• COLUMBIA delegación • VIETNAM y guerra popular 16 WW GERRY PHOTO: SCOPPETTUOLO

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 57, No. 18 May 7, 2015 $1 Boston’s March of the Homeless, April 24. 5 BALTIMORE YOUTH REBEL ‘All night, all day, we will fight for Freddie Grey’

As of the evening of April 27, hundreds of Black youth rebelled against the police in west and east Baltimore PHOTO: RICHARD REILLY following the funeral of Freddie Grey. Over 250 were arrested. The Maryland governor has called in the national guard and declared a five-day curfew from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. starting April 28. Go to workers.org for updates.

By Baltimore WW Bureau April 27 — Since the horrific death of Freddie Carlos Grey, who appears to have been tortured by the police, the community here has been protesting practically ­every day. Videos of Freddie Grey’s encounter with the police on April 12 show him screaming in agony while being dragged to a police wagon. He appears to be injured and in terrible pain. His head is tilted and legs bent. What is also known is that while police drove him around and stopped to shackle his legs, he received no medical at- tention during this time. WW PHOTO: COLLEEN DAVIDSON When he finally arrived at the hospital, Grey was un- responsive. His family reports that his voice box was Eyewitness report: shattered, he suffered massive fractures to three verte- brae and his spinal cord was almost completely severed. Freddie Grey clung to life for seven days before he died on April 19. Liberators, Since then the community has continued to demon- strate. On April 20 at 9 a.m., the Greater Baltimore chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Confer- not looters ence and the Baltimore People’s Power Assembly held a press conference at City Hall at the request of fami- By Lamont Lilly ly members, calling for the indictment, conviction and Baltimore jailing of the six police who killed their son. Youth demand justice for Freddie Grey in Baltimore, April 21. That evening, protests continued at the Western Dis- April 27 — We could smell the teargas a mile away. trict police station, whose headquarters sits in the mid- Thick clouds of burning smoke spread citywide. The people. While Freddie Grey (aka Gray) was laid to rest dle of the neighborhood where Freddie Grey was accost- police, the tanks, the helicopters, all present and fully today, these are the images that remain. ed by police. armored. From the moment I stepped off the train, I For those who aren’t poor or never have been, to- In the evening of April 21, 3,000 people gathered at could feel resistance in the air. At approximately 5 p.m., night is April 27, the end of the month, which for many Presbury and N. Mount streets and then marched to the it was straight from the station to the streets, live. people means that food stamps and Electronic Bene- Western District. This outpouring captured the atten- When you take your time and walk by foot, the in- fit Transfers have run out. At least tonight, poor folks tion of the world. Many of Grey’s friends and neighbor- tense degree of poverty completely paralyzes you. It can eat well. Thankfully, the rice and pork chops were hood acquaintances, who have borne the brunt of police shocked me, and I’m from the hood. The absurd num- sponsored by the people, their courage and the Balti- abuse, harassment, shakedowns and physical brutality, ber of boarded homes is astounding. The makeshift more Rebellion. were in the crowd. Many of these youth as well as older neighborhoods, comprised of trash, forgotten debris For those who were glued to the corporate media — community residents felt they could express their anger and the countless number of dilapidated buildings, are CNN, FOX News and CBS — you were unfortunately and frustration. The chant “All night, all day, we will fight an absolute travesty in this, the richest country on the force-fed a slew of lies, stereotypes and propped up for Freddie Grey” has become the protesters’ anthem. planet. images — a ruling-class narrative that intentionally By April 22, police began to barricade the streets The lack of grocery stores, playgrounds and recre- did not capture the spirit of strength, unity, resistance around the Western District in an attempt to prevent ation facilities is apparent. The community’s once be- and perseverance of those in rebellion. protests at the police station. When residents and sup- loved primary school was closed last year. The wasting Truth is, we didn’t see any hoodlums and thugs to- porters could not get in front of the station, they decided away of Black bodies, good people and buried hope. to take the protest downtown. Young people poured into The emphasis on protecting property over suffering Continued on page 10 the streets and blocked major intersections, including Martin Luther King Boulevard. On April 23, the Rev. C.D. Witherspoon, president of the Baltimore SCLC and a member of the People’s Pow- er Assembly, announced to the media that these groups FIGHT POLICE TERROR were launching an independent people’s investigation into the details of Freddie Grey’s death. Terence Jones, FIST youth: Taser deaths of people a national civil rights investigator, joined the press confer- Continued on page 8 Justice for Freddie Grey 8 with disabilities 12 Subscribe to Workers World Counter police Cop charged for n 4 weeks trial $4 n 1 year subscription $30 with resistance 9 near-lynching 9 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/ Hospital care for Mumia! 3 Baltimore & Gaza editorial 14 Name ______

Email ______Phone______One year after Odessa Pentagon threats on Iran 13 massacre 11 Street ______Migrant drownings & Nepal needs real solidarity 14 City / State / Zip ______capitalism 15 Workers World 212-627-2994 Sam Marcy: ‘Marxism & 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org Colombia peace talks 6 insurrection’ 12 Page 2 May 7, 2015 workers.org

 In the U.S. Baltimore youth rebel ...... 1 Eyewitness report: Liberators, not looters ...... 1 May 8-10 convergence: Unite against wars ...... 2 Demand Mumia’s release to a hospital! ...... 3 Lopez family exposes terrorist police ...... 3 Indiana: Feticide sentencing denounced as racist . . . . 4 Meetings honor Leslie Feinberg ...... 4 MAY 8-10 CONVERGENCE: Philadelphia: Justice for Rekia Boyd ...... 4 How Detroit school crisis unfolded ...... 5 Syracuse student-workers organize ...... 5 Unite against wars at home, abroad Boston’s homeless lead march ...... 5 Venezuelan representative speaks...... 6 By Sara Flounders able on YouTube, with assistance from GoProRadio and Wisconsin: Forging real union solidarity ...... 7 CPRmetro radio, along with numerous alternative news, Morgantown, W.Va. Activists for unity here, worldwide . 7 The present national upsurge against racist police vi- social media and video activists. Baltimore FIST says: ‘Justice for Freddy Grey!’ ...... 8 olence needs the support of every progressive political A youth flyer designed for the conference makes the Mass resistance the answer to police attacks ...... 9 movement in the U.S. connection between the U.S. ranking 57th on a world Every gathering, whatever else is on the agenda, needs scale in government expenditures for education and first Cop charged for autoworker’s near-lynching ...... 9 to refocus attention on the millions of youth who have he- in military spending. Solidarity actions for Bangladesh workers ...... 10 roically taken to the streets again and again in shutdowns Two formerly imprisoned members of the Cuban 5 plan Police use tasers to kill disabled, people of color . . . . 12 and standoffs against police killings of Black and Brown to Skype in from Havana. Pam Africa will give an update Los Angeles to Baltimore: ’Marxism and insurrection’ . . 12 youth. Protesters have consistently gone up against mas- on Mumia Abu-Jamal’s grave health crisis. Lamis Deek of  Around the world sive police offensives. This is a challenge that cannot be Al-Awda NY and Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian author of Delegation: Peace process vital to Colombian people . . 6 ignored or postponed. “Mornings in Jenin,” are scheduled to speak. The approach of the United National Antiwar Coa- Ajamu Baraka, Joe Iosbaker, Cynthia McKinney, Ram- Latin America beats back U.S. imperialism at summits . 6 lition’s conference, titled “Stop the War at Home and sey Clark, Medea Benjamin, Glen Ford, Ray McGovern, A year after massacre: Odessa resists fascist occupation 11 Abroad,” is an example of the kind of solidarity that is Imam Malik Mujahid, Anne Wright, Kathy Kelly and Lugansk: Left forces unite at conference ...... 11 needed. The national conference, to be held in Secaucus three guests from Ukraine (coming with a display show- Pentagon threatens Iran, aggression against Yemen . . 13 N.J., just 20 minutes from New York City’s Times Square, ing the burning of the House of Labor in Odessa one year Iran calls for ceasefire in Yemen ...... 13 is seen as an opportunity to put the anti-war movement ago) will also participate. Solidarity needed as earthquake devastates Nepal . . . 14 on a different footing. BAYAN Philippine activists, Syrian-American activ- Eduardo Galeano: ‘Open Veins’ laid bare mperialism . . 14 Every panel in the weekend conference is designed to ists and Latin American activists are working on shaping EU, U.S. to blame for migrant crisis in Mediterranean . . 15 link struggles and connect international movements to workshops and panels.  Editorial resistance in the U.S. fighting racist repression and mass A Saturday afternoon panel focusing on the cost of Gaza & Baltimore ...... 14 incarceration. The overwhelming police presence in full- endless war and deepening austerity will include Sha- body armor, equipped with tanks, drones, stun guns and feah M’Balia, Black Workers for Justice in North Caro-  Noticias en Español sound cannons, is the clearest example that the many lina; Lawrence Hamm, chair of Peoples Organization for Colombia: Delegación investigadora ...... 16 U.S. wars abroad do come home to U.S. cities. Progress; and Clarence Thomas from the Oakland Inter- Vietnam y guerra popular ...... 16 Over 500 activists are expected to participate at the national Longshore Workers Union local that has sched- national weekend conference, which begins on May 8 uled a port shutdown and mass union meeting on May Workers World at 6 p.m. and closes on May 10 at 3 p.m. The national Day against police violence. 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. gathering will be live streamed and panels will be avail- Continued on page 3 New York, N.Y. 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 57, No. 18 • May 7, 2015 Closing date: April 28, 2015 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, means of production. women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 56 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2014 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly National Office Bay Area Cleveland Houston Pittsburgh except the first week of January by WW Publishers, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. 1305 Franklin St. #411 P.O. Box 5963 P.O. 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[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 3 As his condition worsens

Mumia Abu-­Jamal Demand Mumia’s on April 24. Photo taken during visit by his spouse, release to a hospital! Wadiya Jamal.

By Betsey Piette

Political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal’s health crisis is You are further urged to call local grave, and people everywhere news sources in your area that would are being asked to take imme- report on this crisis and to share this diate action to demand that the concern with your contact lists and via Pennsylvania Department of any social media you use. Corrections stop their attempt to murder him through medical On Twitter use the hashtag neglect. Key demands are that #MumiaMustLive. he immediately be released to a Every call matters. Every action hospital for emergency care and ­matters. Speak out now before it’s too that he be given compassionate late! Call and send messages to: release to be with his family. On April 24, Abu-Jamal was 1) John Wetzel, Secretary of the De- visited by his spouse, Wadiya partment of Corrections Jamal, who reported that his Email: [email protected] condition had worsened. She Phone: 717-728-4109 saw him again on April 25 and Fax: 717-728-4178 raised the alarm that he ap- Mail: 1920 Technology Pkwy., peared even more gravely ill. ­Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 On March 30, Abu-Jamal was Brooklyn, N.Y., April 25. WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN 2) John Kerestes, Superintendent SCI taken from the prison infirma- Mahanoy pervision, too weak to be able to ask for who in February put a moratorium on the ry at SCI Mahanoy in Frackville, Pa., to a Phone: 570-773-2158 x8102 • help and at risk of losing consciousness. death penalty. Abu-Jamal’s prison num- nearby hospital emergency room in Potts- Fax: 570-783-2008 This is what happened before when ber is AM 8335. The situation is urgent. ville, Pa., in diabetic shock from a blood Mail: 301 Morea Road, he was rushed to the hospital in March. Demand that prison officials call sugar level of 779. Since his return to the Frackville, PA 17932 prison infirmary on April 2, he continues At that time, another prisoner, Major Mumia’s spouse and his lawyer Bret to suffer from a diabetic condition that has George Tillery, complained to the guards Grote to discuss his condition. Demand 3) Tom Wolf, Pa. Governor not been properly treated and complica- that Mumia needed immediate medi- that Abu-Jamal be seen by a competent Phone: 717-787-2500 tions from severe eczema that have been cal attention. In retaliation, the prison doctor immediately and that he be taken Email: [email protected] mistreated. moved Tillery to another unit. to a hospital with emergency doctors ca- Mail: 508 Main Capitol Building, There is an additional concern that Wadiya Jamal reported that Mumia pable of providing proper treatment. ­Harrisburg, PA 17120 the infirmary is giving him the drug cy- has severe swelling in his neck, chest and closporine for his skin condition even legs. His skin rash is worse than ever with though this drug has many known and open sores. No longer in a wheelchair, he serious side effects and may interact with can only take baby steps. He was nodding diabetes medication. off during the visits with his spouse and Lopez family exposes On April 21, Abu-Jamal was released unable to feed himself. These are symp- from the prison infirmary even though he toms that could be associated with hyper was in no condition to be in general pop- glucose levels, diabetic shock, diabetic terrorist police ulation. His request to be seen by inde- coma, and with kidney stress and failure. pendent medical specialists was denied Everyone is urged to call the prison, by the PA Department of Corrections. He officials with the Department of Correc- remains in need of 24-hour care and su- tions and Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf,

Unite against war at home, abroad

Continued from page 2 ing support for ending U.S. aid to Israel The Saturday evening panel featuring was a central decision. testimony on the militarization of the In the past five years, as U.S. wars and police will connect racist police violence destabilization efforts in Libya, Syria, and systemic racism to expanding wars Ukraine and Venezuela have left some abroad. Testimony will include three forces of the anti-war movement silent speakers from the Ferguson resistance: and disoriented, UNAC has issued bold Banner with portrait of Amilcar Lopez, April 24 Dhoruba Toure Shakur of Tribe X; Mi- state­ments and held coordinated actions chael McPhearson, co-chair of the Don’t demanding “U.S.Hands Off!” as the only Lawyers representing the Guatema- at you with a knife held high doesn’t get Shoot Coalition; and Osagyefo Uhuru viable solution for peace. In the first days lan family of Amilcar Pérez López held shot in the back of the head,” said lawyer Sekou, minister, author and activist; of the Ferguson uprising, UNAC again a press conference in San Francisco on Arnoldo Casillas. “How is Chief Suhr go- along with Larry Holmes of the Peoples stepped forward with clear statements of April 24, announcing they had filed a ing to explain this?” Power Assembly and Michelle Kamal, support for the Black Lives Matter move- federal lawsuit charging the young immi- López was killed by undercover offi- whose son, Abdul Kamal, was fatally ment. grant “was wrongfully, unconstitutional- cers Craig Tiffe and Eric Reboli on Feb. gunned down by police in Irvington N.J. The UNAC conference will be an op- ly and illegally killed.” His parents, who 26. SFPD Chief Greg Suhr had claimed Local activists in the Peoples Orga- portunity to meet and network with ac- have been unable to come to the U.S., that Amilcar had attempted to steal an- nization for Progress in Newark are tivists from across the country and to Skyped in to the press conference. other man’s bicycle, but that when the En- mobilizing for the conference as part of learn about the many struggles going on Later that day, several hundred people glish-speaking officers approached him, building for a major “Peoples March for today. rallied in front of the home where López Amilcar raised a knife over his head and Justice” in Newark on July 25. Many oth- Most conferences cost hundreds of was killed. The Danzantes conducted a charged the officers, forcing them to fire. er action proposals are scheduled. Skills dollars to attend, but UNAC organizers ritual dance and later led a march through The 21-year-old had come to the U.S. to workshops in social media and culture are doing their best to keep their event the Mission District to the Mission Police raise money to support his family in Gua- and music are part of the weekend plans. extremely affordable for young activists Station. There, diagrams from an inde- temala and was working full time doing The United National Antiwar Coalition and working people. pendent autopsy were displayed, showing construction. He spoke an Indigenous lan- is an umbrella organization of thousands Arrangements to stay at the hotel or that, counter to SFPD statements, López guage, with no English, and some Spanish. of progressive, individual activists, and to reserve meals can be made directly was shot with one bullet in the back of his The parents of Alex Nieto, also killed anti-war, social justice, immigration and with the Clarion hotel at a special confer- head, four bullets in his back, and a bul- by the SFPD, joined the vigil and march anti-racism groups. The coalition was ence rate. Registration and information let in his arm, clearly indicating he was as well. Nieto was killed in nearby Bernal formed in 2010 at a conference of 800 ac- on panels and workshops is available at running away and not threatening the of- Heights in 2014. tivists in Albany, N.Y., where overwhelm- ­UNACconference2015.org. ficers who shot him. “Someone charging — Story and photo by Terri Kay Page 4 May 7, 2015 workers.org INDIANA Feticide sentencing denounced as racist

