DECEMBER 26, 1975 25 CENTS VOLUME 39/NUMBER 48

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WOR'KING PEOPLE

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IEW1 YORK CRISIS SOCIALIST CANDIDATE EXPLAINS WHY LABOR NEEDS ITS OWN PARTY. PAGE 9. ISRAELI TERRORISM ZIONISTS TALK OF PEACE BUT STEP UP ATTACKS ON ARAB MASSES. PAGE 19. ERA ACTION CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY FOR EQUAL RIGHTS. PAGE 7. MilitanVIra Satinover Strip mmmg: giant scoop shovel gouges coal from earth. Energy corporations' drive for profits threatens permanent destruction of FBI Great Plains ecology. Page 13. 'REFORMS' WOULD LEGALIZE COINTELPRO. PAGE 15. PSP PUERTO RICAN SOCIALIST PARTY MEETS. PAGE 18. THIS WEEK'S In Brief MILITANT COLEMAN RETREATS ON WHITE-FLIGHT THE­ VICTORY IN N.Y. NURSING"'HOME STRIKE: An eight-week strike by 110 nursing-home employees in New 3 Angola: the ORY: Sociologist James Coleman is beginning to ~Iter his theory that busing for school desegregation causes massive Rochelle, New York, ended in victory late last month. The next Vietnam? white flight.from the cities. strike by members of District 1199, National Union of 4 Probusing whites back This prominent busing opponent has recently been re­ Hospital and Health Care Employees, began over Woodland court action on 'Southie' checking his facts and has found some fundamental flaws Nursing Home management's refusal to grant a 1.5 percent in his calculations. Now he admits that in many of the cities increase in benefits. 5 20 years ago: bus from which he gathered his data.· to prove large-scale white It turned into a test of strength as Woodland's owners boycott in Montgomery flight, there has not been any busing for desegregation. tried to break the union by bringing scabs in daily under - 7 Plans under way to Also, white flight from the cities, he now concedes, has been police protection and by physical assaults on pickets. Two mobilize ERA support a trend since the early 1900s. Coleman recently confessed to union officers were hospitalj.zed as a result of goon attacks the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights that it is not possible, on picket lines. 9 Reid: N.Y. crisis shows after all, from his research to detennine "whether desegre­ By the fifth week of the strike, union officials decided that labor needs own party gation itself'' or other factors lead many whites to move only street demonstrations big enough to disrupt "business from cities to suburbs. as usual" in New Rochelle could force a settlement. Union 13 Energy profiteers members from New York City joined the strikers three threaten Great Plains CALIFORNIA CIVIL SERVICE CHARGED WITH Saturdays in a row for pickets and demonstrations of up to 14 Setting record straight SEX DISCRIMINATION: Catherine McAndrew, an 1,200. The show of force had the desired effect. on CLUW convention attorney for the California Department of Motor Vehicles The 1.5 pel-cent originally in dispute was given in wages (DMV), has filed a suit against the state charging. sex rather than in benefits, bringing wages up to a $181 weekly 15 Levi proposes 'legal' discrimination against her and 42,449 other female state minimum. Management was also forced to rehire thirty­ Cointelpro employees. The suit asks for $233 million in back pay and three workers it had singled out as "undesirable" because of 17 With Mexican farm workers retroactive promotions for women who. have been passed their role in leading the strike. The greatest victory of all, over in favor of men. McAndrew charged that the male­ the union's right to exist, was won not at the bargaining at 'el _hoyo' dominated civil service reserved all the best jobs for men table but rather by the determination of the strikers and the 18 PSP concludes second and relegated women to the lowest-paid positions. support given them by their brothers and sisters in New national convention The state personnel board has found that the average York City at a time when it was most urgently needed. women in state government earns $367 a month less than 23 No gains in safety the average man. PROPOSED RESTRICTION ON FREE SPEECH for coke-oven workers DROPPED IN MILWAUKEE: The Milwaukee Common 24 Why. Kennedys wanted SOCIALIST BLASTS L.A. RED SQUAD SECRET Council has "indefinitely" postponed hearings on a city Castro killed FILES: On December 4, Omari Musa, Socialist Workers ordinance that would have outlawed literature that "ex­ candidate for U.S. Senate from California, testified at a Los poses the citizens of .any race, color, creed or religion to 28 D.C. 'Post' declares Angeles Police Commission hearing on proposed guidelines contempt, derision or obloquy." The ordinance, proposed by war against unions for intelligence gathering by the Public Disorder Intelli­ City Attorney James Brennan, was ostensibly aimed at the gence Division, commonly referred to as the "red squad." National Socialist White People's party (Nazis). However, 2 In Brief Musa told the panel of five commissioners, plus Police supporters of civil liberties have opposed the ordinance as a Chief Ed~ard Davis and representatives of the city restriction on freedom of speech that would pose a threat to 10 In Our Opinion attorney's office, "The secret files should be abolished everyone's civil liberties. Letters altogether.... I believe that the real purpose of the secret, Explaining his opposition to the ordinance, Bernie Senter, 11 National Picket Line undercover activities of the PDID is not limited to the the Socialist Workers party candidate for mayor, said: "Any Their Government collection of dossiers on groups or individuals, even though curtailment of civil liberties has beeh used in the past, and that alone· is reason enough to demand their termination. will again be used by the government, primarily against 12 Great Society The aim of the LAPD [Los Angeles Police Department] fighters of racism, not racists like the Nazis." La Lucha Puertorriquefla secret-police operations is to infiltrate, disrupt, and if Senter added, "If Brennan were really serious about By Any Means Necessary possible destroy political groups which the police disap­ fighting the Nazis, he would drop the charges against prove of. . . . . Citizens of L.A. have the right to hold any Michael Murphy." Murphy, a Black member of the Young WORLD OUTLOOK political view they choose without threat of harassment or Socialist Alliance, will be tried on January 7 for defending. 19 Israeli terrror raids intimidation from the police." himself against a physical assault by a Nazi. Twenty others testified against the witch-hunt nature of belie talk of peace -Ginny Hildebrand the secret files, including representatives of the American 20 Democratic rights Civil Liberties Union, NAACP, Women For, the gay under attack in Britain community, and city council member David Cunningham. 21 World News Notes 20,000 AT CARTER-ARTIS BENEFIT: A standing­ 22 150,000 march in Mexico room-only crowd of 20,000 jammed into Madison Square for union democracy Garden on December 8 to participate in a benefit concert for Hurricane Carter and John Artis, who were convicted on frame-up murder charges in 1967 in New Jersey. Bob Dylan and his "Rolling Thunder Review," Joan Baez, Roberta THE MILITANT Flack, and J oni Mitchell performed on behalf of the victims. Coretta Scott King, U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), VOLUME 39/NUMBER 48 and other prominent government officials, sports figures, DECEMBER 26, 1975 and performers were introduced and spoke in support of CLOSING NEWS DATE-DEC.17 Carter and Artis. Muhamm~d Ali told the crowd, "Every­ Editor: MARY-ALICE WATERS thing shows that these two men are innocent, and they Managing Editor: LARRY SEIGLE deserve a retrial. This is a little Watergate." The crowd Business Manager: ROSE OGDEN replied with thunderous applause when Ali asked how Southwest Bureau: HARRY RING Washington Bureau: CINDY JAQUITH many supported a retrial. Through a phone hookup Carter, once a leading contender Published weekly by .The Militant Publishing for the middleweight boxing championship, was able to Ass'n., 14 Charles Lane, New York. N.Y. 10014. speak to the rally from his jail cell. "You all came to my Telephone: Editorial Office (212) 243-6392; Busi­ rescue tonight,, and I love you all," he told them. ·Special Offer ness Office (212) 929-3486. Southwest Bureau: 710 S. Westlake Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90057. Pressure is mounting on the courts to grant a new trial Telephone: (213) 483-2798. Washington Bureau: and on New Jersey Gov. Brendan By-rne to release the men 1345 E. St. N.W., Fourth Floor, Washington, D.C. on executive bail. A similar benefit concert is planned for For New Readers 20004. Telephone: (202) 638-4081. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or the New Orleans Superdome soon. JOBS: While Congress debates bills that would set up more changes of address should be addressed to The committees to study unemployment, more than ten million Mililani Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New BLANCO CASE BROUGHT TO CHICANOS IN SAN Americans go jobless. 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Inquire for Two television stations covered Tavarez's visit, and he City______State ___ Zip ------air rates from London at the same address. was a guest on a TV Spanish-language talk show viewed by Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily thousands of Chicanos. 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 U.S. rulen debate .• Will Angola be HI Uiet m? [The following is from the News unlikely to trigger an avalanche of Analysis section of Intercontinen­ public opposition. . tal Press.) The accompanying propaganda is a reissue of the arguments used to justify By Joseph Hansen intervention in Vietnam: The threat of A dispute in the State Department a Communist take-over. The threat of over how far to go in intervening in the Moscow gaining naval bases that ' civil war in Angola was made public would "jeopardize" American shipping by Seymour M. Hersh in a front-page in the South Atlantic. Dominoes fall­ story in the December 14 New York. ing the length and breadth of Africa. Times. The propaganda concerning the The divisions became so sharp that warring factions in Angola is equally Nathaniel Davis resigned last August dubious. All three stand on nation­ as assistant secretary of state for alistic programs based on assurances African affairs. In opposition to Secre­ of safeguarding investments. The tary of State Kissinger, who was for MPLA, it is true, speaks of "social­ plunging ahead, Davis favored seeking ism." But even if the MPLA were to a diplomatic "settlement" in Angola prove more socialistic than Nasser in and playing no "active" role in the Egypt and Nkrumah in Ghana, there civil war there. are indications that such a course is Davis sent a "steady stream of discounted in Wall Street. memoranda" to Kissinger in w,hich, according to an "official," he made the following arguments: Let Angolans decide In any case; such questions are for the Angolans to decide-not the Fords 'Wrong game' and Kissingers. "First of all, Davis told them it won't To cite the involvement of the USSR work. Neither Savimbi or Roberto are in the civil war in Angola is equally good fighters-in fact, they couldn't spurious. The Kremlin's game is to fight their way out of a paper bag. It's improve its bargaining position within the wrong game and the players we got the detente. No one knows this better are losers." than Kissinger. ( _Secondly, when involvement of the U.S. troops landing in Vietnam in 1965. Section of U.S. ruling class fears similar venture The Cuban participation has not United States in the Angolan civil \Yar Into Angola will prove too risky at home. aroused much excitement in the State failed, as would be inevitable, such Department. It is viewed there as American supporters in Mrica as subsidiary to Moscow's moves. The Mobutu of Zaire and Kaunda of Zam­ "The '40 committee,'" Hersh ex­ Southeast Asia will be endangered if Cubans are said to be servirig largely bia would be injured. plained, "is a four-roan subcommittee Laos loses its neutral independence as instructors in the use of the sophisti­ Finally, the United States would end of the National Security Council with . . . Its own safety runs with the safety cated equipment that the Soviet Union up with racist South Africa as its only responsibility for approving all propo­ of us all, ..." _ has been sending to Luanda. ally. sals for covert intelligence activities The parallel between Kennedy's Besides relieving Brezhnev of the Kissinger brushed aside all these carried out by this country abroad. Mr. language and that used by Kissinger diplomatic hazards involved in send­ arguments. The "first significant deci­ Kissinger is the committee's head, and' today is quite impressive. ing Russian troops to Angola, the sion on Angola policy was made in the the other members are Mr. Colby, It is obvious that the New York Cubans stand to gain through rein­ spring, when the Administration au­ William Clement, Deputy Secretary of Times sides with those in the top forcement of their anti-imperialist thorized the C.I.A. to supply about Defense, and Gen. George S. Brown, ruling circles who consider that anoth­ political image. $300,0bO in military arms and aid to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." er Vietnam is the last thing they need. Whatever one's opinions may be of the National Union for the Total Since last July, the Ford administra­ However, as in the case of the dispute the issues at stake in the conflict Liberation of Angola, led by Jonas tion has escalated its "covert intelli­ in these same circles over the error of between the MPLA, the FNLA, and the Savimbi.... gence activities" in Angola. massive military intervention in Indo­ UNITA, it is clear that the main "The funds were authorized after the The parallel to the first phase of china, the differences are purely over enemy in Angola is imperialism. Until C.I.A. formally began reporting the American involvement in the Vietna­ what course best serves the interests of recently, the main enemy was Portu­ increases in Soviet military aid to the American imperialism. guese imperialism, which fought sav­ Popular Movement. . . . mese civil war is so striking that it is already causing public concern in the In the case of Vietnam, tactical agely to retain its grip. Today the "The C.I.A. also has been aiding the United States. differences of this kind did not arise main enemy is American imperialism National Front, headed by Holden until after President Johnson had and its satellite powers, the natural Roberto, since the early 1960's, much Kissinger and Colby committed the United States to inter­ heirs to the Portuguese empire, as they of that help being funneled through Kissinger, apparently anticipating vention in the civil war in Indochina see it. neighboring Zaire, headed by Presi­ this development, said in Brussels on a huge scale. Debate was set off by For all those who believe in the dent Mobutu Sese Seko." December 12 that the situation in the enormous cost, the unexpected democratic right of peoples to deter­ The most important step was taken Angola is "not analogous" to the one toughness of the freedom-seeking na­ mine their own fate, these considera­ by the "40 committee" at a formal in Vietnam a decade ago. tionalist forces, and above all by the tions dictate a course similar to the one meeting last July. The decision was to CIA Director William E. Colby mounting mass opposition inside the followed in opposing the imperialist send $10 million worth of supplies to voiced the same opinion before the United States that became epitomized aggression in Vietnam. The slogan Angola. House Select Committee on Intelli­ in the slogan, "Out Now!" ought to be "Get them out before they gence. According to the December 13 Today, in striking contrast, compar­ get us in!" New York Post, "Colby said there is no­ able differences have appeared among Sa~:ialists say: similarity between any U.S. action in the ruling circles at the very beginning Angola and American involvement in of involvement in the Angolan civil Vietnam. Angola is a situation where war. 'U.S. hands all' the United States must decide whether NEW YORK, Dec. 16-Peter to participate in a 'modest' way, he Is it worth· it? Camejo and Willie Mae Reid, the said, while Vietnam was a case of This significant development can be Socialist Workers party candidates 'massive military commitment.'" ascribed to the experience in Indochi­ for president and vice-president, Colby's reasoning did not impress na. A sector of the ruling class recog­ called today for the "immediate the publishers of the New York Times. nizes that a new adventure abroad cessation of U.S. intervention in An unsigned article in the December similar to the one in Vietnam would in Angola." 14 "Week in Review" cited Colby's all likelihood meet with mass opposi­ "Kissinger is lying when he says arguments and then quoted from a tion from the start. This sector under­ the U.S. is there to protect the statement made by President Kennedy stands that neither Ford nor anyone Angolans from outside interfer­ on March 23, 1961, concerning the who might replace him in the White ence," their statement charged. need for a policy to counter the House can repeat Vietnam without "As in Vietnam, United States military aid granted by the Soviet placing at stake the foundations of imperialism's interest in Angola i~ Union to one of the factions in Laos: capitalist rule in America. So they ask, to control the wealth of the country .~'It is this new dimension of external­ is the risk worth it? and the political destiny of the ly supported warfare that creates the Meanwhile, the Ford administration, Angola:Q. people. The United States, present grave problem ... We strongly following the pattern of previous South Africa, and(the NATO powers and unreservedly support the goal of a administrations, has already become have no right to interfere in the neutral and independent Laos ... If involved in the Angolan civil war. internal affairs of Angola. these [Communist] attacks do not stop The public reaction is being watched, "American working people have [the ·United States and others] will a& the argume:Q.ts of Kissinger and no stake in the foreign policy aims have to consider their response ... No Colby testify, but the Washington of U.S. imperialism in Angola. We one should doubt our resolution on this conspirators hope to get away with it; must demand: No more Vietnams! point . . . Laos is far away but the perhaps by escalating the aggression war with Portugal. Main enemy is now Hands off Angola!" world is small . . . The security of all in bits, each so "modest" as to seem American imperialism.

THE MILITANT/OECEM&ER 21, 1975 3 Probusing whites in· Boston back court take-over of South Boston High School By Jon Hillson for Afro-American Artists, and the BOSTON-More than a score of potentially injurious highway and prominent, white, probusing Bostoni­ tunnel tie-up on December 12 deeply ans have issued a stinging indictment alarm us," the statement said. of the latest round of racist violence It called on "city, state, and federal that has hit this city. law enforcement agencies to appre­ The statement was released at a hend and prosecute the perpetrators" widely covered December 16 news of these "clearly illegal acts. These · conference called to support Federal lawbreakers must know that they can District Judge W. Arthur Garrity's no longer act with impunity." December 9 court order removing Responding to the attempt by anti­ South Boston High School from the busing bigots to portray themselves as jurisdiction of the racist Boston School representative of Boston's majority, Committee. the statement said, "They are not the. At the news conference, initiated by voice of a monolithic white communi­ the Boston Student Coalition Against ty. They do not speak for the tens of Racism, SCAR leader Mike Ponaman thousands who believe in what is just presented the statement to the press. and right in our city. They are not Ponaman is student chairperson of the Boston." University Assembly at the University Signers of the statement include: of Massachusetts in Boston. , Ellen Feingold, president of the Civil "The fire bombing of the offices of Liberties Union of Massachusetts; the Boston NAACP and the home of Jerome Grossman, Massachusetts Boston Black leaders viewing results of racist fire bombing of'""'"'',,,.. White supporters of school desegregation are calling on authorities to prosecute Rev. James Coleman, the threats of Democratic National Committee mem­ violence made on the National Center ber; Nobel Prize laureate George Wald; attackers. John E. Mitchell, international repre­ sentative of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters union; Rabbi Roland Gittle­ only benefit the children-Black, Jack Cole, a well-known Boston sohn'; State Rep. John Businger; Rev. white, Puerto Rican, and Chinese­ journalist and a recent candidate for Dana McLean Greely; Cambridge city who have become the pawns of ruth­ Boston City Council, chided the local council member David Wylie; and less politicians and whose education news media "for the very use of the Russell Johnson, New England region­ has been the chief casualty.... " term 'forced busing."' al director of the American Friends Other participants in the news "It is one of the most irresponsible Service Committee. · conference expanded on many of the things I have ever seen," he said. "The Judge Garrity's court order, the themes presented in the joint state­ issue is not forced busing but desegre­ statement said, "is a positive attempt ment. gation. The issue is the Fourteenth to enforce desegregation against a Meatcutters union leader John E. Amendment to the United States decade-long campaign by the Boston Mitchell told the news media of the Constitution. The issue is the law." School Committee to deny Black ~tu­ dangers posed to the labor movement Ted Jones, president of Boston's dents an equal educational opportuni- by the antibusing drive. radio station WCRB, seconded Cole's t y. " "When any section of the population criticisms of the news media. "It is The statement ended by urging other tries to deny constitutional rights to time for people in the media to speak whites in Boston and around the another," Mitchell said, "our countfy is up," he said, to say that this is the law. country "to stand up, speak out, to in real danger." of the land. refuse to be intimidated, to back the Civil Liberties Union leader Ellen "We are proud to support it. We think NAACP and all victims of such vio­ Feingold blasted the Boston School it's right. We think Judge Garrity is lence, and to defend the just law that Committee's "preoccupation with doing right. We think desegregation is Judge Garrity's court is trying to segregation" as the source of "the what should go forward, and we are PONAMAN: Urged Bostonians to stand implement. deterioratio~ of one of the best school backing it because it is the proper up, speak out, and defend desegregation. "Such a public show of support can systems in the country." thing to do-the only thing to do." 'Southies' continue segregationist drive BOSTON-Ku Klux Klan Grand December 12 marked a "day of and battling cops as they broke into The white student boycott called by Dragon David Duke surfaced here mourning" in reaction to what the the school. Two hours later their ROAR has had no notable impact recently, as a rash of racist protests racist organization ROAR has dubbed occupation was dispersed b~ the police. outside of South Boston and Charles­ erupted in the wake of a federal court "Black Tuesday," the day of Federal On December 15, 100 white students town, even in schools that were order December 9 stripping th~ all­ District Judge W. Arthur Garrity's bolted South Boston High School in a hotbeds of antibusing resistance last white Boston School Committee of its decision. walkout announced by a leaflet circu­ year. jurisdiction over South Boston High That morning, squads -of racists lated early that morning throughout Both the Boston Globe and the New School. snarled rush-hour traffic for an hour the neighborhood. The students were York Times endorsed the ruling in The Louisiana-based demagogue and a half in a coordinated tie-up of immediately suspended. their editorial columns. was invited to "Southie" by the South tunnels and highways. The Klan took Boston's white elected officials have And the decision's reverberations Boston Marshal's Association, a semi­ credit for several of the tie-ups, while added fuel to the racist offensive. were felt as far away as Louisville, secret "protection organization" that ROAR leader Virginia Sheehy called School committee member Kathleen Kentucky, where racist opponents of has monitored many of the racists' them "heartwarming" but disclaimed Sullivan, a Democrat who has posed as that city's busing plan have also demonstrations. any direct responsibility. a "moderate," blasted the decision as disrupted an orderly desegregation of An anonymous leaflet distributed A school boycott virtually emptied "disgusting" and indicated the likeli­ the schools. On December 12, Federal throughout South Boston on December South Boston and Charlestown high hood of a school committee appeal. District Judge James Gordon warned 11 set the tone for the week's anti­ schools of white students. Mayor Kevin White refused to back Louisville school board members, ''It Black, antibusing activities. "Our That afternoon, as Black students Garrity's order, saying only that the took Judge Garrity a year and a half to protest inust take many forms!" the boarded buses to leave South Boston, a ruling "aggravates the city's ten­ screw up the courage to take over the scrawled, mimeographed hate-sheet mob of 200 bigots advanced on the sions." schools in Boston. It'll take me about a read. "Some forms of protest will not school but was turned back by police. Despite this flurry of antibusing minute to take over the Jefferson be agreeable to everyone but-protest we The racists returned shortly after activity and hot air, the Garrity County schools if I feel it's necessary." must!' midnight, setting fire to a police car decision has clearly stung the racists. ....;_J.H.

By Steve Clark technicality. A United Press Interna­ by the state appeals court, is now Racist Beaufort County, North Caro­ tional dispatch reported, "An attorney being appealed to the North Carolina­ Joanne lina, officials are continuing their for Miss Little posted $15,000 bond for Supreme Court. Her attorneys are campaign of harassment against her in a county court yester­ basing the appeal on the gross irregu­ Joanne Little. day.... But the law requires Miss larities committed during her original Little, who was acquitted last sum­ Little to sign certification papers trial. Hearsay was admitted as evi­ Little mer on charges of murdering white before she is technically released on dence, and Little's brother, Jerome, jailer Clarence Alligood, still faces a bail. ..." was urged by the prosecutioh to testify seven-to-ten-year sentence for a previ­ It was failure to sign these papers-a against her in return for a suspended still under ous· breaking-and-entering conviction. technicality that Little was unaware sentence on the same charge. She was serving time on that charge in of-that led to her arrest December 14 The wide public support for Little August 1974 when she was forced to by Dur.ham, North Carolina, police. last -summer prevented the racist attack· defend herself against a sexual assault She was held in jail for two days before North Carolina authorities from send; by the ice-pick-wielding jail guard. being released once again-this time ing her to death row on trumped-up On December 12 Beaufort County on $~5,000 bail. murder charges. A similar effort is authorities issued an all-points bulletin Little's breaking-and-entering con­ needed now to ensure that all charges for Little's arrest on a minor legal viction, which Wa$ upheld last month against her are dropped.

