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April-June 1996 Volume 17, Number 1 (£.75 UK) $1.00 PROFIT & PREJUDICE Why it will take a revolution to end racism Slavery existed before the private-profit system BY DEBRA O'GARA came into being, but not based on race. Conquered ace. The U.S. is obsessed with it; cities burn peoples were enslaved, but skin color was irrelevant, because of it. Affirmative action, immigra and the victors assimilated (or were assimi tion, female-headed households mired in lated by) the subjugated culture. Slaves poverty, crime and punishment, Nazism on could work up to equality. theR rise - all of these flashpoint issues, and a multi Not so under capitalism. tude of others, have race at their core. It was a coincidence of history that Despite powerful mass movements and decades of the slaves imported to toil on U.S. legislation, inequality and injustice remain entrenched. plantations, like the native peoples People of color suffer disproportionately from every forced from the land, were dark social ill, from underfunded education and inacces skinned. But once underway, sla sible healthcare to permanent unemployment. very and genOcide were justified As Black scholar W.E.B. Du Bois said, tiThe problem by a brand-new ideology, the of the twentieth century is the problem of the color myth of racial inferiority. ~; line. II The ruling class turned rac- " .. . Wby is this so? ismt(Uts advantage in every . part of economic life. Dark . Racism: capitalism's bad seed. In a ground skinned and Jewish women im breaking book on race relations, Black sociologist migrants sweated in garment Oliver Cox debunks the myth that racism has always shops on the Eastern seaboard, Chi- existed. In Caste, Class, and Race, he outlines how nese workers laid the railroad tracks race discrimination came into existence as a result of across the country, and brown the development of capitalist economy. and yellow farmworkers The advance of capitalism was spurred in the 15th made the West Coast and 16th centuries by European breakthroughs in bloom. Despite repeated exploration and plunder, including the blood-soaked resistance by workers of "discovery of the New World." As trade expanded, color, super-exploitation Portuguese and Spanish profiteers raided the African on the basis of race be coast to supply the invaders of the Americas with a came entrenched as an valuable new commodity - laborers in chains. to page 3 LUCRO V PREJUICIO Por que sera necesaria una revolucion para acabar con el racismo Raza, et describe como la discriminacion racial empe No es asi en el capitalismo. POR DEBRA O'GARA zo a existir como resultado del desarrollo de la econo Fue una coincidencia historica que losesclavos as razas. Los Estados Unidos estan obsesionados mia capitalista. importados para trabajar la tierra en plantios de los con ellas; hay ciudades que arden a causa de Durante los siglos XVy XVI, el avance del capitalis Estados Unidos, al igual que los pueblos nativos que elIas. La Accion Afirmativa, la inmigracion, mo fue estimulado por el progreso en las exploracio eran forzados a abandonar sus tierras, fueran de piel Llos hogares dirigidos por mujeres hundidos en nes y saqueos, incluyendo el bafio de sangre que fue el obscura. Pero una vez que comenzaron, la esclavitud la pobreza, el crimen y los castigos, el Nazismo creciente: tldescubrimiento del Nuevo Mundo." y el genocidio eran justificados mediante una nueva todos estas cuestiones explosivas, y muchas otras, A medida que se expandia el comercio, los ideologia: el mito de la inferioridad racial. contienen el racismo en su esencia. saqueadores portugueses y espafioles hadan redadas La clase gobernante cambio el racismo para su A pesar de movimientos de masas poderosos y de en la Costa Africana para proveer a los invasores de slgue en la paglna 3 decadas de legislacion, la desigualdad y la injusticia America de una nueva y r------, siguen estando arraigados. La gente de color sufre valiosa mercancia: los tra New Freeway Hall desproporcionadamente a causa de cada una de las bajadores en cadenas. 5018 Rainier Ave. S. BULK RATE enfermedades sociales, desde la educacion con presu La esclavitud existia an u.s. POSTAGE Seattle, WA 98118 PAID puestos insuficientes y la inaccesibilidad al cuidado tes de que naciera el siste- SEATTLE, WA medico hasta el desempleo. ma de lucro privado, pero ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED PERMIT NO.1 003 Como dijo W.E.B. Du Bois, un academico negro, "El no basado en la raza. Los problema del siglo veinte es el problema de la barrera pueblos conquistados eran del color." esclavizados, pero el color lPor que son las cosas de esta manera? de su piel era irrelevante, y los victoriosos asimilaban EI racismo: la mala semllla del capitaIismo. (0 eran asimilados por) la En un libro innovativo sobre las relaciones raciales, el cultura subyugada. Los es- soci610go negro Oliver Cox pone por tierra el mito de c1avos se podian ganar la que el racismo siempre ha existido. En Casta, Clase y igualdad con su trabajo. 2 Freedom SOcialist April-June 1996
