AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.00 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Book fair highlights Haitian culture, Cuban Revolution — PAGE 8 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 79/no. 1 january 19, 2015 Fired Delta ‘Fewer jobs Cuban 5 free: New stage in Air worker for a decade,’ defense of revolution opens wins support former Treas. Footing strengthened to fight US embargo in fight for job Sec’y says BY frank forrestal by brian williams MINNEAPOLIS — Some 200 Former Treasury Secretary Law- ramp workers, flight attendants, union rence Summers has written a widely representatives and others attended a circulated article, “Reflections on the Dec. 18 after-work fundraiser to ad- New ‘Secular Stagnation Hypoth- vance the fight to win fired Delta bag- esis,’” saying, “The idea that depres- gage handler Kip Hedges’ job back. sions were a concept of only historic Hedges, a leader of efforts to unionize interest has been belied by the finan- Delta Airlines and the campaign for cial crisis and ‘Great Recession.’” He a $15-per-hour minimum wage for all laments that in the face of today’s cri- workers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul sis, capitalist economic theories are International Airport, was fired Dec. “close to useless.” 2. The company claims Hedges made “It may be impossible for an econo- a “disparaging” comment about the my to achieve full employment, satis- company when he said in an online factory growth and financial stability interview that a lot of workers at Delta simultaneously,” he says. Above, Lisandra Cardoso/Radio Angulo Above, celebration in Holguín, Cuba, on earn less than $15. He has worked for His only answer is for the bosses freedom for the Cuban Five, one of many Estudios Revolución Estudios the airline for 26 years. to continue their grinding offensive actions around the island Dec. 17, the A Minnesota unemployment insur- against workers’ jobs, wages, social day Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero ance judge ruled Dec. 19 that Hedges benefits and rights. and Gerardo Hernández were released was eligible for benefits. “The fact In the more than five years since from U.S. prisons. Inset, Cuban Five, from left, Fernando González, Labañino, that the judge saw this as a wrong- bourgeois economists announced that Hernández, Guerrero and René González. ful termination shows that if we had a recovery has taken hold, there has a union I would be back at work now,” been little in the way of economic re- by maggie trowe had displayed while behind bars, all Hedges told the Militant, saying his covery for working people. Govern- The return to Cuba Dec. 17 of Ge- five volunteered for whatever assign- priority “is to help keep the union- ment statistics posit a gradual decline rardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino ment should be asked of them next organizing campaign going.” in official unemployment levels to and Antonio Guerrero, joining previ- to defend and strengthen the Cuban The fundraiser took place at a bar 5.8 percent in November. But work- ously released members of the Cuban Revolution. Continued on page 8 Continued on page 6 Five — René González and Fernando Continued on page 9 González — was greeted with wide- spread spontaneous mobilization and new book celebrates Socialist Workers Party launches celebration across the island. cuban five victory Carrying themselves with the same — Page 9 ballot drive for DC City Council dignity and firmness of purpose they Provocative ultraleft actions deal blow to fight against police brutality by seth galinsky been larger, more multinational and NEW YORK — Over the past few marked by more union involvement months, tens of thousands of work- than any in decades. ing people have taken to the streets The protests were strengthened by to protest the police killings of Eric the spread of workers’ resistance to the Garner in Staten Island and Michael grinding capitalist economic crisis. Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. The Some Walmart and fast-food workers actions against cop brutality have Continued on page 10 ‘Militant’ beats Inside back censorship Corn prices drop below farmers’ cost of production 3 Militant/Anne Parker Glova Scott, right, Socialist Workers Party candidate for City Council Ward 4 in Washington, at Fla. prison Pat Grogan: 45 years in D.C., and Walmart worker, joins picket by Laborers’ Union against Unity Disposal Jan. 4 in Laurel, Maryland. Workers have been on strike since Dec. 26 over safety conditions, pay. by brian williams building communist party 4 In a victory against prison censor- BY Anne Parker go over the top. ship, Florida prison authorities over- Women at center of struggles WASHINGTON — Supporters of Scott works at Walmart and is a turned the decision of the Taylor Cor- of workers in Bangladesh 7 Glova Scott, Socialist Workers Party member of OUR Walmart, active in rectional Institution in Perry, Florida, candidate for City Council in Ward the fight to win a $15-an-hour mini- to ban an issue of the Militant just –On the picket line, p. 5– 4 here, began efforts Jan. 3 to collect mum wage and full-time work for one day after the paper was informed Washington rally: ‘Reinstate double the required 500 signatures workers at the country’s biggest non- about the issue’s impoundment. fired Walmart worker’ to put her on the ballot for the April government employer. This advance for workers’ rights is 28 election. Teams of campaign vol- Going door to door, campaigning the latest of several successful fights Kellogg cereal workers at four unteers will fan out in working-class and petitioning, and looking to win the paper has waged against attempts plants reject concession contract neighborhoods Jan. 10-11 and 17-18 to Continued on page 11 Continued on page 11 SKorea high court sanctions gov’t ban of opposition party by seth galinsky ney Jang Kyung-wook, a member of In a blow to freedom of association MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic and speech, South Korea’s Constitution- Society, which has opposed government al Court banned the Unified Progressive attacks on political rights. Police also Party on Dec. 19, expelled all five of searched offices of the Corean Alliance, its representatives from the 300-mem- which has criticized the government’s ber National Assembly, confiscated the foreign policy. party’s assets and ruled that the group’s That same day Seoul Metropolitan members would not be allowed to form Police Agency Commissioner Kang a new party. Chief Justice Park Han- Shin-myung announced that police chul said the party was guilty of seeking are investigating speakers at two dem- to “undo South Korea’s democratic or- onstrations against the banning of the der” and bring the country under “North Unified Progressive Party, Hankroyeh Korea-style socialism.” reported, including leaders of the Ko- AP Photo/Lee Jin-man President Park Geun-hye hailed the rean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Protest at Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 19 against ruling banning opposition Unified Progressive Party and expelling its representatives from National court order, issued at the behest of her Korean Peasants League and the Korea Assembly. At center is Lee Jung-hee, the party’s candidate for president in 2012 election. cabinet, calling it a “historic decision Alliance for Progressive Movement. that strongly protects our liberal democ- The government sought the ban unless it takes place in a surprise man- erenced by the judge,” Liem said. racy.” after it arrested Unified Progressive ner. But the strike was announced in ad- “The prosecution immediately ap- Park’s government has also attacked Party members in November 2013 and vance and the company had time to pre- pealed,” Liem added, expressing con- unions across the country, seeking to charged them with seditious conspiracy, pare,” Wol-san Liem, international af- cern that unionists could still be con- ban the Korean Teachers and Education incitement and violation of the National fairs director for the Korean Federation victed. “There have been some pretty Workers Union and imprison the leaders Security Law. Party leader Lee Seok- of Public Services and Transportation bad decisions recently, like the dissolu- of a December 2013 rail strike. ki and six other members were found Workers’ Unions, told the Militant in tion of the UPP and the Supreme Court “The court, without any concrete evi- guilty of the two main charges, and Lee a phone interview from Seoul Dec. 29. overturning a lower court decision in dence behind it, deemed the UPP’s ‘true was sentenced to 12 years in prison. International solidarity with the strike favor of workers at Ssangyong Motor motives’ to be coordinating with North In February this year, the Seoul High and the accused union leaders “was ref- factory.” Korea because some of its members Court overturned the conspiracy charge were saying similar things to Pyong- but upheld Lee’s conviction on the other yang,” South Korean daily Hankroyeh counts, reducing his sentence to nine OUR Walmart fighters contribute to party Capital Fund said in a Dec. 20 editorial. years. “Many people who agreed with pro- On Dec. 22 a Seoul court acquitted In Washington, D.C., two members of OUR Walmart — the organization of gressive principles could now see them- four former officials of the union at the Walmart workers fighting for higher pay, full-time work and respect on the job — selves cast out of the system, their politi- Korea Railroad Corp. of charges of ob- are among the garment, airline and retail workers who recently sent blood money cal views portrayed as unconstitutional structing business for leading a three- bonuses to the Socialist Workers Party Capital Fund. Ned Measel and Glova Scott or ‘pro-North Korea,’” Hankroyeh said. week-long strike in December 2013. sent $208 and $387.75 respectively, which they had been given as part of Walmart’s “MyShare” program. “Today it’s the UPP that’s being cast out; Prosecutors were seeking a five year The company claims this quarterly “profit-sharing bonus” goes up or down de- who knows who will be next?” prison sentence. pending on “shrinkage” (missing or damaged inventory) and the number of reported It didn’t take long to find out the “A court ruling in 2006 said that a employee and customer injuries on company property, Measel told the Militant. answer. On Dec. 22 police searched strike is not obstruction of business even Production, holiday and other “bonuses” — designed to bribe workers to accept eight locations associated with attor- if the government says it is illegitimate speedup, unsafe job conditions and wage cuts — are referred to as blood money by supporters of the communist movement, who turn them over to the party’s Capital Fund to help finance the party’s long-range work. Becky Ellis, who works at a credit union in Minneapolis, sent $323.80 “for blood money from my boss for back pay for a new contract.” Dean Hazlewood in Miami sent $118.38 paid to him from a class-action suit against a former employer in Los Angeles, American Apparel. “This was a place where the air was very dusty, leading to respiratory problems for many, myself in- cluded,” he wrote. “Only the bosses had air conditioning, and the hot-air exhaust Defend women’s right to choose abortion from their air conditioning units shot straight out onto the production floor to make things even hotter. As garment workers are in the forefront of many labor actions Opponents of women’s around the world, what better use for this bribe.” rights are pressing to impose To contribute, see page 6 for a Militant distributor near you. onerous requirements for — Maggie Trowe abortion providers that limit

