¡REBELIÓN! 12 ¡Defiende a resistentes! 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 62, No. 24 June 11, 2020 $1 Step one, movement demands ‘DEFUND POLICE!’ By Monica Moorehead for the rich. This rebellion has helped to generalize June 8—​Today marks the two-week the issue of racist oppression by bring- anniversary of the public legal lynching of ing international attention to others George Floyd by four Minneapolis police who have lost their lives besides Floyd—​ officers. Thousands have filed by his open Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Manuel casket to pay their respects. And on June Ellis, Laquan McDonald, Eric Garner, 9, Floyd will be buried in his hometown Tamir Rice, Tony McDade, Sandra Bland of Houston. and too many others. Within this two-week span, a rebel- Within days, statues glorifying the lion has spread like wildfire, starting in Confederacy and other pro-slavery mon- Minneapolis, with the burning down of a uments have been physically removed or police precinct, then throughout the U.S. defaced by protesters. Officials, mainly in every state and then across the world in in the U.S. South, were forced to bring multiple cities on almost every continent. them down by the rebellion. The people of Millions of people worldwide have Philadelphia forced the city to once-and- been out in the streets in solidarity with for-all remove the repulsive statue and the demand “Black Lives Matter,” now mural of fascistic former Mayor Rizzo. transformed into an international mass In Bristol, England, a statue of a 17th struggle. This global rebellion has put century slave catcher was brought down, the repressive police force on trial for his neck stomped on and then thrown all forms of brutality, especially murder, in the river. Even the statue of the late Tens of thousands protest June 6 in Philadelphia. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE against Black and other people of color. British imperialist Prime Minister But white supremacy has also been put on Winston Churchill was defaced with the people, King Leopold II of Belgium, was of the White House. Next to it activists trial as the very foundation upon which word “racist.” The offensive statue honor- finally taken down in Antwerp, Belgium. painted "Defund the Police.” police violence rests to safeguard profits ing the colonial butcher of the Congolese Along with resistance to police pres- ence at protests has come an incredible Police budgets steal vital services amount of brutality and arrests in the While Congress is currently debat- thousands. Protesters, young and old, ing police “reforms,” legislation initially Black, Latinx, white, Indigenous and introduced by the Congressional Black Asian have been pepper sprayed and Caucus, the Black Lives Matter move- teargassed; injured by rubber bullets ment has been demanding the defunding and swinging batons; and knocked to of police budgets for years. Kailee Scales, the ground. These indiscriminate brutal managing director of Black Lives Matter attacks by the police have also happened Global Network, stated: “It is important to the media. to remember that modern-day policing This repression has not stopped the has its roots in slave catching. These sys- spontaneous mass outpouring of pro- tems were created to hunt, maim, and kill tests in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Black people. York City, Philadelphia, Houston and “As we have seen in the example of elsewhere, despite curfews. The big- George and many others in this month gest protests so far took place last week- alone, the police are a force of violence end in Washington, D.C., where “Black that profiles, harasses, and inflicts harm on Lives Matter Plaza” was established by Black communities without accountability Black Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with ― and with far too many resources.” The In Oakland, Calif., on June 5, a memorial to Tony McDade, WW PHOTO: JUDY GREENSPAN humongous “Black Lives Matter” letter- police reportedly killed over 1,000 people killed by Tallahassee, Fla., police on May 27. ing painted on the National Mall in front Continued on page 9 Black Lives Matter solidarity Special issue dedicated No Pride without justice! to George Floyd By Minnie Bruce Pratt street battles against the cops were trans • Labor condemns murder 2 women of color like Marsha P. Johnson Fifty-one years ago cops assaulted and and Sylvia Rivera. That June rebellion • Racist monuments down 3 arrested LGBTQ2+ people—mostly​ Black was the origin of the current LGBTQ2+ and Latinx people—​at the Stonewall Pride Month. • Why generals rebuked Trump 5 Bar in New York City. That police raid On June 2, NYC cops were again beat- • Police brutality in Buffalo 5 ARTWORK: WALEED AYYOUB and resulting queer resistance sparked ing and arresting queer people of color at three days of rebellion and ignited the the Stonewall Inn. Hundreds had gathered • Journalists under attack 6 modern LGBTQ2+ movement in the there as part of the rebellion against police • Media workers challenge racism 6 U.S. and around the world. Leading the Continued on page 9 • Palestinian activist in solidarity 7 • The real looters 7 Prisons and class war 4 • Global protests 8 Texas jail is COVID hotspot 4 • Uprising empowers NFL players 10 • EDITORIAL Cops out of labor movement! 10 Page 2 June 11, 2020 workers.org California labor condemns police murder of George Floyd this week By Dave Welsh these scenes repeat, over and over. We’re on a vicious loop ◆ In the U.S. that ignores the desperate need for change and cements Step 1, movement demands ‘DEFUND POLICE!’ . 1 This is big. Seemingly out of nowhere, the “silent major- the systemic racism that’s plagued our nation since its No Pride without justice! ...... 1 ity” of the working class took to the streets in towns and founding.” cities across the land—in​ a time of COVID-19 lockdowns The California labor statement called for ending the Calif. labor condemns police murder of G. Floyd . .2 and state-ordered disruption of normal human interac- school-to-prison pipeline by creating decent jobs and Racist Rizzo statue taken down ...... 3 tions—​to condemn the police lynching of George Floyd “zero tolerance of police officers who commit any acts of Historic protests topple monuments of racism . . 3 in Minneapolis. violence against our communities.” Prisons and class war ...... 4 Organized labor didn’t lead it, but it did join in this his- toric, largely spontaneous movement against police impu- “A once-in-a-generation call to action” ‘This jail is a COVID-19 hot spot’ ...... 4 nity and the entrenched system of white supremacy that On the same day, four Bay Area central labor councils, Will U.S. troops be used against protesters? . . . .5 lies behind it. representing half a million working families, issued a joint In Buffalo, N.Y.: Viral video exposes police lies . . 5 Longshore unions plan to shut down West, East and statement entitled, “Unions must help lead the fight for Growing revolt by Black journalists ...... 6 Gulf Coast ports on June 9—​stopping work for 8 min- racial justice.” The statement asked, “What type of soci- utes and 46 seconds, the duration of Floyd’s streetside, ety do we want for our grandchildren? Do we want more Journalist reporting on Black uprisings attacked . 6 slow-motion execution at the hands of Minneapolis police. schoolhouses or more jails? More teachers or more police? These looters pocketed $11.7 billion ...... 7 “We’re living in a recurring nightmare in America,” said “This is a once-in-a-generation call to action. The fight Rebellion empowers Black NFL players . . . . .10 the California Labor Federation in a June 4 statement. for racial justice is our fight.” “Over the past few weeks we’ve seen the senseless killings It’s no secret that the mainstream of organized labor ◆ Around the world of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Tony has been slow to act against white supremacy and police From Palestine to Minneaoplis ...... 7 McDade and George Floyd. And for centuries, our broth- violence. You could say this has been an “Achilles heel” of ers and sisters have been murdered for no other reason the unions—an​ obstacle to uniting with the great mass of Worldwide anti-racist protests for George Floyd . .8 than the color of their skin. unorganized workers, the gig workers, the migrants and ◆ Editorial “Every time a Black person is brutalized by the police, farmworkers, including members of oppressed nations individuals and organizations condemn it. When racism and nationalities within the borders of the United States. FTP! Cops out of labor movement, youth in! . . .10 leads to a modern-day lynching, we express shock. But We’re talking about uniting the most numerous and essential class of all, the working class, without whom no ◆ Noticias en Español commodity would be produced and no service would be No es un motín - ¡REBELIÓN! ...... 12 performed. ¡Defiende a lxs resistentes y al levantamiento! . . 12 One thing the murders of George Floyd and the others have illuminated for all to see is, first of all, how brutal and corrupt is the system of the exploiters and oppressors and, second of all, how quickly and powerfully the many sectors of the working class can spring into united action to confront them.

