¡No guerra contra Irán! 12 Los niños migrantes 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 61 No. 25 June 20, 2019 $1 Iran stays firm as U.S. threatens attack By Deirdre Griswold of lies—​and to go along with them would put their own U.S. troops to the Middle East. interests at stake. Are the days over when Washington could shake its The so-called “proof” offered by Washington that Iran War threats haven’t worked big stick and the rest of the imperialist world would was behind the attacks has been widely rejected, includ- Iran has defied the pressure. On the same day, Iran immediately fall in line? ing by the owner of at least one of the tankers. announced that it intends to resume its production of The Pompeo-Bolton-Trump gang of conspirators in That ship, the Kakura Courageous, is owned by a nuclear fuel, which it had agreed to suspend in 2015 in Washington seems to be having a hard time lining up Japanese company. It was attacked while the prime min- exchange for lifting severe economic sanctions. their imperialist partners/rivals behind an attack on ister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was actually making a state Iran’s move should come as no surprise. The Trump Iran. Their attempt to create a global crisis over the dam- visit to Iran, despite U.S. sanctions. administration had already announced—​a whole year age inflicted on June 13 on two oil tankers in the Strait The idea that Iran would choose such a moment to ago—​that it was pulling out of the 2015 agreement. It of Hormuz, which suffered no loss of life and were in no attack a Japanese ship is ludicrous, to say the least. has since doubled down on the sanctions, trying to starve danger of sinking, was met with much skepticism—​not Nevertheless, as flimsy as the U.S. arguments to attack the Iranians into submission. only from the general public but from West European Iran are, Washington has been going ahead, trying to line So why should Iran continue to honor the deal when the heads of state. up support from at least some of the European imperi- U.S. had already killed it? Even these fellow imperialists are well aware that U.S. alist powers for an aggressive move against the oil-rich At the time that Washington pulled out of the deal, preparations for an assault on Iran are based on a pack country. And on June 17, Trump ordered another 1,000 Continued on page 10 Pride Means Fight Back!

PHOTO: ALAN ROTH The first Cleveland Pride, 1977: The struggle of lesbian mothers to retain custody of their children was central to the movement then and continues today. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE Library allies demonstrate inside Philadelphia City Hall, June 13. Unionized library workers and friends are fighting for more money for libraries in underserved, poor, working-class and people of color Pride coverage 2, 6-7 neighborhoods. See page 4. Pensacola revolutionaries Leslie Feinberg: Stonewall ‘battle was on!’ Caster Semenya resists gender policing Cuba caravan cheered 3 Portland trans march Workers air dirty laundry 4 Layleen Polanco Xtravaganza ¡presente! Lessons of UAW loss 4 Capitalist ABC’s, part 2 5 Subscribe to Workers World 8 ☐ 4 weeks trial $4 ☐ 1 year subscription $30 Central Park Five case revisited ☐ Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/donate Mumia: solidarity from France 8 Name ______

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Street ______City / State / Zip ______Switzerland 3 Venezuela 9 Workers World Weekly Newspaper workers.org 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011 212.627.2994 Brazil 11 Haiti 11 Philippines 11 Page 2 June 20, 2019 workers.org Pensacola Pride Revolutionary queer and trans people this week protest anti-Black national anthem ◆ In the U.S. Pride protest of racist national anthem ...... 2 By Devin Cole and Julianna Cordray Cuba Caravan challenges travel restrictions . . . .3 Pensacola, Fla. Company intimidation behind 'no union' vote . . .4 Workers’ protest airs greedy bosses' dirty laundry .4 At this year's Pensacola Pride festival, there was a defi- ant protest of the organizers’ decision to ignore nearly 200 Library workers and allies demand more funding . 4 petition signers and led off the festival with the pro-slavery Stonewall 1969, night 3: ‘The battle was on!’ . . . 6 U.S. national anthem. A group of 15 working-class people, Cleveland’s first Pride march ...... 6 mostly transgender people, voiced their principled dissent. Trans, nonbinary community Portland Pride . . . 7 As the anthem was being sung at the beginning of Pride celebrations, protesters unfurled a banner that read, “O In New York, death of transgender woman . . . . 7 say, can you see? Francis Scott Key supported slavery!” Ongoing impact of Central Park Five case . . . . .8 They held it up in front of the stage for the anthem’s dura- Portland forum says ‘Hands Off Venezuela’ . . . .9 tion and then marched with the banner around Seville PHOTO: MOON BATCHELDER Square Park where booths were set up. LGBTQ2S revolutionaries at Pensacola Pride in Florida on ◆ Around the world This protest was led by Strive, an anti-capitalist, June 15. Iran stays firm, U.S. threatens war ...... 1 anti-imperialist, anti-racist transgender advocacy organi- zation. Several of its members are currently candidates in After being told by Gay Grassroots that “silent, respect- Women strike across Switzerland ...... 3 Workers World Party, and two of the candidates partici- ful protests” would be allowed, Strive arrived at the park ABCs of economic crisis, part 2 ...... 5 pated directly in the action, as well as this writer, a leader to be greeted by a hostage negotiator cop, who seemed The persecution of Caster Semenya ...... 7 of Strive. to know about Strive’s protest before it even began. Gay Solidarity from France for Mumia Abu-Jamal . . .8 The protest came after several weeks of attempts to have Grassroots claimed that their organization had not called the national anthem removed from Pride. Strive made a the cops—but​ someone must have. War of words over Venezuela ...... 9 public statement outlining in detail the history of the song Strive’s protest continued, despite this attempt at intim- Haitians in the streets stage general strike . . . . 11 and the anti-Black, usually overlooked third verse, and the idation. Strive and allies put up an “empty-chairs” vigil to #LulaLivre/ Free Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva . . . .11 fact that Francis Scott Key was a fierce critic of abolition- honor the 11 transgender women of color murdered in the March defends Philippine sovereignty ...... 11 ism and proponent of slavery. The anthem is anti-Black, U.S. so far in 2019. Tribute was also paid to Nigel Shelby, racist and outdated, and therefore has no place in Pride or a 15-year-old gay Black youth who committed suicide in ◆ Editorial in any sectors of the LGBTQ2S+ movement. April due to bullying in Alabama. The Gay Grassroots organizers of Pensacola Pride In effect, the cops were called out on LGBTQ2S+ people No war on Iran! ...... 10 acknowledged this anti-Black history, but chose to keep because of a silent protest and a vigil dedicated to mur- ◆ Noticias en Español the anthem, citing, “their love of the military” over the dered Black transgender women and a gay man. protests of hundreds of Black and Brown, queer and trans After the protest, Strive attempted to set up a booth to La guerra contra los niños migrantes ...... 12 people who supported its removal. distribute free materials to the people—​zines, buttons, ¡No hay guerra contra Irán! ...... 12 Strive's line is that racism and imperialist war are funda- papers and hygiene products. Strive did not register as mentally contradictory to the goal of LGBTQ2S+ liberation. Continued on page 10 Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Join us in the fight Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] for socialism! Web: www.workers.org

Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist people are gunned down by cops and bigots on a regular Vol. 61, No. 25 • June 20, 2019 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a basis. Closing date: June 19, 2019 multinational, multigenerational and multigendered orga- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out Editor: Deirdre Griswold nization that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, build a socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Martha Grevatt, Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Pratt world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational Web Editors: Ben Carroll, John Steffin ever-greater profits. working class. It is time to point the blame at—and chal- Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and repres- lenge—the capitalist system. Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Sasha sion, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ oppres- WWP fights for socialism because the working class Mazumder, Scott Williams sion and mistreatment of people with disabilities. It means produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, joblessness, increasing homelessness and impoverishment remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- Sue Davis, S. Hedgecoke and lack of hope for the future. No social problems can be talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guaran- Contributing Editors: G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one tee basic human needs. Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Mundo Obero: Alberto García, Teresa Gutierrez, education or anything else—unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Carlos Vargas Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even make and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP it to college. Black, Brown and Indigenous youth and trans branch near you. ☐ Copyright © 2019 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly National Office Bay Area Durham, N.C. Philadelphia 147 W. 24th St., 2nd floor P.O. Box 22947 804 Old Fayetteville St. P.O. Box 34249 except the last week of December by WW Publishers, New York, NY 10011 Oakland, CA 94609 Durham, NC 27701 Philadelphia, PA 19101 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Phone: 212.627.2994 [email protected] 919. 322 .9 970 610.931.2615 212.627.2994. Subscriptions: One year: $30; institu­ [email protected] Buffalo, N.Y. [email protected] [email protected] tions: $35. Letters to the editor may be condensed and Atlanta 335 Richmond Ave. Houston Salt Lake City edited. Articles can be freely reprinted, with credit to PO Box 18123 Buffalo, NY 14222 P.O. Box 3454 801.750.0248 Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY Atlanta, GA 30316 716.883.2534 Houston, TX 77253-3454 [email protected] 10011. Back issues and individual articles are available 404 .627.0185 [email protected] 713.503.2633 San Antonio on microfilm and/or photocopy from NA Publishing, [email protected] Charlotte [email protected] [email protected] Inc, P.O. Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998. Austin [email protected] Knoxville, Tenn. San Diego A searchable archive is available on the Web at [email protected] Cleveland [email protected] [email protected] www.workers.org. Boston P.O. Box 5963 Minneapolis Tucson, Ariz. A headline digest is available via e-mail subscription. 284 Amory St. Cleveland, OH 44101 [email protected] [email protected] Subscription information is at workers.org. Boston, MA 02130 216.738.0320 Pensacola, Fla. Washington, D.C. 617.522.6626 [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Portland, Ore. West Virginia Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org June 20, 2019 Page 3 Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba challenges travel restrictions

By Betsey Piette include developing treatment for diabe- Philadelphia tes, fighting Ebola in Africa and setting up clinics in Haiti. She addressed Cuba’s Members of the Interreligious contributions to hurricane preparedness, Foundation for Community Organization/ environmental justice, education and the Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan struggle to combat homophobia. Walker to Cuba received a warm and enthusiastic noted that women comprise nearly half welcome in Philadelphia on June 12 at of the members of Cuba’s Parliament and a gathering hosted by the Philadelphia three of six Cuban vice presidents. International Action Center. Their 30th Another advancement Walker noted