4 Beginning of the_ end for Jim Crow 20 years ago: Montgomery bus boycott By Jose Perez suit in federal court demanding that Twenty years ago, on the afternoon Jim Crow laws in public transporta- , UH - I'M IV6T of December 1, Rosa Parks refused to ~~~ tion be declared unconstitutional. · "move back." She was a Black, middle­ ,PO Ul ~ )' 0 U ~ Since terrorism failed to intimidate aged seamstress in Montgomery, Ala­ the Black commmunity, the cops and bama, and had just boarded a bus. The courts were brought in. In March 1956, white driver told her to give up her seat more than ninety leaders and activists to a white person. Parks refused. were indicted for "conspiracy, combi­ "I was quite tired after spending a nation, or agreement to interfere with full day working," Parks explained. or hinder business." She was arrested for violating a Jim The first to come to trial was King. Crow law of the type that regulated But the Blacks succeeded in making every aspect of the lives of Black the proceedings a trial of the Jim Crow people in the South at the time-where system, as witness after witness took you could sit, where you could eat, the stand to describe the humiliation where you could buy a Coke. Although and harassment they received on Jim the Supreme Court had ruled school Crow buses. Nevertheless, King was segregation illegal, more than a year found guilty. The verdict spurred before, little progress had been made. protests in many U.S. cities outside the Rosa Parks helped set off the powerful, South, with 10,000 rallying in Los massive, civil rights movement that Angeles and 4,000 in New York. And within a decade razed the entire supporters of civil rights sent station structure of Jim Crow to the ground. wagons and money to Montgomery so On December 3, leaflets circulated in the MIA could conduct the boycott as the Black community urged a boy~ott long as necessary. of the bus system December 5, the day The movement was having a pro­ Parks was to appear in court. The found impact on those involved in it leaflets also called a meeting for the and on Blacks throughqut the South. night of December 5 to discuss other One indication was the enthusiastic steps to take. response given to King w"hen, referring The boycott was very effective, with to the struggles by colonial people for Militant/Laura Gray few Blacks to be seen on the buses. But Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott helped spark mass civil rights movement that emancipation, he said, "Today many Rosa Parks was convicted and fined swept away Jim Crow throughout the South. Cartoon first appeared in February 13, are free. . . .And the rest are on the fourteen dollars. 1956, 'Militant.' road.... We are part of that great Five thousand of Montgomery's movement." 50,000 Blacks attended the night Black community, was completely victim of the second bombing-E.D. Another indication was a similar bus meeting and decided to continue the effective. The bus company stopped Nixon. Nixon, president of the local boycott movement that broke out in ·protest until three demands were met: serving many routes, raised fares 50 unit of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Tallahassee, Florida. first-come, first-served seating on the percent, and still was losing money. So Car Porters and a longtime civil rights Faced with such powerful protests - buses; Black drivers for buses on the racists .used the cops, the courts, fighter, had initiated the boycott and and with the danger that the methods routes in predominantly Black areas; and vigilante terrorism to try to break played a major role in shaping the of independent mobilization of the and, courteous treatment . of Black the struggle. character and tactics of the move­ Black community would spread even passengers. ment. further, the rulers ofthe United States To organize the fight, the Montgom­ As the boycott was ending its second The Montgomery fighters were not capitulated. ery Improvement Association was month, the homes of two top leaders intimidated by the bombings. "Who­ A year after the Montgomery protest formed. A car-pool system of transpor­ were bombed. First hit was the home of ever is responsible for these bombings started, with the bus company report­ tation was set up, and regular mass a twenty-seven-year-old Baptist minis­ isn't going to end the boycott that ing losses of $750,000, the U.S. Su­ meetings to keep the community in­ ter, Martin Luther King, who first ' way," Mary Nixon said after her home preme Court ruled on the challenge to formed were scheduled. came to national prominence for his was hit.· "We're all in this to the end." Jim Crow laws that originated in The boycott, based on the indepen­ role as president of the MIA. He hS'-i. To prove it, shortly after the first Montgomery, and found segregation in dent, massive organization of the been brought into the struggle by a bombing, Montgomet:y Blacks filed public transportation illegal. Robert F. Williams returns _to North Carolina By Baxter Smith Monroe," the scrappy, fifty-year-old liam Kunstler as counsel. Williams will MONROE, N.C., Dec. 16-Robert F. rights fighter said. "I was driven out act as cocotinsel. Jerry Paul, another Williams, the hunted Black-rights by the Ku Klux Klan and these racist attorney who defended Little, has fighter whose activities in defense of state officials. indicated he will help defend Williams, North Carolina Blacks brought him "I have not committed any criminal but was unable to be present today national prominence in the early days act. Of course, I'm not the only one because of an ailment. of the civil rights movement, returned they've gone after. But I'm a symbol to Williams's supporters are pulling home to Monroe today to face kidnap­ these people. And so this· is a fight to together a defense committee to help ping charges stemming from a 1961 clean up North Carolina. The Black spread the word on his case. incident. - man has no justice in this state, but I A throng of about 150 jammed into The former Monroe NAACP presi­ hope before I leave he will have it." and spilled outside of the courtroom to . dent voluntarily turned himself over to Williams restated his innocence in express their support for Williams. Union County authorities, ending a the kidnapping charges. "The Stegalls Many were teen-agers, although there long chapter of self-imposed exile that know they would have been killed if it was a smattering of veterans of the old took him to Cuba, China, and Tanza­ were not for me," he said. battles here. nia to avoid lynch-mob-style justice. The Stegalls are the white couple District Attorney Carroll Lowder, a At a bail hearing late this afternoon Williams is charged with kidnapping. baldish, barrel-chested man with a Superior Court Judge John McConnell The incident occurred in August 1961, ruddy face that he periodically set bond at $20,000 and then lowered it at the height of a period of night wrinkled in contempt at Williams, WILLIAMS: 'There is no justice for the to $10,000, which Williams quickly violence against the Black community presented the indictment. · Black man in this state.' posted. McConnell set January 19 for by the Klan. Some Blacks had vowed Kunstler argued for releasing Wil­ the next hearing. revenge on any strange whites coming liams on his own recognizance because Williams's decision to return to fight into the community, and the Stegalls, he had returned voluntarily. But reporter indicated. the frame-up came after the Michigan out-of-towners driving through Black McConnell was adamant. "So that's him. I've heard all about Supreme Court on December 1 refused Monroe, became their target. Later, Kunstler disclosed that he had him. I was still in the crib when he to block his extradition. Baldwin, The Stegalls' car was surrounded by "been tricked" by Lowder who told him ·left," added the teen-ager, nearly six Michigan, has been Williams's home anjered Blacks, but swift-acting Black bond "would be reasonable." feet tall. . since he returned to the United States leaders led the couple away to the In the years that Williams has been "You bet I remember him," a mid­ in 1969. safety of Williams's home. After the away Monroe has changed in some dle-aged Black woman said. "He's Around 1:30 this afternoon a blue­ situation had calmed,. the Stegalls respects. Sections of the Black commu­ done a lot of good things for us folks and-white Eastern Airlines jet popped proceeded on their way, but police later nity have been bulldozed and new around here. He showed me how to out of gray, drizzly skies over Char­ charged Williams with kidnapping dwellings have been built. Bright apply for welfare." lotte Municipal Airport, descended, them. Fearing lynch-mob justice, Wil­ filling stations and fast-food shops One of the newest additions in and whistled to a halt at the terminal liams left Monroe. have marched out along Highway 74, Monroe-built on turf where scores of where some fifty well-wishers had "There's no way I could have gotten the main thoroughfare. Gone are the Blacks have fought' for justice-is the gathered. justice then," Williams charged. "And bands of night-riding Klansmen. "But county courthouse, a ten-story glass­ Squinting into TV lights, Williams now there shouldn't be any trial at all. racism is still here," Williams is quick and-concrete structure. This is where thanked his supporters in impromptu I am not guilty." to add. Robert F. Williams, a man who ignited remarks, then tongue-lashed state Williams, who hopes to be tried in "Which one is Mr. Williams?" a America during the early civil rights authorities for continuing to pursue the Monroe where he envisions the most Black teen-ager at the courthouse, his days with his calls for Black self-· charges. support, has retained Karen Galloway, hair in plaits, asked. defense, today began a new struggle "I resented being forced out of a lawyer for Joanne Little, and Wil- "Right there-in the gray suit," a for justice.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 5 _Little, Tibbs among victims Milwaukee meeting blasts l!racist justice' JJy Tom Mauer were interested in her case," Galloway quantities of arms into Mexico. MILWAUKEE-Joanne Little's ac­ said. Chacon said his brother and Abun­ quittal on charges of murder was "a McWilliams said Delbert Tibbs was dis signed confessions after they and small victory that should start the ball a victim of "white-racist hysteria." Abundis's wife were tortured. rolling to build support for others" in Tibbs was sentenced to death in He said defense committees are similar situations, said Karen Gallo­ Florida for allegedly raping a white being formed in Texas, New York, and way December 6. Galloway, one of woman and murdering her male com­ Milwaukee to organize efforts to stop . Little's attorneys, was speaking at a panion, despite the fact that Tibbs was the torture and obtain Chacon's and forum here on "Racist Justice." 200 miles away from the scene of the Abundis's release. , More than eighty people heard crime and doesn't match the descrip­ The panel was sponsored by the Galloway along with a panel composed tion of the suspect. Milwaukee Student Coalition Against of: Eugene McWilliams of the National Julia Mendoza said her son Ray's Racism, Black Students Union, Femin­ Committee to Free Delbert Tibbs; Julia request for a new trial had been denied ist Center, Los Universitarios, Ray Mendoza, mother of Ray Mendoza, and his attorneys were now appealing Mendoza Defense Committee, Spanish who has been convicted on frame-up to the state supreme court. Mendoza Speaking Outreach Institute, Tony charges of killing two white Milwaukee was convicted last year of charges of Baez, University Democrats, Young cops; Michael Murphy, a Black mem­ first-degree murder of two off-duty Socialist Alliance, and the Women's ber of the Young Socialist Alliance cops. International League for Peace· and facing trial for defending himself from Michael Murphy was attacked by a Freedom. a Nazi attack; and Ernesto Chacon, Nazi July 12 after being handed a director of Milwaukee's Latin Ameri­ racist leaflet. He said the city adminis­ can Union for Civil Rights. Chacon's tration is, in effect, cooperating with MADISON, Wis.-Karen Galloway brother Ramon, an American citizen Nazi attempts to victimize and intimi­ spoke to 150 students at the University and farm worker organizer in Texas, is date Blacks,·- and he appealed for of Wisconsin at Madison on December MilitanVJoel Aber being held and tortured by the Mexi­ support in his case. 5. "There is no justice in the American GALLOWAY: 'Joanne Little acquittal was can government for "gunrunning." Ernesto Chacon said his brother had criminal justice system," she declared, small victory to start ball rolling for Galloway said Little ·still needs been arrested several weeks ago in and pointed to the need for broad others.' active support. She is trying to obtain Mexico along with Salvador Abundis, public support for its victims. a new trial to reverse a 1974 conviction a Texas Raza Unida party activist who Eugene McWilliams and Julia Men­ of breaking and entering. was born in Mexico. doza also spoke and made appeals for ison Student Coalition Against Ra­ Little defeated the frame-up charges Mexican authorities, who have re­ support. cism, Wisconsin Student Association, of murdering jailer Clarence Alligood ceived the cooperation of the FBI and More than fifty dollars was raised in Multicultural Affairs Committee, Wom­ because of "a real team effort by people CIA in the case, charged that Chacon a collection from the audience. The en's studies department, and the Wis­ of different political ideologies who and Abundis were transporting large program was sponsored by the Mad- consin Union Directorate. Feb. 17 set for new trial Judge throws out J.B. Johnson's lawsuit By Peter Seidman led to his conviction before an all-white On Thanksgiving eve, thirty sup­ ST. LOUIS-On December 9, U.S. jury. porters braved a freezing blizzard to District Judge· James Meredith dis­ Judge Meredith dismissed Johnson's hold a candlelight vigil outside the city missed a $1 million suit filed by J.B. suit on the procedural grounds that jail in support of Johnson and other Johnson against St. Louis County intervention by a federal court was not victims of racist police frame-ups. prosecutors and University City po­ justified at this time since Johnson's Recent endorsers of the demand for licemen. defense efforts have won him a new freedom for J.B. Johnson include: St. Johnson's suit, filed by his attorneys trial. Louis Cardinals football star Mel William Kunstler and Paul Hales, The judge indicated that a similar Gray; MIT Prof. N oam Chomsky; chaYged that county and police offi­ suit could be refiled after Johnson's Operation Coalition, a city-wide Black cials had used "false and fabricated" new trial is completed. student organization in St. Louis; the evidence in conducting the prosecution Afro-American Student Union at the against him during his first trial on The date for this trial, which had University of Missouri in Kansas City; charges of being an accomplice to the originally been set for January 12, has and the University of Pittsburgh 1970 murder of a white University City now been postponed until February 17. student government. policeman. The National Committee to Free J.B. Johnson's first trial, which took Johnson has stepped up its activities Resolutions in support of a fair trial · place in 1972, resulted in his being in preparation for ·the approaching for J.B. Johnson were passed Decem­ sentenced to natural life (ninety-nine trial. ber 7 by student governments at the years and a day) in the Missouri State A crowd of 500 attending a banquet University of Missouri in St. Louis and Penitentiary. to honor Muhammad Ali gave pro­ Washington University. The National Committee to Free J.B. longed applause to Johnson and his Because of the upcoming trial, the Johnson has conducted an extensive mother, Mary Watkins, here on Decem­ National Committee to Free J.B. John­ publicity and legal defense effort since ber 5. The banquet, which capped a son has requested a stepped-up cam­ that trial to win justice for this Black ro,11nd of speaking engagements by Ali paign on the part of its supporters for victim of a racist frame-up. Johnson's during a day proclaimed in his honor endorsements and . financial support. suit in federal court was aimed at Phony evidence convicted Johnson of by St. Louis Mayor John Poelker, was The committee can be reached at: Post challenging the prosecutors' abuse of murder in 1972. Defense committee is broadcast live over KMOX radio, the Office Box 4 713, St. Louis, Missouri evidence in Johnson's first trial that stepping up activities around new trial. CBS affiliate in St. Louis. 63108. Telephone: (314) 725-0319. New Jersey students fight education cutbaCks By Kimi Nakata departments. Since 1972, only five schools and are most likely to need the Other New Jersey students are also NEWARK-New Jersey is one of the teachers have been hired while almost remedial programs established in the organizing to fight budget cuts and to wealthiest states in the nation in seventy teachers have left. This has past few years. In New Jersey, the defend their right to a college educa­ personal income, yet it is one of the meant a permanent closing of these main remedial program is the Educa­ tion. On November 24, nearly 1,000 lowest in per capita expenditures for positions and drastic reductions in tional Opportunity Fund (EOF). The students from eight New Jersey state education. Now the state legislature, most of the academic departments. number of openings in this program colleges rallied in Trenton to protest Higher Education Chancellor Ralph throughout the Rutgers University the cutbacks and proposed tuition hike. Dungan, and Rutgers (the state univer­ Dungan also proposes to limit the system has dropped from 350 in 1971- This rally was organized by the New sity) President Edward Bloustein have number of students by imposing new 72 to 160 for 1975-76. Jersey Student Association. announced that even this insufficient standards for admission that would The number of ,Black and Puerto budget will be cut back. require "demonstrating competency" Rican students in Rutgers has dropped At Rutgers-Newark, the Committee Their plans include the firing of all in reading and math skills. He pro­ over the past few years, largely be­ to Fight the Cutbacks held a teach-in 215 first- and second-year faculty in poses setting up "precolleges" to be cause of cuts in the EOF. At Newark December 8 to inform students of the the Rutgers University system, and responsible for teaching these skills, College of Arts and Sciences, there are nature of cutbacks at Rutgers and to cuts in most academic programs, which should have been taught by the fifty-five Puerto Rican students, of build a united movement to fight financial aid, and minority admissions elementary and high schools. whom only nine were admitted this cutbacks and tuition increases. Spon­ programs. Dungan claims that this is not fall. The Puerto Rican Organization, a sors included the student senate, the At Rutgers-Newark, the cutbacks meant to exclude minority students, campus group, has set up its own Puerto Rican Organization, Black began three years ago with a hiring but in reality those are exactly the committee to recruit new Puerto Rican Organization of Students, and the freeze and the beginning of cuts in all students who have gone to the worst students. Black studies department.

6 Actions planned to mobilize· ERA support By Ginny Hildebrand chapters and local unions to get This spring, many state legislators · behind the renewed drive for ERA will be visited by groups of women ratification. Their efforts will be aided decked out in long dresses bearing by the message to the CLUW conven­ homemade gifts-pies, jams, and tion from AFL-CIO President George bread. These are "femininity tactics," Meany in which he stated that the says Phyllis Schlafly, the right-winger passage of the ERA "must be a priority who heads a group known· as Stop matter to the entire trade-union move­ ERA. Schlafly's organization is con­ ment." ducting a national campaign to block On January 14, in Virginia, legisla­ ratification of the Equal Rights tors will be confronted by women's Amendment. rights advocates. Northern Virginia These same legislators can also NOW is planning a march from the expect to see throngs of pro-ERA northern part of the state to Richmond demonstrators outside their windows to dramatize ERA support. in the streets, marching for equal NOW chapters in Illinois, one of the rights. Supporters of the ERA in many ~tates that has blocked ERA ratifica­ states are preparing to out-debate; out­ tion, are preparing for activities when organize, and out-mobilize ERA oppo­ their state legislature takes up ratifica­ nents in 1976. tion in April. Pledges to send delega­ The ERA, which states that women tions to aid in a petitioning drive cannot be discriminated against be­ Militant/Joel Aber beginning April 9 are being made by cause of their sex, must be ratified by a Women's rights supporters will be in the streets in 1976 demanding 'pass ERA.' NOW chapters from states around the total of thirty-eight states by 1979 to country.· The activities will culminate · become law. So far, thirty-four have in an April 13 demonstrati~n in acted favorably. Reactionary forces are kicking off a nationally coordinated ered broad support for a January 10 Springfield when the petitions are out to prevent passage by four more drive to win ratification. demonstration. Among the groups presented to the legislature. states, and to rescind ratification in The inspiration for the ERA fight in united behind the demonstration are Women from Arizona State Universi­ states that have already adopted the Los Angeles began with Alice Doesn't Local 1644 of the American Federation ty have initiated .a call for a demon­ amendment, although it's not clear Day on October 29. Nearly 5,000 of State, County and Municipal Em­ stration at the state capitol in Phoenix whether such action is legal. women participated in a march and ployees, Black Women's Coalition, on January 30. The action was called "The enemies of feminism are busy rally as part of a national women's Coalition of Labor· Union Women, in October by sixty women who at­ organizing a nationwide offensive to strike day called by NOW at its YWCA, Atlanta and DeKalb NOW tended an ERA forum sponsored by defeat the E.R.A. ...," states a resolu­ October convention. Chanting, "Sis­ chapters, and the Southern Christian the Campus Coalition for the ERA. On tion adopted this month by the Phila­ ters unite, stand up and fight, ERA is a Leadership Conference. the evening before the January 30 l;lelphia board of the National Organi­ woman's right," the L.A. demonstra­ Authors Betty Friedan and Kate demonstration, the coalition will hold zation for Women. "The women's tors turned their protest into a pro­ Millett and NOW President Karen a teach-in on the ASU campus in movement has to answer with a ERA event. DeCrow will be among the featured nearby Tempe. national campaign of our own or risk Some of the groups involved decided speakers. Others scheduled to speak These projected activities are indica­ that the E.R.A. will not be ratified by to constitute themselves as the Los include Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jack­ tions of a ground swell of interest in an 1979 ...." Angeles Coalition for the ERA. These son; State Sen. Julian Bond; SWP vice­ action-oriented strategy to win ERA The resolution urges "nationally included: Los Angeles and Beach presidential candidate Willie Mae Reid; ratification. This momentum has the coordinated local teach-ins, picket lines Cities chapters of NOW, San Fernando Jean O'Leary, legislative coordinator potential to unite women's organiza­ and demonstrations on and around Valley National Women's Political for the National Gay Task Force; and · tions, Black community groups, March 8, 1976 (International Women's Caucus, American Civil Liberties Lithana Robinson, president-elect of unions, and many others in actions on Day), and a national E.R.A. demon­ Union Women's Rights Committee, the Georgia Association of Educators. a nationwide scale. stration on July 4, 1976, possibly in Socialist Workers party, and several Pro-ERA sentiment today is wide­ As the Philadelphia NOW board. Philadelphia." campus organizations. spread among union women. The resolution stated, ". . . a national In California, the Los Angeles Coali­ The coalition is planning a February recent convention of the Coalition of strategy was successful in the past in tion for the ERA is also advocating an 7 conference to initiate their spring Labor Union Women voted to "make winning the right to vote, and more action campaign. The group is plan­ ERA activities. the fight for the ERA a priority recently, in winning the right to ning to contact women's groups across In Georgia, Georgians for the ERA through a mass-action and educational abortion, and is· the only strategy the country to suggest that Interna­ are continuing a three-year-long battle campaign." With this mandate, CLUW which can assure passage of the tional Women's Day be targeted for for state ratification. GERA has gath- activists can organize their CLUW E.R.A." United anticutbacks fight discussed in NY By Jim Little "We must join with you in solidarity win this fight."· broader forces that could begin to take NEW YORK-"This is a unity meet­ and in confrontation with the racist Other speakers representing day­ effective action against the cutbacks. ing," said Jay Hershenson, president system," he said. care 'Yorkers, Headstart staffs, library Several people expressed interest in of the City University of New York lrv Panken of the Professional Staff workers, teachers, construction work­ forming an open-ended continuations student senate. "Students, faculty, Congress, the union of CUNY faculty, ers, meat cutters, government employ­ committee. Another meeting was tenta­ unions, community leaders, people warned that more cuts in higher ees, and various community groups tively set for next February. against cutbacks-our interests are the education were on the way. In addition expressed the same desire for unity. In addition, those presen~ were urged same." to $82 million already cut from the The important task at this time, they to join and support demonstrations set Hershenson's statement reflected the CUNY budget, he said, "another $55 agreed, was to reach out to other for December 15 and December 18 to sentiment of the 100 people who million will be effectuated this semes­ victims of the cuts and bring together protest cutbacks at CUNY. attended a student-initiated anticut­ ter." backs discussion December .. 10 at Several student leaders describe~;! the CUNY's Baruch College campus. specific effect of the cuts. Dave Shultz, The meeting was intended to bring a veterans' leader, told how higher together different groups and individu­ costs to students threatened to nullify als affected by the cutbacks in jobs, the benefits that vets receive. education, and social services to dis­ A high school student from the City­ cuss how best to fight back. Wide High School Advisory Council Nearly half the participants were expressed the fear felt by many high Black or Puerto Rican, and many school students that now they may not speakers cited the disproportionate be able to go to college. impact of the cuts on the Black and Virtually every speaker cited the Puerto Rican communities. need to unify the different struggles Mike Meyers, assistant national going on against the cutbacks. Carlyle executive director of the NAACP, Thornhill, a Baruch student govern­ condemned moves to end the open ment leader, said, "We must realize our admissions policy at CUNY. When link with others. New York is a test. open admissions was won in the 1960s, Life is hardest here. People should he said, "for a brief spell Black and fight hardest here. But if the unions, Puerto Rican youth gained access to which are the strongest here, do not higher education. Now we live in a fight, there cannot be much hope." ·. time of retrogression, [but] we will not Others also expressed disappointment tolerate cutbacks in higher education." with the inaction of the union official­ Meyers singled out the National dom to date. Student Coalition Against Racism, a Thornhill continued, "If there are principal organizer of the December 10 only little battles-here on Forty­ meeting, as a group providing much­ Second Street, there on Wall Street­ MilitantiLou· Howort needed leadership in the anticutbacks we cannot win. But if we unite and all CUNY students have held many demonstrations against cutbacks. Now unionists, fight. demand what we require, we can all community activists, and students are discussing united fight against cuts.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 7 Challenges Buckle~ Abzug N~ SWP names Gallo for Senate By Debby Woodroofe voting for and carrying out the cuts. NEW YORK-The Socialist Workers "Their first allegiance," Gallo con­ party has announced the candidacy of tinued, "is to the capitalist system-a Marcia Gallo, thirty-two, for U.S. system that requires that measures be Senate. Gallo, a school teacher, was taken to make working people pay for the Socialist Workers candidate for the economic crisis." governor of Ohio in 1970. She is Pat Wright, Garza, and Miller are currently the organizer of the Brooklyn trade unionists. Wright is a day-care branch of the SWP. · center worker and a member of the Four other Socialist Workers candi­ American Federation of State, County dates were announced earlier this fall. and Municipal Employees. She was a They are: Catarino Garza, for Con­ central organizer of a demonstration of gress from Manhattan's 18th Congres­ mothers, children, and day-care work­ sional District; Pat Wright, for Con­ ers held November 24 to protest the gress from Brooklyn's 14th C.D.; Robb impending closing of dozens of day­ Wright for Congress from Harlem's care centers. 19th C.D.; and Ruthann Miller for Wright was a speaker at that protest, state assembly from the 70th Assem­ and her speech was noted by the New bly District. They have all been active­ York Daily News. The article reported ly involved in the fight against the that "Pat Wright, Socialist Workers assault on the standard of living of candidate for Congress, told the crowd workipg people that is taking place in Militant/Lou Howort the city has pledged to relocate chil­