PHOTO: INTERNATIONAL LONGSHORE WORKERS UNION International Longshore Workers Union leaders traveled from Welsh is a retired letter carrier with the U.S. Postal California to Houston to attend George Floyd’s memorial Service and a current delegate to the San Francisco service, June 8. Labor Council. Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 Join us in the fight E-mail: [email protected] for socialism! Web: www.workers.org Vol. 62, No. 24 • June 11, 2020 Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist people are gunned down by cops and bigots on a regular Closing date: June 10, 2020 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a basis. Editor: Deirdre Griswold multinational, multigenerational and multigendered orga- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, Martha Grevatt, nization that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- Monica Moorehead, Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt build a socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Web Editors: ABear, Harvey Markowitz, Janet Mayes world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational Prisoners Page Editors: Mirinda Crissman, Ted Kelly ever-greater profits. working class. It is time to point the blame at—​and chal- Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Sasha Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and lenge—the​ capitalist system. Mazumder, Scott Williams repression, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ2+ WWP fights for socialism because the working class oppression and mistreatment of people with disabilities. produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, It means joblessness, increasing homelessness and impov- remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- Sue Davis, S. Hedgecoke erishment and lack of hope for the future. No social prob- talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially Contributing Editors: LeiLani Dowell, G. Dunkel, lems can be solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guaran- K. Durkin, Sara Flounders, Teresa Gutierrez, Joshua The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one tee basic human needs. Hanks, Makasi Motema, Gloria Rubac has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Mundo Obero: Teresa Gutierrez, Carlos Vargas education or anything else—​unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and 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 Copyright © 2020 Workers World. Verbatim copying it to college. Black, Brown and Indigenous youth and trans branch near you. ☐ and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. 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[email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org June 11, 2020 Page 3 Racist Rizzo statue taken down By Betsey Piette famously bragged in the 1960s of his “Mumia Abu-Jamal, a prominent jour- Philadelphia growing police force of 9,000 cops as nalist and now political prisoner, consis- strong enough to ‘invade Cuba and win.’ tently criticized Rizzo’s racist policies on Philadelphia city officials removed the “Like Trump, Rizzo ruled in a time of public radio and in the press. To counter hated Frank Rizzo statue, long a target of capitalist decay. In 1951, Philadelphia had Mumia, Rizzo developed a police file on demonstrations against police brutality over 2 million residents and over 355,000 Mumia—over​ 800 pages long—​of infor- and white supremacy, on June 3. manufacturing jobs. By 1990, Philadelphia mation gathered via wiretaps and other As Philadelphia police commissioner had lost over 400,000 residents and had counterintelligence practices. from 1968 to 1971 and mayor from 1972 only 85,000 manufacturing jobs. “Rizzo’s police created a list of 18,000 to 1980, Rizzo targeted Black activists, “Technology eliminated millions of jobs activists to keep intelligence on, most of including members of the Black Panther across the U.S. and more were exported whom were Black radicals like Mumia. Party and MOVE, harassing, beating and by globalization. Being ‘tough on crime’ This racist harassment and anti-Mumia arresting them. The Philadelphia Inquirer became politically useful as a way to deal sentiment [remains] the cause of Mumia’s published a Pulitzer Prize-winning expose with the economy’s unemployed vic- incarceration to this day.” in 1977, revealing that the Rizzo administra- tims, many of whom were Black. Rizzo, tions covered up rampant police brutality. a Democrat, was the icon of that racist, Rizzo’s war on MOVE Rizzo’s statute, placed prominently anti-worker movement, whose goal was “One cannot mention Rizzo without near City Hall in 1988, has been criticized more exploitation of the working class, mentioning his war against the Black Rizzo statue, May 30. WW PHOT:O: JOE PIETTE by many people who object to honoring a including mass incarceration of the Black Liberation organization MOVE. Rizzo man whose bias against the Black, Latinx community and more police oppression. brutalized MOVE, most notably in the and LGBTQ2+ communities is well doc- “One of Rizzo’s most public roles 1978 showdown which raided the MOVE umented. The Philly Coalition for REAL as police commissioner and mayor of compound, leading to the arrest of the (Racial, Economic and Legal) Justice initi- Philadelphia was to destroy progressive MOVE 9. [All were finally released by ated a petition to remove the statue in 2016. political movements. ‘Rizzo the Raider’ February 2020.] On May 30, thousands of demonstra- led a violent crusade as police commis- “Although not in office in 1985, Rizzo tors, calling for justice for George Floyd, sioner, becoming notable as a violent cap- can still be seen as guilty of helping to cre- surrounded and attempted to topple the tain by crushing a November 1967 high ate the conditions of the MOVE bombing 10-foot-tall bronze statue. Demonstrators school student protest. in May of that year. Philadelphia police threw red paint on the statue and tried to “In 1966, Rizzo led raids on the Student dropped a bomb on the MOVE home, kill- set it on fire. Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, ing 11 members, including five children. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney had which he claimed had ‘hoards of dynamite, “Because bourgeois legality doesn’t promised to take down the hated 2,000- guns and ammunition.’ This proved to be consider racism a crime, Rizzo’s connec- pound statue, but delayed carrying out his false. In 1967, he would raid the offices tion to corruption, not his racism, led to promise. Then Kenney prioritized cleanup and arrest leaders of the Revolutionary his downfall from the favor of the rul- of the statue on May 31, further fueling Action Movement and later the Students ing class. Rizzo’s police were later found the campaign for removal. for a Democratic Society based on false guilty of widespread extortion, racketeer- accusations of terrorism. ing, bribe-taking, illegal gambling and Rizzo, the Black Panthers and Mumia “Rizzo even said, ‘The Black Panthers theft of over $400,000 worth of cocaine A Workers World article, “Why should be strung up.’ He attempted to from drug sellers.” Rizzo’s statue must come down,” by annihilate the radical left, especially the Scott Williams, said this about Rizzo on Black Panthers. In 1970, Rizzo led a raid Deeper change needed Rizzo statue removal, June 3. Aug. 24, 2017: on multiple Panther offices just a week Removing a statue is much easier than “Rizzo remains infamous for his record before the major Revolutionary People’s responding to calls for deep reforms in taking it down may be a case of too little, of dividing the working class with the Constitutional Convention met. Rizzo’s policing and the criminal justice system, too late. A movement is growing every day poisons of racism and fascism. A pre- cops carried out a full public strip search especially when many people are calling for to bring down the entire system of rac- cursor to Donald Trump’s authoritarian, of Panther members, which would be defunding—and​ even abolishing the police. ist terror and white supremacy that the male-chauvinist persona, Rizzo embod- published on the front page of the next Though people are celebrating the statue only represented. ☐ ied white supremacist thuggery. Rizzo day’s Philadelphia Daily News. hated symbol’s removal, the city’s act of Historic protests topple monuments of racism

By Minnie Bruce Pratt the “Lost Cause” of slavery. Outrage over four people tore down the death of George Floyd has re-ignited a Lee statue erected in People poured through U.S. streets the determination to end the “honoring” of front of Robert E. Lee first week of June, as if answering Martin racism with physical symbols. High School. On June 5, Luther King Jr.’s cry: “Let justice roll Around the U.S.—​but most impor- the city of Mobile, Ala., down like waters and righteousness like tantly in the South—​monuments to a port city, suddenly a mighty stream.” white supremacy are falling under the removed the statue of Those torrents of people are carrying weight of protests sparked by anger at Confederate Admiral out a mighty change through the U.S., George Floyd’s murder. Rafael E. Semmes after and a prime example is pulling down the In Richmond, Va., the first capital of the days of protests about racist statues erected in the late 19th and Confederacy, protesters on May 31 sur- the death of George Toppled Confederate statue, Birmingham, Ala., June 1. early 20th centuries as propaganda for rounded and defaced the statue of Gen. Floyd. Robert E. Lee, a rallying point for racists. The mayor of Indianapolis, Ind., Honoring George Floyd The statue has sat since 1890 on affluent announced plans to remove a Confederate George Floyd was born in Fayetteville, Monument Row where other Confederate soldiers monument erected as a grave N.C., and one of his sisters still lives in leaders are also memorialized. marker in 1912 and relocated in 1928 nearby Raeford, N.C., where his body On June 3, as protests against racism because public officials active in the Ku was brought for a memorial. Raeford is accelerated, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam Klux Klan wanted it to be more visible. In a country town with a population of less announced the state-owned statue would the 1920s Indiana’s governor, more than than 5,000 people—but​ thousands more be removed. Two days later the entire half the state legislature and an estimated came there on June 6 to honor Floyd. Richmond City Council approved it, 30 percent of all “native-born” white men When the hearse arrived bearing his cof- including several former hard-line racist in Indiana were KKK members. fin, chants began in the crowd, "Black opponents. The campaign in the U.S. to bring down Power!” and "No justice, no peace!" Unwilling to wait for Northam, protest- the physical emblems of slavery and rac- On May 30, in Fayetteville, N.C., pro- ers in Richmond used ropes on June 6 to ism intensified in 2017 after white suprem- testers encircled the Market House, a topple the statue of another Confederate acists and neo-Nazis violently rallied in historic building at the center of down- general in the heart of the Virginia Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 11 and 12, kill- town. From 1790 to 1865, enslaved Black Commonwealth University campus. ing one anti-racist protester and injuring people were sold at that site about every In Birmingham, Ala., on May 31, pro- scores. The racists’ pretext for invading the two months. Local protesters, well aware testers pulled down the Confederate sol- city was to protect a Lee statue. of this history, burned a U.S. flag at the dier statue from atop the Soldiers and A unified left force pushed the far-right building and then set fire to the Market Sailors Monument erected in 1905. The back in Charlottesville, and two days later, House itself. next morning a city-ordered crane began on Aug. 14, a left coalition in Durham, to haul away the memorial’s last remains. N.C., with active leadership by Workers Pratt, a white, anti-racist activist Protesters surround racist monument In Montgomery, Ala., the last capital World Party, pulled down a Confederate born and raised in Alabama, organized of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in of the Confederacy, while other protest- statue outside the old Durham County for many years in Fayetteville, N.C. Richmond, Va., June 6. ers gathered a few miles away on June 1, Courthouse. Page 4 June 11, 2020 workers.org

Prisons and class war By Mirinda Crissman 80 million people, nearly half of the U.S. these institutions, Wilson Gilmore said, California State Employees Association, labor force, mostly people of color, but “[A]nti-criminalization and effects of part of an enormous public sector union This is an edited version of a talk given also one-third white, are all criminalized perpetual punishment have to be cen- in the state. during the “What Road To Socialism?” in ways that are detrimental to all work- tral to any kind of political, economic Together abolitionists and workers webinar held by Workers World Party ing people. change that benefits working people and slowed down a state that had opened a on May 16. their communities, or benefits poor peo- prison every year for 23 years almost to a New Orleans: historic strike ple, whether or not they’re working, and halt—it​ only opened one prison between Abolitionist Ruth Wilson Gilmore lays New Orleans sanitation workers, on a their communities.” (“Prisons and Class 1999 and 2011. They made it impossible out in her book, “Golden Gulag,” the polit- historic strike asking for hazard pay and Warfare,” interview, historicalmaterial- for new jails and prisons to be constructed. ical climate in the state of California that protective gear, were replaced by incar- ism.org, Aug. 2, 2018) All the different sectors of our collec- gave rise to prison expansion. California cerated workers paid $1.33 per hour—​at What has happened in California is tive class are bound to one another. Our had an incredibly huge and diverse most 13 percent of the sanitation work- different from what has occurred in liberation lives on in our ability to use all economy preceding its prison boom, in ers’ hourly pay of $10.25. They will likely Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, levers and all tactics to work across and which the number of people behind bars not receive adequate protection. (Payday Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas or in the 38 with the things that make us different. increased 450 percent between the 1980s Report, May 9) This pits already exploited countries where the U.S. has had its hand in Our liberation is bound to unemployed and early 2000s. sectors of our class against one another. shaping policing and prisons. These differ- people, undocumented workers, incarcer- Prior to the prison boom, California Wilson Gilmore describes the struc- ences mean local assessments are needed. ated workers and to each other. saw heavy policing around the end of the ture of racism as vulnerability to prema- Revolution and abolition are ongo- A broad understanding of class and the Vietnam war. There was high unemploy- ture death, which we see so starkly in this ing processes. We must not stop remak- myriad interlocking oppressions work- ment and high inflation. The series of cri- global pandemic. Those with access to ing ourselves and the world. Otherwise, ing against us is necessary in our fight to ses resulting from this period produced centuries of stolen resources are able to we risk shifting or mutating the means resist mass criminalization and the fur- all kinds of surpluses—of​ workers, land, avoid spaces where they would come into of colonial and capitalist world-making ther categorizing of people into more eas- finance capital. State capacity was also contact with the virus and are more likely further into the future. Abolition of these ily conquerable sectors. An injury to one rapidly shifting from social welfare to to have access to health care. institutions is about presence and the is an injury to all. domestic warfare. In our organizing as the Texas Death connections and structures we build with As Audre Lorde said, “Revolution is not While crime began to slow, societal pro- Penalty Abolition Movement, that one another along the way. Abolition is a one-time event. It is becoming always duction was being arranged around prison opposes the use of capital punishment on a theory of social change; it is a strategy, vigilant for the smallest opportunity to expansion. Republicans and Democrats the political grounds that its use is struc- and it’s about making things. make a genuine change in established, alike were elected on the false premise turally both racist and anti-poor, this Abolitionists use tactics like divest- outgrown responses; for instance, it is that they could keep people safe by lock- phrase often comes up: “Those who don’t ment campaigns, prison moratoriums and learning to address each other’s differ- ing up criminals—a​ policy that just exac- have the capital, get the punishment!” building a caring community by shifting ences with respect.” (“Learning from erbates existing inequalities, disappears In Texas, the killing capital of the coun- the fruits of our labor to address the root the ’60s,” speech, Malcolm X commem- people and destroys communities. try, which leads in the number of legal causes of harm and suffering. oration weekend, Harvard University, According to the Sentencing Project, 70 lynchings, we feel the afterlife of enslave- February 1982) million people in the U.S. have criminal ment embedded into the social order of United struggle blocks new prisons convictions. Simply because they’ve been control known as mass criminalization. One of the many ways California abo- Crissman (they/them) is a member of convicted of a crime, the majority of these From the plantations during slavery to litionists were able to halt the state’s the WWP Houston branch and a co-ed- people are barred from holding most jobs. convict leasing of labor to modern-day self-described “biggest [prison system] in itor of “Tear Down the Walls,” the pris- An estimated 10 million migrant workers, prisons, this oppression has existed. the history of the world” was by aligning oner page of WW newspaper. They write according to Pew Research, are not docu- While we acknowledge that people of against powerful governors and prison and organize around prison abolition, mented to work in the U.S. The sum total, color are disproportionately affected by guard unions and by organizing the anti-imperialism and the environment.