Cuba Caravan will travel to Havana and WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE is that Cuba has taken measures to limit Cienfuegos from June 22 to July 5, visiting In Philadelphia, some of those supporting the Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba were, left the scourge of gentrification plaguing 40 U.S. cities before they depart. to right, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Michelle Strongfields, Gail Walker, Megan Murray, Carmen countless Black and Brown communities A diverse audience of over 50 people Guerrero, Pam Africa and Yahne Ndgo. in the U.S. “Cuban law restricts any one attended the event at Calvary United individual from owning more than two Methodist Church. It was endorsed by Women speakers praise Cuba Berta Joubert-Ceci, of Comité Boricua houses—​one in a municipality and one Black Alliance for Peace; Comité Boricua An impressive, multinational panel of Filadelfia-Camden, described her native in the countryside or at the seashore.” Filadelfia-Camden; Socialist Unity Party; Puerto Rico and Cuba as “two wings women activists addressed a question Despite ban, ‘caravans will go on’ Struggle—​La Lucha; International posed by Philadelphia WWP moderator of the same bird.” She noted how these Workers Solidarity Network; and Megan Murray about what solidarity with two countries and Venezuela all strug- Walker addressed the travel ban, Workers World Party/Mundo Obrero. Cuba means to them. Pam Africa, minis- gled against Spanish colonialism: “Even noting that her father, the Rev. Lucius Cuba is celebrating the 60th anniver- ter of confrontation for the MOVE orga- before Trump, U.S. administrations have Walker, founder of IFCO/Pastors for sary of its revolution in 2019. This year nization, stressed the humanitarian care sought ‘regime change’ to regain power Peace, who died in 2010, first initiated a also marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuba has extended globally, setting an and destroy Cuba. They want to destroy people-to-people caravan to Nicaragua in Venceremos Brigade to Cuba, which will example for all. She spoke of the warm the promise of socialism.” 1988. There, two people were killed by a begin in late July and continue for three reception she received when traveling to Taryn Fivek, International Action Contra attack and Walker was wounded. weeks. Cuba on behalf of U.S. political prisoner Center representative, who will par- “The U.S. policies around Cuba, start- Since the successful Cuban Revolution Mumia Abu-Jamal. ticipate in the upcoming Venceremos ing with the Kennedy administration, are in 1959, the U.S. government has imposed Carmen Guerrero, immigrant activ- Brigade, explained: “Socialism is not nothing short of genocide,” stated Walker. a criminal blockade on the socialist ist with the Coalición Fortaleza Latina, just something you say or wear on a “Trump’s policies are nothing but an island. However, in recent months, U.S. responded: “Cuba is an example of ‘Si, shirt, but what you do. Cuba is a prime extension of this. He is trying to frighten imperialism has sharpened its attacks se puede!’ (Yes we can!) for their policies example. President Bolsonaro in Brazil people from going to Cuba, experiencing against Cuba and Venezuela, intensifying of peace, brotherhood, liberty, humanity just expelled all the doctors whom Cuba it and making up their own minds. Trump criminal sanctions against both coun- and justice. For people in my home coun- previously sent in solidarity to especially nixed the ‘people-to- people’ travel, but tries, and supporting an attempted coup try of Mexico, where we are dealing with treat Indigenous populations who are not the ‘solidarity-with-people’ visa travel in Venezuela. many killings and disappearances, Cuba now having their land stolen. Sixty years option, which is usually selected by ele- Inspired in part by the revolutionary shows that when the people have the ago this revolution challenged homeless- ments intent on supporting opposition example set by the Cuban people, the power we can do many things together.” ness, poverty, the lack of health care, edu- inside Cuba to the current government.” Bolivarian Revolution began in Venezuela Yahne Ndgo, activist with Black cation and more. The U.S. doesn’t want Walker continued: “What Trump has in 1999 to build a socialist society there, Alliance for Peace, told of her month-long people to see how Cubans have learned done will have a chilling effect and to under the leadership of Hugo Chávez. experience living in Cuba earlier this year. to liberate themselves.” some extent it is working. But travel to The bond of solidarity between Cuba and There she found she couldn’t access funds Keynote speaker Gail Walker, execu- Cuba is not a crime. We have been indoc- Venezuela has been and still remains from her bank account because of U.S. tive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, trinated about Cuba since birth with so unbreakable. restrictions. Just buying eggs for break- opened her talk by acknowledging a many negative connotations thrown at us. The solidarity event with revolution- fast became a burden until her Cuban young Black woman in the audience Our intent is that people should see for ary Cuba, Venezuela and other countries neighbors turned up at her door with eggs who had just applied to study medicine themselves. We do this as an act of civil in Latin America and around the world and other food to share. at Cuba’s tuition-free Latin American disobedience.” under threat from U.S. imperialism took Ndgo said: “I witnessed a human drive School of Medicine. She said, “Cuba’s In concluding, Walker emphasized: on new importance in light of the travel to be part of community versus what you scholarship gifts to young people to study “We know we face potential fines and restrictions imposed June 4 by the Trump see under capitalism where people are medicine are intended to be passed on as even jail terms, but the U.S. blockade and administration on U.S. residents travel- taught to extract as much as they can gifts to the communities they will even- travel ban against Cuba are wrong. They ing to Cuba. They ban group educational for themselves. Cuba is the example that tually serve.” are criminal. We will continue to do cara- and cultural travel to the island, popu- another reality is possible.” Walker recounted Cuba’s key contri- vans until we see this policy change once larly known as “people-to-people” trips. butions in the field of health care, which and for all.” ☐ Women strike across Switzerland for equal pay and more

By Kathy Durkin In the country's largest demonstration, passage of the Gender Equality Act in “meaningless.” It so enraged women that 160,000 people marched in Zurich, a 1996, which prohibited workplace gender they then began planning a national pro- Wage. Time. Respect. That was the global center of finance capital. Organizers discrimination. test. Labor unions got involved, and USS, motto of the 24-hour “Women’s Strike” there welcomed women, trans, intersex In 2018, the Swiss Parliament enacted an umbrella group of 16 Swiss unions, for gender pay equity, equal rights, and queer people, immigrants and those a law calling for corporations to “study” was instrumental in organizing the respect and an end to gender-based vio- of varying ages, communities, abilities and gender pay disparities, but that only June 14 strike. lence, which swept Switzerland on June incomes. In Basel, 40,000 people partic- applied to companies with over 100 As the cost of living skyrockets in 14. Hundreds of thousands of women and ipated in 50 activities, while actions took employees. It didn't include penalties for Europe’s least “family-friendly” econ- people of all genders from labor unions, place in all major cities and towns. firms that flouted the law. omy, and gender pay inequality grows, women's rights and allied groups, educa- Many women struck for the entire day, Women labor leaders called the law this struggle will continue. ☐ tional and faith-based institutions, and but organizers asked those who couldn't even farms marched, rallied and struck. do that to leave their workplaces at 3:24 Colorful banners flew from bridges and p.m., because women work for free after buildings in major cities. The color pur- that time due to wage inequality. Women ple was visible everywhere, including in earn 20 percent less than male workers -- clothing, because of its symbolism with an outrage in one of the world's wealthiest European women’s suffrage movements. countries. It's even worse for immigrants. Women in Switzerland could not vote The World Economic Forum ranks until 1971. Switzerland 44th in wage equity for sim- In Bern, the capital, 100,000 people ilar work, compared with all other coun- demonstrated, while workers struck in fac- tries. (npr.org, June 14) What enormous tories. There, Rachel Luthy stressed: “We profits the capitalists are making by must fight for equal pay … abortion rights, cheating women out of their full salaries! zero tolerance for domestic violence and It was exactly 28 years ago that more. Most importantly, we must smash 500,000 Swiss women held a historic the patriarchy!” (New York Times, June 14) strike for equal rights. That resulted in “Women Strike” on June 14 in Zurich, Switzerland. PHOTO: FRAUENSTREIKENZH FACEBOOK Page 4 June 20, 2019 workers.org Company intimidation behind 'no union' vote at VW

By Martha Grevatt Organizing Director Tracy Romero. The loss at VW—​with wages that are For three days, June 12-14, workers (UAW.org) the lowest among the transplants—takes​ at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, The VW vote exposes the fraudulent place as the UAW begins negotiations for Tenn., voted whether to allow the United character of “democracy” under capital- new contracts with Ford, General Motors Auto Workers union to represent them. ism. There is no real right to organize if and FCA. The Detroit Three will use lower The union narrowly lost the election, 833 companies can threaten to close plants or transplant wages as ammunition, arguing to 776. Over 90 percent of the plant’s fire workers for organizing. that higher labor costs make them less 1,700-plus workers voted. Some workers, however, claimed they competitive. Compared to the first plantwide vote in weren’t against having a union, they But now that the Detroit auto compa- 2014, which was 712 to 626 against the were just against the UAW. These may nies are making billions in record profits, union, the UAW inched closer to secur- be face-saving claims, but they could be the leaders are feeling a push from below. ing a win. Team: I am Volkswagen.” an honest reaction to real problems inside The rank and file want to reverse conces- The need for union representation is Workers were required to attend compa- the UAW. sions and get rid of tiered wages—​a divi- glaring. Workers’ no. 1 complaint is the ny-run morning meetings where speeches So far nine people—​UAW Chrysler sive scheme where newer workers doing high rate of injuries at the plant, caused and leaflets conveyed a one-sided message. Department officials and Fiat Chrysler the same job as higher-seniority workers by line speedups and trying to get more Workers were harassed for wearing union Automobiles executives—​have been make less pay. Current contracts have work out of fewer workers. Repetitive stickers or passing out union literature. VW convicted in a bribery scandal, with new hires classified as temporary. They motion injuries are commonplace, and CEO Frank Fischer himself addressed the more under investigation. FCA gave lav- have few rights, can be fired with little injured workers are routinely put back workers; he claimed a vote for the union ish amounts of money to UAW leaders, recourse, and their pay is actually lower on the same job that caused their injury. could cause the plant to close. allegedly to get them to sell members an than that of VW production workers. Other big issues are last-minute shift Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee addressed inferior contract in 2015. It may well take a strike to make real changes and overtime scheduling that one meeting, emphasizing his negative This outrageous corruption is an out- headway. For the UAW to be attractive to make it hard for workers and their fami- view of unions. The state had given VW growth of the long-standing orientation of potential members, as well as hold on to lies to plan their lives. The company was over half a million dollars worth of tax the International UAW leadership toward current members as more states become not going to address these or other issues breaks to lure the company to Tennessee. “partnership” with company management. “right-to-work-for-less,” the union must on its own as a matter of conscience. Governor Lee and other politicians For decades, concessions have been ped- break up its partnership with capital. Volkswagen, which during the 2014 implied that voting union could trigger a dled to the rank and file to keep corpora- It’s time to revive the fighting spirit of vote feigned neutrality, now wants to loss of incentives. Without the incentives, tions “competitive” or “profitable.” the 1936-37 sit-down strikes! ☐ keep Chattanooga union-free. For four politicians suggested Volkswagen would years after the National Labor Relations cancel expansion plans to build a new Board certified that the UAW had won an electric vehicle in Chattanooga. election covering 160 skilled maintenance To court workers, the company also workers at the plant, Volkswagen refused made some improvements—​which they Workers’ protest airs dirty to bargain. Yet VW argued to the NLRB could have made all along—​including that an election involving all the plant’s cooling the plant, more desirable sched- laundry of greedy bosses hourly workers could not go forward ules and ouster of unpopular managers. because of the smaller unit’s vote. The monumental level of propagandiz- The Laundry Workers Center and The NLRB bought VW’s frivolous argu- ing and fearmongering over more than the People’s Power Assemblies went ment and denied the UAW’s petition to two months was enough to tip the scales to Flushing, Queens, N.Y., June 15 to hold an election in late April. This would in the company’s favor. demand the owners of the New TYS have been shocking, except for the fact that, Laundromat pay the workers what with four of five board members appointed How can the UAW win? they owe them. Throughout the by Trump, anti-labor rulings have become Asian and European auto companies neighborhood people could hear this routine. After the union filed a new peti- have over 30 plants in the U.S., almost chant: “Pay the Workers What You tion, the June election was set. all in Southern states and all non-union. Owe Them, Wage Theft Is a Crime.” Nissan defeated a union drive in Canton, As the chants rang out, peo- Delays bought union busters time Miss., in 2017 by using scare tactics sim- ple throughout the neighborhood The UAW took signed authorization ilar to VW’s. A victory at VW could have stopped by to find out what was cards from a majority of the VW hourly launched a massive organizing drive at happening. The LWC explained workers when it went to the NLRB in the other foreign-owned transplants—​ that they were there to demand Queens, N.Y. WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN April. Why the loss? which would in turn boost organizing over $200,000 in back pay that Delaying the election gave VW and across the South. TYS Laundromat workers are owed, other anti-union forces nine weeks to The UAW is demanding changes in the along with $400,000 in damages they’re firing them. mislead and frighten the workers into labor laws that allow corporate intimida- owed for having to work in unsafe and haz- The LWC and the PPA stated that they rejecting the union. There were constant tion to take place. “Over a period of nine ardous conditions. will keep coming to the owner’s neigh- ads on TV, radio and billboards appealing weeks—an​ unprecedented length of time It was further explained that the own- borhood to continue airing their dirty to prejudice and warning of “domination” due to legal gamesmanship—Volkswagen​ ers of the laundromat were living in laundry until the workers get what they by the Detroit-based union. Management was able to break the will of enough work- three-story housing in Flushing, while deserve. gave out free T-shirts that read, “One ers to destroy their majority,” said UAW paying their workers low wages and also — Report by Siddika Degia Philadelphia Library workers and allies demand more funding By Joe Piette While the Free Library is allocated only $46 million for About 50 members and allies of Friends of the Free 2020, funding for police, prisons and "other criminal jus- Library rallied June 13 inside Philadelphia City Hall, tice" costs will total $1.2 billion. (tinyurl.com/y6a9bu7x) demanding city officials increase annual funding by It's common knowledge Black and Brown residents $15 million. bear the brunt of police violence. Stop-and-frisk statistics Unionized library workers and Library Friends Group from American Civil Liberties Union Pennsylvania prove members organized the #FundOurLibraries campaign it. And 81 percent of people shot by Philadelphia cops to protest inadequate funding for the city's 54 library between 2007 and 2013 were African American, despite branches. Over 750 emergency closures took place in Black people accounting for just more than 40 percent of 2018, 350 from lack of staff and 400 from building prob- the city’s population. (tinyurl.com/y2fhnzp5) lems. An average of two branches were closed every day. The Plain View Project reported on June 1 that Activists were able to push Mayor Jim Kenney and 328 Philadelphia police officers posted racist, sexist, the City Council for an increase of $3.5 million in the WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE homophobic, Islamophobic and otherwise offensive 2020 budget by gathering over 5,000 petitions, organiz- Library supporters rallied inside Philadelphia City Hall, June 13. content on Facebook. ing hundreds of letters, phone calls and meetings with But City Hall continues to increase the police budget elected officials, and packing city budget hearings. 2013 and 2017 Philadelphia paid over $50 million to set- while inadequately funding education and library pro- But FFL estimates, in their June 13 press release, at tle lawsuits filed against police officers, most of whom grams for high poverty areas and communities of color. least $15 million is needed annually for staffing to keep remain on the force. Its racist actions speak louder than words, revealing the all library branches open six days a week, to increase As Philadelphia's neighborhoods fight for funds for underlying belief that police occupation of Black and community programming and to make repairs on "doz- libraries, the Kenney administration increased the police Brown communities is more important than funding pro- ens of failing roofs" and other building problems. budget by $18 million in fiscal year 2019 to $709 mil- grams to help lift those communities from deep poverty. The city always seems strapped for cash when it comes lion, the largest item in the city's annual budget. The Philadelphia residents of every age and race need clean, to funding public schools or keeping libraries open, but Police Department budget was again upped in 2020—​ safe and modern library services, not more police! ☐ has plenty of money to pay for police brutality. Between by $54 million. workers.org June 20, 2019 Page 5 ABC’s of the capitalist crisis Part 2

