Magazine of the Socialist Party USA oThecialist SVolume 33, Number 2 Spring 2007 $1.00

MAY DAY

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339 Lafayette Street, #303 New York, NY 10012 SVolume 33,ocialist Number 2 Spring 2007 Editor Matthew Andrews Contents Editorial Board of The Socialist 3 May Day Greetings 2007 Jason Becker Editorial Jessica Dreistadt 4 “We Are All Immigrants” – May Day 2007 Mary-Alice Herbert James Marra Bill Shakalis Tina Phillips Steve Rossignol 6 One Young Radical Unionist’s Journey Contact the SPUSA Balancing life, politics and the class struggle Greg Pason Matthew Andrews National Secretary Socialist Party USA 339 Lafayette St. Room 303 8 Mass Protest in Denmark to Defend our Victories and our History: New York, NY 10012 An Interview with Peter Dollerup of the Socialist Youth Front Phone: (212) 982-4586 [email protected] www.sp-usa.org 10 Eyewitness to Chiapas: The Socialist is published by the An Account of Indigenous Resistance to State Terror in Mexico Socialist Party USA. Unless oth- erwise noted, views expressed in Peter Weir this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily of 14 True Mission: Socialists and the Labor Party Question in the U.S., the Socialist Party. The Socialist by Eric Chester may be reprinted with permis- Reviewed by David Schaich sion for non-profit purposes.

15 Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, by James Green Printed by Saltus Press, a unionized printshop Reviewed by Mary-Alice Herbert Worcester, Massachusetts

Subscription Rates 15 Missing from Haymarket Square, by Harriette Gillem Robinet 1-year individual • $10 Reviewed by Mary-Alice Herbert 1-year institution • $25 Bulk Rate No. 1: 25 copies/issue • $45 Bulk Rate No. 2: 50 copies/issue • $80 The Socialist is always looking for interesting, insightful, well-written material. In particular, we are looking for work that highlights the struggles and triumphs of Layout: Ari Moore the working class. We will accept news articles and stories about organizing and protests, but we are also looking for short fiction, poetry, and music/arts/theater/ Cover Art: May Day 2006 Rally film review. Please mark all letters to the editor as such and limit letters to 250 in San Francisco, photographed by David Hanks. words; articles should not exceed 2,500 words. Submit as e-mail attachments in Microsoft Word .doc or .rtf format to [email protected], or by mail to: The Socialist, 339 Lafayette St. Room 303, New York, NY 10012.

 The Socialist Spring 2007 May Day Greetings 2007 THE SOCIALIST PARTY strives Editorial to establish a radical democracy that places people’s lives under their own control - a non-racist, classless, feminist socialist soci- ety...where working people own ay Day is a day to remember relationship with corporate execu- and control the means of pro- the struggles of working peo- tives, helping them to become more duction and distribution through pleM around the world for a truly just competitive in the world market by society. This day reminds us not to slashing wages and benefits, while democratically-controlled public take for granted the sacrifices made speeding the pace of production. agencies; where full employment by past generations to win the decent Working people need to create is realized for everyone who wages and working conditions that new organizations and new organi- wants to work; where workers are still enjoyed by many workers zational forms in the coming period. have the right to form unions in the advanced capitalist countries. Grass-roots militancy has to replace Yet around the world the spread of freely, and to strike and engage passive resignation and blind obedi- a globally integrated capitalist econ- in other forms of job actions; and ence. During the last year, we have omy is undermining the well-being where the production of society seen the spirit of resistance growing of working people. As a few become is used for the benefit of all hu- grotesquely wealthy, and powerful, as the dire impact of a globally inte- grated capitalist economy becomes manity, not for the private profit the many confront acute poverty of a few. We believe and and economic insecurity. painfully apparent. On May Day, democracy are one and indivis- As democratic socialists, we remain we celebrate this spirit of resistance, dedicated to building a broad move- as we reaffirm our commitment to a ible. The working class is in a key ment, at the ballot box, on the streets, new global society. and central position to fight back in our homes and neighborhoods, Global capitalism has restructured against the ruling capitalist class and in our workplaces - one that can the entire world. Class conflict has and its power. The working class create a new society based on coop- become harsher, and the illusion that is the major force worldwide that eration not greed, and equality not capitalism can be reformed from can lead the way to a socialist fu- misery. We continue to see signs that within has been shredded by the fur- people around the world have had ther concentration of power in the ture - to a real radical democracy enough, and that they are prepared hands of capital. A global economy from below. The Socialist Party to struggle for a new world built on provides the ruling class with enor- fights for progressive changes fundamentally different principles. mous leverage, but it also creates compatible with a socialist future. Unfortunately, as people mobilize the material basis for a genuinely We support militant working to confront the ruling powers, they international working class move- class struggles and electoral ac- find that many of the traditional ment. This May Day, we reaffirm tion, independent of the capital- working class institutions act to our commitment to the creation of ist controlled two-party system, defend the existing system. Most a democratic socialist society on a working people in the United States global basis. We support efforts to to present socialist alternatives. vote for Democrats, if they vote at organize a second general strike this We strive for democratic revo- all. Yet the Democratic Party has May Day, dubbed “El Gran Paro lutions - radical and fundamen- never represented the interests of Nacional 2007.” We also stand for tal changes in the structure and the working class. It continues to greater unity with our comrades quality of economic, political, and serve the interests of capital, provid- from around the world who reject personal relations - to abolish the ing pathetic excuses for its failure to capitalism, patriarchy, bigotry and power now exercised by the few address this dysfunctional system theocracy, and struggle for justice, who control great wealth and the that places so much hardship on our democracy, and the abolition of government. The Socialist Party lives. Mainstream business unions, every form of oppression. • whether affiliated with the AFL- is a democratic, multi-tendency CIO or Change to Win, no longer organization, with structure and defend the wages and working con- practices visible and accessible to ditions of their members. Instead, all members. Join us today. the leadership of these unions openly seeks to build a cooperative The Socialist Winter 2007  “We Are All Immigrants” – May Day 2007 By Bill Shakalis