New York City. MARCIA GALLO: 'Democrats support dren who attend centers scheduled to Milihmlt/S"""'" Ellis Gallo's campaign was kicked off at a cutbacks because their first allegiance is be closed at the end of the year." PAT WRIGHT: 'We have to show this city December 12 rally of 350 Socialist to capitalist system.' The article went on to quote Wright we will not have our rights and services Workers campaign supporters, held at as saying to the crowd, "Now I ask snatched from us.' the Martin Luther King Labor Center. you, how can they relocate all those The rally was addressed by Garza, as a result of working with members of children when the centers are already Robb Wright, Pat Wright, and vice­ the Young Socialist Alliance on his full, and have waiting lists as long as Teachers and has been a leader of the presidential candidate Willie Mae Reid campus to build a movement against my arm?" fight against UFT President Albert (see facing page), who has spent the the cutbacks, he has decided to join the "There have been lots of demonstra­ Shanker's racist policies. past week in New York on a speaking YSA. tions, but each sector fighting alone Robb Wright is a well-known spokes­ tour. The senatorial race promises to be cannot win. We have to pull together person for the anticutbacks movement An mdication of the involvement of an intensive one. There are already at and show this city that we will not in New York. He spent the fall working the Socialist Workers campaign in the least ten Democrats, including liberals have our rights and services snatched with student leaders organizing pro­ struggle in New York City was the Bella Abzug and Ramsey Clark, vying from us." tests ag~inst cutbacks in education appearance on the rally program of for their party's nomination. The seat Ruthann Miller's campaign for state and open admissions. three student leaders of the cutbacks is currently held by James Buckley, an assembly has received support from Robb Wright also organized a meet­ fight. Carlyle Thornhill, editor of the arch-conservative. many of those who are working with ing for Willie Mae Reid at John Jay Baruch College newspaper, and Rich­ In her remarks at the rally, Gallo her in the effort to unionize the 1,000 College-a campus that has been an ard Izzo, from the Committee to Save pointed out that although some of her clerical workers at Columbia Universi­ organizing center for the anticutbacks Kingsborough (Community College), Democratic opponents have issued ty. The organizing drive is being fight. In the week prior to her appear­ spoke on the role city university statements against the layoffs and carried out by District 65, Distributive ance at the rally, Reid spoke to a total students have played through their cutbacks, "we have to remember that Workers of America. Miller is a secre­ of six campus audiences. As a result of demonstrations in setting an example they are Democrats first, last, and tary on the campus and a leader of the a meeting of eighty students, largely on how to oppose the cuts. always. Democrats, just like Mayor organizing campaign. Black, at the Borough of Manhattan Brooklyn College student Andre Beame, Governor Carey, and all the Congressional candidate Garza is a Community College, a new YSA chap­ Lowen explained to the audience that others in city hall and Albany now member of the United Federation of ter was established there. Brooklyn tenants meet Willie Mae Reid NEW YORK-A highlight of Willie at a forum she attended two months support for the socialist candidates in known as fighters," she said, "and are Mae Reid's New York tour was an ago on the Equal Rights Amendment. her building was Brooklyn SWP cam­ well on our way toward establishing a informal reception held for her at the She has since become an active suppor­ paign manager, Nancy Fields. Fields real base for Wright's campaign." apartment of a campaign supporter ter of the Gamejo~Reid ticket and the described to me how this support was Plans are already under way for a who lives in the Lindsey Park I;Iousing campaign of Pat Wright, who is the organized: "Each Saturday, we sent second meeting for Wright, to be held Cooperative. Twenty-five people, most­ SWP candidate for Congress in her teams into the cooperative. They went in the community room of the co-op. ly tenants of this Brooklyn co-op, came district. Hunter has also just decided to door-to-door, giving tenants the 'Bill of -D.W. to meet the socialist candidate. join the SWP. Rights for Working People' and the Gloria Hunter, who hosted the recep­ "I never before understood what New York City campaign program, as tion, is a nurses' aid. Her first contact socialism was, and how relevant it is . · well as selling subscriptions to the with .the Socialist Workers party was to working people," she told me, Militant. People were very responsive," explaining her decision to join the Fields reported. "If they didn't buy the Wanted~ SWP. Militant, they at least wanted to talk She had been a strong supporter of with us about the economic crisis." Brooklyn Democrat Shirley Chisholm. After two weeks, Hunter organized a SWPlogo "At that time, I wasn't aware of how reception for Pat Wright. Only one Supporters of Peter Camejo and this system works, that people like tenant showed up. Undaunted, the Willie Mae Reid will be petitioning Chisholm are really campaigning for socialist campaigners continued their for ballot status in many states the capitalist system, and that that work in the co-op, meeting new people, from now until the fall of 1976. trend has got to be broken. systematically revisiting those who Many of these states require parties "Joining a socialist party," Hunter had bought the Militant, and telling to be identified on the ballot with an continued, "allows me to speak out people about the upcoming reception insignia or emblem. against racism, sexism, bigotry, and for Reid. The Socialist Workers 1976 Na­ capitalist manipulation. As a Black tional Campaign Committee is ask­ woman, all the fights I want to fight One of those at Reid's reception was ing readers of the Militant to send can now be tied together in one party­ a district organizer for Local 1199, in proposed designs for a Socialist the SWP. National Union of Hospital and Workers party insignia to be used "Every time I do something with the Health Care Employees. When social­ for ballot and other purposes. SWP, I get more into it and feel more a ist campaigners showed up at his door, Designs must be simple enough so part of it," Hunter ex~lained. "Since I he ·told them about a nursing-home that they can be reduced to a size live in a large cooperative, I thought I strike then underway in New Rochelle. one-inch square. For ballot use, they could get something going here. The The next Saturday, campaign workers must appear in black and white. people in this building have been hard joined the picket line and wrote an Sketches should be received by hit by the economic crisis. They don't article about the strike for the Militant. April 1, 1976. If an appropriate want to vote Democrat anymore. They The 1199 organizer was impressed by design is submitted, it will appear, are disgusted with politics. this support. He is now a .regular with the name of its creator, in the "They know some change is needed, Militant reader and has begun selling Militant. but they aren't sure exactly what. I the paper to· his neighbors. Send your design to: Insignia, c/o wanted to have this reception because Fields reports that several other Socialist Workers 1976 National GLORIA HUNTER: 'People in this I knew I could get tenants active in tenants have volunteered to hold Campaign Committee, 14 Charles building don't want to vote Democrat supporting this party." receptions in their homes for the Lane, New York, New York 10014. anymore.' Working with Hunter in organizing socialist candidates. "We have become

8 Reid: New York crisis shows why labor needs its own political· .party [The following are excerpts from stop these cutbacks and demand our the speech presented by Willie Mae right to a job and a decent standard of Reid, Socialist Workers party 1976 living." vice-presidential candidate, to a December 12 socialist campaign Appeal to all oppressed rally in New York.] "We are going to stand up for the interests of the most oppressed. We will The brutal assault on the rights of fight against privilege and discrimina­ working people in this city is very tion of every kind. And we are appeal­ much on the minds of everyone who ing to the Black and Puerto Rican lives in New York. I have been asked communities, to the students fighting to tell you what the Socialist Workers the cuts at CUNY, to the rent strikers party thinks ought to be done about it. at Co-op City, to the senior citizens But before I do that, I want to share fighting to save their centers-to join with you something else that is very with us in this drive." much on my mind tonight. { ~: An announcement like that would Two days ago, the night riders in ····---~ explode like a bombshell on the politi­ Boston struck again. They hurled fire cal scene. What a response it would ·get ,;}1 t bombs into the home of a Black from all t~e victims of the crisis! minister and into the headquarters of The impact would be felt across this the NAACP. country. New York would set the This time, they weren't satisfied to· example-not the example it is now of beat up Blacks who had the nerve to how to grind us into the dirt-but an try to cross the color line and go to example for workers of how to fight school in South Boston. They weren't back. , after some "uppity coloreds" who The rulers try to convince us that wanted to swim at one of "Southie's" Militant/Lou Howort Willie Mae Reid, socialist candidate for vice-president, addresses rally of 350 campaign workers can never do anything of the beaches. supporters on New York crisis, racist attacks in Boston. sort. They try to convince us that No, this time the bigots drove into workers are stupid. We can't think for the Black community-and by direct­ ourselves; we can't organize ourselves; ing that fire bomb into the headquar­ the following message from this meet­ When the state government sets up a we can't act for ourselves. ters of the NAACP they struck at the ing to the Boston NAACP: Big Mac or a Financial Control Board Workers have no place in public very heart of the Black community. "Brothers and Sisters, that can cut your wages and tear up office, they try to tell us. We have to be By striking at the NAACP they "We are outraged to learn of the fire your union contract, it's got to be represented by these double-talking, struck at the valiant Black youth who bombing of your headquarters by the fought in the political arena, as well as double-dealing, high-living politicians have braved their taunts, their threats, antibusing bigots. We hail your deter­ on the picket lines. .. who sit in Congress today. their slurs, and their violence by riding mination not to allow the night riders But working people are in a Political The problem is that the union those buses into "Southie" every day from South Boston to intimidate you fight with no political representation. officials look at the workers with with their heads held high. into silence. We join with you in They have no political party of their exactly the same contempt. They think By striking at the NAACP they pledging that we will respond to this own. the role of the workers in the u~ions is struck at all the brothers and sisters violence by intensifying our efforts to The current leaders of the unions to pay dues and do what they tell us. across this country who are standing build a movement that can compel the keep the workers tied hand and foot to They try to stifle democracy in the up to the racists. city of Boston to obey the law of the the Democratic party. They try to tell unions and tum them into organiza­ By striking at the NAACP they land and provide equal protection for the workers that the Democratic party tions run by and for a staff, not by and struck at me! And they struck at every all. is their party, that it can represent all for the ranks. person in this room. "Keep those buses rolling!" the people. That's a lie. They don't think the way to win I don't know how you all feel, but The Democratic party only .repre­ things is to mobilize the members in when the racists strike at me, I get sents some people-a particular class an independent struggle. They tell us mad, fighting mad! * * * of people, the. capitalist class. That's to sit tight while they take care of It's a strange thing, you know. The why the Democratic party is for the everything. Demand investigation overwhelming majority of people in cutbacks. It's Democrats like Beame Nobody with that mentality is ever The leaders of the Black community New York City are opposed to the and Carey who are firing workers and going to lead the workers to victory. in Boston are demanding that the cutbacks and layoffs. cutting wages. For a labor party to come into being, Justice Department investigate the It's only a tiny minority that wants Continued on page 26 conspiracy to terrorize the Black com­ the cutbacks. It's only the bankers on munity and to block the implementa­ Wall Street and the crooked politicians tion of court-ordered busing in Boston. in city hall and Albany and Washing­ What labor party could do I endorse that demand, and I'm ton, who want us to sacrifice for their With our own party-a labor party­ campaigning for it everywhere I go. profits. we could put people into office who Join us That fire bomb had a message, and So why is it that the workers have would allocate funds for schools and ( ) Send me a free copy of the the message was addressed to the been unable to use their power to fight day-care centers and hospitals-not for campaign platform, "A Bill of NAACP, to the National Student this attack? Why do the unions appear _the Pentagon. We could put people into Rights for Working People" ( ) in Coalition Against Racism, to the Black so weak and ineffective? office who would support strikes and English, ( ) in Spanish. community in Boston and its allies in demonstrations, not throw strikers iqto ( ) I want to come to a campaign the -fight for desegregation. A political fight jail. ' meeting to help plan activities. The message was: give up your The reason is that the fight against Just imagine what would happen if a ( ) I want to join the Socialist struggle for school desegregation. these cuts is a political fight. The fight conference were held with delegates Workers party. But we will not abandon this fight! over where our tax dollars should go­ from AFSCME, from the teachers, the ( ) Enclosed is my contribution of We will not be terrorized into silence! · for schools or for the bankers' profits­ sanitation workers, construct.ion ·work­ $ ___ I would like to propose that we send is a political fight. ers, and all the other unions in the city-along with community groups, Contact the campaign headquarters women's groups, students, and the nearest you (see Socialist Directory, unemployed: And they discussed this page 26), or clip and mail to: crisis and decided to launch indepen­ Socialist Workers· 1976 National dent political action. Campaign Committee, 14 Charles They could call a news conference Lane, New York, New York 10014. and announce: Name______"The Democrats and Republicans have sold us out for the last time. Address ------­ Those parties do not represent our interests and we're. through supporting City ------them. · State ______Zip ____ "We are fielding a slate of working women and men to run for Senate, for Telephone ______all the congressional seats, and for all Occupation ------city offices. We're taking the funds our unions have earmarked for political Business address ______action, and instead of turning it over to School/union local ______our enemies, we're using it for a labor campaign. Chairpersons: Fred ·Halstead, Ed Heisler, "We are going to build a new kind of Linda Jenness, Andrew Pulley-Treasurer: party. Not an electoral machine, but a Andrea Morell. ·,:;;:z··} r· -~--- fighting party of the workers. We're A copy of our report is filed with the Federal Militant/Brian going to mobilize the ranks of our Election Commission and is available for Catarino Garza (left), SWP candidate for Congress, campaigns on Lower East Side. unions in every local, every factory, purchase from the Federal Election Commis­ sion, Washington, D.C. New York socialist campaign 'sets example for entire labor movement,' said Re_id. every shop, and every neighborhood to

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 9 In Our Opinion Let ten

·Houston sales drive Cleaver It's my opinion that the strongest After reading "The taming of El­ selling point of the Militant in this dridge Cleaver" by Baxter Smith What will stop fall's circulation-building drive was its (December 5 Militant), I'm prompted to coverage of the antiracist movement write these comments. and issues. Here in Houston, our top It is my belief, along with other CIA, FBI crimes? salespeople pinpoint articles like the brothers and sisters, that a deal The unending stream ·of revelations about the illegal and interview with Joanne Little, articles between the U.S. government and outlining strategies for the Black Cleaver was made. All of a sudden he's antidemocratic actions of the FBI and the CIA is having a liberation movement, and coverage of preaching he's as American as apple profound impact on the thinking of millions of Americans. As the fight against the Boston racists pie. It is my belief that when the pie the truth comes out, the image of the U.S. government as a and the cutbacks. was baked the core was left in and defender of democracy at home and abroad is being shattered. One interesting response reported by Cleaver is the core. The government Behind this false front, the real face of the imperialist several people was simply the idea that will tum the water back on and he will government is emerging. Militant coverage is unique. People drown in America's filth. For this I say The reality is that the crimes of the FBI and the CIA are not can't read this news anywhere else at right on, he deserves whatever he gets. all. Cleaver is a traitor to his people and aberrations or excesses. They are the essential methods of rule A typical comment along these lines to the dead brothers and sisters who of the American capitalist class, whose wealth comes from the came from one woman who had just died for the things he preached. Once exploitation of working people at home and the plunder of the bought a subscription. She called up he was young Blacks' idol; he told how worldwide empire under its control. the person who sold it to her the day and when. But when push came to Assassinations, coups, "counter-insurgency" operations, and her subscription arrived because she shove, he ran. plots to disrupt and destroy movements challenging its policies · was excited by the coverage and People once believed his words, and are all indispensable to the most ruthless government the world wanted to say thanks. She had · those are the words that will stick, recently moved to Houston from New has ever seen. Because it serves the interests of a tiny minority, because if he thinks that anything at York and couldn't believe the lack of all in this country has changed for the the U.S. government must employ these methods. And it must newspapers in this area. Her comment better in favor of Blacks, then he's do so behind a shroud of secrecy and lies to hide its real aims was, "I was even beginning to think really wearing his brains in the front and tactics. . I'd read the Village Voice if it was of his pants to produce the Cleaver That is why the growing demand to open the secret files of around even though I never liked it. Look. the FBI and CIA to let the people know the truth about their But now that I've got your paper I'm Lynda Blackmon crimes against democratic rights poses such a powerful back in touch with reality again." Staten island, New York challenge to the ruling class. - Jane Strader Houston, Texas In response to the increasing outrage at these secret government operations, capitalist politicians are proposing some "reforms" of the institutions of the capitalist state. Klan's 'new look' Among the measures now being debated in Congress are steps Holiday greeting Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke to make the FBI and CIA more "accountable" to Congress, to The National Prisoner's Association spoke here recently at a forum on the attorney general, or to the president. sends Christmas greetings to our Black-white relations. His remarks Some more radical-sounding Democrats are proposing more members and to all workers of the provided an insight into the Klan's world. We realize that we will never attempts to acquire a veneer of substantial readjustments. For instance, Tom Hayden, candi­ have the full meaning of Christmas legitimacy. date for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from until the workers of the world take Duke assured his audience that the California, demands that the CIA be abolished and replaced control of our societies. Klan is no longer racist in the "old­ with a new agency "within the State Department." We urge all the people to remember fashioned" sense of the word. The This new agency, says Hayden, "will only work· in the the prison cr~ed of Eugene V. Debs: Klan has absolutely "nothing against" national interest if it is staffed by a new generation of "While there is a lower class I am in Black people, he said, and it doesn't personnel dedicated to serving people rather than spying on it; while there is a criminal element I consider them inferior to whites, am of it; while there's a soul in prison I merely "different." them." am not free." He continued by saying that the All of these politicians argue that the problem is that the FBI National Prisoner's Association Black population in the United States and the CIA have gotten out of control. But the fact is just the Georgia has nothing to fear from white-power opposite. The FBI and CIA are tools of the ruling class. Their organizations such as the Nazis, the essential operations are and always have been directly under KKK, and ROAR, and that 'the ·the control of the Democrats. and Republicans, who rule this interests and aspirations of the Black country in the interests of the capitalist class. Likes even the disagreements masses actually converge with those of By ·posing the issue in terms of the need to restructure the I have been reading the Militant for the white racists. He said that they approximately four years. At times the both want and need racial and cultural machinery of the capitalist state, these politicians are engaging Militant was my only contact with the "autonomy" and separation. in a sham debate. They are merely trying to devise ways to outside. I have enjoyed the If all this didn't succeed in pretty up the tarnished image of capitalist rule. They are trying subscription allocated to prisoners nonplussing the audience, his next to cover up the fact that the Democratic and Republican parties without funds for about a year. remark certainly did. He said that are the ones responsible for the policies and practices of the FBI The Militant has kept me informed racist whites should unite with and CIA. of and given me insight into national Blacks-temporarily-in order to To effectively defend democratic rights agains_t the capitalist and international affairs relating to defeat their common enemy, the Jews. the struggle to bring imperialism to its The Jews, Duke insisted, had always rulers' inexorable drive to destroy them, working people need to monstrous end. Things that I have been the main oppressors of both make a political break from these capitalist parties and disagreed with only encouraged me to Black and white people. organize their own party, a labor party based on the trade study harder. It was not the racist whites of the unions. My keepers have decided that I no KKK that Black Americans should Such a party could wage a powerful campaign to force the full longer need keeping. So I have a parole fear, but the Jews, who he said were disclosure of the crimes still hidden in the files of the FBI and date soon. I would appreciate it if the . trying to "mongrelize" the Black and CIA. It could demand the immediate release of the truth about Militant could be continued until then. white races and thereby weaken them A prisoner so that they, the Jews, could gain the assassinations of Black leaders such as Martin Luther King California control. and Malcolm X. It could demand publication of all the Duke's anti-Black rhetoric was Cointelpro and "Op~ration Chaos" files. And it could demand to considerably toned down during the know the fuil truth about the U.S. intervention now under way course of his speech-and for good in Angola. Educational reason. The audience was 99 percent A labor party would mobilize the working class and its allies I appreciate your sending me the Black. But when he speaks before all­ in a fight to sweep aside the capitalist parties, whose rule is Militant. It's very enlightening, and white audiences at Klan rallies, his the guys and I find ourselves up in the language is peppered with the vilest based on defending the interests of a tiny minority. It would put we~ hours talking about this issue or racist anti-Black epithets. into power a workers government, which would have no stake the other. The Militant is also used as The Militant should continue its in the exploitation of peoples around the world. Such a our·prime educational news-"class" ruthless exposure of the real character government, based on the majority, would defend political study. of the KKK. It should tell its readers rights and extend democracy into social and economic life as A prisoner again and again that the racist, well. Illinois degenerate scum of the KKK are the number-one enemy of the American [The Militant's special Prisoner working class and of Blacks, Jews, and Fund makes it possible for us to send all other minorities. Behind Duke's complimentary or reduced-rate expensively styled hair and double­ subscriptions to prisoners who can't knit suit lurks the all too familiar pay for them. To help out, send your specter of the white-hooded, night­ contribution to: Militant Prisoner riding neanderthal. Fund, 14 Charles Lane, New York, Charles Anish New York 10014.] New Orleans, Louisia,;_a