In This Issue Tributes from near and far Vol. 17, No. 1 April-June 1996 to Gloria Martin,1916-1995 Anti-Cuba campaign escalates 6 BY ANDREA BAUER Dale Suess, a gay family with" teaching white feminists Bill Clinton is pointing friend, gave a funny and poi the importance of defending a finger at Cuba and loria Martin would gnant salute that told of his our sisters of color if we are crying"shame!" Wrong. never have approved first encounter with Gloria at serious about winning women's Our editorial points the of all the attention her bookstore, Shakespeare and liberation. " finger where it really Gpaid to her at a recent Martin. When Suess told Gloria And a message of solidarity series of uplifting commem he was a cemetery historian, from the Organization of Ira belongs: at the deadly orations. She was much too she replied, "Well, honey, some nian People's Fedaian Guerillas U.S. embargo. outward-directed for that! of the dead are a lot more inter called Gloria "an ardent de But she certainly would have esting than the living." fender of the national freedom approved of the combination movement of the Iranian people of stimulating people, hard Los Angeles, January 28: and a valuable comrade." A fable of the coming revolution 7 hitting politicS, rib-sticking Angie Pompa of the Clinic a Eva food, and vital art, music, and Abortion Defense Committee Melbourne, Vic., Australia, In a fictional first-person poetry - just the mix that char affectingly described how much February 25: A strong shOwing narrative by a Black woman acterized the life of this Free the efforts of principled femi by left speakers made "Solidar worker recounting her role dom Socialist Party and Radical nists like Gloria mean to poor ity Salon" an apt name for this in America's socialist revo Women leader. (Please see last women and women of color. event's setting. lution, Clara Fraser tells an issue's centerfold for an obituary Event chair Monica Hill, an Ray Jackson, coordinator of and tributes.) other veteran of the fierce the Aboriginal Deaths in Cus absorbing tale about social Each memorial also featured struggle to keep Clinica Eva tody Watch Committee, sent transformation. two video presentations: the open, said about Gloria: "She an inspiring address to Gloria, first, a hilarious discussion be tween Gloria's dosest colleague, International u.s. FSP founder Clara Fraser, and a Dateline Australia: Racism 1 mock Gloria played by Tamara 4 Turner, in which "Gloria" ob gay pride Gloria Martin 2 structs Clara's every attempt to Bosnia 8 Sandy Nelson case 3 extol her virtues; the second, Voices of Color: Labor party founding 5 an interview in which the real Canadian Natives 8 Worker-on-the-street Gloria expresses herself in typi Interviews 5 cally sharp fashion on the ques Features tion of reform vs. revolution. Henry Noble 6 Editorials A sample of other highlights: Review: Freeway Hall Cuba 6 Case booklet 6 Medicare and Seattle, December 17: More Clara Fraser 7 Medicaid cuts 6 than 200 people turned out for Gloria in her adopted home Cover montage: Design by Su Docekal. Clockwise from town, where she Above: The Bread and Roses bottom left: illustration by Mark Valen; photo by Corky Lee; lived from 1950 un Chorus, which Martin origi photo by Kathleen Merrigan; FS archives. til her death at 79 on nated, sings in her honor in November 22. Seattle. At left: Feminist at Elmer Dixon, a torney Flo Kennedy, center founder of the Seattle and seated, was a featured Black Panther Party, speaker in New York. spoke eloquently, calling Gloria "the saying: "Though I never met measure of a true you - I know of you. For your revolutionary" and revolutionary spirit is as alive "one of the few white in me as all the other Comrades Panthers." before you were alive in you."