WW reprints here Part 2 of an arti- actual relationships that exist in pres- the authors neglect to mention. Together the March 30 issue of Business Week cle, slightly abridged, by Sam Marcy, ent-day society, characterized by a strug- with the bankruptcy judge and the federal trumpeted the emergence of a capitalist the late chairperson of Workers World gle between the capitalist class and the district courts, they are part of a trinity recovery, Olympia and York, the world's Party, that appeared in the April 12, working class. that serves big business and the banks, biggest real estate property developer, 1992, Workers World. Despite the years To define the middle class merely on particularly the biggest creditors. They announced it was seeking guidance that have passed since then, his analysis the basis of income is to include many are the ones primarily responsible for the from financial consultants and advis- is remarkably relevant to understanding workers, thus masking the function of the restructuring of capitalist industry over ers because of its inability to deal with a the relationship between workers and working class as the producer of all mate- the last decade. $20-billion debt. The company owns doz- capitalists today. Part 1 can be found rial values. It lumps the workers together These writers, by pointing the finger ens of the choicest real estate properties online at workers.org. with a vast section of the middle class only at the big fees of the high-priced in New York City and abroad. The Philadelphia Inquirer published proper. This includes millions who work attorneys and consultants, avoid the But the most interesting aspect of this a very well-documented series of nine for themselves, or employ a few work- fundamental causes of the crisis. They giant financial and industrial complex articles on Oct. 20-28 of last year [1991] ers whom they exploit, and are a buffer absolve the capitalist class as a whole is the banks that have supported it with showing the ravages of the capitalist between the working class and the capi- from responsibility for the ravages and loans and are now seeking to dismantle it. economic crisis with facts and figures. talist class. The fact that at the end of the destruction of human life and material. These banks are Citicorp, the biggest U.S. But this series, "The Dismantling of process some may earn even less than a So while their research is valuable and bank, and a half dozen Canadian banks America," took a fundamentally errone- skilled worker doesn't necessarily qualify impressive, at the same time it obscures including the Canadian Imperial Bank of ous approach. them as producers of material values. what most needs to be clarified. Commerce, the Royal Bank of Canada, the The writers, Donald L. Bartlett In fact, capitalist society has middle lay- One of the most glaring omissions in Bank of Montreal, and the Bank of Nova and James B. Steele, showed that the ers in it that serve a reactionary purpose—​ these articles is the international character Scotia. Other lenders include Chemical increases in the salaries of people earn- police, prison guards, military officers of the capitalist crisis. They do well when Bank, the Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, the ing more than $1 million have risen 2,184 and pen-pushers, hundreds of thousands they point out the huge indebtedness cre- Sumitomo Bank, Barclay's P.L.C., Credit percent in the last decade; people earning of others who work in the capitalist state ated during the Reagan administration and Suisse, Credit Lyonnais, and the Hong $200,000 to $1 million saw an increase of apparatus and are a parasitic element—​ the havoc it caused later. But it is dealt with Kong and Shanghai Bank. 697 percent; for people earning $20,000 not to speak of the actual big-time bureau- as exclusively a national phenomenon. The capitalist press dins into the ears to $50,000, it was only 44 percent. crats. In any capitalist government these Britain, France and above all Germany and of the workers day in and day out, when- They conclude that the total amount constitute a formidable element of the Japan, which contributed so much to U.S. ever the workers complain about jobs of dollars in salaries funneled to the rich population that neither produce anything indebtedness by buying U.S. bonds and being shifted abroad, that we are living soared in the 1980s, as did the number nor serve a useful function. stocks and investing in U.S. industry, are in an integrated world economy. But they of rich themselves. Meanwhile, the total This social layer of the population is not mentioned at all. never bring up the most quintessential dollars in wages that went to the middle needed to protect and defend the capital- For a long period the capitalist press and characteristic feature of contempo- class increased an average of just 4 per- ist class's interests. It is pitted against the incited workers into Japan-bashing rary world relationships—​that is, dom- cent a year, or 44 percent over the decade. working class when necessary. because they said Japan was "taking over ination by the giant banks. Their statistics, meticulously gathered America." Now Japan has its own eco- A scientific solution from a variety of government sources, Huge fees not all that's wrong nomic crisis, so it is withdrawing its funds cannot be impeached. But it is not the sal- In their second article, "The Very from the U.S., thereby aggravating the Today there is scarcely any question aries of the rich, the very rich, the super- Lucrative Business of Bankruptcy," the capitalist crisis. First the capitalist press that doesn't lend itself to scientific solu- rich or what they call the middle class that authors also fall into error. In the course and politicians bashed Japan for invest- tion, although it might take many years. are the determining factor in the develop- of examining the rising tide of bankrupt- ing in the U.S. Now that it's withdrawing, So with all the economic tools available, ment of a capitalist crisis. cies, they say the winners are high-priced they're bashing it even harder. not to speak of the new technology, why What they leave out is who owns the consultants hired to close companies, It's part and parcel of the ruinous isn't there even one bourgeois economist means of production, who owns the big while the losers are workers thrown out imperialist competition which, if it goes who will say, "Let us solve the economic plants, the big establishments, the mil- of their jobs. They go on to show that the much further, can end up in warfare. crisis scientifically and eliminate crisis"? itary-industrial complex. Suppose an lawyers and consultants get huge fees—​ The international character of the It's because capitalist crisis can only be inflationary trend happens that is so $787.50 for three hours of sorting files, capitalist crisis was first brought out in eliminated by abolishing the profit sys- violent the currency becomes no more over $1,000 for five hours spent on a Workers World newspaper when the Bank tem itself and laying the foundation for a than a piece of paper. What happens plane, $562.50 for two and a half hours of Commerce and Credit International socialist society. To ask the capitalists to then? Those who own the plants, equip- of telephone calls, $900 for four hours of collapsed, demonstrating that the U.S., solve the capitalist crisis is asking them to ment, means of transportation, etc., will filling out forms. Britain, France, Germany and more than sign their own death warrant. still be the owners. But the salaried peo- There's no question that these bank- a dozen Third World countries were Only the working class can solve the ple and wage earners will get ripped off ruptcy attorneys, advisers and consul- involved. The fact that corruption was also capitalist economic crisis, and then only completely. tants get enormous fees. This should be involved was purely incidental. The main by taking the wealth of society, the basic An inflationary trend that affects wages exposed. But to make them out as the thing is that it demonstrated the interna- means of production, into their own or salaries on all levels still leaves the cap- super-devils in bankruptcy is just plain tional character of the capitalist crisis. hands and establishing a true workers’ italist system intact. What is fundamental nonsense. They must have their fees Lest that seem like yesterday's wis- socialist society. ☐ is which class owns the means of produc- approved by the bankruptcy judge, which dom, it's important to note that just as tion versus who works as a wage slave. Instead of proceeding from the view- point of ownership and possession of the material wealth of society, these writers deal only with a superficial aspect, the income from salaries and wages. That hides the oppressive, exploitative char- acter of capitalist society. It is a typical bourgeois approach to judge society purely on the distribution of income. This is not decisive. Targeting the great spread in incomes of course shows the gross and monstrous social inequal- ities in capitalist society. Nevertheless, this doesn't point out the source of the inequality, which lies in ownership of the basic means of production. Unfortunately, the writers of this series make another error. One of the articles is entitled, "How the Game Was Rigged Against the Middle Class." At the present time, all capitalist politicians speak in the name of the middle class. They almost never mention capitalist class or working class—just​ rich and poor. It is true, of course, that there is a struggle between the rich and the poor. But this does not adequately describe who the rich are, what makes them rich, the basis for their wealth and the basis for the poverty that many millions in this coun- try suffer. The report really obscures the WW GRAPHIC Page 6 June 20, 2019 workers.org Stonewall means fightback! Part 70 Stonewall 1969, night 3: ‘The battle was on!’