access to safe, legal abor- Latin America, Caribbean: For one year tions. The ‘Militant’ covers send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above The Militant address. Vol. 79/No. 01 the fight for abortion rights Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For worldwide and explains why Closing news date: January 7, 2015 one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to Courtesy of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Editor: Doug Nelson above address. it’s a crucial issue facing the Rally at Ohio Statehouse Dec. 3 to protest On the Picket Line Editor: Maggie Trowe Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 workers’ movement. bill that would ban abortion after 6 weeks. to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Naomi treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Craine, Frank Forrestal, Seth Galinsky, Emma Johnson, Gerardo Sánchez, John United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year Studer, Maggie Trowe, Brian Williams, by check or international money order SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Rebecca Williamson. made out to CL London, First Floor, 120 Bethnal Green Road (Entrance in Brick Published weekly except for one week in Lane), London, E2 6DG, England. January, one week in June, one week in Republic of Ireland and Continental NEW READERS NAME July, one week in August and one week in Europe: Send £85 for one year by check or September. international money order made out to CL London at above address. Business manager: Lea Sherman q.$5 for 12 issues ADDRESS France: Send 76 euros for one year to The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. Diffusion du Militant, P.O. Box 175, 23 rue 37th Street, 13th floor, New York, NY Lecourbe, 75015 Paris. RENEWAL CITY STATE ZIP 10018. Telephone: (212) 244-4899 Fax: (212) 244-4947 New Zealand: Send NZ$50 for one year E-mail: [email protected] to P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New PHONE e-mail Zealand. q.$10 for 12 weeks Website: www.themilitant.com Australia: Send A$50 for one year to P.O. Box Correspondence concerning subscriptions 164 Campsie, NSW 2194, Australia. q.$20 for 6 months UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION or changes of address should be addressed Pacific Islands: Send NZ$50 for one year to to the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. floor, New York, NY 10018. q $35 for 1 year Clip and mail to the militant, Submissions to the Militant may be pub- . 306 W. 37th st., 13th Floor new york, ny 10018. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. lished in the newspaper in print and digital format. By submitting, authors represent POSTMASTER: Send address changes to that their submissions are original and 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacific, A$8 • United the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor, consent to publication in this manner. New York, NY 10018. Kingdom, £3 • Canada, Can$7 • Caribbean and Latin America, US$10 • Continental Signed articles by contributors do not Europe, £10 • France, 12 euros • New Zealand, NZ$7 • All other areas, US$16 (Send SUBSCRIPTIONS: United States: For necessarily represent the Militant’s views. payment to addresses listed in business information box) one year send $35 to above address. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant January 19, 2015 Corn prices drop below farmers’ cost of production By Kay McFadden grain prices,” Jasper said. MUSCODA, Wisc. — Even though The Farm Bill adopted in 2014 re- grain farmers across the U.S. produced placed direct payments to farmers the largest corn harvest in history in with plans for subsidized crop insur- 2014, falling prices for their crops are ance. How these changes will impact threatening their livelihoods. Now small family farmers is yet to be seen farmers are struggling to figure a way and many farmers fear the new gov- to keep farming in 2015. The price of ernment programs. “I don’t know if I corn dropped to $3 a bushel during this want to go back in there,” said Jerry fall’s harvest, down 23 percent in 2014 Hernan, a grain farmer from Blue after falling 40 percent the year before. River, commenting on the government Many farmers were able to keep Farm Service Agency. from going under because they had The cost of the inputs that farmers crop insurance, which guaranteed a use to produce their crops are at all-time price of $4.62 a bushel for a portion of highs. Seed, fertilizer, pesticides, and Inset, Militant/Paul Mailhot Above, farmer harvesting corn. As price of corn has their crops. other nonland related costs in Illinois fallen sharply, cost of seed, fertilizer, agricultural imple- “Three dollar corn wouldn’t cover have more than doubled since 2006. ments and land rent have soared, squeezing working your production costs,” Randal Jasper, The cost of renting crop land to ex- farmers. Inset, Wisconsin grain farmer Randal Jasper. a grain farmer here, told the Militant. pand production also has skyrocketed. make as much money from cropping on said Jasper. “I have a combine pay- “If it hadn’t been for crop insurance, I Farmers rent more than half the 250 a farm as the land owner gets in rent.” ment, sprayer lease payment, planter would be out of farming.” million acres used to grow corn, soy- “I don’t know how we will make payment and a mortgage to pay.” Farmers get squeezed between seed bean and wheat in the U.S. Average money in 2015,” Hernan said. But both “I don’t know what to say. What are and fertilizer conglomerates and farm rent in Iowa went from $131 per acre Hernan and Jasper are planning to put we going to do, quit farming because implement companies on one side, in 2004 to $270 in 2013. crops in the ground. we can’t make any money?” Hernan who make what farmers call their in- Negotiating rent cuts is not an easy “I can’t just quit farming for a year” said. “I don’t have the answer.” puts, and the prices paid by grain pro- task. “Every time we go to a landlord cessing monopolies and other buyers they say pay or we won’t rent you the on the other. land,” Hernan said. Nearly 40,000 farmers have lost Many farmers don’t consider cutting Migrant woman first ever jailed their farms over the last five years. back on land rental an option, fearing Others have struggled to put off ex- they won’t be able to get it back when penditures, postponing purchase of prices rise amid fierce competition for for having abortion in Malaysia new machinery. finite acreage to plant and grow. BY LINDA HARRIS “I strongly suspect this is a test case Workers for the agricultural imple- “Some landlords are absentee own- KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — to undermine reproductive rights by ments bosses are feeling the effect. In ers who have land for investment but Nirmala Thapa, 24, a migrant from Ne- targeting a vulnerable migrant work- August, John Deere announced layoffs many are retired farmers or widows pal working in a factory in Penang, Ma- er,” Dr. Choong Sim Poey of Repro- of 1,000 workers at its tractor plants in who use the rent to pay taxes and have a laysia, was convicted Nov. 12 for having ductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Iowa. little income,” said Jasper. “It is hard to an abortion and sentenced to a year in Malaysia told the Militant in a phone “Next year’s insurance payouts will ask them to take less money when they jail. Thapa is the first woman ever im- interview Dec. 7. likely be lower because they are based are relying on it for their livelihood, prisoned in Malaysia for terminating a “Abortion is a very common proce- on today’s below-cost-of-production but I have to. At today’s prices, I don’t pregnancy. dure here,” he said. Some 90,000 abor- tions are performed annually in Malay- sia. Many migrant women have abor- tions out of fear of risking their jobs. Special book offers for ‘Militant’ subscribers “If they get pregnant, their employers Teamster Rebellion Socialism on Trial Malcolm X, Black terminate their contracts and send them by Farrell Dobbs Testimony in Minneapolis Liberation, back,” Choong said, adding that migrant First in four-volume series Sedition Trial and the Road to workers are not provided with access to contraception. $10 with subscription by James P. Cannon Workers Power $8 with subscription Thapa had the abortion at a Penang (regular $19) by Jack Barnes clinic Oct 9. While in recovery she was Also in Spanish, French, (regular $16) $10 with subscription arrested during a clinic inspection car- Farsi, Swedish Also in Spanish, Farsi (regular $20) ried out by Ministry of Health officials. New! Also in Spanish, French, She was six weeks pregnant at the Greek, Farsi, Arabic time of the abortion. Under Malaysian law abortion is legal up to 22 weeks if carried out by a qualified registered We Are Heirs Women in Cuba Voices From Prison medical practitioner who views the con- of the World’s The Making of a The Cuban Five tinuance of the pregnancy as a risk to the Revolutions Revolution Within by Gerardo woman’s mental or physical health. Speeches from the the Revolution Hernández, Ramón Thapa’s doctor was arrested, but not Burkina Faso Revolution by Vilma Espín, Labañino, Rafael charged. He made a statement saying 1983-87 Asela de los Santos, Cancel Miranda that he had carried out an abortion, by Thomas Sankara Yolanda Ferrer $3 with subscription which he considered was legal. Thapa $5 with subscription $10 with subscription (regular $7) was charged with having induced the (regular $10) (regular $20) Also in Spanish abortion herself and was jailed. Thapa did not have a translator or a Also in Spanish, French, Farsi Also in Spanish lawyer in court. “She pled guilty, but didn’t know what she was admitting to,” 50 Years of Covert The Working Cuba and Angola Choong told the Militant. Operations Class and the Fighting for Africa’s Women’s rights groups and legal or- in the US Transformation Freedom and Our Own ganizations in Malaysia have spoken out Washington’s Political of Learning by Nelson Mandela, against Thapa’s imprisonment. Michelle Police and the American The Fraud of Education Fidel Castro, Raúl Yesudas from Lawyers for Liberty Working Class Reform Under Capitalism Castro; Cuban called for an immediate appeal of the by Larry Seigle, Steve by Jack Barnes generals; Gabriel prosecution and conviction. García Márquez New! Clark, Farrell Dobbs $2 with subscription Loh Cheng Kooi, from the Joint Ac- $6 with subscription (regular $3) $6 with subscription tion Group for Gender Equality in Pen- (regular $12) Also in Spanish, French, (regular $12) ang, appealed for Thapa to be released Also in Spanish, Farsi Icelandic, Swedish, Farsi, Greek Also in Spanish and compensated. She said that if this case is allowed to set a precedent, then Additional 50% off any Pathfinder books for long-term readers: “women will be forced to seek clan- destine services for their reproductive Up to two books for 6-month subscriptions; four books for 1-year subscriptions. health needs. This will eventually result Contact a distributor listed on page 6 to take advantage of these offers. in unsafe abortions.” The Militant January 19, 2015 3 Pat Grogan: 45 years in building communist party By Barbara Bowman out a variety of leadership responsibili- LOS ANGELES — “We celebrate ties, he said. She was a staff writer on Pat Grogan’s life today at the same time the Militant newspaper and edited its we celebrate winning the freedom of “Women in Revolt” column. She at- Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino tended the Socialist Workers Party’s and Antonio Guerrero, meaning that leadership school, where small groups all of the Cuban Five, imprisoned in of party leaders studied Marx and En- the U.S. for their defense of the Cuban gels for six month stretches. She ran Revolution, are back in Cuba,” said Pat as an SWP candidate for public office Nixon, opening a Dec. 21 meeting here in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin and to celebrate Grogan’s political work. Utah. Nixon is organizer of the Pathfinder Along with longtime party leader Ev- elyn Reed, Grogan wrote Abortion Is a Militant/Nick Castle Print Project, supporters of the Social- Los Angeles meeting Dec. 21 celebrates contributions of Pat Grogan, who helped lead ist Workers Party who organize volun- Woman’s Right! which party members Socialist Workers Party members’ participation in union movement, fight for women’s rights. teer production work on revolutionary