, anti-abortion The Trump-controlled Department of mestic violence. Progressive activists in Philadelphia Donald Trump administration timed a Health and Human Services launched In 2015 Medicaid was the leading issued a strong statement rejecting the draconian law and hostile new federal on Jan. 18 the Conscience and Religious source of public funding for family plan- corporate organizers’ collaboration with rulings to precede the 45th anniversa- Freedom Division in its Office of Civil ning, accounting for 75 percent of all pub- police who conducted security check- ry of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court Rights. It offers so-called “conscience lic funds spent on contraceptive services points for the march. They called for a decision legalizing abortion, on Jan. 22. protections” for health care providers and supplies. However, because of the boycott of the action because it endan- These were rolled out as fodder for his who don’t want to treat LGBTQ patients Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, no fed- gered marginalized women. (See related base at the annual anti-abortion march or provide reproductive health care for eral or state funding goes to poor women story in this issue.) in Washington, D.C., on Jan 19. them, thus promoting discrimination. for abortions except for a tiny percentage Organizers for the Pensacola, Fla., That day, the House of Representatives However, as Rewire points out, LGBTQ of cases of rape, incest or conditions that march asked participants to be in soli- passed the so-called “Born-Alive Abortion people routinely face “discrimination threaten the life of the woman. darity with trans women by not wearing Survivors Protection Act.” Based on junk and mistreatment” from providers. (Jan. According to Destiny Lopez, co-direc- the pink “pussy hats” from last year’s pro- science and scare tactics, the law promotes 18) Litigation by LGBTQ and other legal tor of All* Above All, a coalition of 130 test of Trump’s misogyny. Devin Cole of the myth that babies are “born alive” groups is planned. reproductive rights and justice groups STRIVE, a trans activist group, said: “Not during second-trimester abortions (up to As part of its anti-abortion pack- mobilizing to overturn Hyde, “It’s im- every woman has a vagina and not every 24 weeks) and are routinely murdered by age, HHS on Jan. 19 rescinded a Barack portant to understand that the Trump/ person who has a vagina is a woman. We clinicians. Viability of a fetus — its abili- Obama administration guidance that Pence administration and our anti-abor- believe in the intersectional liberation of ty to live outside the womb — is generally federal law prohibits states from ending tion Congress are using the Hyde Amend- women.” (Pensacola News Journal, Jan. 12) viewed as between 25 and 26 weeks. Medicaid funding for health care pro- ment as their weapon of choice to stop As over 4,000 rallied in Roanoke, The “Born Alive” bill, modeled on viders that offer abortions, thus protect- women from getting abortions. We see Va., and over 7,000 in Cleveland, Fight- cynical Americans United for Life legis- ing Planned Parenthood and other such the tentacles of the Hyde Amendment back!News reported several hundred lation, spells out criminal penalties for groups. Rescinding that allows the fed- ­everywhere.” protesters, including immigrants and abortion providers with fines, up to five eral government to ban Planned Parent- But AAA affiliates like New Voices for members of the anti-war and anti-police years in prison and possible prosecution hood and other similar providers from Reproductive Justice, which advocates brutality movements, marched in the for murder. receiving Medicaid reimbursements by for Black women and youth in the Pitts- streets of Minneapolis chanting, “Refu- One practitioner described the bill as states, seriously affecting millions of burgh area, are mobilizing against the gees are welcome here!” written by someone who “has no idea of poor women who depend on Medicaid Trump agenda. La’Tasha Mayes, found- A looming snowstorm did not deter at what an abortion procedure actually is.” payments to Planned Parenthood and er and executive director of New Voices, least 80,000 marching through down- According to a 2017 fact sheet from the other providers for their health care. states, “We rise up for a future where we town Denver in view of the gold-domed Guttmacher Institute, the reproductive According to the Kaiser Founda- can decide whether and when to have state capitol building. Besides anti-Trump rights research group, 89 percent of all tion, Medicaid covered nearly four in children, give birth without risking our and pro-women’s rights signs, there were abortions occur within the first trimes- 10 low-income women of reproductive lives, and raise those children without noticeable signs for justice for Black Lives ter (the first 12 weeks), with 66 percent age (15 to 44) in 2015. That means when fear of hunger, violence, or discrimina- Matter, the Dreamers (DACA) and pro- in the first eight weeks. The bill was de- Trump attacks Medicaid he is waging war tion. We rise up for a future where we can tection of immigrants, especially because nounced by the head of the leading U.S. on women who are disproportionately live with respect, health, and justice.” of recent attacks on Denver as a Sanc- group of obstetricians and gynecologists low-wage working women of color, often Now that’s in the spirit of Roe v. Wade. Page 4 Jan. 25, 2018 workers.org Women activists on capitalism, imperialism

An inspiring forum featuring three supremacist, misogynist president, Don- young, dynamic, women revolutionaries ald Trump. was organized by the New York City The three speakers were Ariella Ria- chapter of Workers World Party on Jan. pos from G-REBLS on the resistance in 18. Entitled “Women Fight Back Against Honduras; May Madarang from GABRI- Capitalism and Imperialism,” the meet- ELA-NYC on repression and fightback in ing was a building event for the J20 Days the Philippines; and Taryn Fivek from of Rage protests targeting the one-year WWP on the role of revolutionary femi- anniversary inauguration of the white nism versus bourgeois feminism. Each of the speakers spoke on the role that wom- WW PHOTO: RAFAEL JUSTO en play in these important struggles. The Holding the banner, left to right, are Ariella meeting was chaired by Paddy Colligan. Riapos, May Madarang and Taryn Fivek with Monica Moorehead. — Monica Moorehead Boston organizers fight ICE, DCF By Sam Ordoñez Trump’s border wall. Hodgson has been the fates of minors as young as 11 years Boston blasted for the harsh conditions in his old, many of whom don’t have legal rep- jail, which include poor heating and ven- resentation. Supporters gathered Jan. 9 in front of tilation, bad water quality and rampant After hearing from several speakers the John F. Kennedy Federal Building here difficulties with visitor access. from the coalition formed to support to demand justice for local activist Siham After nearly two months in this facili- Byah — including Byah herself, who Byah, who was detained by Immigration ty, where she and other detainees resort- called in and described experiencing and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at ed to using bottles filled with warm water “extreme hunger, extreme cold, extreme a routine check-in with immigration ser- to endure the cold in the unheated cells, physical and emotional pain, extreme vices in November. Her son was also taken Byah was deported without warning. She fear and extreme humiliation” while in into the custody of the Massachusetts De- arrived in Morocco with nothing but the ICE custody — activists marched to the partment for Children and Families (DCF), clothes on her back, having been denied Boston DCF office to present their de- who then refused to place him in the care the chance to say goodbye to her son or mands. Assembled outside, the organiz- of the family chosen by Byah. even to notify her attorney. ers of the event demanded that Byah be Byah herself was sent to the Bristol It was significant that the Jan. 9 rally allowed regular contact with her son, PHOTO: JUSTICE4SIHAM COALITION VIDEO County jail, run by hated Sheriff Thomas and march began in the plaza outside the that they be given a path to be reunited Supporters of Siham Byah march through A. Hodgson, a rabid racist who is known federal building. Every Tuesday, deporta- and that DCF end all collaboration with Boston Common to DCF offices to demand for offering the labor of inmates to build tion hearings are held inside that decide ICE’s racist deportations. her reunification with her son. Women in ICE detention attempt suicide

By Teresa Gutierrez transporting. (Dec. 12, County Residential Center in Texas for 2017) six months after crossing into the U.S. In yet another blatant instance Any relief Monterrosa from Mexico. She had been told she and of cruel and inhumane treatment may receive depends on her children would be held for only three of migrant workers in the U.S., a an official investigation months. She had no legal counsel and no woman in an Immigration and being launched. Monter- information about her case, which led to Customs Enforcement deten- rosa can’t be deported her despair. (HuffPost, June 2017) tion center attempted suicide while she waits for an ap- after repeated sexual abuse by a Former detainees and supporters peal of her original asy- Fleeing violence, imprisoned in violence guard. (Rewire, Jan. 16) speak out about abuse at ICE Hutto lum case. This means, Many female migrants are already flee- Laura Monterrosa, a Salva- Detention Center in Taylor, Texas. say supporters, she will ing violence against women in their home doran, has been held at T. Don PHOTO: GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP continue to encounter countries. El Salvador, Honduras and Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas, Monterrosa is still held, is a medium secu- her alleged abuser on a daily basis. Guatemala have female homicide rates since May 2017. The guard began assault- rity prison managed by CoreCivic (former- One of Monterrosa’s advocates said: among the highest in the world, accord- ing her shortly afterwards. ly Corrections Corporation of America), a “What is happening to Laura is endem- ing to the Washington Office on Latin Her charges of sexual assault went ig- for-profit “adult corrections company.” ic of detention centers and almost im- America. (Feb. 21, 2017) nored, according to Grassroots Leader- Not much improvement can be expected possible to completely eliminate unless This turmoil is due to U.S. imperial- ship, a nonprofit social justice advocacy from this incarceration monster. we eliminate detention centers. There ist domination that leads to instability, center based in nearby Austin. The center CoreCivic has a long and sordid history has been a trail of incidents and most of the lucrative drug industry and political publicized the migrant woman’s plight af- of prison abuse, including dangerous and them go unreported and this is why: they strife based on U.S. policy, such as steal- ter detention center officials neglected to fatal medical neglect, rancid food, cruel don’t get investigated and the women who ing of elections in Honduras, as well as provide medical treatment for Monterro- and inhumane treatment by guards and come forward are shamed or transferred other social, economic and political tur- sa after her suicide attempt. staff, including the long-denounced prac- or otherwise punished.” (rewirenews.org) moil manufactured by the Pentagon, like Monterrosa spoke out about her abuse tice of solitary confinement, known to ex- In 2016, Human Rights Watch issued a the 16-year-long war on Afghanistan. in November 2017. ICE and the county acerbate trauma and mental health issues. report of deaths in ICE custody. Of the 18 Meanwhile, an estimated 80 percent sheriff’s office did little in response. The In fact, Monterrosa twice experienced people studied, all committed suicide af- of Central American girls and women guard, continuing to work at the center, “medical confinement.” That’s how sup- ter demonstrating signs of serious mental are raped on their journey to the U.S.. saw Monterrosa every day. porters describe what “ICE and private health conditions. For them to then be jailed, detained and Monterrosa is not alone in her allega- prison companies like CoreCivic use as Berenice, a woman of Garifuna de- experience further abuse is deplorable. tions of abuse. After she spoke out, other a form of solitary confinement.” Monter- scent from Honduras, described life (HuffPost, Sept. 12, 2014) women detained in Hutto came forward. rosa told her supporters that she initially in Dilley Detention Center in Texas as Conditions for people in detention are ICE declared it found Monterrosa’s al- hesitated to go public about her abuse for “soul-destroying.” Bernice had organized only expected to worsen under the Trump legations to be “unsubstantiated.” That fear of being subjected to more solitary in Honduras for her people and then had administration. What is the solution to announcement came after only two in- confinement. (grassrootsleadership.org) to flee the reactionary regime. When ICE this rampant abuse, which is reminiscent terviews with Monterrosa, where trans- In addition, the Hutto Detention told her she could get out with her child of 19th-century prisons? lation was inadequate and where she was Center, which exclusively detains asy- if she paid $5,000 in bail, that might as Solidarity. Organization. Fightback. As not allowed access to counsel. This ad- lum-seeking women, has a long history of well have been $5 million. That’s when women march across the U.S. and around ditional abuse led to Monterrosa taking sexual abuse. In 2007, a CoreCivic guard she tried to kill herself, thinking her child the world, the issue of women and trans over 50 pain pills on Jan. 11, medication was accused of sexually assaulting a would go free. (Guardian, May 22, 2015) people in prisons and ICE detentions given to her by prison medical staff. woman “while her son was sleeping in his In June 2017, an Afghan national, a must be front and center on our agenda. crib inside the cell,” according to Court- woman who had been locked up with Free them all and jail the oppressors— Suicide common in ICE detention house News. In 2010, another CoreCivic her two children, attempted suicide in that’s the solution. Suicide attempts at ICE detentions cen- guard was charged with sexually as- an attempt to free the children. Sami- To support Laura Monterrosa’s case, ter are tragically common. Hutto, where saulting eight women he was tasked with ra Hakimi had been held in the Karnes visit grassrootsleadership.org. workers.org Jan 25, 2018 Page 5