Originally published Aug. 14, 2006, and brutality against gay men and the the streets. this column was part of Leslie Feinberg’s Chicanx/Mexicanx communities. Police who tried to pick fights, however, series of articles on the connections were met with bold responses. between LGBTQ2S+ and socialist history. ‘No longer submissive’ to cops When one arrogant cop at Christopher The 120-part series “Lavender & Red,” However, a bodacious group of gay Street and Waverly twirled his nightstick which appeared in Workers World from youths descended on the Sixth Precinct and hurled insults in the direction of pass- 2004 to 2008, is available for free down- and plastered the police cruisers, a police ersby, an individual described as a “wildly load at workers.org/book/lavender-red/. arrest van and the personal cars of police ‘fem’ queen” lit the fuse of a firecracker officers with luminescent fuchsia and blue and detonated it under his feet. The cop Sunday, June 29, saw a lull between bumper stickers demanding “Equality for landed on his ass on the sidewalk. the battles [of the Stonewall Uprising], Homosexuals.” The cop shouted and flailed with his although many cops were patrolling the Throughout the Village, teams made club. When the same militant individual streets of the Village, hurling slurs at those up of one male and one female passed out tossed another firecracker at him, the WW PHOTO: DEIRDRE GRISWOLD milling on the corners and sidewalks, leaflets issued by the Homophile Youth crowd fought with the cop and was able Leslie Feinberg speaking for freedom for reportedly trying to egg on skirmishes. Movement that demanded, “Get the Mafia to snatch his badge off his uniform. Mumia Abu-Jamal, New York City, 1999. As thousands of gays and lesbians—​ and the Cops Out of Gay Bars.” On Wednesday night, widespread street drawing to their leadership and ranks Assessments of the changed mood of fighting resumed. Police used their nightsticks to beat back people of color, trans people, street the LGBTQ population on Christopher That was the night the Village Voice cov- the crowd. Eyewitness Ronnie De Brienza youths—​had waged pitched battles with Street were voiced from two antithetical erage of the early events in the Stonewall described seeing a friend pummeled by the cops on Friday and Saturday during directions. rebellion hit newsstands. Some community police and dragged off to a patrol car the early nights of the Stonewall Uprising, Deputy Inspector Pine, who led the members were so enraged by the anti-gay under arrest. “This was it,” he said. “From a fault line of political difference opened initial raid on the Stonewall Inn, made a tone of the journalists that they debated nowhere the crowd swelled to an estimated visibly wide between those who had the remark insulting those who showed indi- torching the Voice’s offices that evening. thousand, and the battle was on.” least to lose and the most to gain from vidual courage, defiance and resistance in Carter states, “The second reason Those who were there that night fighting back, and those who favored not the face of police arrest and imprisonment, that rioting resumed in full force on describe the battle between police and rocking the boat. beatings and torture. Wednesday is because various radical Left protesters as ferocious. Once again, The tony crowd soaking up a little sun Nevertheless, his words documented groups came to protest.” eyewitnesses explain, it was the most in the Hamptons and Fire Island Pines a dramatic overall shift in mass mood in Participant Bob Kohler recalled: “There oppressed who led the struggle. Unarmed either ignored news of the rebellion or, as the LGBTQ population: “For those of us in were more people rioting that could not be protesters fought hard and bravely historian Martin Duberman noted, tended public morals [sic], things were completely easily categorized, and a lot of that had to against police—​who were well-protected to condemn it as “regrettable.” changed ... suddenly they were not submis- do with people that came over from other by equipment and armed to the teeth. The Mattachine Society had posted a sive any more.” areas. The straight movement moved in Dick Leitsch, Mattachine-New York sign on the Stonewall Inn reading, “We Gay male poet Allen Ginsberg visited the heavily that night as a support.” leader, observed that night that bod- homosexuals plead with our people to Stonewall Inn on Sunday night with Village ies of Stonewall combatants wounded please help maintain peaceful and quiet Voice reporter Lucian Truscott. His later The left wing of ‘gay liberation’ in battle lay on the streets and side- conduct on the streets of the Village.” observation to Truscott contains a word Reports of those of all sexualities who walks on Seventh Avenue South between Mattachine-New York, according to his- that inflicts wounds when used by an anti- came in support included members of the Christopher and West 10th streets. torian David Carter, “after talking to gay bigot. Yet speaking about his own com- Black Panther Party, Workers World Party, He concluded: “Young people, many of the mayor’s office and the police, joined munity with tender pride, he wrote about the Yippies, a group that called itself the them queens, were lying on the sidewalk, police efforts to stop the protests. ... the sea change he witnessed: “You know, Crazies, and other self-identified leftists. bleeding from the head, face, mouth, Mattachine officials came to the Stonewall the guys there were so beautiful—​they’ve In reality, these were parties and orga- and even the eyes. Others were nursing Inn and talked to people who showed up lost that wounded look that fags all had 10 nizations [that already had] member- bruised and often bleeding arms, legs, in an attempt to discourage them from years ago.” ships of diverse sexualities. And many of backs and necks.” protesting.” the LGBTQ people who fought the cops Within roughly an hour, the fight- This was a far cry from the early days Rage still smoldering at Stonewall also self-identified as leftists ing ended. But the battles fought by the of the first Mattachine in California at David Carter assembled the follow- and revolutionaries. most oppressed and most militant layers the height of the Cold War 1950s, when ing firsthand accounts of incidents on Struggle erupted around 10 p.m. A of the LGBTQ population paved a new communists and other revolution- Monday through Wednesday from partic- chanting crowd, estimated at 500 strong, road toward revolutionary struggle, with aries led grassroots organizing to con- ipants. Monday and Tuesday nights were met a motorcade of police with a shower the left wing of “gay liberation” at every front widespread police entrapment mostly quiet in the Village, as rain soaked of bottles. barricade. ☐

Revolutionaries in action Cleveland’s first Pride march

By Martha Grevatt Bryant’s hate campaign, built by Cleveland’s first Stonewall commemora- advancing the most backward stereotypes tion. The radical organizers used chants, It might not be obvious today, but the of LGBTQ2S+ people as child molesters, signs and banners to make a militant post-Stonewall movement for LGBTQ2S+ sparked mass protests from coast to coast statement, not only against Bryant and liberation began as a very radical and a boycott of Florida citrus products. homophobia but all oppression. A banner movement. Bars in the community stopped serving signed by Youth Against War & Fascism Even the names of early civil rights drinks mixed with orange juice. attacked Bryant for also being racist and organizations, such as Street Transvestite We formed the Cleveland Gay Pride sexist. (YAWF, WWP’s youth group, Action Revolutionaries and Gay Day Committee, with support from local had formed a Gay Caucus not long after Liberation Front—a​ nod to the National activists and the recently formed Ohio Stonewall.) Liberation Front of Vietnam—​bear this Gay Rights Coalition. The immediate There were no corporate sponsors or out. The movement began in the streets goal was to organize a militant response even bar floats—​just grassroots queers PHOTO: ALAN ROTH Youth Against War and Fascism banner at as multiply-oppressed gender outlaws to Bryant, but we also wanted Cleveland in a blue-collar industrial town. Pride rally in downtown Cleveland, June fought the cops for several days and to join the many cities that had been cel- That historic 1977 march did not, 1977. Martha Grevatt on microphone. nights in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. ebrating the Stonewall anniversary on an unfortunately, start an annual radical tra- In 1977 it was a few members of annual basis in June. dition in Cleveland right away. The move- Pride fair begun in 1989. Workers World Party who initiated At the time there were no LGBTQ2S+ ment in Ohio shifted its focus to the state But the militants won out, and there Cleveland’s first Gay Pride March—​yes, community centers anywhere (although capital, Columbus, where statewide Pride has been a Pride march in Cleveland ever a march, not a “parade.” Cleveland’s Gay Education and Awareness rallies pushed for protective legislation, since. This was an important year to be in Resources Foundation opened the first rather than a wider radical agenda. It’s important to remember the radical the streets. Anita Bryant, a former beauty center in the country later that year). The initiative to go back to marching in roots of Pride—not​ only on the coasts but pageant winner hired to promote Florida Going from bar to bar, disco to disco, we Cleveland—​while still holding statewide in regions of the U.S. where coming out orange juice, was the figurehead leader of attempted to get a march leaflet in every rallies in Columbus—​once again came was, and still can be, much harder. a crusade to overturn an anti-discrimina- patron’s hand. The response was friendly, from the left. Hats off to today’s LGBTQ2S+ youth, tion ordinance in Dade County, Fla. The but how the march would turn out was a In 1990 a lesbian Workers World Party especially queer, gender-nonconforming ultimate goal of her organization, Save Our big unknown. leader argued for a march in downtown and trans youth of color, who are reviv- Children (from Homosexuality), was to roll It was a victory when about 250 peo- Cleveland. Moderate community leaders ing the militant tradition of the Stonewall back LGBTQ2S+ rights across the country. ple came out to march, a huge turnout for wanted to only continue the merchant Rebellion! ☐ workers.org June 20, 2019 Page 7 Stonewall means fightback! The persecution of Caster Semenya

By LeiLani Dowell of invasive testing and regulating proce- pejorative name of the “Hottentot Venus,” dures. (deadspin.com, March 4) the main focus of the living exhibit was The ongoing persecution of South In a 2012 presentation at an interna- Baartman’s “abnormally” large buttocks. African runner Caster Semenya by the tional sports science, medicine and educa- The “Hottentot apron,” a name coined for PHOTO: VIA FACEBOOK International Association of Athletics tion conference in Glasgow, Dr. Stephane the elongated labia of Khoikhoi women, Caster Semenya Federations has shone a spotlight on the Bermon, the director of the IAAF’s Health had been sensationalized through travel ways sports, under the patriarchal struc- and Science Department, acknowledged journals and the texts of “naturalists.” fact, ignored in favor of a false narrative tures of capitalism and imperialism, are that, in contrast to synthetic testosterone, After Baartman’s death, the British of equality, as if every athlete from every used to police and define, in the most no studies have actually been done on the government gave her body to renowned country has access to the best nutrition, unscientific and racist way, rigid defini- ways athletic performance is affected by French naturalist George Cuvier, who training facilities and coaches. tions of gender. testosterone produced by the body. dissected it and displayed her labia at Dutee Chand, who recently became On May 1, the Court of Arbitration for Myers states that this admission a French Academy of Science meeting. India’s first openly gay athlete after going Sport (CAS) upheld a 2018 IAAF ruling that exposes the IAAF’s attack on Semenya, Baartman’s skeleton and a plaster cast public about her sexuality, successfully Semenya would have to medically reduce which is completely unscientific and ran- of her body were still on display at the challenged an IAAF ruling that would have her naturally high testosterone levels to dom, as “a racist, sexist policy intended to Muséum d'histoire naturelle d’Angers required her to lower her testosterone lev- compete internationally. The IAAF has police cultural ideas about what an ideal until the late 20th century, when her els in 2015. She stated: “This wasn’t just temporarily suspended the ruling after female body should look like and how it remains were returned to South Africa as about me, but about all women like me, Semenya filed an appeal on May 29. should perform.” a symbol of postcolonial nationalist pride. who come from difficult backgrounds. It Women athletes have been forced to The organization has narrowed its reg- These kinds of actions—​with a is mostly people from poor backgrounds undergo incredibly invasive and humil- ulations to affect only middle-distance throughline to the IAAF’s rulings and reg- who come into running—people​ who know iating “tests” to “prove” their gender runners—​in effect, a direct attack on ulations—set​ up a rigid definition of fem- they will get food, housing, a job, if they run for more than 50 years. In 1966, every Semenya, who continues to proudly defy ininity that ignores the vast diversity of well.” (New York Times, June 27, 2016) woman athlete competing in an interna- these obstacles. The CAS May 1 ruling bodies, identities and expressions found However, sports also have the poten- tional game had to participate in a man- against Semenya audaciously declared in nature, and explicitly targets the bod- tial to be a unifying, liberating force. datory inspection of their genitals. that “discrimination is a necessary, rea- ies of Black women as the prime exam- Powerlifter Mary Gregory says, “In lift- Over time, the IAAF has required sonable and proportionate means of ple of deviancy. It includes the scrutiny ing, you see people of all different shapes only women who have been “flagged” to achieving the IAAF’s aim of preserving and ridicule of tennis sensation Serena and sizes under the bar, and it doesn’t undergo these procedures, which have the integrity of female athletics.” Williams’ body, as well as her outspoken- matter what you look like or how big you ranged from visual inspection of breasts Athletics South Africa, the national ness in response to the racism and sexism are, how small you are, how pretty you and genitals to chromosome tests and governing body for sport in South Africa, she faces on the court. are. It’s just about what you can do and ultrasounds. Once deviations from some responded: “South Africa knows dis- And yet, in sports some advantages are what you might be capable of. That’s such elusive “norm” are determined, the com- crimination better, and CAS has seen fit celebrated—as​ long as they belong to the an empowering thing, and it really gave mission insists that athletes lower their to open the wounds of apartheid, a sys- right bodies. Washington Post colum- me the strength to handle everything.” testosterone levels through either surgical tem of discrimination condemned by the nist Monica Hesse asks why acclaimed (Washington Post, May 19) processes or hormone replacement ther- whole world as a crime against human- Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps’ docu- Gregory, a transgender woman, was apy if they want to continue competing. ity.” (athletics.org.za, May 1) mented genetic benefits—​including dou- stripped May 1 of the awards she won ble-jointed ankles and the production of at a 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation Racist policing of sex and gender Centuries of attacks on Black women less lactic acid (which causes fatigue) than competition in Richmond after officials Sports writer Dvora Myers points out The particular focus on Semenya has a the average athlete—​are not subject to claimed she should have competed in the that while these kinds of “normalizing” centuries-old tradition in depiction and the same kinds of critique as Semenya’s men’s division. medical practices have routinely been scrutiny of Black women’s bodies as unnat- testosterone levels. (May 2) Like Semenya, she has vowed to con- practiced on the nonconsenting bodies of ural and not womanly. In the early 1800s, tinue fighting to compete in the sport she babies and children in the U.S., they have Sarah Baartman, a Khoikhoi woman from Unregulated advantages loves. Semenya recently told the press: not been standard practice in areas of the the Cape of Good Hope area in mod- of race, class, nation “I always run every day. For me it is my Global South. As a result, more athletes ern-day South Africa, was displayed in Meanwhile, the advantages of race, daily bread. I really don’t have time for from these areas are subject to these kinds England as a circus attraction. Under the class and nation are unregulated and, in nonsense.” (theguardian.com, June 11) ☐