t only took me a split second to There is a rich history of immigrant ignored and resisted by employers. The understand why I must support labor and working class struggle in the Knights of Labor, which had recently theI immigrant rights movement United States – but don’t bother to look experience a boom in membership, and their struggle for jobs, family, it up in a public education text book. called for nationwide demonstrations on security, and citizenship. My grand- New immigrants to America in the 19th May 1st, 1886. In Chicago, the indus- parents were Lithuanian peasant century made up the unskilled working trial center of the country at that time, émigrés prior, in the great Eastern class. Many entered into the workshops a peaceful rally was organized by the and Southern European migration of Chicago after the Civil War. The AFL and a local group of radicals called of labor that filled the jobs of basic working class took to the streets where the International Working Peoples industry at the turn of the twentieth they were confronted by the Chicago Association. Two days later, police fired century. Working in the sweat shops on striking workers at the McCormick of Kendall Square, Cambridge, the Once again, we reapers factory. stories of their working lives filled The following day, May 4, 1886, near our family lore. My grandfather had Haymarket Square, Chicago, thou- served in the Russian Czarist army, must struggle sands of workers gathered to hear labor then emigrated to the United States and anarchist organizers denounce the in 1908, after the 1905 revolution against nativism, shootings. By 10:30 pm, with about in Czarist Russia. When my father 200 workers remaining, and maybe 175 asked him, “Would you ever go police still present, the police tried to back to Lithuania?” my grandfather racism, and charge the crowd. An unknown person replied, ”Why? There is nothing to threw a ‘bomb’ or a stick of dynamite at go back to.” the policemen, killing four of them and America is built upon immigrants. The political reaction. injuring others. Instead of pursuing an great immigration of the early twenti- honest legal investigation, the incident eth century, was repeated again in the Anti-immigrant was used as an excuse to round up lead- 1980s and 1990s, with great numbers ing anarchists who were railroaded in of Hispanics fleeing either political court, convicted and hung. oppression (Guatemala, Chile, Central attacks are Outrage spread with the news locally, America), or even more often, economic nationally, then internationally. AFL oppression. The NAFTA trade agree- President Samuel Gompers declared ment in 1994 propelled jobs to Mexico, occurring nation- May Day a holiday in the United only to continue their migration to Asia, States, while the Socialist (Second) chasing ever cheaper labor in a new era wide at all levels. International met in Europe to declare of economic globalization, fueled by the the day an international holiday. May extremist ideology of neoliberalism. The Day quickly became a day to protest combination of irrational markets, the Police as early as 1867. The McCormick the hanging of anarchists, oppression failure of the Mexican peso, lack of state reapers factory was the scene of a strike of labor, and demand freedom for those structural support for the expanding new called by Molders Union Local 23, political prisoners who remained in jail. industries, the resulting low wages cou- which sparked a wider battle for the Today, immigrants are facing the pled with attractive higher U.S. wages, eight hour day. In 1886, McCormick Immigration Control and Enforcement have pushed Mexican immigrants across cut wages by 15%. In a lock out, police (ICE) unit of Homeland Security, which the border in search for better jobs and shot dead four molders. is oppressing and terrorizing immigrant a better life. American capitalism and In 1884, the precursor to the AFL, communities in scores of raids. ICE is WTO-led policies have once again the Federation of Organized Trade and a tool for the employing class and their failed. There is nothing to go back to for Labor Unions of the United States and political lackeys who want to crush the Mexicans, Central Americans, South Canada, resolved “that eight hours shall labor movement and the human rights Americans, Haitians, Caribbean immi- constitute a legal day’s labor.” Wage movements that would help Hispanic grants, nor the newest wave of Eastern laws supporting an eight hour day were communities defend their rights to European émigrés from the Baltic states passed by the Illinois legislature, but unionize, gain citizenship, and enjoy and Poland. faced opposition in the courts and were  The Socialist Spring 2007 MAY DAY GREETINGS SOCIALIST PARTY OF MASSACHUSETTS Under capitalism: There is Liberty, but only for lies and crime.