Haitians march to Trump Tower was under tight security, and then marched to the Trump building at 40 Wall St. By G. Dunkel lyn Bridge. People Among the speakers at the rally were New York driving by honked Assemblyperson Charles Barron, who and cheered, which, marched on the front banner all the way Fueled by anger over President Donald along with a few from Grand Army Plaza; Black Alliance Trump’s rude and racist comments justi- rara trumpets and for Just Immigration activist Albert fying his denial of an immigration status drums, kept spirits, Saint Jean; Imani Henry of Equality for that let 60,000 Haitians and 250,000 and the pace, up. Flatbush; unionist Marie Paule Florest- Salvadorans, and hundreds of other ref- The signs were al, who read the declaration of the 1804 ugees from other devastated countries, astute, varied and Movement for All Immigrants; Hai- legally live and work in the United States, caught the mood tian-American activist Kerbie Joseph of members of the Haitian community in WW PHOTO: G. DUNKEL of the march. The the Party for Socialism and Liberation; Brooklyn gathered and decided to form forms of racial profiling and police ter- collection boxes for the 1804 Movement Stephanie Legros, who spoke on behalf of the “1804 Movement for All Immigrants.” ror; and an end to the U.N./U.S. occupa- said, “Time is up, Trump — For your rac- Haitian youth; and Nina Mariella of the Homeland Security added an addi- tion of Haiti. ist, anti-immigrant words & policies!” A Filipino group BAYAN-USA. Emcee Joc- tional twist Jan. 18, when it declared But the 1804 Movement didn’t stop with popular Workers World Party placard elyn Gay read a statement from novelist that people from Haiti, Belize and Samoa issuing a set of demands. Eight days after with a portrait of Jean-Jacques Des- Edwidge Danticat. Haitian artists Ayiti were no longer eligible to apply for visas it was formed, it took them to the streets salines read, “Jean-Jacques Dessalines Bluez and Ann Bantu sang the Haitian for seasonal and farmworker jobs. in a long march from Grand Army Plaza in defeated all the Trumps — reparations national anthem, “La Dessalinienne,” The demands of this movement, which Brooklyn, down Flatbush Avenue, across for Haiti!!” A homemade sign simply and Haitian artist E-Uneek performed is open to all who agree, are that Trump the Brooklyn Bridge, past the federal read, “Trump Must Go!!!” rap. make a public apology for his racist re- building in Lower Manhattan and ending Once the march reached Manhattan, In the Haitian community, a long march marks; permanent residency for all cur- at the Trump Tower on Wall Street. where it was significantly larger than it on a workday means that the organiz- rent temporary protected status (TPS) It was a long, cold, militant march that was at its start and was animated by the ers are very serious about the issues the holders; reparations for U.S. crimes grew as it passed along Flatbush Avenue rara bande à pied DJA-Rara, it went past march is raising. It was a good response against the Haitian people; an end to all and especially as it came up to the Brook- the federal building in Foley Square, which to the racist, xenophobic attacks that are coming from the Trump regime. Rally supports activist facing deportation

By Jim McMahan protesters from many groups, and lots of speech against Haitians, Latinx and Af- out as undocumented in 2014, when she Seattle press. rican people. supported a hunger strike in the North- Since the start of the new year, Trump Trump and the bosses are now target- west Detention Center, which started af- An emergency rally/press conference and the capitalists have blatantly stepped ing immigrant rights leaders. Villalpan- ter activists on the outside blocked a bus- was held for immigrant and prisoners’ up a war against immigrants. They have do is the latest, along with activist leaders load of immigrants being deported. rights defender Maru Mora Villalpando carried out deportation threats against Sihan Tinhinan Byah in Boston and Ravi Villalpando was not deterred from on Jan. 16. In late December, after years 800,000 youth formerly protected un- Ragbir and Jean Montrevil in New York showing up and speaking out at this rally, of organizing for justice, Villalpando re- der the Deferred Action for Childhood City. Rally organizer and chair Angelica right in front of the ICE offices. She has ceived notice of deportation from U.S. Arrivals program and against Haitians, Chazaro said supporters were fighting for been a voice for striking prisoners in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. El Salvadorans and others formerly un- a cancellation of the deportation order. detention center. She has backed them up The rally in front of the ICE courts in der temporary protected status (TPS). Villalpando, from Mexico, has lived in by organizing rallies, summoning the me- Women in ICE detention attempt suicide downtown Seattle drew more than 100 Trump has also engaged in racist hate the U.S. for 25 years. She said she came dia and getting the prisoners legal help. Also speaking at the rally was Nestora Salgado, who was imprisoned in Mexico for leading an Indigenous police force against gang violence in Mexico. Salgado #J20 targets system charged that Villalpando would not be safe as a woman if deported to Mexico. inauguration. noontime rally, protesters marched from Michelle Vendiola, a Native woman Protesters called for all charges to be Campus Martius Park to Cobo Hall, site from the organization Red Line Salish dropped against all #J20 defendants. of the North American International Sea, also spoke. She said that Native na- These were counterinaugural protesters Auto Show, while chanting and holding tions should determine who is allowed to who had heavy felony charges brought signs demanding “Drop the charges!” stay in this country. “We will defend the Detroit against them for participating in the “U.S. hands off Korea!” and “Tax breaks? defender,” she said. protests in Washington, D.C., a year ago. No way! Make the auto bosses pay!” Villalpando also had another re- WW PHOTO: ABAYOMI AZIKIWE Detroit activists received reports that the among other slogans. sponse to her deportation order. She The Moratorium Now! Coalition, a most extreme felony charges have been The event was cosponsored by Michi- announced that there will be a People’s Detroit organization founded to push for dropped, but there are still misdemeanor gan Peoples Defense Network (MPDN), Tribunal against ICE and immigrant de- a moratorium on home foreclosures in charges pending. the Michigan Emergency Committee tention on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 12 noon in the city and elsewhere, organized a rally Moratorium Now! and other speakers Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) front of the Northwest Detention Center and march on Jan. 20, one year after the also called for an end to the capitalist and Workers World Party. in Tacoma, Wash. This will continue the original #J20 protests against Trump’s system that Trump represents. After a — Joshua Scott Klarr struggle forward!

Autoworkers demonstrate for jobs WW PHOTO: MARTHA GREVATT

By Martha Grevatt to work the MLK holiday reported to work provided no documentation that the Detroit as usual, 16 were taken off their trucks, terminal closure was ever negotiated. given layoff notices and replaced by non- Baumhower told the news media cov- Hundreds of autoworkers picketed union drivers from outside companies. ering the picket line that this unilateral outside the North American Internation- Since the layoff announcement, work- decision to outsource jobs undermines al Auto Show on Jan. 21 to save the jobs of ers inside the Toledo Assembly Plant, collective bargaining — making it an union truck drivers. Six busloads of Unit- which builds the popular Jeep Wrangler, attack on the whole labor movement. ed Auto Workers Local 12 members trav- have reported for work in red “Keep the Of the 45 units that Local 12 represents, Baumhower pointed out that FCA CEO eled to Detroit to demand Fiat Chrysler fleet” t-shirts. The union local has held including workers at FCA and companies Sergio Marchionne had praised Toledo Automobiles (FCA) “Keep the Fleet” — a press conferences in Toledo denouncing it contracts with as well as nurses and Jeep workers earlier in the week while reference to the fleet of trucks housed at the outsourcing plans. Since the Detroit county workers, the largest unit is the Jeep attending the auto show. FCA has justi- the Toledo, Ohio, terminal of FCA Trans- show draws media from all over the plant. Jeep workers came out en masse fied the anti-union outsourcing with the port. The company has already begun world, the union protested there in an to support the fleet drivers. Delegations claim it will save $4 million. The local has replacing Local 12 members who drive attempt to reach a broad national and in- from UAW Local 212, representing FCA countered with suggestions for in-house those trucks with nonunion drivers. ternational audience. Transport workers in Metro Detroit, and changes that would save the company Last year, the 88 fleet drivers learned Local 12 President Bruce Baumhower Local 372 at the Trenton, Mich., engine millions, but Marchionne isn’t interested. that the company would close the termi- and other union leaders have challenged plant, bolstered the Jeep workers picket. Demonstrators chanted “Hell no, Ser- nal and lay off all drivers by February FCA’s claim that the UAW agreed to let Members of other UAW Locals and other gio! Keep the fleet!” and “Workers united 2018. On Jan. 15, when drivers scheduled the company close the terminal. FCA has union supporters also turned out. will never be defeated!” Page 6 Jan. 25, 2018 workers.org Bay Area reclaims King’s radical legacy

By Terri Kay PHOTO: BROOKEANDERSON Oakland, Calif. This was in response to her “solu- For the fourth year in a row, the tion” to the housing crisis, calling Anti Police-Terror Project sup- on Oakland residents to open their ported the national call to reclaim homes to houseless people. APTP King’s radical legacy, Bay style. challenged the mayor to lead by APTP didn’t just have a huge, mul- example. tinational, spirited and militant Jan. 14 included a protest at march on the Martin Luther King the Richmond County Jail/Im- Jr. national holiday on Jan. 15. migration and Customs Enforce- APTP held its fourth annual 96 ment Detention Center; Third Hours of Direct Action to #ReclaimMLK. jail, through the Acorn housing projects pushed out and discarded,” said Cat World Resistance’s teach-in on The overall theme for this year was in West Oakland and ending at the West Brooks of APTP. “We will not stand idly Martin Luther King’s resistance to rac- “#NonCompliance with the Trump/ Oakland Bay Area Rapid Transit station, by or remain indoors while our friends, ism, war and capitalism; a prayer at the [Oakland Mayor Libby] Schaaf corporate where a BART police officer had shot and children, families are seeing their human West Berkeley Shellmound; and a #De- agenda.” This started Jan. 12, with a day killed Shaleem Tindle, a Black man, only rights and dignities stripped away. We fendTPS! [temporary protected status] themed for actions against state-spon- a few weeks ago. will not comply.” rally for Salvadorans and Central Amer- sored violence. Jan. 13 was themed The march was led by children and Some of the actions which took place icans. against displacement, for housing for all. differently abled people, to set the pace. during the #96Hours included, on Jan. As in past years, APTP organized this Jan. 14, was Indigenous and international Right behind was a contingent from 12, a human billboard “morning wake- entire weekend of actions by calling out to solidarity day. Third World Resistance, which included up call to say no to white supremacy” the entire Bay Area movement, individu- Jan. 15 was the grand finale, with ev- banners proclaiming “Black Lives Matter at the Rockridge BART, a rally to end als and organizations, to come to spokes eryone joining in on the fourth annual from Haiti to the Bay” and “Hands Off state-sanctioned sexual violence in down- council meetings, which started in De- March to Reclaim King’s Radical Legacy. Sacred Land, from Shellmound to Jeru- town Oakland and a giant projection to cember. The spokes councils were a place About 2,000 people rallied and marched salem, Palestine.” #DefendDurham on the San Francisco where people could bring their ideas for from Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown “From the federal government to local Federal Building. actions, ask for or offer support and cal- Oakland, past the Oakland Police De- agencies, our most marginalized com- On Jan. 13, the major action was a cam- endar their events so that they didn’t con- partment headquarters and the county munities are being attacked, surveilled, pout on Oakland Mayor Schaaf’s lawn. flict with one another. N.C. city workers launch campaign on King Day