and other battlers for women’s rights books from Pathfinder Press. used then and now. The pamphlet in- As workers’ battles against attacks majority of comrades like Pat, who A nearly five-decade builder of the cluded an interview with Dr. Henry on their unions and their rights became were trained through their experience communist movement, Grogan died Morgentaler, a champion of the right to more generalized, the overwhelming in the party and its work in industry,” in San Diego Dec. 1 after a battle with abortion in Canada, who was put on trial majority of SWP members got jobs in Prince said. “It is not possible to imag- cancer. Fifty people attended the cel- four times by the Canadian government. basic industry. Grogan continued to ine an international effort requiring the ebration, organized by party supporters Katy LeRougetel sent greetings to help lead party branches and the work political commitment, discipline, atten- in the Los Angeles area, drawing par- the meeting on behalf of the Commu- of party members in the unions in Mil- tion to detail and organization that the ticipants from Seattle, San Francisco nist League in Canada. She related how waukee and Salt Lake City after leaving print project requires could be led other and San Diego. Morgentaler agreed to an interview, but New York. than by those who got their training “Like many of her generation, Gro- told Grogan the only time he had was “We worked together with other through that experience.” gan was inspired by the Cuban Revolu- on a flight to Toronto. She rushed to buy unionists in Salt Lake in the early 1990s Nora Danielson, a party supporter tion, the Black struggle and the heroic a ticket, got on the plane and got the in- to organize tours for Eastern airline from San Francisco, explained she had resistance of the Vietnamese people terview. strikers, a British coal miner, Pittson originally met Grogan in the 1970s during the U.S. war against their coun- Linda Harris, a leader of the Commu- Coal strikers, and two members of when both were party members active try,” said Norton Sandler, a National nist League of Australia, sent a message the African National Congress Youth in defense of women’s rights, and she Committee member of the SWP who about how they use the pamphlet today. League,” SWP Los Angeles branch was glad to have had the chance to work co-chaired the meeting. “On recent visits we made to Bangla- leader and party National Committee with her again in the print project. “I al- “Pat met Young Socialist Alliance desh and Malaysia, we met young wom- member Ellie García told the meeting. ways enjoyed her forthrightness and the members selling the Militant newspa- en and men wanting to read and discuss “These fighters spoke at union meet- easy way that invited response in kind,” per when she was a 21-year-old student it,” she said. ings, community halls and in workers’ she said. “She had a sharp, clear politi- at Columbia University. She joined the homes.” At the time Grogan was a mem- cal mind and heart.” YSA and soon after the SWP, and never ber of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic A fund appeal raised $1,700 to ad- looked back,” Sandler said. He pointed Workers union at the Phillips Refinery vance the work of the party. participants to attractive displays re- and later the United Steel Workers at the flecting different events in Grogan’s Kennecott Copper mine. political life and the nearly 30 messages Grogan left active party membership sent to the meeting from around the in the late 1990s, moving to San Diego world. along with her companion Jesse Smith Grogan joined at a time of rapid re- and teaching school for the next 15 cruitment to the revolutionary party and years. She remained a regular financial contributor to the party. quickly became a veteran, Sandler said. In recent years, she joined the Path- She was a leader in the Columbia Stu- finder Print Project. Dave Prince, the dent Mobilization Committee to End SWP National Committee member the War in Vietnam, wrote for the cam- assigned to work with the project, ex- pus paper and ran the first of many elec- plained that more than 240 volunteers tion campaigns as a SWP candidate. help produce, upgrade and keep in Grogan’s political generation par- stock more than 300 Pathfinder books ticipated in the rise of a new wave of and pamphlets used by SWP members struggles for women’s rights, Sandler and other vanguard workers. Grogan said. She joined in the SWP’s participa- served on the steering committee of the tion in the fight to legalize abortion in English-French proofreading team. the late 1960s and early ’70s, and later Pat Grogan speaking at United Steel Workers $6 “The print project is made up in its in the fight for the national Equal Rights union women’s conference in late 1970s. PATHFINDERPRESS.COM Amendment.

SWP turn to industry 25, 50, and 75 years ago In 1976 Grogan was living in Chi- cago, where she was among the first wave of party members who got jobs in the steel industry to be part of develop- ing working-class resistance there. She January 19, 1990 January 18, 1965 January 20, 1940 joined “Steelworkers Fight Back,” a As U.S. military forces enter the third NEW YORK — Rank-and-file mem- Without relaxing their main task of current in the United Steel Workers that week of their occupation of Panama, bers of the International Longshore- ferreting out and framing up militant fought to democratize the union and protest actions against U.S. intervention men’s Association (ILA) dumbfounded unionists and unemployed workers, the transform it into a fighting instrument continue. all the “experts” on Jan. 8 when they “G-men” have turned up in New York capable of resisting the steel bosses’ at- In New York hundreds participated in voted to reject a widely publicized City a conspiratorial band of Fascists of tacks. protests January 5-7. Some 400 people “model” contract and resumed the East the “Christian Front,” which had actu- Women had traditionally worked attended a January 5 meeting at Lo- and Gulf coast strike. ally begun to collect an arsenal and to in segregated departments in the steel cal 1199 of the hospital workers union, Acceptance of the contract would train men for the avowed purpose of an mills, said Sandler. In the mid-1970s sponsored by WBAI radio station. have cut the work gang from 20 to 17 armed campaign against radical work- women Steelworkers increasingly won Many of the meeting’s participants men in stages over the next three years ers, Jews, and the government. nontraditional jobs in the coke ovens, joined a January 6 march of more than and allowed stevedoring companies to If the G-men have gone after this operating cranes and in the skilled 700, called by the Committee Against introduce major technological changes Fascist gang it is because the American trades, winning support from male co- the U.S. Invasion of Panama. in handling cargo, while leaving un- capitalists do not feel as yet any need for workers and using the strength of the Following the march a forum was held answered the crucial question of how help of this kind. They have sufficient union to do so. Grogan was part of that at the Manhattan Pathfinder Bookstore. many longshoremen — and exactly confidence in the ability of their Army fight. Some 100 people attended. On January which longshoremen — would lose their and Navy, police and G-men, their Grogan served for a decade on the 7 a forum was also held at the Brooklyn jobs and established working conditions courts and prisons, to keep working SWP National Committee and carried Pathfinder Bookstore. in the process. class protest in check.

4 The Militant January 19, 2015 on the picket line Maggie Trowe, Editor

Help make this column a voice of workers’ resistance! As the new year begins, it is worth recalling what we said when we ex- panded the column last fall. On the Picket Line is dedicated to spreading the truth about the labor resistance that is unfolding today. To be a voice of fighting workers, it depends on input from readers. If you are involved in a labor struggle or have information on one, please contact me at 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018; or (212) 244-4899; or themilitant@ mac.com. We’ll work together to ensure your story is told. — Maggie Trowe

Washington rally: ‘Reinstate the company, international officials of fired Walmart worker’ the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Militant/Betsey Stone Members of United Food and Commercial Workers union protest outside El Super gro- LYNNWOOD, Wash. — More than Workers and Grain Millers Internation- cery store in Arleta, Calif., Oct. 23, 2014. They voted down company-backed proposal to 25 people rallied to demand the rein- al Union and federal mediators. decertify union Dec. 12. Seven of the 46 El Super stores in the region are union-organized. statement of Jared Surdam Dec. 20 at The proposal would have modified the Walmart store here where he was the current master agreement, which ex- are unionized. After the company The contractor the butchers worked fired at the end of November. pires in October 2015, at the four plants launched a decertification campaign, for was fired by Milouoff, Rafi Kimhi, In a letter to supporters, Surdam said in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lancaster, that effort “turned into a recertification coordinator of Koach La Ovdim in he was fired for speaking up for safety Pennsylvania; Memphis, Tennessee; campaign,” a union statement said. In a northern Israel, said in a phone inter- on the job after taking part in the Black and Omaha, Nebraska. 402-131 vote Dec. 12 workers rejected view Dec. 29. The new contractor said Friday protest, part of actions across the “This is worse than the proposal they decertification. it would not guarantee everyone a job. country organized by OUR Walmart, made before they locked us out,” Mem- The El Super unionists are fighting The Milouoff butchers work piece a union-backed nationwide campaign phis BCTGM Local 252G President for a 40-hour week, sick pay, wage in- rate, receiving 4 to 6 cents per chicken. fighting for $15 per hour and full-time Kevin Bradshaw, an operator in the creases and seniority rights. The butchers are all haredim — ultra- work. “I brought safety concerns to plant there, told the Militant in a Dec. 22 “The company tried to intimidate us,” orthodox Jews from North Africa. The my store management,” Surdam wrote. phone interview. El Super worker Guadalupe Baleriano other workers at the factory, who raise Two hundred twenty-six members “When they ignored my concerns, I told the Militant while picketing the East the chickens, carve the carcasses and of Local 252G were locked out by Kel- would bring them up again.” Los Angeles store Dec. 20. “They took ship the product, are Arab citizens of Walmart workers, representatives of logg’s in October 2013 for nearly 10 away hours from the people fighting for Israel. Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement months after local members refused the union. But now we’re stronger and “When we started unionizing the Action, All Pilgrim’s Church, the United to accept the company’s plan to hire a more confident. We know who is for the butchers, we tried to unionize the other Food and Commercial Workers, Social- lower-paid tier of temporary, part-time union, and we’re not afraid anymore.” 