By Sue Davis South Asian-American physician and options and a greatly reduced time frame from including an anti-abortion provision writer Sayantani Dasgupta observed, to get the care they need.” that would have expanded the role of the For the first time in the United States, “The fact that Patel is of Indian origin, a Arkansas and Idaho banned use of Hyde amendment (which blocks federal on March 30 a woman was convicted and brown woman in the heart of the Amer- “telemedicine” for prescribing early med- funding for abortions for poor women), ordered to spend 20 years of a 41-year ican Midwest, a South Asian face in the ication abortions (such bans exist in 15 the Senate passed the bill without such sentence in prison for child neglect — and era of post 9-11 racial profiling, is in fact states), while West Virginia banned abor- language on April 22. Now, the survivors’ feticide! The charges against Purvi Pa- critically important in this narrative of tions 20 weeks after fertilization without compensation fund has two separate tel, a 33-year-old woman of South Asian criminalized reproduction.” She cited the exceptions for rape and incest. In mid- pools of money: funds from criminal fines descent, were clearly contradictory, but Patel and Shuai cases as being driven by April, Kansas and Oklahoma took the will provide survivors with nonmedical that did not stop prosecutors from using the religious right’s critical views of India 20-week ban even further by passing a services, while only federal funds appro- “junk science” to win their case. and China in their global evangelical cru- law which prohibits use of the dilation priated originally for community health This is the first time a feticide law — sades against abortion. (Salon, April 26) and evacuation (D&E) procedure for centers must adhere to the Hyde Amend- on the books in 35 states — was used to While calling this case “a clarion call” for abortions after 20 weeks postfertiliza- ment. Though this is not a victory, it is a criminalize abortion. (For background, women’s reproductive freedom, Dasgupta tion. Missouri and South Carolina are setback for anti-abortion forces. see “Indiana woman criminalized after stated: “This case simultaneously reveals considering similar laws, as is Congress. A hearing was held April 15 on a Cali- miscarriage,” workers.org, Feb. 19) right-wing racist and xenophobic politics. A major problem, as noted by progres- fornia bill to regulate anti-choice “crisis “Purvi Patel is an amazing example There is an organized backlash to abortion sive critics, is that such laws are not based pregnancy centers.” The Reproductive … [that] women’s pregnancies are now rights happening in this country, married on medical or scientific terms and meth- Freedom, Accountability, Comprehen- becoming the subject of policing, prose- to an anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, apoc- ods, and they interfere with the practice sive Care and Transparency (FACT) Act cution and severe sentences in an age of alyptic fervor that holds fetal ‘citizens’ far of medicine and the doctor-patient rela- would require all licensed facilities in mass incarceration,” Lynn M. Paltrow, more dear than female ones.” tionship. The D&E procedure is one of the state that “provide family planning executive director of National Advocates the safest methods for second trimester and pregnancy-related services to inform for Pregnant Women, told Democracy Laws curtail abortion rights abortions, which only account for about 8 patients about available assistance for af- Now! on April 2. The organization sup- Attacks on women’s health clinics ac- percent of all U.S. abortions. These bans fordable contraception, abortion and pre- ports Patel’s appeal. celerated in the first three months of discount that fetal testing results are of- natal care, including how to obtain that This is the second time Indiana has 2015. The only clinic in Mississippi was ten not known until late in the second tri- assistance.” prosecuted a woman of color under its vandalized on March 22. mester, when families are forced to make An amendment to Illinois’ Health Care feticide law. Chinese migrant Bei-Bei The Guttmacher Institute reported heartbreaking decisions about ending a Right of Conscience Act, which would Shuai was arrested in March 2011 after April 2 that state legislators have pro- wanted pregnancy. The struggle on this have the same effect as the California bill, a failed suicide attempt led to ending her posed 332 laws to restrict access to abor- issue has just begun. was introduced April 21. It mandates that pregnancy. After spending 435 days in tion services in 43 states. Of 53 approved, all health care providers at 46 community jail, she eventually accepted a plea deal only nine have been enacted. These laws A few pro-reproductive justice measures health centers in Illinois must advise cli- for “criminal recklessness” and was re- curb access in both early and later months After a huge social media campaign ents on the benefits of abortion and make leased in 2013. of pregnancy, “leaving women with fewer to stop the federal human trafficking bill referrals for abortion services. Meetings honor Leslie Feinberg

By John Parker and Kris Hamel LOS ANGELES Events in Los Angeles and Detroit paid tribute to revolutionary communist, re- nowned author and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer liberation leader Leslie Feinberg, who died last November. At the LGBT Center in Los Angeles, Jefferson Azevedo Workers World Party hosted a memorial honoring Leslie Feinberg in on April 12 for Feinberg. The event was Los Angeles. chaired by Judy Greenspan of the Oak- land, Calif., branch of WWP, who talk- WW PHOTOS ed about Feinberg standing up for and Matter, Patrisse Marie Cullors-Brignac, in helping the Party understand the spe- chaired by Tachae Davis of the Detroit getting arrested demanding freedom for who sent the following message: “Les- cial oppression of the trans community. FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Togeth- CeCe McDonald, a young African-Amer- lie had a deep impact on my childhood. Los Angeles WWP members recounted er) revolutionary youth group and WWP, ican trans woman in Minneapolis who I went to see [her/hir] speak multiple Feinberg's contributions to WW news- featured video clips from two of Fein- was jailed for fighting back against racist, times and we shared really lovely space paper in covering prisoner struggles, au- berg’s powerful speeches, one to a les- anti-trans attackers in 2011. together.” thoring the “Lavender & Red” historical bian organization in occupied Palestine In building for the event, organizers Bob McCubbin, a member of San Diego series available at workers.org and as a in 2007, and one at a rally for political got very positive responses from those WWP and author of “The Roots of Lesbian managing editor of the paper. prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal held in New touched deeply by Feinberg's work, in- and Gay Oppression — A Marxist View,” Feinberg’s anti-racist activism during York’s Madison Square Garden in 2000. cluding one of the founders of Black Lives cited Feinberg's tremendous contributions a Boston Pride march and the 1974 Bos- WWP members Abayomi Azikiwe, Da- ton March Against Racism were exam- vid Sole, Martha Grevatt, Kris Hamel and ples given of how Feinberg helped unify Susan Schnur paid tribute to Feinberg and PHILADELPHIA and strengthen the working class. Gloria shared stories and political insights into Verdieu of San Diego WWP introduced her/hir contributions to understanding a powerful clip of Feinberg's speech at lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Justice for Rekia Boyd Madison Square Garden at the Millions queer history and oppression under class for Mumia rally. society. “She was a true worker-scholar,” In response to the outrageous Chicago A delegation from the said Grevatt, “who, with meticulous at- court decision exonerating the police in Freedom Socialist Party tention to detail, searched far and wide the killing of unarmed, 22-year-old Rekia in Los Angeles paid trib- for evidence of transgender people in hu- Boyd, shot in the back of the head by Chi- ute to Feinberg. Yuisa man history. The facts proved the theory: cago police Officer Dante Servin, angry Gimeno from the Peo- that trans people, like women, were held Philadelphia protesters on April 20 shut ple of Color Caucus and in high esteem through most of human down rush-hour, Market Street traffic Muffy Sunde, both les- existence.” outside the 30th Street train station. Po- bians, spoke about the Feinberg’s ability to skillfully forge lice attacked the demonstrators’ right to contributions that Les- links among the most oppressed sectors free speech, arresting Alkebu-Lan Mar- lie made to the move- of the working class; hir dedication to the cus. Protesters followed up by march- ment for lesbian, gay, bi- fight against racism and national oppres- ing in the streets to the 16th Precinct at sexual, transgender and sion; hir internationalist solidarity, en- 39th and Lancaster, and then to the 18th queer equality and the gaging political warmth and fierce war- Precinct at 55th and Pine, where Marcus fight for socialism. rior presence were described with love was released. He has been charged with WWP in Detroit host- and fond remembrance by hir comrades, disorderly conduct and three other mis- ed a public meeting who vowed to continue to hold high Fein- demeanors. on April 25 honoring berg’s banner of struggle for the socialist — Report and photo by Joe Piette Feinberg. The program, liberation of all humanity. workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 5 How Detroit school crisis unfolded

By Elena Herrada as CEO. He began predicting the de- As Bobb readied for the position, he and money financed by Detroit taxpayers. Detroit cline of DPS, eventually stating that DPS Granholm promised the elected school In December 2009, Granholm signed would shrink to 65,000 students. When board that they would abide by the shared legislation as part of a grant application I am a member of the Detroit School Burnley began, DPS enrollment was power arrangement called for in PA 72. for “Race to the Top” federal funding that Board in Exile. We call ourselves “ex- 162,692 students. In March 2009, Bobb assumed the would consolidate Michigan schools with iles” because we do not accept emergen- Democrat Jennifer Granholm became EFM position and told the Board that the lowest 5 percent of MEAP [Michigan cy management. I was elected and have governor in January 2003. In April 2004, he controlled “everything that a pen- Educational Assessment Program] scores been on the Board since 2010. During this Burnley announced a projected deficit of ny touches,” which meant everything at into one statewide district. State Superin- time, we have been stripped of power and $200 million for the fiscal year ending DPS. The Board president stated publicly tendent Michael Flanagan said then that authority. We have seen the state destroy June 30. This was used as a basis for that Granholm had lied to them about the schools from northern and mid-Michi- public education and hand off real estate closing a large number of schools and shared power arrangement and began to gan would be in the district. He received to cronies of the governor and the mayor. firing several thousand staff members. plan a legal challenge. funding to begin to staff the department Although the emergency manager law Burney had kept the fiscal crisis secret Two months after his arrival, Bobb an- shortly thereafter. (Public Act 4) was repealed, we were sad- until more moderate measures could not nounced a plan, with Granholm’s sanc- In 2010, Bobb was given a second year dled with another emergency manager be employed. Burnley and Granholm ar- tion, to seek approval from voters for a contract by Granholm with $505,000 in law — PA 436, which cannot be repealed. ranged a $210 million, 15-year loan with $500 million bond program to build new total compensation, including from pri- All Black cities in Michigan are under a 50 percent finance charge as part of the schools, even as he planned for large- vate money sources that were also financ- “emergency management,” which strips repayment schedule. scale school closings. It was adopted in ing the Excellent Schools Detroit. Most locally elected officials of authority. The In November 2004, a mandated ref- November balloting. private funding sources for Bobb’s pay State privatizes many of the services and erendum asked whether Detroit voters were kept secret through most of 2010. contractors pocket the profits. wanted mayoral control of the schools or Privatization begins in earnest In 2009 and 2010, Bobb continued the Detroit, once a strong union city, is a directly elected school board. By a 2-1 Bobb and Granholm partnered with large-scale school closings while building now under a “write in” white mayor who margin, voters chose an elected board, the Skillman Foundation and other new school buildings. did not even live here long enough to be despite being outspent 20-1 in the cam- groups to promote “Excellent Schools In January 2011, Republican business- on the ballot. He was given millions for paign by pro-mayor forces, whose fund- Detroit,” a plan to create a private school man Rick Snyder was sworn in as the his campaign by Dan Gilbert, of Quicken raising effort was led by the Greater network to replace the DPS system, espe- new governor. PA 4 was signed into law Loans, and millions from corporations. Detroit Chamber of Commerce and sup- cially at the high school level. The ESD on March 16, superseding PA 72. Detroit is among the poorest cities in ported by Gov. Granholm. stated in its plan its intention to acquire In May 2011, Snyder replaced Robert the country. The City Council has been By 2006, enrollment dropped to buildings being built with the 2009 bond Continued on page 10 complicit in the giveaways and has re- 118,394, a loss of 44,299, or over a quar- ceived three pay increases in two years, ter of the enrollment from the beginning despite the fact that the city was put into of the Burnley regime. federal bankruptcy by Jones Day, the Syracuse student-workers bankruptcy law firm that took us over. ‘Financial emergency’ declared at DPS Here is a chronology of what happened From 2000 through 2005, Burnley to Detroit Public Schools under state and Govs. Engler and Granholm planned organize takeover: and spent over $1 billion in bond con- struction funds at highly inflated prices Abolishing the elected school board for new buildings. In 2006, the elected In 1999, Republican Gov. John Engler school board was sworn in. signed PA 10 into law, abolishing Detroit’s In December 2008, Granholm invoked elected school board and replacing it with PA 72 of 1990 to declare a financial emer- a board appointed by Detroit Mayor Den- gency at DPS because the elected board nis Archer and the governor, which had had not erased the deficit created by no operational power but to hire a CEO. Burnley and Granholm when the district At this time, DPS had a $93-million was under their control. surplus, rising enrollment and improv- In January 2009, Granholm an- ing test scores. Observers believe that the nounced the appointment of Robert Bobb purpose of the takeover was to control the as the emergency financial manager of Student organizers and teach- bond program, which still had $1.2 billion DPS, after meeting with billionaire Eli ers Vani Kannan (left), Yanira in 1999. A lawsuit and protests followed. Broad, a Bobb supporter, at the presiden- Rodriguez get ready to march. In 2000, Kenneth Burnley was hired tial inauguration.

PHOTO: THE GENERAL BODY Boston homeless Student organizing against Syracuse held the street, shouting: “What do we University austerity cutbacks is accelerat- want? Health care! If we don’t get it? Shut ing. On April 9, SU student-workers held it down!” a rally and march to protest recent SU ad- The rally continues the student-fac- lead march ministration changes to their health care ulty-staff coalition formed in fall 2014 benefits. The changes would raise costs as during an 18-day sit-in by students in the By Gerry Scoppettuolo right, we have just begun to fight!” Jewel much as $1,500 a year for some graduate SU administration building. That mo- Crutchfield, a homeless African-Ameri- teaching and research assistants. bilization, coordinated by THE General Boston’s organized homeless people can woman, heard the chants and rolled Three international graduate student Body, was a “united front of 50 student continued their fightback against op- herself in her wheelchair out of the St. teachers who are also single mothers organizations.” pressive conditions in city shelters by Francis Shelter. She addressed the crowd: spoke of struggles over low wages that do On April 7, TGB held a press confer- mounting an unprecedented March of “I lost my housing when rent control was not compensate for hours of out-of-class- ence to stress the gains won from the the Homeless on April 23. The march repealed 14 years ago and have been room work such as grading, preparation sit-in, including SU’s divestment from through city streets culminated in a unit- homeless ever since, mostly sleeping on or student conferences. The women noted direct fossil fuel investment. Speakers ed rally with the immigrant community the streets. This struggle is not just about the school does not provide child care for also stressed that the SU administration at the Massachusetts State House. me. It’s about all of us.” student teaching assistants. needed to “divest from corporate ideol- The march and rally continued the on- Along the way, organizers Cherai Mills, The night before the rally, the Grad- ogy,” and criticized the lack of concrete going resistance to Boston’s Long Island Cleve Rae and Jesse Maxwell — all cur- uate Student Organization passed a steps to support programs against racism shelter disaster of Oct. 8, when the city’s rently homeless — made stirring speech- resolution to explore unionization with on campus, to end sexual assault and re- largest shelter was suddenly closed. With es at each shelter the march passed. only one “no” vote. At the rally, a mem- lationship violence, and to provide ser- just four hours’ notice, 750 homeless When marchers arrived at the State ber of the Labor Studies Working Group vices for students with disabilities. residents, 300 of whom were residing in House steps, they united with a rally stressed: “[graduate assistants], [teach- One student spoke eloquently of mental long- and short-term recovery programs, called by the Massachusetts Immigrant ing assistants] and [research assistants] health as a disability issue linked to op- were ousted from the shelter. and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. MIRA are fundamentally employees of the Uni- pression, describing the exhaustion from Marchers walked a three-mile route was demonstrating against a proposed versity who deserve rights.” When he constantly “mentally fighting” against past major city shelters — Rosie’s Place, state law that would bar all so-called added that the “best way to claim those racism, sexism, homophobia, transpho- Woods-Mullen, Pine Street Inn, Bridge undocumented people from applying for rights is to unionize,” the crowd respond- bia and ableism in “lab rooms, class- Over Troubled Waters and St. Francis — public housing. ed with vociferous applause. rooms, dorm rooms, bathrooms, at bus picking up homeless people along the way The March of the Homeless was orga- Rally-goers then marched through stops.” Rebecca Fuentes, of the Workers and from the streets. The march followed nized by the Boston Homeless Solidarity the Student Union, passing under a “SU Center of Central New York, represented weeks of intensive outreach by the Bos- Committee with support from the Mass Wellness Week” publicity banner as the low-wage worker struggle throughout ton Homeless Solidarity Committee, an Alliance of HUD Tenants, the Women’s they chanted “Poverty wages have got the U.S. and said to the students, “We are organization of the homeless and their Fightback Network, the National People’s to go!” They continued to the Student standing with you!” supporters. Power Assembly, Boston University med- Health Center, where the crowd briefly Story by Minnie Bruce Pratt Chants included “Housing is a human ical students and many others. Page 6 May 7, 2015 workers.org Delegation from U.S. learns Peace process vital to Colombian people