Ricardo Flores Magon (1917)

social and economic justice. Their strug- worker program. That bill failed, and for is the obligation of the entire working gle is our struggle. the first time in recent memory, the U.S class, regardless of citizenship, ethnic Once again, we must struggle against press mentioned May Day traditions background or color, to stand with the nativism, racism, and political reaction. and linked them to the immigrant rights poorest, most vulnerable and exploited Anti-immigrant attacks are occurring movement. Socialists have continued to of our class. We must overcome all our nation-wide at all levels. ICE raids on play a vital role, offering solidarity and historic divides, if we dare to say we Smithfield packing plants disrupt union pushing more radical demands. are socialists, if we dare to be human organizing efforts. The “disappearing” of Born during the first waves of immi- beings. immigrants, such as in Danbury CT, is grants to the United States in the 19th We must stand in solidarity with all happening nationwide. ICE is a sanc- century, the militant labor movement our Hispanic brothers and sisters in tioned terrorist government agency pro- called for an eight hour day. Despite its opposing ICE repression, the guest moting fear in immigrant communities. domestic origins, May Day is less well worker program, the separation of fami- But the Danbury 11 campaign is orga- known in the United States where the lies by oppressive immigration laws, and nizing to resist the raids on immigrant labor movement has been suppressed we support their struggles for citizen- communities, end the fear, and give and coopted. Most nations with a ship, for union membership and collec- immigrants their right to organize (See: healthy labor movement still recognize tive bargaining – and for a new society http://stoptheraids.org ). May Day as a day to recognize inter- built on justice. We point out that such Today May Day is being revitalized. national labor solidarity. Only now, a society cannot be had in a corporate Last year the day was marked by immi- with new waves of Latino and Hispanic controlled capitalist society. We need a grant organizations announcing the immigrants from Mexico, Central and radical democratic socialist vision for a “Great American Boycott”, and calling South America, has rank and file partic- new society. for a “day without a Mexican”, to pro- ipation revived May Day in the belly of On May1, 2007, let us take back May test repressive anti-immigrant legisla- international corporate capitalism - the Day in the United States. As working tion H.R. 4437, the Sensenbrenner bill, United States. people, it is our holiday, founded in the a piece of federal legislation meant to The fight of immigrants for human United States. We are all human beings! criminalize immigrants and their fami- rights in the United States is at its root An injury to one, is an injury to all! • lies, offering no legal path to citizenship, political, and we must not allow our- and establishing an anti-labor guest selves to be limited to legal reform. It

The Socialist Winter 2007  One Young Radical Unionist’s Journey Balancing life, politics and the class struggle By Matthew Andrews

fter graduating from the Labor mary focus of SEIU 1199 Healthcare During my interview with Studies Program at UMass Workers East is oriented toward lob- UNITE-HERE I again raised con- Amherst,A I found myself facing bying within the narrow framework cerns about the Democratic Party. the same major choices that most set by the political establishment. The union representative agreed that graduates face. But as a socialist, A couple weeks later I had a second it felt dirty to work with some politi- the challenge seemed even greater job interview with UNITE-HERE cians, but he explained, “Sometimes to find work to sustain myself while to be a boycott organizer. It sounded it’s necessary to win.” He gave the remaining true to the values that led like an exciting job, building cam- example of supporting the incum- me to study the labor movement in paigns to target hotel business and bent mayor of Boston in exchange the first place. Deep set divisions force concessions such as card check for his support in pressuring city between the larger labor unions in hotels to sign union neutrality and the United States and many popular card-check agreements. This seemed social movements leave little room like a strong argument, and I spent for a radical vision to be expressed, It is both several days pondering it. even for unionists with the best I have never agreed with the popu- intentions. ”As long as I don’t have exhilarating lar view that ideology and pragma- to work for Democratic Party poli- tism necessarily conflict. Political ticians,” I thought to myself. But I ideology should provide order to found the reality of union politics and daunting understand the world and guiding not so easy to avoid. our actions. If it fails to serve us in After sending out my resume, I that way, we must correct our ideol- had my first job interview was with to be ogy, not shrug off its contradictions. SEIU 1199 Healthcare Workers I have no problem working with East, a union which represents organizing Democratic Party activists wher- thousands of hospital workers from ever we may have common ground, New England to DC. I put on a but trading favors with Party power suit and tie, and went downtown to outside brokers stinks of class collabora- their offices in Boston to take a test tion. I concluded that the tactics they give for all new research staff. established of UNITE-HERE emphasize win- Next, I had an interview where the ning contracts, and not necessarily basics of hospital union politics were developing unionism among work- made clear to me. The government norms. ers. This difference explains their is by far the largest spender in the tactical choices. The price for this health care industry, between finan- tactical expediency however, will be cial aid to the poor, and coverage for Fortunately, dependency on the mercy of ruling state employees. Both hospitals and class forces. Should a strike become unions cozy up to the Democratic I am not necessary, they will not be able to Party, which runs the state legislature depend on the mayor’s support. in Massachusetts, in order to keep Having “won” without learning mili- dollars flowing. Without any checks alone. tant struggle in the first place, work- on pricing, the result is inflated ers will continue to expect union staff prices, record profits for the indus- to fight their struggles for them. If try, and a crisis for those with inad- the workers’ power is not sufficient to equate coverage. New legislation in neutrality. I might have taken the win a contract in the first place, the Massachusetts, brokered by our out- job except part of the job entailed union will not be able to defend vic- going Republican governor (often picking up and moving to which- tories or win new ones. Expediency misnamed “Universal Healthcare” by ever city they needed you. I had just has its advantages, but not without the media) forces small businesses moved back to Boston and was eager and low-income employees to buy to establish roots in the community. private health insurance. The pri-  The Socialist Spring 2007 May Day Greeting to our Comrades in the Socialist Party USA, a Party with Principles - Greg, Andrea & Trevor Pason