By Dante Strobino ued by state and local governments. On Jan. 12, the campaign kicked off higher wages, grievance protections, safe- It’s been exactly 50 years since Dr. when members of the newly formed ty and union rights. The arctic weather front that blasted Martin Luther King Jr. stood with strik- Durham Workers Assembly, which in- North Carolina law prohibits collective the East Coast on the first week of this ing Memphis, Tenn., sanitation workers cludes UE150 Durham City Workers bargaining for public sector workers. For a year took a toll on North Carolina’s cities. who were fed up with low pay and dan- Union, Domestic Workers Alliance-We decade, Local 150 has been pushing to re- In Greensboro alone, more than 115 wa- gerous conditions. UE Local 150, the Dream in Black, Raise Up for $15 and the peal it — and organizing municipal work- ter mains broke — and despite near-ze- North Carolina Public Service Workers Duke Graduate Assistant Union, staged a ers to fight for improved conditions even ro temperatures, municipal workers like Union statewide municipal council, is press conference at City Hall in Durham. without bargaining rights. Ramone Johnson were responsible for launching a Municipal Workers Bill of “We are fighting for a City Workers Bill of fixing them. Rights campaign to establish standards Rights, including the right to meet and City workers march across the state “We had workers out in frigid weath- for wages, grievance protections, safety, confer with the City Manager about our On Jan. 15, the Dr. King holiday, city er,” said Johnson, a water department union rights and more. workplace conditions and safety issues workers participated in marches and crew member and vice president of the The campaign seeks to challenge “right- and an end to discrimination on the job,” parades across the state, including in Greensboro City Workers Union, a chap- to-work” (for less!) laws and further ex- stated sanitation equipment operator and Greensboro, Raleigh, Greenville and ter of United Electrical Workers (UE) Lo- pose the ruling made by the Internation- UE150 Steward Daryl Brunson. Rocky Mount. The community and many cal 150. “We are the backbone of the city. al Labor Organization, an agency of the UE150 Municipal Council members in left groups joined in behind the city Without us the city does not run.” Yet United Nations, that the Jim Crow ban on plan to spend the time until the anniver- workers as they marched. North Carolina’s municipal workers say public sector collective bargaining is a vi- sary of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4 As cities draft their yearly budgets this their work and their safety are underval- olation of international human rights law. building a statewide coalition to fight for spring, UE Local 150 members will ask

WW PHOTO: GLORIA RUBAC CELEBRATING DR. KING’S LEGACY

By Kris Balderas Hamel Detroit audience to support Palestine and contin- ue efforts to stop U.S. aid to racist Israel. The 15th Annual MLK Day Rally and The Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette was the March for Jobs, Peace and Justice drew honored guest and keynote speaker. La- more than 1,000 people to downtown fayette worked with the two leading Civil Detroit on Jan. 15. Abayomi Azikiwe, Rights organizations of the 1960s, SNCC a leader of the Moratorium Now! Coali- (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Com- tion and Detroit Workers World Party, mittee) and the SCLC (Southern Chris- Houston emceed the day’s events and helped give WW PHOTO: ABAYOMI AZIKIWE tian Leadership Conference). He became political cohesiveness to the many strug- convicted as a teenager to life in prison involved in the Civil Rights Movement John’s Episcopal Church for cultural per- gles against outrages and oppressions and incarcerated for 29 years, as well as after growing up in Tampa, Fla., in the formances and a community meal pro- that speakers, marchers and performers the growing struggle to free other juve- 1940s and 1950s. vided by the Wobbly Kitchen. The MLK addressed. A spirit of fightback against nile lifers in Michigan prisons. Lafayette was active in mass campaigns Day rally and march enjoyed wide press Trump, racism, capitalism and imperial- The Selma Medallion Awards were pre- to end Jim Crow and was a participant in coverage from all of the Detroit television ist war carried the day. sented to “those Detroiters who, when Dr. the sit-ins and freedom rides in the ear- stations, WWJ News radio and the Asso- Frank Hammer of the Asotrecol Sol- King called, answered and went to Selma, ly 1960s. He was involved when Dr. King ciated Press. idarity Network spoke on the struggle Ala., after Bloody Sunday 1965”: Hon. and SCLC went to Chicago in 1966 to test of General Motors workers in Colombia, Houstonians honor King John Conyers, Jr., George Giffin, Frank H. out their model of nonviolent resistance while Jonathan Roberts, of the Restau- Joyce, Wilbert McClendon, Dean Robb, in a northern city. King tapped him as The 40th Annual MLK Parade held by rant Opportunity Center-Michigan, mo- Terry Shaw and Rudy Simons. The Peo- SCLC’s program coordinator in 1967, and Houston’s Black Heritage Society drew tivated the crowd to support servers and ple’s Spirit of Detroit Awards were pre- Lafayette took on responsibility for the the mayor and many politicians, two Af- other restaurant workers. Crystal Ber- sented to Zonzie Whitlow, Alfonzo Hunt- 1968 Poor People’s Campaign. rican-American members of Congress nard and Carlos Santa Cruz, both young er, Katrina Brown and Jim Rehberg. The Metro Times reported Jan. 12 that and marching bands. The more than 200 organizers from the Poor People’s Cam- Detroit was named the best city in the U.S. participants included groups as diverse as paign: A National Call for Moral Revival, Detroit named best city for MLK Day to celebrate MLK Day by Treetopia for the the Houston Black Corvette Club and the gave a stirring call to action against rac- People’s attorney Vanessa Fluker spoke second year in a row. “Detroit has a pro- Houston Caribbean Professionals Asso- ism and injustice. on the crisis of lead poisoning in Detroit, found history of African-American politi- ciation, along with a variety of churches, Cynthia Thornton, president of Pride at which has intensified with the mass dem- cal ... and cultural activity,” Azikiwe, MLK schools, community organizations, busi- Work Michigan, urged everyone to stand olition of homes throughout the city fol- Day media coordinator, said in the article. nesses and labor unions. up for LGBTQ rights and liberation. Kim- lowing the bank-led foreclosure crisis. Musical presentations punctuated the The sanitation workers had a large berly Simmons, of the Juvenile Lifers Amer Zahr, a writer, stand-up comedian rally and after a Freedom March through contingent with their brightly polished Support Group, movingly told of being and adjunct professor of law, rallied the downtown Detroit, participants met at St. garbage trucks. Progressive and activist workers.org Jan 25, 2018 Page 7 Days of Rage tackle Trump regime

By WW New York bureau town Newark, N.J., organized by People’s campaign, encouraged commuters with mittee to Stop FBI Repression held a fo- New York Organization for Progress. The Jan. 15 unlimited subway passes to swipe anoth- rum at NYC’s Solidarity Center on Jan. march raised the struggle against police er rider in when leaving the subway. 16 that included updates on legal pro- Hundreds of anti-racist demonstrators brutality at home and imperialist war The People’s MTA held a speakout and ceedings against activists arrested at last marched to Hell’s Kitchen here on Jan. 20 abroad, referencing King’s opposition to rally at Union Square raising the lack of year’s J20 counterinaugural demonstra- to confront white supremacists celebrat- the Vietnam War. accessibility in New York’s subways. The tions in Washington, D.C., and against ac- ing the anniversary of President Donald Every Monday for the past two and a action raised four demands: 100 per- tivists in Durham, N.C., who pulled down Trump’s inauguration. The venue, a din- half years, NYC Shut It Down has orga- cent accessibility; defend transit workers a Confederate statue in August. (tinyurl. gy corner of the West Side Highway, was nized a Black Lives Matter protest known against attacks; cops out of the subway; com/y9wbo8qp) announced to the public only two hours as People’s Monday, at which the sto- and reduce the fare to $0. Opioid epidemic: Workers World Par- before the event. ry of a person killed by the state is told. Anti-imperialism, international sol- ty organized a demonstration inside the Attendees found the building sur- On King’s birthday, NYC Shut It Down idarity: On MLK day, Samidoun: Pales- Sackler Wing of the Metropolitan Muse- rounded by anti-fascists chanting, “Nazi marched through Harlem, telling the tinian Prisoner Solidarity Network held um of Art here to raise awareness of more scum! Off our streets!” story of King’s assassination. Police at- its weekly afternoon rally here protesting than 20,000 people who died in the U.S. It was one of a string of victories during tempted to violently suppress the protest, Israeli detention of Palestinians. This ral- from prescription drug overdoses last the Days of Rage (#DaysofRage), inspired arresting three marchers. ly focused on Ahed Tamimi, a 16-year-old year. The Sackler family has made bil- by the resistance in Palestine. From Mar- Labor: On Jan. 15 a rally in NYC’s Co- Palestinian jailed for resisting occupation. lions off the opioid OxyContin while the tin Luther King Jr. Day to the anniversa- lumbus Circle showed solidarity with On Jan. 18, G-REBLS distributed lit- “War on Drugs” has imprisoned millions ry of the Trump inauguration, militant striking Spectrum workers as well as erature on the streets and subways here of Black and Brown people for selling or actions took place across the U.S., with striking Florida prisoners demanding an detailing the crimes of U.S. imperialism. possessing recreational drugs. at least 16 in New York City, opposing the end to slave labor. When Dr. King was as- Later that day, the International League Women’s liberation: On Jan. 18, the endless attacks on working-class and op- sassinated in Memphis, Tenn., he was sup- of Peoples’ Struggles held a demonstra- Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating pressed people. porting striking Black sanitation workers. tion in Union Square. The demonstration Council organized a rally outside of Brook- One year into a regime of deportation, Transportation: Thousands of New demanded “U.S. out of everywhere!” and lyn Supreme Court in support of Anna repression and warmongering, the Dem- Yorkers, overwhelmingly Black and raised struggles against imperialism in Chambers, an 18-year-old woman raped ocratic Party has done nothing to protect Brown, are arrested every month because Palestine and the Philippines. (tinyurl. by two NYPD officers. us. The resounding message of the Days they cannot afford subway fare. An action com/y9ocxsuw) That evening, Workers World Party of Rage was: Only independent peoples’ at a station in the Bronx raised aware- On Jan. 19, the Haitian community and held a NYC forum on Women and the struggle can provide genuine resistance. ness of these racist arrests and offered supporters marched to protest Trump’s Fight Against Capitalism and Imperi- Anti-racism: Days of Rage kicked commuters free entry. The action, led by racist invective towards Haiti and Af- alism. Speakers distinguished Marxist off with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bronxites for NYPD [New York Police De- rican nations, led by the newly formed feminism, which sees patriarchy as a March & Rally Against Inequality, Rac- partment] Accountability (Why Account- 1804 Movement for All Immigrants. foundational component of capitalism, ism, Sexism, Fascism, and War in down- ability) as part of the Swipe It Forward Defend J20 and Durham: The Com- from bourgeois feminism, which sees it as a flaw. A contingent organized by Samidoun: city councils to shift more resources to brought attention to the fact that no city Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network support safe staffing, equipment, better in the state had a written policy to protect mobilized for the NYC Women’s March on wages and affordable health insurance. its own employees from excessive heat. Jan. 20 to demand the release of freedom This year alone, city workers in Charlotte Union members in Charlotte, Chapel Hill, fighter Ahed Tamimi. The People’s Power saw their health insurance costs sharply Durham, Raleigh and Greensboro orga- Assembly and WWP distributed litera- rise; some family plans are now charging nized rallies, passed out pamphlets and ture and held signs, including “End Police $1,044 per month for insurance, with still held press conferences. Thanks to their Murder of Black Women.” steep deductibles. efforts, many cities began drafting and Days of Rage culminated in a Rally While the winter cold poses real chal- implementing heat policies. Against Trump and Capitalism in NYC’s lenges for city workers, extended shifts in The campaign aims to establish state- Grand Central Station. Two banners were the summer heat can be even more dan- wide minimum standards for municipal unfurled from a balcony; one read, “Capi- WW PHOTO: DANTE STROBINO gerous. Last summer, Anthony Milledge, working conditions. “City workers through- talism Kills, Capitalism Deports, Capital- a laborer in the city of Charlotte’s yard- death in a garbage truck. Furious over the out the state face many of the same prob- ism Steals, Capitalism Violates. Abolish waste division, died of a heat-related ill- tragedy and the city’s longstanding ne- lems,” said Local 150 President Nathanette Capitalism!” Speakers raised peoples’ ness after a 14-hour shift working under a glect of the Black workforce, 1,300 work- Mayo, a chemist with the city of Durham. struggles and the need for a broad in- 97-degree heat index. ers walked out. Their signs said, “I Am “City administrators and managers typi- dependent movement. The rally ended The strike that brought Dr. King to a Man.” Black workers make up a large cally come together to coordinate and track with a march to Times Square and then Memphis 50 years ago, on Feb. 2, 1968, majority of North Carolina’s municipal municipal work environments through- to Hell’s Kitchen to confront the white su- began after two sanitation workers, Echol workers today, as well. out the state. We believe that workers too premacists. WW PHOTO: GLORIA RUBAC Cole and Robert Walker, were crushed to After Milledge’s death, the union should collaborate and organize.” See full article at workers.org.