By Berta Joubert-Ceci bia. There is a confidentiality clause that from Colombia to Cuba to ­testify. forbids anyone participating actively as a Bilateral ceasefire, a necessary demand The peace process unfolding in Colom- silent witness in the talks, from disclos- bia through talks being held in Havana, ing sensitive information. Nevertheless, As stated above, reactionary forces Cuba, between the Revolutionary Armed the delegation was able to get a clearer within Colombia want to suspend the Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) and the picture of its progress through meetings talks and work actively to pursue this Colombian government is crucial to the with the FARC peace delegation and aim. Among them are big landowners stability of the region. Any attempt to de- FARC legal advisers, a Colombian gov- and paramilitaries, including ex-Presi- rail, block or even to proceed in haste will ernment representative and the ambas- dent Álvaro Uribe. have negative consequences for all these sadors of Cuba and Norway, countries One example of these obstacles is what countries, not only for the more than 48 which are guarantors for the talks. happened in Cauca on April 14-15. During FARC-EP Commander Marco León Calarcá million people who inhabit Colombia. It should be stressed that even though a confrontation between FARC guerrillas with Berta Joubert-Ceci in May 2014. From April 11 through 17, thirty-two the talks are described as taking place be- and the Colombian army, eleven soldiers delegates from the United States trav- tween the government and the FARC, the and one guerrilla died. Immediately, and ing the poorest communities is a threat to elled to Cuba to support this process. reality is that the process embraces a vast without any investigation, the govern- the peace process. For this reason, the They had the unique opportunity to meet number of other civil and social organi- ment and right-wing forces accused the FARC has demanded since the beginning with several representatives of the FARC zations from Colombia that have been an FARC of breaking the indefinite, unilater- a bilateral ceasefire, which the govern- leadership. It was the first time that a active part of it. In several regions of Co- al ceasefire that the insurgent group had ment has consistently refused. The insur- U.S. delegation went to Cuba and public- lombia, the United Nations, the National declared four months earlier. However, gency has declared a unilateral ceasefire ly showed their support for these talks. University of Colombia and the Episcopal when the FARC announced this ceasefire, several times, but the government’s re- It should be remembered that the FARC, Conference have sponsored assemblies to they made it clear that they will defend sponse has been an intensification of its along with the National Liberation Army gather feedback and proposals from the themselves if attacked. aggression, causing more deaths and de- of Colombia (ELN), are still on the U.S. people. As a retaliation for what he called “an spair to the civilian population. State Department’s list of “foreign ter- The FARC also has a website where attack of the FARC” on April 15, Presi- The demand for a bilateral ceasefire is rorist organizations.” people can directly make suggestions. As dent Juan Manuel Santos announced that echoed by the Broad Front for Peace, an Cuba too, “the Country of Dignity,” a result, the proposals that the FARC sub- the army would resume the bombard- organization that investigates the FARC had been on the State Department’s list mits to the process reflect the sentiments ments of FARC encampments that had unilateral ceasefire. In its IV report, dat- of countries that sponsor terrorism until of the majority of Colombian people. been suspended for several weeks. Now, ed April 22, the Front stated that there is President Obama requested its removal. Women and the LGBT communities the region of Cauca is once again danger- “provocation and constant siege on the Yet, as of this date, Obama’s petition is still have been active participants. ous for the poor peasants and Indigenous part of the government that takes advan- pending approval from the U.S. Congress. A special aspect has been the inclusion communities who live in the area. Since tage of a militarily armed actor that has The delegates had a glimpse of the of the victims of the conflict. According to Santos’ announcement, eight Indigenous decided to not attack them while they dis- enormous challenges and difficulties of a U.N. report, the majority of victims have men have already been killed by paramil- cuss peace.” They also reported that so far this process, which has many enemies been targets of the state and paramilitar- itaries in the Cauca and Chocó regions. this year 19 human rights advocates have who want to keep war raging in Colom- ies’ violent actions. Sixty victims travelled This climate of constant war endanger- been killed.

Latin America beats back U.S. imperialism at summits PART 1

Taken from a talk given at a Workers ti-imperialists the world over. harshness of the blockade, but our pa- decree be revoked and made it clear that World Party forum on April 17 in New On April 14, it was also announced triotic convictions prevailed. Aggression Venezuela is anti-imperialist. “Obama, York City. that Obama has recommended to Con- increased resistance and accelerated the if you do not recognize our 21st century gress that Cuba be taken off the U.S. ter- revolutionary process. Now, here we are revolution you will continue to fail.” By Rebeca Toledo rorist list, a list that shouldn’t even ex- with our heads up high and our dignity U.S. imperialism got a good, old-fash- ist seeing that the real terrorists are the unblemished.” Parallel ‘People’s Summit’ ioned shellacking at the VII Summit of ones making it. Castro also defended Venezuela, called In parallel with the official summit, the Americas and the People’s Summit in Cuban President Raúl Castro’s speech for the decolonization of Puerto Rico more than 3,500 delegates from work- Panama from April 8 to 11. at the Summit showed that Cuba has its and said, “We should all multiply our as- ers’ organizations, trade unions, peasant But first, let’s look back to December eyes wide open when dealing with U.S. sistance to Haiti and support a fair and organizations, Indigenous peoples, stu- 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama’s imperialism. Castro quoted from U.S. As- deferential treatment of the Caribbean dents, women, social and popular move- announcement that the U.S. would be sistant Secretary of State Lester Mallory’s countries in their economic relations as ments throughout Latin America and the normalizing relations with Cuba after 1960 memo: “The majority of Cubans sup- well as reparations for damages brought Caribbean attended a People’s Summit in decades of trying to overthrow the rev- port Castro. An effective political opposi- on them by slavery and colonialism.” Panama. This summit’s final declaration olutionary government signaled a major tion does not exist; the only foreseeable stated its unconditional support for both setback for imperialism. Washington had means of alienating internal support [for Another U.S. offensive fails the Cuban Revolution and the Bolivarian failed and finally had to admit it. the government] is through disenchant- After Obama announced the open- Revolution in Venezuela. As Argentine President Cristina ment and disaffection based on economic ing of an accord with Cuba, he wanted The declaration demanded the decolo- Fernández said at the Summit, “[The only dissatisfaction and hardship; to weaken to make it clear to the right-wing forces nization of Puerto Rico; freedom for Oscar reason] Cuba is here, and we’re witness- the economic life of Cuba, denying it mon- within the U.S. ruling establishment that López Rivera, who has served 33 years in ing this meeting between two leaders, ey and supplies to decrease monetary and U.S. imperialism wasn’t actually going U.S. prisons for fighting for his homeland’s shaking hands and so on, is because Cuba real wages; to bring about hunger, desper- soft. In early March, he signed an execu- independence; the immediate end of the fought for more than 60 years with un- ation and overthrow of government.” tive order declaring that Venezuela posed occupation of Haiti; the return of the 43 precedented dignity.” Cuba’s presence at Castro continued: “We have endured an extraordinary threat to U.S. national students of Ayotzinapa in Mexico; and eco- the Summit was a victory for the Cuban severe hardships. Actually, 77 percent of security and ordering sanctions against nomic equality: a redistribution of wealth people and for all revolutionaries and an- the Cuban people were born under the seven Venezuelan officials. The decree and an end to poverty. It also expressed was a complete miscalculation on his solidarity with the peace process being part, as it aroused an unprecedented up- held in Cuba between the Revolutionary Venezuelan representative speaks roar of protest throughout Latin America Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) and and the world. Every single Latin Amer- the Colombian government. ican and Caribbean country denounced President Maduro and President Rafael Venezuelan Consul General Jesus Ro- the decree as heavy-handed and called Correa of Ecuador were among the speak- driguez Espinoza was a special guest for Obama to revoke it immediately. ers at the People’s Summit. Correa stated, speaker from Chicago at the April 27 Venezuela’s campaign to collect signa- “We will no longer tolerate interferences, weekly meeting of the Moratorium NOW! tures worldwide to deliver to Obama at interventions or unilateral actions, nor Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions, the Summit, resulted in 13 million sig- will we ever be anyone’s backyard.” and Utility Shutoffs and the Michigan natures, 3 million from Cuba alone. U.S. Emergency Committee Against War & Sub Secretary for Latin America Roberta History of Latin American summits Injustice in Detroit. Rodriguez discussed Jacobson said she was “disappointed that The U.S. administration of Bill Clin- the U.S. destabilization campaign there were not more countries to defend ton had initiated the “official” summits against the Bolivarian Revolution DETROIT the sanctions.” On April 9, Obama ate his as part of the Organization of American aimed at reversing the gains of words, declaring that Venezuela poses no States, with the first held in December the revolution since 1998. Rodriguez was threat to the United States. He ended up 1994 in Miami to focus on the Free Trade given a T-shirt in support of the freedom having to meet with President Nicolás Area of the Americas. The North Amer- of Rev. Pinkney by Yvonne Jones, re- Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST) ac- Maduro during the Summit. ican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) tired city of Detroit employee. This photo tivist Joe Mchahwar of Detroit. In his speech, Maduro demanded the shows Rodriguez, left, talking with Fight — Caption & photo by Abayomi Azikiwe Continued on page 15 workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 7 Losing and winning strategies Forging real union solidarity Black Lives Matter By Workers World Milwaukee Bureau close to Madison. But the national AFL- activists stand with CIO sent out emails directing members unions in Madison On March 9, Gov. Scott Walker of Wis- to contact Wisconsin legislators to try in February. consin signed the “Freedom To Work” to stop RTW, instead of directing those WW PHOTO bill, which made so-called “right to work” members to shut down Madison. working class in the broad interest of gay, bi, trans and queer people, as well as legal in a state which has had a closed- The call for a general strike or “stand its complete emancipation. They must low-wage and unemployed workers, have shop labor law since the militant battles still” both in 2011 and during the RTW aid every social and political movement the knowledge, creativity and yearning of workers and their communities won fight was rejected outright by the ma- tending in that direction. Considering to struggle against the ruling class, and that concession in the 1930s. jority of union leaders. This call was themselves as acting as the champions should be welcomed by the unions. These The right-to-work-for-less (a more ac- proposed by a leader of the Machinist’s of the whole working class, they cannot sectors of the working class could be curate name) law follows Wisconsin’s Act union, Defeat Right To Work In Wiscon- fail to enlist the [unorganized] into their hired as union organizers; in turn, they 10 of 2011. The right-wing legislature is sin and the Wisconsin Bail Out The Peo- ranks. They must look carefully after the could assist in elevating leadership from now gearing up to potentially gut laws ple Movement (wibailoutpeople.org). interests of the worst paid trades, such as the most oppressed communities. such as the prevailing wage, project labor In efforts to defeat RTW, various pri- agricultural laborers, rendered powerless Unions need to support all progres- agreements, workers’ compensation and vate-sector unions engaged in “coali- by exceptional circumstances. They must sive struggles in Wisconsin, not just others. tions” with their class enemies — the convince the world at large that their ef- attend their own protests. Organizing Moments after Walker signed the RTW trade and construction companies — in- forts, far from being narrow and selfish, independently of the two capitalist po- law, hundreds of students of color and stead of with community organizations. aim at the emancipation of the downtrod- litical parties into formations such as white working-class students and youth Instead of mobilizing broad-based, den millions.” the Southern Workers Assembly, where engaged in a sit-down in the streets of union-community efforts to reverse Act Marx also wrote: “Labor in the white all organized and unorganized workers Madison and later briefly occupied the 10, the majority of private- and public-sec- skin can never free itself as long as labor are welcome, should be supported by the state Capitol. They were responding to tor unions in Wisconsin urged their mem- in the black skin is branded.” unions, which could play a central role in the police murder of Tony Robinson, a bers to engage in wasted attempts to pres- There are many historical prece- the development of these organizations. 19-year-old African American killed in sure Democratic and Republican Party dents in the United States for a militant, Unions could co-sponsor with com- Madison on March 6, as well as the ongo- politicians to reverse the anti-worker law. union-community, classwide approach, munity groups mass educational events ing austerity inflicted on their generation At the very time when every sector of including the Industrial Workers of the explaining to union and community by Wall Street, Walker and the cops. the working class and oppressed is facing World and the Congress of Industrial Or- members how unions and progressive Besides a few individual union mem- brutal austerity and cutbacks — and pos- ganizations in the 1930s. Then socialists laws were won in Wisconsin, and why it bers, organized labor was absent during sibly even more attacks from the right- and communists played fundamental was necessary to fight the capitalists in this protest. This was despite organized wing-controlled 2015-17 Wisconsin legis- roles in organizing sitdown strikes, win- order to win collective bargaining, work- labor having received mass statewide lature — the union leadership is sticking ning unions for workers, stopping evic- ers’ compensation and many other rights support from youth and student organi- to failed business union tactics. tions and other actions on behalf of the that are fast being stripped away by Wall zations — such as the Young, Gifted and Unions could instead mobilize state- workers and community. Current exam- Street and its political servants. Black coalition in Madison — during the wide strategies for a working-class of- ples include the immigrant rights move- The Wisconsin AFL-CIO could spon- RTW and Act 10 fights. fensive, such as shutting down Madi- ment and the low-wage workers’ struggle, sor mass union delegations to May Day Although there are notable excep- son through a “work holiday” or general which are often one and the same. and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day ac- tions by some unions and labor-oriented strike and directing members to support International Longshore and Ware- tions — and not just mobilize for their organizations, such as the Milwaukee the youth- and student-led movements house Union Local 10’s call for “Union own events like Labor Day. Teacher Education Association, Wiscon- like Black Lives Matter or the environ- Action to Stop Police Killings of Black Ben Herrenbruck, a Milwaukee Area sin Jobs Now and Voces de la Frontera, mental justice and public education bat- and Brown People” by shutting down Technical College student and member the overall pattern of organized labor in tles going on throughout Wisconsin. West Coast ports on May Day is a splen- of FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand To- Wisconsin has been to steer clear of the Even after all the austerity measures did example of an internationalist, class- gether) from Milwaukee, has participat- Black Lives Matter movement and the implemented in the state since 2011, there wide approach and a model that should ed in numerous Black Lives Matter and struggles for justice for Dontre Hamilton was still a fightback spirit from workers be followed by unions across the U.S. anti-RTW protests in the recent period. and Tony Robinson. wanting to defeat the right-to-work-for- In addition to job actions, unions Herrenbruck told WW: “Now more than Led by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the less law. But the unions didn’t channel that should be sending delegations to Black ever, after the police murders of Dontre unions are not seriously taking up and opposition into direct action which could Lives Matter protests and offering ev- Hamilton and Tony Robinson and the supporting the issues of the oppressed have succeeded in beating back RTW. — specifically fighting racist police terror ery resource they have to the youth and passage of right to work in Wisconsin, the and killings. This is a central reason why A winning strategy students fighting police terror. Solidarity need to tie the anti-police terror strug- unions find themselves being pummeled. Karl Marx, the founder of scientific so- statements are welcomed and needed, gle and all community issues with labor Black people in Wisconsin have faced cialism, delivered an address to the Gen- but what’s also useful are union halls struggles is critical. semi-apartheid, genocidal-type condi- eral Council of the International Working- and other resources openly available to “There’s almost certainly going to be a tions for decades. The unions, however, men’s Association (the First International) communities to fight back against aus- youth uprising somewhere soon that will have been largely silent when it comes to in 1866. Included was a section on “The terity. Union halls should be open 24/7 be of greater magnitude than Ferguson,” speaking out against racism and support- Future of the Unions.” This passage, along so workers and community activists can said Herrenbruck. “Will white workers ing the struggles of the oppressed. Walker with many others, is as relevant today for organize, hold class-conscious cultural and organized labor stand behind their and other Wall Street political servants the labor movement as it was back in 1866 events and offer places of refuge for those sisters and brothers of color and work have been able to take advantage of this, when it was first delivered: fighting killer cops and other outrages. to ensure mutual survival? Or will they utilizing racist electoral campaigns and “Apart from their original purpose, stand by, thus giving credit to the right- Organizing the mighty working class other programs modeled on the “Southern [the unions] must now learn to act de- wing claim that labor unions have out- strategy” of pitting white workers against liberately as organizing centers of the Women, people of color and lesbian, lived their usefulness?” their allies in the oppressed communities. Other major reasons for the Act 10 and RTW defeats are organized labor’s sup- Morgantown, West Virginia port for and deference to the Democrat- ic Party and lack of an internationalist, class-conscious ideology. Because of this, working-class combat tactics and strate- Activists for unity here, worldwide gies, rooted in workplaces and commu- nities, are minimal. And although there Building left unity was on the agenda The following day on April 19, the Left were protests, sometimes with thousands in Morgantown, W.Va., where the inau- Alliance, Appalachian Left, Kentucky at the state Capitol in opposition to RTW, gural Mid-Atlantic Solidarity Conference Workers League, Workers World Party they were mainly a defensive response to was held April 18. The conference was and FIST demonstrated in front of the the unfolding austerity. coordinated by the Left Alliance at West Mountainlair Student Center at WVU as Virginia University. Members of the fol- part of the International Day of Solidar- Losing tactics and strategies lowing groups in the region attended the ity with Venezuela. Protesters received a Despite Act 10 and RTW being passed conference: the Appalachian Left, Work- great deal of favorable feedback as they in Wisconsin, Michigan and other states, ers World Party, Fight Imperialism, Stand waved a Venezuelan flag and held signs along with other vicious attacks on Together (FIST), Kentucky Workers gles to Defeat Racist State Terror, Aus- calling on President Obama to remove unions in Indiana, Illinois and elsewhere, League, Fairmont State Gay/Straight Alli- terity and Endless War” featuring three the sanctions on Venezuelan officials. The the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and the national ance, FIRSTHAND Coffee Co-op, Moun- speakers: Sara Benjamin, Scott Williams protesters also called for the U.S. to im- AFL-CIO have relied almost exclusively taineers for Fair Labor, Gender Equality and this writer. mediately cease activity aimed at under- on narrow trade union tactics that have Movement, GetEqual, WV Mountain Par- The Left Alliance hopes to make this mining the Bolivarian Revolution, such been ineffective for many years. ty, Sierra Club and Planned Parenthood. event a regular occurrence and looks for- as the recently defeated coup attempt on Hundreds of thousands of union mem- Workers World Party held a panel ti- ward to building a unified left movement Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. bers are just a few hours away from or tled “Empire in Crisis: Uniting the Strug- in the region. — Story and photo by Benji Pyles Page 8 May 7, 2015 workers.org BALTIMORE Justice for Freddie Grey! FIST says No to police terror! The following statement (lightly edited) on the police killing of Freddie Grey was issued April 21 by Baltimore FIST — Fight Imperialism, Stand Together — a revolutionary youth group dedicated to fighting police terror and capitalism.