10 National Picket Line Frank Lovell·

Gay rights at Tulane Since October 1972, the Tulane The death chambers University Gay Students Union's The nursing-home scandal in New York early this According to Dumpson, who turned over the public request for full rights and recognition year revealed a pattern of inhuman treatment of funds to the private owners, all this was done to spare as an on-campus organization has elderly patients, and it now develops that the other the patients the hardships of a strike. been denied by the university victims of corrupt private management are the This concern for the patients sounds humanitarian administration, clearly violating their workers in these homes. enough if the plight of the workers is ignored and no constitutional rights of freedom of On December 9, 12,000 members of Local 144 of the mention is made of the present conditions of the speech and assembly. Hotel, Hospital and Nursing Home Union threatened patients. The record shows thm patients and workers The dean of student affairs and the to walk off their jobs because wage increases and pay would be better o_ff if these private nursing homes were president -of the university have been for unused sick leave had been denied. The union closed for good. approached numerous times by contract calls for a raise of $10 on December 1 from the Last summer the body of an eighty-three-year-old representatives of the GSU and the base rate of $183.18 a week for nonprofessionals. man in one of the nursing homes was found on the Associated Student Body of the The owners claim they have no money because the roof, dead after he was missing for three days. In the · university. The administration feels state is considering freezing Medicaid rates and the same home a seventy-six-year-old woman died from that recognition of an organization is a city is more than three months delinquent in auditing burns after her nightgown caught fire. This nursing privilege, not a right. It contends that their claims for Medicaid payments. home is not different from most others under private it is not obligated to respect student In the past the city was in the habit of paying 90 ownership. rights because Tulane is a private percent of these claims in advance of audit, but Soon after taking office, Go~. Hugh Carey named a institution. Yet Tulane receives state investigations this year have turned up massive special prosecutor and appointed a special commission funds and use of the facilities of a state evidence of fraud. In addition, the Medicaid rate used to fiandle the nursing-home scandal. Leading politi­ hospital. cians in both the Republican and Democratic parties ·On January 17, 1975, the American to increase automatically when hospital wages rose. are implicated in Medicaid fraud, including former , Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana The money crisis is largely responsible for the Republican governors Rockefeller and Malcolm Wilson · filed suit against Tulane on behalf of investigations and revelations of corruption. the Associated Student Body and the Peter Ottley, president of Local 144, urged Mayor and the present Democratic speaker of the State GSU in order to enjoin the university Abraham Beame to speed up the audit of owner claims Assembly, Stanley Steingut. from refusing to grant the GSU its and give them money to pay the overdue wage With all the investigations and publicity and new _ constitutional rights. increases, as if there were no other way to provide legislation, no change has been made in private The first hearing on the suit did not health care for the aged and pay adequate wages to ownership of nursing homes and no discernible come to court until October 22. At that hospital workers. change in the management of them. hearing Tulane asked for an On December 10 the state supreme court, at the The politicians, judging from the antistrike order of immediate dismissal of the suit. The owners' request, restrained the workers from walking the state supreme court against the nursing-home court denied this motion,, and a second out for five days and ordered the matter of wages workers, are as deeply involved in the callous hearing has been scheduled for submitted to arbitration. mismanagement and graft as ever. The workers in December 17 to further determine the At the same time, Mayor Beame's human resources these private institutions cannot collect the wages that status of gay students attending administrator, James Dumpson, announced the ad­ are due them nor improve their conditions by accept­ Tulane University. vance of $5.5 million to the owners. They say this will ing the unjust terms of· this private employment A. LaCoste allow them to pay the workers for unused sick leave. imposed by the courts. New Orleans, Louisiana There will .... lso be something left over for the owners. And if the unions fail to demand the elimination of The overdye pay raises go to arbitration and may these unscrupulous private operators in the nursing­ never be collected. This was readily agreed to by home racket, some of the workers they are supposed to Ottley for the members. of Local 144. He never represent may end their days as patients in one of On layoffs botherep to ask their opinion or_ consent. these death chambers. I would like to make one comment regarding an article written by Cindy Jaquith on affirmative action in the December 12 Militant. In this article she says: "Just as the unions fought Their Government for seniority to prevent the boss from singling out militants, they must f;,ght now to prevent the boss from using Cindy Jaquith preferential firing to erase all the gains the most discriminated-against workers have made." What I would like to suggest is that Legal expert hits spying . . the term preferential firing may be WASHINGTON-Louis Pollak told the House Select upon realms of political and intellectual activity confusing to a good number of people. Committee on Intelligence December 10 that ongoing protected by the First Amendment," concluded Pollak. First of all, I think it's important not to FBI investigations of the Socialist Workers party are Also testifying was Michael Tigar, a lawyer and confuse layoffs with firings, which is sometimes done. Most (although not unauthorized and unconstitutional. Pollak is dean of lecturer at Georgetown Law School. "The record before all) workers make a distinction the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a this committee leaves no doubt," he said. "Unlawful between the two. vice-president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He surveillance has been directed at political dissenters Also, use of the word preferential in was part of. a panel of legal experts invited by the for at least forty years." this context is inferior, in my opinion, congressional committee to comment on the constitu­ The third panelist was William Lambie from the to the word discriminatory. The main tional questions involved in the FBI's criminal spying Americans for Effective Law Enforcement, an outfit - argument of many bureaucrats is that operations. based in Evanston, Illinois. Lambie is a lawyer and, seniority prevents "preferential" Pollak based his statement on testimony presented conveniently, a former FBI agent. The real issue, he treatment by the boss, and many to the committee's November 18 hearing. That day suggested, is the constitutional right of the president· workers agree this is generally true. SWP presidential candidate Peter Camejo had told of to act in national security matters. Use of the word preferential therefore Cointelpro operations against his party and its The crux of his defense of the FBI was, predictably, gives the bureaucrats a better handle supporters and refuted the charges of violence dredged "the increasing perils of criminal terrorism and to argue against us than the term up by the government as justification. violence." With nary a mention of the SWP or any discriminatory would. The committee had also heard from Marcus Raskin, other of the real victims, Lambie continued, "Should Discriminatory also has a stronger who detailed spying by the bureau on the Institute for not the crime interest of the Congress be for the and more dramatic effect than Policy Studies. victims, dead and living, and for the future victims of preferential, which I think we would "The bureau seems to take the view that both these political acts of terrorism and the victims of all favor as well. investigations are justified by the provisions of the other criminal acts as well, rather than for the In short, I think the Militant should FBI manual dealing with investigation of 'extremist' theoretical, abstract, and speculative threat to a right consistently use the term and 'subversive' groups and individuals," Pollak told to attain this privacy so necessary to plan execution of discriminatory layoffs rather than preferential firing. the committee. these acts." Jack Rasmus He went on to explain how eighteen leaders of the In response. to Lambie's. plea for an unfettered Oakland, California SWP had been convicted of "conspiracy" in 1941 under bureau free to wage war on crime, committee member the thought-control Smith Act. Ronald Dellums asked: if the drug pushers and Later Supreme Court rulings, however, upheld the organized crime figures "were pursued as vigorously constitutional rights of dissidents, gutting the Smith as we pursued civil rights leaders, as vigorously as we Act. After these decisions, Pollak asserted, "there was, pursued antiwar demonstrators, could not the issue of The letters column is an open in my judgment, no longer even a faintly plausible crime control in these significant areas you allude to forum for all viewpoints on sub­ legal theory on which the bureau's persisting scrutiny be dealt with effectively?" jects of general interest to our of the party could be predicated." That kind of sticky question annoys FBI support­ readers. Please keep your letters "When the 'subject' is a political group, such as the ers. Lambie's convoluted, but flimsy, answer included brief. ·Where necessary they will Socialist Workers party, or an academic research a quote from that great supporter of civil liberties be abridged. Please indicate if organization, such as the Institute for Policy Studies, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Dismissing evidence of your name may be used or if you bureau investigations unrelated to criminal activity military intelligence spying\. the mayor chirped, "If prefer that your initials be used would not only appear to be unauthorized, they would you haven't done anything wrong, you don't have instead. also appear to be unconstitutional, for they trench anything to worry about."

T-HE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 11 The Great Society Harry Ring

Spiritual connection-In 1974, thousands of downed U.S. pilots since back,' said Police Chief Mel Hall, ed," Nelson Rockefeller told the Na­ when Gov. Marvin Mandel of Mary­ World War II is worthless, navy whose thirty-seven officers wear an tional Association of Manufacturers, land needed $54,000 for a divorce scientists disclosed. "It was never American flag emblem on' the shoul­ "In a modest way, I have been a · settlement, he borrowed it from the really effective, but it helped psycho­ ders of their jackets. 'But the pendulum beneficiary" of that system. Pallottine Fathers, a Catholic order. logically because the people who used swung. You drive down the street now ·The money was channeled to him it didn't know it was ineffective," a and they yell, Hey,· here comes the Last, desperate resort-Ontario, through a local car dealer. The Pallot­ navy spokesperson said. "At least the stinking fuzz."'- A Los Angeles Canada, information officers were tines said they often. make business dye kept the person in the water from Times report from Hastings, Nebraska. carefully briefed on how to handle the inves~ents to finance their priestly seeing any approaching sharks," news media prior to provincial elec­ work. They said they didn't know another added. Cheap as gas-Bored with Monopo­ tions last fall. According to an infor­ Mandel wanted the money for a di­ Better than hormone pills-A ly? Try Petropolis, an oil biz variation mation officers' newsletter, they were vorce. Tallahassee Baptist is busy burning on Monopoly. A standard set is $195. advised, "In a crisis situation the best rock records. Rev. Charles'Bayken said In leather, gold and silver plate, $795. policy is honesty-but try everything We'll have to make do-A~ked if he's seen statistics showing that "of Or, with eighteen-karat gold rigs and else first." he was considering a return to politics, 1,000 girls who became pregnant out of derricks, $20,000. If you can wait till Spiro Agnew responded definitely not. wedlock, 984 committed fornication spring, there will be a mass market set, That's strange-The chief of the "I'm not the kind," he declared, "to while rock music was being played." only $25. World Health Organization's Office of forgive and forget." Mental Health said a recent study Changing-times dep't-" 'When I Objective appraisal-Saluting cap­ showed that 20 percent of New York's Spiritual aid-The black-dye joined the force fifteen years ago, the italism as "the greatest and most urban population showed depressive "shark chaser" repellent used by kids re:pected you and didn't talk productive system man has ever creat- symptoms.

La Lucha Puertorriquefia Jose Perez 'Discovery Day' in District One [The following is a guest column by Juan One of the main purposes of the "Discovery Day" U.S. have been successful in numerous fields and Rodriguez. He was born in Santurce, Puerto news release was to cover up the colonial status of especially in show business and sports." This Rico, in 1949 and currently lives on the Lower Puerto Rico. It says that "since becoming a U.S. stupidity implies that Puerto Ricans are only good East Side of New York City in school District Commonwealth territory in 1952, Puerto Rico has at showbiz and sports because they are too dumb One. He has been active in the struggle changed from a poverty-stricken agrarian commu­ for other things. against the racist white majority that controls nity into a prosperous industrial one." This is an This racism is typical of the six white school the District One school board and is a member outright lie! . board members who hold the majority of seats on of the Lower East Side branch of. the Socialist Today, the unemployment level in Puerto Rico is the school board. They were elected against a pro­ Workers party.] 40 percent. The wages of those who do work are one­ community-control slate called "Por los Niftos" in On November 12, the school board of District One third to one-half those in the United States for the last May's school board election. put out a news release commemorating November :;;arne jobs, but the cost of living is much higher. The These people control the lives and education of 19 as "Puerto Rican Discovery Day." This release, poverty is so great that 71 percent of the people qf the schoolchildren of District One, 75 percent of authored by acting head of the school board, the island are currently receiving food stamps in whom are Puerto Rican. Most of these children are Charles Bayor, was a racist insult to the Puerto. order to survive. three to four years behind in their reading levels, Rican community of the Lower East Side. The U.S. government's so-called development because of the lack of bilingual and bicultural The release said, "It was on November 19 in 1493 program-"Operation Bootstrap"-left Puerto Rico education. Yet right now there is more than that Christopher Columbus touched the soil of economically dependent on the United States. $300,000 sitting in a bank earmarked for bilingual Puerto Rico, the only one of the U.S. territories North American corporations are exempt from education in District One, which the superintendent discovered by Columbus." paying one cent in federal or Puerto Rican taxes elected by the school board majority refuses to This implies that the "great white discoverer" while they reap billions of dollars in profits from release. He says, "The children are bright; they sanctified the island by touching it, and that we Puerto Rico. don't need bilingual education." should be proud to be the only U.S. property In addition, because of the lack of jobs, about one­ What we need in District One is a school board "discovered" by Columbus. The statement reflects third of the Puerto Rican population has been representative of the 'needs and interests of the the racist ideology that God appointed the white forced to leave the island, under the illusion that children and the community-a board composed of Europeans to conquer and civilize the "savages" of things might be better in the United States. parents and community people. the world. The news release goes on, "Puerto Ricans in the We need to throw out the racists!

By ~ny Means Necessary Baxter Smith The Third National Institute WASHINGTON-With a shine on his feet, a Ed Brooke said last night about New York," Urban improve access for all children to quality education. sheen to his hair, and polish in his voice, Massachu­ League chief Vernon Jordan disclosed the next day. Until and unless communities have alternative setts Sen. Edward Brooke---like a father who just The occasion was the third National Institute for viable means of insuring high-quality education for caught his children smoking in the attic-gave a Black Elected Public Officials, held here December their children in integrated settin$s• busing re­ stern lecture on the New York budget crisis to the 11-13. And the above example typifies the differ­ mains a technique which must be supported, for 800 banquet listeners. ences that arose as the officials, Democrats and wherever it has been judicially ordered, in order to "New York itself must bear the primary responsi­ Republicans, met to lay out priorities for the Black reach that goal." bility for its fiscal problems," the nation's premier community in 1976. Rangel and Sutton's problem The second resolution "condemns the policy and Black elected official, a Republican, said. The city with Brooke lies not in their opposition to cutbacks covert activities of the CIA and specifically the FBI has "lived beyond its means. It had an extravagant and layoffs in New York City, but in how to do it in conducting unwarranted and illegal activities pension and benefits system for its mi4dle-income quietly and come out smelling clean. against Black elected officials and civil rights workers. It had been treating all households, Proposals that were adopted are to be presented to leaders and most particularly against the late regardless of means, to a free education right the Democratic and Republican candidates. Wheth­ Martin Luther King, Jr." It did not call for .a new through college, and to a rent-controlled apartment. er Black elected officials would refuse to support a investigation into the King slaying. Now some of these programs may be desirable, but candidate who did not accept the proposals, Other resolutions called for tax reform, national the reality is that if a city is going to have such however, and whether they would urge the Black health insurance, federal aid to minority business, programs, it must have the resources to pay for community not to support him or her was an and passage of the Hawkins so-called full employ­ them." important question that was sidestepped during the ment bill, which would do nothing to provide jobs While the Bay State senator spoke, Manhattan three days of deliberations. for the two million or more Blacks now out of work. Borough President Percy Sutton and Rep. Charles Two resolutions were passed that. jibe with the There was no discussion of implementing the Rangel, New York Democrats, sat on the dais immediate concerns of the Black community. measures to improve the lot of the Black community quivering and quaking and shivering and. shaking. "The purpose of school desegregation," one or of beginning an educational campaign around "New Yorkers were about to split a gut over what resolution says, "was in 1954 and still is in 1975 to the issues raised in the resolutions.

12 for present irrigation and domestic needs. The power consortium claims that it can and will reclaim all of the land dug up-that they will replace the topsoil and prove (as they claim to haye done at Colstrip, Montana) that the land can once again become productive farming and cattle .land. Geologists deny this possibility­ especially if all the underground water is used up. Surface rivers and streams and underground river systems are interdependent. One farmer interviewed about the Colstrip "reclamation" project says· that the only reason grass is now growing on this small strip is that the "reclamationists" have dumped in almost as much fertilizer as soil. They now can show grass waist high-but as the same farmer said, "Did you ever see a cow that would eat grass that high?" Then he went on to predict that once the coal conglomerate stopped · over-fertilizing the soil, all this grass would die and nothing else would grow.

Water priorities Water, of course, is the key to the whole thing. The Department of the Colorado land ravaged by strip mining Interior has placed water for irrigation and domestic use way down on the need scale. They've issued a whole new schedule of water priorities. "Irrigation is the bottom of the totem Energy profiteers threaten pole," an official of the Bureau of Reclamation said recently. The Wash­ ington Post article reports that water for industrial (coal-related) use is at the to top of the list. destroy Midwestern lands Another, counter report issued by the National Academy of Sciences notes that "until recently it has been tacitly By Marvel Scholl exist and make a living, so land that the mineral rights. And in some cases assumed that unappropriated water There are vast stretches of the Great has become available through mort­ they did not even own rights to the. would be used for a combinatiqn of Plains states, reaching all the way gage foreclosure or sale belongs to one forests on their land. Those rights irrigation, wildlife management, and from Montana east through western set of American capitalists. They rent remained in the hands of the Depart­ municipal and industrial pur­ North and South Dakota, and south grazing and growing lands on federal ment of the Interior, which was free to - poses .... In 1972-73 the use of this through Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, property, as well as the water ri~nts, lease them to the highest bidder. water became more importantly direct­ and New Mexico, that may soon from the Department of the Interior. ed toward energy conservation, cooling become a SEJ(!ond scarred and slag­ We have no sympathy for agribusi­ Protests of- steam plants. . . . Such a sharp filled Appalachia. ness in its current fight with the power The protests of the Native Ameri­ reversal of government policy came consortiums, but we do hold a strong cans and the awakening of agribusi­ about with little or no public aware­ Some time ago it wa~ discovered that this area contains millions of tons of interest in the land and the water, and ness to what was happening to their ness." low-sulfur coal, lying just sixty feet the working people who live in and water and grazing rights broke the below the surface. This coal cannot ·be operate these huge food-producing secret of the coal. The big boys in the Ford vetoes mined by conventional methods be­ areas. power conglomerate (Exxon and Con­ President Ford has twice vetoed cause of its nearness to the surface. solidation, to name just two) then got strip-mining bills, the first of which But it can be gouged out of the earth Secret deal into the game. Prices on leases went would have forced the power monopo­ by the new earth-moving machinery­ The whole land-grab rip-off originat­ up, up, up. lies to pay forty cents per ton of coal scoop shovels ten stories high, capable ed back in the late 1960s when the rich But meanwhile the Sierra Club, removed ·for the reclamation of the of moving in one bite enough topsoil or deposits of low-sulfur coal were dis­ other conservationist groups, local land, among other restrictions. coal to fill a normal apartment kitch­ covered. Most eastern power conglom-. agribusiness, and state governments The second bill removed many of the en! erates ignored or disbelieved in the under pressure from their own people restrictions objected to by the presi­ Most of the land is federally owned­ existence of such coal wealth, but a few brought injunction suits to stop the dent, but he vetoed that too. The House that is, it belongs to the people of the "right thinking" corporations, along power moguls from immediately turn­ had promised to override the veto, but United States, at least in theory. It with officials from the Department of ing their states into another Appala­ three attempts failed. Then a group of consists of many national parks (parts the Interior, put their heads together chia. the "conservationist" legislators tried of both Yellowstone and Glacier), and began, very secretly, to buy up Most of these injunctions have been to attach the strip-mining bill to national forests, river beds, valleys, leases to mineral rights on Indian granted, but the power interests are another bill involving coal leasing on and many Indian reservations. The reservations. "Buying" is scarcely the appealing them to higher courts. federal lands. That too was defeated by reservations belong, by treaty rights, word. "Stealing" would be better. One of the most interesting cases a House committee. to the Native Americans, but this too is Mineral rights on some reservations involves South Dakota. This state, It is clear that the government is on in theory. underlaid with coal were "sold" for as . along with North Dakota, Montana, the side of the power cabal. The land, In a February 16 article in the little as seven cents to seven dollars and parts of both Wyoming and once lauded in song as "America the Washington Post reprinted in the per acre. ~ebraska, sits on top of a huge Beautiful" with "amber waves of Congressional Record, Helena Hun­ Then these same conspirators aquifer (layers of -water-bearing coal grain," is to become a land of corrugat­ tington Smith rftveals the brutal story engineered another rip-off to assure the beds) called the Madison Formation. ed ridges. A land of automated indus­ of the energy consortium's plans to coal barons of success in their plans. In late 197{the Wyoming state legisla­ try. A land where people live in destroy the millions of acres of what They organized the Industrial Water ture authorized Energy Transportation concrete ghettos, where food and has been called "the world's breadbas­ Marketing Program, set up under the Systems to tap the underground forma­ water, always essentials to life, are ket." Bureau of Reclamation, to sell rights to tions and build a coal-slurry (a mixture luxuries to be enjoyed at the will of the the water in the Yellowstone River and of coal and water) pipeline stretching profit makers. two of its reservoirs at Boysen and 1,000 miles, to Arkansas. In a planned society, a socialist Fertile lands Yellowtail. Part of tile program al­ If Wyoming is allowed to go through society, the natural resources-the These vast stretches of land are the lowed for sinking of wells so deep that with this water steal, the town of waterways, the remaining forests, the most fertile pasture and grain-growing they would drain underground water Edgemont, South Dakota, will be beautiful national parks (already. in plains in the world. In a House Interior not only from the Plains states but completely dried out, and others drasti­ the process of commercialization), the Committee report issued in May 1975, also for hundreds of miles in all cally affected. The coal-slurry pipe·line wildlife, the vast plains where our it was revealed that "much of the directions. would drain 10,000 gallons a minute food is grown, would be of major nation's prime grazing and farming Up to that point agribusiness had out of ,the Madison Formation. concern to a workers government. land is located in the band of Western paid little attention to the prospective The government of South Dakota Industry would be planned for the states where these immense coal depos­ strip-mining in "their territory." But has a suit in court to stop this plot. It is needs of all the people, not for the its are located. . . . The short, sun­ when they found that water rights, · prepared to go all the way to the profits of a few. Air pollution and cured, protein-rich grass that covers which they thought they owned by Supreme Courj;. factory contamination would be . the barren rolling plains is the best government lease, had been sold right The ·power cabal has several plans to conquered. natural cattle feed in the world. . . . from under their noses, they joined the get the coal to market. Humanity could live-not suffocate Wheat yields, under irrigation, are conservationists and several state One plan is to build plants right in from poisonous fumes, both inside and among the highest per acre in any part governments in a fight against the the fields that would turn the coal into outside the factories and mills. of the country.... " whole project. gas to be shipped east by pipeline. But there is profit in the hills and The huge cattle ranches and grain What the ranchers and farmers did Such plants would require tremen­ plains of the great Midwest. And farms are today part of what is known . not know is ·that, even on the land to dous amounts of water to operate, in under the present setup, to get that as "agribusiness." Small farmers can't which they held title, they did not own states that have barely enough water profit the land itself must be destroyed.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 13 Setting the record straight on Socialists debate at, CLUW convention By Cindy Jaquith the National Coordinating Committee" picket In the aftermath of the December 5-7 went to all CLUW members. It stated convention of the Coalition of Labor in part: "Since our founding confer­ Union Women, several distorted and ence, a small minority of our members St. Louis misleading articles have appeared in have attempted to divert us from our major newspapers, obscuring the real original purpose and method of opera­ issues debated at the convention. tion." speech by In a December 8 New York Times The convention itself was opened article, Eileen Shanahan wrote: "The with a prayer by Rev. Willie Barrow Coalition of Labor Union Women, at of Operation PUSH. In a thinly its second national convention, decis­ disguised attack on radicals, she asked FBI head ively defeated efforts led by women for divine protection from "CIA disrup­ By Peter Seidman from the far left to change its basic ters" who might be in the midst of ST. LOUIS-FBI Director Clarence structure and thrust and, instead, delegates. Kelly addressed a St. Louis University recommitted the organization to work Word was passed to union caucuses symposium on "Human Dignity &.nd for progress for women through the that "radicals" were going to try to American Democracy" on December · mainstream of the trade union move­ turn CLUW into a nonunion organiza­ 4. Kelly said his speech was one of a ment." tion. series he will be making to "restore the The largest group of "dissidents," All this was done in an attempt to proper image of the FBI." He admon­ claimed the Times, was "a shifting influence delegates to view with suspi­ ished the $175-per-ticket audience to coalition of far-left organizations, in­ cion any challenge to the perspectives accept the -concept that "occasional cluding the Socialist Workers Party, put forth by CLUW President Olga and tightly controlled abrogation of that has tried to open membership in Madar and her supporters. rights is unavoidable if the national the organization to all women, not just What was Madar so afraid of? security is to be protected." women who are union members." Certainly not the discussion over A protest mounted by the Missouri Nearly identical charges appeared in membership, in which the great major­ Militant/Susan Ellis CLUW President Olga Madar wanted to 1976 Socialist Workers Campaign a December 8 article by Helen Fogel in ity of delegates were solidly behind keep affirmative-action discussion from Committee attracted considerable at­ the Detroit Free Press. "Left-wing maintaining CLUW's union character. coming to floor. tention outside the meeting. The social­ splinter groups," reported the Press, ists' picket publicized a suit filed on argued at the convention for extending Red herring their behalf by the American Civil membership to nonunion women. "The The debate over membership was coalition of far-left organizations." In Liberties Union challenging Missouri's radical faction," as the Press called it, used as a red herring to cover up the fact, the Houston caucus was the campaign finances disclosure law. was "composed of such groups as the real issue Madar wanted to keep off the largest and broadest opposition at the This law requires the socialists tp turn Socialist Workers Party, the Revolu­ floor-affirmative action. convention, including in its ranks over a list of their campaign contribu­ tionary Socialist League and the Oc­ Millions of jobs won by women and Democrats, Republicans, Socialist tors to the government. tober League." Blacks through affirmative action are Workers party members, independents, The socialists maintain that, given now being lost in the current layoffs, rank-and-file unionists, and labor offi­ the record of FBI and local police What are the facts? which proceed according to strict cials. harassment of their campaign support­ , To begin with, the authors of these seniority. How to defend these The Houston caucus drew 200 wom­ ers and candidates in Missouri, this two articles can't even get the facts affirmative-action gains has been a en to its first meeting, and received law, in effect, ·constitutes a require­ straight. The question of nonunion controversy in CLUW for months. even more support for its agenda _ ment to turn over a ready-made "en­ women joining CLUW was a secon­ The AFL-CIO and United Auto proposal-30 percent of the 1,000 emies list" to the government. dary, not a central, issue debated at Workers tops insist that strict seniority delegates present. Jim Levitt, Socialist Workers candi- the convention. When this point came must be followed no matter what Yet not a word about the caucus up under the debate on the constitution happens to women and Blacks. In appeared in either the Times or -Free it was discussed briefly and then voted - deference to this reactionary stand, Press accounts. Instead, readers were on. The delegates upheld the present Madar narrowly defeated a resolution told that "efforts led by women from policy of building CLUW as an organi­ at the May 31-June 1 National Coordi­ the far left" were "decisively defeated" zation of union women. nating Committee meeting to place at the convention. Members of the Socialist Workers CLUW in opposition to any reduction In almost the same breath, the party who belong to CLUW opposed through layoffs in the percentage of Times added, "The coalition also opening up CLUW to nonunion wom­ women and minorities in the work rededicated itself to work for ratifica­ en, contrary to the false report from force. tion of the Equal Rights Amendment." the New York Times. The SWP's She then drew up an agenda for the But the fact of the JUatter is that the stand-which is widely known convention that ruled out any discus­ proposal for an action campaign to throughout CLUW-is that CLUW's sion of CLUW's political positions, win the ERA came from a supporter of first job is to build a base among the including, of course, affirmative ac­ the Houston caucus, and Madar op­ millions of union women. tion. posed the motion! A small group calling itself the Rank Many CLUW activists disagreed Despite Madar's opposition, the and File Action Caucus, led by the with this undemocratic move. At the majority of delegates voted for the International Socialists, did advocate initiative of the Houston CLUW chap­ It ... ERA proposal. was Madar, not the FBI's KELLEY: Trying to restore image of opening CLUW to women not yet in ter, a caucus was formed to fight for an Houston caucus, who was "decisively FBI with same old 'national security' unions. It won little support. Why such open political discussion at the conven­ defeated" in this case. dodge. attention to this issue iii the media tion. The "Houston caucus," as it The delegates, including supporters then? became known, had one simple objec­ of the Houston caucus, also defeated a The confusion did not begin with the tive: to amend the agenda to allow move by Madar to strip local chapters date from Missouri's Second Congres­ The charges that time for discussion of affirmative New York Times. of their right to representation on the sional District, was quoted by the appeared in the media after the con­ action, the Equal Rights Amendment, incoming national leadership body. December 5 Globe-Democrat as term­ and the fight for full employment. vention echoed earlier charges made ing Kelley's speech "hypocritical." by- the convention organizers them­ In a red-baiting tactic, the Times and Upside down "Recent revelations, memos, and their selves. Free Press both implied that anyone In other words, the New York Times own files," he said, "have exposed the Prior to the convention, a mailing with proposals counter to Madar's was article stood everything on its head. It FBI as the American government's from the "Majority of the Members of a "radical" or part of the "shifting was not the Houston caucus or the political police, whose very target has Socialist Workers party that wanted to been, in fact, democratic rights." - change CLUW's "basic structure and The lead editorial in the Sunday, thrust." These delegates -fought to December· 7, St. Louis Post-Dispatch retain CLUW's original thrust as an echoed the socialists' charge that Kel­ organization that puts the needs of ley's concern for "national security" women workers, not conservative was only a hypocritical justification union bureaucrats, first. for the FBI's dirty tricks: Mad11r; on the other hand, hoped to The editorial noted that national use this convention to back away security "was the excuse for the further from the concept of CLUW as anonymous poison-pen attacks foment­ an organization that defends the ed by the FBI against the late Dr. special interests of working women. Martin Luther King and other civil The real struggle of union women is rights leaders. It was the excuse for in the "mainstream of the trade union FBI efforts to disrupt the Socialist movement." That means taking the Workers Party, a legal 'party. It was fight for women's rights into the the excuse for Mr. Hoover's Cointelpro unions and winning their active sup­ program which went far beyond mere port, not subordinating the fight counterintelligence in its efforts to against sex discrimination to the smash groups that Mr. Hoover suspect­ wishes of labor officials. ed might endanger the national securi­ This is what the debate i1:. CLUW is ty. Indeed, national security was the all about. That debate should be litany that brought the FBI into conducted in an open, democratic political police work." Militant/Susan Ellis atmosphere-free of false charges-to Democratic discussion of issues before CLUW is best way to build strong union arrive at the most effective strategy for women's organization. taking CLUW forward.