behind the walls ‘This jail is a COVID-19 hot spot’

By Gloria Rubac “There is no place in the Harris County to an April report by the Houston Jail where I saw social distancing being American Civil Liberties practiced.” Union. “The rate of incar- The National Black United Front in ceration in the U.S. has Houston toured the Harris County Jail Major crime: 75 percent of incarcerated become the country’s on May 19, Malcolm X’s 95th birthday, in jail are awaiting trial! Achilles heel,” said Udi to observe the conditions facing the Prisoners said they were given only Ofer of the ACLU’s Justice prisoners during the COVID-19 pan- one mask per week. NBUF was told that Division. demic. Black prisoners make up half of because judges are not working due to the “We expected it to be those incarcerated, despite being only virus, bail isn’t being set very often, and bad, but this is even worse 18 percent of the Harris County adult most prisoners can’t afford bail anyhow. than we thought, and it population. Seventy-five percent of those incarcer- really should be a wake-up The public report issued by NBUF ated are awaiting trial—​never convicted call to everyone,” Ofer explains that, with over 8,000 prisoners of any crime. said. “The United States and 2,000 staff at the third largest jail in Convicted prisoners were anxious to has a unique challenge the country, the Harris County Jail is a leave and be sent to the state prison sys- that other nations are not hotspot for the virus to spread. tem. One frustrated man told NBUF, “I’m facing, and that is the fact Kofi Taharka, national chair of the ready to go to TDCJ [Texas Department that we are the biggest NBUF, told Workers World, “Prisoners of Criminal Justice] but can’t. They’re not incarcerator in the world.” are stacked on top of each other. Every accepting any new prisoners.” The National Black American should spend one night in A Department of Justice investigation United Front has been jail. It is not fit for humans, particularly in 2009 found that conditions in the jail a prominent force in during an international pandemic. Social and treatment of inmates were unconsti- Houston’s African- distancing? The sheer number of pris- tutional, and excessive use of force was American activist com- oners, guards, medical staff, custodians often unchecked. munity for decades. Their Kofi Taharka outside the Harris County Jail, May 19. makes that impossible.” Between 2005 to 2015, 199 people died request to tour the jail was Only 1,500 prisoners had been tested in custody at the Harris County Sheriff's accepted, due to their activism and pres- groceries, toiletries and supplies and by the day of the tour, but one-half tested Office. Of those who died in the jail, 85 ence in events affecting their community. 75 specialized kits to unhoused peo- positive and three had died. Many pris- percent had not yet been convicted of a NBUF has led many struggles against ple, which included masks and hand oners told NBUF of being tested but crime. University of Texas postdoctoral police brutality and police killings. The sanitizers. never being informed of the results. fellow Amanda Woog has documented sheriff himself, along with his staff, actu- To reduce the risk of COVID-19 at the “The population is housed in very close nearly 7,000 in-custody deaths in Texas. ally led the tour. jail, Taharka concluded there must be an quarters, in bunk beds in pods of 24 peo- Over 2,000 additional people in Texas On Malcolm X’s birthday, NBUF holds extreme reduction of prisoners in the jail ple. This jail is a COVID-19 hot spot. and almost 100,000 more across the annual Feed the Hood events around and an increase in court proceedings to There is considerable fear and frustra- country could die from COVID-19 with- the country. This year in Houston they process people out of jail. Also lawyers tion among the prisoners,” Taharka said. out jail population reductions, according distributed 75 bags of nonperishable must be allowed to visit their clients. ☐ workers.org June 11, 2020 Page 5 Will U.S. troops be used against protesters?

By John Catalinotto “The option to use active duty forces in a resisted Trump’s orders to violently attack law enforcement role should only be used people on the streets of Washington, June 5—​Four days ago, the White as a matter of last resort,” he said, “and D.C., peacefully and lawfully protesting House called on the U.S. military to only in the most urgent and dire of situ- racial injustice. deploy in U.S. cities to “dominate” the ations. We are not in one of those situa- “One Guardsman who is resisting streets. Over the next three days, two tions now. I do not support invoking the Trump’s orders originally hoped to join former chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Insurrection Act” of 1807. (CNN) medical missions assisting in natural spoke out against this deployment. So Esper, normally a Trump toady, would disasters. Addressing the current situa- did Trump’s own former and current sec- speak out like that only if he already was tion he says, ‘I can’t do it. Even looking retaries of defense, the latter knowing it under pressure from the military hierarchy at my uniform is making me feel sick would likely get him fired. to stop the use of U.S. troops in the cities. that I’m associated with this, especially Reacting to Trump’s threat, at least Retired top officers, who speak more freely after [a National Guard unit] shot that three organizations of anti-war military on political questions than active officers, man who owned that barbecue shop’” in veterans called on service members from gave further proof of this. These included Louisville, Ky. (couragetoresist.org) the U.S. Armed Forces or the National former JCS chairs Admiral Mike Muller Guard to refuse to deploy against dem- and Gen. Martin Dempsey, as well as for- How demonstrators act interest of the imperialist corporations can onstrators opposing racism. mer Secretary of Defense James Mattis, all No one can predict for certain how sol- expect to never leave Africa alive. (2) Those While the president stopped broadcast- of whom ravaged Trump. diers under discipline will react to the who desert or resist will get the full support ing his threats, and some National Guard No one should mistake these military president’s orders. That there is dissent and protection of the liberation movement. and federal troops have been called back, officers’ motives. They have spent their at the top and that there is already resis- It took another 11 years of fighting, they may still be used against the civilian lives serving the interests of U.S. milita- tance from individual rank-and-file ser- but the war-weary Portuguese military population. The tumult within the mili- rism and imperialism. They have ordered vice members is a sign that resistance is finally revolted against Portugal’s fascist tary apparatus over Trump’s threat raises troops into illegal wars and occupations possible, even within a “professional,” government, overthrowing it and ending two key questions: Where does this oppo- against Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and nonconscript army. the wars against the African colonies of sition come from? What does the gener- Syria and threatened Iran and Venezuela. Consider the African revolutionary Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau. als’ reluctance mean for the anti-racist This time they believe that Trump’s orders leader, Amilcar Cabral, when dealing with While it is hard to predict what will movement? to deploy federal troops against anti-rac- a similar challenge. Cabral was the head happen next in the U.S., the events of the To answer the first: The generals and ist protesters threaten their military. of the organization that directed the liber- past weeks show that nothing is impos- admirals fear that using military force ation war against Portuguese colonialism sible. A movement that encourages and against the African-American community Resistance from below in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. defends soldiers who resist and appeals and its allies could wreck whatever cohe- The organization of antiwar veterans In 1963, despite his enormous tasks in to the troops, even as it challenges them, sion exists within the U.S. Armed Forces. About Face: Veterans Against the War has building a guerrilla movement and gov- can make a difference. The Pentagon has built a professional—​ circulated a petition aimed at National erning parts of his country, Cabral took that is, a nonconscript—military​ over the Guard members that reads: “We ask that time to write an appeal to the Portuguese Catalinotto is author of “Turn the Guns last 45 years since the debacle in Vietnam. you stand up for Black lives by standing conscript soldiers and officers who were Around: Mutinies, Soldier Revolts and The use of troops—who​ are 40 percent or down. We know the consequences you occupying Guinea-Bissau. Revolutions,” World View Forum, 2017. more people of color—​against the civil- may face for disobeying orders. Many of His message, carefully explained, can The book’s appendix contains an English ian population could destroy its morale us have faced them ourselves.” As of June be summarized as: (1) Those Portuguese translation of Cabral’s 1963 appeal to and boomerang against the brass. 4, some 700 veterans had signed this call troops who continue to fight Africans in the Portuguese troops. The generals’ reluctance indicates the to refuse duty. (tinyurl.com/y9xkxxnc) possibility for the movement to reach out Veterans For Peace, another such orga- to the rank-and-file soldiers. Weakening nization, circulated a statement calling TURN THE GUNS AROUND the morale of the U.S. Armed Forces on “all military leaders and personnel to by John Catalinotto means weakening the worldwide grip of refuse deployment. We, as veterans, know “If schools in the United States really wanted to impart historical truth, John U.S.-based monopolies and banks. This the terrible aftermath of participating in Catalinotto’s ‘Turn The Guns Around’ would be required reading. He tells the would be a step forward for the people of actions that are morally wrong against true story of this epoch. Few participants know more about the massive GI the U.S. and the world. communities in other countries. Now is rebellion against the Vietnam War, the anti-war veterans’ movement or the the time to refuse to participate in orders history of soldier revolts from the Paris Commune to the Portuguese coup.” Dissent from above that are unjust.” (veteransforpeace.org) – Pvt Larry Holmes, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who Courage to Resist reports in a June 4 GI resister and organizer for the American Servicemen’s Union 1972-74. was rumored to already be on his way out, article that it is already “currently assist- Available at online booksellers. openly contradicted Trump on June 4. ing members of the National Guard who In Buffalo, N.Y.: Viral video exposes police lies