400 workers too,” Kimhi said. “But the ist Workers Party and others gathered to workers. — Bill Arth present a letter to the store manager urg- Before the contract vote, BCTGM company brought in the Histadrut [the ing Surdam’s reinstatement. The letter members received a letter from Interna- Canadian can workers on strike largest Israeli union federation] and got was signed by Mike Sells, state repre- tional President David Durkee urging a for 16 months win support them signed up without any contract, to sentative in the 38th legislative district, “yes” vote, pointing to Kellogg’s threats TORONTO — Can workers on strike block us from having one big union.” and Mark McDermott, retired regional to close one or more plants if the con- for 16 months here against Crown Hold- After the slaughter operation shut director for the U.S. Secretary of Labor, tract failed to pass. International offi- ings’ two-tier proposal are winning sup- down, the other workers were laid off, and endorsed by UFCW Local 21, the cials said a “confidentiality agreement” port. but are following the strike closely, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Commu- with Kellogg and the federal mediators The 120 members of United Steel- Kimhi said. nity Alliance for Global Justice, Church prevented them from informing the lo- workers Local 9176 have maintained 24- — Seth Galinsky Council of Greater Seattle and the Co- cals of the negotiations. hour pickets since striking Sept. 6, 2013, alition of Labor Union Women. The company’s rejected proposals in- when Crown, one of the world’s largest N.Y. transit workers protest Surdam’s supporters also distributed cluded elimination of cost-of-living ad- can producers, demanded cuts in wages, arrest of bus driver informational flyers to customers and justments and a leave-of-absence bene- pensions and benefits for new hires. BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Amidst the store workers on his case and recent fit, cuts in health care and establishment “They want us gone, but we’re not city’s “Vision Zero” road safety cam- National Labor Relations Board rulings of a lower tier of “transitional” employ- going anywhere,” Gary Lytle told the paign that scapegoats bus and taxi driv- against Walmart for harassment of OUR ees in all the plants in an arrangement Militant Dec. 29 on the picket line. The ers for any accidents, police arrested Walmart members at two California Kellogg calls the “New Workforce of company is operating with management and handcuffed a Metropolitan Transit stores. the Future.” and strikebreakers. Authority bus operator here Dec. 23 at “The fight for respect and a living — Susan LaMont The strike has received solidarity a hospital where he was being treated wage is not only a Walmart worker’s from unionists in Canada, the U.S., Eu- for trauma after the bus he was driving fight or a fast-food worker’s fight, it’s our California grocery workers rope and Turkey. Steve McHugh, a union struck and killed a pedestrian. community’s fight,” said Matt Edgerton, vote to keep union solidarity organizer, spoke at the Steel- Bus driver Reginald Prescott, 57, a the lead organizer for OUR Walmart in LOS ANGELES — After organiz- workers District 5 convention in Que- member of Transport Workers Union Washington state, in a statement sent to ing to defeat an employer-backed de- bec in November. “Right after I spoke, Local 100, was charged by cops with the Militant. certification effort, hundreds of grocery one local after another started pledging — George Lawson workers and their supporters picketed El failing to yield to a pedestrian and im- money. We raised over $45,000,” said mediately suspended without pay by the Super grocery stores Dec. 20-23, urging McHugh. Kellogg cereal workers at four MTA. shoppers to support their struggle and Crown announced a list of 36 union plants reject concession contract boycott the chain. At the same time, transit bosses press activists they don’t want back in the drivers to keep on schedule or face pen- ATLANTA — In early December The workers, members of the United plant, and plans to retain 80 strikebreak- alties, and the city has cut the speed lim- union workers at four of Kellogg Com- Food and Commercial Workers, have ers, leaving only 26 jobs for union mem- it from 30 to 25 miles per hour. pany’s cereal plants voted 1,268 to 21 to been without a contract since Septem- bers, Local 9176 Vice President Calvin Under “Vision Zero,” failure to yield reject a concessionary contract proposal ber 2013. Gillard told the Militant. to a pedestrian is now a misdemeanor reached in secret negotiations between Only seven of the 46 El Super stores The USW has called for a boycott of beer in cans. punishable by up to 15 days in jail and/ To express solidarity or contribute or a fine of up to $50. money to the strikers, go to the USW To protest Prescott’s arrest and sus- Local 9176 website: www.bottlesnot- pension, bus operators at several Brook- cans.ca lyn depots delayed the next morning’s — Tony DiFelice and Annette Kouri “pullout” for more than an hour. “WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS!” Chicken butchers in Israel strike Local 100 President John Samuelsen for union, permanent jobs said in a Dec. 26 statement. Samuelson Singing and dancing in a circle, 65 cautioned drivers to observe all traffic kosher butchers and helpers went on regulations, including the new speed strike at the Milouoff slaughterhouse limit. “Should any member of Supervi- near Acre in the Galilee region of Israel sion threaten or harass you in any way Dec. 15. They are demanding represen- to speed up service to make schedule,” tation by the Koach La Ovdim (Work- Samuelson said, drivers should contact PSARA/Garet Munger Walmart workers and supporters protest firing of Jared Surdam, center, holding letter, at ers Power) trade union federation and to the union immediately. Lynnwood, Wash., store Dec. 20. Surdam was fired after Black Friday Walmart workers’ strike. work directly for the company. — Jim Watson The Militant January 19, 2015 5 Summers: ‘Years of fewer jobs’ Thousands in Moscow protest against frame-up Continued from front page referring to rising government debt, ers continue to face a grinding crisis budget deficits and falling investment of joblessness and lower wages and in plant and production replaced with hours for those who get work. financial speculation upticks ending as Millions without jobs are simply the Internet and stock market bubbles of dropped from government statistics, the 1990s and the mortgage bubble of discounted as no longer part of the the early 2000s burst. workforce, and nearly 7 million have Following the 2008 crash, the Federal been forced into part-time work. Aver- Reserve slashed interest rates to nearly age wages rose only 2 percent last year, zero in December 2008, hoping to spur less than rising food and health care economic growth. It then began a “quan- costs. titative easing” money-printing scheme This situation results from a long-term in which the government bought $3 tril- crisis of the propertied rulers’ industrial lion in government bonds and largely profit rates, which has fueled a contin- worthless mortgage-backed securities to ued slowdown of capitalist production pump money into the financial system and trade on a world scale. Instead of over the next six years. investing in plant and production the The rulers’ aim was to make bor- propertied rulers look to speculation in rowing cheaper for companies and en- Above, Reuters/Tatyana Makeyeva financial paper for higher returns. And courage them to invest in expanding Thousands rallied in Moscow they’ve targeted workers’ wages, ben- production and hiring workers. But for Dec. 30, in the face of a govern- efits and safety on the job to raise profit the great majority of bosses, it remains ment ban, to condemn the con- margins. unprofitable to do so. Instead they’ve ac- viction of opposition politician Summers notes that “unsustainable cumulated hoards of cash or invested in Alexei Navalny and his brother finances” have wracked the capital- stocks or other forms of speculative bets, Oleg on frame-up fraud charges. ist system for more than two decades, hoping to turn a profit on the rise or fall Alexei Navalny was given a sus- of paper values. And for workers, unem- pended sentence of three and a ployment, underemployment, shrinking half years. His brother was sent militant wages and more danger to life and limb to prison for that time. on the job are the “new normal.” The sentencing had originally been scheduled for Jan. 15 and opponents of the regime had announced a large protest. On Dec. 29 the government labor So Summers has a new theory, “secu- abruptly moved the hearing to the following day, making any protest ac- lar stagnation,” which says it is impossi- forums tions around the verdict “illegal.” Pussy Riot released a video Dec. 30 ble for capitalism to maintain a “posture urging people to attend a demonstration. Hundreds of riot police blocked illinois of full employment and production” for off the area and arrested more than 100 people. Pussy Riot member Maria Chicago the foreseeable future. Alyokhina and others, inset, conducted an all-night protest in sub-freezing Israeli Elections Scheduled for March: “Secular stagnation” was posed in the temperatures in a giant Christmas ball on Moscow’s Manezh Square, in Debate on Character of Israel Is a Chal- depression of the 1930s, Summers says, lenge to Working-Class Unity and Soli- front of the Kremlin. Police arrested and then released her and the other darity. Speaker: Alyson Kennedy, Social- but reversed after the U.S. rulers entered protesters. ist Workers Party. Sat., Jan. 10, 7 p.m. World War II, cranking up factories for Alexei Navalny, who has been under house arrest for nearly eight 2018 S. Ashland Ave. Tel.: (312) 455-0111. war production and emerging as the top months, tried to attend the protest but was stopped by police. imperialist power. Resolving today’s The rally occurred amidst a mounting economic crisis in Russia. The crisis through a massive imperialist war worldwide fall of the price of oil — Russia’s major export — has sharply af- Books is not on the table for the capitalist class. fected the economy, with the ruble declining some 50 percent. Economic Januaryof the Month Summers has no answers. He is fear- sanctions imposed by Washington and other imperialist powers have also ful of the future, saying the situation is taken their toll, hitting working people the hardest. PATHFINDER “troubling.” “Indeed there is the pos- — BRIAN WILLIAMS READERS CLUB 25% sibility of destabilizing deflation with discount SPECIALS falling prices leading to higher interest rates leading to greater output shortfalls gain time for the capitalist system to re- Walmart workers striking and pro- Cuba and the Coming leading to more rapidly falling prices cover. However, he cautions the bosses testing for $15 an hour and full-time American Revolution and onwards in a vicious cycle,” he says. need to keep some “social protections” work, fast-food workers doing the same, by Jack Barnes As the proletarian-based struggle for At best, the current crisis is “likely to to blunt working-class resistance. rail workers at Burlington Northern Black rights was advancing in the continue for at least the next decade,” The whole house of cards is built on overwhelmingly voting down boss de- U.S., the 1959 Cuban Revolution set Summers writes. one key assumption — that the working mands for a one-person crew on freight an example that socialist revolution is In response to the question “What is class will quietly take the shellacking trains, skirmishes by workers in other not only necessary — it can be made to be done?” the noted economist calls he prescribes for the next 10 years or so industries, as well as social protests and defended. $10. Special price: $7.50 upon the propertied rulers to continue that he believes is the minimum needed against cop brutality and other actions their grinding squeeze on the working for U.S. capital to “recover.” But the evi- that reinforce working-class resistance Workers of the World and class, hoping to raise profit rates and dence is to the contrary. point to a different future. Oppressed Peoples, Unite! Two Volume Set $65. Special price: $48.75 if you like this paper, look us up Blacks in America’s Wars Where to find distributors of the NEBRASKA: Lincoln: Tel: (402) 217- address: P.O. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. by Robert W. Mullen Militant, New International, and a full 4906. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (02) 9718 9698. E-mail: cl_australia@ $11. Special price: $8.25 display of Pathfinder books. Omaha: 3302 Q St. (Upstairs). Zip: 68107. Tel.: optusnet.com.au (402) 779-7697. E-mail: [email protected] U.S. Hands Off the Mideast! UNITED STATES CANADA NEW YORK: Manhattan: P.O. 