On April 12, a 25-year-old Black man was harassed and eventually killed by the Baltimore City Police Department. His name was Freddie Grey, and although the exact details of his death remain un- clear, what happened to him is no mys- tery. The circumstances surrounding his death are especially appalling and illus- trate the brutal, racist nature of the po- lice under capitalism. Cell phone video from a nearby wit- ness clearly shows Grey lying on the sidewalk, screaming in pain while three police officers drag him to his feet and into a police van. April 25 demonstration to demand justice for Freddie Grey. WW PHOTO: CALEB MAUPIN The woman recording the video is heard exclaiming that Grey’s leg looks broken. In addition, his head is hanging, The Baltimore Police Department not stopped, and they are expected to used by the exploiters to repress workers not in a natural position. The police show inflicted these obscene wounds, which continue. and oppressed peoples. no concern for his well-being, and it has caused Grey to fall into a coma soon after Grey’s murder represents another We in FIST stand firmly in solidari- been reported that he was additionally the incident. On April 19, Freddie Grey case in a long line of racist police terror ty with Freddie Grey and all victims of restrained inside the van. was dead. and occupation in Baltimore City and police brutality. In Baltimore, FIST will After Grey was in the van, there are beyond. The police in the United States be in the streets fighting for justice for conflicting accounts of what happened FIST is in the streets fighting for justice trace their roots directly to the era of Freddie Grey and demanding that the next. Originally it was claimed that he On the day before he died, protests slavery. The ancestors of police depart- murderers who killed him be brought was taken to the Western District police were held at the Western District po- ments were the men who would hunt to justice. In conjunction with other station before an ambulance was called lice station to demand accountability down enslaved Black people who had groups, we are also raising the demand for him. Later, the police claimed that for what at the time was a case of brutal escaped to freedom and return them to that the police be placed under direct, they took him straight to a hospital. police assault but not yet murder. Grey’s brutal exploitation. democratic community control as a first Regardless of the exact timeline of death on April 19 only raised the level of The modern police forces that exist step toward their eventual disarmament events, Grey’s lawyer reported that by anger in the community, and hundreds now came about with the development and abolition. the time Grey was in the hospital, three of people took to the streets of Baltimore of capitalism and have existed solely as Black lives matter! End police terror! of his vertebrae were broken and his to protest yet another death at the hands a means of oppression. At all times, they Justice for Freddie Grey! spine was 80 percent severed. of the police. Since then, protests have have been an instrument of class rule, — Baltimore FIST

‘All night, all day, we will fight for Freddie Grey’

PHOTO: RICHARD REILLY Continued from page 1 screamed. Police swept streets in this ence and began immediately interviewing besieged neighborhood and clubbed and witnesses. arrested people. Protests continued the entire week, in- Some 35 people, four of them minors, cluding a rally later that day at City Hall were arrested. called by the Rev. Jamal Bryant, followed Workers World reporters have yet by a youth march downtown. to find out the extent of the charges on On April 25, the Baltimore chapters of which many of these youth are being the PPA and the SCLC, along with many held. Legal support is being organized, other groups, called for a citywide march and youth are slowly being released. downtown from the spot where Grey had PPA organizers call for solidarity and been dragged to the police wagon. Over amnesty 5,000 people joined, including supporters from as far away as Ferguson, Mo., New On the night of April 26, the Baltimore Baltimore youth faces down militarized police. York City and Philadelphia, and marched PPA held an emergency protest at Cen- throughout the downtown to City Hall. tral Booking, where arrestees were being “Freddie Grey is not the first victim of union activist, stated, “If the mayor is held. Speakers expressed the communi- police murder in this mostly Black city. indeed worried about ‘outsiders,’ then Youth rebel; protests continue into night ty’s support and demanded amnesty for His name is added to a whole long list of get the cops out of the community. The After the rally at City Hall ended, hun- all arrestees. victims: Tyrone West, Darin Hutchins, majority of them do not live in the city, dreds of protesters marched back to the Baltimore PPA organizer Sharon Black Anthony Anderson, George King, Mau- and they constitute a virtual occupation Inner Harbor, a tourist and business stated, “The anger, pent-up frustration rice Johnson and many others.” army. Tell Governor Hogan to withdraw area, and to the Camden Yards stadi- and rage that many people across this He delivered a strong message to the the State Police he has deployed.” um, where an Orioles baseball game was country have witnessed on their television protesters: “We cannot allow the city, Larry Holmes, a national organizer beginning. Police in riot gear faced off screens is based on decades of racist abuse police or media to divide us. We cannot of the People’s Power Assembly from with demonstrators, swinging billy clubs and neglect in communities all across Bal- equate property damage with the loss New York City, who came to assist Bal- and attempting to push them out of the timore. It is about police terror, and it is of human life. Freddie Grey cannot be timore activists, stated, “I’m proud to intersection of Pratt and Light streets. also about unemployment and low wag- brought back to his family or friends; a be an outside agitator!” He explained The same thing happened at the Camden es, decaying housing and lack of services. window can be repaired. We intend to be that police terror and racism are a na- Yards location. At one point, reported Just two weeks ago, prior to Freddie Grey’s here for the youth now and here for them tional problem. a participant, a cop yelled, “Get these murder, the city announced water shut- in the long haul.” Sunday’s wake and today’s funeral n——— off the streets.” offs to 25,000 households.” The Baltimore Police Department and drew over a thousand people. Throngs It was at this point that police cruiser The Baltimore PPA and the Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake have couldn’t get into the church and pass- windows were broken. Later, windows of SCLC have been organizing against po- issued statements referring to protesters ing cars honked their horns. several downtown stores were broken, lice terror for many years. They have coming from “outside” to stir up trouble. Note: Workers World uses the spell- including The Gallery, an upscale Inner heard first-hand accounts from youths Protest organizers from Baltimore have ing “Grey” out of respect for Freddie Harbor mall, and a 7-Eleven. as young as 12 about being handcuffed, clearly stated they believe the mayor and Carlos Grey. Many friends and fam- Protests also continued at the Western driven around in police cruisers, ter- the police department are attempting to ily in the community have confirmed District police station. At around 10:30 rorized and then released. Women have distract attention from the real issue: in- that this was his preference and not an p.m., police phalanxes donned riot gear spoken about sexual assaults by police. dicting, convicting and jailing the six po- “alias,” as police have claimed. Other and charged protesters at the Western Beatings and shakedowns are common. lice who killed Freddie Grey. media are calling him “Freddie Gray.” District, while defiant youth yelled and The Rev. C.D. Witherspoon explained, Andre Powell, a state worker and workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 9 After Ferguson, police counterattack Mass resistance is the answer By Fred Goldstein ruling class. For example, some of the Homeland Security have used the cover of The ruling class is trying to steer her biggest banks, war contractors, medical “fighting terrorism” to arm the cops to the in a pro-police direction. The New York April 27 — The arrogant defiance and institutions and other corporations in teeth with combat weapons. These agen- Times ran a major story by Matt Apuzzo evasive obstructionism that the Balti- Baltimore have watched day after day, cies have also tightened the police net- on April 23 stating: more police have put up in the face of year after year, as the cops brutalized the works nationally. The upper echelons of “As a career prosecutor with a law-and- the video showing them dragging a limp African-American community. the capitalist government have served as a order reputation, [Lynch] comes into of- Freddie Grey into a police van are typical JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, national political force to defend the cops. fice with strong relationships with many of the hardened attitude of police depart- Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Bank of New York of the police groups who have felt unfair- Resignation of Eric Holder ments across the country. Mellon, U.S. Bank, HSBC, Capital One ly criticized during a spate of high-profile There is also a sense of victory among The Baltimore police are accustomed and the other largest banks in the coun- episodes of African-American men dying the cops and their champions in the ruling to harassing, brutalizing and killing try have a major presence in Baltimore. at the hands of white officers.” class over the unexpected resignation of Black people with impunity. Like their The Johns Hopkins medical empire is the The Times continued: “Mr. Holder Attorney General Eric Holder shortly after counterparts in cities across the country, biggest employer there. recently completed a nationwide tour of he visited Ferguson and expressed sympa- from Philadelphia to Tulsa, from Los An- Maryland has 12 major military in- minority neighborhoods to discuss po- thy with the Black community. The timing geles to Cleveland, New York City, Albu- stallations and 16 of the top 25 aero- licing. Ms. Lynch plans a similar tour of of his resignation cannot be ignored. querque, Portsmouth in Virginia, Pasco space companies in the country. It has police departments, signaling a change Holder visited Ferguson on Aug. 20. in Washington state and other cities and 70 of the top 100 defense contractors in in approach … she has also described, in He spoke at Florissant Valley Community towns, large and small, the Baltimore po- the country, including Lockheed Martin, passionate and personal terms, how law College, where he addressed the mistrust lice are used to being a virtual law unto Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. enforcement is a force for good in minori- of the cops by the community. “I under- themselves. All the police killing that has The rich will not stop the brutality be- ty neighborhoods.” stand that mistrust,” he said at Florissant gone on since Ferguson shows that they cause the cops protect their interests 24/7. Whether Lynch will actually play the Valley Community College. “I am the at- want to keep it that way. role that is expected of her remains to be torney general of the United States. But I In the month of March, 111 police kill- Washington shows support at NYC funeral seen. But whatever she does as attorney am also a black man.” (www.justice.gov) ings were recorded. Apologists for the What is true for Baltimore is true for general, the police are not likely to recon- Holder told of being stopped by law en- police say the killings have not increased the country at large. The cops are acting in cile themselves with her — because she forcement officers in the Georgetown sec- recently; there are just more videos. But concert with their political allies and pow- is a Black woman and because she pros- tion of D.C. while running and again, for the fact is that in March there were 36 erful forces in the ruling class to under- ecuted the police who assaulted Abner no good reason, while driving on the New more recorded killings than in February. mine any attempt to curb their brutality. Louima in New York City. While the po- Jersey Turnpike. He had his car searched, (thinkprogress.com, April 1) In the first The funeral in New York City for the lice attitude will not change, the shift at which he said was “humiliating” and left three months of 2014 there had been 244 two cops killed in December was an im- the top of government is key in this case. him “angry.” killings by police; this year there were portant message not only to the thou- Holder rubber-stamped the exonera- 297 in the same period. These figures are sands of police from New York but also to Mass resistance the only answer tion of Darren Wilson, who killed Michael compiled by private groups because no police chiefs from all around the country As the cops continue with their racist Brown. But then he issued a report on national statistics are kept. who attended the funeral. They saw Vice aggression, the only answer is mass re- Ferguson that was a scathing indictment The exposure of killer cops on vid- President Joe Biden, FBI Director James sistance. Raising calls to stop killer cops of the cops and the racist city officials. eo and in the capitalist media has not Comey, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and to disarm the police are appealing It forced high-level resignations. Holder slowed down police departments across and New York City Police Commissioner and inspiring slogans. They should be also launched dozens of investigations of the country. If anything, the cops have William Bratton all get behind the cops. raised everywhere. But they must be ac- abuse by local police departments. been more murderous than ever, despite They also saw hundreds of cops turn their companied by mass confrontations with Despite being a loyal servant of the rul- the exposure. The only thing that can backs on Mayor Bill De Blasio in open de- the police. The police can also be effec- ing class, one month after his Ferguson push them back is the kind of mass resis- fiance — with no adverse consequences to tively pushed back by the “no business as visit, on Sept. 25, Holder resigned. tance that was shown in Baltimore this them — because he had criticized them. usual” tactics of disruption adopted by weekend and, for months after the killing This manifestation of support for the Which way will Loretta Lynch go? the Black Lives Matter movement after of Michael Brown last August, in Fergu- cops by the highest officials in the cap- Loretta Lynch, an African-American Ferguson. These tactics interfere with son, Mo., and around the country led by italist state was meant to answer the chief U.S. prosecutor from Brooklyn, has the business interests of the bosses. Black Lives Matter. growing Black Lives Matter movement. just been approved to become the next The militant struggle of the youth of It was a major pledge of support and en- U.S. attorney general. It took six months Baltimore against police violence hope- Ruling class support for police couragement to the cops. to get consent from congressional Repub- fully will spread to broader sections of What is important is that the cops have This political approval comes at a time licans, who obstructed her nomination in the masses. This is the only language the the backing of powerful sections of the when the FBI and the Department of a struggle over abortion funding. cops and the ruling class understand. Cop charged for autoworker’s near-lynching

By Martha Grevatt oner. These two charges combined carry The phony drug charges against Dent Detroit a maximum 15-year sentence. Before the have now been dropped. A month earlier charges were announced, Melendez was a judge dropped the other charges after Floyd Dent All too often racist police get away with fired by the city of Inkster, where the beat- seeing the video. Dent and attorney Greg murder. Brutal physical assaults against ing took place. After Worthy’s announce- Rohl are not satisfied with this victo- over 50,000 hourly Ford workers in the people of color go unpunished. Rarely are ment, Highland Park, where he worked ry, however, which was only won after whole country. Plant closings and the violent police charged for the crimes they part-time, also relieved him of his duties. hundreds demonstrated and packed the elimination of jobs through technology commit, and in most cases they don’t courtroom. Rohl wants the eight white have impoverished Inkster. The state of Why Melendez is ‘Robocop’ even lose their jobs. cops who witnessed and participated in Michigan seized financial control of the Instead, the victims are treated as per- The actions taken against Melendez are the horrific assault to also be charged. city and dissolved its school district. petrators. That’s what happened to Floyd long overdue. He earned the nickname Police brutality is a huge issue in Ink- The systemic racism of Inkster Dent, a 57-year-old African-American Robocop during a long, sordid career on ster. After the Dent case became public, and Henry Ford Ford worker whose near-murder outside Detroit’s force. That’s where his modus attorney Rohl received over 20 calls al- Detroit was seen by millions on video. operandi was to brutalize and terrorize Inkster’s very existence is rooted in leging mistreatment by the city’s cops. Their own crimes apparent, cops then con- and then plant “evidence” on and write racism. In 1917 the Ford Motor Compa- An April 3 march supporting Dent also cocted evidence to charge Dent with as- phony reports about his victims. ny began construction of the gargantuan demanded “Justice for Inkster.” sault, resisting arrest and drug possession. Melendez fatally shot two Afri- River Rouge complex in Dearborn, Mich., Orville Hubbard, Dearborn’s mayor Now that Black Lives Matter has can-American men. He finally resigned where Ford moved its world headquarters from 1948-78, was known during his emerged as a powerful, growing move- for filing false documentation after his soon thereafter. Dearborn was off-limits tenure as the most segregationist mayor ment that won’t back down, the masses propensity to lie became scandalous. to Black people, including the many who north of the Mason-Dixon line. Everyone in the streets are scoring a few — far too Nevertheless, Inkster and Highland found jobs at the Rouge plant. knew his slogan, “Keep Dearborn clean,” few — victories. Park, two majority-Black suburbs of De- Henry Ford promoted segregation by really meant keep Dearborn segregated. Floyd Dent won a small but signifi- troit, hired this brutal cop. financing the growth and development Today the population of Dearborn is still cant victory against systemic racism in Soon after the charges against Melen- of adjoining Inkster. Black autoworkers less than 5 percent African American. Inkster, Mich., possibly one with historic dez were announced, Inkster Police Chief were able to purchase affordable homes, However, 40 percent of Dearborn resi- ramifications, when the state took action Vicki Yost resigned. Like 80 percent of enjoy good city services and live close to dents are of Middle Eastern descent. The against the police. Inkster police, Yost is white. Inkster’s the plant. Yet Ford’s “benevolence” was Council on American-Islamic Relations William “Robocop” Melendez, who was population is 75 percent Black. Before illusory; Black workers were paid $4 a and the anti-Islamophobia group Take seen punching Floyd Dent repeatedly af- she became Inkster’s top cop, Yost too day during the Depression, but $3 were on Hate sponsored the April 3 march. A ter a traffic stop, was charged by Wayne had a racist reputation in Detroit, where deducted to fund Inkster’s expansion. contingent of several dozen Arab youth County Prosecutor Kym Worthy with one she had testified on behalf of her partner The Rouge plant itself once employed followed the banner of Take on Hate to count of assault and one of abuse of a pris- after he killed an unarmed man. 100,000 workers, but now there are just show solidarity with Dent. Page 10 May 7, 2015 workers.org Anniversary evokes solidarity actions for Bangladesh workers