By Victor Enrique from that squad. And when the two cops appeared in court for their arraignment, June 7—​As the uprisings against many hundreds of Buffalo police com- police brutality throughout the last week pletely filled the street outside in sup- have shown, Buffalo, N.Y.’s elected offi- port of the two, showing exactly whom cials can no longer hold together the con- they intend to “protect and serve” going flicts embedded within it. forward. During the first weekend of rebellion Buffalo is one of the most segregated beginning May 30, riot police teargassed cities in the U.S., with Main Street, which and shot rubber bullets at crowds, as over runs the length of the city, cutting it in 1,000 people gathered across Buffalo. half. About 85 percent of the city’s Black By midweek, they switched tactics. On residents live on the East Side of this Wednesday, June 3, police kneeled along- divide, often experiencing over policing side protesters in Niagara Square. This and a blind eye from city officials. gesture, under the guise of “solidarity,” These demonstrations have been mul- barely veiled its real objective of trying to tiracial and have bridged some of the gap Elderly protester Martin Gugino left bleeding by police. appease protesters into bending to their between residents of Buffalo’s East and will. A short time later, the imposed 8 West sides—​now standing in solidarity p.m. curfew came into effect. Until the video emerged, the police solidarity gesture couldn’t be clearer. to demand defunding the police and an Still, demonstrations continued to department publicly stated, and media The following day the demonstrations end to police violence. In the days follow- grow in both size and strength. On June 4, repeated, that Gugino had “tripped and doubled in size. The city was forced, by ing Gugino’s assault, huge, energetic spir- after a handful of protesters were kettled fallen.” the disgust and anger being expressed, to ited demonstrations continued to defy and arrested downtown, demonstrators This viral video circled the world, as suspend and then bring charges against the curfew. There was a greatly lessened avoided arrest in an organized defiance people everywhere were horrified and the two cops who assaulted Gugino. police presence. of the curfew by marching into a nearby condemned the brutality of cops, who Gugino is not only a longtime activist, he Over 650,000 people signed a peti- multinational community. However once they saw marching right past the uncon- went to Cuba with the 2018 Che Brigade tion calling for firing the two officers. On the curfew hit, riot police took the streets scious protester. One of the officers who (Canada’s volunteer work brigade in soli- Sunday afternoon, the Mayor withdrew with brute force. Caught in a now-viral previously knelt on Wednesday, John darity with Cuba). the 8 p.m. curfew. The people of Buffalo video, police shoved 75-year-old Martin Losi, prevented another officer from ren- In support of those two police officers, showed that we never needed the police Gugino backward, causing his head to dering Gugino any aid as he lay bleeding all 57 active members of the riot police, to keep us safe and that they are in fact slam against the sidewalk. on the sidewalk. The farce of his previous the Emergency Response Team, resigned the danger we face! ☐ Page 6 June 11, 2020 workers.org Growing revolt by Black journalists By Betsey Piette the editorial staff since the retirement of told to show both sides of issues there are Black editor Acel Moore in 2005. no two sides of.” In an historic week that has witnessed In a June 3 letter to the Philadelphia demonstrations, too numerous to count, Inquirer management these reporters ‘We demand a plan, with deadlines’ against police brutality in the aftermath stated: “As journalists of color, we do “It is an act that pains us, knowing of the brutal murder of George Floyd by more than report on the community—​ that now more than ever it is our duty Minneapolis police on May 25, another we are the community. We do our best and responsibility to uplift the marginal- anti-racist movement is growing. to give the community a platform to be ized voices of our community. But in this As reports surface of police intention- heard. We strive to represent the voice of moment, it is more important for us to ally targeting journalists across the U.S, the people. stand alongside those who have risen up especially Black and Brown reporters, against systemic racism and inequities journalists of color are speaking up and ‘We’re tired of ...’ and call on the Inquirer to do better. To taking action against decades of major “It’s no coincidence that communities be better. publications refusing to address racism—​ hurt by systemic racism only see journal- “We demand action. We demand a especially in two notable newsrooms—​ ists in their neighborhoods when people plan, with deadlines. We demand full, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New are shot or buildings burn down. It takes transparent commitment to changing

York Times. commitment to correct and improve that how we do business. No more ‘handling WW PHOTO: GLORIA RUBAC On June 4, 44 journalists of color at relationship. It is an insult to our work, internally.’ No more quiet corrections. Protester near Houston City Hall on June 2, the 200-year-old Philadelphia Inquirer our communities, and our neighbors to If we are to walk into a better world, we part of a 60,000 person march. staged a sick-out strike one day after forc- see that trust destroyed—​and makes us need to do it with our chests forward—​ ing a public apology from the Inquirer that much more likely to face threats and acknowledge and accept where we make members publicly expressed outrage over editorial staff for a blatantly racist head- aggression. The carelessness of our lead- mistakes and show how we learn from its editorial decision to publish an op-ed line—​“Buildings Matter, Too”—​posted ership makes it harder to do our jobs, and them. Your embarrassment is not worth by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) calling for on June 1. at worst puts our lives at risk. more than our humanity. This is what it military intervention in “violent riots” This article addressed plans to repair “We’re tired of shouldering the bur- means to ‘give a damn.’” entitled, “Send In the Troops.” Several property damages to buildings and infra- den of dragging this 200-year-old insti- On June 7, the Inquirer announced N.Y. Times reporters called in sick in structure following May 31 anti-racist tution kicking and screaming into a more that Executive Editor Stan Wischnowski, response. protests in communities of color that equitable age. We’re tired of being told of who joined the paper in 2000, and signed The Times editorial page editor, James exploded in an expression of outrage over the progress the company has made and the public apology issued by the newspa- Bennet, tried to defend the publication unaddressed systemic racism. being served platitudes about ‘diversity per, had tendered his resignation. of Cotton’s op-ed as a “both sides” argu- The journalists issued a collective state- and inclusion’ when we raise our con- ment. On Twitter, it was noted that “run- ment detailing what they see as decades cerns. We’re tired of seeing our words and New York Times writers revolt ning this put N.Y. Times Black staff in of management ignoring their concerns photos twisted to fit a narrative that does On June 3, the New York Times faced danger.” On June 7, Bennet resigned. ☐ and the glaring lack of people of color on not reflect our reality. We’re tired of being its own “open revolt” when over 800 staff Journalists reporting on Black uprisings under attack

By calvin deutschbein Louisville, Ky., to protest the police kill- ing of Breonna Taylor when they fired live At 5 a.m. in Minneapolis on May 29, rounds into her home during a no-knock Omar Jimenez, a Black CNN reporter raid on March 13. Louisville became one of wearing press credentials and reporting the first communities to join the uprising. live on camera on the rebellion against Just hours after the arrest of Omar the police murder of George Floyd, was Jimenez, police approached a news arrested along with the news crew. About crew with CBS affiliate WAVE 3 News a block away, a second CNN crew of white in Louisville and fired what WAVE 3 journalists were left unchallenged, even reported as “pepper bullets” directly at as police rained terror upon the Black the crew. (wave3.com, May 29) demonstrators in both areas. (cnn.com, Back in Minneapolis, police began May 29) pepper spraying journalists, first backing Across the U.S., law enforcement offi- them up against walls and targeting the cers have beaten, arrested, gassed, fired press corps rather than individual report- upon and bullied journalists into collab- ers. Journalists formed human shields oration, while police have rioted to assert and used protective gear to protect them- their power to carry out extrajudicial selves from spray and tear gas fired by WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE executions. They have been most violent riot police, despite having shown their Philladelphia Workers World joins June 6 march. toward the few Black journalists they press credentials. (latimes.com, May 30) encounter. Police across the U.S. have been clear brutally beaten on June 6 while filming sole Black journalist in the group. Fresh that their attacks are motivated by the a protest. from political repression of protesters, Targeting media to avoid accountability possibility of facing any accountability—​ police approached the group of journal- As the uprising took place in collectively or individually—​for decades Journalists who align with police ists, but only arrested Harriot, who was Minneapolis following four police officers of terror inflicted especially on Black Under the constant threat of police vio- subjected to violence and abuse while in torturing George Floyd to death on cam- communities. That was clear in Raleigh, lence, many news outlets opt to openly custody. Officers ordered him to remain era, thousands also took to the streets in N.C., on May 30 when independent jour- align with the police. WRAL, a white- motionless and tightened cuffs on him nalists reported being heavily gassed as aligned Raleigh-based news station, is to the point they could not remove them they were struggling to track the types of well known for a tendency to run police without digging wire cutters into his skin. munitions being used against protesters. statements as news and film activists' (theroot.com, June 5) Their concern is that the broad use of faces, which are later used in court by Targeting of Black journalists by police tear gas, military style humvees and other prosecutors. is not a new phenomena as the case of first-time use of weapons against civilians At an event at the University of North former Black Panther, award-winning may be a trial run for the Republican Carolina co-sponsored by the Black journalist and now political prisoner National Convention in Charlotte, Congress and Black Student Movement, Mumia Abu-Jamal reveals. In the early N.C., in August. Independent journalist organizers explicitly requested white 1980s, Abu-Jamal was the president of Charlie McGee reported that “the tear journalists not film Black demonstrators the Philadelphia chapter of the National gas is skewing my journalistic rigor.” without consent. Independent media Association of Black Journalists, and his (tinyurl.com/y8xtd455) reported that WRAL refused to comply news broadcasts and commentaries were That evening, Copwatch, which tracks with this request, even as other outlets heard on numerous radio stations. police misconduct and violence nation- chose to honor it. (tinyurl.com/9384067) As a former police commissioner and ally, reported that Raleigh police ran These and similar incidents highlight the later mayor, Frank Rizzo, in one of many out of tear gas and had to use expired importance of Black journalists and why abuses of power, compiled an over 800- gas that often contains cyanide, further police may be so eager to target them. page file on Abu-Jamal in an effort to tar- increasing its toxicity. (indyweek.com) get him. When the MOVE 9 were arrested On June 1, a crowd of right-wing vigilan- History of attacks on Black journalists and charged with murder of a police officer tes beat up WHYY journalist Jon Ehrens The Root reporter Michael Harriot in 1978, Abu-Jamal was publicly threat-

WW PHOTO: DEIRDRE GRISWOLD in the Fishtown area of Philadelphia. was with the press corps after a pro- ened by Rizzo for his reporting on the case. In Pittsburgh, a KDKA cameraman was test on June 4 in Atlanta. He was the Protest in Manchester, Conn., June 7. Continued on page 7 workers.org June 11, 2020 Page 7