a price. Once again union power is shackled by Democratic Party politics. My friends in the Industrial Workers of the World encouraged me to salt - to find a regular job and orga- nize as a worker. At this point I needed some kind of income to pay the rent so I decided to give it a try. I got a job at a local grocery store. I work evenings until ten o’clock for the state’s minimum wage of $7.50 an hour. I am learning first hand about low wages, irregular schedules, poor working conditions and incompetent management. Many of my co-workers have worked for two or three years without a raise. Many are immi- grants from Latin America, working two jobs in order to send money back home. While we work they teach me Spanish and I help them learn English. I’ve made many new friends at work and have just begun to talk about unionizing with some. The working class in the United States is so severed from its own traditions and lessons of resistance that a sense of powerlessness pre- vails despite deep dissatisfactions. It is both exhilarating and daunting to be organizing outside established norms. Fortunately, I am not alone. The IWW Food and Allied Workers Union (I.U. 460) has organized immigrant workers at five warehouses in and is fighting to defend their basic legal rights. On March 19th, I marched with two hun- dred wobblies and other supporters from the region to protest the firing of union organizers, threats against workers based on their immigration status, sub-mini- mum wages, and the failure to pay overtime. Three of the target warehouses chose to shut down for the day at an estimated cost of $20,000 each. It was inspiring to see our relatively small and low budget union exercising real strength. The courage of those workers in the face of such oppression gives me hope, not just for union- izing my workplace, but that we can build an indus- trial union for food distribution workers throughout the northeast that bridges differences between immi- grant and native born workers and can win substantive improvements in wages, hours, working conditions and respect on the job. •

The Socialist Winter 2007  Mass Protest in Denmark to Defend our Victories and our History: An Interview with Peter Dollerup of the Socialist Youth Front

eter Dollerup is Treasurer for TS: Could you tell us about the TS: How did the squatters acquire the Socialist Youth Front (SUF) Youth House? Why was is so impor- the house, and how did the govern- inP Denmark and sits on its Central tant to so many people? ment later take it away? Committee. We spoke with him on March 9, after International PD: The Youth House was over a PD: In the early 1980’s there was Women’s Day protests in Denmark hundred years old. It was originally a Squatters’ movement looking to condemned the demolition of the a union building which hosted meet- reclaim a building in the interests of Ungdomshuset (Youth House). ings for the Second International. the people. Before they came to the and Karl Youth House, they had occupied an The Socialist: Could you tell us a Liebknecht spoke there. It is where abandoned bread factory, then later bit about the politics and background a museum. Each time they were of your organization? Activists evicted. When they occupied the Youth House, they decided to defend Peter Dollerup: Sure. SUF formed occupied the it with militant tactics. They bar- is 2001 in a merger between two ricaded themselves in, threw rocks youth organizations: The Youth streets and set up at the police, and rallied thousands Affiliate of the Red-Green Alliance, of supporters. In 1982 the munici- which is the most leftwing political pal government conceded to their Party to hold seats in Parliament, and barricades. They demands and signed an agreement another organization called Rebel. with the squatters. The contract did The RGA Youth Affiliate was small threw bricks at not give ownership to the squatters, but had a strong organizational struc- but promised that they could use the ture, while Rebel had many loosely the police and building indefinitely, so long as they organized members, so both groups used the building to promote culture brought different strengths together. and the arts. There was also a third organization, set fire to cars. Red Youth, which participated in Then, in 1996 there was a fire which talks but did not join in the merger Fortunately there caused significant damage to the because RGA Youth Affiliate and building. The municipal government Rebel members wanted to take a haven’t been any said to fix the building would cost clear stand that the old East Block half a million dollars so they wanted did not represent socialism. SUF to tear the building down. The youth has a minimum program that all injuries. however, claimed they could fix it at members agree to, which is explicitly a tenth of that cost. The government revolutionary and anti-authoritarian. signed a temporary contract with the We have socialists from every ideol- youth, giving them $40,000 to fix ogy except Stalinism. We do not the house. The house was repaired, practice “Democratic Centralism.” the Second International declared but when the temporary contract ran March 8th International Women’s out, instead of reverting back to the The Red-Green Alliance is not Day. After the building was taken old indefinite contract, the govern- our mother party. Most parties in over by squatters, it became famous ment claimed the young people no Denmark have youth affiliates with throughout Europe as a place for longer had a right to the building. seats on their executive committees. alternative youth culture. Many SUF believes that change will come musical and theatrical acts got their TS: When did the Father House primarily from outside Parliament. start at the Youth House. The house buy the building? Do you think the We are good friends with the Red- also served food for the homeless government was trying to provoke Green Alliance though, and we work every Wednesday. young people? together on a local basis.