By Kathy Durkin At Rana Plaza’s site, some 2,000 sur- vivors, victims’ relatives, labor unionists Rana Plaza protests San Francisco, right On the second anniversary of the col- and other allies gathered for a commem- and New York City, lapse of Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangla- oration. A lead banner asserted “Com- April 24, below. desh, a Day of Global Actions on April 24 pensation and workplace are our rights PHOTOS: TOP, demanded justice and compensation for now,” and a march reinforced these de- IRMA BAJAR; the victims and their families. Two years mands. Kalpona Akter, director of the BELOW, ERIC DIRNBACH earlier, in the worst garment industry Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidar- disaster in history, 1,138 mostly women ity, a leading pro-worker force inside the workers died and 2,500 were injured. country, told Walmart and other global The horrific cave-in, with its mas- brands to pay in full. sive loss of life and devastating injuries, At this event, Nilufar Begum, a dis- showed the world the brutal working abled worker, told Euronews he had not conditions and starvation wages experi- received compensation. He said, “I can’t enced by Bangladeshi garment workers. support my family, my children can’t go It exposed the ruthlessness of Western to school.” (April 24) Benar News noted clothing brands that seek to maximize the same day that 159 missing workers’ profits, while neglecting the safety and families have gotten nothing. Several health of the workforce that toils in the claimants report not getting payments or factories. It revealed the brutal reality of only woefully inadequate sums. capitalist globalization. There is no hospital providing long- Protests in Europe, North America, term care for the injured. Rafiqul Islam Asia and elsewhere demanded that all Shujon, president of the Bangladesh Gar- giant retailers doing business in Bangla- ments and Industries Labor Federation, desh sign the Bangladesh Fire and Safety said many of the injured have difficulty Accord and pay the full amounts owed to coping. He told Benar News in the same the $30 million compensation fund for article that the claim by the government a protest was set to take place on April 24 injured workers and deceased workers’ and garment bosses that adequate aid is outside the retailer’s store in New York’s Demand justice! relatives. Activists called for changes in being provided is “a travesty of truth.” Union Square, word came that the com- After the militant protests in Dhaka the global garment industry and the hon- pany had relented and wired another $2 and other cities in Bangladesh follow- oring of workers’ rights, including col- ‘A global workers’ victory’ million to the compensation fund. ing the disaster, Rana Plaza owner Sohel lective bargaining. The National Trade A months-long campaign successfully Mazeda Uddin of the Alliance of South Rana and 11 factory owners and engi- Union Federation of Pakistan came out pressured The Children’s Place to contrib- Asian American Labor spoke at the New neers were jailed. All but Rana and one in solidarity with their Bangladeshi sis- ute more money than the paltry $450,000 York action, relocated to a nearby Zara factory owner have been released on bail. ters and brothers. they had initially paid. Only hours before store. Referring to The Children’s Place’s There is no movement within the legal payment, she said: “Our Bangladeshi system to mete out justice to them for garment workers’ victory is not an indi- their crimes against the dead and injured Eyewitness report: vidual victory. It is a global workers’ vic- workers. As usual, the Western cloth- tory.” She said that the 5,000 claimants ing brands’ owners and CEO’s are let off “will be helped by this Trust,” and she without any punishment whatsoever. ‘Liberators, not looters’ hopes “other brands and retailers will The working conditions are still hor- follow in the same steps to fulfill the goal rific in many plants: Harassment and Continued from page 1 something has to give, and I can assure of having $30 million in the fund.” sexual assaults are common; sanitation you, it will not be the oppressed! Other speakers at the Zara rally — facilities and water are dirty; paychecks night. We didn’t see any thieves, looters What people saw tonight on the big- including Dolly Martinez of the Retail are held back; and overtime is denied. or rioters. All we saw were liberators — business-owned TV news were the youth Action Project; Sharlene Santos, former The “official” minimum wage hike is still parents, workers and youth who hero- and families who U.S. capitalism has Zara worker; Sara Flounders, co-coordi- a starvation wage. Moreover, while some ically chose to liberate the bare neces- thrown away. You can’t deny jobs, justice nator of the International Action Center; union organizing is occurring, hostile sities denied to them for months, years and self-respect and not expect rebellion. and Joe Lombardo of the United Nation- garment bosses and the government sty- and several decades now. The Black masses are burning tonight be- al Antiwar Coalition — called for solidar- mie other drives. The oppressed have spoken cause Amerikkka has burned them — us ity with Bangladesh’s workers. Nearly 40 Some 40 percent of the plants are fail- So what if people were taking some — for centuries now. organizations endorsed this action. ing to implement the fire-safety measures damn medicine?! Pharmaceutical com- This is bigger than Freddie Grey, Wal- The corporations still owe $6 million in the agreement. Since the Rana Plaza panies are making billions off the poor, ter Scott and Rekia Boyd, much bigger to the compensation fund. International disaster, 31 workers have died and 900 and could not care less about them. Yes, than Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo., put pressure is aimed at companies that have others have been hurt in factory fires. poor people were taking diapers and toi- together. This is the underclass reclaim- paid nothing, such as J.C. Penny, and those What can workers, students and other let tissue, tube socks and boxes of cereal; ing their human existence from a coun- coming up short. This includes Inditex, the activists do from afar to show solidarity? these are the basic needs they’ve been try that denies them the right to breathe, world’s largest garment retailer and own- The most important tasks for allies of the denied. I don’t blame them for taking the right to live without police occupying er of the Spain-based Zara clothing chain, Bangladeshi working class are to demon- fresh food, new shoes, clothing and wa- their front step. which has pitched in only $1 million. Indi- strate, keep up the pressure on Western ter. These are the basic needs capitalism We weren’t thugs and hoodlums to- tex’s founder, Armancio Ortega Gaona, is companies and oppose capitalist global- refuses to provide. night; none of us were. We were tired of the world’s fourth wealthiest person! ization altogether. After needs, wants and desires were being tired. also met. Contrary to popular belief, poor The oppressed have spoken in their own people like televisions, too, just like rich language tonight, loud and clear. The ques- folks do. Think about it; home appliances tion is: Will you hear us and join the fight? How Detroit school crisis unfolded and laptops surround you every day, yet Lamont Lilly is a contributing editor Continued from page 5 among the lowest performing schools — you have no means to acquire any of these and closed another 14 schools, bringing at the Triangle Free Press and frequent Bobb with Roy Roberts. things. You see them on billboards and contributor to Truthout, Dissident the DPS well under 100 schools and a Fight continues watch them advertised on commercials, Voice, The Durham News and Black projected enrollment of only 50,000 stu- but for you — no! You get nothing. So when Youth Project. He is currently a visiting In June, Snyder announced his plan to dents. human need is denied by brick walls, two- organizer with the Baltimore branch of create the Educational Achievement Au- In July 2012, Roberts announced inch glass windows and security cameras, Workers World Party. thority, which included the involvement terms of employment that overrode the of Eastern Michigan University. While Detroit Federation of Teachers’ contract, the original 2009 plan was to include negating the power of the teachers’ voice MARXISM, REPARATIONS & the Black Freedom Struggle other school districts, the EAA only put and their influence in DPS. The power An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. Edited by Monica Moorehead. DPS into this “statewide” district. shift enhanced the central administra- Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination Larry Holmes Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery Sam Marcy In 2012, Roberts announced the cre- tion’s ability to dispose of teachers and Black Youth: Repression & Resistance LeiLani Dowell ation of eight “self governing schools” programs unilaterally, including support The Struggle for Socialism is Key Monica Moorehead under the supervision of charter oper- for special needs students, as well as mu- Domestic Workers United Demand Passage of a Bill of Rights Imani Henry ator Doug Ross, who was placed on the sic and arts education. Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Human Rights & Global Justice! Saladin Muhammad DPS payroll to perform this function. The Detroit School Board in Exile con- Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior Mumia Abu-Jamal Ross is also a partner with Excellent tinues to oppose the EAA, emergency Racism & Poverty in the Delta Larry Hales Schools Detroit. management, charter schools, privat- Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation Consuela Lee Roberts transferred 15 DPS schools ization of services, school closures, and Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? The 1965 Watts Rebellion John Parker into the EAA — including the newly built attacks on the students and teachers of

Available at online bookstores. BARRON SAHU GRAPHIC: Mumford High School, which was not Detroit Public Schools. workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 11 One year after massacre Odessa resists fascist occupation PHOTO: 2MAY.ORG By Greg Butterfield flooded with neo-Nazi gangs and para- called the Popular Rada of Bessarabia military groups from Western Ukraine. (PRB). More than 100 representatives One year after 48 anti-fascist activists Despite this, a several-thousand- of seven ethnic communities took part died by bullets, flames and beatings at strong May Day march was held, led by in the founding congress on April 6, in- the hands of Ukrainian neo-Nazi gangs activists from the Kulikovo Field protest cluding Bulgarians, Gagauzians, Rus- in Odessa, this city on the Black Sea is encampment. sians, Armenians, Romani, Moldovans living under occupation. The following day, the fascists struck. and Poles. Yet the fighting spirit of this multina- Under the guise of a “Ukrainian Unity” The congress called for great auton- tional port city — the very antithesis of parade for fans of the local soccer team, omy for regional and ethnic groups, in the white supremacist, neoliberal-fascist the neo-Nazis launched a violent attack response to the suppression of language regime installed by Washington in Kiev on passersby in the Greek Street shop- and cultural rights by the U.S.-backed House of Trade Unions burns during Odessa massacre, May 2, 2014. last year — refuses to be snuffed out. ping district. Kiev regime. Whether protesting the bogus trial of While anti-fascists mobilized to hold Shortly afterward, the Security Ser- On April 16, masked Right Sector fas- 20 anti-fascist activists, now detained them back, the fascists next targeted the vice of Ukraine (SBU) — the country’s cists seized 50 people gathered outside for nearly a year, tortured, and caged Kulikovo encampment, burning it to the equivalent to the FBI — detained 20 lead- Odessa City Hall for a protest against during every hearing; or organizing ground. Activists retreated to the near- ing PRB members. (Dumskaya, April 8) utility price hikes and other austerity among Ukraine’s besieged minority by House of Trade Unions as the fascist “Ukraine’s security services have un- measures, turning them over to the po- nationalities; or holding monthly com- bands began shooting and throwing Mo- leashed real terror against our activists,” lice. (Timer-Odessa.net) memorations of the May 2 martyrs de- lotov cocktails. said a PRB statement. “Dmitry Zatulivet- On the night of April 12-13, leaflets were spite violent attacks — Odessans contin- The neo-Nazis shot people through er, chair of the organization’s presidium, posted around the city signed by the Com- ue to resist in ways, large and small. windows. They flooded the building has disappeared, and the attempts to con- mittee for the Liberation of the Black Sea: From April 27 to May 2, people will with tear gas to force them outside. They tact him have proved futile so far.” (TASS, “In 2014, after the fascist coup in Kiev, hold dozens of commemorations in cities set fires that gutted the hall and burned April 8) the masters of life tore off the mask of de- and towns from the Donbass to Russia, many bodies nearly beyond recognition. Thirty PRB activists were detained mocracy and mercy, and we saw the same across Europe and around the world, to Many who fled the building or jumped during a protest on April 16. A coura- thing that our parents and grandparents mark the first anniversary of the Odessa from upper floors were beaten to death geous team from PRB picketed the SBU saw in 1941. … We are burned alive, shot massacre. on the ground with bats and chains. office on April 22, demanding the release in the squares and thrown in jail because And people in Odessa plan to mark Some escaped, but with serious injuries. of those arrested, Timer reported. (Tim- we do not want to live by the rules of the the anniversary on the square near the In the end, survivors, all slandered by er-Odessa.net) fascist junta. House of Trade Unions, despite threats the media, were arrested or forced into Then on April 10 — as the Verkhovna “There will be no mercy from the Kiev from fascist groups. Other residents will exile, while the murderers walked free. Rada (parliament) in Kiev was busily Nazis, acting on orders from the U.S. and commemorate the victims by placing lit Officially, 48 people died on May 2. But passing laws outlawing communism and EU! Residents of the Black Sea! Do not be candles in their windows at sundown. many anti-fascists believe the number glorifying those who collaborated with silent! Start the resistance! Let it burn Odessa has become an internation- was far higher. Nazi occupiers during World War II — under the feet of the Nazi executioners!” al rallying cry against the brutality of An “official” investigation by the junta dozens of people waving red flags and Vasily Vovk, head of the SBU investi- Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, and its U.S.-­ came to nothing, as the oligarchs, gov- wearing the banned orange-and-black gative department, worried to the media NATO backers, and their war against the ernment officials and fascist leaders St. George’s Ribbon confronted visiting that the May 2 anniversary could see independent Donetsk and Lugansk Peo- naturally refused to cooperate. oligarch President Petro Poroshenko and “destabilization” in the fascist-occupied ple’s Republics. his far-right supporters. cities of southeastern Ukraine, or even Those who fell fighting the fascists in Mass arrests show regime’s weakness “Before the arrival of Poroshenko, the the proclamation of a “People’s Republic Odessa — like communist youths Andrei Today, any protest against the regime SBU conducted mass arrests of people of Odessa.” (Timer-Odessa.net, April 25) Brazhevsky of Borotba (Struggle) and faces vicious repression by the police with different political views,” reported Kiev and its imperialist backers Vadim Papura of Komsomol — have be- and fascist gangs that continue to occu- the Committee for the Liberation of Odes- should be worried, declared the Com- come symbols of this modern anti-fas- py Odessa. Mass arrests are becoming sa, which is organizing an independent mittee for the Liberation of Odessa. cist struggle. more common, showing the fundamen- investigation of the May 2 massacre. “As “The anti-fascist movement will only It was on May 2, 2014, that the city tal weakness of the regime. The people a result, dozens of people guilty of noth- become more radical, knowing that if was changed forever. remain determined to resist. ing were sent to Ukrainian prisons. Under the government will jail anyone for their After several weeks of mass protests Here are a few recent examples: threats and torture, many were forced to political stance, for holding a red flag or by Odessa residents against the coup in Representatives of the region’s many slander themselves and admit to actions reading a book by Lenin — then there is Kiev, in late April last year the city was nationalities formed a public association they did not commit.” (2May.org, April 14) no reason to sit back and be silent.” Lugansk: Left forces unite at conference By Greg Butterfield junta has waged a brutal war against the anti-fascist organizations, believe that economic and political life; and measures people’s republics with support from the the revival of Lugansk should begin and to eradicate fascism and uphold the true The unity of leftist forces in the em- U.S. and other NATO powers. The Kiev march under the banner of social justice, history of anti-fascist struggle during the battled Donbass region, formerly part of junta has also carried out repression equality and fraternity. Only the socialist Soviet era. southeastern Ukraine, took a big step for- against anti-fascist and anti-austerity path of development will be able to suc- “We are convinced that uniting our ward on April 9 with the founding of the protesters throughout Ukraine. cessfully overcome the consequences of forces will give Lugansk a unique chance Forum of Communist, Socialist, Work- “The outbreak of war a year ago pushed this military-humanitarian catastrophe.” to create a truly equitable social order, ers’, Environmental and Anti-Fascist the residents of Lugansk to the brink, and The statement cautions: “Authorities with working people at its center,” the Forces in Lugansk, capital of the Lugansk plunged the region into chaos and destruc- should not return to the discredited pol- unity statement concludes. People’s Republic. tion,” says the unity statement adopted by icy of appointing protégés of the oligar- The forum was initiated by the Com- the Forum. “Many of our compatriots have chic clans that robbed the Lugansk re- ‘Anti-fascism, Internationalism, Solidarity’ munist Party—Lugansk City Committee died or lost loved ones, some lost their gion for years. Building international solidarity is cru- and includes the Union of Left Forces, homes, and some were forced to emigrate. “The Red traditions of the region — cial to the left in Donbass. The Lugansk Communists of Lugansk, the Communist “Because of the military aggression and from Kliment Voroshilov to the present left unity forum, together with the Don- Workers’ Organization, Intellectuals for economic blockade by Ukraine, the econ- day — have always been strong in our bass Anti-fascist Committee based in Socialism, the Lenin Communist Youth omy is destroyed: the leading production land, and just as in 1917, Lugansk should Rome, have called for an International Union, the Union of Women Workers, the facilities and enterprises are paralyzed. be a harbinger of the coming global left Solidarity Forum on the theme of “An- Union of Soviet Officers, the Green Eco- Thousands of people lost their jobs and turn.” Voroshilov was the Soviet officer ti-fascism, Internationalism and Solidar- logical Union and other groups. opportunities to earn a living, the most charged with organizing the defense of ity,” to be held on May 8 in Lugansk. Along with the neighboring Donetsk vulnerable people — the elderly, children Leningrad, now called St. Petersburg, This historic conference will be the first People’s Republic, Lugansk broke away and the disabled — were left without pen- during the 900-day siege by the German gathering of the international left in the from Ukraine after a far-right coup in Kiev sions and benefits, and hunger and pover- army during World War II. Donbass People’s Republics. outlawed the Russian language and took ty knocked on the doors of tens of thou- The unity statement also presents an It coincides with the 2nd Anti-fascist other repressive measures against the pri- sands of families. action plan, which includes returning the Caravan to Donbass, initiated by Italian marily Russian-speaking populace and “It is clear,” the statement continues, region’s large enterprises and major in- Communist punk band Banda Bassotti. other national minority groups. In May “that humanitarian assistance cannot dustries to public ownership; guarantees The first caravan travelled to Donetsk 2014, the people of Donetsk and Lugansk solve a hundredth part of the problems.” for civil rights for all regardless of na- in fall 2014, and was so successful that voted overwhelmingly for independence The Russian Federation is the only coun- tionality, language or religious beliefs, “in Lugansk leaders invited the caravan to from Ukraine in a popular referendum. try that has provided significant human- particular to ensure full employment, fair return for the 70th anniversary celebra- The coup had put into power in Kiev a itarian aid. wages and social security”; preventing tions of the Soviet Union’s victory over junta of oligarchs, neoliberal politicians “We, the representatives of communist, land-grabs by absentee landlords and the Nazi Germany on May 9, 2015. and fascists. Since April of last year, this socialist, workers’, environmental and domination of capitalists over the region’s Continued on page 12 Page 12 May 7, 2015 workers.org Police use tasers to kill disabled, people of color