WW PHOTO: GLORIA VERDIEU

Model A, which was a big hit, ly in front of the MLK Memori- Some of the participating organiza- especially when he sounded al Sculpture. tions were SURJ (Showing Up for Jus- the horn, which honked out a Quanice Hayes was an un- tice), the San Diego Black Panther Party, loud “AH-OOOH-GAH” like armed 17-year-old African UNITE HERE Local 30, Workers World a drunken goose. American fatally shot on Feb. Party, the Racial Justice Coalition of San The Black Heritage Soci- 9, 2017, by white cop Andrew Diego, Indivisible, the Alfred Olango ety was founded by commu- Hearst. When Hearst was Foundation and the Council on Ameri- can-Islamic Relations San Diego, along San Diego nity leader Ovide Ducantell cleared of all charges, Venus in 1975 after he met with Lexington, Va. Hayes, the youth’s mother, asked with many others. organizations included the National Black Dr. King’s father about for a federal investigation. She Among the speakers at the rally, United Front, the S.H.A.P.E. Community continuing to honor the legacy of his son. said police did not need to shoot. “Quan- chaired by Rev. Harris, were City Coun- Center, the Houston Fair Housing Coali- In January 1978, Martin Luther King Sr. ice was on his knees when he was shot in cil member David Alvarez, the only elect- tion, Alianza Latina Internacional, Paci- came to Houston and participated in the the head and in the chest,” said Hayes, ed official to show up; Dr. John Warren, fica Radio and the Texas Death Penalty first MLK Parade in the United States, on who was not notified by authorities and publisher of the local newspaper Voice & Abolition Movement. the newly renamed street of Martin Luther instead found out about her son’s death Viewpoint, and several local ministers. The Abolition Movement’s contingent King Boulevard. on Facebook. (kgw.com, March 22) The families of Alfred Olango, Jona- was cheered and those lining the streets San Diego’s 2nd Annual Martin Luther than Coronel and James Lacy — all shot joined in chanting, “Texas says death row! ‘Reclaim MLK’ Freedom and Unity march King Jr. Day March and Rally, sponsored and killed by police — participated in the We say heck no!” It included family mem- More than 300 demonstrators stopped by the National Action Network, took place march and were on stage at the rally. bers and friends of many death row pris- traffic in Portland, Ore., for two hours Jan. 15. Hundreds assembled in front of In Lexington, Va., more than 800 oners, including the kids of George Curry, as they marched down Martin Luther San Diego City College and marched to people participated in the second an- who tossed candy to children along the King Jr. Boulevard in a Jan. 15 tribute to City Hall. There, the Rev. Shane Harris, nual MLK day parade sponsored by the route, and a woman who was going to wit- MLK organized by Don’t Shoot Portland. president of NAN, San Diego chapter, Community Anti-Racism Effort (CARE ness her friend’s execution in Huntsville, It was the 4th Annual Children’s March and other speakers ad- Rockbridge). Participants Texas, three days later. for Social Justice, so many of the organiz- dressed homelessness, came from Charlottesville, Conrado Acevedo, an Indigenous activ- ers were young people who stepped up to jobs, police brutali- Roanoke and other locations ist, drummed the whole route while James make banners and play a highly visible ty, criminal injustice, around Virginia. Aaron, the former chair of the Black Pan- part of the march. DACA (Deferred Action Abayomi Azikiwe, Lyn ther Party in Houston, along with oth- Demonstrators chanted “Justice for for Childhood Arrivals), Neeley, Gloria Rubac, Glo- ers, handed out more than 1,200 flyers Quanice Hayes!” “Hands up, don’t shoot!” migrants, the proposed ria Verdieu and WW staff about the death penalty. Longtime activ- and “I can’t breathe!” King’s “Letter from border wall and many contributed to this article. ist Leonard Benton drove his 1931 Ford Birmingham Jail” was read at the final ral- other issues. Portland, Ore. PHOTO: ALISON GAYLOR Page 8 Jan. 25, 2018 workers.org Florida organizer: ‘Help sustain prisoner strike!’

By J. White — not because they need more guards. ones are incarcerated and build solidari- slaves on road work, maintenance and It’s because they need fewer prisoners. ty. We often have to do extra legwork that cleanup. Finally some have assignments White interviewed Karen Smith from Prisoners are charged four times as much public defenders cannot do. in the facility. the Incarcerated Workers Organizing for commissary items as the cost on the We went to demonstrate on June 16 They are supposed to accumulate “gain Committee on Jan. 20. See full interview street. in Tallahassee [the state capital] at the time,” but this only counts if someone is at workers.org. The brutality and abuse is overwhelm- headquarters of the DOC [Florida De- completely compliant with guards and JW: Can you provide some back- ing. Florida has the second-highest death partment of Corrections]. It was the Afri- rules. It’s impossible! ground on why this struggle is taking rate in U.S. prisons. It has the third high- can-American women, family members, This is why prisoners are demanding place now? est per capita segment of the population taking the lead to confront the state and reinstatement of a parole system. All KS: This strike is a reflection of a in prison. One in three African-American demand justice. Florida prisoners must do 85 percent of prison movement that has been growing men is in the system. Abuse by guards is JW: What information has been able their time, so gain time can only count since the Sept. 9, 2016, nationwide prison rampant. In Lake Butler Camp, prison to get to you regarding the situation in- toward 15 percent and is rarely granted. strike on the anniversary of the Attica re- guards, who were KKK members, were side? Once a prisoner is out, they must pay bellion. Prisoners have been organizing plotting to kill inmates before and after KS: We are finally starting to get some cash for parole time. A slight, even a traf- in Alabama and Ohio movements. Pris- they were in prison. One prisoner was feedback regarding the participation and fic violation, brings folks back into the oners in Texas have now organized the found boiled to death. the retaliation of the FDOC. So far we system. The system is made to fail. first ever IWW [Industrial Workers of JW: How do you see this struggle in have heard there is strike activity in 17 JW: Are there women prisoners par- the World] branch on the inside. Support relation to growing movements like Black camps across the state. ticipating? networks on the outside have been grow- Lives Matter, the struggle against police Participants are put in confinement and KS: There are some participating at ing. Florida prisoners participated in the brutality and immigrant rights? interrogated, told they will be subject to Lowell [Correctional Institution in Mar- 2016 action. KS: These are all related. The book retaliation if they continue to correspond ion County]. It is harder for them to get in Things are very tense inside the pris- “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alex- with support organizations. They are “un- contact. You may have heard the terrible ons, and the goal is to harness this frus- ander, which is banned inside the pris- der investigation” as a security threat, la- conditions these women suffered during tration to develop a long-term strategy, as ons, exposes the racist role of the prison beled gang members and then investigat- the hurricane, when they went for days opposed to spontaneous actions. system in the U.S. In 1865, slavery was ed by the “Security Threat Group.” with no water, then were forced to do In November, Operation PUSH abolished. In 1868, the prison system in Those designated as leaders are put clean up in unsafe, toxic environments reached out to support IWOC [the In- Florida figured out how to perpetuate it in confinement or transferred. Phones without appropriate gear. carcerated Workers Organizing Com- through over policing the Black commu- have been shut down at camps. They are JW: What would you like to tell sup- mittee]. The prisoners developed a list of nity. replacing the striking workers with new porters? demands and asked help to get the word A strike support statement from Hai- prisoners. KS: This struggle is expected to grow out. It is our role to support the demands tian prisoners cited the exploitation of The goal of this struggle is to have an and be part of a yearlong organizing and strategy developed by those on the undocumented peoples: “They use all im- organized economic impact. There are strategy. It was just “kicked off” with inside. There is heavy censorship inside migrants for free labor and then deport three ways prisoners work in the sys- Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We need to the prisons. them.” tem. Pride Industries is a convict leasing help sustain it from the outside. JW: What is it about this particular JW: What has been the role of fami- system by outside companies (including Everyone’s help is needed in spreading time that the prisoners chose to act now? lies? Whole Foods). Prisoners are paid pennies, the word, supporting families and the KS: The people, inside and out, are be- KS: Families have felt so isolated. This $1 a day after room and board is deducted. heroic prisoners. A call-in campaign is ing pushed beyond limits. Inside Florida, is such an important part of the struggle. They work in facilities like water treat- happening on Monday, Jan. 22. To get in- the prisons are crowded, the food is inad- We have been forming defense groups for ment, often in toxic environments. They volved, contact FightToxicPrisons.org or equate and rotten, they are understaffed families, to surround them when loved may be at a work camp, where they are incarceratedworkers.org. Inauguration protesters’ charges dropped