 The Socialist Spring 2007 PD: The building was actually bought by an organi- zation called Human Inc. in 1999. Nobody knew any- thing about Human Inc., but it was owned by a member of the Father House, and was later bought by the Father House. I think it was a front group, but I don’t think the government knew.

TS: What is the Father House? Why did they decide to target the Youth House?

PD: The Father House is a Christian fundamentalist sect. They only have about forty members. Two thirds of their members left when their current minister took over because it became more cultish. They are on a cru- sade against the left in Denmark. They hate gays and In Memory of Comrade E. Shea lesbians. They hate immigrants, especially Muslims. Bread and Roses! And they hate leftists. Their minister thinks she received a message from God to tear down the building. Myrtle Kastner, Milwaukee WI She thinks she is saving souls or something.

TS: She? This Christian Fundamentalist group is led by a woman?

PD: Yes, she took over after her husband died. I think Christian fundamentalists in Denmark are differ- ent from those in America.

TS: So if the building was bought by Human Inc. in 1999, how did the situation come to a crisis seven years later?

PD: They tried to evict people in 2000 but they suc- cessfully barricaded themselves in. Then the sale was challenged in court and the eviction was put on hold. There was also a campaign to raise money to buy the Mass Protest, continued on p. 12

The Socialist Winter 2007  Eyewitness to Chiapas: An Account of Indigenous Resistance to State Terror in Mexico By Peter Weir

rom March 1-7, 2007 I traveled artisan cooperatives and children look In the 11 years since the signing at to the state of Chiapas, Mexico on at us with curious interest. San Andres, the Mexican govern- withF a solidarity delegation hosted We’d left the Mexico of the spring- ment has not only left its end of the by Higher Grounds Trading Co., a breakers far behind but now we were agreement unfulfilled, but has moved fair trade coffee company based in setting foot in the communities who backward in it’s relations with the Lake Leelanau, Michigan. Every year for the past 13 years have been at the indigenous people of Chiapas and Higher Grounds takes delegations to heart of the struggle for indigenous engaged in campaigns of state-spon- the farms that grow the coffee eventu- rights against the pitiless system of sored terrorism against the Zapatista ally sold in the United States in order neo-liberal capitalism that currently communities. to establish lasting relationships. We governs the world economy. Although the government has not visited the collectively owned farms honored the San Andres Accords the of the Zapatista Army of National Zapatistas have. Liberation (EZLN), a movement of These communities have reorga- indigenous farmers that have created nized themselves into autonomous autonomous zones in the face of brutal units, completely separate from the oppression by both the Mexican gov- government, that work the land as ernment and paramilitary groups. This ejidos, or communal land. Although is what I saw and learned…. the ejidos are officially recognized by We’re careening up the side of Mexican law, the Zapatistas informed a mountain en-route to Oventic, us of the military’s attempt to system- a Zapatista Caracol, or capitol, to atically disassemble collectively owned obtain permission to enter a number land and sell it off as private property. of EZLN communities spread out The Zapatistas first gained the inter- Almost every EZLN autonomous among Chiapas, the southern-most national spotlight when they ignited zone has experienced this at the hands state in Mexico. an armed uprising against the Mexican of the paramilitary group cleverly The fog is so dense it seems as if there government on January 1, 1994, the named, Organization for the Defense is no more than five or ten feet of vis- same day that the North American of Indigenous and Peasant Rights ibility through the windshield of the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (OPDDIC). van. Undeterred by either the unfor- went into action, a symbol of the While we visited the Zapatista auton- giving fog or the many speed bumps oppressive economic policies that the omous zone of Olga Isabel, locals told which clutter the mountain roads of EZLN were combating. us that daily OPDDIC is positioned Chiapas, Julio, our driver and member Their demands were simple, indig- around the community for a possible of the Center for Political Analysis enous autonomy and rights protecting land seizure. Frequently OPDDIC and Social and Economic Research their communities, which are among attempts to tear down signs proclaim- (CAPISE), advances to our destina- the most dispossessed elements of ing the existence of autonomous zones tion with a near reckless determina- Mexican society. Their demands were as well as paint over Zapatista murals. tion. met in 1996 within the San Andres Residents of Olga Isabel reported that Almost an hour and a half pass Accords, an agreement between the members of OPDDIC, as well as offi- before we are surrounded by colorful EZLN and the federal government cial police, approach the community murals of indigenous farmers along- that ensured that indigenous auton- heavily armed provoking a battle. side images of Mexican rebel Emiliano omy and rights would be protected at The community noted they will not Zapata and Argentine revolutionary the state and national level. violently engage any official or paramil- Che Guevara. However, the promises made by the itary, as all Zapatistas are now practic- As our group files out of the van and government have proved to be empty ing purely pacifist resistance. CAPISE we clear the fog, we see an indigenous and its actions have indeed proved to researchers clarify that para- and offi- man clad in a black ski mask at the be not only ineffective at enforcing the cial military violence is designed to entrance of Oventic. Women and men Accords but antagonistic and opposed provoke a reaction, knowing that the talk amongst themselves in front of to them altogether. Mexican military has the capability to