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6 The Militant January 19, 2015 Women at center of struggles as Bangladesh working class grows BY EMMA JOHNSON “It was routine for bosses to slap and AND MARTÍN KOPPEL beat us and subject us to verbal abuse,” DHAKA, Bangladesh — Struggles she remarked. “I didn’t know anything by tens of thousands of garment work- about my rights when I started. ers here have highlighted the rapid “Once, the company promised us expansion of capitalist production for 10 hours’ overtime pay but then back- the world market and the resulting ex- tracked and gave us no extra pay. We plosive growth and combativity of the said, ‘Enough is enough.’ We had industrial working class. Women have counted on the money for the holidays,” been at the center of these battles, gain- Akter said. Some 1,500 workers went ing experience and self-confidence, on strike. The bosses paid the overtime which has led to changing social atti- premium. “That was my first lesson. tudes toward women’s place in society. They only listen to us when we take to During a reporting trip to Bangla- the streets.” desh in October, Militant reporters spoke with dozens of garment workers Surge of union organizing Militant/Ron Poulsen Oct. 28 protest by unionized garment workers against closing of Ha-Meem Sportswear and unionists who gave a vivid picture As tens of thousands of workers en- plant in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Women workers have gained self-confidence in struggle. of these developments. gaged in strikes and street protests, When Bangladesh won indepen- they pushed back some of the worst dozen of her co-workers from the Ha- tion worker, died in a road accident. She dence from Pakistan in 1971, it had little conditions. A 2006 labor law prohibits Meem Sportswear factory Oct. 30. She worked two years at Rana Plaza, and industry and became heavily depen- employment of children under 14 and had invited us to her home, a rented was one of the survivors of the 2013 dent on U.S. “aid,” which perpetuated stipulates a 48-hour workweek with a room near the plant in the Tejgaon in- building collapse, which damaged her underdevelopment. In the late 1970s, maximum of 12 hours overtime. Child dustrial district. Translating for us was wrist, leaving her unable to work as a however, capitalists in the international labor is now rare in the apparel indus- Lopa, an organizer for the National sewing machine operator. clothing trade were attracted to the low try, Akter said, but is still widespread Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), “It’s important to be active in the wages in Bangladesh. The number of elsewhere, especially in agriculture and which arranged the visit. union,” she said. “It’s our only protec- garment factories here mushroomed domestic service. “My rent is 5,000 takas and I send tion.” The NGWF and other unions from nine to 5,000. Many have up to “There have been important changes 1,000 takas every month to my family have led big mobilizations demanding several thousand employees. over the years, and especially since the in our home village,” Adilah said. Her compensation for survivors of Rana More than 4 million rural work- Tazreen and Rana Plaza disasters,” she husband, also a garment worker, earns Plaza and orphans of workers killed in ers, overwhelmingly women, have said. “In the last 22 months we have 6,000 takas. “Even with two incomes the disaster. migrated to Dhaka and Chittagong to registered unions in nearly 200 garment it’s hard. We have no medical insurance Several workers noted that their seek jobs in the apparel industry, which factories. In all the years before, only and a visit to the doctor plus the medi- union involvement has won support generates 80 percent of the country’s a handful of factories had been regis- cine will easily cost 1,000 takas.” from husbands and families who previ- foreign earnings. While the owners are tered.” Adilah and her co-workers, members ously opposed women working outside largely Bangladeshi, the industry sup- In November 2012, unsafe conditions of the NGWF, are fighting to win back the home. “They don’t want the women plies major European and U.S. retailers led to a fire at the Tazreen Fashions their jobs since the owners of Ha-Meem to die on the job. They don’t want star- such as Walmart, Sears, Gap, Swedish- plant, trapping workers behind locked Sportswear closed the plant Oct. 13 in vation wages,” Kalpona Akter said. based H&M, and Carrefour of France. doors and killing 112. In April 2013, the an effort to stop them from organizing “Men’s attitudes toward women Bangladesh is now the world’s second Rana Plaza factory building collapsed a union. workers are changing — even com- biggest garment exporter after China. and 1,129 garment workers were killed. All the workers, most of them in their pared to a few years ago,” said Nazma The industrial revolution in Bangla- After months of street mobilizations, 20s, said this was their first job. They Akter, a former clothing worker and to- desh has been marked by brutal con- garment workers forced a 77 percent in- moved to Dhaka from rural villages to day general secretary of the Awaj Foun- ditions, including widespread use of crease in the minimum wage, changes work in garment, but like millions in dation, which campaigns for the rights children’s and women’s labor. At the in the labor law easing some obstacles to Bangladesh’s working class, they still of women garment workers. “Today same time, the concentration of work- union organizing, and a safety and fire have strong ties to the land. some men are even cooking and doing ers has increased their sense of collec- accord between unions and companies. “My son, who is in the eighth grade, the laundry because their wives work tive power to organize and fight those “But we are still far from enjoying lives with my parents in our home vil- long hours.” conditions. dignity — a decent wage, a safe work- lage,” said Shimul, another Ha-Meem “Of course, it’s very uneven,” Kal- “I started working when I was 12 place, union rights,” Akter said. “When worker. “I can visit him twice a year, pona Akter said. “My husband wasn’t years old, in 1989,” Kalpona Akter, a workers organize, bosses retaliate with during the two Eid [Muslim] holidays.” supportive of my union activity, and longtime trade unionist and now execu- harassment, violence, firings and fac- Although legally required to provide was even abusive. So I filed for divorce. tive director of the Bangladesh Center tory closings.” Only a handful of unions child care facilities, most garment fac- “With greater economic indepen- for Workers Solidarity, told Militant re- have won bargaining rights or contracts. tories do not, workers explained. When dence, you find more and more single porters in her office here Oct. 29. “My Even with the raise, the minimum bosses are tipped off that state inspec- mothers here, and the divorce rate is go- 10-year-old brother worked in the same wage, now $68 a month, remains the tors will show up, they hastily set up a ing up. Divorce now is widely accepted garment plant. We helped support a lowest among major clothing exporters makeshift “child care” area. in the working class.” Domestic vio- family of seven.” in Asia. The minimum garment wage is Lopa accompanied us to another lence, however, is still a taboo subject, Akter described work shifts of up to $156 in China, $100 in Cambodia, $90 apartment to talk with a dozen work- she added. 19 and a half hours. She would work un- in Vietnam. ers from Nassa Group, a plant of 2,500 til 3:30 a.m., sleep on the factory floor, “As a skilled sewing machine opera- where a union-organizing fight is un- Migrant workers, rising expectations and start again at 8 a.m. — often 15 or tor I earn 6,800 takas [$85] a month,” derway. They were among 30 fired af- Another source of increased work- 16 days in a row. said Adilah when we met her and a ter they protested the dismissal of a co- ing-class expectations here is the 9 worker for taking two days off to attend million Bangladeshis working abroad her father’s funeral in her home village. — the majority in Saudi Arabia, other “I’m pregnant, so now the company Gulf states and Malaysia. In 2013 their doesn’t have to pay the maternity leave remittances totaled almost $15 billion, that is required by law,” said Shinly, a 13 percent of the country’s gross do- worker with 14 years’ service. She said mestic product. firing workers who get pregnant is not Several hotel workers in Dhaka told uncommon. Militant reporters they had worked in hotels in Saudi Arabia or Dubai. Changing attitudes about women “Migrants don’t have many rights The influx of millions of women into in Dubai,” said Abdul, a 24-year-old industry and their involvement in union room attendant, who asked that his full struggles are having a big impact on the name not be used. “But there I made working class and Bangladeshi soci- four times as much as the 10,000 takas ety as a whole, beginning with women [$125] a month I get here for doing the themselves. same job.” Shila Begum, a member of the Abdul said his jobs in the Mideast NGWF national committee, said she had exposed him to the world. “My

Militant/Martín Koppel had been a housewife in the rural south- best friend at the Dubai hotel was from Right, Shila Begum, who survived 2013 Rana Plaza factory building collapse, is a leader western district of Barisal and moved Mexico, and I learned a lot from him,” of National Garment Workers Federation in Bangladesh. At left is Lopa, union translator. to Dhaka after her husband, a construc- he said. The Militant January 19, 2015 7 Book fair highlights Haitian culture, Cuban Revolution

BY PAUL MAILHOT “Cuba has added a lot to the success PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The of the book fair this year,” Frantz Carly Second Haiti International Book Fair Jean Michel, director of Haiti’s National took place here Dec. 12-14, with thou- Directorate of Books, which sponsored sands of Haitian students, academics the event, told the Militant. “There was and working people visiting the 25 a lot of interest in the Cuban presence booths from Cuba, the National Book and their participation with music, Center of Venezuela, Pathfinder Press books and films helped to make the fair and Haitian vendors with books on more informative and enjoyable.” Haitian culture and history, the Cu- The guest of honor at the fair was ban Revolution and world politics, and well-known Haitian author Michel other topics. Soukar, who has written extensively Cuba was the country of honor this about the early history of U.S. imperi- year. Led by Zuleica Romay Guerra, alist domination of the island. As a pre- Militant/Linda Joyce director of the Cuban Book Institute, lude to the centennial of the first U.S. Pedro Pablo Rodríguez, left, of Center for Study of José Martí in Cuba, speaks at Dec. 12 pro- a substantial delegation of Cuban writ- occupation of Haiti, which lasted from gram on Martí’s life attended by 30 Haitian students. Other members of Cuban delegation, from left, José Pérez Baujín, Laura Ruiz Montez, Teresa Cárdenas and Yunier Riquenes García. ers, editors and filmmakers participat- 1915 to 1934, book fair organizers ed. Their booth featured books on the chose Soukar to promote greater un- devastating 2010 earthquake that left the mountainous terrain that many are political and cultural interrelationships derstanding of this chapter of Haitian 100,000 dead and tens of thousands farming,” said Cantave Jean-Baptiste. between the people of Cuba and Haiti, history and its relevance for the cur- more without housing, clean water, He also pointed to the “long history and a wide range of books about the rent political situation in the country. sanitation or health care. There are of struggle for the land in Haiti that Cuban Revolution and its place in the Today, thousands of United Nations still tent cities around Port-au-Prince will develop again in the future.” He world. troops under Washington’s direction that were set up as temporary housing bought a number of books at the Path- Cuban delegation