14 Levi proposes •tegal' Cointelpro; FBI puts SWP on-lerrorist' list By Nancy Cole The FBI is going to have a difficult type operations. Unlike the original Despite public outcry against time trying to justify this insidious top-secret ·"counterintelligence" pro­ massive government spying, the FBI is spying operation against the socialists. gram, this one will be public-at least continuing its Cointelpro-type disrup­ Time and again the government has in part-and so must be wrapped in tion operations against Blacks, social­ been forced to admit that the SWP does "legal" justifications. ists, and all dissidents. Two important not engage in violent or illegal activi­ "As I have said before,'' Attorney develppments in the past week show ties of any sort. General Levi told the Senate intelli­ that the government has no intention At a House intelligence hearing gence committee December 11, "some of calling a halt to these crimes. November 18, top FBl official W. of the activities in Cointelpro were FBI documents recently received by Raymond Wannall was asked if the outrageous and the others were foolish. the Associated Press reveal that" the SWP has "engaged in any violent Nonetheless, there may be . circum­ bureau has placed 110 members of the activities or advocated violent activi­ stances involving an immediate risk to Socialist Workers party on its secret ties?" "Not violent," he grudgingly -human life or to extraordinarily impor­ Administrative Index, a list supposed­ answered. tant government functions that could ly reserved for terrorists, saboteurs, The SWP, along with the Young only be countered by some sort of and assassins. Socialist Alliance, has filed a lawsuit preventive.. action." · • Only days· before this discovery, the against the FBI, CIA, and other "Preventive action," then,_ is the Justice Department proposed its solu­ federal agencies in an effort to end just bureau's new code word for its war on tion to charges of illegal disruption: such crimes against dissidents. dissidents. "Preventive action by the legalize it. Attorney General Edward As part of its defense against that FBI,'' according to the new guidelines, Levi appeared before the Senate Select suit, the government is frantically "may include objectives such as: 1) dis­ Committee on Intelligence December trying to justify its illegal activities by rupting plans for using force or vio­ LEVI: 'Some activities in Cointelpro were 11 to present proposed "guidelines for arguing that the SWP might engage in lence; or 2) preventing access to, or outrageous and others .foolish. the FBI's domestic security investiga­ violence at some point in the future. rendering inoperative weapons, explo­ Nonetheless, there may .be tions." "We feel that when an organization sives, or other instrumentalities of circumstances. . .' The guidelines would, for the first states publicly that they don't engage planned violence." time in U.S. history, legitimize the in violence, but also states to its Asked to be more specific by commit­ FBI's politically motivated harass­ members, 'Wait until the time is right,' tee head Sen. Frank Church, Levi gave from "investigations," must have the ment and disruptions, using the excuse ... we feel we have to monitor that an example of two "violence-prone" attorney general's approval. And the that targeted groups and individuals situation,'' FBI official James Adams columns of marchers heading toward attorney general in turn must report might use violence against the U.S. said of the SWP at the same House one another with the potential of a "at least annually" to Congress on the government. committee hearing. confrontation. He said the FBI might disruption campaigns. That's the ex­ "The simple fact is that the Adminis­ block streets or change direction signs tent of the "controls." 'Terrorists' list trative Index is just another cover as a "preventive action." As if this sweeping authority to stifle The inclusion of members of the story for the FBI's policy of 'investigat­ In .a December 16 editorial, the New dissent granted by the guidelines isn't SWP on the FBI's select list of "terror­ ing' and disrupting anyone whose York Times commented, "Thus, the bad enough, it may be even worse for. ists" is proof positive that the govern­ views it dislikes," charged Syd Staple­ projected authority to 'obstruct or some groups. ment's only intentions are to step up ton, national secretary of the Political prevent' groups planning activities A single paragraph at the beginning the war on those who disagree with its Rights Defense Fund. The PRDF is that might 'interfere substantially' of the guidelines limits their applicabil­ policies and actions. publicizing and financing the SWP's with the 'essential functioning of ity to individuals and groups "not Until 1971 the FBI maintained what suit against the FBI. government' might be read to permit directed by, subsidized by or otherwise it called the Sec,:urity Index, a list of "We intend to press ahead with our the F.B.I. to do anything from protect­ undertaken in active collaboration 15,000 individuals targeted for deten­ efforts to bring these secret police ing the vital work of air traffic con­ with a foreign power or foreign based tion in case of "national emergency." practices to a stop." trollers to disrupting a proposed peace political group." In that year, however, .the Security march in Washington." "Standards for determining when Index was- replaced with the much New Cointelpro All the guidelines require is that the there is foreign involvement sufficient smaller Administrative Index. After nearly two years of incriminat­ FBI see a "likelihood" that "force or to place a subject in the category of The new list is reportedly updated ing disclosures and months of grilling violence" will be used at some time in foreign counterintelligence investiga­ each month to provide the FBI with an before congressional committees, how­ the future before the disruption can tion are now being debated within the up-to-date listing of the country's most ever, the Justice Department is boldly begin. guidelines committee," Levi explained dangerous "security" risks. Nobody, proposing a resurrection of Cointelpro- "Preventive actions," as distinct to the Senate committee. according to a memorandum by bureau The FBI has long ranted about the chief Clarence Kelley, is placed on the perils of "foreign control" and "inter­ list because of their "opposition to national terrorism" to justify its illegal Government policies" or because of acts against radical groups. For exam~ their "membership in a subversive - ple, the SWP's collaboration with organization." socialists in other countries is cited as "Individuals who are included are evidence. of "foreign control." those who have exhibited a willingness Thus, even the publicly disclosed or capability of engaging in treason, guidelines may be only a mild version rebellion, sedition, sabotage, espio­ of what the FBI has in store for the nage, assassination of Government SWP and other socialist groups. officials, terrorism, guerrilla warfare, or other acts which would result in More to uncover interference-with or a threat to the The congressional intelligence hear­ survival and effective operation of ings have ended, and both committees national, state, or local government. plan to close up shop in early 1976. "During 1972 the operation of this Committee members and staff admit index was evaluated and revised to that large areas of domestic and include only those individuals who foreign "intelligence" activity were pose a realistic, direct and current missed and that there were "gaps" in danger to the national security." documents and files that led them to Bureau officials say the list now believe there was much more to un­ stands at about 1,250. Thus, members cover. of the SWP make up nearly 10 percent "Only a tiny corner has been lifted of the entire Administrative Index! on the shroud of secrecy behind which the FBI, CIA, and other secret-police - Violation' of rights agencies operate,'' SWP candidate "This is an outrageous violation of Camejo said in testimony before the our rights," says SWP presidential House committee in November. candidate Peter Camejo. "It's a new "Ending this secrecy would be a big stage in the government's ongoing step in the direction of bringing their campaign to picture the SWP-a legal crimes to a halt." party, which plans to win the majority Unfortunately, the government has of Americans to its views-as a terror­ managed to protect much of that ist conspiracy. secrecy. And the full horror of its "First they used the attorney gener­ involvement in such crimes as Martin al's list of 'subversive' groups as an Luther King's assassination has yet to excuse to persecute and discredit us. be told. Now we find out that the FBI-which But one thing that is not likely to labels all fighters for social change as restore the FBI's esteem, or that of the ~1975'~1:.. 'terrorists'-judges one-tenth of the / Congress investigating it, in the eyes most 'dangerous' to be members of the Parade of disclosures of the American people is the legaliza­ SWP!" tion of the bureau's criminal schemes.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 15 .Milwaukee, Dec. 28-Jan. 1 Come to the Young Socialist convention By Steve Clark against government harassment and Mirelowitz, Mac Warren, and Olga tion in Portugal and the prospects for Hundreds of college and high school surveillance of their activities. Rodriguez; and Susan Solitsky, a new revolutionary change there. students from coast to coast will attend A special event at the convention's member of the Brooklyn YSk One of the convention highlights the fifteenth national convention of first evening session will be a celebra­ The first convention report, which will be a December 29 election cam­ the Young Socialist Alliance December tion of the YSA's fifteenth anniverc will be given by Joan Quinn, will paign rally featuring Peter Camejo 28.January 1. The gathering will be sary. It will feature a slide show review the current American political and Willie Mae Reid, the Socialist held on the Milwaukee campus of the illustrating the YSA's participation in situation as it affects young people in Workers party 1976 presidential and University of Wisconsin. the sit-ins and boycotts of the civil high school and on college campuses. vice-presidential candidates. Delegates from the YSA's more than rights movement, the massive anti­ It will focus on some of the most Other rally speakers will be: Michael sixty chapters will participate in five Vietnam War demonstrations, the pressing problems facing young people Murphy, a Milwaukee YSA member. days of plenary discussions of the fight for the repeal of anti-abortion today: education cutbacks; the summer facing frame-up charges of assaulting major issues confronting young people laws, and . other social movements. and part-time job crunch; and the a Nazi party member; Joe Madison, today. These sessions will be supple­ Accompanying the slides will be narra­ continuing attacks against national executive director of the Detroit mented by workshops and panel dis: tives by past and present YSA leaders minorities and women. NAACP; Richie lzzo, a leader of the cussions on the desegregation struggle, who were activists in these struggles. The report will discuss the important struggle against campus cutbacks in education cutbacks, building support Among the speakers will be the role that students have played and will New York City; longtime Socialist for the 1976 Socialist Workers presi­ YSA's first national officers, Tim continue to play in achieving s6cial Workers party leader George Novack; · dential ticket, and the YSA's and Wohlforth, Jim Lambrecht, and Sherry change. It will outline a socialist Omari Musa, SWP candidate for gover­ Socialist Workers party's lawsuit Finer; current YSA leaders Geoff strategy for students to fight back nor of California; and Pat Wright, against attacks on their right to a SWP candidate for Congress from decent education and a secure future. Brooklyn. YSA leader Nan Bailey will present The YSA's yearly conventions are its a report on the struggle for school highest decision-making bodies. They desegregation and the overall fight are preceded by three months of · against racism. It will stress the democratic debate and discussion in importance of continued YSA partici­ all. YSA chapters and the printing of pation in tlfe activities of the National discussion bulletins open to all YSA Student Coalition Against Racism, members for their written comments, which has provided national leader­ criticisms, or counterproposals. ship in mobilizing student support for Delegates are then elected by the these struggles. chapters to discuss these questions further at the convention, arrive at Another report will center on the decisions by majority vote, and elect a women's liberation movement and the new national leadership. fight to pass the Equal Rights Amend­ The YSA convention is open to all ment. It will be presented by Nancy young people interested in socialist Brown, a staff writer for the Young ideas, and discussion from all partici­ Socialist newspaper. pants is welcomed at· its many work­ Tying together these three presenta­ shops and panels. tions, a report by Rick Berman will Registration for the entire five days focus on the YSA's tasks and priorities is $3.00. Low-cost and hotel housing in building a socialist youth organiza­ are available. For further information tion that can mobilize students behind on how you can attend, contact the these struggles and in the fight for a YSA chapter nearest you (see Socialist socialist America. Directory on page 26) or write: YSA, A final report, to be given by Chuck Post Office Box 471, Cooper Station, Petrin, will discuss the current situa- New York, New York 10003.

Cal. students P-rotest How to expose Shockley!ls racist ideas By Geoff Mirelowitz tended the picket line with clearly or CAR, seized the microphone. "probably the best thing that could LOS ANGELES-A recent debate different intentions. CAR and the PLP The organizers of the picket line happen . . . would be to· be prevented here between a noted Black scientist were not sponsors of the activity and considered the day's events successful. from speaking." and an exponent of the theory of Black had done nothing to publicize it. MECHA leader Richard Madrid told That way, this racist demagogue genetic inferiority illustrated how to They distributed a leaflet provoca­ the USC Daily Trojan, "It showed that could have pawned himself off as a respond effectively to tlie rash of tively headlined, "Stop Shockley," students were receptive to an open persecuted underdog being deprived of racist, pseudoscientific ideas making which featured a picture of their debate,' but at the same time I think it his rights. To Shockley, this is far the rounds of the nation's campuses. members at New York's Staten Island was clear to him [Shockley] that we preferable to hundreds of students At the November 11 debate, held at Community College disrupting a rejected his ideas." hearing a scientific rebuttal of his the University of Southern California Shockley appearance there. Their pick­ In an interview with the Trojan charlatan ideas. (USC), Black Prof. Richard Goldsby et signs carried such slogans as, before the debate, Professor Goldsby Goldsby told the Trojan that it was answered William Shockley's racist "We've got a rope, we've got a tree, all correctly pointed out that for Shockley, important for opponents of Shockley's arguments one by one, stripping them we need is Shockley." ideas to confront them head on. "Like of their "scientific" cover. Goldsby As the debate began, the picketers it or not," he said, "there are many teaches genetics at the University of went inside. The picket line marshals, people in this society who have deep Maryland; Shockley is a physicist. including leaders of the three sponsor­ down questions about this subject." An overflow crowd of 1,700 people • ing groups, explained again tbat no Disruptive actions such as that of attended the debate, which had re­ disruption was planned. Twenty mem­ CAR and the PLP cannot substitute ceived wide publicity on campus dur­ bers of the PLP and CAR, however, for the necessary task of convincing ing the previous week. Black and gathered near the stage and began to the majority of white students and Chicano students comprised more than heckle and 'jeer. working people to reject racist theories half the audience. These disrupters, mostly white stu­ like Shockley's. _ Prior to the debate, nearly 150 dents, were dispersed by marshals The approach of the ABS, MECHA, students participated in a picket line organized by the ABS, MECHA, · and and SCAR, on the other hand, ex­ sponsored by the USC Associated SCAR. Chris Winfrey, an ABS leader, pressed the confidence that in an open Black Students (ABS), MECHA (a urged the audience to listen to the debate, Shockley would come out a Chicano student group), and the Stu­ debate. Despite scattered heckling by loser. It also made it clear that the dent Coalition Against Racism PLP and CAR members, the majority antiracist movement at USC is a (SCAR). These groups made it clear of the audience applauded Winfrey's staunch defender of the very rights that their aim was to protest Shock­ remarks. endangered by Shockley's anti-Black ley's racist views, not to stop him from After that, the two presentations demagogy-including the right to free speaking. occurred largely without disruption, speech. In fact, the picket line organizers although the first few minutes of It is through taking these backward welcomed the chance for a Black Shockley's remarks were difficult to ideas head on and mobilizing militant geneticist to refute Shockley's fake hear. The disrupters were frequently demonstrations and other actions in . scientific theories. They encouraged met with shouts of "Shut up" from defense of Black rights that the-racist students to attend the debate. ·Black students in the audience. forces in this country will be isolated. Members of the Progressive Labor The question period at the end of the The provocations of the PLP and CAR party and its associated organization, debate was cut off when another 'persecuted underdog' than are an obstacle in accomplishing this ·the Committee Against Racism, at- disrupter, evidently not from the PLP racist ideas. nec~ssary task.