The following edited press release was Hammond. Even in light of this victory, the J20 Re- The J20 Resisters will host a victory issued on Jan. 19. The day of victory for the local J20 sisters continue to stand in resistance to party in Oakland, Calif., to fundraise for San Francisco, Jan. 18 — Chief Assis- Resisters is shared with the national re- the current presidential administration the Black Pride 4. They’ll post details on tant District Attorney Shannon Woo an- sistance movement. On the same day the — and work toward justice for all activ- their website (tinyurl.com/y9phv8wd) and nounced the formal dismissal of charges local Resisters’ case was dismissed, 129 ists arrested fighting for social justice. Facebook page (tinyurl.com/yazt3do6) against 11 activists, known as the J20 Re- Washington, D.C., protesters’ cases were sisters, who participated in protests on last dismissed as well. But the U.S. Attorney’s year’s Inauguration Day. DA George Gas- Office continues to seek multiple felony cón has faced harsh criticism for squan- convictions for 59 of the people swept up dering resources in pursuit of this case. in a mass arrest at the “anti-fascist and “The District Attorney could have cho- anti-capitalist march” during Trump’s in- Mumia hearing sen not to charge the J20 resisters from auguration on Jan. 20, 2017. The local J20 day one. Instead he chose to put our cli- Resisters are committed to using their ents through the criminal process, wast- platform to fight for dismissal of all cases postponed ing government resources for almost a against Inauguration Day protesters. year, knowing full well he never intended The J20 Resisters also support the By Workers World Philadelphia bureau the DA’s office, asked Judge Tucker for a to take this case to trial, which Deputy Black Pride 4, who were arrested during postponement to allow the new DA, Lar- District Attorney Shannon Woo acknowl- Columbus Pride on June 17. They took ac- On Jan. 17, Philadelphia’s Criminal Jus- ry Krasner, and his staff to develop a con- edged on the record today,” stated Gabri- tion in opposition to the June 16 acquit- tice Center was packed with scores of ac- sistent approach to all Williams v. Penn- ela Lopez, National Lawyers Guild mem- tal of Jeronimo Yanez, the St. Anthony, tivists and friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. sylvania-related cases. ber and defense attorney for J20 Resister Minn., police officer who killed Philando Both outside and inside the courthouse, In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Molly Jane Hammond. Castile. The Black Pride 4 continue to people from as far away as France gath- the Williams v. Pennsylvania case, found Once charges were filed against the face charges and are scheduled to start ered to back up the world-renowned po- it unconstitutional that Castille was both J20 Resisters, the DA encouraged them trial on Feb. 5. litical prisoner’s current legal challenge, the DA and the judge hearing Williams’ to accept pretrial diversion (PTD), which Kendal Blum, another J20 Resister, which could ultimately win his freedom. appeals. Abu-Jamal’s appeal is one of 16 seeks to divert certain offenders from tra- speaks to this commitment of solidarity: Common Pleas Court Judge Leon related cases. ditional criminal processes, restating this “We stand with resisters across the coun- Tucker had ordered the district attorney’s Judge Tucker scheduled a status option at various points through the pro- try who are still fighting. We will take office to produce testimony regarding a conference for Feb. 26 and postponed cess. The Resisters refused PTD from the this momentum and channel it into get- missing memorandum written by for- Abu-Jamal’s court hearing to March 27, beginning, citing ethical opposition to the ting the charges against the D.C. J20 De- mer Philadelphia DA Ron Castille. The the next organizing date for his support- criminalization of protest. Finally, the DA fenders and the Columbus Black Pride 4 document could help prove that Castille ers. The jury is out on whether or not dropped the charges against them instead. dropped. This is a win not just for each of unconstitutionally played a decisive role Krasner will stand firm with the people “We decided to risk trial instead of tak- us, but for all of our communities and all when he denied Abu-Jamal’s appeals, in his approach to Abu-Jamal’s interna- ing a diversion, because solidarity doesn’t those with whom we stand in solidarity.” both as DA and later as a judge on the tionally condemned incarceration. end with putting our bodies on the line On Jan. 20, the J20 Resisters will car- Pennsylvania Supreme Court. After Ritter explained what had hap- — we also need to leverage our privilege ry banners of solidarity for national ac- At the hearing, Abu-Jamal was repre- pened in court to the waiting crowd in the (in)justice system. We refused to tivists, marching alongside GABRIELA sented by Sam Spital and Judith Ritter of outside, participants regathered at the be intimidated by threats and manipula- National Alliance of Women at the Wom- the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Tracey Arch Street Memorial Church around tions of the state, and we encourage peo- en’s March, who will march to “RISE Cavanaugh, interim supervisor of the the corner for hot food provided by Food ple to take a stand and be unafraid. We against fascism; RESIST the militariza- PCRA [Post-Conviction Relief Act] Unit, Not Bombs Solidarity. The meeting high- can win, we have won, and we will con- tion of our lands, communities and bod- and Nancy Winkelman, interim supervi- lights included impromptu speeches by tinue to fight until justice emerges,” says ies; and UNITE for self-determination.” sor of the Law Department, representing Continued on page 9 workers.org Jan 25, 2018 Page 9 Florida organizer: ‘Help sustain prisoner strike!’ Hondurans protest fake election capital city. With 70 percent of the vote count- lando Hernandez’s participation in the TeleSUR report- ed, Salvador Nasralla, candidate of the latest election was illegal. ed on Jan. 21 that Opposition Alliance against the Dicta- The current demonstrations should people took to the torship coalition, was far enough ahead continue until Jan. 27. On that day, Or- streets and squares that there was no chance to overtake lando Hernandez is scheduled to be and blocked traf- him. sworn in for a second term. From the fic in many cit- On Nov. 27 the JOH regime simply scale of the popular opposition that has ies and towns. In shut down the vote count for three days confronted killer police and soldiers some cases, they and fixed the outcome. Even the Organi- since November, it is apparent that only fought back police zation of American States had to ques- the brute force of the state apparatus is attacks by burning tion the vote count. Washington gave it keeping him in office. tires and throw- full backing, with the U.S. president con- Gilberto Ríos Grillo, national director ing stones. Police gratulating Orlando Hernandez. of the LIBRE party, told Alex Anfruns of injured at least 30 Washington treats Zelaya as an enemy. Investig’Action in an interview on Jan. 15: people and killed The U.S. backed a 2009 military coup “I, who was a candidate in the elec- that removed him. Then-Secretary of Former President Manuel Zelaya demonstrating in Tegucigalpa, a 60-year-old man tions, have been finding more [popular] State Hillary Clinton played a key role by Honduras Jan. 20, before police attacked him with tear gas. in the city of Sabá. support than we had during the election Zelaya told Te- giving the coup makers diplomatic and campaign. And that’s taking into account By John Catalinotto leSUR: “We are the majority. They have political support. that we won the elections! There are now tear gas, but we will continue here, we’ll According to election observers, the more sectors of the population that want When people answered the call for a keep on fighting.” 2013 election that put Orlando Hernan- Juan Orlando out of office. week-long political strike across Hondu- Zelaya is secretary general of the LI- dez in office was also filled with irregu- “The national stoppage that has been ras beginning on Jan. 20, to protest the BRE Party and a leader of the opposition larities that hurt the opposition LIBRE declared for Jan. 20-27 will be a full fraudulent results of the Nov. 26 elec- to Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH), who Party. JOH’s client regime has served the week of seizures of highways, blockades tion, police and soldiers attacked crowds was declared winner of the Nov. 26 elec- Honduran oligarchy and U.S. imperial- of streets, consumer blockade, etc. … We with tear gas. They injured former Pres- tion. The vast majority of Hondurans say ism. Since the Honduran Constitution believe it will have a much greater impact ident Manuel Zelaya in Tegucigalpa, the JOH’s win is electoral fraud. limits presidents to one term, even Or- than any of the prior demonstrations.” Cuban brigade anniversary celebrated

By Cheryl LaBash in the land of their birth. operation. Influenced by CIA and Catho- Havana lic Church propaganda claiming that the Migration as a weapon revolutionary government would take WW PHOTO: CHERYL LABASH The 40th anniversary of the founding In tribute a huge Cuban flag, donat- children away from parents and send of the Antonio Maceo Brigade, which has ed by the U.S. veterans, was raised at the them to the Soviet Union, families sent worked tirelessly in Miami and South oceanside statue and park honoring Ma- unaccompanied children to the U.S. in Florida to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba ceo. Ricardo Alarcón, the Cuban negotia- what appeared to be a spontaneous mi- Max Lesnik and Andrés Gómez, center, at tor of migration agreements with the U.S., and U.S. travel restrictions, and for gration process. They were then placed in Havana’s International Press Center. ­Cuba’s right to develop in peace, was sa- explained how the brigade was a response orphanages or foster homes. luted in Havana from Dec. 18-22. to the U.S. government’s use of migration The 55 youths who formed the Antonio ple killed in the bombing of Cubana Flight Today, poll after poll shows that as a weapon against the Cuban Revolution. Maceo Brigade were among these Cu- 455, off the coast of Barbados, in 1976. ­Cubans living in the U.S. — like the ma- In particular, before the Cuban Adjust- ban-born children and those who were Children at the Carlos Muniz Varela jority of U.S. residents — support ending ment Act of 1966 and the “wet-foot/dry- brought to the U.S. by their families. school performed music and dance for the commercial, financial and economic foot” policy that enticed migration to the Uprooted from their native land without the delegation. In 1979, 25-year-old Ma- blockade of Cuba. But it was very differ- U.S. with the promise of a fast track to their consent, and then radicalized by the ceo Brigade member Muniz Varela was ent in 1977, when the 55 youths who made benefits and U.S. citizenship, there was tumultuous U.S. struggles of the 1960s, assassinated in Puerto Rico. A mural at up the first brigade rebelled against the Operation Peter Pan. they voluntarily returned to revolution- the school reflects the special relation- seemingly monolithic U.S. hostility to- Some 14,000 children arrived by plane ary Cuba. ship between the two countries: “Cuba ward revolutionary Cuba, just to set foot in the U.S., victims of this little-known and Puerto Rico are two wings of the A celebratory program same bird: They receive flowers and bul- The brigade’s anniversary program be- lets in the same heart.” gan with a news conference at Havana’s As the veterans prepared to meet the International Press Center featuring An- young Cuban generation at the Universi- vant to Mumia Abu-Jamal’s drés Gómez, who organized the delega- ty of Havana, Lesnik spoke passionately Case and to Free Him Now.” tion for this celebration, and Max Lesnik, at the monument to Julio Antonio ­Mella, Among the signers are Ange- director of Radio Miami and founder of just below the steps to the university. la Davis, Danny Glover, Dr. the Alianza Martiana coalition, whose Mella, who founded the Federation of Cornel West, Puerto Rican Miami offices were bombed multiple University Students and the Communist Nationalist hero Oscar López times in the 1970s and 1980s. Gómez, the Party of Cuba, was assassinated in 1929 Rivera and Len McCluskey, brigade’s president and founder and edi- at the age of 25. general secretary of UNITE, tor of Areito Digital, dedicated the week- The nearly 50-member brigade dele- the largest union in Great long commemoration to Cuba’s historic gation came from Miami and Key West, Britain. leader, Fidel Castro. Fla., and Europe, including a represen- Numerous elected officials At a gala event, the Cuban Institute for tative of Cubans living in Marseilles, and political activists from Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) was France. Solidarity activists from the U.S. France, Germany, Great Brit- presented with a bust of Antonio Ma- included Gail Walker, director of the In- ain, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, ceo. Fernando González, ICAP president terreligious Foundation for Community South Africa, Australia, Hai- and Cuban 5 hero, explained how the Organization/Pastors for Peace; two co- ti, Mexico, Canada, the U.S. brigade’s work helped build a new rela- chairs of the National Network on Cuba; and other countries also add- tionship between the revolutionary gov- and representatives of Workers World ed their names and positions. ernment and Cuban émigré communities Party, Party for Socialism and Liberation WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE From jailed Palestinian in the U.S. and elsewhere. These émigrés and Socialist Workers Party. Continued from page 8 teenager Ahed Tamimi to imprisoned showed tremendous courage in defend- Participants heard an update on re- Estela Vazquez, executive vice president rapper Meek Mill to Abu-Jamal, the rac- ing the Cuban Revolution, in the midst of construction after Hurricane Irma, and of 1199SEIU, and French activists Claude ist, capitalist, imperialist police and mil- what was intended to be the South Flori- a discussion about current U.S.-Cuba Guillaumaud-Pujol and Jacky Hortaut, of itary apparatus exposes itself for what it da counterrevolution in exile. relations with the Ministry of Foreign the Collectif Francais “Liberons Mumia,” really is: not an institution of the people, At a wreath-laying at the Colon Ceme- Affairs. A visit to the Center of Genetic and Mireille Fanon-Mendès-France from but a reactionary battalion that resorts to tery, where Cuban émigrés who were ma- Engineering and Biotechnology amazed the Frantz Fanon Foundation. attacking and murdering children, art- jor figures in the U.S. solidarity movement guests with Cuba’s pharmaceutical and The Fanon Foundation revealed how ists and heroic activists just to cover the are buried, each of their names was called medical advances. extensive Abu-Jamal’s support is around deep contradictions of mainstream soci- before a moment of silence. These includ- The final event was a bonfire at the the world by collecting hundreds of ety. The local and international solidar- ed Luis Miranda, former president of Casa Julio Antonio Mella International Camp, signers to an open letter to DA Krasner ity around the hearing and Abu-Jamal’s de las America, and Tony Llansó, a Mi- where Andrés Gómez, filled with emotion and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf enti- case shows that the fight for Abu-Jamal’s ami organizer to Free the Cuban 5. Floral as he recalled the first brigade arriving to tled: “International Call to Release the and all political prisoners’ freedom is as tributes were placed on two crypts, which the camp, carried one of the torches that District Attorney and Police Files Rele- strong and resonant as ever. hold the recovered remains of the 73 peo- lit the bonfire. Page 10 Jan. 25, 2018 workers.org