members also fea- are stationed in Haiti and act as the four years ago. Working people have finder stand that feature the lessons of tured presenters at a number of public military force of the country. to spend hours each day traveling to the alliance of workers and farmers in programs and contributed to the mu- Frantz Carly Jean Michel said the work or getting necessities, since many struggles around the world. sical and cultural presentations at the fair was an important step forward roads remain damaged and there is a Books by Thomas Sankara, the lead- fair. Reembarque, a film about Haitian in promoting culture and learning in dearth of public transportation. er of the 1983-87 Burkina Faso Revo- agricultural workers in Cuba during Haiti. A special effort was made to “In a country where 60 percent of lution, were among the most popular the sugar boom of the 1920s and ’30s, bring students from around Port-au- the population depends on farming for works at the Pathfinder stand and rap- was introduced by Cuban filmmaker Prince, who came by bus wearing their their livelihood, the conditions in the idly sold out. Spurred by interest in the Gloria Rolando at two showings dur- school uniforms. Many booths offered countryside are worse in many ways,” recent mass mobilizations in Burkina ing the fair. literature for young adults and chil- Cantave Jean-Baptiste, an agronomist Faso that toppled the regime of Blaise In Cap Haitien, on the northern tip dren. “Activities in the provinces was who was part of a powerful peasant Compaoré, many visitors asked the so- of the island, a program celebrating another major strength of this book fair movement in the 1980s in the fight cialist workers from the United States the life of José Martí was held. Pedro over last year’s event, which was con- against the hated Duvalier family dic- and Canada volunteering there to tell Pablo Rodríguez, one of the editorial centrated in Port-au-Prince,” he said. tatorship, told the Militant. “Haitian them about the Burkina Faso Revolu- directors of the Center for the Study of farmers are isolated and forced to deal tion and the political course of Sankara. José Martí in Cuba, spoke at the event. Revolutionary literature popular with all of their problems individual- In all 288 books were snapped up At one of the Port-au-Prince programs Pathfinder, a publisher of Marxist ly,” he said. “There are no cooperative at the Pathfinder booth over the three- Rodríguez explained that Martí, a cen- and working-class books, had a stand movements or government programs day fair. Organizers invited Pathfinder tral leader of the fight for Cuban inde- featuring nearly 30 titles in French, in- to help farmers. to come back next year, and to come pendence, had visited Haiti on three cluding newly published books on the “Farmers in Haiti today use many of and join the many Haitian groups who occasions. He, along with other revolu- fight to free the Cuban Five — Voices the same tools — oxen and plows — will be organizing activities next July tionaries in the late 1800s, was among from Prison: The Cuban Five and I that were used in colonial times, and 15 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first to challenge the political and Will Die the Way I’ve Lived. The Path- even those tools are not effective on the first U.S. occupation of Haiti. sociological justifications for imperial- finder booth also offered a selection of ist domination in Haiti. writings of revolutionary leaders from The revolutionary government of around the world in English and Span- Cuba has maintained a medical mis- ish. Fired airline worker fights for job sion here since 1998, following the Rodney Casseus, a first-year college Continued from front page for joining together to demand bet- massive damage caused by Hurricane student, said he was impressed with and restaurant near the airport. Fellow ter working conditions.” Ellison sent George. The program has expanded the breadth of books being offered at baggage handlers and several flight a letter of support for Hedges to Delta over the past 16 years, involving more the fair and in particular at the Path- attendants who are also organizing and to the secretary of labor. than 3,500 medical personnel from finder booth. “We don’t have much ac- to join the Machinists union, joined Hedges spoke before the Metro- Cuba who provide their services free cess to books about history and culture members of Service Employees Inter- politan Airports Commission Dec. 15, of charge. For many Haitians, the Cu- in Haiti and the world,” he said. “There national Union Local 26, Machinists supporting efforts of workers for con- ban doctors are the only ones they have has been a crisis in Haiti for years, and Local 1833, officials of the Minneapo- tractors at the airport to get paid sick ever seen. these books make it possible to look at lis AFL-CIO and activists in the cam- days and urging commissioners to join the social and economic problems of paign to raise the minimum wage at in denouncing his firing. “I would like the country in a new way.” the airport. Hedges and the Machin- you to make it clear to Delta Airlines Many stopping by the Pathfinder ists union are appealing his firing. that they stand alone on this,” he said. stand spoke about the demonstrations Steve Hunter, secretary-treasurer of As dozens of workers and their in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in the Minnesota AFL-CIO, presented supporters held up signs saying, “Still Haiti in recent weeks calling for the Hedges with a $5,000 contribution to Fighting for PAID SICK DAYS,” the ouster of President Michel Martelly the fight to get his job back. commission voted unanimously to re- and new elections. Prime Minister “The firing of Kip Hedges is sim- quire airport subcontractors to meet Laurent Lamothe and several other ply outrageous. Freedom of speech, the workers’ demand. government ministers resigned Dec. freedom to organize and form a union “We are trying to bring airport 14, but protests demanding Martelly are still constitutional rights,” Rose workers together because so many resign are continuing. Roach, executive director of the Min- work for poverty wages and little or Like many others who stopped by nesota Nurses Association, told the no benefits like vacation, sick days the booth, Rodney Casseus said he is Militant. “Nurses stand in solidarity and health insurance,” Abera Siy- $24 opposed to the policies of the current with our brother Kip.” oum, a cart driver in the terminal who regime, but sees the opposition forces “The firing of Delta baggage han- works for Air Serv, told the Militant. organizing many of the protests against dler Kip Hedges for organizing to Hedges also spoke at the St. Paul Martelly as cut from the same cloth as raise wages for airport workers is AFL-CIO regional labor federation the discredited ruler. “This is an op- wrong,” U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison said Christmas party and received a $500 position that still favors the interests of in a statement protesting Hedges’ fir- donation. the rich, not those of the people.” ing and supporting the fight for higher More that 10,000 signatures have Working people in Haiti are still wages for airport workers. “Working been collected on an online petition staggering from the effects of the Americans shouldn’t be intimidated protesting the firing. pathfinderpress.com

8 The Militant January 19, 2015 Cuban Five have been ‘Absolved by Solidarity’

Absolved by Solidarity, a full-color As Washington moves toward estab- book of new paintings and text by An- lishing diplomatic relations with Cuba tonio Guerrero, has just been released for the first time in more than half a by Pathfinder Press. Guerrero is one of century, a new front has now opened the Cuban Five freed Dec. 17, 2014. Be- in the decades-long battle to defend low are introductory comments from the Cuban independence and sovereignty. new book by Mary-Alice Waters, presi- Raúl Castro explained it unflinchingly dent of Pathfinder and the book’s editor. in his message to the Cuban people: “In no way has the heart of the matter been On December 17, 2014, more than solved. The economic, commercial, and sixteen years after the battle began, Cu- financial blockade, which causes enor- ban president Raúl Castro informed the mous human and economic damages The Cuban Five address the political and economic challenges facing the Cuban Revolution world that Gerardo Hernández, Ramón to our country, must cease.” The battle Dec. 21 on Arleen Rodríguez’s “Light in the Darkness” radio program in Havana. Labañino, and Antonio Guerrero were to advance and defend Cuba’s socialist home. They join René González and revolution continues as it has since Janu- Fernando González on Cuban soil. ary 1, 1959. New stage in defense of revolution Across the island Cubans poured into Absolved by Solidarity was on its Continued from front page ruling class wasn’t backing off one inch the streets from factories, schools, and way to press the day its principal author The leadership caliber of the five from its more-than-five-decade effort to offices expressing their joy. Supporters and artist was freed from prison. The revolutionaries was evident when they overthrow the Cuban Revolution. around the world joined in celebration. printing was postponed long enough were invited to take part in the Dec. 21 Increasing numbers of the propertied Gerardo Hernández gave voice to the to record that victory on the cover and “Light in the Darkness” program on rulers back trading the Five for U.S. sentiments of each of the Five when he add these few words and photographs. Radio Rebelde (Rebel Radio) hosted by spies and opening discussion of diplo- told a national television audience in Publication of this powerful portrait of Arleen Rodríguez. While behind bars, matic relations as steps to take advan- Cuba, “We’ve turned the page on the sixteen years of struggle could not be the Five had sometimes been able to tage of new openings to undermine the pain and abuses of prison. We’re on a more timely. In its pages you will find pick up the radio signal of the Sunday Cuban Revolution. The move is based new page now,” ready for new battles. not a backward glance at the “pain and night program dedicated to the fight to on the success of the imperialist em- “You can count on us for whatever is abuses of prison.” You will find the dig- free them. bargo grinding on Cuban workers and needed,” he told President Castro, who nity, strength, and humanity of the Cu- The Five were asked about their im- farmers, not its failure. welcomed them at the airport. ban Revolution and the five unbowed pressions of Cuba after their long ab- In addition, freeing the Five and re- Above all, it was the firmness, dig- soldiers who have become the face of sence. Each spoke of the economic and laxing a “pointlessly harsh policy,” as nity, courage, and discipline of the Five that revolution the world over. social challenges in Cuba, their con- the New York Times said in a Dec. 17 ed- that made possible the hard-fought vic- Absolved by Solidarity, indeed. As fidence in the Cuban people and their itorial, is aimed at removing an obstacle tory won by the people of Cuba, their promised by Fidel, they have returned. commitment to the revolution. Each ac- to broader efforts by Washington to step government, and a “jury of millions” Mary-Alice Waters knowledged the impact on the economy, up activity, court influence and confront around the world. December 20, 2014 the infrastructure and on revolutionary competitors throughout Latin America. consciousness of the U.S. trade embar- go and the “special period,” the decade Pivot to Latin America New Washington sanctions aim of severe economic crisis in the 1990s Noting that for more than 50 years caused by the precipitous end of aid and “Washington’s squeeze on Havana has favorable trade relations with the Soviet poisoned its relations with the region,” to isolate, destabilize Venezuela Union and Eastern Europe following a Dec. 22 Financial Times editorial by maggie trowe Cuba, which still exists despite the re- the