By Edward Yudelovich behavior doesn’t match the man he knew. unwillingness to assist as the man burned “He was the most reserved, nonviolent alive. “For some reason, even though each According to a 2012 Amnesty Interna- person that you would ever meet,” Guthrie of those cars had a fire extinguisher read- tional report, tasers used by police in the said. “So I doubt very much that he lunged. ily within reach, none of them used their U.S. resulted in the deaths of more 500 That wasn’t his demeanor. That wasn’t his fire extinguishers — or tried to use their people between 2001 and 2012. personality.” (Timesunion.com, April 23) fire extinguishers, or tried to help Alex — A November 2014 United Nations Collin Donnaruma, president of the who was burning to death inside this car,” Committee Against Torture report con- Capital Region chapter of the New York Gene Iredale, the attorney for Martin’s demned U.S. police violence, torture and Civil Liberties Union, said: “The role of the family, told the Guardian recently. “You’ll the use of tasers, particularly against Af- police in that situation is to diffuse the sit- see in this video they just walk away and rican-American, Latino and Latina youth. “Dontay” Ivy uation. They should have training to deal consult with each other.” (theguardian. The use of electricity as a form of tor- with someone with that condition. They com, March 30) ture was pioneered by Adolph Hitler’s Family members say the department shouldn’t be tasing them and shooting Nazi regime during which people with has told them that officers suspected Ivy 50,000 volts of electricity into someone Disarm the police! emotional, psychological and mental dis- had a gun or another weapon because his who it turns out had a heart condition.” Every 28 hours in 2012 someone em- abilities were often targeted. shirt was pulled down over his left hand ployed or protected by the U.S. govern- In early April, an unarmed, “mental- as he walked along Second Street in the Tasers are lethal weapons too! ment killed a Black man, woman or child ly ill,” African-American man, Donald Arbor Hill neighborhood. “Police told the Recent history has shown that tasers according to the Malcolm X Grassroots “Dontay” Ivy, 39, died in police custo- family the officers noticed the covered are extremely dangerous and are not a Movement’s 2013 report: Operation dy in Albany, N.Y., after being tasered hand as they drove by in a patrol car,” safe and humane alternative option to Ghetto Storm: 2012 Annual Report on by officers. Ivy’s family described him said Chamberlain Guthrie, Ivy’s cous- guns as many law enforcement and gov- the Extrajudicial Killings of 313 Black as “a paranoid schizophrenic who suf- in. That led the officers to turn the car ernment officials have often claimed. People by Police, Security Guards and fered from heart problems, but kept to around and confront Ivy. A recently surfaced video shows the Vigilantes. himself and was not violent by nature.” Officers asked for ID and Ivy provid- driver of an automobile burning alive in- “At least half of the people [annually] (Timesunion.com, April 3) ed it. One of the officers then frisked Ivy side his car after a Border Patrol officer shot and killed by [U.S.] police … have According to the police, three officers from behind, finding no weapon. The of- used a taser on the man and set the vehi- mental health problems,” stated a 2013 approached Ivy, citing “suspicious activi- ficer then tried to frisk Ivy from the front cle on fire in late March 2012. The footage, report by the Treatment Advocacy Center ty.” Ivy allegedly became “aggressive” and — and that’s when police allege that Ivy which became public in March as the re- and National Sheriffs’ Association, which ran away from the officers, who tasered lunged forward and provoked the con- sult of a lawsuit filed by the family of the assessed 1980-2008 data. and tackled him to the ground. They frontation that led them to tase Ivy. victim, shows a blue Ford Focus and its Workers and oppressed people with and said he continued to struggle after being In a prior interview with the Times lone occupant, 25-year-old Alex Martin, without disabilities have the unconditional handcuffed. After Ivy lost consciousness, Union, acting Chief Brendan Cox said Ivy going up in flames after an officer from right to demand complete immediate dis- the officers say they tried to revive him, broke free and ran away from the officers. the United States Border Patrol agency armament of the police as well as the right but without success. Cox also said Ivy continued to struggle discharged his stun gun and “accidental- to self-defense and protection against the Why did police stop Ivy? According to after he was handcuffed. ly” ignited gas fumes inside the car. current menace of U.S. police terror and Timesunion.com, as of April 23 the Al- Ivy, who had a heart problem, died on Martin’s family sued the U.S. Border their arsenal of guns and tasers. bany Police Department still has not an- the sidewalk just 150 feet from his sister’s Patrol following the 2012 altercation, and Edward Yudelovich, Workers World swered that question publicly more than house, where he lived. their attorney says a newly surfaced dash- Party People with Disabilities Caucus three weeks after Ivy’s death. Guthrie says the description of Ivy’s cam recording shows law enforcement’s organizer, has an emotional disability.

From Los Angeles to Baltimore We reprint here excerpts from the article “Marxism and insurrection” written on May 14, 1992, by Sam Mar- cy, founder of Workers World Party. For the full article, go to workers.org/ ‘Marxism and insurrection’ marcy/cd/samla/la/lareb01.htm.

The brutal suppression of the Los An- present-day capitalist society. Marxism, geois state. Nothing so much proves this Indeed, Marxists do prefer nonvio- geles insurrection offers a classic exam- on the other hand, reveals in the clearest as the steady and consistent growth of lent methods if the objectives the mass- ple of the relationship of bourgeois de- and sharpest manner not only the an- militarism and the police forces in times es seek — freedom from oppression and mocracy to the capitalist state. tagonisms that continually rend asunder of peace as well as war. exploitation — can be obtained that Marxism differs from all forms of present-day bourgeois society but also The ruling class continually cultivates way. But Marxism explains the histori- bourgeois sociology in this most funda- their basis — the ownership of the means racism to keep the working class divided, cal evolution of the class struggle as well mental way: All bourgeois social sciences of production by a handful of million- in order to maintain its domination. This as the struggle of oppressed nations as are directed at covering up and conceal- aires and billionaires. is as true at home as it is abroad. The against oppressors. ing — sometimes in the most shameful Material wealth has been vastly in- forces of racism and national oppression As Marx put it, “force is the midwife way — the predatory class character of creasing along with the masses’ produc- have been deliberately stimulated by to every great revolution.” None of the tivity of labor. But only 1 percent of the Pentagon and State Department policies great revolutions has ever occurred population amasses the lion’s share of all across the globe. without being accompanied by force and what the workers produce, while a great- violence. And it is always the oppressor Left forces unite er and greater mass is impoverished. Marxism on violence — the ruling class and the oppressing After every stage in the struggle of nationality — that is most congenitally Continued from page 11` Oppression of a whole people the workers and oppressed people, prone to use force as soon as the masses Up to 100 anti-fascists and solidarity One cannot apply Marxism to any there follows an ideological struggle raise their heads. activists from 12 countries are expected meaningful extent without first recogniz- over what methods the masses should How much real difference is there be- to participate in the caravan from May 5 ing the existence of national oppression embrace to achieve their liberation from tween the suppression of the Paris Com- through 11. — the oppression of a whole people by imperialist monopoly capital. There are mune in 1871 and that of the revolution- The invitation for the International Sol- capitalist imperialism. This is one of the always those who abjure violence while ary rising of the masses in Los Angeles idarity Forum appeals “to all progressive most characteristic features of the pres- minimizing the initial use of violence in 1992? The brutal suppression differs forces whose goal is the triumph of the ide- ent world reality. by the ruling class. They denounce it in only in magnitude and not in essence. als of justice, equality and fraternity to take The state in its essential characteris- words, while in deeds they really cover While it might seem that in Los Angeles part in the International Solidarity Forum tics is the organization, to quote Engels, it up. Yes, indeed, they readily admit national oppression alone is involved, in in support of the Donbass struggle against of a “special public force” that consists the verdict in the Rodney King beating reality it derives from the class exploita- fascism, Nazism, capitalism and imperial- not merely of armed men and women but was erroneous, unfair. But — and here tion of the African-American masses ism. We invite all who advocate commu- of material appendages, prisons and re- their voices grow louder — “The masses dating back to the days of slavery. nism-socialism, all who choose a revolu- pressive institutions of all kinds. should not have taken to the streets and tionary path for liberation of the world’s Most noteworthy are the prisons — taken matters into their own hands.” Watts and social legislation peoples from the yoke of neoliberalism. more and more of them — calculated to The Marxist view of violence flows The Watts, Detroit, Newark and other “The objective of the forum is to create break the spirit of millions of the most from an altogether different concept. It rebellions in the 1960s did win signifi- tools for analysis of the current situation oppressed while pretending to some first of all distinguishes between the vi- cant concessions that eventually were in the Donbass region and the world, mock forms of rehabilitation. olence of the oppressors as against the enacted into law. They became the ba- prospects for the future, and above all, In general then, the Los Angeles in- responsive violence of the masses. Just sis for a temporary improvement in the to formulate specific proposals for ac- surrection shows that democracy is a veil to be able to formulate it that way is a gi- economic and social situation of the op- tion. Our hope is to reach an agreement that hides the repressive character of the ant step forward, away from disgusting pressed people. of international forces to organize a global capitalist state. bourgeois praise for nonviolence. It nev- None of the progressive legislation, mobilization.” The state grows in proportion as class er occurs to any of them to show that the up to and including affirmative action, For more information, visit the Don- and national antagonisms develop. De- masses have never made any real leap would have been enacted had it not been bass International Forum at Facebook. mocracy is merely a form which hides forward with the theory of nonviolence. com/aisforum. the predatory class character of the bour- Timidity never made it in history. Continued on page 13

workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 13 Pentagon threatens Iran, supports aggression against Yemen

By Fred Goldstein people under collective punishment,” Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen from command has admitted that the war- charged Houthi Politburo member Mo- the Persian Gulf. The carrier has over 60 ships are not for Yemen but to keep their April 27 — The Pentagon has engaged hammed al-Bukhaiti. (Reuters, April 21) war planes and a crew of 5,000. It has “options” open against Iran. (CNN.com, in a sharp escalation of military tensions But despite over a month of Saudi since returned to the Persian Gulf. In April 22) in the Middle East by sending nine war- bombing and thousands of civilian ca- addition the U.S. sent the guided-missile This is all about threatening the Iranian ships, including an aircraft carrier and a sualties, the Ansarullah still control the ship USS Normandy to accompany the government and perhaps trying to force it guided-missile cruiser, to waters off the capital of Sanaa and most of the major Roosevelt. into concessions in the nuclear talks, or coast of Yemen. port city of Aden. They have recently The pretext for sending this massive even to break up the talks altogether. The naval armada has a dual pur- continued an advance on the southern display of air and fire power is to keep The Iranians have military vessels in pose: to push back the popular forces city of Taiz. Iran from sending weapons to the An- the area to escort and protect their car- of the Ansarullah (the Houthis) and at On April 20, the Saudis carried out an sarullah in Yemen. Such a claim, if it go ships from piracy. Iranian Navy Com- the same time to threaten the Iranian airstrike on a Scud missile base in Sanaa. weren’t so serious, would be laughable. mander Rear Admiral Habibollah Say- ­government. The resulting explosion impacted a resi- An aircraft carrier and its associated yari stated, “This presence [of the Iranian The Ansarullah are fighting against dential area of over half a mile. The blast warships, destroyers, frigates and so on flotilla] continues in the free waters, in- the Saudi/U.S. puppet in exile, President damaged embassies and other buildings, are weapons of major warfare. You don’t cluding the Gulf of Aden, to fight against Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi was wounding two Indonesian diplomats. block supply ships and their military es- piracy, according to the plan which was driven out of the country and is now in But the U.S.-backed bombing cam- corts with an aircraft carrier and a guid- drawn at the request of the Internation- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, waiting to be re- paign, arms embargo and sanctions on ed-missile ship. It is like taking a pile al Maritime Organization, and no one stored to power by Saudi jets and U.S. Ansarullah leaders has both failed and driver to crack a walnut. can warn the Iranian warships [to move and Egyptian ships. backfired on Washington. The purpose of this display of fire- away] and this has not happened yet.” The Pentagon has sent the warships The Saudis are becoming more hat- power was to warn the Iranian govern- Sayyari was speaking to reporters on off the coast of Yemen to support the ed and thoroughly discredited for their ment of Washington’s willingness to the sidelines of military parades held in Saudi bombing campaign against the ruthless and failed air campaign. The deploy its most powerful weapons of con- Tehran to mark Army Day. (Fars News Ansarullah. Egyptian warships also pa- more discredited the Saudis become, ventional warfare. Agency) trol the coast. The Saudis, supplied with the more discredited their Washington The Pentagon considers itself a sover- The most important point of this en- U.S. targeting, have bombed hospitals, sponsors become. The U.S. imperialists eign power, free to roam the seas with tire episode, as far as the anti-imperialist schools, mosques and airports on the are having second thoughts, and have al- massive firepower to threaten and bully movement is concerned, is that the U.S. pretext that weapons were hidden there. lowed the U.N. Security Council to call the peoples of the world who will not bow imperialist navy has no business in the The naval blockade choked off ports and for a cease-fire. Of course, the U.N. is de- down to the dictates of Washington and Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf, the Med- airports, blocking food and other vital manding that the Ansarullah withdraw Wall Street. It treats waters thousands of iterranean, the South China Sea or any imports to one of the poorest countries from territories they have taken. miles from U.S. shores as “U.S. lakes.” other body of water. The U.S. anti-war in the region. The Pentagon does not need 60 war- movement should demand that the Pen- “The goal of the movement of Ameri- Pentagon crashes nuclear talks planes in the area. The Saudis have an tagon stop threatening the peoples of the can ships is to strengthen the siege im- Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier USS oversupply of U.S. warplanes and bombs world in order to make the world safe for posed on Yemen and put the Yemeni Theodore Roosevelt was moved to the and are using them daily. The U.S. high U.S. imperialist corporations. Iran calls for ceasefire in Yemen