16 A.1~ortrait of exgloitation With the Mexican farm workers at 'el hoyo' By Arnold Weissberg The workers file across the interna­ trip over the border and provide a the later-arriving ranch foremen. CALEXICO, Calif.~The road to the tional bridge and up the dark road place to wait. But most sit or stretch There is no job security here. The Mexican border curves down away from Mexicali. Many turn into the out on the wooden benches by the state crews are selected for work each day, from the state employment office and brightly lit parking lot. Some cross the employment office. and past performance may mean seems to disappear in the dark. But out narrow street and wait in front of an By 4:00 a.m., many of the workers nothing, especially when you get old or of the dark, in ones and twos, and later abandoned gas station where labor have bP.en up for two or even three sick. The contractors pay off daily, so in larger numbers, Mexican farm contractors also gather their crews. · hours. Since the crew selection begins they can easily sign on new crews each workers find their way to the state Others continue up the hill into about then, you have to be at el hoyo day. office parking lot, which the workers Calexico and wait to be hired at still­ by 3:30a.m. The remaining buses fill and leave. call el hoyo (the hole). closed gas stations, on corners, in First, there is a long, slow trlp from · It is now 5:00 a.m. The air is no El hoyo is where farm workers · supermarket parking lots, and at the the outlying districts of Mexicali, warmer. The low temperature means gather hoping to get picked by the Jack-in-the-Box restaurant up the followed by a one- or two-hour wait to that many of the farm workers, after labor contractors or the ranch crew street from the United Farm Workers cross the border. The wait. may be as much as a three-hour bus trip to the foremen for a day's work. headquarters, a hiring point for a extended on particular days if the fields, will have to wait even longer, The early morning temperature is number of contractors. The Calexico border patrol decides that the farm until the sun melts the ice off the cold, around 35 degrees, but when the Jack-in-the-Box, I was told, is the workers are really potential drug lettuce, before they can begin to work. sun comes up it will reach 80. In busiest in· the country. But busiest of smugglers. Finally, there is the long Work may not start until 9:00a.m. for summer, the daytime temperature all in the· early morning hours is the wait to be hired. Many of the workers some. And pay begins when work often reaches 120 degrees. In this hole. leave home early to avoid the crush at begins. normally warm climate, few workers There they stand, or sit, and wait. A the border. After a backbreaking day in the are· dressed adequately against the few more fortunate ones have cars, or Because not all the lettuce crop is fields, the buses return to el hoyo. The chill. friends with cars, that save time on the ready for harvesting, fewer workers workers then slowly make their way than usual will be hired today. Several home to Mexicali, many getting home hundred will pass through el hoyo, only in time to eat and go to sleep-for compared with several thousand at the tomorrow the process begins again. peak of the harvest. Today there are only about twenty­ five of the buses that will take workers to the fields. The buses belong to the UFWmarch labor contractors and the ranches. At peak harvest, the parking lot overflows boosts boycott with them. The buses' bright colors­ Five hundred members and sup­ white, red, yellow-seem out of place, porters of the United Farm Workers as if trying to make el hoyo seem a began a seven-day march through festive place instead of what it is. Los Angeles County December 14. The action will culminate December If the cold gets too hard to take, you 20 in a mass march ·and rally in can cross the street to a gypsy wagon East Los Angeles, the area's princi­ selling coffee and sandwiches. A small pal Chicano community. cup of instant coffee is twenty-five Designed to promote the boycott cents. of Gallo wine and scab grapes and This morning is unusual. The union lettuce, the action was kicked off representation elections are under way, with a rally in Pacoima, the starting and both the UFW and the Teamsters point of the march. Speakers in­ have organizers circulating and hand­ cluded representatives of various ing out leaflets. I saw several groups of unions supporting the UFW and a workers discussing the UFW material. number of farm worker activists. I was· told that on occasion the The main speaker was UFW Vice­ Teamster organizers are jeered and president Dolores Huerta. UFW heckled when they appear. leader Cesar Chavez' was to have Around 4:30 a.m. the labor contrac­ addressed the rally, but he was tors have all arrived, and many of the hospitalized after a flare-up of a workers gather around them, hoping to chronic back condition. be selected for the crews. The contrac­ UFW members from ranches and tors take who they please, preferring various parts of Southern California­ the youngest and strongest workers, are participating in the 100-mile who can produce the most. The rest march. After long, cold wait at 'el hoyo,' farm workers still face hours-long trip to fields. wait, hoping to be picked up by one of 2,000 march to support Pitt. teachers' strike By Dan Rosenheim three high schools for seniors only. While the PTA claims that its action Meanwhile, the school board contin­ PITTSBURGH-Nearly 2,000 strik­ In a series of statements to the would be aimed against both the ues to claim that it cannot afford to ing public school teachers and sup­ media, the board threatened · that school board and the union, its real meet union demands. Some school , porters demonstrated for several hours seniors who did not attend these thrust would clearly be against the board members have gone so far as to on December 16 in fr,ont of the board of "special classes" might not be able to union, since it would force teachers propose laying off 300 teachers. education offices here. graduate this year. This was a flagrant back to work without a contract. In the face of these attacks, the PFT The 3,800-member Pittsburgh Feder­ attempt to frighten students into has stepped up its efforts to explain the ation of teachers has been on strike acting as strikebreakers and to drive a issues of the strike to the public and since December 1. wedge between students and striking win broader support. At a news confer­ PFT President Al Fondy called the teachers. ence here, union President Fondy demonstration "certainly the largest The PFT blocked the board's maneu­ explained the teachers' position this ever staged by the PFT." ver by mobilizing its members in front way: "A school system isn't. a bolt In addition to official union picket of the three high schools, with picket factory. You've got to determine what signs, teacher contingents from differ­ lines of up to 200 teachers in front of your requirements are. You don't just ent schools carried colorful hand­ each school. see what funds are available and then printed signs with slogans such as, Only about 15 percent of the 4,500 try to pare educational programs to "Dedication does not negate the need seniors in the school system showed up meet the budget." for a decent salary." for these classes-a big setback for the Recently, the Allegheny County Another sign declared: "One B-52 board. Labor Council unanimously passed a bomber costs $80 million, enough to Meanwhile, two groups are threaten­ resolution in support of the striking build ten new schools or satisfy the ing court action against the union. The teachers, and individual unions are needs of the entire Pittsburgh school state department of education has being encouraged to do the same. And, system for five years." announced that it will seek an injuc­ with the support of the union leader­ A group of teachers from Latimer tion against the strike if a settlement is ship, about sixty parents and teachers Junior High School sang, "Deck the not reached quickly. met last week to discuss ways of halls with higher salaries.... " A spokesperson for the department winning community. support for the The teachers, seeking salary in­ claimed that the school board might strike. creases, a guarantee against layoffs, not be able to schedule enough make­ Socialist Workers party campaign and class size limits, are holding firm up days to fulfill state requirements. supporters have met a warm response despite stepped-up efforts at strike­ These requirements have not been on the picket lines, passing out thou­ breaking by the board and threats of enforced in the case of several past sands of leaflets titled "Socialist Pro­ court action against the union. strikes. Picket lines of up to 200 teachers have gram to Solve School Crisis" and During the past week, the board has The local PTA has also threatened to blocked board's strikebreaking selling more than seventy copies of the tried to break the strike by opening seek an injunction against the strike. maneuvers., Militant to striking teachers.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 17 ~P-ort from Puerto Rico PSP concludes second national congress By Judy White From Intercontinental Press HATO REY, Puerto Rico-Eight thousand persons attended the closing rally of the second national congress of the Partido Socialista Puertorriquefio (PSP-Puerto Rican Socialist party) December 7. The gathering repeatedly rose to applaud enthusiastically. "jlndependencia ya! jSocialismo aho­ ra mismo!" (Independence now! Social­ ism immediately!), the crowd chanted, and "jMari, seguro, a los yanquis dales duro!" (Marl, really let the yankees have it!)-addressed to PSP General Secretary Juan Mari Bras. Those attending were predominantly young, about 40 percent women, but there was a sprinkling of older per­ sons. A delegation of PSP members and supporters from the United States numbered in the hundreds. The PSP is the most visible proin­ Claridad/Rafael Robles dependence force in Puerto Rico. Four Rally at end of convention drew 8,000. For the first time PSP decided to run candidates in elections. years ago, when the party held its founding congress, it published a twenty-four-page weekly newspaper naming and number of candidates, the mEmt's efforts to intimidate those Naci6n, Un Solo Partido" (A single with a circulation of 15,000. For the timing of the campaign, and the planning to attend the party's con­ nation, a single party). The PSP holds past year it has published a daily question of whether to use the colonial gress. that the most important struggle of paper, with circulation currently re­ government's official campaign fund "In the four years since our first Puerto Ricans everywhere, including ported at 20,000. were referred to the Central Commit­ congress, we have faced constant the nearly two million who live in the The rally came at the end of a nine­ tee. No mention was made of· the repression," he continued. "Our an­ United States, is the struggle to win day congress. It was advertised as the election platform, although a draft of it swer to [colonial Governor] Rafael independence and socialism for Puerto public presentation of the main deci­ was presented in the main political Hernandez Colon's campaign of re­ Rico .. sions of the deliberative sessions, resolution to the congress. pression is the biggest and most . On questions of foreign policy, the which· had been open to 296 elected The presentations on electoral activi­ combative rally ever held by the PSP passed motions of warm support delegates. Full texts of the documents ty were interspersed with reassurances party." for the government and people of approved by the congress have not yet that the shift did not mean giving up On the day the PSP congress opened, Cuba; the People's Republic of Angola been published. an armed-struggle perspective. This the U.S. Senate Internal Security and "its only legitimate representative, After the members of the newly reflected internal disagreements in the Subcommittee released a 496-page the People's Movement for the Libera­ elected PSP leadership were intro­ PSP, one delegate who attended the document entitled "Terroristic Activi­ tion of Angola [MPLA]"; the people of duced, greetings were given by Hassan congress commented later. About one­ ty; the Cuban Connection in Puerto Vietnam and "their efforts to swiftly Rahman, Palestine Liberation Organi­ third of the delegates opposed running Rico; Castro's Hand in Puerto Rican reunify the country"; the solidarity of zation deputy representative to the candidates, he stated. and U.S. Terrorism." The report the People's Republic of the Congo; the United Nations, and Guy Anatole "Does the electoral strategy mean named the PSP as a Castroist vehicle struggle of the Panamanian people to Moyascko, representative of the Con­ that we set aside the ·armed struggle?" to carry out the Puerto Rican revolu­ recover the Panama Canal; and "the golese party of Labor, among others. asked Mari Bras. "We answer definite­ tion and attempted to link the party to difficult and self-sacrificing fight of The main shift in party policy ,came ly and categorically-no! We won't terrorist actions that have been carried the Chilean resistance to overthrow. on the question of participation in the renounce our right to armed struggle out on the island and in the United the criminal fascists." No resolution November 1976 elections. For the first until tlie day the imperialists give up States. was passed on the struggle in Portu­ time since the PSP and its predecessor, their last gun." Hernandez Colon jumped on the gal. the MPI (Movimiento Pro Inde­ bandwagon, as did the major bour­ Defining PSP policy as "indepen­ pendencia-Pro-Independence Move­ The PSP intends to become a mass geois papers in San Juan. They raised dent" with regard to international ment), were founded more than fifteen Marxist-Leninist party, Marl Bras the specter of thousands of committed questions, Mari Bras hailed the Soviet years ago, the organization will field said. Participation in the elections is terrorists massing in the Clemente Union and its Communist party as candidates. viewed as a step that can help bring Coliseum. "the most powerful bases in the social­ The decision was explained at the that about. Marl Bras pointed out that this ist camp" and denounced those who rally as one directed at "propagandiz­ Citing Fidel Castro, the general attempt to link the campaign for claim that the USSR is "social imperi­ ing for socialism, making the party secretary stated, "There can be no Puerto Rican independence to isolated alist." grow, and exposing the electoral sys­ victorious revolution if you have the acts of terrorism in the United States The party also noted the contribu­ tem as a fake that does not bring about arms and you do not have the masses. made it more urgent than ever to tion made by the Chinese revolution in political change." But there cannot be a victorious develop a broad campaign of solidarity "shifting the relationship of forces on At the same time, the PSP's motion revolution without arms." with those in the United States who a world scale," but criticized Peking's on the elections stated the goal of Carlos Gallisa, a legislator in the support the independence struggle. support to the Chilean junta and its electing a legislator who would de­ Puerto Rican congress who joined the This was the only mention made position on Puerto Rico in the United nounce imperialism, press for workers' PSP in 1973, also insisted on the need during the rally that would suggest the Nations. (Peking did not participate in immediate demands, and publicize the for armed struggle. party's orientation for its section in the an August 20 vote to shelve a resolu­ struggle for independence and ·social­ "We must meet violence against the United States. tion on the colonial status of Puerto ism. people with revolutionary violence," he Up to now party policy has been Rico in the UN Decolonization Com­ All substantive decisions on the said after denouncing the govern- epitomized in the slogan "Una Sola mittee.) Death of striker hit by scab truck ruled 'accident' By Joe Sanders hardly be accused of raising unreason- terrorize the strikers. Several people Auto Workers Local 6 has contributed MELROSE PARK, Ill.-A Cook able demands. They are asking for a have been injured by scab cars and $200, and various other union and County coroner's jury has ruled that $0.25-an-hour increase-many workers trucks in full view of the police. individual contributions have been the death of a union leader hit by a were getting as low as $2.37 to $3.36- On November 26, a judge issued an received. scab truck here was an "accident." and very modest increases in hospitali- injunction limiting picketers to four at A key problem facing strike leaders David Watson, vice-president of Local zation and other benefits. each of two gates. This ruling has been is how to mobiliz~ support from orga- 7-507 of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic met with increased determination nized labor in the Chicago area. Plans Workers union, was struck by a scab To the company, a quarter an hour is among the strikers. "We plan to stay to bring a support motion before the truck leaving the Capital Packaging not the issue. It wants to break the out through Christmas and New AFL-CIO's Chicago Federation of Company on September 9. He died of union and is prepared to use any Year's and for as long as it takes!" Labor and Industrial Union Council massive internal injuries ten days means to do so. they say. could be supplemented with an appeal later. The truck driver, Richard Mitch- There have been no negotiations to all union officials to use the re- ell, was charged by police with "failure since September 30. Incidents of vio- Local 7-507 has sought. to broaden sources of their unions to aid the ·to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk" lence, arrests, deportation attempts, support for the strike in various ways. Capital strikers. and fined twenty-five dollars. intimidation, and harassment against A strike-support dinner held November The "accident" finding was the strikers and their supporters occur 22 was attended by more than 400 The strikers plan to take their story latest in a long line of management, almost daily. Management personnel people. Strike leaders have appealed to to as many people as possible despite police, and judicial attempts to weaken and guards have threatened to shoot other unions, civic and religious organ­ the media's five-month silent treat­ the Capital workers' strike. strikers and have waved crowbars at izations, and concerned invididuals. A ment. A civil suit claiming "wrongful The walkout began August 3 after them. good example to follow comes from death" and seeking money damages the union had gone six months without Physical and verbal abuse from United Steelworkers Local 1033, which will also be filed soon by the family of a contract. The 237 workers, predomi- police is continual. On one occasion gave $300 and pledged $100 a month David Watson against the truck driver nantly Latino and Black women, could dogs were brought to the picket line to for the duration of the strike. United and Capital Packaging Company.

18 utlook A WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MILITANT BASED ON SELECTIONS FROM INTERCONTINENTAL PRESS, A NEWSMAGAZINE REFLECTING THE VIEWPOINT OF REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM.

DECEMBER 26, 1975

Israeli terror raids

Zionism's growing international isolation By David Frankel taken while billions of dollars of U.S. arms-aid continues to pour into [The following is from the News Israel-equates the individual acts of Analysis section of Intercontinental resistance by Palestinians fighting Israeli soldiers on occupied Golan Heights. Tangible evidence of Israel's determination Press.] against their oppression with ·the to carve out new borders.' terrorism of the Israeli oppressors. Shortly after 10:00 in the morning on The truth is that the real terrorist December 2, thirty Israeli jets turned organization in the Middle East is the ed provocation. The December 2 New oppression. There are some who be­ east over the Mediterranean Sea and Israeli state. It drove 1.5 million York Times reported in an unsigned lieve that such talks would lead to the headed for Lebanon. Operating in Palestinians out of their homeland, dispatch from Jerusalem that although establishment of a Palestinian state on groups of six, wave after wave of U.S.­ and now follows a policy of calculated details had not yet been released, "a the West Bank of the Jordan River and supplied warplanes bombed and rock­ mass murder in hopes of terrorizing its m1mmum of four new settlements in the Gaza Strip, both currently eted the people on the ground. Within victims into giving up the struggle would be authorized in the near fu- occupied by Israel. Although such a an hour 75 persons had been killed and against their dispossession. . ture." - possibility cannot be ruled out, the 160 wounded. It was the highest toll in The writer added "that plans were Rabin government's decision to build seven years of such Israeli raids. Israel's Isolation being drawn up for 20 to 30 more new settlements and its savage attack In Tel Aviv, Israeli military officials Attacks such as the recent one on settlements to be established on the on Lebanon were meant to convey its reported that all their aircraft returned Golan Heights, on the West Bank of attitude on this question. . safely. They talked about hitting Lebanon have not succeeded in intimi­ dating the Palestinians, but they have the Jordan and in the Gaza-Rafa area There can be little doubt that the "terrorist bases," and insisted that during the next few years." imperialist rulers in Washington would "the terrorists can't enjoy immunity." helped to deepen Israel's international isolation. The December 2 raid, in fact, During the last eight and a half like to draw the Palestinian leadership These ghouls could have given was carried out as part of Premier years, Israel has constructed 'fifty-five into some kind of Mideast deal. So far,. lessons to Lyndon B. Johnson and Yitzhak Rabin's answer to a diplomat­ settlements in the occupied territories. however, the Ford administration has Richard Nixon on how to slaughter "These settlements," said Terence not gone beyond the Israeli "doves" in defenseless people while talking about ic defeat. Rabin chose the raid as a response to Smith in the November 13 New York its proposals, and there is no evidence the need for peace. Among the ·~terror­ the November 30 vote in the UN Times, "which range in size from that it is really in favor of the idea of ist bases" attacked by the Israeli paramilitary agricultural hamlets on establishing a Palestinian state. Such planes was N abatiyeh, a town of Security Council to hold a debate on the Middle East in January that will the Golan Heights to incipient cities, a proposal, in any case, would be held 50,000 in southern Lebanon. include representatives of the Palestine represent the reality of Israeli policy. in reserve as a maximum concession On December 5 Daniel P. Moynihan, Liberation Organization. An Israeli They are the tangible evidence of from Washington's point of view. the U.S. ambassador to the United military spokesman said that the Israel's determination to carve out new Nations, announced that while the attack on Lebanon underlined the borders of the territory taken in 1967." The calculations of the imperialists Ford administration would "neither government's policy of fighting Pales­ The Times complained in a Decem­ were spelled out in a New York Times condone nor excuse" the Israeli air tinian guerrillas "only on the battle­ ber 3 editorial about the establishment editorial December 2 that said: "The­ attacks against Lebanon, it would not field," and not politically in the United of more settlements, noting that "this politics of the Palestinian movement­ back any resolution in the United Nations. practice is coming to resemble deliber­ including within the P.L.O. itself-are Nations that did not also condemn The occasion for the Security Coun­ ate territorial expansionism." so fragile and fragmented that, at the attacks by Palestinian guerrillas in cil vote was the expiration of the first sign of being taken seriously, a Israel. This seemingly evenhanded mandate for the UN truce force on the Greater Flexibility Urged wide range of interests and settlement stand against violence in general- Golan Heights. The Syrian regime had Israel's isolation has prompted both proposals would likely come into the demanded that renewal of the mandate the Ford administration and the so­ open." be linked to the Security Council de­ called doves in its own political struc­ It must be emphasized that even if bate. ture to press for greater flexibility. the maximum concession of a Pales­ The Rabin government asked Wash­ "Former Foreign Minister Abba Eban tinian state alongside Israel were ington to veto the resolution, insisting and leading legislators have argued granted, the basic problem in the that it was a step in the direction of that Israel must do something to Middle East would remain. Because. it recognizing the PLO. When the Ford reverse the negative image it is getting was create~ at the expense of the Pal­ administration declined, right-wing as a result of its refusal to consider any estinian people, the Israeli state is forces -called on Rabin to expel the UN negotiations with the Palestine Libera­ irrevocably tied to imperialism. It troops from Israeli-held territory-an tion Organization under any circum­ depends for its survival upon the act that would probably have led stances," the December 2 New York weakness and backwardness of the rapidly to war. But the Israeli regime Times reported. Arab world. was in no position to do this without Five of the twenty-one cabinet minis­ In the long run, the existence of the U.S. backing. "Rarely have Israelis felt ters in the Israeli government have Israeli colonial-settler state is incom­ more frustrated and alone," Terence come out in favor of negotiating with patible with the most elementary Smith reported in the December 3 New any Palestinian group that agrees to demands of the Arab masses for social York Times. The regime was forced to support the existence of the Israeli and economic progress and indepen­ take other steps instead. state within "secure and recognized dence from imperialist domination. On December 1 the Israeli cabinet borders/' and to renounce the use of The Israeli leadership, including the decided that it would proceed with the terrorism against Israel. "doves," are well aware of this fact. establishment of new settlements on The "doves" offer to talk to the Pal­ That is why they continue in their the Golan Heights, which were seized estinians if they will first renounce bloody attempts to terrorize the Pales­ Palestinian camp in ruins after 1974 from Syria during the June 1967 their right to self-determination and tinian people while talking about their Israeli raid. Middle East war. This was a calculat- promise not to struggle against their desire for peace.

19 World Outlook

Britain's 'antiterrorist' camQaig.o Democratic rights under fire by Wilson government By Tony Hodges been issued with "exclusion ord.ers" that it will adopt the fourteen defend­ since the act was passed eleven ants as political prisoners if they are [Two related events have occurred months earlier. Four major leaders of convicted. since this article was written. On Clann na h-Eireann, the support group By the fourth week of the trial, eight December 5 the British government - for the "Official" republican movement more BWNIC supp,orters had been declared the end of internment, or in Britain, have been deported under arrested on similar charges under the imprisonment without trial, in North­ the PTA, even though it is well known Incitement to Disaffection Act and the ern Ireland. In the four years since· that the "Officials" do not support Army Act in different parts of the internment was instituted in August terrorist activity. country. Pat Arrowsmith was jailed 1971, nearly 2,000 Irish nationalists The PTA, like the Emergency Provi­ under the Incitement to Disaffection have been detained under its provi­ sions Act in Northern Ireland under Act in 1974 for distributing BWNIC sions. which hundreds of republicans have leaflets, and spent nine months in [Right-wing Irish Protestant leader been interned without charge or trial, prison. Ian Paisley, who supported ending is designed to victimize people when • Frame-up trials against "bomb­ internment, pointed to the basic reason there is no conceivable evidence that ers." On October 22, three Irishmen behind London's abandonment of the could convict them of any actual crime. · and a British woman (Gerard Conlon, policy: "Detention without trial threw In addition, the PTA allows the Paul Hill, Patrick Armstrong, and the entire Roman Catholic population police to detain persons without charge Carole Richardson) were sentenced to into the hands of the I.R.A. (Irish or trial for up to seven days. Only 44 of life imprisonment after being found Republican Army). It was the best the 946 persons detained so far under guilty of charges of murdering five bonus the I.R.A. ever received." the act have had any charges placed persons in the Guildford pub bombings [Similar motives apparently under­ against them. The purpose of this on October 5, 1974. Hill and Armstrong lay the December 11 vote in the British provision is to allow the police to were also found guilty of charges of ·House of Commons against reinstitut­ engage in "fishing trips," using blan­ killing two persons in a pub bombing ing the death penalty for acts of ket arrests and interrogations to intim­ in Woolwich last November. terrorism. The death penalty has not lrish 'suspect' arrested under Prevention idate the Irish population and to All four were convicted and given been in effect there, except for treason of Terrorism Act. PTA allows conviction accumulate political files. these vicious sentences on the basis of and piracy, since 1965. without bother of evidence. Unfortunately, the PTA has been statements made to the police before [A December 10 opinion column in only one of the many antidemocratic the trial opened. In court, the four. measures taken to bolster the imperial­ vehemently denied any involvement in the influential London Times argued This draconian legislation was re­ the bombings and accused the police of that although the death p-enalty for cently used for the first time to put on ist domination of Ireland. Others forcing the statements out of them terrorists would be "morally permissi­ trial a militant whose only "crime" include the following: through physical assault and threats ble," it would be inadvisable since the was leafleting for the withdrawal of • The ban on public meetings in against their friends and relatives. terrorist groups "would gain support British troops from Northern Ireland. Trafalgar Square. Three years ago the Though the immediate objective of from the Irish Catholic communities On October 19, veteran pacifist cam­ Tory government banned all rallies the Labour government's attacks that they could not otherwise gain." paigner Pat Arrowsmith was arrested concerning Ireland from Trafalgar \ [The vote to bring back the death under the act while handing out Square, London's traditional location against ,civil liberties is to cow the Irish community in Britain and pre- penalty lost by a margin of 361 to 232, leaflets in Aldershot for the with­ for major political demonstrations. The reflecting growing sentiment for its drawal of troops. restoration. In 1965 only 104 members Though Arrowsmith was released on of Parliament voted against its aboli­ bail after. several hours, it is still not tion.] clear whether she will be charged by the director of public prosecutions. In LONDON-Labour Home Secretary any event, her case is a symptom of Roy Jenkins confirmed October 28 that the deep inroads against democratic the Labour government would seek to rights being made by the Labour make the repressive Prevention of government. The PTA is the centre­ Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act piece in this assault, and the Irish (PTA) a permanent part of the British population here have been its first legal code. victims. "I have come to the conclusion," The PTA is a blatant warning to all Jenkins announced, "that the powers Irish people living in Britain, and conferred by the Act should be contin­ anyone else who dares to support their ued and I therefore intend to introduce rights, that opposition to imperialist fresh legislation." oppression of Ireland is punishable by One report said that the new law deportation, imprisonment, financial "will be broadly similar, but tighter" hardship, or a week's grilling by the than the temporary one. cops. The act empowers the home Jenkins introduced the original bill secretary to ban any organisation that on November 27, 1974, only six days appears to him to be "concerned in after the Birmingham bombings in terrorism" or that is supposedly "pro­ which twenty-one persons were killed. moting or encouraging it." September 1975 meeting in London to support BWNIC 14, British pacifists arrested for Accompanied by a well-orchestrated Terrorism is defined by the PTA as · leafleting soldiers. campaign of anti-Irish chauvinism, the the "use of violence for political ends," Labour government rammed the PTA a vague generalization\ that could be through Parliament after only seven used to victimize strike pickets as Labour government has refused to lift vent a mass movement against British hours of debate. It did not even bother easily as terrorist bombers. Further­ the ban, charging that rallies on aggression in Ireland from gathering with a vote-only two Labour MPs more; it is also illegal under the PTA to Ireland endanger "public order." strength, the ultimate aims are much said at the time that they opposed the "encourage support for a proscribed • Twenty-two pacifists on trial for broader. bill.- organisation." Since both the "Offi­ leafleting soldiers. Fourteen supporters cial" and Provisional wings of the of the pacifist British Withdrawal from Irish Republican Army have been Northern Ireland Campaign (BWNIC) Broader Aims banned, a newspaper carrying an went on trial at the Old Bailey Septem­ To begin with, the government's article arguing for support to republi­ ber 29, charged with "conspiracy to "antiterrorism" campaign is aimed at canism could be outlawed. endeavour to seduce" soldiers under labeling the entire left as violent and the 1934 Incitement to Disaffection subversive. On September 27, for 'Exclusion Orders' Act. example, 100 police raided a house Natives of Northern Ireland are The charges stem from the group's being used by the Workers Revolution­ defined as second-class citizens by the distribution to soldiers of a leaflet ary party (WRP) as a study centre. PTA. Any United Kingdom citizen described by the prosecution as "high­ After a six-hour search, the police who has not been a resident of Great ly subversive and insidious propagan­ claimed to have found nine .22 bullets. Britain for at least twenty years can be da." The leaflet ("Some Information The raid coincided with a sensation­ deported from the island without for Discontented Soldiers") merely alist article in the September 28 cha:rge or trial by order of the home provides information for soldiers who Observer claiming that WRP members secretary. It is not even necessary for wish to leave the army and does not had hinted at hidden arms caches. The the home secretary to reveal the itself argue that soldiers should desert. WRP is well known on the British left evidence, if any, on which the deporta­ Conspiracy to contravene the Incite­ for its opposition to terrorism and has tion is based. ment to Disaffection Act carries a stated that "any member of the party ~ JENKINS: Intends to introduce fresh Jenkins released figures October f3 penalty of up to life imprisonment. found with firearms or explosives legislation. showing that sixty-nine persons- had Amnesty International has announced would be expelled."