From Palestine to Minneapolis Our power is in the streets

By Susan Abulhawa I have those privileges because of the struggle of Black people. The following remarks were prepared for a rally at LOVE Park in Philadelphia on June 4. Linked by oppression and solidarity Every day in Palestine there is a Palestinian somewhere My name is Susan Abulhawa, from Workers World with an Israeli soldier's knee on his neck. Every moment Party, and I bring revolutionary greetings and solidarity in Palestine there is a Palestinian being stopped, checked, from Palestine, where Palestinians have been marching frisked, humiliated, arrested, beaten or shot. We can in the streets of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Haifa, Gaza and say that we know what it's like, and to some extent that beyond in support of Black lives over the past few days. is true. But we've not been terrorized for 400 years. Our I am here not as an ally, but as your comrade in arms, as ancestors weren't kidnapped from their villages and flung your comrade in struggle. across the world into unspeakable bondage that has only We also need to acknowledge that the owners of just changed form, but not truly ended. the store that called the cops on George Floyd are That is why I'm here. I'm here because I am forever Palestinian. That is not something our community will bound to Black America by love, pain, gratitude and a ignore. It's something to be ashamed of. shared revolutionary history that goes back to times It needs to be said, repeated and understood, that before I was born. You inspire us and you inspire the Palestinian artist, Waleed Ayyoub, honors George Floyd. minorities in this country—including​ Brown immigrants world. Your struggle is bringing people pouring into like myself and that store owner and other minorities—​ their streets all over the world. give $1 trillion per day to prop up Wall Street during the are afforded rights and protections by law, not because The masses are hungry for revolution. Everywhere in pandemic. white men in power so generously gave them to us; and every corner. We are tired of the colonizers, the 1% who This is a moment that will not come again exactly the not because we ourselves fought for them, but because get their wealth by looting the hell out of all of us. The bil- same, and we intend to seize it to create a better world. Black people took to the streets to demand equal rights lionaires who got their money by bombing and destroying The U.S. government and Israel have been exporting for all. every country they couldn't control with puppet regimes. death, surveillance and looting all over the world. In fact, Because Black people fought and died for those rights. This is our time to stand together for a real revolution. the tactic of suffocating with a choke hold or a knee to Because Black people made this country the democ- This is no longer about charging the cops or even con- the neck comes precisely from Israeli military training of racy it was purported to be at first, but it wasn't until victing them. This is about the fact that working-class U.S. police forces, including in Minneapolis. the Civil Rights Movement and until Black people made families don't have decent schools for their children. Together we will export revolution. We will export our the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 a real- That getting a college education means you will spend love and solidarity for the downtrodden everywhere—​ ity—to​ end quotas on nonwhite people coming into the the rest of your natural life paying interest to banks. our solidarity to everyone willing to take to the streets to country. It's about being away from your babies to work three demand a more just world, a better world, a more equi- I have been robbed of everything my ancestors built in jobs and still not being able to pay your bills. It's about table world. Palestine for 2,000 years, and I have been forced to live your zip code or the color of your skin dictating your des- If nothing else, this moment proves that the only real my life in exile, banned from my homeland, away from tiny no matter what potential or gifts you are born with. power we have as ordinary people is in the streets. It took my culture, my language and my history because foreign It's about the fact that there is now a trillionaire in just two weeks of us being out here for them to finally colonizers with big guns and a lot of money decided I was the world, whose extraordinary wealth was gained off remove that damn Rizzo statue. We don't have power in not the right kind of human being to inherit my heritage. the backs of underpaid, exploited or outright enslaved their courts; they're rigged. We don't have power through But I will not say that I know what it's like to be labor, not to mention the destruction of nonhuman life their ballots; those are rigged, too. They're giving us a excluded wholesale the way Black people in this country and planet alike. choice of which racist, capitalist motherfucker to vote for are because that would be a lie. I am still afforded some It's about the masses not being able to live simple, as president. We have a third choice, and it's right here. In privileges that Black people are denied, even though dignified lives while the ruling class has the ability to the streets. ☐ These looters pocketed $11.7 billion By Deirdre Griswold COVID-19, the money that banks get that way—​by rob- rebellion are those bing the poor at their lowest moments—​is expected to in our class who have Who are the real looters? balloon this year as more checks bounce for lack of funds. been most beaten They wear elegant business suits, not hoodies or jeans. Many, many people are living virtually on the edge; just down by this oppres- They dine at fancy restaurants, not hotdog stands. They paying a small bill can push them over. And, then, on top sive, racist system. hang out in boardrooms, not on street corners. of being penniless, they’re faced with a bank fine. Polls show that the They don’t rob banks. They ARE the banks. And what about the many people who are too poor to majority of the pop- They are the U.S. financiers who punish the poor by have any money at all in a bank? Who can barely make ulation sympathize charging overdraft fees when a check bounces. They it from paycheck to paycheck? Or have no paycheck at with the demonstra- raked in $11.7 BILLION that way last year. all because they can’t get any kind of job and must rely tors. Looters in silk The people who were penalized the most were those on food banks to stay alive? suits, look out! The with bank balances averaging less than $350. (New York It is cold consolation that, because they haven’t got day of reckoning for Times, June 4) Sometimes, the banks racked up charges anything that can be taken away, they can’t be robbed in your squeezing every against these depositors even after their accounts had this way by the banks. possible dollar out of been closed. Capitalism is working very well at what it is intended the poor is coming. ☐ Protest in Queens, N.Y., on May 30. But you don’t see cops rushing into the banks, guns to do: make more money for those who already have drawn, to arrest the directors who are systematically money, the real looters of society. Those who do the real robbing poor people. Of course, the really big money- work of producing everything that is needed to stay alive men, the ones who own the banks, wouldn’t be there get back barely enough to live themselves. anyway. They’re much too busy enjoying their wealth to Capitalism can’t be reformed; that is its nature. Journalists under attack do anything like work. Like a deadly virus, it must be destroyed and replaced Continued from page 6 With so many tens of millions now jobless because of by a new social order—​one that is run by and for the mul- tinational, multigender working class. People are rising up In 1981, Abu-Jamal was framed for the murder of a right now against the uniformed thugs who carry out the Philadelphia police officer and received the death penalty, orders of the silk-suit looters. later overturned in 2001 for constitutional violations. Most forceful in this magnificent coast-to-coast Abu-Jamal’s case, currently in appeals, is once again in the spotlight as Philadelphia activists forced the removal of Rizzo’s statue early in the morning of June 3. While imprisoned, Mumia Abu-Jamal continues to work as a journalist. In 1994 his commentaries were slated to run during a NPR series on prisons on “All Things Considered.” After NPR bowed to pressure from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, Abu-Jamal and Prison Radio filed a lawsuit against the station. You can find Abu-Jamal’s work today in Workers World, most recently on prison guards. (tinyurl.com/yaxcq5jo) WW PHOTO: MINNIE BRUCE PRATT Workers World will always be in full solidarity with 2,500 people chant “Black Lives Matter” in Syracuse, N.Y., those under attack for fighting for Black Liberation. Free on the traditional land of the Onondaga Nation of the WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE Haudenosaunee Confederation on June 6. Union contingent in Philadelphia June 6 march. the Press! Free the People! Free Mumia! ☐ Page 8 June 11, 2020 workers.org Antiracist protests for George Floyd circle the globe By John Catalinotto major city of Kolkata, West Bengal. Lisbon, dozens of big cities, and many The Palestinian people’s strong identi- more small ones, including dozens all The massive popular and antiracist fication with the Black struggle in the U.S. over Germany, were the sites of antirac- reaction to the cop murder of George led to demonstrations in East Jerusalem ist demonstrations. Besides targeting Floyd in the epicenter of world imperial- and other actions. (See article this issue.) structural racism in the United States, ism has inspired an equally massive reac- demonstrators raised slogans against the tion worldwide. Hundreds of thousands European ultra-right. have marched, not only in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests in the Pretoria, South Africa. United States, but also against local man- ifestations of insidious racism. In South America, mass protests took The U.S. spreads its pro-imperialist cul- place in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, ture through the world on the wavelength Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. To provided by Netflix, Disney, the internet the north there were protests from Mexico media and even the music airways. This City to Vancouver, B.C. Protest in Hebron, Occupied West Bank, one cultural dominance has now boomer- of many in Occupied Palestinian lands, in anged on the U.S. rulers and struck a blow honor of George Floyd and Eyad Hallek, a young Palestinian man with special needs Paris, France. against Washington’s imperialist allies. who was killed by Israeli soldiers on May 30 Even the corporate media have cov- in Jerusalem. In Bethlehem, demonstrators In France protests took up demands ered the breadth and depth of the world- carried signs reading: “Black Lives Matter, regarding victims of French police bru- wide protests. Al Jazeera provided one Palestinian Lives Matter!” tality. In Germany activists protested the of the most inclusive lists, along with assaults by neo-Nazis on migrants and an interactive world map as of June 7 at An especially good development refugees. The real enemy of the workers in tinyurl.com/yasd8gg5. occurred in countries where European Europe are the big banks, especially those In one of the most satisfying actions of populations settled historically, and the of imperialist Germany, France, Britain, the weekend, demonstrators in Bristol, rulers and owners pushed aside Indigenous Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and the England, removed the statue of Bristol- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. populations. In Australia, the protests mor- United States—the​ old colonial powers. born slave trader Edward Colston and phed from actions in solidarity with George dumped it into the river. Floyd to demands for the rights of the origi- Impact of U.S. protests nal population of the island continent. Communists abroad have expressed to Workers World the impact of the U.S. protests. A letter to Workers World from the Union of Galician People (Spanish state) read: “The murder of George Floyd has brought home to the world the exis- tence of a decent people and working class [in the U.S.], who confront injustice in the Buenos Aires, Argentina. streets and have even been able to force Donald Trump to seek refuge in the White House bunker.” Fronte Popolare in Italy writes, “Everybody knows that any success, any Demonstrators take down a statue of 17th step forward for the oppressed in the century “slave trader” Edward Colston and U.S., is a success and step forward for the throw it into the river in Bristol, England. Melbourne, Australia. oppressed of the entire world.” ☐ Colston grew rich in the 17th century transporting over 100,000 enslaved peo- Massive demonstrations in NATO countries ple to the New World—​dumping over- Mexico City, Mexico. board the bodies of 20,000 who died Antiracist solidarity demonstrations during the passage. He then bought his In Asia, there were protests in South were massive in Europe, especially those way into the hearts of the English ruling Korea; Tokyo, Japan; and Quezon City in countries in Western Europe whose gov- class, who called him a “philanthropist.” the Philippines. ernments and armies are usually lined up Bristol’s current population, now 14 per- Workers World received a solidar- with U.S. imperialism in NATO. This time cent people of color, disagree. ity message for the U.S. working class even the governments—​many of which are from the Socialist Unity Centre of India in a difficult relationship with the Trump Lancaster, England. Solidarity from Global South (Communist), which “marched in the administration—​had to at least speak out In this time of capitalist economic cri- streets and organized demonstrations publicly against U.S. racist police. sis and pandemic, the population in the in the metropolises and numerous small From Istanbul in Turkey to Belfast and countries facing super-oppression from towns throughout India,” including in the Dublin, from Helsinki and Stockholm to world imperialism nevertheless came out in solidarity with African-American peo- ple and with George Floyd. According to Al Jazeera, in Africa there have been demonstrations in Pretoria and Capetown in South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria; Monrovia, Vancouver, Canada. Liberia; Accra, Ghana; Tunis, Tunisia; and Dakar, Senegal.

Seoul, South Korea. Istanbul, Turkey.

Indigenous people perform the Haka, a traditional Maori dance, in honor of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter in Christchurch, New Zealand. Dakar, Senegal. Dublin, Ireland. Tokyo, Japan.

PHOTO: OMAR HAJ KADOUR In war-ravaged Idlib, Syria, Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun said they painted the mural to memorialize George Floyd “to call for Nairobi, Kenya. Kolkata, India. Helsinki, Finland. peace and love” worldwide. workers.org June 11, 2020 Page 9 Step one, movement demands ‘DEFUND POLICE!’

Continued from page 1 Minneapolis Police Department and Mayor Jacob Frey expressing opposition, creating a new, transformative model remains to be seen. To bring it to fruition, in the U.S. in 2019, 25 percent of them for cultivating safety in Minneapolis.” it will take more sustained mass pressure Black. (Huffpost.com, June 4) (nymag.com, June 8) The local group, to oppose any pushback. The demand to “defund the police” has Black Visions, first proposed the plan to evolved into a major focus of this rebel- the community and the City Council. LA and NYC announce reductions lion in light of all the budget cuts taking Minneapolis is one of the most seg- in police funding place for years in areas of social funding, regated cities in the U.S. This unprece- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti especially health care, and in light of the dented rebellion has torn off the liberal announced that $150 million of that city’s COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate facade this city has been hiding behind police budget will be used for social pro- impact on communities of color. for years. The city is 60 percent white, grams as part of its defunding process. The rebellion has helped to bring 20 percent African American and 10 per- This is just a drop in the bucket, consid- New York City protest. “defund the police” to the forefront and cent Latinx. The police department is 9 ering that the total annual police budget is heard the loudest from ground zero of percent Black. The overall percentage of for LA in 2018 was over $1.5 billion, 25 Where the national debate goes, the uprising—Minneapolis.​ arrests over the past 10 years has been 60 percent of its total budget. whether to defund, disband, dismantle or On June 7, at a rally in Minneapolis, percent Black. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio even to ultimately abolish the police, will the majority of that City Council—​9 of The overwhelmingly white police depart- announced plans to reduce the gargantuan depend a lot on the lasting power of the 12 members—​jointly announced plans to ment has been an occupying force in the $6 billion 2019 police budget by $1 billion, uprising and which organized voices have defund and eventually disband the police Black community, not to protect and serve. which is around 8 percent of the total city the most political influence. That such a department, receiving broad support. This Seventeen complaints, including murder, budget. New York City is the most popu- debate is happening now is an important, development will fuel the fires of national were made against Derek Chauvin, prior to lated U.S. city with 11 million people—​the positive development. protests, which everyone will be gauging. him using his knee to murder Floyd. Only vast majority of them people of color. It has It indicates that the angry and fed-up In their joint statement, the coun- one complaint was heard. the largest U.S. metropolitan police force, masses, led by the Black Lives Matter cil members commented, “Decades of The City Council wants to use the which has brutalized and detained thou- movement, not only want to be heard. police reform efforts have proved that police budget for other forms of pub- sands of protesters—​some for days—​over They understand that actions speak the Minneapolis Police Department lic safety and social programs for the the past two weeks on behalf of Wall Street louder than words, and they want these cannot be reformed and will never be communities, especially mental health and big real estate interests. Most of the actions, in the form of concessions, to accountable for its actions. We are here programs. Whether this plan is actu- protesters have finally been released, but take place sooner rather than later to help today to begin the process of ending the ally implemented or not, especially with repressive policy remains intact. end racist violence and suffering. ☐

June is Pride Month No Pride without justice!