10 The Socialist Spring 2007 exterminate every Zapatista turn their collective land within a week. into another free market These abhorrent actions for capitalists to use at their are not isolated to Olga disposal. The EZLN voices May Day Greetings from Isabel. In fact they are the of resistance in Nuevo norm for EZLN commu- Rosario echo those of all Bill Fulcher, Enrolled Agent nities throughout Chiapas. the autonomous zones, that We were invited to the the struggle is about more autonomous zone of Nuevo than land ownership, but Tax Questions; IRS Appeals; Income Rosario to help document culture as well. Tax Research, Etc, the atrocities committed The ancestors of the (956) 541-4874 Cellular (965) 346-1567 there. Recently Zapatistas Zapatistas always worked of other communities, their land collectively and e-mail: [email protected] as well as international today the current genera- Contingency fees available observers, have come to tions are keeping up the Nuevo Rosario to deter tradition. The government’s Licensed in all U.S. Jurisdictions future attacks by OPDDIC attempt to exterminate col- Web Page: www.billfulcher.com or the government. lective land will extermi- Local residents of the nate a people’s culture with community detailed the it, not unlike the genocide events of February 20-22, of Native Americans in the 2007 explaining that about United States. 140 members of OPDDIC Despite the devasta- and government sup- tion experienced at Nuevo porters came and torched Rosario one man’s answer houses, stole wood and ani- came easily when asked mals, decimated trees with if they’d stay on the land: chainsaws, broke the com- “We’ll always stay, it’s our munity oven to pieces and land that we’ll always work burned crops such as corn and we’ll use our word as and fruit. our weapon.” Of the Zapatista crops In Morelia, another that weren’t ruined, many EZLN capitol, we spoke more were stolen. with a sitting “Council of As if the destruction of the Good Government.” community wasn’t enough, The Council is made up of May Day Greetings members of the paramili- rotating participants elected tary physically attacked from surrounding Zapatista families and abused women regions to talk about their From the and children. Practicing own experiences and relate pacifism along with all on a level of communica- other EZLN, the citizens tion that would be impos- www.socialistpartyoftexas.org of Nuevo Rosario could sible without the Council. only watch as the plunder- The men and women of spoftexas at sbcglobal.net ers burned their homes and Morelia reported the same fields to the ground. happenings as those from The criminals of Olga Isabel and Nuevo OPDDIC left only one Rosario. thing behind, a message OPDDIC have been burned into the side of a kidnapping Zapatistas, home, “get out of here.” burning houses and steal- The point was clear, ing animals and crops. The OPDDIC wants to force Council feels that it is a the Zapatistas to cooper- wide-scale operation aimed ate with government spon- sored privatization and to Chiapas, continued on p. 13

The Socialist Winter 2007 11 Mass Protest, continued from p. 9 for almost any reason. They have been searching people illegally and building back. We raised fifteen arresting people who received text million Kroner ($2.68 million). The messages about demonstrations on Father House would have made a their cell phones. One police offi- seven hundred percent profit, but cer claims he can identify forty-four they turned it down. After losing individuals for charges even though at the municipal level, we lost in the they wore masks. Two women were national court in 2006. On March picked up by the police for having 1st the Police rammed the building prior convictions. Although this is from above and stormed the build- not true, they are still in jail. TS: Yesterday was International ing from helicopters. They arrested Women’s Day. Were there events in Denmark to commemorate the day? everyone. TS: It sounds like the police have established martial law. Is there no TS: So you were fighting to defend government oversight? PD: Yes, there was a huge rally for the victories of the squatters’ move- International Women’s Day. Many ment from the 1980’s? speeches were made about how the PD: Yes, that is exactly how it is. Youth House had been a non-sex- Normally Denmark has a functional ist environment for women. Three thousand women marched to where the house had been torn down. We hope to find a new building where On March 1st the Police the mission of the Youth House can rammed the building from continue. TS: Has the labor movement been above and stormed the supportive? building from helicopters. PD: Yes, the labor federation in Denmark helped us raise much of the money when we were trying to buy They arrested everyone. back the house. Also, they boycotted tearing the house down. You have to understand, somewhere between eighty and ninety percent of work- PD: Yes, we’ve regressed twenty- system. The police and the courts ers in Denmark are in unions. The five years from the progress won by have separate powers, and the police non-union workers that tore down the squatters. That’s what we’ve been are not supposed to act in this way. the building wore masks for fear of fighting. The courts are supposed to discipline retaliation. the police. But now that’s not hap- After the raids, protests broke pening. TS: Is it common for organized out throughout the neighbor- labor in Denmark to stand up for hood. Activists occupied the streets TS: How do you think young social causes? and set up barricades. They threw people will respond to recent events? bricks at the police and set fire to Do you think protests will continue PD: The main federation is fairly cars. Fortunately there haven’t been or will they be demoralized? conservative. They are closely linked any injuries. SUF does not endorse with the Social Democrats. But this sort of violence, but we are not PD: Protests will continue. I think there are many smaller affiliates that surprised by it either. The violence many young people are becoming have progressive politics. made the media take us seriously, radicalized, especially by the crazy which forced the government to take behavior of the police. When the TS: Your story of resistance is us seriously as well. house was torn down, we saw many inspiring for those of us in the people crying. United States. Thank you for taking The police arrested over 800 people, the time to talk with us! two hundred of whom are still in jail. They are arresting people in the area PD: Thank you. •