DPRK creates Olympic unity

Typically Olympic Games are specta- on the ski slopes. Very few athletes are in- vast arsenal of U.S. imperialism. Obviously shocked by this successful cles designed to fill the coffers of hotel vited to come from Africa, Latin America Talks were held on Jan. 17 at the Demil- diplomatic move by the DPRK, Trump chains, media moguls, sports equipment or the Caribbean, so nothing but the cor- itarized Zone separating the two states of and the Pentagon dispatched six nucle- and clothing companies, and construc- porate message is likely to be expressed. Korea. They were then concluded at the ar-capable B-52 bombers to Guam. Sec- tion contractors. The cost of these extrav- International Olympic Committee head- retary of State Rex Tillerson presided aganzas is borne by the workers and poor Pentagon shocked by quarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on over a hastily convened meeting with 19 in the cities and countries that host them. successful diplomatic move Jan. 20. At the opening ceremony, ath- “allies” in Vancouver, Canada, on Jan. 16. But sometimes through the corporate But already the 2018 Winter Olympics, letes from both teams will march togeth- He told the press that “we have to recog- buzz of flag waving and medal counts, a to be held in Pyeongchang, south Korea, er under the Korean Unification Flag, nize that that threat is growing, and if message of struggle appears. In the Mex- between Feb. 9 and 25, shows a marked which depicts the Korean peninsula in North Korea does not choose the path- ico City games of 1968, two champions, difference. On Jan. 1, Kim Jong Un, chair blue on a white background. way of engagement, discussion, negoti- Tommie Smith and John Carlos, mount- of the Workers’ Party of Korea and lead- The women’s hockey team will be ation, then they themselves will trigger ed the winners’ platform, bowed their er of the Democratic People’s Republic of made up of members from both north an (military) option.” (cnn.com, Jan. 16, heads and raised their gloved fists in the Korea, called for direct talks with the Re- and south Korea. According to a report in CNN clarification) iconic Black Power salute while the band public of Korea — without the presence of the Jan. 20 USA Today: “North Koreans China and Russia, both neighbors of played the U.S. national anthem. This U.S officials, whose troops have occupied will also compete in figure skating, short the DPRK, were not invited to this meet- symbolic act inspired millions of Black south Korea for nearly seven decades. track speed skating, Alpine skiing and ing, and both countries condemned it youth, many of whom had just faced The talks, Kim proposed, would discuss cross-country skiing after being given as provocative when the north Korean thousands of cops, National Guard and joint Korean participation in the Olympic exceptional late entries by the Interna- government was making these Olympic federal troops when they rebelled in hun- Games. tional Olympic Committee. overtures. dreds of cities against the government The south Korean leadership accept- “The North Korean delegation will also Meanwhile, mysterious missile “false that was complicit in the brutal murder ed the offer. The provocative joint U.S.- include 24 coaches and officials, plus 21 alarms” were triggered, first in Hawaii on of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. south Korean military exercises that media representatives at the Feb. 9-25 Jan. 13 and then in Japan on Jan. 16. Both That powerful gesture earned these were going to be held during the games Winter Games. are thinly veiled threats to north Korea heroes the spiteful and racist wrath of were postponed. “The governments of North and South that the Pentagon is still in “hair-trigger” columnists, commentators and politi- Trump of course declared that this Korea were offered ‘sincere thanks’ by nuclear attack mode, despite the peace cians, which has echoed through the move was due to his increased brutal IOC President Thomas Bach announc- initiative. years to this very day, with bigot in chief sanctions against the DPRK. At the same ing the agreement. ‘Such an agreement No matter what the sports outcome is at Trump attacking kneeling Colin Kaeper- time he continues to threaten a nuclear would have seemed impossible only a few these Olympic Games, it is clear that the nick and his brave cohorts from many first strike against that small country, weeks ago,’ said Bach.” real obstacle to peace on the Korean pen- sports teams. which has recently fortified its defenses Also, two north Korean skiers with insula is not the brave people of the DPRK, Usually the winter games are held in with a small number of nuclear weapons disabilities will compete in the Paralym- but rather the never-ending threats from resort areas where the well-to-do frolic and missiles as a deterrent against the pics, held in March in Pyeongchang. the Pentagon and the Trump regime.

Two-party DACA cruelty Migrants pawn in gov’t shutdown

Continued from page 1 crucial points in negotiations on DACA. A similar event took place when pression and persecution of the masses. dent Barack Obama. It allowed more than According to numerous reports, Kelly was Sen. Chuck Schumer went to meet with For example, the Border Patrol, ICE, 800,000 immigrants, who were brought with Trump in the hours before he met Trump. The only person in the room, be- FBI, military, courts and U.S. marshals here by their parents when they were with Sens. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and sides Trump, Schumer and a Schumer largely remain open and fully functional. children, to stay, provided they went to Lindsey Graham, a Republican, about a aide, was Gen. Kelly. After the meeting, They continue to carry out raids, round school, joined the military or otherwise compromise resolution. It would have of- Kelly phoned Republicans to tell them up immigrants, prepare for military ag- conformed to government guidelines. fered full status for Dreamers in return for that the deal was too liberal, even though gression, and spy on and hound progres- These Dreamers came out of the shad- a downpayment on funding for Trump’s Schumer reportedly offered Trump $20 sives, the poor and the oppressed. ows of living without papers, revealed wall on the southern border with Mexico. billion for the wall. Meanwhile, according to the New York themselves to the immigration author- While Trump was reportedly friendly According to another report, “Kel- Times of Jan. 20, the lion’s share of the ities and registered for Dreamer status. to the proposal, Kelly thought it too mod- ly, the retired four-star Marine who’d layoffs would take place in the social ser- They all now have work permits and have erate. He called on Republicans to attend sat aside Trump during lunch ... called vice agencies: been living here for years. Most of them a meeting to sink the potential deal. Schumer. The outline discussed earlier in • Housing and Urban Development have no connection to or are completely Graham is a hardcore militarist, al- the day was too liberal, Kelly said, even would furlough 7,500 out of its 7,800 unfamiliar with their countries of origin. lied with Sen. John McCain, and a hawk with a discussion of Trump’s full border workers, or 96 percent. This present government shutdown for war against the Democratic People’s request. It wasn’t enough to keep the • The Environmental Protection Agency crisis was set off when Trump cancelled Republic of Korea. But Graham wants to President negotiating.” (CNN, Jan. 20) would furlough 13,700 out of 14,400 the DACA program last Sept. 5 and de- stop Trump from ruining the reputation of Having been in such a high position workers, or 95 percent. stroyed the protected status of DACA U.S. imperialism at home and abroad by in the military hierarchy, Kelly has deep • The Department of Education would immigrants. Trump gave Congress until preventing him from expelling 800,000 connections to the brass, both active duty furlough 3,700 out of 3,900 workers, or March 5 to “fix” DACA. This was Trump’s Dreamers. After Trump invited him to and retired. Kelly does not function as an 95 percent. way of ducking immediate responsibility come to the White House with Durbin individual or in a political vacuum. In • The Commerce Department would lay for the mass deportation of 800,000-plus following a friendly phone call, the two fact, he functions side-by-side on a dai- off 41,600 of 47,900 workers or 87 per- Dreamers while appealing to the right- showed up to find that immigration hawks ly basis with Secretary of Defense James cent. According to the Times, “work wing base of the Republican Party and his were in the room along with Trump. That “Mad Dog” Mattis, a retired Marine gen- would stall across a wide swath of sci- own base by being tough on immigration. was when Trump went into his racist rage eral who in 2004 infamously led the de- entific and economic agencies, including In the shutdown struggle, Trump has about “shithole countries,” referring to Af- struction of Fallujah in Iraq. the National Oceanic Atmospheric Ad- been guided by his military handler, rican nations, Haiti and El Salvador, and ministration, the Census Bureau and the John Kelly — a Marine general and his blew up the chance for any deal. The ‘grownups in the room’ International Trade Administration.” chief of staff. Kelly and Stephen Miller, a The capitalist press has praised Kelly, • The Department of Interior would fur- right-wing Trump adviser, have blocked Kelly-Miller ambush Mattis and National Security Advisor Lt. lough 56,600 out of 70,400 workers, or the way for any deal on allowing DACA to According to media reports, Kelly got Gen. H.R. McMaster (active duty). The 80 percent. resume. Kelly represents the direct inter- on the phone before the meeting and mainstream capitalist media and political • Health and Human Services would lay vention of the military brass into White encouraged Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkan- establishment that have been fearful of off 50 percent of its 81,000 workers. House politics. sas and David Perdue of Georgia, two Trump used to express sighs of relief about But the courts and the Justice Depart- Kelly, the military and Trump ­anti-immigration fanatics, to come to the the military “grownups in the room” who ment would furlough only 19,500 out of meeting. It was an ambush. would supposedly supervise or exercise a 114,600 employees, or 17 percent. And As former head of the Southern Com- Afterwards, Graham spoke to the press restraining influence on Trump. Homeland Security would lay off just 13 mand, Kelly was an enforcer of the re- to complain. According to an article by One look at Kelly and it is clear who percent of 241,400 employees. pressive political, social and economic Jonathan Blitzer, someone “close to the needs restraining. From a trade union point of view, this conditions in Mexico, Central America, White House” told him that “Miller and There is another lesson inherent in the shutdown can be viewed as a government the Caribbean and Latin American coun- Kelly are to the right of the President on “government shutdown.” The “essential lockout of hundreds of thousands of work- tries in general. He and the Pentagon, immigration. The two of them were with services” that remain operational and ers, many of whom are under union con- along with the corporate exploiters of the President just before the Oval Office fully functional are the hard core of the tract and represented by the American front page headline Latin America, are prime movers of the meeting with Graham and Durbin, and repressive forces of the capitalist state. Federation of Government Employees. immigration crisis. the President got really worked up.” (New To the ruling class, even a government From a broader social point of view, it Kelly has been at Trump’s side during Yorker, Jan. 17) shutdown must not interfere with the re- Continued on page 11 workers.org Jan 25, 2018 Page 11