20 World news notes

Africans charge bias in Soviet Union African students studying in the Ukrainian city of Lviv issued a public protest in early November against the racist treatment they have been subjected to. The African Student Union in that city asked African ambassadors in Moscow to help stop racial assaults on them and arbitrary expulsions of Black students from the university. The ASU cited nine separate incidents in which African students were attacked, including one in which a pregnant Nigerian student was assaulted. In a memorandum the ASU described one incident that Des Warren (right) and Eric Tomlinson, imprisoned in 1973 for organizing mass occurred in April, when ''a Nigerian, Mr. Adeogba, was attacked by a picketing at strike site;. drunken Soviet citizen with a chisel while sleeping in his room." He was rescued by two friends, but all three Nigerians were expelled for British capitalism is seeking to strip Conspiracy charges are becoming "attacking and beating up a Soviet citizen in Mr. Adeogba's own away many of the democratic rights more and more common because they room." won in the past by workers in struggle. allow judges to hand down heavier "The ASU complained about insults by Soviet hosts, lack of recourse The working class as a whole will pay sentences. In the 1971 trial of the to correct grievances, disregard of permission from African embassies if the ruling class is successful in its "Angry Brigade," a small group that in Moscow to travel to Moscow or abroad, forced ·participation in assault. believed sensational actions would politics, and harassment in the form of constant new regulations," The Incitement to Disaffection Act, spur the masses into anticapitalist according to a report by Elizabeth Pond in the November 11 Christian for example, could be used. to imprison action, four defendants received ten­ Science Monitor. trade unionists who try to persuade year sentences for conspiracy to cause · The ASU asked the African ambassadors to "please let the Russians soldiers not to break a strike. Some explosions even though they were not know that if they want our respect, they should respect our countries trade unionists of Irish descent have found guilty of actually causing any and peoples," and to "keep in contact with us so as not to give the already been deported under the Pre­ explosions. Russians the idea that we are outcasts." vention of Terrorism Act, in circum­ The Lviv protest came shortly after about 500 African students in stances that indicate that their role as Right to Picket Kiev, another Ukrainian city, went on strike at the university there active trade unionists rather than any Direct attacks have also been made and marched on the Czechoslovak consulate. They were protesting the connection with "terrorism" was the on the right to picket. It is at present withdrawal of the scholarship of a Czechoslovak woman who married factor that provoked the government's illegal for pickets to stop trucks ap­ a Nigerian, and the lifting of her residence permit by the Soviet regime. ire. proaching a strike-bound factory for The most dangerous attack explicitly the purpose of peacefully persuading 17.1 million jobless in major capitalist nations directed against the democratic rights the driver not to cross the picket line. of trade unionists was the Industrial Pickets halting trucks can be charged Unemployment in the major capitalist countries has soared to 17.1 Relations Act. Brought in by the Tory with "obstruction of a public high­ million workers, the highest level in forty years, according to figures government in 1971, it placed severe way." released by the International Labor Organization November 28. restriction~ on the right to strike. On June 28, the Law Commission "This represented a massive increase of six million, to a level of 5.2% Five dock workers were jailed under proposed in a working paper that of the total labor force, compared with September, 1974," the ILO said. the act in 1972, but were rapidly trespass and remaining on property The regional breakdown of the total number of workers officially released after spontaneous strike ac­ after being told to leave should become without jobs was 8.1 million in the United States and Canada, 2.9 tions by workers throughout the coun­ criminal offences and carry jail sen­ million in western Europe, 2.7 million in southern Europe, 2.1 million try forced the Trades Union Congress tences. These changes are designed to in northern Europe, and 1.3 million in Japan, Australia, and New (TUC) to threaten a general strike. The arm the .state with greater powers to Zealand. act was repealed by the Labour govern­ deal with factory occupations, student ment last year shortly after its election sit-ins, and squatters. Italian women march for abortion rights victory because of the scale of union The Trades Union Congress voted opposition to the legislation. Ten thousand women marched through central Rome December 6 overwhelmingly at its annual congress demanding legalizatiqn of abortion. A dispatch from Reuters said the on September 2 to urge the government action was the largest such demonstration ever held in Italy. to make factory occupations legal. 'Conspiracy' Ploy In parliament a few days before, the Christian Democrats were Workers have had to resort to this defeated in an attempt to amend the abortion bill under consideration. However, Wilson's government is tactic with increasing frequency in They sought to maintain the classification of abortion as a legal attacking the democratic rights of the order to defend themselves from redun­ offense, but one that would not be punished under certain circum­ workers and their allies in a host of dancies by preventing the employers other ways. from moving ·OUt machinery. stances. These would include danger to the pregnant woman's physical Building worker Des Warren is still If adopted by the government the or mental health, danger of deformity if the pregnancy were carried to in jail after being sentenced in Decem­ new measure could also be used term, economic hardship, incest, or rape. ber 1973 to three years imprisonment against squatters occupying empty The draft bill, according to Reuters, "would permit abortion under for "conspiracy to intimidate" during houses. More than 30,000 persons are just these circumstances during the first 90 days of pregnancy." It has . the militant 1972 national building estimated to be squatting in London been strongly criticized by women's groups as insufficient because it workers' strike. Warren was one of alone as a result of the acute housing gives doctors, rather than the women concerned, the right to decide twenty-four building workers (the crisis. whether an abortion should be performed. Shrewsbury 24) arrested under the The Immigration Act has been used 1875 Conspiracy and Protection of to hound political activists. Last Black activists freed in Australia Property Act for their part in the December Franco Caprino, a supporter All charges against the Brisbane Three, three activists in the Black building workers' "flying pickets" in of the Italian organisation Lotta Con­ movement in Australia, were dropped November 25. The Queensland the 1972 strike. Eric Tomlinson, sen­ tinua, was threatened with deportation judge presiding over the case of Lionel Fogarty, John Garcia, and tenced to two years imprisonment, was under Immigration Rule 42, which Denis Walker accepted the defense motion that insufficient evidence released in July. permits the home secretary to deport had been provided by the prosecution to justify continuing with the Warren and Tomlinson were never any person whose presence is deemed trial. convicted of any act of intimidation, "not conducive to the public good." Fogarty, Garcia, and Walker had been charged with conspiracy to but for conspiring to intimidate simply The victim of such an order has no obtain money with threats and menace, and faced fourteen years in because they organised a large picket! right to appeal it, or even to know the jail if convicted. Twenty-one Iranian students are to grounds for the deportation order. Commenting on the importance of the case, the November 27 issue of be tried in February on charges of After one month in police custody the revolutionary-socialist fortnightly Direct Action said: "The release "conspiracy to trespass" because they Caprino was released and allowed to of the three is a great victory for Blacks facing police attack around the staged a peaceful, twenty-minute occu­ remain in Britain as a result of the pation of the Iranian embassy on April barrage of protests his case provoked. country, and for the national movement which was built to defend the 29 to protest the brutal murder of nine The ongoing struggle in Ireland and Brisbane Three." political prisoners by the shah's police. the deepening economic crisis of Brit­ Fifty-five tortured to death in Brazil If convicted, these students face the ish capitalism can only lead to a threat of deportation and delivery to continuation and escalation of these Brazilian political prisoners have accused the Geisel regime of the shah's prisons after completing attacks on democratic rights. A power­ torturing to death at least fifty-five political prisoners since 1969, the their sentences in Britain. While "tres­ ful opposition movement.must be built Reuters news agency reported from Rio de Janeiro December 6. pass" is no more than a civil offence, to meet this threat. In a signed document smuggled out of prison, thirty-five political "conspiracy to trespass" is a crime The methods of mass action which prisoners in Sao Paulo said they themselves had witnessed the torture carrying an unlimited prison sentence. freed the five dockers imprisoned of sixteen victims. They gave details of more than twenty forms of Nineteen activists who staged a under the Industrial Relations Act in torture they had been subjected to and cited the names of 233 torturers, peaceful, thirty-minute occupation of 1972 are those which can today beat including an army general and other high officers. the Iberia Airlines London office on back the attacks of the Labour govern- According to Reuters, "The 35 prisoners said they themselves had September 10 to protest the death . ment. Above all, the labour leaders-in suffered beatings, . electric shocks, the 'ice box,' a tiny cubicle with sentences imposed on anti-Franco Parliament and in the unions-must temperatures changing from searing heat to freezing cold, immersions militants have also been charged with be forced to oppose any extension of in water and sexual abuse." conspiracy to trespass and are sched-. the Prevention of Terrorism Act when uled to appear in court November 25. it comes up for renewal in November.

21 World Outlook

Largest demonstration since 1968 150,000 march in Mexico City for union democracy By Cristina Rivas unification of the two unions and of the leaders of the democratic tenden­ build the biggest and broadest demon­ formation of a United Electrical Work­ cy who were members of the National stration this country has seen since MEXICO CITY-More than 150,000 ers Union (SUTERM). · Executive Committee of the SUTERM. 1968. On November 15, there were persoos demonstrated here November It was at this time that the 150,000 persons in the streets. The 15 in support of the struggle waged by Unification Democratic Tendency (Tendencia De­ majority were members of unions who the Democratic Tendency in the electri­ Needless to say, the STERM mocratica) formally took that name. have taken up the struggle· to regain cal workers union, SUTERM. * accepted the compromise. This pro­ Mobilizations started up again control of their organizations and The fight of the electrical workers in voked a chorus of abuse from the throughout the country. But this time drive out the corrupt "charros." support of trade-union democracy is Mexican ultraleftists, who accused the the struggle had to be harder and more The political importance of this not a new one; it goes back to the union leadership of being betrayers. determined because the · government demonstration lies in the fact that one nationalization of the electrical indus­ Once again these ultraleftists showed had recognized the rigged "conven­ of the fundamental sections of the try in 1960. At that time the govern­ their inability to understand the most tion" and "legally" ratified the expul­ Mexican working class, one that holds ment created a decentralized body, the elementary problems of the class sion of the compaiieros. a key position in the country's func­ Coniisi6n Federal de Electricidad struggle. The "charros" resorted to getting tioning, has now taken a step that no (CFE-'-Federal Electricity Commis­ At the time, revolutionists supported workers belonging to the Democratic lesser force could have taken. It has sion), and nationalized the Compaiiia the unification of the two organiza­ Tendency fired, shooting at them, and brought tens of thousands of persons de Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyF­ tions but pointed out that the methods sending gang~ters against them. into the streets and created a center Central Mexico Light and Power employed in this process were not around which the various sectors can Company). These two bodies were democratic. The Democratic Tendency organize their struggles. encharged with administering the Subsequently, the national leader­ There had already been demonstra· The working class and its allies have electrical industry. . ships and all the locals and local tions of 10,000 to 30,000 persons in begun to regain confidence in their The LyF continued to function as a leaderships fused. ThereupoiY, the com­ many cities, and there were only two own strength, a confidence they lost cover for direct imperialist penetration, paiieros who had belonged to the things left that the Democratic Tend­ with the defeats of the railroad work­ since involved in it was the U.S. Light -STERM began to spread their demo­ ency could do to win reinstatement of ers' strike in 1958-59 and the student and Power Company, whose name it cratic ideas and their experience in the compaiieros who had been fired as struggle in 1968. took. The workers in this enterprise mobilization throughout a broader well as recognition of their leaders-a The next step in the struggle of the were organized in the Sindicato Mexi­ segment of workers in the electrical mass mobilization in Mexico City Democratic Tendency-if the govern­ cano de Electricistas (SME-Mexican industry. followed by a nationwide strike. ment and the "charros" do not rein- Electrical Workers Union). The workers at the CFE were split between two unions, the Sindicato Nacional de Electricistas, Similares y Conexos de la Republica Mexicana (SNESCRM-National Union of Work­ ers in the Electrical Industry and Allied Occupations of the Republic of Mexico) and the Sindicato de Trabaja­ dore.s Electricistas de la Republica Mexicana (STERM-Electrical Work­ ers Union of the Mexican Republic). The SNESCRM was a typical "char- , ro" (labor gangster) union, totally integrated into and subordinated to the government and the Partido Revolu­ cionario Institucional (PRJ­ Institutional Revolutionary party). Naturally, it was an antidemocratic union in which the workers were permitted to play no role. The STERM was a rather democratic union, although its leadership was not politically independent of the govern­ ment. The conflicts began at the end of 1971, when the "charro" bureaucracy of the SNESCRM tried to deprive the STERM of its bargaining rights. The Part of November 15 march in Mexico City in support of Democratic Tendency in SUTERM "charros" decided that they had to wipe out a dangerous center of demo­ cratic infection that might spre~d to ·In this way, they won the majority of However, for the march to be a state the workers who have been fired other electrical workers and other the workers in the SUTERM for their demonstration of strength and not and recognize the democratic leaders­ sections of the proletariat. struggle. weakness, it had to attract more than is a national electrical workers' strike. Since the STERM represented a From the time of the unification in 60,000 persons. If the attendance had Of course, several important unions , minority of the workers in the CFE, a 1972, the government posed the need not gone over this figure, harsher may go out on solidarity strikes. This purely legal struggle did not promise for a fusion between the SUTERM and repression against the Democratic might be the response, for example, of positive results. So, the union leader­ the SME, so that there would be only Tendency would hav~ been facilitated. ' the Sindicato de Trabajadores y Em­ ship found itself forced to mobilize the one electrical workers union. Now pleados de la Universidad Nacional ranks in order to save the life of the perhaps some people in the govern­ The electrical workers who supported Aut6noma de Mexico (STEUNAM­ organization. ment realized that this was not as good the Democratic Tendency began to Union of Personnel at the Autonomous In 1972, the STERM organized an idea as it first seemed. publicize their struggle and seek solid­ National University of Mexico). demonstrations in all the important The SME has strong traditions of arity in all quarters. In Mexico City, The SUTERM leaders have . also cities of the country, with the exception democracy and struggle, but it has the most prominent role in this work proposed forming a Movimiento Sindi­ of Mexico City. Not just electrical become the most narrowly economist was played by the SUTERM Secciones cal Revolucionario (MSR­ workers from the STERM went to . union in Mexico. The result has been a Nucleares (the sections of the union Revolutionary Union Movement), these rallies; workers "from small facto­ hesitation on the part of the rank and that include workers in the nuclear which would embrace all democratic ries, students, slum dwellers, and in file toward unification. Furthermore, it industry, who are distinguished by currents and opposition groupings in some places, peasants, began to join in is controlled by a bureaucrat who very their militancy and political activity) the union movement. However, so far the struggle. much resembles the "charros," al­ and the Liga Socialista (LS~Socialist they have done little to put this In November 1972, these constant ·though he is not so brazen. League, a Mexican sympathizing orga­ proposal into practice. mobilizations bore fruit; the "charros" Nonetheless, the advance of the nization of the Fourth International). The leaders of the Democratic Tend­ and the government temporarily aban­ democratic tendency in the SUTERM The l-ise of the class struggle we ency encourage the workers to believe doned their aim of breaking the demo­ and the SME members' strong feelings have begun to witness in Mexico made that the gove:r,nment is going to solve cratic tendency among the electrical against the "charros," led the "char· it possible for the electrical workers to their problems. They do this because workers. They offered a compromise- ros" in the SUTERM to move once achieve their goal. Many unions gave they are not politically independent of again to get rid of the democratic their support, as did almost all the left the PRJ. However, the fight they have *Sindicato Unico de Trabajadores Electri­ elements. political organizations, the students, been forced to lead is a resounding cistas de Ia Republica Mexicana (United To this end, they resorted to provoca­ and some sections of the slum dwellers demonstration of the dynamic that the Electrical Workers Union of the Mexican tions, terror, and finally a "conven­ and peasants. struggle for trade-union democracy has Republic). tion," where they decreed the expulsion All these sectors joined forces to in Mexico.

22 'Steel union lOP-S default No gains in safety for coke-oven workers .By Jack Rasmus OAKLAND, Calif.-Nearly five years after Congress passed the Occu­ pational Safety and Health Act, more than 15,000 workers .employed in the coke ovens of the steel mills still suffer one of the highest death and disease rates in all U.S. industry. And if the backroom dealings be­ tween the corporate executives, govern­ ment officials, and union bureaucrats this past year are any indication of what _Jies ahead, coke-oven workers will continue to suffer for some time to come. Created in December 1970, the Occu­ pational Safety and Health Adminis­ tration (OSHA) was looked to by many as the answer to the abominable safety and health conditions throughout U.S. industry. Its importance to coke-oven workers was emphasized in late'1971, when the National Institute of Occupa­ Steelworkers at Pittsburgh's Allegheny Ludlum plant. 'Only action independent of steel bosses and capitalist parties can tional Safety and Health (NIOSH) achieve coke-oven safety.' indicated in a study that coke-oven workers suffer a rate of lung cancer ten times that of the population as a at an increasing rate. establishing coke-oven safety. What it say was how the union hoped to whole. Not until more than two years later, revealed was that whenever the capi­ achieve an agreement in two weeks on But the safety and health act, like in November 1974, did the OSHA even talists fail to get their way through a issuelil that hadn't been resolved in four any other law, is only as good as its get around to naming a committee­ labor-management committee arrange­ years. enforcement and the standards upon composed of three members each of ment, all they need do is turn to their A more likely motivation for this which that enforcement is based. And labor, management, and "the public"­ servants in government to accomplish surprisingly "cooperative" turn of it soon became apparent that inade­ to develop standards. This develop­ the same thing. events between the union and com­ quate standards and lax enforcement ment was praised by top-level Steel­ pany officials is the concern by Abel were. rendering the law ineffective. workers officials as "a reasonable 'Come out swinging' that sharp clashes and criticism of the approach to the problem." About nine months after the NIOSH The reaction of top Steelworkers companies in public hearings might But their trust in the bosses was study, some 150 officials of the United officials to this double cross might be damage his present cozy relationship soon repaid in typical fashion. The Steelworkers of America converged on described as mixed. On the one hand, with the bosses, including the Experi­ standards finally published by the Washington to begin what was called one union member of the joint commit­ mental Negotiating Agreement, which committee in early 1975 were viewed as an "intensive lobbying effort." Their tee whined, "It's inconceivable to me bars strikes. too . stringent by the Department of goal was to get the "friends of labor" how they could have done this." On When industry officials asked Abel Labor and were thrown out this past in Congress to press the newly estab­ the other hand, in a less comical reply, to postpone his testimony at the public July. lished -OSHA to adopt tighter stan­ James Smith, an assistant to Abel, hearings, he agreed to do so. As a The Labor Department ruled that dards and stricter enforcement regard­ promised, "We're going to come out consequence, the fate of coke-oven some emission from the ovens was ing coke-oven emissions. swinging." workers was once again relegated to Steelworkers President I.W. Abel allowable; that specific engineering · Unfortunately, as events have re­ backroom wheeling and dealing in­ said at the time, "The steel industry controls to see that standards were vealed, the union bureaucrats have not stead of being open to scrutiny and observed would be too burdensome on constantly violates the [existing] stan­ been swinging very hard or accurately. criticism by the workers themselves. the companies; and that management dard and they know it." Abel added In fact, they seem to be pulling their Their stake is their own future did not have to transfer workers that the companies had a policy of punches to appease the steel industry. health and safety. Abel's stake is the medically harmed by coke-oven emis­ "environmental blackmail" in the form For example, at the opening of public smooth functioning of his comfortable sions to other jobs with their pay and of threatening to close down plants in hearings in Washington in November Experimental Negotiating Agreement. seniority rights guaranteed, as the response to demands for pollution on the Labor Department's revised However, in recent weeks it has been union had requested. controls, and could be expected to react standards, it was revealed that secret revealed that even these backroom similarly with regard to in-plant safety In short, the government accepted meetings between the union and the negotiations have broken down. Thus, and health. the industry argument, voiced by F.c: steel companies had been occurring. after five years, coke-oven workers are Langenberg, president of the Iron and The aim, it was said, was to come up still no better off in terms of safety and Relying on 'friends of labor' Steel Institute, that the union demand with a joint recommendation for the health than they were when the law Unfortunately, little was done fol­ for coke-oven safety was "an unrealis­ Labor Department. Since they still was passed in 1970. lowing this much-publicized lobbying tic goal" that was "not in the best needed more time, both union and These five years are a sad lesson in effort. Union officials settled back into interests of the industry or its employ­ company officials requested a further how not to get the job done. By now it a strategy of relying on their so-called ees." two-week delay in the hearings. should be clear that relying on the friends in Congress to do their job for The "labor-management committee" Union representative James Smith capitalist politicians of either the them. As a result, establishment of approach therefore proved no more said, "It would be more comfortable if Democratic or Republican party is not standards was delayed and delayed, effective than the "lobbying labor's both parties were in there supporting the answer. Nor can this life-and-death and coke-oven workers continued to die friends in Congress" approach in the same position." What Smith didn't Continued on page 26 Denver 'Post' axes laid-off employees' benefits By. Frank Lord . than two years, she was laid off in to the Post. to unemployment compensation. It DENVER-Workers laid off by the December 1974. She applied for unem­ "Then they asked, 'What makes you affects my life and my family." Denver Post can no longer assume ployment benefits and began receiving think you have a right to a $15,000-a­ The referee ruled in favor of the Post. ·they will be able to keep their unem­ eighty-five dollars a week. Then she year job?"' Betty Ga:ylor was found guilty of ployment benefits. The Post is chal­ was notified that the newspaper was During the time she was laid off, · "failure to conduct an active search for lenging all claimants, charging that appealing her claim on the grounds Gaylor made herself available for work work." She was held liable for repay­ they are "basically not unemployed" or that she was "basically not unem­ four or five days a week. Initially more ment of $170 in benefits, which will be accusing them of "failure to conduct ployed." than a month went by with no work credited to the account of the Denver an active search for work." Finally, a hearing was held this past available. "They are trying to deny me Post. In Colorado, employers are liable for October. But it was more like a trial­ my benefits .because I didn't show for Gaylor's union, International Typo­ part of the cost of unemployment with GayJor the defendant. The roles of work seven days [a week] even during graphical Union Local 49, is providing compensation. Any money the Post judge and jury were played by a referee that time," she said. legal help, and the ruling will be can take out of the pockets of the laid­ appointed by the state. There were several times during the appealed. off workers goes into its account with "I was on the stand for one hour," eight-month period that Gaylor did not "I realize my local union has felt it the State Department of Labor and recalled Gaylor. "They asked me ques­ make herself available for work. has supported me 100 percent and will Employment. tions like, 'How did you arrive at the On one occasion, they· accused her of in the future: However, due to the fact Betty Gaylor is one of the employees conclusion that you were laid off?' not showing up for work on a Saturday that my case becomes more and more whose benefits are being challenged. "When the Post filed their appeal, morning, after she had worked the complicated-no decision in my favor, She was laid off from her job as a they said I was 'basically not unem­ Friday-night shift. "When I pointed and extreme stress on me-I do not feel printer for eight months out of the past ployed.' They never did explain what out that that was against union law, very secure in my rights." . . year. Now the Post is trying to force they meant by that. At the hearing, they quickly changed the subject." Gaylor is not the only printer at the her to pay back $170 in benefits she they said I refused to work. Another time, she was unable. to work Post to face this experience. All the received. "They asked if I would accept work because she and her family had to printers laid off by the Post last winter In a recent interview, Gaylor de­ as a secretary at $150 a week. I said move into a new home. have had their unemployment benefits scribed what has happened to her. no, that I have worked in the printing "They made me feel like a criminal!" challenged. Almost a year later, most After working at the Post for more trades for fifteen years prior to coming exclaimed Gaylor. "I feel I have a right of the hearings have yet to take place.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 23 Behind CIA ntots Why the Kennedys wanted Castro By Dick Roberts and provide all with employment were The Russians and the Chinese, setting a model for· semicolonial na­ containing within their borders nearly tions. a billion people, totally mobilized for In the October 1962 missile crisis the advance of the Communist system, Kennedy mobilized 150,000 U.S. troops operating from narrow, interior lines of and threatened a nuclear war against communication, pres§uring on South­ Cuba. Osvaldo Dortic6s, the Cuban east Asia with the masses of the president, appealed the Cuban case to Chinese armies potentially ready to world opinion from the floor of the move-[against] the Russians who United Nations: hold great power potentially in the "Cuba is not a problem of this ·Middle East and Western Europe-the continent nor of this hemisphere," said United States stands as the chief Dortic6s. "Underdevelopment is a defender of freedom. hemisphere problem; we are not a -President John F. Kennedy hemisphere problem. Hunger, famine; April 28, 1961 need are hemisphere problems, but Cuba is not. Lack of education and Sen. Frank Church's report on CIA illiteracy are hemisphere 'problems, not assassination plans tries to absolve Cuba. United States interference in the President John Kennedy of direct Cuban revolution, led by Che and Fidel Castro, was in vanguard of worldwide domestic affairs of the countries of this involvement in the plots to murder colonial revolution. Kennedy set top priority on crushing it. continent is a hemisphere problem, not Fidel Castro, although Church's report Cuba. The training and preparation of devotes a third of its space to these armed forces, specifically on the part plots. Most of them took place during of the government of the United the Kennedy administration (1961-63). than four times in his three-year term. from the Kennedy White House to the States, in various countries of this In appraising Church's contention it Only two months after taking office, CIA operatives in Miami who were continent to be used in the suppression is important to underline the political Kennedy threatened to launch a war in . trying to kill Castro in the early 1960s. of popular movements in the continent dynamics of those times. Southeast Asia to rescue the tottering Church's report also suggests that until the danger of a new colonial war Kennedy was in power at the peak of U.S.-backed military regime in Laos. there was another set of ties· between has been controlled in the Ameri<;as­ the cold war. In April1961 Kennedy ordered the the Kennedy brotQ.ers and Mafia this is a hemisphere problem, not Around the globe, in bases ringing Bay of Pigs attack against the new members who took part in these anti­ Cuba. , the Soviet Union and China, and revolutionary government in Cuba. Castro plots. "Cuba is not a hemisphere problem; throughout Latin America, Mrica, and In the second Laotian crisis of his More importantly, however, the the United States is, because of its lack Asia, U.S. military forces policed the administration, in May 1962, Kennedy Church report itself indicates that "the of respect for the sovereignty of other empire of finance capital. dispatched 4,000 U.S. troops to Thai­ plots against Fidel Castro personally states. Cuba is no problem for the · land and mobilized the Seventh Fleet cannot be understood without consider­ countries which respect it. Cuba can be Anticommunism for a war in Indochina when it was ing the fully authorized comprehensive a problem only for those governments Under the veil of anticommunism, "revealed" that the North Vietnamese assaults upon his regime." which fear it-not our capacity for Republicans and Democrats at home were aiding the Laotian revolution. Cuba stood at the vanguard of a subversion or for hypothetical aggress­ had purged the government, the press, This "revelation" turned out to be a colonial revolution that was sweeping ive intentions, but only the example of trade unions, and the campuses of CIA fabrication. . the capitalist world. the Cuban revolution." dissent. And in October 1962, the saber­ Its leaders, Fidel Castro and Che These were not words the Kennedy President Truman had thrown a rattling New Frontiersman threatened Guevara, began their rebellion by administration wanted anybody to million U.S. troops into Korea. Wash­ a U.S. nuclear attack on the Soviet demanding from a U.S. puppet dicta­ hear. The lessons of Cuba were lessons ington hoped not only to crush the Union for giving missile bases to torship merely the elementary demo­ the White House wanted to obliterate. advance - of socialist revolution in Cuba. Kennedy instituted the economic cratic rights that most American Kennedy would stop at nothing to wipe North Korea but also to deal blows to blockade designed to stral)gle the citizens feel they are entitled to. .out the example of the Cuban revolu­ China. Cuban economy. His brother Robert, Fidel and Che had demonstrated in tion, including attempts to assassinate The Eisenhower administration had as attorney general, prosecuted Ameri­ struggle that it is necessary to go over its famous leaders. intervened to crush popular move­ cans who dared to visit the revolution­ to a socialist revolution to win these ments in Iran in 1953, in Guatemala in ary island. rights in a semicolonial country. 1954, and in Lebanon in 1958. Last week the Militant took a close Steps in Cuba to eliminate discrimi­ Strategic policy President Kennedy led the world to look at Church's report. In fact, the -nation, educate al_l the people, bring The turning back of the tide of the brink of nuclear holocaust no less report traces a direct line of command health and medical care to everyone, revolution, from the Caribbean to the South. China Sea, was the central strategic objective of the Kennedy administration. The true face of ''Camelot' ·:we intend to show that the 'war of Three members of the Mafia were by a Senate committee on which that this person is Judith Campbell, liberation,' far from being cheap, safe, involved in a CIA plot to murder Kennedy served as counsel in the whose testimony before the Church and disavowable is costly, dangerous, Fidel Castro that spanned most of 1950s. "After becoming Attorney committee was kept secret by unan­ and doomed to failure." So spoke Gen. the Kennedy administration, ac­ General, Robert Kennedy had imous consent of the committee Maxwell Taylor in open testimony as cording to Democratic Sen. Frank singled out Giancana as one of the members. Some of Campbell's the Vietnam War was escalated in Church's report on CIA assassina­ underworld leaders to be most phone calls to Kennedy were made 1966. Taylor, retired at the time, was tion attempts. intensely investigated," Church's from Giancana's home. merely enunciating the policies of the John Rosselli, a thug who "was report states. The report says, "Hoover had a Kennedy administration, in which he deeply involved in hotel and gam­ Moreover, a memorandum in FBI private luncheon with President served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs bling operations in Las Vegas" files dated October 18, 1960, re­ Kennedy. There is no record of what of Staff. while working for the CIA, had been vealed that "Giancana had earlier transpired. . . . According to White It is helpful to look at the Pentagon contacted by the CIA to help poison talked about an assassination at­ Ho'!se logs, the last telephone con­ papers to grasp the full scope of the Castro. tempt against Castro." tact between the White House and counterrevolutionary policies and prac­ The idea was to put poison pills, And on May 22, 1961, Giancana's the President's friend occurred a few tices of the Kennedy administration1s manufactured by the CIA, into a assistance to the CIA in the anti­ hours after the luncheon." "best and brightest." The Pentagon drinking glass in a Havana restaur­ Cuban activities was revealed to Robert Kennedy decided to drop papers include documents on strategy ant frequented by the Cuban leader. Robert Kennedy by J. Edgar Ho­ the FBI's examination of the Las that Church's committee chose to over­ Rosselli's access to the restaurant over. Vegas wiretap. look. was arranged by "Momo Salvatore Hoover's intervention with Ken­ On June 20, 1975, Giancana was An -important example underlines Giancana, a Chicago-based gang­ nedy stemmed from an apparently shot to death at his. home in Chi­ -this point. ster and . . . Santos Trafficante, the unforeseen development in the CIA cago. The Militant noted last week that Cosa Nostra chieftain in Cuba," plot. The FBI had. discovered that overall anti-Cuban policies· emanated according to Church's report. Giancana, Rosselli, and Robert In March 1975, Time magazine from the Special Group that had been Sam Giancana's role is worth Maheu, the CIA operative "who was had publicly linked Giancana's set up under Taylor and Robert Ken­ noting because of possible ties directing the murder plot against involvement in the Castro assassi­ nedy after the failure of the Bay of between Giancana and Robert Ken­ Castro, were wiretapping a Las nation plot to the CIA and the Pigs. The Militant drew attention to ''a nedy, who was U.S. attorney gen­ Vegas hotel room. Kennedys. January 19, 1962 . . . meeting in eral at the time of the anti-Castro If the FBI had pressed this In May it was leaked to the press Robert Kennedy's office" in which a plot, and President John Kennedy. discovery it might have ended up that Giancana had been implicated CIA assistant had attributed to Robert Both Giancana and Trafficante publicizing the whole CIA-Mafia by the Rockefeller commission, Kennedy the concept that "overthrow were "on the Attorney General's ten­ murder plot against Fidel Castro. which was looking into CIA activi­ of Castro" was "the top priority in the most-wanted criminals list" when Furthermore, the Church report ties. U.S. government." they were working with the CIA. showed that a friend of President In June, when he was killed, The Pentagon papers reveal that on Giancana was well known to Kennedy's "was also a close friend Giancana was scheduled to testify the previous day, January 18, 1962, the Robert Kennedy because he was one of John Rosselli and Sam Gian­ before Church's committee. National Security Council had issued a of the major crime figures examined cana." It was subsequently revealed -D.R. memorandum defining the purposes of the Special Group. Adding the paren-