By Abayomi Azikiwe ingness to cooperate with other regional eration Council states, without any sem- ly civilians, and wounding 2,900 others. Editor, Pan-African News Wire states and the international community blance of a U.N. or international mandate, A further escalation in the bombard- in solving the crisis of the numerous wars has carried out the massive bombard- ments took place on April 20, when Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- in the Persian Gulf and the broader Mid- ment of Yemen. There has also been a na- homes were destroyed in Sanaa killing at mad Javad Zarif has outlined a proposal dle East. The foreign minister stressed val blockade denying much needed food least 15 people. Oxfam, the London-based for the cessation of hostilities in Yemen that Tehran’s recent agreement with the and other goods entry into the most un- organization, reported that many civil- through an April 17 letter to United Na- United States and European Union ad- derdeveloped territories in the region. ians have been targets of the attacks. tions Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. dressing its nuclear program could serve Nonetheless, the U.N. Security Coun- The group said that one of its food stor- This plan involves four demands: an as an impetus for serious multilateral cil passed a resolution on April 14 im- age warehouses, where no arms or fight- immediate ceasefire, a halt to attacks by talks on other issues. posing an arms embargo on the Ansu- ers from the Ansurallah are based, was Saudi-Gulf Cooperation Council-led war Zarif noted that without a broader rallah movement demanding that they struck, even though the coalition knew of planes, provisions for a safe corridor to framework for resolving ongoing inter- withdraw from areas where their fighters all the locations. (NY Times, April 20) provide much needed humanitarian re- ventions and humanitarian challenges, have control. The resolution also placed lief and the resumption of political dia- the current atmosphere of dialogue could asset freezes and travel bans on key lead- Bombing of Yemen threatens broader war logue. This proposal came just one day easily be lost to open confrontation over ers of the Houthis. The bombing in Sanaa on April 20 set after the U.N. secretary general called for Yemen, Iraq, Syria and other countries. The U.S. supplies the Saudis and the off another round of diplomatic wran- an immediate ceasefire. The foreign minister stressed: “The GCC with fighter planes, weapons, - in gling. The Iranian foreign ministry sum- On April 20, Zarif published a letter Iranian people have shown their resolve telligence support and refueling that is moned the Saudi Arabian ambassador in in the opinion and editorial section of by choosing to engage with dignity. It is facilitating the bombing of Yemen. The Tehran to express displeasure at the cur- the New York Times stating Iran’s will- time for the United States and its West- Ansurallah is a Shia-based movement rent situation. Indonesian Foreign Minis- ern allies to make the choice between that has taken large swaths of territory ter Retno Marsudi said in Jakarta that the cooperation and confrontation, between in the north, central and south of Yemen. government was opposed to the bomb- Continued from page 14 negotiations and grandstanding, and be- In a television address aired over Press ings, which have resulted in the wound- for the rebellions during the 1960s and tween agreement and coercion.” TV, the Ansurallah leader, Abdel-Malik ing of two of its diplomatic personnel. the 1970s. Yet now, almost three decades This same letter goes on to emphasize al-Houthi, blamed the U.S. for the war A Yemeni television station, al-Ye- after the Watts rebellion, the masses are that “if one were to begin serious discus- against his country. He charged the Pen- men al-Youm, was hit by the Saudi-GCC in greater poverty and the repression is sion of the calamities the region faces, tagon with pointing out areas in Yemen bombs on April 20 leaving three of its heavier than before. The fruits of what Yemen would be a good place to start.” to be attacked. staff dead. The area around Faj Attan was won have withered on the vine as Operation Decisive Storm, the bomb- “‘We do not need permission from the has been a frequent target of the air cam- racism and the deterioration of econom- ing campaign of the Saudi-GCC alliance [United Nations Security Council] to de- paign over the last few weeks. ic conditions took hold once again. against the Ansurallah or Houthi forces in fend our country, al-Houthi said, stress- Iran in recent statements has ex- Once more the bourgeois politicians Yemen, is a manifestation of U.S. imperial- ing, ‘The Yemeni people have the right pressed its willingness to become more attempted to mollify the masses with ist efforts to continue its proxy war against and legitimacy to defend their land. ‘Our directly involved in the Yemeni situation, endless promises of improvements nev- Iran. The expansion of the war in Yemen great people will not surrender, they will warning Saudi Arabia and the U.S. that er destined to see the light of day. This has implications for developments in Iraq stand.’” (April 19) any attack on its territory will be met evoked a profound revulsion among the and Syria, as both states have spoken out The Ansurallah leader said that the with fierce retaliation. masses. It took only an incident like about their strong opposition to the bomb- objective of the Saudi-GCC bombing is Just one day before, the commander of the incredible verdict of the rigged jury ing of Yemen and the threat of a possible to “return Yemen to the Israeli and U.S. the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, Brig. that freed the four police officers in the ground invasion by Egypt and Sunni-led identity.” Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, warned Rodney King beating to ignite a storm of rebel groups that are funded by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia in the Press TV report, “The Bombing spreads in Yemen revolutionary protest. Saudi Arabian army has no war experi- Ansurallah leader says U.S. If revolutionary measures are ever to Meanwhile, the Saudi-GCC alliance con­ ence and is very fragile and if it is con- at the root of war in Yemen have any validity, doesn’t a case like this tinues its bombing in 18 out of 22 pro­vinces fronted with a war of attrition, it should justify the people taking destiny into Since March 26, the Saudi Arabian air in Yemen, displacing 150,000 people, await crushing blows and it will suffer their own hands? force in alliance with other Gulf Coop- ­killing an estimated 2,600 people, most- heavy defeat.” Page 14 May 7, 2015 workers.org Solidarity needed as earthquake devastates Nepal

By Chris Fry on the planet. The literacy rate is around 72 percent for men and only 45 percent GAZA & BALTIMORE A powerful earthquake struck the for women. Health care falls far short impoverished country of Nepal on April of the people’s needs. Sixty percent of Gaza is the world’s biggest prison. Nearly on police terror. Joe Wilbon’s blood is on 25. The original quake measured 7.8 births are unattended by any medical two million Palestinian people are locked O’Malley’s hands. on the Richter scale, with strong after- professionals, causing many maternal up there by Israel’s military blockade. According to the Palestinian prime min- shocks measuring up to 6.7 causing fur- and infant deaths as well as other se- Last year, racist Israel killed over ister’s office, one out of five Palestinians ther damage and injuries. vere complications. Close to 30 percent 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including 547 has been jailed, at one time or another, by As of April 27, the death toll has of Nepal’s children less than five years children. The Pentagon rushed in more Israel. Nearly a million African Americans passed 3,800. Thousands more are in- old are malnourished. bombs when the Zionist state ran low on are presently in prison according to the jured, with millions of people forced to One-third of Nepal’s children under ­ammunition. NA ACP. live outside without shelter in freezing the age of 14, some 2 million, are forced Baltimore, similar to Palestine, is under Over two-thirds of Maryland’s 21,000 temperatures. into child labor. In the extremely ex- a racist military occupation. The Balti- prisoners come from Baltimore, which has The capital city of Katmandu, home ploitative brick manufacturing indus- more police force — the sixth largest in the just 13 percent of the state’s population. to 1.2 million people, has been devastat- try, for example, some 28,000 children 26th largest U.S. city — treats Black people The economic war against Black work- ed. Tens of thousands are living on the work at the kilns, half under the age of like prisoners. According to the 2010 U.S. ers helps fuel the pipeline to prison, par- streets. So far the government response 14. (theguardian.com, Feb. 12) census, while 72 percent of the Baltimore ticularly for African-American youth. Five has been weak: “It became clear that the This catastrophe will only worsen the population are people of color, 46 percent out of six factory jobs in Baltimore have Nepalese authorities were ill-equipped desperate plight of Nepal’s people. of the police are white. been destroyed since 1970. to rescue those trapped and would have It took a decades-long struggle led Parts of the Baltimore Black community Thirty thousand workers were employed trouble maintaining adequate supplies by Maoist Communist parties to finally look like a burnt-out war zone. The latest at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point com- of water, electricity and food.” (New force the removal of the U.S.- and Brit- atrocity is mainly white Baltimore cops plex just outside Baltimore. But nobody York Times, April 26) ish-backed absolute monarchy in 2008 torturing to death Freddie Carlos Grey, works there anymore at what was, 45 years UNICEF officials announced that at and establish parliamentary rule. Some whose spine was at least 80 percent sev- ago, the world’s biggest steel plant. least 940,000 Nepalese children in ar- 17,000 people lost their lives in these ered while in police custody. Frederick Douglass was a caulker in a eas affected by the earthquake are “in struggles. But despite the strong orga- The killing of Grey — a 25-year-old Af- Baltimore shipyard. All three of Bethle- urgent need of humanitarian attention.” nization of these parties in Nepal, the rican American — was a breaking point hem Steel’s shipyards in Baltimore were (telegraph.co.uk, April 26) country itself remains bitterly divided for Baltimore’s Black majority. Continu- shut down, costing thousands of jobs. The U.S. has pledged a paltry $1 mil- and still under the grip of multinational ous demonstrations have erupted in the Maryland Dry Dock closed down too. lion in assistance to a country of 30 mil- corporations. city, echoing the protests in Ferguson, Mo., Thousands more jobs were stolen when lion people. Earlier this month, millions of Ne- against the police killing of Michael Brown. the General Motors, Western Electric, Outside of the capital, particularly pal’s workers poured into the streets, Generations of African Americans in Armco Steel, London Fog and Koppers near the epicenter of the quake west of many waving flags with hammers and Baltimore have endured police terror. plants were liquidated. the capital, communities have been cut sickles, as they conducted a nationwide Maryland was a slave state and Baltimore’s Baltimore is one of the world’s greatest off from communication by landslides. general strike. They had called this cops were slave catchers. ports, but automation has eliminated jobs Their fate remains largely unknown. strike to promote constitutional chang- Legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday on the docks wholesale. One village of 3,000 people in the es that would give more rights to ethnic grew up in Baltimore. Her most famous While the good paying jobs have disap- Gorkha district managed to report that minorities living in the various regions song, “Strange Fruit,” bitterly attacked peared and Baltimore has become more every house was destroyed. of the country. lynching. impoverished, the financial aristocracy’s Helicopter rescue operations have This terrible crisis in Nepal calls for The overwhelming number of today’s wealth has skyrocketed. Two Baltimore begun, but they are devoted to remov- solidarity from workers’ organizations lynch victims are those murdered by racist stockbrokers — Legg Mason and T. Rowe ing the foreign tourists from Mount Ev- all over the world. U.S. and Western police and vigilantes. Price — have between them nearly one-and- erest, where they had gathered for the imperialism, which have long profited One of those lynched in Baltimore was a-half trillion dollars in assets under man- mountain climbing season. The villages from the superexploitation of that coun- Joe Wilbon, a skilled auto mechanic who agement. in the countryside, where most of Ne- try, have the responsibility of immedi- had just opened his own shop. A police This vast amount of wealth shows the pal’s people live, have so far been left on ately providing all necessary emergen- wolf pack beat up Wilbon on June 5, 2000, money is there for jobs, schools and free their own. cy assistance to Nepal’s people with no when he was trying to fix a car for one of health care. These are human rights that Nepal is one of the poorest countries strings attached. his customers. the workers of Baltimore, especially the Cops later dropped Wilbon off at Mercy most oppressed, need — not police terror Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. and mass incarceration. The city refused to release his autopsy for Israeli terror, financed by the U.S., can- EDUARDO GALEANO months. not extinguish the Palestinian freedom Baltimore’s mayor at the time was Mar- struggle. tin O’Malley, who may run for U.S. pres- Neither can the Black freedom struggle His ‘Open Veins’ laid bare ident. O’Malley’s “zero tolerance” cam- be stopped. Black and Palestinian lives paign against petty misdemeanors egged matter. ravages of imperialism

May Day Is International Workers’ Day! By Berta Joubert-Ceci The girl who was quietly reading ‘Open Philadelphia Veins’ to her companion in a bus in Bo- gotá, and finally stood up and read it Build Workers World, a workers’ newspaper! Eduardo Galeano, the Uruguayan aloud to all the passengers. The woman writer most famous for his “Open Veins who fled from Santiago in the days of May Day began in the 19th century with The newspaper presents anti-imperial- of Latin America,” died April 13 of lung the Chilean bloodbath with this book strong demonstrations by thousands of ist news and analysis, siding with work- cancer at the age of 74. Written in the wrapped inside her baby’s diapers. The women and men for the eight-hour work- ers and oppressed people abroad who face early 1970s, his book exposed the dev- student who went from one bookstore to day. capitalist globalization’s low wages and astating ravages of imperialist domi- another for a week in Buenos Aires’ Cal- Since 1959, Workers World has report- austerity, as well as U.S./NATO drones, nation in Latin America and the Carib- le Corrientes, reading bits of it in each ed on and supported the struggles of the wars and occupations. bean, much as Walter Rodney’s book, store because he hadn’t the money to working class, with special attention to Workers World boldly states that social- “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,” buy it.” movements led by people of African de- ism is the only way to guarantee jobs, food, did for that continent. It is a book that has many stories sur- scent, Latino/a, Asian, Arab and Indige- housing and medical care for the majori- Galeano’s “Open Veins” is required rounding it. For example, while it was nous communities. ty of people — and end the rule of the su- reading for those who want to learn banned by several Latin American dic- Today, this newspaper focuses on the per-rich 1% and their racism, sexism, an- about Latin America. Over the years, it tatorships, the book was allowed in the fight for justice for immigrants, who face ti-LGBTQ bigotry, the gouging of workers has become a textbook of knowledge on military jails of his native Uruguay for low wages, harassment, detentions and de- and war. the subject, in a way that ordinary text- the first few months of the dictatorship portations. Our pages promote the Fight for Our readers’ donations pay to publish books cannot achieve. Its impact has because they thought it was a medical $15/hour minimum wage for immigrants, this partisan newspaper in print and on- been impressive. textbook, an anatomy book! Of course, people with disabilities, youth and all low- line. If you appreciate its news and anal- Seven years after publication, Ga- once they realized their mistake, it was wage workers, including women, the major- ysis, write a check to the Workers World leano himself wrote: “Seven years have forbidden. ity earners of $7.25 per hour or less. Fund Drive. Send it to Workers World, 147 gone by since ‘Open Veins of Latin Translated into many languages, Workers World reports on the grow- W. 24th St., 2nd floor, New York, NY 10011. America’ was first published. This book “Open Veins” once again became a hit in ing Black Lives Matter Movement, which Read articles online at workers.org. was written to have a talk with people. 2009 when Venezuelan President Hugo protests the epidemic of racist police and- Donate regularly by joining the Workers … The most heartening response came Chávez gave a copy to President Barack vigilante violence and mass incarceration World Supporter Program at workers.org/ not from the book pages in the media Obama during an OAS Summit, in that throughout the U.S. articles/donate/supporters_/. but from real incidents in the streets. Continued on page 14 workers.org May 7, 2015 Page 15 EU, U.S. imperialism to blame 1,300 African, Asian migrants drown in Mediterranean