12 The Socialist Spring 2007 Chiapas, continued from p. 11 and the paramilitary forces of OPDDIC have brought at displacing the EZLN each and every Zapatista community by community; community under siege. looking at the facts and tes- The EZLN have built timonies this stance is dif- autonomous communities ficult to debate. that look to political solu- As in every community, tions to problems rather the Council has noticed that than violent ones and have official Mexican police and embraced pacifism, some- military have failed to stop thing the Mexican govern- the actions of paramilitaries. ment seems incapable of The government’s inaction doing. is perceived as tacit accep- The EZLN needs the tance of the injustice being help of the international committed by OPDDIC. community now more than In fact, it is the opinion of ever. CAPISE and the EZLN Their slogan is, “our that the Mexican govern- word is our weapon.” In ment enjoys the work of solidarity with the EZLN, OPDDIC as a means of indigenous communities speeding up privatization worldwide, the dispos- and doing the governments sessed and the oppressed, dirty work. the victims of the rich and The Council at Morelia powerful everywhere, and has even documented fed- every person who longs for eral representatives from the a life of liberty free of coer- Institutional Revolutionary cion and repression, please Party (PRI) as helping fun- spread the word! • nel arms to OPDDIC. The situation in Chiapas is critical. Peter Weir: The federal government [email protected] of Mexico wishes to por- tray itself as a first world democracy and a land of Research/News: HAPPY MAY DAY opportunity with its own CAPISE: www.capise.org. FROM DONALD BUSKY! version of the “American mx (multi-lingual) Dream.” In reality, Mexico Indymedia Chiapas: is a stronghold of neo- chiapas.indymedia.org SUPPORT THE CHANGE TO THE liberal economic policies (Spanish) SOCIALIST PARTY USA CONSTITU- which have delighted capi- Radio Zapatista: www. TION TO ADD TWO LINES AT THE talists and multi-national radiozapatista.org (bi-lin- corporations based both in gual) END OF ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP Mexico and the U.S. EZLN info: struggle.ws/ TO READ, “THE SOCIALIST PARTY At the same time, these zapatista.html (English) USA IS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST policies keep the most EZLN website: enlacezap- PARTY. MARXIST-LENINISTS ARE marginalized elements of atista.ezln.org.mx (Spanish) BANNED.” Mexican society and the indigenous communities in Fair Trade: unacceptable poverty. The Higher Grounds Trading Zapatistas’ efforts to cre- Co.: www.javaforjustice. ate an alternative model to com neo-liberal capitalism has not been appreciated by the government. The collabora- tion of the official military The Socialist Winter 2007 13 True Mission: Socialists and the Labor Party Question in the U.S., by Eric Chester Reviewed by David Schaich