Continued from page 1 solidarity march. A CSW statement read in to protesters. Suddenly cops from the and other people of color, and the impact part, “It is our moral imperative to honor Wake County Sheriff’s Office showed up of that violence on LGBTQ2+ communi- brutality and racism following the police the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia and ordered everyone to leave—​includ- ties is intensifying the cry for “Cops Out murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Rivera, who bravely led the Stonewall ing the bar owner—​and fired shotgun of Pride!” Arrests by cops and impris- Black Lives Matter protesters united at uprising, by standing in solidarity with the flash-bangs at the owner and workers. onment are generally wreaking havoc in the original site of the rebellion to empha- Black community against systemic rac- (truthout.org, June 3) queer communities. A 2019 American Bar size that the heavy hand of police violence ism.” (tinyurl.com/yawua2tf) On June 1 in Des Moines, Iowa, work- Association report stated that LGBTQ2+ falls disproportionately on queer people of On June 4, the Reclaim Pride Coalition ers at the Blazing Saddle bar saw that cops people in the U.S. are incarcerated at a color, particularly on trans women. of New York City also announced a Queer were teargassing local BLM marchers. rate three times higher than the general A third of Black trans women who have Liberation March for Black Lives and The workers put together first aid back- population. (tinyurl.com/yadqsjkc) interaction with police report that cops Against Police Brutality for the traditional packs and went outside to tend to protest- In Indianapolis on June 4, the board always assume they are sex workers. (hrc. last Sunday in June. The RPC press release ers in “agonizing pain.” The bar’s security of directors of Indy Pride announced it org, 2019) Nearly 90 percent of trans emphasized: “Black Americans and their camera footage shows what happened would no longer have a police presence women assumed by cops to be sex workers children have suffered disproportionate next: A van pulls up and armed cops in at any of its events, including the Indy suffer police harassment and abuse, includ- abuse at the hands of the white suprem- riot gear pour out. They hold employees Pride Festival. The directors’ statement ing verbal, physical and sexual assaults. acist power structure. The most margin- at gun point at the door while searching read, “The first Pride marches were pro- (transequality.org, December 2017) alized among Black communities—​like the bar. Cops eventually arrested three tests against police brutality led by Brown At the June 2 action, people called out Trans people, Immigrants, Disabled peo- people, including one who needed med- and Black people. This is the time for our the names of Nina Pop, a trans woman of ple, Deaf and Hard of Hearing people ical care. (tinyurl.com/y9s57chz) community to listen to communities color murdered May 3 in Sikeston, Mo.; and Neurologically Diverse people—​live affected by violence, to protest with them, and Tony McDade, a Black trans man under an even greater risk.” Cops Out of Pride! and to support them in all ways possible." shot and killed by police in Tallahassee, The continuing crisis of police, white (tinyurl.com/ydhtt8lb) ☐ Fla., two days after cops killed Floyd. As ‘Solidarity matters now more than ever’ supremacist violence against Black people the crowd began to disperse shortly after Strong expressions of support for the the 8 p.m. curfew, cops attacked and Black Lives Matter uprising have come inflicted multiple injuries, including on from LGBTQ2+ communities, from Support the Marxist voice for LGBTQ2+ rights ACT UP-NY member Jason Rosenberg labor organizations to gay bars. In D.C. whose arm was broken. on May 31, the offices of Pride at Work, an Ever since the Stonewall Rebellion who was charged with manslaughter after On May 31, the Detroit Queer Activist AFL-CIO-affiliated group, suffered dam- erupted June 28, 1969, Workers World defending herself from a racist, bigoted Coalition held a similar protest focus- age when the building that housed PAW has covered the global struggle to end attack. ing on police brutality against LGBTQ2+ was partially burned during the mael- homophobia and all forms of discrimi- WW helps to build mass struggles, like people of color, especially Black and strom of the protests. nation, persecution and violence against what’s going on now in the streets from Indigenous people. Using the city’s mon- PAW Executive Director Jerame Davis lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer coast to coast. This righteous outpouring of ument to the great Black boxer, Joe Louis, said the next day: “Black lives matter more and gender-nonconforming communities. rage and protest over the racist cop murder as a platform, DQAC founder Dorian than any building or its contents. LGBTQ WW has consistently backed up our of George Floyd comes as the COVID‑19 Minley announced demands: an end to people are found in every community, activist coverage with analysis. In the early pandemic disproportionally impacts Black, policing as it exists in the U.S. and “an including Black and Brown communities, 1970s, WW ran a series of articles that led Brown and Indigenous peoples. end to second-class citizenship, white and when our communities are under to publication of "The Gay Question: A Please help us get out the word. For a nationalism, class stratification, wage attack, like the rest of the labor movement, Marxist Appraisal" in 1976. And then in donation of at least $75 a year—or​ $100, slavery and violent ostracism from the we stand up and fight back. We know there 1993, we published "The Roots of Lesbian or $300 or much more if you’re able—​ greater society.” (tinyurl.com/y8bd6plc) can be no peace without justice and that and Gay Oppression: A Marxist View." members receive a year’s subscription to our rights weren’t won easily or peacefully. Then in the 1990s, WW Managing WW, a monthly letter about timely issues Queer liberation marches for Black lives Solidarity matters now more than ever.” Editor and globally recognized transgen- and five free subscriptions to give to The commitment by the larger (lgbtqnation.com, June 1) der leader Leslie Feinberg wrote a series friends. Write checks to Workers World LGBTQ2+ community that Black Lives LGBTQ2+ bars have shown solidarity of 25 articles later published in pamphlet and mail them, with your name and Matter was dramatically affirmed on June during the BLM marches—​and braved form as “Rainbow Solidarity in Defense of address, to 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Floor, 3 when the Los Angeles Pride organization, retaliation from the cops. On June 1, in Cuba.” They were followed by the series New York, NY 10011. Or sign up online Christopher Street West, announced that, downtown Raleigh, N.C., workers at the “Lavender & Red” about socialism and to donate each month. instead of canceling its annual June march Ruby Deluxe Bar set up a first aid sta- the LGBTQ2+ struggle. In 2012 Feinberg We’re grateful for your help in building because of the coronavirus pandemic, tion in the parking lot and began pass- wrote in defense of African American Workers World—sign​ up today! ☐ LA Pride would be a Black Lives Matter ing out water bottles and granola bars transgender woman CeCe McDonald, Page 10 June 11, 2020 workers.org

editorial FTP! Cops out of labor movement, youth in!