Greece Strikes defend workers’ right By G. Dunkel tax and social security debts, and make striking. Given cuts to child and disability benefits. all the pain and At the call of the All Workers Militant In December 2017, when the propos- losses they have Front (PAME), a labor federation affili- al to limit strikes first came before the suffered over the ated with the Greek Communist Party, Greek parliament, PAME held a nation- past 8 years, they there was a general strike Jan. 12. This wide general strike on Dec. 14. It was are in no mood to PHOTO: PAME was the Friday before the parliamentary called “a combative and loud response accept the latest attacks quietly. vote on a proposal to limit the right to against the attempt of the government, Since Greece entered a financial crisis and impact. Production would quickly strike. As lawmakers debated, protesters the employers and the EU to smash the in 2010, its unions have called about 50 recover; a day of stoppage now and then from PAME chanted “Hands off strikes!” life of the working class and the peoples one-day general strikes to fight blatant would hurt little. during a march of about 20,000 people. for the sake of the profits of capital.” attacks on workers’ living standards and The bailout program is set to end in Au- Others held banners reading “Uprising!” On Jan. 15, the day of the vote, there lives. Farmers, the self-employed and re- gust 2018. After that Greece must finance and “No to modern slavery!” was a strike by ADEDY (the Confedera- tirees, who were also severely impacted itself by selling government bonds instead Workers protested because, to get the tion of Civil Servants), the largest union by cuts in health care and other social of arranging support through the Europe- latest and last portion of the bailout from of public-sector workers. They shut down services, often supported those strikes. an Union. If the Greek government enters international banks, the Greek parliament mass transit in Athens. Most of the strikes lasted one day. The the open loan market, the loss of produc- had to agree to limit the right to strike, ex- It is clear that the unions in Greece short duration led the Greek and Europe- tivity from all these strikes will be more tend electronic auctions and seizures for are defending the right to strike by an bourgeoisie to discount their strength important to the Greek ruling class. U.S. spreads chaos in the Middle East

By Sara Flounders Arab Republic government. members of the SDF to a new mission in They are the largest nation without a This was not the first mention of new the Border Security Force as their actions state. They live in the underdeveloped, U.S. imperialism’s deteriorating posi- U.S. plans there. General Joseph Votel, against ISIS [the Islamic State group, IS] mountainous region spanning four coun- tion in the Middle East was confirmed on commander of U.S. Central Command, draw to a close.” (Reuters, Jan. 14) tries: southern Turkey and northern Iraq, Jan. 16 by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s said on Dec. 24 that a training program Before the announcement of a new U.S. Iran and Syria. bold assertion for U.S. plans in Syria. The was being established for Kurdish and plan to occupy and divide the region, nu- Some 72 Turkish jets bombed U.S.- arrogant statement was followed, within Arab fighters to become a permanent merous commentators described an un- backed Kurdish militias in Syria on Jan. hours, by almost immediate backpedaling. U.S. occupying force in Syria. Votel de- precedented development with the defeat 21. The Turkish news agency Anadolu re- Tillerson’s talk at the Hoover Institution clared, “What we don’t want to do is leave of IS – open borders among Iran, Iraq, ported that jets bombed more than 100 at Stanford University confirmed that the a mess.” (us.pressfrom.com, Dec. 24) Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. The whole targets, including an air base, in the first only hope of maintaining U.S. domina- In fact, U.S. long-term plans are to per- region has been divided since the 1991 day of air operations against YPG mi- tion is another desperate attempt to close manently divide Syria and Iraq and ex- U.S. war to recolonize and divide Iraq. litias. The operation targeted YPG bar- all borders and dismember the entire re- pand their imperialist “mess” into Iran. Turkey immediately slammed this racks, shelters, positions, weapons, vehi- gion. But the latest plan has also created Since Jan. 14, news reports around the new plan of a permanent U.S. occupation cles and equipment. a rupture in NATO, the oldest and largest world reported U.S. plans to create a new through an alliance with YPG Kurdish Each U.S. maneuver has created great- U.S.-commanded military alliance. “border force” in Syria on the borders of forces in Syria. Turkey warned of mili- er destruction, but the U.S. has been un- Meanwhile, Turkish planes bombed 100 Turkey and Iraq. This U.S. plan would tary action against the U.S.-armed and able to consolidate its position in the re- positions in Syria of U.S.-backed Kurdish separate the oil-rich northern region -protected YPG forces. gion or gain stable allies. YPG forces (the Kurdish acronym for Peo- from the rest of Syria, create a mini-state In the face of Turkey’s fierce opposi- ple’s Protection Units) on Jan. 21. and close the borders. tion, Tillerson claimed, “That entire sit- U.S. divide-and-destroy tactics As the war in Syria stretches into Washington said it would help Syrian uation has been misportrayed, misde- Since 2011 the U.S. has covertly armed the seventh year, Tillerson grandly an- Democratic Forces, an alliance of mili- scribed, some people misspoke. We are a whole series of conflicting militias and nounced the U.S. military will remain in tias in northern and eastern Syria led not creating a border security force at mercenaries. Syria indefinitely. The newest U.S. plan is by Kurdish YPG militias, to set up a new all.” (aljazeera, Jan. 18) With a wink and a nod from U.S. forces to create and train a military border force 30,000-strong border force. in the region, which were arming numer- of 30,000 soldiers. The secretary of state A flurry of other U.S. statements drew The Kurdish Nation ous extremist militias, Saudi Arabia and also arrogantly restated the U.S. demand out this plan more explicitly. Turkey’s great fear is that a “border Turkey armed the fanatical IS army. This that has met with failure for seven years: The coalition’s Public Affairs Office said: force” of U.S.-armed Kurdish militias became an excuse for open U.S. bombing the ouster of Syrian President Bashar “The base of the new force is essentially will siphon off advanced U.S.-supplied of Syrian infrastructure. al-Assad and the overthrow of the Syrian a realignment of approximately 15,000 weapons, including anti-aircraft mis- The U.S. military command pulled 19 siles, to Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) other NATO and Gulf countries into the forces in Turkey. war in Syria. This military onslaught was Although there are 1.5 to 2 million totally uninvited by the Syrian govern- Kurds in Syria, there are almost 20 ment. Two-party DACA cruelty million nationally oppressed Kurds in The Syrian government appealed to Turkey. Making up 20 percent of popu- Iran, Russia and Hezbollah forces in Continued from page 10 countries. Of course, these conditions lation, they are the majority population Lebanon to aid them in defeating IS and represents a lockout of millions of peo- were caused by forced underdevelop- in southern Turkey, bordering northern the Pentagon-funded militias and merce- ple who rely on government services that ment, exploitation and death squad gov- Syria, Iraq and Iran. naries. This forced Washington to change were to be shut down. ernments created by U.S. imperialism in For decades the Pentagon has armed tactics, but not its objective — the recolo- the first place. Turkey and aided in the brutal repres- nization of the region. Fight back against Many of those with TPS have lived sion of the Kurds, who resisted under the U.S.-imposed sanctions against Iraq criminalization of immigrants here for years. They have set down leadership of the PKK. and then Syria were an effort to destroy The DACA fight is part of a larger as- roots here, have built families here, own But imperialism sees an opportunity all forms of normal economic exchange sault by the Trump administration to homes, have children who are in schools, to use the smaller Kurdish population in and to shut down all commercial and so- criminalize immigrants. The Depart- etc. That is because their status has been Syria, where they are 5 percent to 8 per- cial life. The U.S. occupation of Iraq divid- ment of Homeland Security declared that renewed at regular intervals. cent of the Syrian population, as a way ed the country into walled-off mini-states basically all 11 million undocumented The Mexican border was created by U.S. to divide Syria. The Kurds in Syria are with checkpoints and inspections. All immigrants are “criminals” subject to capitalism when it stole half of Mexico in under the leadership of the Democratic borders were closed. U.S. intervention in deportation at any time. Their crime? 1848 and ran roughshod over Native lands. Union Party (PYD); their armed units are Syria was designed to do the same thing. Crossing the border to flee poverty and It has become a racist political barrier dic- the YPG. These are the main units of the U.S. wars in the region have displaced repression brought about by U.S. imperi- tated by Washington and the bosses and U.S.-armed Syrian Democratic Forces. more than 10 million people and deci- alism’s ransacking of their countries. bankers in the U.S. It has become the basis U.S. imperialism used a similar sce- mated the region. They have created an- A further part of this attempt to crim- for endless repression and discrimination. nario to impose a division on Iraq. This imosity and suspicion on every side, di- inalize the immigrant population was And it has led to superexploitation of im- is imperialism’s divide-and-rule strategy vided the corrupt and brutal feudal Gulf Trump’s cancellation of temporary pro- migrant workers in the U.S. for the entire region. Using the Kurds’ state regime aligned with imperialism, tected status (TPS) for almost 262,000 The working-class movement and the national aspirations for a temporary U.S. and are now dividing the oldest U.S. mil- Salvadorians, 86,000 Hondurans, oppressed here must answer Trump and military or political advantage, and then itary alliance — NATO. 58,000 Haitians and 5,300 Nicaraguans. the entire racist, anti-immigrant estab- cynically dropping them, dates back to But after seven years of war and 15 TPS was granted by Washington in lishment with cross-border solidarity, Henry Kissinger. years of sanctions, U.S. imperialism has 1990 to immigrants fleeing war, the af- with class solidarity toward all workers, The Kurds are a historically oppressed still not succeeded in destroying the sov- termath of natural disasters and oth- no matter where they come from, in a nation with a distinct language and cul- ereign government of the Syrian Arab er dangerous conditions in their home common struggle against the exploiters. ture, numbering over 30 million people. Republic. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected] WW/MO FOTO: BRENDA RYAN

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 60 Núm.4 25 de enero 2018 $1 ‘Justicia y solidaridad para Puerto Rico’