collapse of those countries’ govern- praised Obama’s move. “Rapproche- President Barack Obama signed bi- establishment of diplomatic relations.” ments. ment vaporizes a rhetorical bludgeon partisan legislation Dec. 18 imposing Since the election of President Hugo “Sometimes I see Cuba and try to that U.S. critics have routinely used to sanctions on some Venezuelan govern- Chávez in 1998 Washington has backed think about a country that suddenly cudgel Washington,” it said. ment officials, accusing them of violat- efforts to overturn the Venezuelan gov- lost 75 percent of its trade, and had the The Obama administration, portray- ing the rights of protesters during anti- ernment — including the failed 2002 capacity to go through the special pe- ing the Cuban government as a weak- government demonstrations in Venezu- military coup against Chávez — and riod and emerge as we have,” said René ened foe and the socialist revolution as ela last year. end its close trade and diplomatic ties González. “There’s something in the a failure, is deepening its intervention The sanctions deny travel visas and with revolutionary Cuba. spirit of our people that made this pos- in class relations in Cuba with the aim freeze any U.S. assets of current and “We have special relations with Ven- sible.” of strengthening counterrevolutionary former Venezuelan officials deemed by ezuela,” Cuban President Raúl Castro During their imprisonment, the Five and pro-capitalist layers. This includes Washington to have been responsible for told the Cuban national assembly Dec. followed news and politics in Cuba and backing “dissidents” and “independent” arrests, deaths and injuries during pro- 20. “We will continue supporting it the world. “The compañeros in our In- librarians and journalists, as they de- tests against the government of Venezu- amid attempts to destabilize the legiti- terests Section in Washington always scribe counterrevolutionaries supported elan President Nicolás Maduro between mate government of President Maduro.” sent us a big folder each week with ev- and financed by the U.S. government February and May 2014. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, erything published on Cuba, so we were and its various agencies, in the name of “The U.S. is trying to isolate Ven- who met with Maduro in Caracas Jan. well informed on what was happening,” “democracy”; more contact with those ezuela because Venezuela opposes 2, condemned the sanctions. Hernández said. “We know well the running businesses; and more leeway U.S. domination of the economies of negative effects the special period had to expand access to U.S. propaganda on Latin American countries,” William not only economically, but on people’s the internet. Camacaro, senior analyst at the Council consciousness.” He added that the Five “We certainly hope that the Cuban on Hemispheric Affairs and a member “have full confidence in our people to government will allow us to engage with of the Bolivarian Circle of New York move forward.” those who are self-employed, those who “Alberto Lovera,” told the Militant in a At the same time as President Barack are entrepreneurs,” said Assistant Sec- phone interview Jan. 5. “Venezuela has Obama and Cuban President Raúl Cas- retary of State for Western Hemisphere long opposed the U.S. embargo against tro announced the freeing of Hernández, Affairs Roberta Jacobson, the admin- Labañino and Guerrero, they announced istration’s lead negotiator in upcoming Washington and Havana would resume talks with the Cuban government in Ha- calendar diplomatic relations. vana, in a Dec. 30 Public Broadcasting However, as Castro cautioned that Service interview. Washington day, “This does not mean the heart of Asked about critics of the new policy Seattle the matter has been resolved. The eco- who say the U.S. is throwing a lifeline Guest Gallery Exhibition: “I Will Die the Way I’ve Lived.” Work by Antonio Guer- nomic, commercial and financial block- to Cuba, Jacobson replied, “Well, I don’t rero for the 16th anniversary of the impris- $15 ade, which causes enormous human and think that’s true. For one thing, the em- onment of the Cuban Five. Jan. 14 – Feb. 22. economic damage to our country, must bargo is still in place.” PATHFINDERPRESS.COM Special Event: John Martinez, co-chair of cease.” The Five were arrested and jailed the Human and Civil Rights Committee of AFT Local 1789, speaks about the exhibit Moves by the Obama administra- in 1998 by the Clinton administration and the case of the Cuban Five. Wed., Jan. Special offer: $10 until March 15 tion and articles in the New York Times, on frame-up charges of conspiracy to 28, 6:30 p.m. Both at Columbia City Gallery, ‘ABSOLVED BY SOLIDARITY’ Washington Post and other capitalist commit espionage and, in the case of 4864 Rainier Ave. S. Tel.: (206) 760-9483. Full-color promotional brochures 50 cents media in the week following the an- Hernández, conspiracy to commit mur- nouncement confirmed that the U.S. Continued on page 10

The Militant January 19, 2015 9 Ultraleft acts blow to cop brutality fight Continued from front page the police,” he said. “The men in blue with Garner, it was all on fighting for $15 an hour, a union and a have too much power, they go around tape, there was no ques- 40-hour workweek; health care work- with Courtesy, Professionalism and Re- tion at all.” ers in 1199SEIU; and other unionists spect written on the side of their police NYPD rules ban have joined the protests. In addition, cars, but they don’t show any respect.” chokeholds that prevent broader labor struggles and the mo- The cops, capitalist media and politi- breathing, but don’t ex- bilizations against cop brutality have cians — from liberal Mayor Bill de Bla- plicitly bar those that reinforced each other. sio to the conservative New York Post — compress the carotid ar- More people see police brutality and seized on the killings to call for a halt to teries, like the one used intimidation are directed at the entire the demonstrations. by Pantaleo in the as- working class. While African-Amer- sault on Garner. Despite icans are disproportionately targets, Provocations undercut protests the “ban,” the choke- thousands of Caucasians, Latinos and At two of the largest protests against hold is standard operat- Asians are also victimized by cops ev- police brutality Dec. 13, 10,000 in ing procedure for New ery year. Washington, D.C., and more than York police — and for The protests were dealt a blow by 25,000 in New York, small provoca- cops across the country. the effects of provocative ultraleft ac- tive ultraleft groups put forward slogans According to a city gov- tions at demonstrations in New York, that ran 100 percent counter to the aims ernment report, the use Washington, D.C., and elsewhere that of the protests and the overwhelming of the hold is going up. created an atmosphere in which a dis- majority of participants. In New York, Police magazine wrote turbed individual like Ismaaiyl Brinsley a group in the protest chanted, “What in its Jan. 30, 2014, is- felt encouraged to assassinate two New do we want, dead cops!” In D.C., some sue that the goal of the York police officers, Rafael Ramos and protesters involved in an attempt to take widely used “carotid re- Daily News, which had editorialized for indictment of cop Wenjian Liu, Dec. 20. Just before killing over the speakers platform carried signs straint” is to render the Pantaleo in killing of Eric Garner, ran cover Dec. 24 con- Ramos and Liu, Brinsley posted a mes- that said, “‘Hands up don’t shoot’ didn’t person being arrested demning police brutality protests after two cops were killed. sage on Instagram: “They take 1 of ours work. Fists up, fight back.” unconscious in 7 to 10 seconds to make lier statement to ABC’s “This Week” … let’s take 2 of theirs,” according to the Such unchecked provocative conduct it easier for cops to put on handcuffs. about telling his son, who is Black, that New York Police Department. The kill- from within the protests — in the ab- Cops and their apologists argue that he needs to be careful when stopped by ings undermine the moral high ground sence of a proletarian leadership strong use of such chokeholds — like the use the police because of his race encour- taken by the protest mobilizations de- enough to build a disciplined movement of Tasers — are progressive reforms that aged attacks on cops by protesters. nouncing cop attacks on the lives, safety — created an atmosphere where a Brin- prevent deaths, allowing cops to bring Thousands of cops turned their and dignity of working people. sley could feel encouraged to act. suspects under control instead of shoot- backs on the mayor when he spoke The Brown and Garner families con- ing them dead. These methods protect at Ramos’ funeral Dec. 27 and again demned the assassination of the cops. Protests spread after Garner’s killing both the cops who use them and those at Liu’s funeral Jan. 4. “I did turn my “Anyone who’s standing with us, we The July 17 attack on Garner was they subdue, they say, but “unfortunate- back out of disgust on how the country want you to not use Eric Garner’s name caught on tape and posted widely on the ly” sometimes kill people. feels about cops,” an NYPD lieutenant for violence, because we are not about Internet, seen by millions. Garner did The fact is Pantaleo and the cops told the Wall Street Journal after Liu’s that,” Gwen Carr, Garner’s mother, told nothing to provoke the attack and can be who assisted him were acting like all funeral. reporters. heard saying “I can’t breathe” 11 times cops are trained and conditioned to act, According to the Post, the cops also “The killing of the cops was a cow- while undercover cop Daniel Pantaleo to “protect and serve” the interests of staged a “virtual work stoppage” re- ardly act,” Chuck Ferrell, a nurse, told applied a chokehold and his fellow of- the propertied rulers and to make sure sulting in a 66 percent drop in arrests the Militant Jan. 5 near the March Hous- ficers piled on Garner’s back. working people know their “place.” since the shootings and a more than 90 es, a public housing project just blocks The Dec. 3 grand jury decision not to percent drop in parking tickets. from where the two cops were shot. indict Pantaleo fueled even larger and Cops, politicians seize opportunity While the protests against police “Nobody wants to see a life taken, cop broader protest actions. “After Michael The cops and their supporters seized brutality have subsided for now, the or civilian.” Brown was killed there was a lot of ‘he on the killing of Ramos and Liu to slan- cops will continue to act as the prop- “But too many unarmed men, espe- said, she said,’ over what happened,” der the entire protest movement, charg- ertied rulers demand: to treat working cially Black men, are getting killed by Brooklyn resident Ferrell noted. “But ing that by criticizing the cops, they people as an outlaw class that must be opened the door to the cops’ deaths. kept in check. Police brutality is part of Mayor de Blasio called for a mora- their program and more beatings and torium on protests against the killing killings are inevitable. ‘My heart is singing for the Cuban Five’ of Garner, at least until after the two As workers continue to come to- Letter from Iris Baez, Mothers Against Police Brutality officers were buried. When the next gether to fight against the relentless protest did take place, the New York attacks of the bosses and their gov- Below is a statement by Iris Baez in solidarity with family members of Daily News — which had editorialized ernment, they will construct a lead- the Cuban Five celebrating the release and return to Cuba of the Cuban for the indictment of Pantaleo — ran ership capable of restraining ultraleft revolutionaries. Baez is the mother of Anthony Baez, killed by a choke- a banner front-page headline telling disruption and taking on cop brutality hold by New York cops in 1994. marchers “Have You No Shame?” and killings as they transform them- The New York Post went to town selves on the road to overthrowing December 17, 2014 on de Blasio, claiming that an ear- capitalist rule.