The American Federation of Labor McCarthy explained, “Kroll has a long fulfilling their legal obligation—the​ “duty part of the labor movement? Yet he takes was founded in 1886 and the Congress of history of bigoted remarks and com- of fair representation.” the pathetic position that “The short Industrial Organizations in 1935. The two plaints of violence made against him. But real unions, historically, have not answer is not to disengage and just con- union federations merged in 1955. For As union President, he antagonizes and defended racist conduct. For example, demn.” (publicintegrity.org, June 5) most of this time police organizations—​ disparages members of the Black com- during World War II, backward white Supervisors who police workers on the wrongly referred to as unions—​were not munity. He advocates for military-style autoworkers staged “hate strikes” to keep job are not allowed, even by law, to join affiliated with the U.S. labor movement. police tactics making communities less Black workers from getting jobs on the unions. A lone individual who crosses The International Union of Police safe and the police force more deadly. assembly line. The United Auto Workers a picket line can be barred from union Associations, comprised of local police “Despite his conduct, Kroll was reelected told the auto companies to fire the racist membership. It’s past time to expel the groups, like the Fraternal Order of Police, with an overwhelming majority." workers. cops—​police, prison and detention the Police Benevolent Association and Kroll, who now defends the killers of More importantly, there is a funda- guards, border patrol and all armed others, was not chartered by the AFL-CIO George Floyd, is hardly exceptional. As a mental distinction between labor unions, agents of the capitalist class—​and get until 1979. resolution passed by Seattle’s MLK Labor which represent the organized working their toxic presence out of the labor If the federation is to uphold its Mission states, “Systemic racism exists in the City class, and “fraternal orders” or “benevo- movement once and for all. Statement—​its stated purpose is “to bring of Seattle Police Department.” The Seattle lent associations” that represent the uni- Growing class consciousness explains economic justice to the workplace and Police Officers Guild faces expulsion from formed goons of the capitalist state. The the mass popularity of the slogans “f— social justice to our nation”—​the AFL-CIO the local labor federation if it does not police represent an alien class interest. the police” and “all cops are b—ds. The must immediately expel the IUPA. affirm “that racism is a structural prob- In communities of color they are essen- acronyms FTP and ACAB (1312) have Consistently, police associations side lem in our society and in law enforcement tially a colonial occupying force that been spray painted from coast to coast. with their members against the commu- that until addressed creates undue harm consistently upholds white supremacy—​ This is a working-class revolt. nities they occupy and routinely subject on Black and BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, which their membership organizations These youth, many of them low-wage to brutal, all-too-often deadly force. They People of Color] communities.” reinforce. workers, are putting their lives on the line defend the violent suppression of recent There are calls for stronger action, In the U.S., police forces began as for Black Lives Matter. Theirs is exactly Black Lives Matter protests, which has led including a petition signed by thousands armed bodies to support chattel slavery, the awareness, energy and militancy that to several deaths and numerous injuries. of union members calling for the AFL- or “slave catchers.” From the first strikes the labor movement desperately needs. Their contracts have a long list of protec- CIO to expel the IUPA and for AFL-CIO- in the 1800s until today, the police have These youth want to be organized into tive disciplinary guidelines—​which most affiliated public sector unions with police sided with the bosses and upheld capital- unions, not be targeted by police or be employers would never agree to—​making units “to terminate their relationships ist wage-slavery. In addition, policing is a incarcerated. Not only should the cops it nearly impossible to hold cops account- with unionized police and correctional drain on city budgets already strained by be thrown out, the young, multinational able for misconduct, including murder. officers.” (tinyurl.com/ybcgbonv) falling tax revenues during an economic working class that has taken on the state A prime example is Bob Kroll, the crisis and exorbitant interest payments needs to be brought in to replace them. Cops aren’t part of working class president of Police Officers Federation of demanded by big banks. FTP! Organize the youth!! ☐ Minneapolis. Calling on Kroll to resign, Some misguided union members might Why, we must ask AFL-CIO President Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill think that cop associations are merely Rich Trumka, are police allowed to be a Rebellion empowers Black NFL players By Monica Moorehead Mahomes, most valuable player in this Goodell’s main role as commissioner is to to acknowledge Kaepernick’s heroic year’s Super Bowl. New Orleans Saints represent the interests of these owners, 10 stance—​and to bring him back into the June 8—​The global uprising against receiver Michael Thomas—AP​ Offensive of whom are outright supporters of Trump. league, given that now the NFL says it police brutality, beginning its third week Player of the Year in 2019—​organized These facts alone counter the insen- supports “peaceful” protests by players. in the aftermath of the public lynching of players from various teams to participate. sitive remarks of Denver Broncos head Trump has already asked Goodell to George Floyd, continues to make a pro- The next day, June 5, NFL coach Vic Fangio, who said on June 2 clarify on Twitter on whether he will or found impact on every sector of U.S. soci- Commissioner Roger Goodell released an that there is no racism or discrimination will not punish players for taking a knee ety. This is certainly true for the sports “apology” video from his home. Part of his within the NFL. He was forced to apolo- during the upcoming season. world—​especially the National Football statement reads: “We, the NFL, admit we gize on June 3. League, which supervises the most popu- were wrong for not listening to NFL players Drew Brees controversy lar professional sport in the country. earlier and encourage all to speak out and What about ‘Kap’? And the cops? Drew Brees, Super Bowl-winning quar- On June 4, a dozen Black NFL players, peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Two significant criticisms of Goodell’s terback with the New Orleans Saints, whose average age is 25, released a pow- Black Lives Matter.” statement are that he did not mention made it clear in 2016, and recently in erful two-minute video asking the NFL He went on to say, “Without Black police brutality, especially the lynching of a June 3 Instagram, that he views tak- to apologize for attacking players who players, there would be no National Floyd which ignited the current rebellion, ing a knee as being “disrespectful” to protested police brutality almost three Football League, and the protests around and he did not mention Colin Kaepernick the U.S. flag. It appears he deliber- years ago, inspired by Colin Kaepernick the country are emblematic of the centu- or apologize for his treatment by the NFL ately posted on June 3 because that was or “Kap.” ries of silence, inequality and oppression owners. #BlackOutTuesday—​when athletes were In the video, the players demanded of Black players, coaches, fans and staff.” Kaepernick, the Black former quarter- putting up a blank black post on social an end to police brutality and systemic One clear fact is true: Without Black back for the San Francisco 49ers, sparked media to protest police violence. oppression of Black people. The players players, there would be no NFL, since a national debate in 2016 when he first Brees’ June 3 post mentioned noth- called out the names of George Floyd, 75 percent of the players are African sat and then kneeled, during the play- ing about racism or police brutality. That Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Walter American. But out of 32 teams, only three ing of the national anthem before every sparked a firestorm of criticism from NFL Scott, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and have African-American head coaches and game, to protest police brutality and rac- players, including his own teammates. On other Black people who have lost their one a Latinx coach. There is not one Black ist oppression against Black people. June 5, Brees retracted his statement with lives to police violence in recent years. owner; the majority of owners are either Sports figures in the U.S. and all an Instagram apology, saying, “I would One of the players is quarterback Patrick white billionaires or multimillionaires. around the world, both amateur and pro, like to apologize to my friends, team- started taking a knee in solidarity with mates, the City of New Orleans, the black Kaepernick’s symbolic protest. But he community, NFL community and anyone was released by the 49ers in 2017, despite I hurt with my comments yesterday. In having led the team to the Super Bowl speaking with some of you, it breaks my and a conference championship in pre- heart to know the pain I have caused.” vious years. He still has not been picked Trump, who originally praised Brees, up by any other team, not even as a sec- then criticized him on Twitter, saying that ond-string quarterback. Kaepernick sued Brees had nothing to apologize for and the NFL owners for virtually “blackball- that every player should stand for “Old ing” him out of the league, when he had Glory with hand on heart or with a salute.” clearly made it known that he wanted to Brees repudiated Trump’s “order” continue to play. The NFL settled out of directly on Instagram with an even stron- court. ger statement: “Through my ongoing con- In September 2017, Trump publicly versations with friends, teammates and called the protesting players “SOBs,” leaders in the black community, I realize setting off a blast of racist agreements, this is not an issue about the American including by the director of the Michigan flag. It has never been. We must stop State Police. Players responded by taking talking about the flag and shift our atten- a knee in protest throughout the 2017-18 tion to the real issues of systemic racial season. injustice, economic oppression, police With the Goodell apology, NFL play- brutality, and judicial and prison reform.” ers and the public are asking the NFL Continued on page 11 workers.org June 11, 2020 Page 11

No es un motín — ¡REBELIÓN!

Continúa de la página 12 2016 en oposición a la brutalidad policial. Este levantamiento también ha tenido “matones”. Él ha declarado que cuando un efecto dominó en todo el mundo, comienza el “saqueo”, comienza el “tiro- con acciones de solidaridad en ciuda- teo”. Ha declarado que el movimiento des de África y Medio Oriente, Australia, “antifa” (también conocido como antifas- Bélgica, Brasil, Gran Bretaña, Alemania, cistas) es una organización “terrorista”, Irán, Irlanda, Italia, Nueva Zelanda y y ha llamado a los gobernadores “imbé- otros lugares. ciles” si no “dominan” y arrestan a los Los políticos liberales burgueses y reac- manifestantes. cionarios y sus voceros de los medios de Por su sola presencia, es la policía la que comunicación intentan abrir una brecha incita a la violencia, no los manifestantes. entre los participantes en el levantamiento, Trump hizo una amenaza para llamar etiquetando a muchos manifestantes a su base neofascista para enfrentar a los negros como “pacíficos” y muchos mani- manifestantes antes de dar marcha atrás festantes blancos “anarquistas”. en esa amenaza. Miles de manifestantes Estos apologistas de la clase dominante se enfrentaron a los agentes del Servicio temen cuán lejos y cuán profunda podría Secreto y a la policía local en el Parque llegar esta rebelión para romper el frágil Lafayette en Washington, D.C., frente a la sistema capitalista, que ya se está recupe- Casa Blanca el 1 de junio. Durante varias Filadelfia, el 6 de junio. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE rando de la pandemia de coronavirus y la noches, los fuegos artificiales explotaron crisis económica en curso. lo suficientemente fuerte como para que que se unen. Se niegan a guardar silen- aficionado y profesional se han pronun- ¡Esta rebelión necesita solidaridad los escuchasen en la Casa Blanca. cio cuando se trata de ser solidarios con ciado contra el racismo y, en algunos política, no aislamiento! Esa es razón No se sabe cuánto durará este levan- el movimiento Black Lives Matter y de casos, asistieron a manifestaciones junto suficiente para exigir: ¡Ningún estado tamiento, ya sean días o semanas o más. condenar todas las formas de violencia con artistas. policial! ¡Sin dictadura militar! ¡Amnistía Hay un absoluto: esta rebelión no tiene policial. Los manifestantes se han arrodillado para todos los arrestados! ¡Retirar a la precedentes por estar compuesta predo- Este levantamiento, al igual que la pan- en las calles en solidaridad con el ex policía y la Guardia Nacional! y ¡Sin jus- minantemente de jóvenes, sino que es demia, ha impactado a todos los sectores mariscal de campo de la Liga Nacional ticia, no hay paz!. ☐ multinacional con manifestantes negros, de la sociedad estadounidense. de Fútbol americano, Colin Kaepernick, latinx, indígenas, asiáticos y blancos Destacadas figuras del deporte quien se arrodilló por primera vez en ¡Defiende a lxs resistentes y al levantamiento!

Continúa de la página 12 con dinero. Se enfrentan a un futuro som- los conductores de autobuses sindicales Sería más solidario si los miembros de brío, si sobreviven al presente. en los Estados Unidos, la mayoría de los la Guardia Nacional del estado en todas las ganancias o la propiedad de la clase Y en medio de esta tormenta de opre- trabajadores de color, se negaron a trans- partes se negaran a ocupar a sus amigos capitalista. sión, los policías siguen ocupándolos, portar a los manifestantes arrestados. y vecinos con la fuerza militar. Para los demonizándolos y matándolos, a sus seres Una joven mujer blanca en la ciudad de manifestantes blancos, más solidaridad No hay futuro bajo el capitalismo queridos, sus compañeros de trabajo, Nueva York tiró al suelo a un policía en sería ir a las protestas y tomar el liderazgo Los manifestantes son abrumadora- miembros de sus comunidades. Estos bicicleta después de golpear a una joven de los organizadores negros. Se uniría mente jóvenes que trabajan o están des- jóvenes son testigos oculares de algunas manifestante negra. La junta escolar de más solidaridad con los negros, morenos empleados, que son de nacionalidades y de estas muertes, o las ven en video una Minneapolis cortó los lazos con la fuerza e indígenas oprimidos para cortas sus géneros oprimidos. Atrapados en la his- y otra vez, consumiéndose con la pesadilla policial de la ciudad, un rompimiento fondos y desmantelar a la policía, desa- tórica pandemia de COVID-19, están per- de que lo que les sucedió a George Floyd o en la linea de la escuela a la prisión. fiar un sistema legal injusto y luchar para diendo empleos en la crisis económica sin Breonna Taylor podría sucederles. Innumerables personas en todas partes liberar a todos los encarcelados. precedentes o arriesgando sus vidas para Esta generación joven es la nueva gene- están contribuyendo a fondos de fianza Una nueva generación está liderando: mantener empleos “esenciales” desprotegi- ración de no tener nada que perder solo para los arrestados en las protestas. contra el racismo y por la justicia, con- dos y mal pagados. Tal vez ellos o sus fami- sus cadenas, y están liderando la batalla A medida que el estado intensifica los tra la existencia sin salida bajo el capita- liares o vecinos no pueden pagar el alquiler contra el estado asesino. ataques brutales contra manifestantes lismo y hacia un mundo mejor. No son y están siendo desalojados de sus hogares o Ellos, y nosotros, necesitamos una soli- con gases lacrimógenos, gas pimienta, “alborotadores”, son resistentes. Actúa en están enfermos, tal vez muriendo, porque daridad activa y estratégica para ganar. balas de goma y tropas armadas, nuestra solidaridad con ellos y su levantamiento, la atención médica es solo para personas Ya ha habido ejemplos inspiradores: solidaridad debe mantenerse. ¡ahora! ☐

Rebellion empowers Black NFL players Learn more. Available online without charge. Continued from page 10 Find them at: workers.org/books