24 Senate hearing on CIA killed Heisler: 'Open the secret files!' By Evan Hart to our point of view. If Mr. Bush is WASHINGTON-Ed Heisler, a rep­ confirmed as CIA director; he will resentative of the Socialist Workers become a defendant in our suit." 1976 Campaign Committee, told the "Under Democratic and Republican Senate Armed Services Committee administrations alike," said Heisler, December 16 that the American people "the CIA has acted to crush popular have the right "to know the full truth movements abroad, overthrow demo­ about" the CIA's activities at home cratically elected governments, and and abroad. assassinate political figures judged to Heisler testified at hearings on the be threats to the investments of Ameri­ nomination of George Bush for top can corporations." boss of the CIA. During his testimony the day before, "The Socialist Workers party," said Bush had been asked if he would direct Heisler, "is demanding that all secret the CIA to organize the violent over­ CIA and FBI files be opened. We can throw of a democratically elected be sure that those revelations that government. Bush refused to rule out have already been published are just such an action: "I would say we should the tip of the iceberg, and that even tread very, very carefully with govern­ more horrible atrocities remain ments that are constitutionally elect­ shrouded in secrecy. ed." "We think bringing all the facts Rather than pledging to uncover the about the illegal activities of the CIA secret crimes still concealed in the CIA into the open can be an important first files, Bush went out of his way to Militant/Terry Quilico step in putting an end to them." express his concern about former CIA HEISLER: 'The American people have the Heisler described to the committee employees who have disclosed some right to know the truth.' , thetical title "Counter-Insurgency," the the campaign of illegal surveillance facts about the CIA's activities. memorandum declareq: and harassment against the SWP Nonetheless, these issues received "The functions of the Special Group carried out by the CIA, the FBI, and only passing attention from the mem­ Americans have lost confidence in (C.I.) will be as follows: other government agencies. "It's not bers of the Senate committee. Most of important government institutions" "a. To insure proper recognition only members and supporters of the the questioning focused on whether and there is a need to improve the throughout the U.S. Government that Socialist Workers party who have been Bush could be an "effective" CIA chief "appearance" of agencies like the CIA. subversive insurgency ('wars of libera­ victimized by the CIA," he said. "The if he was also -interested in running for "I think intelligence gathering func­ tion') is a major form of politico­ rights of thousands of Americans-be vice-president with Ford in .1976. tions are critical to the country," military conflict equal in importance to they trade unionists, civil rights activ­ Senator Frank Church, who testified intoned the senator. conventional warfare. . . . ists, or opponents of wars such as the in opposition to Bush on these David Cohen, speaking for the so­ "d. To insure the development of one in Southeast Asia-have been, and grounds, went out of his way to laud called people's lobby, Common Cause, adequate interdepartmental programs continue to be, ·violated by this agency. Bush's "distinguished record in· gov­ called on committee members to ask aimed at preventing or defeating "As part of the effort to halt these ernment service and high personal Bush such questions as, "What would subversive insurgency.... " illegal activities, my party has filed a integrity." he do to reduce duplication and waste" Interestingly enough, the Pentagon lawsuit against the CIA and the FBI. But, Church said, the nomination in the CIA?; "what would he do to papers assign Laos, South ~Vietnam, We are seeking $27 million in damages might look bad because of Bush's coordinate intelligence agencies?;" and and Thailand to the Special Group. for the attacks we have suffered on our political ambitions. "would he arrange the CIA hierarchy Church's report shows that Cuba was right to express our ideas, run candi­ Church appealed to the committee to so that a defmite chain of command its biggest concern. And it is quite dates for public office, and win people reject the nomination because "many existed?" obvious that the complete list of the countries where the Special Group recommended terrorization of popular groups and their leaders would be much longer. ~Antisocial' grouP-s targeted Warfare Moreover, there is the reality of the bloody counterguerrilla warfare that Local Cointelpro plOt bared in Chi. the Kennedy administration carried By Elizabeth McNulty The order was issued April 1, 1974. activities and violations of civil rights. out in Vietnam. Here the murders CHICAGO-Mayor Richard Daley's The "Special Order" was released in In response to the report, Police Supt. ordered by Kennedy took place on a police department has its own version response to interrogatories in a lawsuit James Rochford called a news confer­ routine basis. The front page of the of the FBI's notorious Cointelpro brought by the Alliance to End Repres­ ence in which he disclaimed any November 9, 1962, Wall Street Journal designed to disrupt and destroy groups sion. official responsibility and said that "if gives an early glimpse: with dissident views. It was revealed The order doesn't spell out what is there were excesses, they were well­ "While some 10,000 U.S. military December 9 that the police depart­ meant by "antisocial" or indicate intentioned, motivated by people who men now in South "Vietnam ar~ flying ment's "Intelligence Division Special which organizations were targeted, but acted wholly in the public good." · helicopters and providing advice under Order 74-3" is a "neutralization"' pro­ • an official police report released in an Faced with evidence that the disrup-. Communist gunfire," said the Journal, gram aimed at groups engaged in what earlier lawsuit shows that the National tion program was official police policy, "a few of their comrades mainly are the police consider "antisocial" activi­ Lawyers Guild was an object of the Rochford could only lamely comment taking notes. The.y are experts from a ties. "neutralization" program. that he wasn't sure whether the 1974 number of Defense Department agen­ The purpose of "neutralization," The National Lawyers Guild was order is still in effect. "They've been cies who are using the struggle against according to the order, is to "expose, never accused· of any illegal activities. rewritten and written in the last few the Viet Cong guerrillas as a proving cause to cease or change in direction" It is described in the police report as "a years.... We're all bewildered." ground for new tactics and weapons." organizations targeted by police. National Organization of Leftist Attor­ The revelation of the police "neutral­ The Journal quoted the commartding neys and Law Clerks who were asso­ ization" program bolsters the cases of U.S. officer in Vietnam: "Our military ciated with many different Radical the many individuals and organiza- · advisers here are gaining firsthand Organizations. In recent months, it tions who ar2 plaintiffs in lawsuits knowledge for the kind of war the U.S. has been ascertained that members of against the Chicago Police Depart­ might have to fight elsewhere." the Guild have allied with different ment ·for illegal spying and harass­ It also noted: "Army advisers who organizations for the purpose of gath­ ment. complete their regular 12-month tour of ering information on Police and Public Patricia Grogan, a spokesperson for duty in Vietnam generally are as­ officials and using this information to the Socialist Workers party, sa:id that 'signed to such posts as Fort Bragg, file Lawsuits against them." This is an "the goals of the 'Special Order' are as N.C., home of the Special Warfare example of what the police department repugnant as the 'neutralization' goals School and to other centers that considers "antisocial." of the FBI's Cointelpro." She said her specialize in .counter-insurgency." John Hill, executive coordinator of organization would press ahead with · Perhaps the Wall Street Journal's the Alliance to End Repression, said, its federal court suit demanding $7.9 tone would surprise a reader today. It "The 'neutralization' program consti­ million in damages and an end to accurately captures the Ivy League tutes a direct attack on political Chicago police harassment. arrogance of the Kennedy administra­ organizations' very right to exist. A The suit draws on revelations earlier tion as its Special Group New Fron­ society in which the police target this year that the local police "red tiersmen, with their "Alliance for peaceful political organizations for squad" financed and directed the Progress," provided barbed-wire prison destruction is indistinguishable from a Legion of Justice, a right-wing terrorist camps, antipersonnel bombs, and na­ police state and is completely incon­ group that burglarized the SWP and palm for the rebelling populations sistent with our constitutional guar­ Young Socialist Alliance headquarters around the globe in order to defend antees of freedom of speech and asso­ and physically assaulted the groups' · and extend the empire of U.S. imperial­ ciation." members. Grogan said that all docu­ ism. Kennedy did not order the death A grand jury report issued November ments connected to "Special Order74- of Fidel Castro? Who is Church kid­ Denounces 10 found the Chicago Police Depart­ 3" that relate to the SWP and YSA will ding? 'neutralization' program. ment guilty of widespread illegal be sought through the lawsuit.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 25 Miller, and Robb Wright are putting for the Socialist Workers 1976 National controls installed in the plants and forward the program that is needed. Campaign Committee, marched with mills. ... Reid They -are ilie kind of· candidates, with the strikers and, with other socialist ~Iri the process of strivtng 'for these Continued from page 9 the kind of program, that the entire campaigners, distributed a statement objectives, workers will have to reach for a serious fight to be waged here in labor movement ought to be running of support for the strike. out and form alliances with workers in New York, it's going to take new and supporting. "What is needed is a massive cam­ other unions, as 'Well as with communi­ ty, health, and environmental groups. leaders who come from the struggles of paign to get out the truth," the state­ ,

21 -Marxismandthe Ill I! ·Black Struggle BLACK LIBERATION AND SOCIALISM Anthology, edited by Tony Thomas. How can Afro-Americans win complete liberation? These authors, all young militant Black Marxists, 11111rll!. prove racism is intrinsic to capitalist society and that a socialist rev­ olution is needed to sweep away all the institutions of racist oppres­ You can win new readers sion and economic .exploitation. for the Militant. . . . In discussing the history, theory, and strategy of the Black move­ ment, the authors probe the relevance of women's liberation to Black . . . by taking a regular bundle and subscription cards to sell where you women. They also call for a political break from the Democratic and work, go to school, or where you live. Join other readers in the Militant's Republican parties and the formation of an independent Black politi- · sales campaign! cal party. 208 pp., $9.00, paper $2.45 Serid me a weekly bundle of ____ Order from: Pathfinder Press, Inc., 410 West St., New York, N.Y. .I want to take a weekly sales goal of . 10014. Also available in the bookstores listed in the Socialist Direc­ (The cost is 17 cents per copy, and we will bill you at the end of each tory on the facing page. Complete catalog available on request. month.) Send me a packet of prepaid subscription cards. Enclosed is: __$5 for 5 cards __$10 for 11 cards Name______Why Women Address ------Reualutian Need the­ City ------State ___ Zip ___ Militant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 I Eaunter· Equal Rights Amendment DICK ROBERTS Reualutian By Dianne Feeley Capitalism in Spain Includes "The Case for the Equal Affirmative Rights Amendment" and "What Are By FELIX MORROW Equal Rights?" 16 pp., $.35. In Crisis Includes "The Civil War in Spain" Action vs. 272 pp., $10, paper $2.95 Capitalism in Crisis cuts through the Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 mystique that surrounds the West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014. government's economic policies. Seniority ) Roberts explains why the The Spanish government has been unable to Just off the press. An anthology, with control inflation, and shows the articles by Linda Jenness, Herbert forces behind the international Hill, Willie Mae Reid, Frank Lovell, ClasSified economic crisis. 128 pp., cloth $6, and Sue Em Davenport. Reualutian The 1976 Big Red Diary, published in England, By LEON TROTSKY' paper $1.95. 30 pp. $.50. records dates and events in the history of women 416 pp., $10, paper $3.95 internationally and provides a survey of the status, Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 rights. and demands of women in Britain today. $2.00. Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014. West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014 West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014. York. N.Y. 10014. New from Pathfinder HARRIET VAN HORNE, NewYork Post: "With photostats of FBI memoranda· and other documents, the book demonstrates, beyond any doubt, that the FBI devoted its major efforts of the past 15 years to destroying legitimate American dissent and nullifying the Bill of Rights." MORTON HALPERIN, Center for National Security Studies: "The_ FBI's interference in the electoral process and its efforts to destroy the Black nationalist movement are described in chilling detail in this important book." ROBERT ALLEN, editor, The Black Scholar: "These documents prove beyond any doubt that the FBI-through Demo­ cratic and Republican administrations-has deliberately tried to destroy legitimate American organizations and nullify the Bill of Rights. These disclosures are more damning than Watergate." GLORIA STEINEM: "No one who reads COINTELPRO can ever again accept a disruptive, unproved charge-or fail to see the 'dirty tricks' of the Nixon era as relatively minor examples of a long and unconstitutional tradition." ROBERT WALL, ex-FBI agent: "Every person who values freedom should read COINTELPRO . . . to be better able to defend against future FBI attempts to suppress political dissent. Never before have such revealing FBI documents been brought to the public." FRANK DONNER, director; ACLU Project on Political Surveillance: "This collection is indispensable. . . . The descriptions in the news media are inadequate to convey the thrust and meaning of the system­ Exclusive: Documents from illegal atic attack by a political police agency on groups and individuals who *Counterintelligence Programs the have neither committed nor threatened violence." government was forced to reveal The first collection of documents in print detailing many of the illegal actions of the FBI to harass, intimidate, and victimize people in the socialist, antiwar, and Introduction by Noam Chomsky Black movements. A Monad Press Book. 192 pages, cloth $9.00, paper $1.95

Available from the bookstores listed in the Socialist Directory on the facing page ' or by mail from Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 26, 1975 27 TH£ MILITANT 200 strkers fired ' ' res • war un1ons

Jim Gotesky WASHINGTON-In a declaration of war against the printing-trades unions and a challenge to the entire labor movement, the management of the Washington Post has fired all 200 striking press _operators and stereoty­ pers and moved to replace them with permanent scabs. On December 13, the same day the Post owners announced · their "hard decision" to fire the strikers, 2,000 unionists and supporters demonstrated here in solidarity with the striking unions. Demonstrators hoisted picket signs reading, "We won't crawl back," "Break the strikebreakers," and "Peo­ ple over profits." Marching around the· shuttered and heavily. guarded Post offices, they chanted, "On strike, shut it down!" and '-'Boycott. the Post!" A rally heard declarations of support from' William Lucy, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County . and Municipal Employees~ Two thousand unionists and supporters demonstrate December 13 in solidarity with 'Post' strikers. News & Views William Simons, president of the Washington Teachers Union; Robert Peterson, head of the Greater Washing, ton Central Labor Council, Jim Cur­ and, expecting to provoke a strike, The difference, Meagher told Frank­ not a strike for manning. It is a strike tiss, head of the Building Trades began secretly training nonunion and lin, was that the Post decided to for dignity. They don't want us to have Council; representatives of the Service executive personnel to take the places eliminate union working conditions any!" Employees International Union and of strikers. "over a short period of time rather the Hotel and Restaurant Workers; and It is also clear that the union-busting . than an extended time" as at the other Role of Newspaper Guild local and national leaders of the conspiracy extends far beyond the papers. All newspaper unions, including the ·printing-trades unions. Washington Post. The Post executives Meagher emphasized that if the Post Newspaper Guild, which represents A message of solidarity was also were sent to a special scab training succeeds in getting rid of a "maverick, reporters and other white-collar work- read from Cesar Chavez, president of school in Oklahoma set up by an ~ntransigent" union, it would have . ers, have ple4ged full support to the the United Farm Workers. antiunion publishers' association. "major implications in .other big city press operators' strike. The Post unit of After a long interview with Meagher, newspaper negotiations as time goes the Baltimore-Washington Newspaper Antiunion conspiracy New York Times labor writer Ben on." Guild, however, has voted by a narrow -Post management's latest move Franklin pointedly observed that craft To set the stage for firing the majority to scab on the other workers. confirms what union leaders have unions had· been ousted "already at strikers, the Post on December 4 made Along with executives and imported charged since the stnke began October other papers in Miami, Dallas, Kansas a "final offer" to press operators Local scabs, some guild members are playing 1: The Post owners are out to destroy City, Mo., Los Angeles and New 6, International Printing and Graphic a crucial role in enabling the Post to the printing-trades unions, which pose Haven, among others." Communications Union. publish despite the strike. an obstacle to their plans to speed up In return for slight wage increases On December 15, the Post unit met to production, eliminate jobs, and ra1se over a three-year period, the Post discuss Graham's latest moves. The profi,ts. demanded elimination of current over­ meeting was called at the urging of Mark Meagher, executive vice­ time provisions, a staffing reduction of guild members who support the strike president ar general manager of the 45 percent, abolition of virtually all .and who argue that the methods used Post, said that firing the press opera­ union control over pressroom opera­ against the press operators will surely tors was "a good, healthy conclusion" tions, and freedom to bring in nonun- be used, sooner or later, to reduce the to the walkout. It is also intended to ion labor. . guild to impotence as well. blackmail all the craft unions now This offer, which Graham termed A rank-and-file strike support com­ honoring the strike into returning to "all we have to give," was rejected by mittee has been formed that writes and work. "I just can't imagine these the press operators in a vote of 249 to circulates a newsletter to guild mem­ unions letting the number of jobs we 5. The Post responded by purchasing a bers still working inside. have here just go down the tubes," full-page ad in the Washington Star After a stormy four-hour debate, a Meagher said. voicing the threat to replace the resolution to support the strike, pro­ While continuing to hypocritically strikers permanently. posed by eighteen reporters, was de, insist .that "we are a union paper," Speaking at the December 13 rally, feated in a vote of 361 to 219. The vote Post owner Katherine Graham has Local 6 President James Dugan ex­ represented a defection of 15 former organized for an antilabor war. Indi­ plained that he and leaders of the strike supporters to the side of the Post cative of the siege mentality at this other striking unions had offered to sit owners. "union paper," scabs are being landed down with Mayor Walter Washington Guild members told the Militant that by helicopter on the roof and then or the city council to open areas of it is mainly the higher-paid writers housed in makeshift dormitories inside discussion. Graham, however, flatly who are scabbing, while lower-paid to insulate them from any contact with refused to meet with the strikers. clerical and commercial employees are picket lines.. Dugan was cheered by the crowd backing the strike. The scabbing guild Meagher has admitted that two when he said the Post's real aims members h~iVe seized upon Graham's years ago the Post decided-to take the should now be clear to all. The strike is charge of "violence" on the part of the offensive against union work practices "not a strike for money," he said. "It is .Continued on 26

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