New York City Portland, Ore. Trans and nonbinary Outrage over community pours out for Pride death of transgender woman

WW PHOTO: HENRY LUNA Layleen Polanco. Justice for Layleen Polanco protest, June 10.

Members of Workers World Party released any details, they blamed the cause and New York City People’s Power of her death on anti-trans violence in the Assemblies joined several hundred peo- so-called “criminal justice” system itself. ple in Manhattan’s Foley Square June 10 Layleen Polanco Xtravaganza had been to demand justice for Layleen Polanco in Rikers Island for two months because PHOTO: KENDALL KENDALL Xtravaganza, an Afro-Latinx transgender she could not afford $500 cash bail. Even In response to the takeover of Portland and nonbinary youth, abortion rights—​ woman who died June 7 while incarcerated though she was placed in a special unit for Pride by corporations and the cops, over specifically, reproductive justice and at the notoriously abusive Rikers Island trans people to prevent anti-trans violence, a thousand trans people and allies ral- rights for Black women—and​ the end of prison. Layleen Polanco Xtravaganza these measures did not prevent her death. lied and marched June 15 to demand an racism, capitalism, ableism and patriar- was an iconic member of the House of Rikers Island needs to be dismantled, end to the murder of Black and of color chy. Greater Portland Trans Pride Unity, Xtravaganza, a well-known “house” in along with the entire mass incarceration trans women and nonbinary people. In a coalition of 25 community organiza- the NYC ballroom scene, and her death system in the U.S. After the rally, her sup- the past 30 days at least five have been tions, organized the event. sparked outrage in the community. porters took to the streets and marched killed in the U.S. and eight so far in 2019. While supporters at the rally called through downtown Manhattan. Other demands included housing, — Report by Johnnie Lewis for a fully transparent investigation emergency shelter, health care for trans into the cause of her death, of which the — Report by John Steffin NYC Department of Corrections had not Page 8 June 20, 2019 workers.org Ongoing repercussions from the Central Park Five case

By Workers World New York City bureau since it premiered on May 31. In Britain, it’s the online channel’s second-most- The four-part Netflix series “When They watched show. See Us,” directed by African-American While the falsely accused Five received director Ava DuVernay, has set off an ava- a $41 million settlement, which can never lanche of long overdue repercussions for give back their youth, the city of New the high-profile prosecutors who in 1989 York has never apologized or acknowl- framed up five African-American and edged wrongdoing. Latinx youth in New York City. Known For her part, Fairstein is doubling as the Central Park Five, the teenagers down, using the Wall Street Journal to were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced attack DuVernay’s film. She claims it’s as guilty for the sexual assault of a white “so full of distortions and falsehoods as to woman, Trisha Meili, referred to in the be an outright fabrication.” (Washington press as the “Central Park jogger.” Post, June 11) The case garnered both national and Because the testimony by the Five international attention due to the extreme The Central Park Five, from left to right, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Raymond was coerced, it was so inconsistent it racist demonization of these youth, now Santana Jr., Korey Wise and Yusef Salaam, attend the premiere of "When They See Us" at was branded inadmissible by Manhattan in their 40s, by the New York Police the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., on May 20. District Attorney Cyrus Vance when the Department, the courts and the main- convictions were vacated in 2002. Yet stream media. Donald Trump, a publici- the case, has resigned from her job as a dramatization of the NYPD’s racist coer- Fairstein not only relies on that coerced ty-seeking New York real estate developer, lecturer at Columbia Law School. That cion tactics to accomplish what many testimony; she resurrects the old pros- actually called for the death penalty for action was called for by the school’s Black voices had been urging for years. After ecution theory that there was another these youth, and to this day has refused to Students Organization, whose online Sarah Burns’ excellent documentary, “The assailant, not Reyes—whom​ none of the publicly apologize to the Five. petition received over 11,000 signatures Central Park Five,” came out in 2012, the framed-up youth ever mentioned in the The Five spent seven to 13 years of as of this writing. Columbia Black Law Students Association “testimony” she relies on! their life in prison until they were exoner- That petition also calls for Columbia to circulated a petition calling for Lederer’s Amazingly, Fairstein claims she sup- ated in 2002, when Matias Reyes, already revoke Fairstein’s Award of Excellence, removal. ported vacating the charges in 2002, but in prison, confessed to the rape, and his made by the university’s School of However, in a June 11 letter, the associ- resurrects the old racist NYPD argument DNA matched evidence from the victim. Medicine. ation stated that in 2013: “Instead of tak- that even if they didn’t commit the crime The DuVernay series details how the On Twitter there is a popular hashtag ing decisive action to address the issue, that Reyes did, they were still up to no good. New York police coerced false confessions called #cancelLindaFairstein. Columbia Law School simply removed the At this point, the strongest role being from the youths with physical and psy- Central Park jogger case from Lederer’s played by any apologist for the convic- chological torture, and then railroaded ‘When They See Us’ shines online bio.” tion of the Five is to cover up for the cur- Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef light on repression The confession by Reyes in 2002 should rent crimes of the NYPD and all police. Salam, Raymond Santana, and Corey Other demands prompted by have been a career-ending moment for Fairstein and others join the ranks of Wise to jail for the attack. The series also DuVernay’s series include reopening all legions of New York power players—​not NYPD lawyer Stuart London, who on dramatizes the emotional toll of the racist cases handled by Lederer and Fairstein only prosecutors, but also cops and media June 13 claimed Eric Garner died not media frenzy and frame-up. between 1976 and 2002. Called for by New forces—​whose racist tag-team recalled from Daniel Pantaleo’s chokehold, which In the aftermath of the series exposé, York legal defense groups and the city’s the railroading of the Scottsboro 9 during the whole world witnessed, but because Linda Fairstein, who in 1989 was head Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, these the 1930s and the lynching of 14-year-old of his plus size. of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit in forces also call for the Manhattan DA to fire Emmett Till in 1955. Both the gangster-style gunning down the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Lederer, who still serves as an assistant DA But no. After that, Fairstein went on to of Brandon Webber in Memphis, Tenn., on has lost the publisher of her crime nov- and is called “an attorney in good standing” a lucrative career writing New York Times June 12 and the violent racist police assault els, Dutton, as well as her agent, ICM by Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance. bestseller crime novels. on May 27 of a young Black family after Publishing. Raymond Santana, one of the five, has The difference this time around is that their 4-year-old left a Family Dollar store She has also resigned from the boards also called for the release of unredacted DuVernay’s series has struck a chord with in Phoenix with a 99-cent doll—​are the of Vassar College and Safe Horizon, a vic- depositions, which would show the extent the masses. It has been seen worldwide by kinds of events that NYPD spokespeople tims’ resource group. of the police lying and coercion. millions of people. “When They See Us” are defending. They strengthen the chord Elizabeth Lederer, lead prosecutor in It took DuVernay’s powerful is Netflix’s most-viewed show every day that DuVernay's series has struck. ☐ FRANCE Come out for Pride at 50! PRCF presents solidarity Come out for Workers World! June is Pride month. Rallies and marches worldwide are commemorat- message for Mumia Abu-Jamal ing the 50th anniversary of the historic Stonewall Rebellion! From the begin- June 17—The Pole of Communist ning, Workers World Party has a proud Renaissance in France (PRCF) pre- history of reporting on and participating sented the following message last in the living struggle for LGBTQ2S jus- week in solidarity with U.S. political tice and equality. Foremost these days is prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal to the U.S. fighting transgender oppression, to stop ambassador in Paris. Translation by right-wing legislative attacks on both John Catalinotto. trans and gender-nonconforming youth Total solidarity with Mumia Abu- and adults and to stop brutal physical WW PHOTO: MONICA MOOREHEAD The banner of the Gay Caucus of YAWF Jamal and with all anti-imperialist and attacks and murders, which especially (Youth Against War & Fascism of Workers anti-racist activists in the United States target trans women of color. World Party) at New York City Pride march of America! Do you know that Workers World has in the early 1970s. Known as the "Voice of the voice- made major theoretical contributions to less" in Philadelphia, a tireless advocate the depths of their penitentiary. the LGBTQ2S struggle? One was publi- to end patriarchy and capitalist oppres- for the poor, workers and discriminated Unconditional freedom for Mumia, cation of “The Roots of Lesbian and Gay sion. So if you want to both fight for the minorities, U.S. journalist Mumia Abu- shame on the U.S. rulers who dare to use Oppression: A Marxist View” (World liberation of LGBTQ2S people and strug- Jamal has been imprisoned for decades "human rights" to interfere in the affairs View Forum, third ed., 1993), which gle against capitalist exploitation, help by Pennsylvania's racist "justice" system. of other countries (Venezuela, Cuba, drew on Frederick Engels and Dorothy build Workers World newspaper. Unable to have him executed, the Iraq, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria, Afghanistan, Ballan for a dialectical materialist expla- We invite you to join the WW authorities sentenced Mumia to die in Korean peninsula, etc.) while treating nation of LGBTQ2S oppression. Another Supporter Program, which was set up prison slowly without even providing him U.S. militants involved in the fight against was the body of work of Leslie Feinberg, 43 years ago to help us publish anti-rac- with the urgent medical care required by imperialism in an inhuman way. a proud WWP leader, who created the ist, anti-sexist, pro-LGBTQ2S, work- his state of health. By unanimous agreement at the first Marxist analysis of transgender ing-class truth and build campaigns The PRCF national conference held in national conference on June 2, 2019, history and struggle in such books needed to crush capitalism and usher Paris on June 1 and 2, 2019, unanimously signed by Pierre Pranchère, Chairman of as “Transgender Warriors: Making in socialism. Write checks to Workers reaffirmed its humanitarian and political the International Commission; Aymeric History,” “Transgender Liberation: World and mail them, with your name solidarity with Mumia and expressed Monville, Secretary; Daniel Antonini, Beyond Pink and Blue” and “Rainbow and address, to 147 W. 24th St., 2nd its admiration for the steadfast example Assistant Secretary; and joined by Solidarity in Defense of Cuba.” Floor, New York, NY 10011. Or click on of firmness, internationalist solidarity, Georges Gastaud, National Secretary That analysis drives Workers World’s Donate on workers.org. Know that we indomitable courage and unwavering love of the PRCF, and Fadi Kassem, Deputy view that the LGBTQ2S struggle is an are grateful for your help in building the of life that [Mumia] gives to everyone in National Secretary. ☐ integral component of the overall struggle revolutionary press in the U.S. ☐ workers.org June 20, 2019 Page 9 PORTLAND Activists demand ‘U.S. Hands off Venezuela!’