La siguiente charla fue presentada por Berta Joubert-Ceci, editora de Mundo Obre- FEMA y el Cuerpo de Ingenieros vecindario. La Secretaria de Educación ro/Workers World y miembro del Comité Directivo de las Américas de la Federación del Ejército son criminales Julia Keleher, quien es estadounidense, Democrática Internacional de Mujeres, en la Conferencia nacional sobre bases militares Ahora, el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejér- fue contratada por el actual gobierno de extranjeras de EUA celebrada del 12 al 14 de enero en Baltimore. cito de EUA está a cargo de la restauración Ricky Roselló - quien está a favor de la es- En primer lugar, me gustaría agradecer a ... Santander ayudó al Estado Libre Aso- de la electricidad, pero son bien conocidos tadidad - con el propósito de privatizar la las/os organizadores de este evento porque ciado a emitir acuerdos de deuda riesgosos por su lentitud. educación pública. Cerró muchas escuelas en estos tiempos peligrosos reuniones como que dependían de características contro- Tanto la Agencia Federal para el Manejo antes del huracán y luego impidió la ap- esta son un paso crucial para movilizar a las versiales, lo que generó más ingresos por de Emergencias [FEMA por las siglas en ertura de escuelas después de María. Mu- personas en todo el mundo. Es muy urgente comisiones para el negocio de suscripción inglés] como las acciones del Cuerpo de chas familias han migrado a EUA solo por ahora lanzar una lucha a escala global. de Santander”. Cito de un artículo publica- Ingenieros estadounidense en Puerto Rico esta razón, para que sus hijas/os puedan Cada país progresista, cada movimien- do en el sitio web de Hedge Clipper: “Cómo han sido criminales. Después del huracán, comenzar la escuela. to progresista y cada idea progresista está la puerta giratoria de Santander con el FEMA inmediatamente tomó el control de La UTIER, la unión de trabajadores de bajo el feroz ataque de un sistema capitalis- Banco de Fomento de Puerto Rico exacerbó todos los contenedores que llegaban a la la industria energética de Puerto Rico, ta moribundo que quiere revertir cualquier una catástrofe fiscal para el pueblo puerto­ isla con material de ayuda y suministros, trabajó como verdaderos héroes en las avance de los movimientos populares en rriqueño”. dificultando la entrega de los bienes. La montañas para restaurar la electricidad. todo el mundo. Tenemos que recordar que la economía lentitud de ambas agencias en la evalu- El sindicato ha presentado una demanda En nombre del pueblo Boricua, también se ha basado en la manufactura para em- ación de los daños y el pedido de materi- contra la ley PROMESA, basada en su falta quiero agradecerles por incluir a Puerto presas de EUA. Aunque pagaban relativa- ales -desde los toldos azules hasta postes de constitucionalidad. La juez federal bajo Rico en la agenda. mente bien a las/os trabajadores, las ga- eléctricos - son actos genocidas contra el la ley PROMESA escuchó el caso hace unos ¿Cuáles son los puntos que queremos nancias no se quedaban en Puerto Rico, no pueblo puerto­rriqueño. días y aún está pendiente. transmitir? ayudaron a construir infraestructura ni a Cuatro meses después de la tormenta, El movimiento pro independentista está · La actual crisis de la deuda es el resul- desarrollar la economía de la isla. todavía hay casas destruidas en las zonas comenzando a buscar formas de unirse tado de un siglo de políticas colonialistas Los impuestos pagados al gobierno puer- rurales y montañas, sin toldos azules ni activamente para comenzar el proceso de que fueron diseñadas para beneficiar a los torriqueño - los que pagaban - era de solo electricidad. El Cuerpo de Ingenieros ni descolonización. intereses económicos de los EUA. un 4 por ciento. Puerto Rico había sido un siquiera ha construido un solo puente en Así que, mientras el gobierno estadoun- · Los efectos del huracán María, tanto paraíso libre de impuestos para las indus- Puerto Rico. idense y su marioneta subordinada en para Estados Unidos como para el pueblo trias estadounidenses desde el inicio, prim- Las condiciones posteriores a María han Puerto Rico están tratando de aprovechar de Puerto Rico. ero con la caña de azúcar en la agricultura, causado una crisis humanitaria. Al menos la catástrofe post María para imponer y · ¿Qué hacer? luego con el procesamiento petroquímico y un cuarto de millón de Boricuas han emi- profundizar las medidas de austeridad Si bien Estados Unidos tiene presencia luego con los productos farmacéuticos, los grado a EUA en la desesperación. Más de contra el pueblo, hay una marea de movili- militar en Puerto Rico, me gustaría abordar equipos médicos y la electrónica. 1000 personas han muerto y miles siguen zación desde abajo que está comenzando a los problemas más urgentes que existen en La JCF propuso planes de austeridad sin hogar. Hay hambre. La comunicación desafiar esta maniobra dictatorial. este momento. Esos son los acontecimien- que incluyeron: recortes en el cuidado de y el agua potable aún están precarias. El ¿Qué podemos hacer aquí? ¿Cómo po- tos en torno a la crisis de la deuda, en par- la salud, la universidad pública y el 10 por país está paralizado, particularmente por demos ayudar al pueblo Boricua? ticular después del huracán María. ciento de las pensiones de las/os traba- la falta de electricidad. Miles de pequeñas Pero vamos a exponer algunos anteced- jadores públicos; reducción del día laboral; empresas han cerrado. Mucho se ha dicho sobre el sufrimiento entes breves antes del huracán. (En Puerto terminación de los bonos de Navidad; elim- Y mientras el gobierno estadounidense y la necesidad de ayuda y suministros para Rico, se hace referencia al tiempo como an- inación de fondos para los 78 municipios; retiene ayuda crucial al pueblo, impide que aliviar las horrendas condiciones. Pero muy tes y después del huracán María, que tuvo cierre de escuelas; aumento de impuestos; otros países ayuden a la isla. Estados Uni- poco se dice sobre la responsabilidad del lugar el 20 de septiembre de 2017) y la privatización de la industria energéti- dos ha evitado la solidaridad, evitando que gobierno de EUA hacia el pueblo Boricua, Ya había una deuda pública impagable ca estatal y de las agencias con más estab- Cuba envíe una unidad de salud móvil con quienes no estarían en esta dificultad si no e ilegítima de $74 mil millones. Este fue el ilidad económica, como la Corporación del médicos, personal de salud y electricistas, fuera por la camisa de fuerza que es el do- resultado de bonos municipales vendidos Fondo del Seguro del Estado. que Venezuela envíe un barco con diesel y minio colonial de EUA. por el gobierno puertorriqueño para finan- Así que, mientras la mayoría del pueb- que México envíe trabajadores eléctricos El pueblo Boricua no necesita caridad. ciar operaciones gubernamentales, no para lo puertorriqueño quedaba en la pobreza, capacitados. Lo que EUA ha impuesto en Lo que necesita es justicia y solidaridad. desarrollar la economía de la isla; también se estaban pagando montos obscenos en Puerto Rico es un verdadero bloqueo. Necesitan reparaciones de los Estados tomó prestado para pagar los intereses. millones de dólares a la misma JCF para Lo que estamos presenciando en Puerto Unidos por más de un siglo de coloni- En 2016, bajo la administración de consultores, subcontratistas y otros. Por Rico no es solo la devastación de dos hu- zación. Obama, el Congreso estadounidense ejemplo - porque hay muchos en todos los racanes y el “fracaso” de la reconstrucción Por la invasión en 1898 y la destrucción aprobó la Ley de Supervisión, Gestión y niveles del gobierno, no solo pertenecien- por parte del gobierno local y el federal. Es de nuestra economía. Estabilidad Económica de Puerto Rico - tes a la JCF - ¡contrataron a Natalie Jar- la exposición de la catástrofe del estado co- Por la represión y asesinato de indepen- PROMESA - que creó la Junta de Super- esko, directora ejecutiva de la junta, por lonial que finalmente ha llegado a un calle- dentistas. visión Financiera para Puerto Rico. Mejor $625.000 al año! jón sin salida. Por la imposición de una Ley Mordaza conocida como Junta de Control Fiscal, Luego vino el huracán Irma y dos sema- Sin soberanía, Puerto Rico no puede re- que prohibió a las/os puertorriqueños exhi- ésta consta de siete miembros designados nas después, el 20 de septiembre, el hura- solver esta crisis; no puede desarrollar su bir nuestra propia bandera. por el presidente de los EUA. Y un miem- cán María, destruyendo Culebra, Vieques y economía para beneficiar a su pueblo. Esto Por la esterilización forzada de más del bro ex oficio designado por el gobernador Puerto Rico. está muy claro. 35 por ciento de las mujeres entre los años de Puerto Rico. La destrucción causada es solo compara- Sin embargo, hay un desarrollo impor- 1970 y 1980. ble a la causada por el huracán San Ciriaco tante y muy positivo en Puerto Rico. Miles Por el uso de nuestra tierra fértil para Los bancos crearon la deuda en 1899 que Estados Unidos usó para cam- de grupos basados ​en las comunidades se fines militares. Muchos bancos de EUA e internaciona- biar la economía de Puerto Rico al imponer han estado formando por toda la isla. Por la contaminación de tierra, aire y les se involucraron en la creación de esta el dólar y sustituir la industria azucarera Inicialmente, vecinas/os que ni siqui- agua por parte de las industrias militares, deuda. El Banco Santander, en particu- para beneficiar a Estados Unidos, en vez de era se conocían comenzaron a unirse para petroquímicas y farmacéuticas. lar, muestra perfectamente el papel de los las exportaciones de café y tabaco de Puer- despejar caminos, ya que no había abso- Por la Ley Jones que prohíbe a Puerto Rico bancos en la producción y el aumento de la to Rico hacia Europa. lutamente ninguna ayuda del exterior, ni tener su propia industria naviera, forzándola deuda. De manera similar, el colapso del siste- del gobierno local ni federal. Empezaron a utilizar la marina mercante de EUA, la más Dos de los miembros de la JCF no solo ma eléctrico dio a los EUA la excusa perfec- ayudarse unas/os a otras/os, recolectando cara del mundo. Esto hace que todo, desde eran ejecutivos del Banco Santander, sino ta para acelerar sus planes de privatización alimentos y cocinando para la comunidad comida hasta ropa y autos, sea al menos un que también habían sido presidentes del de esta esencial industria. El hecho de que y planeando acciones. Ahora muchas co- 20 por ciento más costoso. Banco Gubernamental de Fomento de la electricidad no se haya restablecido para munidades están organizando protestas Por imponernos la ciudadanía estado­ Puerto Rico, la entidad que solía adminis- casi la mitad de la población a más de 100 para exigir electricidad al gobierno. unidense. trar el presupuesto del gobierno. Estos dos días desde el azote del huracán no es acci- Muchas organizaciones que existían an- Las personas en EUA deben exponer los hombres, Carlos M. García y José Ramón dental. El gobierno espera que la gente se tes se están expandiendo a nuevas áreas crímenes que EUA comete diariamente en González, “construyeron Santander Secu- desespere tanto que acepte la privatización más allá de sus barrios. Están buscando todas partes del mundo. rities, el negocio de bonos municipales del de la empresa, con sus costos más altos. el establecimiento de cooperativas agro- banco, que se estableció como un destaca- El sector de la electricidad solo ha de- ecológicas, para una economía sostenible, Con respecto a Puerto Rico, las personas do suscriptor de bonos, coincidiendo con scubierto la profunda corrupción del go- para la energía solar, etc. en EUA deben exigir: el crecimiento de la deuda pública puerto­ bierno local en conjunto con el gobierno ¡EUA, Fuera de Puerto Rico! rriqueña”. federal. Un ejemplo es el contrato hecho La lucha por las escuelas ¡Fin a la Ley PROMESA y su Junta de “Este negocio trajo importantes ingresos con la pequeña Compañía Whitefish con Las/os maestros, padres, estudiantes Control Fiscal! por comisiones para el banco”. El BGF se sede en Montana por $300 millones para y sus comunidades han estado llevando a ¡Derogar la Ley Jones! volvió cada vez más dependiente de técni- reconstruir la energía eléctrica, ¡la cual cabo constantes demostraciones y acciones ¡Fin al bloqueo de Puerto Rico! cas de ingeniería financiera cuestionables solo tenía dos empleados! para exigir que se abran las escuelas de su ¡Reparaciones ya!