Dear Sisters in the Struggle, It is with great joy to hear that your loved ones are being released from a U.S. prison. I hope that they are healthy, strong and will be in their New stage in defense of Cuba homes very soon. This release is far overdue. My heart is singing and I Continued from page 9 Five have dreamt about this happiness know the Cuban people will receive them with great joy. I am the mother der, for which he received a double life that we are now living. Your continued of Anthony Baez, Jr. who was killed by a New York police officer in 1994. sentence plus 15 years. Hernández was struggle on our behalf has made this all Along with many other parents who have lost their children to police vio- a special target of Washington’s frame- possible. And today, as we are showered lence, I have been in the struggle fighting for justice to end police brutality. up because he served as organizer of with the love of our people, the grati- My son Anthony Baez was murdered with an illegal chokehold by a the network of Cubans who volunteered tude for all the sisters and brothers, from police officer while other police looked on and did nothing. These police to gather information on paramilitary around the world, who have supported officers then turned around and committed perjury in the court. Since forces in southern Florida who had car- us during this time is multiplied. 1994 I have learned that this is the American way of justice. ried out violent attacks on the island and “On behalf of the Five and our fami- I have been speaking out against police brutality and for a more just against supporters of the Cuban Revolu- lies we wish you a happy and very suc- world — free of racism and violence. tion in Puerto Rico and the U.S. cessful 2015,” they said, “and congratu- It is from my personal experience that I understand your pain. Just to think that as mothers and wives daughters and sons you all have been The strength and honorable conduct late you on the 56th anniversary of the struggling to the day when all the Cuban 5 would be free. We have all of the Five behind bars, the unwavering Cuban Revolution.” been waiting for this day for over 15 years. support they received from the revo- The Five are moving on to new chal- And I have been praying and speaking out on behalf of the Cuban 5 lutionary government and people of lenges and responsibilities. “We have and it gives me great strength and greater love to see my brothers walk Cuba, and a growing international cam- turned the page on the suffering and free. Please embrace Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón paign to free them led to the December abuses of prison,” Hernández said on the Labañino, Fernando González, and René González for me and all of the victory. popular “Mesa Redonda” (Round Table) parents struggling for justice. “The effort of each and every one of television program Dec. 18. When asked you has contributed to making this tri- if he would continue to draw the politi- Yours truly, umph possible,” wrote Hernández and cal cartoons that were shown around Iris Baez and family his wife Adriana Pérez in a Dec. 31 the world during his imprisonment, Mothers Against Police Brutality message to all who supported them over Hernández said he would consider it “if the years. “For more than 16 years the I have time.”

10 The Militant January 19, 2015 Editorial DC socialist campaign Continued from front page new readers for the Militant newspaper, the social- Greetings to workers behind bars! ist campaign is getting a good response. The Militant sends New Year’s greetings to fel- as cop frame-ups are exposed. Saul Hernandez, a bartender who lives a few low workers behind bars. Nearly 2.4 million people The efforts of tens of thousands behind bars to blocks from Scott, signed her petition Jan. 3, get- in the U.S. are locked up and millions more are on use hunger strikes and other protests to demand ting an introductory subscription to the Militant probation. Some 11 million working people will their rights and assert their dignity has won grudg- and the booklet The Cuban Five: Who They Are, have spent time behind bars this year. ing gains from some prison authorities. Victories Why They Were Framed, Why They Should Be We join with millions in Cuba and worldwide to have been won in the U.K. recently and at Taylor Free. celebrate the return of Gerardo Hernández, Anto- Correctional Institution in Florida on the right of “I heard about them and I’m glad they are free,” nio Guerrero and Ramón Labañino to Cuba Dec. inmates to get books and newspapers, including Hernandez told Scott. Hernandez explained that 17, the last three members of the Cuban Five who the Militant. he left Chile after the ousting of the Salvador Al- were held in U.S. prisons, framed up 16 years ago Esaw Garner, widow of Eric Garner, killed by lende government there. Allende was overthrown for their actions in defense of the Cuban Revolu- N.Y. cops, has explained her husband’s killing was by a U.S.-backed military coup in 1973. “The U.S. tion. Their victory should be used to extend solidar- not a question of race. She’s right, the working closed its doors to me and others like me who tried ity to all political prisoners and advance their fights class — the revolutionary class — is the target. to come here,” he said. for freedom, including Puerto Rican independence Because of their national oppression and record “The U.S. government’s goal remains to over- fighter Oscar López Rivera, in prison for 33 years; of uncompromising struggle against it, African- throw the Cuban Revolution,” Scott said. “My Native American activist Leonard Peltier; Mumia American workers disproportionately suffer police campaign demands an end to Washington’s brutal, Abu-Jamal; the Omaha Two, Mondo we Langa and brutality, harassment and imprisonment. For the more-than-half-century-long embargo of Cuba and Ed Poindexter; and others. same reasons, they have been in the forefront of normalization of relations. We demand an end to Prosecutors, cops, the courts, prison officials and battles for union recognition and workers’ rights. their violation of our right to travel to Cuba and guards treat those who are locked up as beasts who The fights against police brutality and killings learn about their revolution for ourselves.” deserve whatever they get. This mirrors the class by the cops reinforce expanding fights by Walmart, Scott and campaign supporters joined about 40 bias of their masters — the propertied ruling fam- fast-food and airport workers for $15 an hour and trash haulers picketing against Unity Disposal Jan. ilies — who can only maintain the dictatorship of a union and by rail workers fighting for job safety. 4 in Laurel, Maryland. The workers, members of capital, based on the exploitation of wage labor, by And more unions are joining the fight against po- LiUNA, the Laborers’ Union, went on strike Dec. treating the working class as outlaws requiring con- lice brutality. 26, and the company is hiring replacement work- stant surveillance, harassment and intimidation. Recent revelations of the scope and brutality of ers. The capitalist “justice” system has been placed CIA torture — from waterboarding to “rectal rehy- Strikers Martin Puesan and Esteban Zelaya told in the spotlight by growing mobilizations spurred dration” — are of little surprise to those who have Scott they face lack of safety on the job, no over- by cop killings of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, experienced the U.S. “justice” system. Washing- time after 40 hours and discrimination. “They use Tamir Rice, Akai Gurley and countless others — ton’s brutality abroad is an extension of the brutal- a kind of arithmetic where the more you work, the Black, Caucasian, Latino and Asian. ity the rulers mete out every day here at home. less you get paid,” said Puesan. “This is our third The number of “exonerations” are growing with We stand with workers behind bars in your fights time on strike in just a few years. We win a little nearly 1,500 prisoners released in the past 15 years, for dignity, respect and democratic rights. and they take it back.” “You’re a member of OUR Walmart and I ap- plaud you,” Raymond Diaz, an organizer for Li- UNA, said. “It’s like we are the peasants and they are kings and the queens. They treat all of us work- ‘Militant’ beats back censorship at Fla. prison ers like we are disposable.” Continued from front page censorship.” “I applaud and support your strike,” said Scott. by prison officials in Florida to ban delivery of the The Literature Review Committee “approved “The problem we face is the capitalist system. The Militant to readers behind bars over the past year this issue for inmate use. It should be in the hands bosses rule through the two-party system, where and a half. of your subscriber soon,” Marty Morrison, Library the only alternative they offer working people is On Dec. 16 the Militant received a notice that au- Services Administrator of the Florida Department the lesser evil. We need to build our own party — thorities at Taylor had impounded issue #41, dated of Corrections, wrote to Stevenson that day. a labor party, based on the unions. Fighting for a Nov. 17, 2014, from a reader who has been receiv- The censorship move by prison authorities at labor party would unite us as a class,” said Scott. ing the paper for nearly two years. Taylor Correctional Institution targeting promotion One thing that struck campaign volunteers was The notice claimed the paper “presents a threat of literature concerning the nature of the police un- how seriously workers read the campaign litera- to the security, good order, or discipline of the cor- der capitalism and the fight to free the Cuban Five ture. Luis Chiliquinga, a McDonald’s worker, met rectional system or the safety of any person.” It cit- occurred amidst a groundswell of protest against up with Scott Jan. 4 to find out how he could help ed an ad for Capitalism’s World Disorder by Jack police killings of Eric Garner in New York and the petitioning effort. Chiliquinga is involved in Barnes, saying it promoted “a book disrespecting Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Ironical- the fast-food workers’ campaign for $15 per hour authority” and a full-page article reporting on the ly, Florida’s prison Literature Review Committee and full-time. fight to win freedom for the Cuban Five, five Cu- overturned the ban on the Militant’s coverage of After going over the campaign flier point by ban revolutionaries imprisoned in the U.S. for 16 the Cuban Five the same day that the three remain- point, Chiliquinga had a suggestion to clarify the years. Taylor authorities said the article showed ing incarcerated Cuban revolutionaries were freed campaign’s demands to defend working farmers. “Contempt for US Government.” from U.S. prisons and returned to Cuba. “There are rich farmers and there are poor farm- The book ad included a quote from Barnes say- Previous successes in pushing back censorship ers,” he said. ing, “The purpose of the cops is to punish, not pa- moves in Florida state prisons include winning a “You’re right, we can make it clearer,” Scott trol. The purpose of the cops is to keep workers in reversal in October 2013 on impounding an issue said. “The Socialist Workers Party fights for a gov- line, to make an example of you if you come from reporting on initiation of a hunger strike in Cali- ernment guarantee to cover production costs for the wrong class — and more so if you also happen fornia prisons. Several months later subscribers working farmers to assure them a decent living, as to be the wrong color or the wrong nationality.” incarcerated at the Blackwater River Correctional well as access to government-financed affordable The article on the Cuban Five was titled ‘Unbro- Facility in Milton, Florida, had several issues im- credit.” ken Tide of Solidarity Will Carry Us Home’: Sister of pounded, which authorities upon being challenged Antonio Guerrero Talks About Brother’s New Prison reversed as a “clerical error.” Paintings at Colloquium for Cuban 5 in Havana.” The paper has also won similar battles in Wash- On Dec. 19, Benjamin Stevenson, the Florida ington state and at the high security U.S. Peniten- Corrections American Civil Liberties Union attorney repre- tiary in Florence, Colorado. In “Washington, D.C., Rail Workers Push senting the Militant, requested the Florida Depart- Publications such as the San Francisco Bay Back 12-Hour Shift Plan” in the Dec. 29, 2014, On the Picket Line column, the unions mentioned ment of Corrections’ Literature Review Commit- View and Prison Legal News that, like the Militant, should have been listed as the Brotherhood of tee “grant more time to file an appeal because of champion the rights of workers behind bars and re- Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) the holidays,” Stevenson said in a Dec. 30 phone port on their fights for respect and dignity also find and the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation interview. “But they said there would not need to themselves forced to fight to defend their right to Workers (SMART). be an appeal because two days earlier they had de- reach subscribers and the right of prisoners to read In “Striking Toronto Can Workers Win cided to override Taylor Correctional Institution’s the news they want. Solidarity in Philadelphia” in the same issue, the Canadian Steelworker quoted is Cheryle Dollimore.

‘Militant’ Prisoners’ Fund The Prisoners’ Fund makes it possible to send prisoners reduced rate subscriptions. To donate, send a check or money order payable to the Militant and earmarked “Prisoners’ Check us out online! Fund” to 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018. TheMilitant.com

The Militant January 19, 2015 11