ccording to ‘orthodox’ Marxism, Instead they tended to view them- as capitalism developed work- selves as pressure groups trying to ersA would become conscious of their promote progressive elements in the class and flock to the socialist par- Democratic or Republican Parties. ties that represented their interests. Additionally, they often coalesced This hasn’t exactly happened in the around celebrity presidential candi- United States. dates such as Henry George, Robert The failure of socialist parties in La Follette, Henry Wallace or Ralph the US to quickly gain the alle- Nader, who had little interest in the giance of the majority of workers parties themselves and did little if led many American leftists to advo- anything to support them or assist cate the creation of a non-socialist independent politics in general fol- “Labor Party” that they hoped would lowing their electoral defeats. attract mass support. Ideally formed Chester traces the occasional cre- around labor unions, like the British ation and collapse of labor parties and Labour Party, this labor party would progressive parties such as United become a major force by advocating Labor Party of 1886 and American mild reforms. Its socialist support- Labor Party of 1936. He begins with ers then predicted that the dynam- Henry George’s run for president in ics of capitalism would inexorably 1886, and proceeds through the end -- indeed, inevitably -- drive it to of the 1930s, which saw the effective embrace socialism. end of significant left-wing chal- More bluntly stated, socialist sup- lenges to the two-party system. A porters of labor parties aimed to final chapter skips to ’s doctrines, that they were engaging in quickly gain power by temporarily 2000 run for President under the futility. abandoning, or at least moderating, Green Party, which Chester argues Not only were open socialists typi- their actual politics. exhibited many of the same weak- cally unwelcome in these parties and In “True Mission” (Pluto, 2004), nesses as the earlier labor parties. At organizations, but the parties’ strong socialist Eric Chester forcefully the same time, the Green Party did ties to the two-party system, includ- argues that this is a flawed approach. not cultivate the direct ties to unions ing support for Democratic and He explores several attempts to cre- and working people that socialists Republican candidates, and heavy ate labor parties in the United States had in the past emphasized as the dependence on charismatic but during the last 120 years to argue chief strength of labor parties. uncommitted celebrity candidates that they have all failed completely, Clearly and forcefully argued, all provided ample evidence that “True Mission” is they were not going to be around for Socialists need to avoid the scam of written in a style long, and weren’t going to accom- that is accessible, plish much if anything during their watering down their principles in order though somewhat brief existences. dry and academic. Chester is especially critical of to increase their mainstream appeal. It includes exten- much of the moderate leadership of sive notes and the Socialist Party of America (SPA) documentation, a as well as Leon Trotsky and many and that their failure is not difficult helpful glossary of important people of his American disciples. He por- to understand. and organizations, a useful bibliogra- trays the former as almost comically The progressive parties or organi- phy and slim index. Chester focuses eager to submerge the SPA into any zations occasionally hailed as either especially on socialist support for reform party they could find, despite labor parties or potential precursors labor parties, arguing that it should the SPA’s relative electoral success to labor parties were rarely willing have been clear to these socialists, and rank-and-file opposition to such to break with the two-party system. had they not been blinded by their mergers. He then tries to untangle the oft-reversed positions of the lat- 14 The Socialist Spring 2007 ter during the 1930s, on the tactics pursued during Death in the Haymarket: A Story whether or not to work the heyday of the SPA within labor parties, and and championed by its of Chicago, by James Green if so how. Although this left wing, standing up as Reviewed by Mary-Alice Herbert issue may seem (and, I independent democratic would say, should be) socialists and offering no irrelevant today, many of apologies. “The true mis- the socialists currently sion of a socialist party he most compre- work day that had been working within the Green is not to rapidly achieve hensive book on the building since the Civil Party identify themselves electoral success. Taking eventsT which led to May War ending with trium- as Trotskyists of one sort this as a goal can only 1 becoming International phant labor marches on or another, and may place point toward a morass of Labor Day is by labor May 1, 1886 and the ter- more weight on the pro- opportunistic compro- historian James Green rible toll our democracy nouncements of their mises. Instead, socialists and was published by suffered in the aftermath patriarch than perhaps need to present a clearly Pantheon Books in 2006. of the Haymarket tragedy. they should. defined radical perspec- It is written in a lively style He describes how the “red But if working within tive, to raise the demand and delivers on its title -- scare” of that era was used labor parties and the for fundamental reforms Death in the Haymarket: by employers and the gov- like holds little hope for that stretch the boundar- A Story of Chicago, the ernment to crush labor socialists, then what is to ies of the existing system, First Labor Movement unions, vilify immigrants, be done? According to and to articulate a coher- and the Bombing that and limit free speech and Chester, socialists need to ent vision of a new and Divided Gilded Age how it has repeated itself avoid the scam of water- egalitarian society” (209). America. In his lively through the years and ing down their princi- Well, “True Mission” style, Green describes the continues in our national ples in order to increase convinced me; I’m signing movement for an 8-hour culture. • their mainstream appeal. up. • Instead we should embrace Missing from Haymarket Square, by Harriette Gillem Robinet Reviewed by Mary-Alice Herbert

issing from work together to distract Haymarket Square wealthy passersby while From Vermont Socialists: Mby Harriette Gillem Olive’s older brother picks Robinet, is a novel for their pockets. Dinah feels younger readers. Three guilty about stealing and is IN MEMORIAM children whose fathers very relieved when Olive were blacklisted from says she has arranged for BOB SANTWAY 86 yrs their jobs for being union with the butcher, baker Loyal and trusted Comrade. organizers become the and greengrocer for them primary bread-winners to work for food. “We’ll Member of SPUSA. of their families and now do it by anarchism,” Olive WWII veteran member of they have the added task explains, “Produce for of rescuing their fathers work!” Veterans for Peace. who have been impris- Robinet has carefully Veteran of more than 1/2 oned to obstruct their researched her story. She participation in Chicago’s is very accurate in her century of struggles May Day Demonstration. accounting of the real for peace and justice. The two girls work 12 people in the Haymarket hours a day in a sew- drama and creates very ing factory, their mea- believable fictional char- ger wages only pay the acters. Readers of all ages room rent. Dinah, who will find her book reward- is black and Olive, whose ing. • family is from Austria,

The Socialist Winter 2007 15 Socialist Party USA National Directory

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16 The Socialist Spring 2007