By Joshua Hanks and education to many working-class chickens and rabbits, is being pro- Portland, Ore. people, primarily Indigenous and Black moted to provide local, sustain- Venezuelans. Also, millions of units of able sources of protein. Activists and organizers with the public housing have been built. The Venezuelans reported that Hands Off Venezuela PDX coalition The working people of Venezuela reg- they have received technical sup- hosted an event June 15 at the Sunnyside ularly come out into the streets to defend port from experts from Cuba, Community Center in Portland's south- their country from right-wing, U.S.- Vietnam and North Korea—​all east neighborhood. Featured speak- backed sabotage and counterrevolution. countries with deep historical ers were Dan Shea, president of the Reactionary opposition demonstrations, experience in building functional Portland chapter of Veterans For Peace, which were planned to take place during agricultural systems while under and Sara Flounders, co-director of the peace delegation's visit, attracted rel- extreme imperialist attacks. the International Action Center and atively few protesters, while thousands The peace delegation met with Workers World Party representative. of Chavistas filled the streets and squares President Maduro, who extended The event was moderated by Christopher of Caracas to support the Bolivarian his gratitude to the anti-war, McLaughlin of Hands Off Venezuela PDX government. anti-imperialist movement in and Democratic Socialists of America. the U.S. for the work it has done Sanctions = a silent killer Shea and Flounders traveled in March opposing U.S. imperialism from WW PHOTO: JOSHUA HANKS to Venezuela as part of a peace delegation, Speakers discussed the impact of the within the "belly of the beast." The Hands Off Venezuela on June 15, left to right, Sara which included 2016 Green Party Vice U.S.-led sanctions. They highlighted the delegation attained somewhat Flounders, Dan Shea and Christopher McLaughlin. Presidential candidate Ajamu Baraka and fact that thousands of people have died celebrity status while it was in many others. These two reporters told of due to lack of life-saving medications. The Venezuela, with many residents intrigued And Guaidó certainly does not have the their experiences in the country which sanctions were described as a silent killer by the visit of a U.S. group which opposes support of the Venezuelan masses who has recently been rocked by a U.S.-backed which harms, even kills, civilians—​chil- U.S. imperialist aggression. largely back Maduro’s democratically coup attempt and sabotage of its electri- dren, women and men. This brutal impact elected government. cal grid after years of sanctions and impe- of the sanctions receives little, if any, cov- Q&A exposes Guaidó, supports Maduro After the public event, Shea and rialist interference. Shea and Flounders erage in the corporate media. A question-and-answer session fol- Flounders met with members of the told of the massive support in Venezuela Portrayed as a "humane" alternative to lowed Flounders and Shea’s description Hands Off Venezuela PDX coalition to for the pro-socialist government led by war by many in the imperialist ruling class, of their visit. In reply to a query about the discuss the next steps for the anti-war, President Nicolás Maduro. Their remarks sanctions are anything but that. Flounders nature of the opposition movement, Shea anti-imperialist group. While the latest were in stark contrast to the lies and dis- reported meeting Venezuelan government and Flounders explained that it was dis- anti-Maduro coup attempt appears to tortions in much of the U.S. media. agricultural experts who are developing a organized and beset with infighting. have failed—​with the opposition falling The Venezuelan constitution was cre- system of sustainable urban agriculture to Juan Guaidó, the U.S.-backed, self-pro- into disarray—it​ is still critically import- ated with the mass involvement of the address food insufficiency resulting from claimed coup leader who contends he ant for all anti-war, anti-imperialist forces people. The Bolivarian government has the sanctions. Rooftops, yards and empty is the legitimate interim president of to loudly and publicly keep the pressure made huge investments in social pro- lots are being converted into gardens, Venezuela, doesn't even have the support on U.S. warmakers and proponents of the grams, which have extended health care while small animal husbandry, primarily of all those in the opposition movement. deadly sanctions. ☐ War of words over Venezuela’s future

By Marco Teruggi in mind when he Chavismo with his words in order to cre- Caracas blessed Guaidó with ate false paths. These private and public a tweet? One similar machinations are aimed at locating points This article was published in pagina12. to what happened where Chavistas might split. com.ar on June 10. Translation by with the conflict that Michael Otto. [Washington] opened End the U.S. blockade! against Mexico on Maduro has referred to the National Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, has May 30 and was Assembly on several occasions. He has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and resolved last Friday repeatedly stated that Chavismo must Caribbean. All of them fit within a day and night [June 7]. That prepare for an early election campaign a night. They overlap. They create rhythms threat was based and has reaffirmed the constituents’ deci- and dramas, especially for motorcyclists on an asymmetry of sion to extend the National Constituent who flee the daily downpours. In only 10 power, the cornering Assembly’s operation until the end minutes the sky seems to have emptied. It's of the adversary and a forced negotiation This division within the opposition is of 2020. As for economic issues, the everyday life in a city where the country’s with Trump’s shots fired via Twitter. public. One sector maintains that force Venezuelan government demands that national politics are almost totally concen- Then Trump used the result with Mexico alone can lead to the fall of Maduro and the U.S. blockade must end, while John trated. What happens outside the capital is to display an international trophy for his does not recognize Chavismo as a political Bolton, U.S. national security advisor, news when it involves strategic territories domestic program, which is already tak- player. Another states that the outcome states that it will be intensified, particu- in the geography of war. ing the form of a presidential campaign. may include dialogue with Chavismo, larly in the oil sector. One of those territories borders Defeating Bolivarian Venezuela was also provided that the roadmap begins with Those are the last public statements Colombia. Venezuelan President Nicolás supposed to be a quick victory. the departure of the current president. of each side. It is not yet known if there Maduro announced the reopening [June But it didn't work for four reasons: Still another remains cautious in its state- will be another round of negotiations in 8] of the international crossing between Venezuela diversified its markets—​mainly ments in view of the present lack of clarity Oslo, Norway’s capital, the city where the the state of Táchira, Venezuela, and the with China and Russia—to​ seek a way out surrounding the situation. first steps have been taken [in meetings city of Cúcuta, Colombia. This story made of the economic blockade. The Bolivarian Elliott Abrams, U.S. special envoy for this spring]. In a statement in which he headline news on Feb. 22 and 23 when government was able to counter such sce- Venezuela, stated in an article in the expressed his support for a peaceful reso- the border bridges were transformed into narios due to their experiences in 2014 June 5 Miami Herald that the resolu- lution, President Vladimir Putin of Russia a Hollywood set for a hostile attempt to and 2017 [when faced with right-wing tion of the conflict should pass, in part, confirmed that his government is neither enter Venezuelan territory by force. The violence]. The coup plotters were unable through the departure of Nicolás Maduro creating a military base in Venezuela nor reopening took place within a zone that to crack the Bolivarian National Armed and the recognition of the National deploying troops. normally combines fuel smuggling and Forces. And the practice of holding regu- Assembly by Chavismo. In other words, Putin declared: "Let's elect a U.S. pres- Colombian paramilitarism with economic lar mobilizations in the streets was a way representatives will return to the National ident, a British prime minister, a French and media attacks on Venezuela. to support the internal balance of power Assembly chamber. president like that. What will it be?—​ Media attention to self-proclaimed within Chavismo, among other things. Three interpretations follow: First, where would that lead? I would like to ask “president” Juan Guaidó has accompa- Abrams' public message maintains that those who support this kind of thing—​ nied him into his decline. He spent barely Opposition forces divided President Maduro must leave, while at the Have you gone mad? Do you understand four months in an ascension catapulted This is compounded by what U.S. same time it recognizes Chavismo—mainly​ where this can lead?" (AFP, June 6) by [U.S. President] Donald Trump's sup- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recog- the United Socialist Party of Venezuela Putin was referring to what is at port for his current attempts to stick to nized: the divisions and personal ambi- (PSUV)—​as a political actor in Abrams’ stake with Guaidó's self-proclamation his plan to replace Maduro. Guaidó’s ten- tions within the Venezuelan right wing. scenario for the future. Second, that one as Venezuela’s president. Putin’s state- dency to lose strength is due to his own "Keeping the Venezuelan opposition of the core points of the current attempt at ments were made during the meeting inability to fulfill his promises. This arose united has been diabolically difficult for debate and dialogue concerns legislative attended by People’s Republic of China from his initial miscalculation, which led us," he said in a recent audio, adding authority, which include both the National President Xi Jinping at the St. Petersburg him to announce the imminent fall of that 40 opposition figures have presiden- Assembly and the National Constituent International Economic Forum, where President Maduro’s government. tial ambitions. (venezuelanalysis.com, Assembly—​and a possible electoral res- cooperation agreements were signed What kind of outcome did Trump have June 6) olution. Third, Abrams seeks to divide between Venezuela and Russia. ☐ Page 10 June 20, 2019 workers.org