Many players, fans and analysts Why Colin The Klan & Government: did doubt the sincerity of Brees’s first Kaepernick is apology. But Brees’ detailed answer to Foes or Allies? right Trump’s white supremacist message car- Examines the special relationship ried more weight because of its direct, Articles from Workers with the state that has allowed emphatic rejection of the statement of a World / Mundo Obrero the Ku Klux Klan to exist for over a sitting U.S. president. on the ongoing struggle century despite its criminal history of against racist oppression. lynchings, murders, and intimidation. How will the game be played? As for the coming NFL season, there are a number of important questions to Marxism, Reparations & the Black Freedom be addressed: Will the NFL make over- Struggle tures to bring Kaepernick back into the league? Do the players have concrete An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. plans to reach out to Kaepernick? Will Edited by Monica Moorehead. the players take a knee during the upcom- NFL players, on video, say Black Lives ing games? How will the NFL hierarchy Matter! Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination • Black Labor and bosses react if that happens? Will from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery • Black Youth: Repression & the NFL put pressure on owners to hire The NFL and other sports leagues will Resistance • The Struggle for Socialism Is Key • Domestic Workers more Black head coaches and bring more be forced to be more transparent in how United Demand Passage of a Bill of Rights • Black & Brown people of color into front-office positions, they treat athletes of color, and white ath- Unity • Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior • Racism & Poverty in now dominated by whites? Will Trump letes like Drew Brees will be held more the Delta • Haiti Needs Reparations, Not Sanctions • Alabama’s continue his racist diatribes against Black accountable to oppose the racism that Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation • players, and how will the white players Black athletes face constantly—​on and Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? Anniversary of the 1965 Watts and coaches react? off the playing field. This current rebel- Rebellion No one has a crystal ball to see the lion has transformed the social landscape Download it from workers.org/books. immediate future. One thing is for sure: forever. ☐ Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

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Por Monica Moorehead oficiales aún no han sido arrestados ni indiscriminadamente con balas de goma Chauvin por mala conducta; solo se escu- acusados. y gas pimienta, junto con los manifes- charon dos. 1 de junio—Un levantamiento mili- La familia Floyd exige que los oficia- tantes. Incidentes aislados de jóvenes, Muchos de los carteles llevados en las tante liderado por jóvenes, provocado les Lane, Keung y Thao sean acusados de incluidos niños, recibieron disparos con protestas decían: “¡Abolir a la policía!” por el terror policial, se extendió por los varios grados de asesinato y Chauvin sea pistolas Taser, rociados con pimienta y “¡Todos los policías son malos!” y “¡Todos Estados Unidos como un incendio fores- acusado de asesinato en primer grado. derribados por la policía antidisturbios los policías son bastardos!” tal y ahora está entrando en su segunda Una autopsia independiente realizada fueron captados en video y mostrados en El racismo sistémico también ha sido semana. Incluso Trump se declara orgu- el 1 de junio, pagada por la familia Floyd, las redes sociales. un gran foco de las protestas. Los mani- lloso como el presidente de “ley y orden” descubrió que la policía fue responsable Los jóvenes manifestantes han utili- festantes citaron un incidente cuando al amenazar con la presencia de tropas de su muerte por “asfixia médica” cuando zado tácticas guerrilleras para evadir a la Christian Cooper, un hombre negro federales en muchas ciudades, y la actual estuvo privado de oxígeno al cerebro policía, que está armada hasta los dientes que observaba aves en el Central Park pandemia catastrófica de COVID-19, que durante casi cinco minutos. Murió en la con porras, balas de goma, irritantes quí- de Nueva York el 25 de mayo, fue abor- resulta en más de 102.000 muertes y escena, no en el hospital. Los hallazgos micos e incluso tanques. Los jóvenes solo dado por Amy Cooper, una mujer blanca. aumentos en los Estados Unidos, no ha de esta autopsia contradicen los hallazgos han tenido rocas, botellas de agua, ladri- Llamó al 911 para decirle a la policía que podido contener este levantamiento pro- iniciales publicados por el médico forense llos e incluso patinetas para defenderse. “hay un hombre afroamericano que ame- vocado por un horrible asesinato policial del condado de Hennepin, que afirmó que naza mi vida”, lo que lo puso en peligro. grabado en video expuesto el 25 de marzo las condiciones preexistentes causaron la La supremacía blanca y la Y los manifestantes levantaron el nom- para que todo el mundo lo viera. muerte de Floyd, no el homicidio de la violencia policial vinculadas bre de Ahmaud Arbery, un corredor des- Durante casi nueve minutos, George policía. Los jóvenes están hartos no solo de armado que fue asesinado a tiros el 23 Floyd, un hombre negro de 46 años, fue El 26 de mayo comenzaron las protes- lo que le sucedió a Floyd, sino también de febrero por los supremacistas blancos torturado y luego linchado por la policía tas en Minneapolis y otras ciudades exi- de los asesinatos policiales de Philando cerca de Brunswick, Georgia. La policía de Minneapolis mientras yacía boca abajo giendo justicia para Floyd y arrestos de Castile, Jamar Clark y otras personas tardó dos meses en arrestarlos a ellos y a y esposado en la calle. Un oficial de poli- los oficiales. En un acto audaz el 28 de negras en Minnesota. la tercera persona que grabó el video del cía presionó su rodilla contra la garganta mayo, los jóvenes incendiaron el tercer De hecho, este levantamiento, que se tiroteo. de Floyd mientras que dos oficiales de lo cuartel general del departamento de poli- ha extendido a al menos 130 ciudades Los símbolos supremacistas blancos inmovilizaron sobre su estómago. Antes cía de Minneapolis, donde habían traba- grandes y pequeñas de EE.UU., ha ayu- pro-Confederación no han escapado de de que Floyd perdiera el conocimiento jado los cuatro oficiales. dado a exponer los casos de otras perso- la ira de los manifestantes, quienes han por completo, gritaba “No puedo respi- Docenas de toques de queda declarados nas negras que recientemente perdieron derrocado o difamado los monumentos rar” y llamaba a su difunta madre. Floyd en muchas ciudades, respaldados por la la vida por la violencia policial. Estos de la Confederación en Birmingham, fue inicialmente detenido luego de ser presencia de la policía local y estatal y la incluyen a Breonna Taylor, la trabaja- Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; acusado de usar un billete falsificado de Guardia Nacional, no han disuadido a los dora de EMT de 26 años que fue baleada Richmond, Virginia; y Charleston, $US 20. jóvenes de ejercer su derecho a permane- ocho veces en su cama el 13 de marzo por Carolina del Sur, se incendiaron las A pesar de que los agentes de poli- cer en las calles para que se escuchen sus la policía de Louisville, Kentucky; Tony United Daughters of the Confederacy cía, Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. voces indignadas, incluso si tenían que McDade, un transexual asesinado a tiros Memorial Building en Richmond y Alexander Kueng y Tou Thao, fueron hacerlo. tomar arrestos por “desobedien- el 27 de mayo en Tallahassee, Florida; y Market House, el sitio de una subasta despedidos después del incidente, nin- cia civil”, si fuera necesario. Miles de per- David McAtee, un vendedor popular ase- de esclavos en Fayetteville, Carolina del guno de ellos fue arrestado de inmediato sonas han sido arrestadas por romper el sinado a tiros hoy, también por la policía Norte. y acusado de la muerte de Floyd. toque de queda durante seis días de indig- de Louisville, solo por nombrar algunos. A John Harrington, comisionado del nación política, expresada por la quema Las protestas han relacionado estos Defensa global de la solidaridad Departamento de Seguridad Pública de de coches de policía y el cierre de puentes casos individuales con todas las formas Trump ha sido llamado el “suprema- Minnesota, le tomó cuatro días anunciar e interestatales. de violencia policial en las comunidades cista blanco número uno”, y con razón. que Chauvin fue arrestado y acusado de Incluso los periodistas de los principa- negras y morenas, incluidos los casos des- Sus tweets se han referido a los mani- asesinato en tercer grado y homicidio les medios de comunicación como CNN y proporcionados de acoso, arrestos y tiro- festantes con la connotación racista de involuntario en segundo grado. Los otros MSNBC han sido detenidos o golpeados teos. Se presentaron 18 denuncias contra Continúa en la página 11 ¡Defiende a lxs resistentes y al levantamiento!

¡La gente se levanta, se levanta contra La gente responsabilizó al racista “sis- el estado (a veces uno y el mismo), han los manifestantes rebeldes con palabras la violencia policial! La furia ardiente se tema de injusticia” y a la policía. El edi- linchado a los afroamericanos y a otra de código racista e intentando dividir el encendió en una tormenta de fuego en ficio del Tercer Recinto en Minneapolis, gente de color con impunidad. Hasta el movimiento demonizando a la “izquierda todo Estados Unidos cuando la policía donde estaban estacionados los cua- día de hoy, es casi imposible ser acusado radical”: anarquistas y antifascistas linchó a George Floyd en Minneapolis el tro policías que mataron a Floyd, fue de asesinato, y mucho menos de una (antifa), a quienes Trump ha declarado 25 de mayo. incendiado. En Nashville, condena, cuando un policía mata a una un “grupo terrorista”. Los comentaristas Inmediatamente hubo Tennessee, el ayuntamiento persona de color “en el cumplimiento del de las grandes empresas están tratando indignación pública, des- y el palacio de justicia fue- deber”. de dividir a los manifestantes en buenas pués de ver cómo los supre- editorial ron incendiados. Los autos Se necesitaron cinco días de protestas personas “pacíficas” y malas “violentas”, macistas blancos mataron a de policía fueron volca- en todo el país y rebeliones físicas para jóvenes blancos versus jóvenes negros y Ahmaud Arbery mientras trotaba por su dos y quemados en la ciudad de Nueva arrestar a uno de los asesinos de Floyd. manifestantes “respetuosos de la ley” ver- vecindario y después de invadir a la poli- York, Rochester, Nueva York, Filadelfia, Ni siquiera fue acusado de asesinato en sus aquellos que solo estaban dañando la cía, mataron a tiros a Breonna Taylor en Atlanta, Cleveland, Los Ángeles y otros primer grado, mientras que los tres poli- propiedad. Kentucky mientras dormía en su propia lugares. Y sí, la “propiedad” resultó cías que ayudaron al asesino siguen cami- Y ahí está la palabra clave. La clase cama. Todos eran negros; Todos están dañada, la propiedad de los bancos capi- nando libres. dominante dejará que mueran millo- muertos. talistas y las grandes cadenas: Wells Está en marcha una intensa campaña nes, siempre que su propiedad, y el sis- La cinta de video de Floyd siendo lin- Fargo, Starbucks y AutoZone se incendia- de propaganda de la clase dominante tema estatal que la respalda, permanezca chado por un policía durante largos ron y otros edificios quedaron atrapados para desviar la atención y la responsabi- intacta. Cuando los policías matan, son minutos de estrangulamiento deliberado en el incendio. lidad del estado, como principal instiga- prácticamente intocables porque el impulsó a miles y miles de personas, tra- Durante siglos en los Estados Unidos, dor de la violencia contra el pueblo, y en “deber” de la policía es ante todo derro- bajadores multinacionales, multigenero y los supremacistas blancos, como agentes su lugar culpar a los manifestantes. tar a las personas trabajadoras y oprimi- personas oprimidas de todos los orígenes, del estado o como vigilantes como el Ku Las autoridades estatales, como el pre- das y evitar que cualquier protesta toque a las calles. Klux Klan que “trabajan de la mano” con sidente de EE.UU., están difamando a Continúa en la página 11