By Abayomi Azikiwe and the Pentagon-NATO alliance em- likened the current situation in the Med- cide, really,” Muscat told CNN. (April 19) Editor, Pan-African News Wire barked upon a massive naval blockade, iterranean to the Atlantic Slave Trade be- Nonetheless, at an emergency summit arms embargo and aerial bombardment cause of the high percentage of refugees in Brussels, the EU called for the further An accident on a substandard boat re- of Libya, the most prosperous state in Af- who die trying to reach Europe. Most mi- militarization of the Mediterranean. Sev- sulted in the deaths of over 900 refugees rica at the time. After over seven months grants head toward Italy from Libya, as eral countries, including Germany, held a from Africa, the Middle East and Asia on of bombing and rebel activity, the imperi- Italy’s island of Lampedusa, part of Sicily, meeting on April 23 where further assis- April 19. Many of the passengers seeking alists declared victory, placing in govern- is closest to the African ports. Wracked tance was requested to destroy the ves- asylum in Europe were locked in the low- ment many individuals who had not been by high unemployment from the capital- sels that transport migrants. Such an ap- er decks of the vessel, which was over- in Libya for decades. ist economic crisis, Italy has also had the proach will only cause more deaths as the loaded with people fleeing Africa from Libya now has two rebel regimes migrant crisis dumped in its lap by the migrants will seek even less secure crafts Libya. Only days earlier another boat had claiming authority over the state, with wealthier EU countries. to cross the sea. sunk with 400 victims. additional militias a law unto themselves. Though Italian capitalism is part and The problems stem from the crisis of Although there was emigration from The country’s economic status has dete- parcel of the imperialist EU, out of des- world capitalism and burgeoning racism Africa and the Middle East to Europe riorated. Once chair of the African Union peration Renzi called on the EU bloc to in the foreign policy of Western states. In prior to 2011, the crisis has recently sur- under Gadhafi, Libya is now a haven for make a “long-term investment” on the attempts to control the regions of Africa, passed anything seen in recent history. criminal and reactionary tendencies. African continent. the Middle East and Asia, the U.S. and its Just since the beginning of 2015, it is es- In addition to the destruction of Libya In Germany, the major EU power, the allies are creating deeper crises through timated that over 1,800 people have died by the West, the Middle Eastern nation Angela Merkel government held a min- dislocations and deaths. in the Mediterranean en route to south- of Syria has been subjected to a simi- ute of silence in Parliament. She did not, Within Europe there is a fierce debate ern Europe. lar destabilization campaign through a however, even acknowledge that the EU and political struggle over immigration These events are treated in most of U.S.-NATO funded and strategically di- forced Italy to cut back on its rescue mis- from African and Asian states. Numer- the corporate media as tragic accidents. rected civil war, which has made millions sions of migrants by refusing to finance ous political parties and fascist groups But the full responsibility for these trag- refugees and prompted a mass exodus. them. have sprung up to oppose migrants from ic deaths lies with world imperialism. In the Horn of Africa, war is still raging Some Western media outlets have countries in the South. Globalization and climate change have in Somalia and spilling over into Kenya, drawn attention to the root cause of the The ruling parties in Europe and North sharpened poverty throughout Africa Ethiopia and Djibouti through the failed horrendous situation involving migrants. America have also stepped up their at- and Asia, and NATO’s wars and proxy attempts by Washington to shape the po- The Guardian newspaper noted that “a tacks on migrants. At the same time the wars against Iraq, Syria and especially litical structures which govern Mogadi- large number of these people are dis- wars of regime change utilizing aerial the 2011 war on Libya have directly dou- shu and its environs. The 22,000-mem- placed by wars. The top three nations bombardments and surrogate armies are bled and tripled the number of people ber African Union Mission to Somalia from which maritime refugees to the EU fueling the desperation and shattering of seeking asylum in Europe under desper- (AMISOM) and the Somalia Federal come are Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea. postcolonial nations and communities. ate conditions. Government are largely subsidized by the The country where they are most likely to The Guardian article points out, U.S. and the European Union. start their journey is Libya, which is now “Around 3 billion people live on less than War on Libya, 2011 Hundreds of thousands of additional effectively a failed state. In other words, $2.50 a day. The global 99% did not come Four years ago, the United States and internally displaced persons and ref- many are running for their lives through about by accident. It’s the result of centu- NATO engineered and carried out a bru- ugees are relocating out of the East Af- countries we have bombed. Those in the ries of colonization, decades of imperial- tal war against the people of Libya, first rican states of Somalia, Ethiopia and West who insist we cannot take in ‘the ism and the current corruption that has by financing and coordinating coun- Eritrea. The Pentagon maintains a large world’s misery’ must, at the very least, ac- allowed a handful of people, in different terrevolutionary militias to attack and military base in Djibouti at Camp Lem- knowledge how much of that misery we ways at different times, to steal natural seize cities and villages in the east of the onnier where the U.S. Africa Command are responsible for.” (April 26) resources and pilfer public goods.” country. The then-Jamahiriya govern- (AFRICOM) directs its operations in the In the U.S. the narrative surrounding ment headed by Col. Moammar Gadhafi region. Imperialist war and genocide the migration crisis is also framed in the mobilized military forces and volunteers In response to the situation in the context of criminality of those providing to take back areas overrun by the rebels. 21st century ‘Atlantic Slave Trade’ Mediterranean, Maltese Prime Minister transportation to migrants for money. By March 19, the rebels were in retreat Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Joseph Muscat said, “Gangs of criminals There is no acknowledgement that Wall are putting people on a boat, sometimes Street, Washington and, in the last few even at gunpoint. They’re putting them years especially, NATO and the Pentagon the stage name that the United States on the road to death, really, and nothing have created the problem by making it give themselves when they do theater?” else.” impossible for people to survive in their In 2009, Galeano came to Philadelphia It’s “genocide — nothing less than geno- home countries. to speak at the Free Library, promot- ing his latest (and last) book, “Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone,” another required reading about world history. During the Q & A period, a woman asked Latin America beats back Eduardo Galeano what advice he would give to the youth of Latin America. His response was quite U.S. imperialism at summits way introducing it to a new generation of interesting, as if he were waiting for the readers. occasion to make the point about U.S. Continued from page 6 1998, raised the idea of “participatory” as Galeano’s style is unique, presenting domination to U.S. audiences. opposed to “representative” democracy. facts and giving lessons of history in a He said: “No, no, please. Déjame en between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, In Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 2005, beautiful and exciting prose, submerging paz [Leave me alone]. I do not want to which the Mexican people have been suf- U.S. President George W. Bush got his own the readers in pages of fascinating de- give advice. It is like we are all trained by fering from ever since, had just gone into good, old-fashioned shellacking. The U.S. velopments, helping them to understand this USAID habit. It is not a good habit of effect earlier in 1994. was still hell-bent on pushing through the the most complex historical processes feeling or thinking or knowing, that these The Soviet Union had collapsed in 1991 FTAA. In response, the ALBA Express with ease. nations have been chosen by God to save and U.S. imperialism began to reclain — a train headed by Evo Morales (then a He wrote novels and political articles other nations; so they would have the and superexploit all the potential mar- Bolivian presidential candidate), Cuban exposing imperialism and right-wing perfect recipe to save countries and save kets from which it had previously been singer Silvio Rodrigues and legendary Ar- oppressive governments. They were pub- people. And each time they have saved a barred. The OAS had excluded Cuba since gentine soccer player Diego Maradona — lished in many journals, newspapers and country in Latin America, they have left the U.S. ordered the island’s expulsion in came with thousands of protesters to the magazines around the world. His last ar- dictatorships that lasted 20 to 30 years, 1962. Only in 2009 did an OAS general as- Summit to bury the FTAA. That’s exactly ticle, on December 2014, was about the like in the Dominican Republic, Nicara- sembly meeting reinstate Cuba. Because of what happened as Brazil and Argentina case of the 43 students disappeared at gua, everywhere. Nations saved by them the OAS’s bitter historical record against refused to sign on to the FTAA. Ayotzinapa in Mexico. become giant jails and cemeteries. So the revolutionary government, Cuba re- In 2012 in Colombia, many govern- Latin America was not his only sub- what I would say is please, don’t save me. fused to return. ment leaders, including host President ject; he wrote about oppression, dicta- I don’t want to be saved.” Some 20,000 people came from all Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, said there torships, inequality, racism and political This writer was able to ask the last over the world to protest at the third Sum- cannot be another summit without Cuba. subjugation. His Gaza article in 2012 con- question, about Cuba, and Galeano end- mit, held in Quebec City in 2001, soon During the progress of the Summits of demning the massacre of Palestinians by ed his presentation saying: “In all Latin after the 1999 World Trade Organization the Americas from 1994 to 2015, a strong Israel is a good example of how he con- America now, as part of a wave of new meeting and the first mass anti-global- alliance of leftist governments arose. nects the U.S. to international crimes. In energies of change, energies of dignity ization protests in Seattle in 1999. In Chávez finally broke Cuba’s isolation in the it he writes: “The so-called international and solidarity, Cuba has been a source 2001, Cuba’s exclusion was protested, the early 2000s. Politically and economically, community: Does it exist? Is it anything of inspiration for all of that dignity and U.S’s “War on Drugs” became a point of Latin America and the Caribbean started more than a club of merchants, bankers solidarity.” contention, and Hugo Chávez, who had to reject U.S. hegemony. In Part II, details and warriors? Is it anything more than Eduardo Galeano, ¡presente! been elected president of Venezuela in of these changes will be highlighted. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 57 Núm. 18 7 de mayo, 2015 $1 30 de abril 1975: Guerrillera Nguyen Trung Kien guía al ejército de liberación para ata- car el Palacio Presidencial. Delegación investigadora estadounidense al regresar de Cuba concluye que ‘proceso de paz de Colombia debe continuarse’

20 de abril de 2015 – Treinta y tres ac- Colombia comenzaron en octubre de 2012, víctimas. También se reunió con repre- La Delegación estuvo de acuerdo en que tivistas viajaron a la Habana, Cuba, del 11 luego de que representantes del Gobierno sentantes de los dos países garantes – el proceso de paz debe seguir adelante. al 18 de abril para participar en una deleg- y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Noruega y Cuba. Como resultado, las/os De acuerdo con la delegada Pamela Bru- ación investigadora relativa a las negocia- Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) delegados están ahora mejor informadas/ baker “Nos hemos convencido, después ciones de paz de Colombia que tienen lugar acordaran un marco para poner fin al con- os sobre el proceso de las negociaciones. de una semana de intensas discusiones, allí. Las/os participantes eran de varios flicto y lograr una paz duradera. Hay cinco Los estimados sobre el número de de la urgente necesidad de implementar estados de Estados Unidos (Arizona, Cal- temas en la agenda: 1) desarrollo rural in- víctimas del conflicto oscilan entre 1,5 un cese bilateral al fuego entre las par- ifornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, tegral; 2) participación política; 3) drogas millones a más de 6 millones. Más de tes negociadoras”. Martha Grevatt habló Michigan, Nueva York, Pennsylvania y ilícitas; 4) derechos de las víctimas; y 5) el 90.000 personas han desaparecido, más a nombre del grupo diciendo: “Estamos Texas) así como de Colombia, Costa Rica final del conflicto. Los negociadores han de 220.000 han muerto (80% de ellas ci- en solidaridad con el pueblo de Colom- y Puerto Rico. Algunas/os representan el llegado a acuerdos parciales sobre los tres viles), y de cuatro a 6 millones de perso- bia – mujeres, campesinos, estudiantes, Gremio Nacional de Abogados (NLG), el primeros puntos. La actual ronda de nego- nas han sufrido desplazamiento interno sindicatos, LGBT – que se han unido en Centro de Acción Internacional (IAC) y ciaciones aborda los puntos 4 y 5. – siendo la mayoría mujeres y niños. organizaciones y movimientos con una el Grupo de Trabajo de las Américas. La La delegación se reunió por separado La ONU ha estimado que paramilitares visión de una nueva Colombia, constru- delegación viajó bajo los auspicios de la con negociadores de las FARC-EP y del con vínculos con el gobierno y con empre- ida sobre una base de igualdad, justicia Alianza para la Justicia Global (AfGJ). gobierno colombiano, así como con las sas transnacionales han sido responsables social y una paz duradera. Esto es lo que Las actuales negociaciones de paz en subcomisiones sobre género y sobre las de más del 80% de las víctimas. quiere la mayoría en Colombia”. El poder de la guerra popular y la solidaridad antiimperialista mundial

Por Dee Knight guerra popular en nuestro país es que Frente de Liberación Nacional en las con- quia. Las armas antiaéreas, así como ca- la lucha armada y la lucha política están versaciones de paz en París. miones, tanques y artillería, fueron hechas Tomó 30 años de dura lucha, pero en las estrechamente coordinadas, apoyán- Los líderes de la revolución fueron for- en la URSS y China. Vietnam fue el frente últimas semanas todo era como un torna- dose y estimulándose entre sí”, escribió talecidos por décadas de lucha. Por ejemp- de lucha en una guerra global contra el im- do. Primero, un asalto relámpago en las el general Vo Nguyen Giap, fundador de lo, Le Duc Tho, famoso en Occidente como perialismo estadounidense, y este esfuerzo tierras altas centrales de Vietnam. Luego, las Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Pop- el principal negociador de Vietnam en las de solidaridad enorme fue un factor mate- ataques rápidos en las ciudades costeras ular (FALP). “Así que el lema “Movilizar conversaciones de paz de París – a quien le rial en la victoria de Vietnam. de Hue y Danang. Después, las Fuerzas a todo el pueblo, armar a todo el pueblo y fue concedido el Premio Nobel de la Paz en El general Giap dijo en 1968 que “el ejér- Armadas de Liberación Popular convergi- luchar en todos los frentes” se ha conver- 1973 pero lo rechazó por no aceptarlo junto cito y el pueblo en Vietnam del Norte han eron en Saigón desde todos los puntos. Los tido en una realidad más viva y heroica”. al criminal de guerra Henry Kissinger — derribado más de 3200 de los aviones más líderes del gobierno títere y otros parásitos Todos los esfuerzos de EUA para der- firmó el plan de batalla 1975 para la ofen- modernos de los Estados Unidos, matan- corrieron para subirse a los helicópteros rotar esta estrategia central — como los siva final de primavera, en nombre de la do o capturando un número considerable en la Embajada de Estados Unidos, junto programas de “pacificación” y “aldeas es- dirección del Partido de los Trabajadores. de los mejores pilotos estadounidenses, y con periodistas occidentales, personal de tratégicas” — fueron inútiles. “Cuando un Nacido en 1911, Le Duc Tho había ayudado han hundido o prendido fuego a cientos de la embajada y sus secuaces. pueblo entero se levanta, nada se puede a fundar el Partido Comunista de Indo- naves enemigas. La llamada superioridad El Ejército Popular ahora tenía tanques hacer. Ningún dinero puede ganarles”, china en 1930. Las autoridades coloniales aérea de los imperialistas estadounidenses y artillería, así como fuerzas regulares le dijo el general Giap al Servicio de No- francesas lo encarcelaron de 1930-1936 y — el jefe del imperialismo que se jactaba de a gran escala. En cada pueblo y ciudad, ticias de Liberación en 1969. “Esa es la nuevamente de 1939 a 1944. Después de su su riqueza y armas y que es conocido por se reunían con las milicias populares y base de nuestra táctica y estrategia que liberación en 1945, ayudó a dirigir el Viet su crueldad — ha recibido un duro golpe a las tropas irregulares que les “abrían la los americanos no entienden”. Minh, el movimiento de independencia manos del pueblo vietnamita”. (Discurso puerta”. Las fuerzas del ejército títere de “Todos los 31 millones de personas de vietnamita contra los franceses, hasta la del Día del Ejército, 21 de diciembre, 1968) Saigón se dispersaban frente a este asalto. nuestro pueblo son luchadores valien- firma de los Acuerdos de Ginebra en 1954. Esto fue tres años antes de que las Fuerzas Este 30 de abril se conmemora el 40º tes”, dijo el general Giap, “por medio de Desde 1948 hasta 1975, fue un organizador Armadas de Liberación Popular derribaran aniversario de la Gran Victoria de Prima- una pequeña fuerza para luchar contra líder del frente del sur. a 30 bombarderos estratégicos subsónicos vera de Vietnam en 1975. Esta larga y con- una más grande, derrotando una fuerza Después de firmar el plan de batalla B-52 — un tercio de la flota B-52 estadoun- tinuada guerra — primero contra Japón en más fuerte con una más pequeña, com- 1975, Le Duc Tho fue hasta el centro de idense — mientras resistían el atentado 1945 y luego Francia (con el apoyo de EUA) binando batallas grandes, medianas y mando en las tierras altas centrales, por desesperado de Washington en la Navidad en 1945-1954 y después directamente pequeñas, intensificando la lucha masiva la Ruta Ho Chi Minh en moto a la edad de de 1972 en Vietnam de Norte en la víspera contra el imperialismo estadounidense — y al mismo tiempo llevando a cabo una 64. Allí permaneció, ayudando a coordi- del acuerdo de paz del 27 de enero de 1973. definió una era. En 1966, el Che Guevara guerrilla generalizada, constantemente nar las ofensivas en tres direcciones hasta En 1968 el general Giap habló de “los 31 hizo un llamado ¡“Dos, tres, muchos Viet- golpeando al enemigo desde una posición la marcha final en Saigón. millones de vietnamitas” luchando con- nam”! Luchas al estilo de Vietnam surgi- de fuerza y ​​alcanzando una alta eficien- tra el imperialismo estadounidense. Hoy, eron en las colonias africanas portuguesas cia en el combate, llegando a ser cada vez Solidaridad mundial y colaboración la población es de más de 90 millones, lo de Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique y Angola. más fuerte y ganando victorias cada vez socialista internacional que hace de Vietnam el decimotercer país Lograron la victoria junto a la vietnamita. más grandes a medida que luchan.” (Dis- La victoria de Vietnam fue global. La más poblado del mundo. En 1965, Ho Chi Levantamientos guerrilleros también sur- curso en Hanoi, 21 de diciembre, 1968) Unión Soviética, sus aliados de Europa de Minh dijo que no importaba cuánto EUA gieron sucesivamente en Centroamérica. La movilización de todo el pueblo sig- Este y la República Popular de China pro- pueda matar y destruir, “construiremos La marcha de la victoria vietnamita fue nificaba mujeres, hombres y niños, jóvenes porcionaron armas, municiones, alimen- nuestro país muchas veces más hermo- planeada con meses de antelación. Todos y longevos, del campo y de la ciudad, de tos y mucho más. Los movimientos contra so”. Desde 2000, la tasa de crecimiento los aspectos de los últimos 30 años de lu- norte y sur. El gobierno títere de Saigón fue la guerra en los países de todo el mundo económico de Vietnam ha sido una de las cha entraron en juego. Allí estaba la ruta penetrado por espías patrióticos en todos proporcionaron apoyo moral muy impor- más altas del mundo. Ho Chi Minh – una red de carreteras a los niveles. Un ejemplo famoso de las com- tante. En Estados Unidos, las fuerzas con- El verdadero legado de Vietnam, según través de selvas y montañas utilizadas bativas mujeres es la foto icónica de una tra la guerra junto con el explosivo movi- lo declarado por el general Giap, es que “el para canalizar un suministro constante de pequeña campesina empuñando su AK-47 miento de Liberación Negra generaron una mito de la invencibilidad de los Estados armas, municiones y alimentos de norte a mientras guiaba a su enorme y humillado resistencia a la guerra a gran escala entre Unidos . . . se está derrumbando irreme- sur a pesar de los incesantes bombardeos cautivo — un piloto estadounidense derri- los jóvenes que se negaron a ser parte del diablemente. No importa cuán enorme de Estados Unidos. Los túneles de Cu Chi bado – a través del bosque. Luego está la esfuerzo guerrerista. El resultado fue una sea su potencial militar y económico, nun- fueron centros estratégicos de mando y historia de la atenta camarera en un club huelga virtual de los soldados rasos en la ca tendrá éxito en destruir la voluntad de recuperación subterráneos. La Ofensiva de oficiales en Saigón frecuentado por los zona de combate, así como rebeliones en un pueblo que lucha por su independen- de Tet de 1968 había mostrado al mundo comandantes estadounidenses. Después las bases militares estadounidenses en cia. Esta es una realidad reconocida ahora lo que la resistencia vietnamita era capaz. de la victoria, ella fue honrada pública- EUA y en todo el mundo. en el mundo entero.” Todos estos éxitos se basaron en la es- mente como coronela de la FALP. Los fusiles AK-47 utilizados por las Todas las citas son de “El arte militar de trategia de la guerra popular. El mundo entero conoció a Madame Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Popular la guerra popular: escritos selectos de Vo “La característica sobresaliente de la Nguyen Thi Binh, quien representó al vietnamita fueron hechos en Checoslova- Nguyen Giap”, Monthly Review Press, 1970.