editorial No war on Iran! The U.S. government is charging that Tehran for talks with the Iranian govern- seen “flying objects” before the attack that It cites the explosion of the battleship on June 13 Iran attacked two oil tankers ment, called for all countries to refrain could have been bullets. Maine in Havana harbor that the U.S. in the Strait of Hormuz -- the Norwegian- from taking actions that could escalate Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad used to whip up support for the 1898 owned MT Front Altair and the Japanese- tensions. He made the appeal right after Javad Zarif called the accusations part of war with Spain. (It was later proved the owned Kokuka Courageous. a telephone call with Donald Trump, a plot by hawkish politicians in the U.S. Maine blew up, not from a Spanish mine, The threat of yet another U.S. military who had immediately blamed Iran for and the region. but from a fire onboard.) Also named as aggression in an area already devastated the attacks and called Iran “a nation of Not even established bourgeois news “threats” invented by the U.S. were the by decades of war is very real. Everyone terror.” outlets are buying the Trump adminis- phony Gulf of Tonkin “attack” used to jus- opposed to such a horrific possibility Iran, of course, has no warships, planes tration’s story. tify escalating troops in Vietnam in 1964; must do all they can to stop it. or submarines terrorizing the whole The New Yorker magazine already has and the “intelligence” about Iraqi “weap- The U.S. charge is preposterous. world. The U.S. does. an article online about the many phony ons of mass destruction” manufactured to Governments of other imperialist coun- The U.S. administration is claiming it excuses the U.S. government has used facilitate the 2003 invasion of Iraq. tries allied in the past with the U.S. are has a video of Iranians removing a mine over the decades to justify its military The very real threats of more murder already voicing their skepticism. from one of the ships. But Yutaka Katada, aggression. That article starts out: “The and mayhem, issued right now by the U.S. Why on earth would Iran attack a president of the Japanese ship company, United States has a long history of pro- ruling class and its death machine, cry out Japanese oil tanker at the very moment called reports of a mine attack “false” voking, instigating or launching wars for militant opposition. when the prime minister of Japan was because damage to the ship was above based on dubious, flimsy or manufac- No war on Iran! Stop this war before visiting Iran? Shinzo Abe, who was in the water line and sailors on board had tured threats.” it starts! ☐ Iran stays firm as U.S. threatens attack Continued from page 1 the prospects of that ebbed, as other oppressed and exploited by European colo- Bloody repression under the hated Western imperialist countries refrained nial powers. They had achieved a measure Shah eventually led to a mass uprising the German, French and British govern- from endorsing Washington’s claims, the of sovereignty after a wave of liberation in 1979 that overthrew this oil-company ments said in a joint statement that the price of oil sank again the next day. struggles brought about decolonization. puppet. A struggle among various class U.S. decision to re-impose sanctions on Nothing makes the profiteers salivate And precisely because they are oil pro- forces in that uprising resulted in today’s Iran was “deeply regretful.” It was an more than a juicy military intervention. ducers, they had the wherewithal to suc- Islamic government. early sign that the U.S. ruling class could For now, that hasn’t happened, and the cessfully build up their national economies. While conservative in some areas, this no longer just snap its fingers and round markets as of June 15 reflected that. But However, because of imperialist inter- government renationalized the oil and has up its imperialist allies—​which are also there are no guarantees that the reckless ventions in the Middle East, led by the U.S. used much of the proceeds to raise the stan- rivals—​to rubber stamp its every act of cabal in Washington will back off from its but also participated in by the European dard of living of the Iranian people. At the aggression. threats against Iran. NATO powers, many of these countries are same time, the U.S. has tried to stunt Iran’s Nevertheless, the war danger remains. At $60 a barrel, U.S. companies that today in tatters, their economies destroyed development by imposing economic, trade, The Pentagon is moving more troops to produce oil through the expensive—​and by war and their people traumatized to scientific and military sanctions on Iran, off the area, and the Trump administration is environmentally horrendous—​extraction such a degree that they have no future and and on, ever since the 1979 revolution. ratcheting up its threats against Iran. method of fracking can’t compete with oil are fleeing by the millions. As one important measure of its prog- It is the duty of anti-war forces in this pumped from wells. These companies want This is the cause of the im/migration ress, today women make up the major- country to view this seriously and take to higher prices, and they want them now. crisis facing much of Europe today, and ity of college students in Iran and can be the streets to resist this blatant aggression. But the sinking commodity prices are that is a factor in the reluctance of these found in skilled jobs at every level. a sign of capitalist overproduction on a imperialist countries to be dragged into Compare that to conditions in Saudi Where is Congress? global scale, and overproduction intensi- yet another war. Arabia, which is ruled by the billionaire Where is the U.S. Congress in all this? fies the fierce inter-capitalist competition Saud family and has the most draconian This is the season when all eyes are sup- for markets. A decline in the price of oil Iran’s tortured past anti-women laws on the planet. posedly focused on next year’s elections can also reflect pessimism about future The latest threats against Iran are noth- The Saud monarchs get a royal wel- for both the presidency and the Congress, economic activity. ing new. U.S. imperialist governments, come in Washington, while one of Donald as though that will determine what hap- both Republican and Democrat, have Trump’s first trips abroad after becoming pens in the future. Environment takes a back seat to profits had the country in their crosshairs since president was to visit King Salman at the The U.S. Constitution is absolutely Even in this day and age, when the burn- 1951, when a movement for national sov- luxurious Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh. clear: Only Congress can declare war. ing of fossil fuels has been proven beyond ereignty led by Mohammad Mossadegh Saudi Arabia, where dissidents are hacked But the last time that happened was in a doubt to be warming the planet and nationalized what had been the Anglo- to death and immigrants do all the dirty 1942, in the middle of World War II, when causing more and more deadly extremes Persian Oil Co. work while being treated like slaves, is in the U.S. declared war on Nazi-occupied of weather, the struggle over oil profits Two years later, a CIA coup led by Kermit tight with the “leader of the free world.” Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. In the 77 continues to be a major driver of capitalist Roosevelt Jr. overthrew the nationalist All the more reason for anti-war forces years since then, U.S. presidents have sent competition and national antagonisms. government and installed the Shah, who here to mobilize and state clearly to the young people to kill, die or be permanently It is shocking to think that another war allowed U.S. and British companies to take world: Money for jobs, education and maimed in dozens of undeclared wars. could be started in order to control the over the oil again. Roosevelt himself soon health care, not war! End the sanctions All those who hold up the U.S. political profits from a resource that is hazard- became an executive of Gulf Oil. on Iran! No blood for oil profits! ☐ system as a model of “democracy” should ous to the future of the whole world. But be held to account for this usurpation of should anyone expect the capitalist rul- power by the executive. ers to be sensitive and caring about long- Of all the branches of government in this term global warming, when their system Revolutionary queer and trans people country, the U.S. House of Representatives is driven by the dog-eat-dog daily strug- is presumably the most democratic. But in gle for profit and they are willing to cre- protest anti-Black national anthem fact both houses of Congress have long been ate enormous human and environmental a rubber stamp for military aggressions catastrophes with their wars? Continued from page 2 people—​an act of violence that endan- demanded by the rapacious billionaire gers people who face disproportionately class, which has ground up the bodies of U.S. targets oil-producing nations a vendor because the organization was high rates of police brutality. so many, here and abroad, in its insatiable It is no coincidence that the vast major- not selling anything (as is always the And the Pensacola cops were called at a drive for super-profits. ity of countries subjected to U.S. military case). Also Strive did not pay the vendor Pride event that marked the 50th anniver- attacks over the past several decades have fee because the $75 fee is an outrageous sary of the Stonewall Uprising, which was War and economic crisis been oil-producing nations. amount of money to pay at a Pride event led by queer, gender nonconforming, trans This threat of war is playing out at a Just think about what the Pentagon and in order to be visible. people of color fighting police brutality! time when most governments are bracing CIA have been doing: 1991, bombing attack In response to Strive giving away free This “rainbow capitalism” is a political themselves for a major downturn in the and partial invasion of Iraq; 1998, cruise materials to people, Gay Grassroots again plague in our LGBTQ2S+ movement that global capitalist economy. This decline missile strikes on Sudan; 2003, invasion called the cops—​the second time cops must be contained, fought and eradicated. has already started in important areas of and occupation of Iraq; 2011, bombing were summoned against Strive in the Groups like Strive are working to do just production and in the deepening trade of Libya and the murder of Muammar same day at this so-called Pride event. that. There are already talks about an alter- wars, but has yet to be reflected in the Gaddafi; 2012, beginning of war against Despite not selling anything, Strive native Pride next year in northwest Florida: major stock markets. Syria; 2014, airstrikes on Iraq and Syria. agreed to take its table down and con- no cops, no corporate sponsors, no capital- Tellingly, the futures price of Brent Not to speak of the ongoing U.S. efforts tinued a successful distribution on foot, ist politicians, no big money, taken from crude oil, which had hit a five-month low to bring down the Venezuelan govern- receiving much support. the people and never accounted for again! of less than $60 a barrel the day before ment with sanctions and coup attempts. But one cannot overlook the alarming Such a Pride would follow Strive’s prin- the attacks, had a brief but sharp rise on All of them are oil-producing countries. reality that a “progressive” LGBT orga- ciple: All money from the community June 13, when it looked like a U.S. war on But not only that. nization called the cops on a group of must be put back into the community. ☐ oil-producing Iran was imminent. When They are all countries that had been transgender and gender nonconforming workers.org June 20, 2019 Page 11 Haitians in the streets Portland march defends stage general strike Philippine sovereignty By G. Dunkel

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. An audit, ordered by a Haitian court and released the end of May, found that between $2 billion and $4 billion in funds generated by Venezuela's PetroCaribe oil-purchasing program were lost due to corruption during the two years Jovenel Moïse of the Bald-Headed Haitian Party (PHTK) has been president. But it wasn't just corruption that drew hun- dreds of thousands of Haitians into the streets throughout the country on June 9. Inflation has chewed up big chunks of income of the 60 percent PHOTO: ALTERPRESSE of Haitians living below the poverty line ($2.40 a In Port-au-Prince, June 9, Haitians on general strike day). According to the World Bank, inflation is cur- demand to know: “Where is the PetroCaribe money?” rently 15 percent. Jerry Tardieu, who represents the relatively movie theater were some of the targets singled out well-off community of Pétionville in the National by protesters. Assembly, made the point in a June 12 AlterPresse Then on June 10 and 11, Port-au-Prince was interview that when Moïse became president, 66 almost completely paralyzed by a general strike that gourdes (Haitian currency) could buy one dollar; shut down public transportation and most busi- PHOTO: FULL REVOLUTION MEDIA now it takes 100. nesses, banks, schools, factories and government In Oregon June 15, BAYAN USA-Pacific Northwest and Malaya The nationwide demonstrations June 9, which offices. According to Yves Pierre-Louis, news direc- Movement Pacific Northwest held a high-spirited march and ban- took place in Cap Haïtien, St. Marc, Jacmel and tor of Radio Timoun, which is housed at the Aristide ner drop off Portland’s Hawthorne Bridge to raise awareness about Gonaïves, as well as Port-au-Prince, the capital, Foundation for Democracy, “[F]or these first two the U.S.-backed war that President Rodrigo Duterte is waging on had a single demand: President Moïse resign and days, we can say the strike succeeded close to 100 workers and peasants in the Philippines. go to jail along with his cronies from the PHTK. percent.” The next day the Portland Committee for Human Rights in the In Port-au-Prince, according to the June 12 The general strike involved street barricades Philippines held a “From Portland to the Philippines” potluck. Haïti-Liberté, “[O]pposition figures and radios made from burning tires, rocks and billboards. The event was a fundraiser to send local organizers to the reported at least seven killed and over 100 wounded Since this is the time of year that Haitian schools Philippines to work with peasants and workers oppressed by U.S. by gunfire from police and government-aligned conduct exams, teachers and students who went on military aid sent to the islands. PCHRP’s Facebook page reads: gangs.” The march began peacefully, but when it strike were risking a semester or, in some cases, a “Over 30,000 peasants, farmers, youth, human rights and land reached the area around the Champ de Mars and year's worth of school work. defenders have been murdered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s the National Palace, the cops attacked. It is clear that certain significant bourgeois fig- U.S.-funded War on Drugs. Communities are harassed and sur- On June 10, Radio France International reported ures are now in opposition to Moïse and his cro- veilled by local military and police to aid multinational corpora- that the cops used live rounds, while two buildings nies, who most certainly have been rejected by the tions in their theft of natural resources to be exported overseas. were set on fire. YouTube video clips show the masses of the Haitian people. Given that the United While forests are logged, some of the most biodiverse ecosystems demonstration breaking into smaller groups that States was so involved in selecting Haiti's presi- in the world are destroyed.” (Facebookportlandchrp) scattered over the area around the National Palace. dent, its conduct in the current struggle is going to The French embassy, a supermarket and a big play an important role in the outcome. ☐ — Report by Lyn Neeley #LulaLivre Free Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva The following is a statement released examining magistrate Sergio Moro, who subpoena [to the source], even based on June 11 by The International Committee was awarded the post of Minister of apocryphal news," says Dallagnol. for Peace, Justice and Dignity, a net- Justice by the current far-right President The montage to criminalize the PT, work of concerned individuals from sev- Jair Bolsonaro. Dilma and Lula was brewed for more than eral countries in Europe, Latin America We have always claimed that Lula two years, from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, and North America dedicated to help was innocent, that Lula was the object prosecutors coordinated how to prevent defend the sovereignty of developing of a political witch hunt, as are other an interview with Lula requested by the nations. Formerly the International Latin American leaders such as Cristina Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper and autho- Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Fernández of Argentina, Jorge Glass and rized by Brazil's Federal Supreme Court 5, the ICPJD’s main objective is now to Rafael Correa of Ecuador. prior to the elections. They [needed] to raise awareness among the people of the This past Sunday, June 9, the Brazilian prevent Lula from publicly asking the of the Democratic Party ended [U.S. United States about the effects of the U.S. correspondent for the digital magazine people to vote for Fernando Haddad. In President] Nixon's government. blockade against the Cuban people, and The Intercept brought to light the truth one of the leaked messages a prosecutor Moro and Dallagnol acted in a calcu- to defend developing nations. by publishing a series of telegram mes- says: "The decision (of the Supreme Court lated, coordinated manner, mocking the sages that highlight the gross violations to authorize the interview) has no date, Constitution of Brazil and the principle Since 2016 we have been denouncing of the Brazilian Constitution and the so we can schedule it after the election." of impartiality, to imprison Lula and pre- the judicial, media and parliamentary irregularities committed by Sergio Moro Lula was silenced to favor the elec- vent the triumph of the PT. coup against Dilma Rousseff, who was and Prosecutor Dallagnol to plot the con- tion of Bolsonaro who presented him- The flawed trial against Lula must be stripped from power, with the aim of demnation of Lula and ultimately gave self to the electorate as the champion of annulled. destroying the Workers' Party of Brazil Bolsonaro power. anti-corruption. The International Committee for (PT) and its historic leader Luiz Inacio Concerning the ownership of Guarujá's The messages that [have] come to light Peace, Justice and Dignity demands once "Lula" da Silva in order to prevent him famous apartment, for which Lula was reveal the sinister plot against Lula and again the immediate freedom of Lula, the from returning to the presidency. accused and convicted of owning but hatred of the PT. Glenn Greenwald, an public recognition of his innocence and Removing Dilma from power, replac- never did, prosecutor Dallagnol himself investigative reporter for The Intercept, the decriminalization of the PT. ing her with the usurper Michel Temer, expressed doubts about how to build the … [a] prestigious journalist awarded the Sergio Moro, Dallagnol and all those launching a fierce persecution against case to indict the PT leader. Judge Moro, Pulitzer for revealing Edward Snowden's who mocked the principle of justice to Lula, imprisoning him without evidence, who always boasted of supposed impar- revelations about the secret PRISM sur- strip Dilma of power, condemn Lula and violating constitutional guarantees of the tiality, was in fact the one who suggested, veillance program, assures that "the file hand Brazil over to the hands of the fas- right to due process, and preventing him advised and indicated how to invent and provided by our source is one of the larg- cist Bolsonaro are the ones who must be [from being] a candidate in the elections carry out the crude assembly of corrup- est in the history of journalism." It con- tried and condemned. was the script used to prevent him from tion to incriminate Lula. tains explosive secrets in chats, audios We hope our solidarity will reach the redirecting the destiny of Latin America's Moro always denied it was all politi- and documents about Dallagnol, Moro people and workers of Brazil who will largest country. cally motivated against Lula, but what and many powerful factions. Our report- paralyze the country, demanding respect The judicial plot concocted in the Lava The Intercept revealed proves otherwise. ing is just beginning.” for their rights and gains achieved, and Jato operation, initially promoted by the Moro consulted Dallagnol and guided This developing Morogate could be the freedom of Lula, in the general strike PT itself, was directed by the prosecutor him in the investigations; in one of the transformed into a Brazilgate [to end they will carry out on June 14. of the Federal Public Ministry, Deltan chats he suggests contacting a source Bolsonaro’s presidency]; it reminds us of A lot of strength to the workers, Dallagnol, who formed the "anti-cor- against Lula. Dallagnol later explains the infamous Watergate case and how the peasants and students of Brazil. Much ruption" prosecutors' task force, the that he called the source, but the source revelations of two journalists about the strength and hope to Lula who will soon case of which fell intentionally to former wouldn't talk. "I'm thinking of making a illegal wiretapping at the headquarters be free. #LulaLivre. ☐ Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 61 Núm. 25 20 de junio 2019 $1

FOTO: GRANMA El Primero de Mayo de 2019, La Habana, Cuba. La guerra de clases contra los niños migrantes

controlar y beneficiarse de la mano de detención de niños obra transnacional. inmigrantes", The La mano de la clase dominante esta- Daily Beast, 14 de editorial dounidense en la creación de una crisis junio de 2018) de inmigración/migración fue claramente Mientras que el A medida que los años de la guerra de evidente en la reciente huelga general en complejo prisión- Estados Unidos contra inmigrantes se Honduras. Un movimiento popular de militar-industrial extienden a décadas, se hace difícil ima- masas salió a las calles para protestar gana dinero por los ginar qué horror adicional podría infligir contra el actual gobierno de derecha, bru- niños, estos también este gobierno capitalista de suprema- talmente violento del país. Estos gober- estan siendo usados cía blanca a las personas que intentan nantes fueron colocados encubiertamente como peones, junto encontrar un pequeño espacio de seguri- por Washington en 2009 a través de un con otros migrantes, dad cruzando las fronteras de los Estados golpe militar contra Manuel Zelaya, el en un juego político Unidos. presidente electo y progresista. La gente de alto nivel jugado Sin embargo, esta última semana ha se ha ido de Honduras desde entonces por la administra- traído noticias de otra injusticia brutal- debido a las horribles condiciones que ción Trump. PHOTO: TELESUR mente cruel. resultaron de ese golpe. La administra- Niños menores no acompañados en un 'refugio'—o sea, El Departamento de Salud y Servicios La reciente directiva de HHS que se ción ha duplicado cárcel—en el sur de Texas. Humanos de los EE. UU., a instancias niega a proporcionar educación, recrea- el tiempo en que de la administración Trump, anunció ción y asistencia legal para niños ence- los niños están encarcelados, lo que hace Ahora se debe montar otra ola de pro- que ya no proporcionaría dinero para la rrados viola el acuerdo de Flores de 1997, cada vez más difícil para los padres y la testa contra este uso y abuso de niños educación, la recreación y la asistencia que establece estándares para el trata- familia liberarlos. Al mismo tiempo, culpa migrantes encarcelados en beneficio de legal para los niños migrantes deteni- miento de niños migrantes bajo la custo- a México por la "crisis en la frontera", que los carceleros corporativos. dos en “instalaciones gubernamentales”, dia del gobierno. ha sido creada por los EE. UU. El clamor debe vincular la liberación de es decir, en los campos de concentra- Pero esa burla de la legalidad no debe- La directiva de HHS contra los niños los niños migrantes con el sufrimiento de ción virtuales donde los migrantes están ría ser una sorpresa. encarcelados es tan clara como cualquier los niños dentro de los Estados Unidos, encerrados. Los jefes capitalistas, y los políticos declaración de guerra. Elimina cualquier cuyas necesidades se están sacrificando En este momento, más de 13.000 niños estadounidenses que gobiernan en su pretensión de proporcionar servicios de en el altar del gigantesco presupuesto de migrantes están "alojados", encarcela- interés, solo se preocupan por obtener "cuidado" para ellos. Es una declaración guerra de los Estados Unidos. dos, en más de 100 "refugios", cárceles, ganancias de los pueblos del mundo. Los de guerra de clases de los capitalistas La protesta debe vincular la libera- en todo Estados Unidos. Estos incluyen a servicios que se niegan a los niños encar- transnacionales de los Estados Unidos ción de todos los niños a la lucha contra los niños que cruzaron la frontera solos, celados sin duda se consideran "adornos contra los pueblos inmigrantes y migran- el encarcelamiento masivo racista y la así como a aquellos separados a la fuerza innecesarios", especialmente si recortan tes, que muestra una disposición abso- explotación del trabajo penitenciario en de padres y familiares por el gobierno de el margen de ganancias de las empre- luta a continuar con el ataque genocida los Estados Unidos, donde se sacrifica la los Estados Unidos. sas contratadas para proporcionar estos de encarcelar y matar a niños. vida de tantas personas con fines de lucro. Estos son niños que huyen de condicio- "refugios". Cuando el año pasado se desenmascaró La organización debe luchar por la libe- nes intolerables en sus países de origen, Muchas de estas compañías son firmas la política de "separación familiar" de los ración de todos los niños como parte de principalmente en América Central. Allí, relacionadas con el ejército como MVM, Estados Unidos, alejando a los niños de la implacable oposición a las depredacio- la pobreza, la violencia y la agitación han que proporcionó guardias a la CIA en sus padres y seres queridos en la frontera, nes imperialistas de los Estados Unidos sido fomentadas directa e indirectamente Irak, y General Dynamics. ("Contratistas una protesta y protesta masiva detuvo esa en todo el mundo, ya que sus países y sus por los Estados Unidos en su intento de de la Defensa están cobrando por la crueldad, al menos en su peor forma. vidas se destruyen con fines de lucro. ☐ ¡No hay guerra contra Irán!

¿Por qué demonios atacaría Irán a un mina eran "falsos" porque el daño a la Cita la explosión del acorazado Maine petrolero japonés en el preciso momento nave estaba por encima de la línea de en el puerto de La Habana que usó en que el primer ministro de Japón visi- flotación y los marineros a bordo habían Estados Unidos para generar el apoyo a editorial taba Irán? Shinzo Abe, quien se encon- visto "objetos voladores" antes del ataque la guerra de 1898 con España. (Más tarde traba en Teherán para conversar con el que podría haber sido una bala. se demostró que el Maine explotó, no de El gobierno de EE.UU. está acusando gobierno iraní, pidió a todos los países El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores una mina española, sino de un incendio a de que el 13 de junio, Irán atacó a dos que se abstengan de tomar medidas que iraní, Mohammad Javad Zarif, calificó bordo). También nombradas como "ame- barcos petroleros en el Estrecho de podrían aumentar las tensiones. Hizo la las acusaciones como parte de un complot nazas" inventadas por los EE.UU. fueron Ormuz,— el Frente de Alta Altair de pro- apelación justo después de una llamada de políticos depredadores en los Estados el "ataque" falso del Golfo de Tonkin uti- piedad noruega y el Kokuka Valeroso, de telefónica con Donald Trump, quien Unidos y la región. lizado para justificar el envío de tropas a propiedad japonesa. inmediatamente culpó a Irán por los Ni siquiera los medios de comunicación Vietnam en 1964; y la "inteligencia" sobre La amenaza de una nueva agresión ataques y llamó a Irán "una nación de burgueses establecidos están creyendo el las "armas de destrucción masiva" ira- militar de los Estados Unidos en un área terror". cuento de la administración de Trump. quíes fabricada para facilitar la invasión ya devastada por décadas de guerra es Irán, por supuesto, no tiene buques de La revista New Yorker ya tiene un artí- de Irak en 2003. muy real. Todos los que se oponen a una guerra, aviones o submarinos que aterro- culo en línea sobre las muchas excusas fal- Las amenazas muy reales de más ase- posibilidad tan horrible deben hacer todo ricen al mundo entero. Estados Unidos sí. sas que el gobierno de los Estados Unidos sinatos y caos, emitidas ahora mismo por lo posible para detenerlo. La administración de los Estados ha usado durante décadas para justificar la clase dominante de los Estados Unidos La acusación de los Estados Unidos es Unidos afirma que tiene un video de los su agresión militar. El artículo comienza: y su máquina de muerte, claman por una absurda. Los gobiernos de otros países iraníes retirando una mina de uno de "Estados Unidos tiene una larga histo- oposición militante. imperialistas aliados en el pasado con los los barcos. Pero Yutaka Katada, presi- ria de provocación, instigación o lanza- ¡No guerra contra Irán! ¡Pongamos Estados Unidos ya están expresando su dente de la compañía naviera japonesa, miento de guerras basadas en amenazas un alto a esta guerra antes de que escepticismo. dijo que los informes de un ataque a una dudosas, endebles o fabricadas". comience! ☐