Portland, Ore., Vancouver, B.c., Canada, January 20: Said compatriot taught us all to change our March 24: As we go to press, Adrienne Weller, "Gloria was selves and to believe in other this farewell is still to take place. invaluable in building Portland people's capacity to change." But we'll let Vancouver FSP Radical Women. She didn't Organizer Marcel Hatch have mystify theory or the action New York City, February 3: the last word, via excerpts from that eomes from it. She prob Held at Casa de las Americas, a a statement read at the other ably devised the slogan 'Just do vibrant Cuban center, this re commemorations: it,' and Nike owes her big-time membrance especially captur "Gloria'shardworkanddedi royalties. " ed Gloria's internationalism. cation, her insistence on hon Among the other moving Those paying homage included esty and clarity, and her pas speakers was Gloria's son Mike representatives of the Federa sion for the good life have in Warner. tion of Cuban Women and the spired an entire generation of Cuban Mission in New York, as revolutionaries who have the San Francisco, January 21: well as FSP International Secre confidence to follow through This event put a spotlight on tary Guerry Hoddersen. with a just fight. And have a Gloria's literary side. Hoddersen credited Gloria good time doing it!" IJ Ireedom Socialist Party & Radical Women CALIFORNIA WASHINGTON Staff Los Angeles: Teamsters Bldg., 1616 W. 9th St., Base Port Angeles: 1621 S. FSt., Port Angeles, WA 98363. Editorial Board Production Business Manager ment Hall #7, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Ph. 213-365- Ph. 360-45~ 7534. E-mail [email protected]. Doug Barnes Consultant Wendy McPherson 1792. FAX 213-365-6088. E-mail [email protected]. Seattle: FSP National Office, Bush Asia Center, 409 Clara Fraser Kathleen Merrigan Business Assistant San Francisco: RW National Office and Bay Area Maynard Ave. S. #201, Seattle, WA 98104. Guerry Hoddersen Carla Abeyta Branch, Valencia Hall, 523-A Valencia St., San Fran Ph. 206-682-0990. FAX 206-682-8120. Henry Noble Production cisco, CA 94110. Ph. 415-864-1278. FAX 415-864- E-mail [email protected]. Debra O'Gara Camera Manager II Printing 0778. E-mail [email protected]. Seattle Branch, New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Managing Editor Su Docekal Rich Ferguson NEWJERSEY Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118. Ph. 206-722-2453. Andrea Bauer Sara Hospador Newark: 91 Court Street, #3B, Newark, NJ 07102. FAX 206-723-7691. Photo Editor Advertising Services Phone/Fax 201-643-0499. Tacoma: P.O. Box 5847, Tacoma, WA 98415. Staff Writer Steve Hoffman Rotary Offset Press Linda Averill NEW YORK Ph. 206-756-9971. FAX 206-759-3988. Editorial Assistant Translator ®~80 Albany: 190 Westem Ave. #3, Albany NY 12203. • • • Janet Sutherland Jorge Gonzalez ~I Ph. 518-433-1388. New York City: 32 Union Square E. Rm. 907, New AUSTRALIA York City, NY 10003. Ph. 212-677-7002. Melbourne: P.O. Box 266, West BrunSWick, VIC 3055. TheFreedom Socialist (ISSN 0272-4367) is published quarterly by the FAX 212-491-4634. Phone/FAX 03-9386-5065. Freedom Socialist Party, New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Avenue South, OREGON CANADA Seattle, WA 98118. Phone: 206-722-2453. Fax: 206-723-7691. E-mail: Portland: Northwest Service Center, 1819 NW Everett Vancouver: 2278 E. 24th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5N [email protected]. Subscriptions: I-year $5.00 (institutions Rm. 201, Portland, OR 97209. Ph. 503-228-3090. W2. Ph. 604-874-9048. FAX 604-874-9058. $10.00), 2-year Supporting Sub $25.00, 3-year Sustaining Sub $50.00, 5- FAX 503-223-2390. E-mail [email protected]. E-mail [email protected]. year Sponsoring Sub $100.00. Add $5.00 for overseas airmail. Back copies $.75 each. Checks or money orders to Freedom Socialist at the address above. For Australia and Canada, see page 4. Call, writ., or stop by and IIisitl April-June 1996 Freedom SOcialist 3 State Supreme Court agrees to review newsroom free-speech case BY ANGELA BENNETT STARK that included 1,300 postcards sent to the justices from Unamerican Activities Committee or be ... blacklisted. civil-liberties advocates expressing their concern. The result: media that served McCarthy aggressively he Washington state Supreme Court, recogniz and without ... pretense of journalistic objectivity. ing great public concern over the question of Support for reining in corporate control. " ... The newspaper's rationale for removing Sandy whether employers should be able to limit Bolstering Nelson's case at the Supreme Court are two from reporting - to protect its 'integrity' and'appear T their workers' public activism, has agreed to friend-of-the-court briefs - a joint one by the Wash ance of objectivity' - is not persuasive when one take up a precedent-setting lawsuit by Tacoma jour ington State Labor Council and the Newspaper Guild, considers the media's wealth, power and investment nalist Sandy Nelson against her employer, The News and another by the National Lawyers Guild, which 67 in the status quo." Tribune (TNT). organizations and individuals have CO-Signed. Another CO-Signer, the Seattle chapter of Labor An award-winning reporter and the organizer for The NLG brief answers TNT's legal arguments, Party Advocates, called Nelson's case "a classic ex Tacoma Radical Women, Nelson was punitively trans noting that the Tribune doesn't even try to prove that ample of how large and influential corporations abuse ferred to copy editing in 1990 because of her their power by trying to control the lives of off-duty leadership on behalf of a city gay employees even when they're not at work." rights initiative. Other signers include the Washington Fed Tribune managers claimed her activism eration of State Employees Councils 28 and 2; threatened the daily paper's "appearance of Northwest Labor Press; The Progressive; Seattle objectivity," and said her byline would be Gay News; Center for Constitutional Rights; restored only if she gave up politiCS. syndicated columnist Norman Solomon; and Instead, backed by the state American Civil Black feminist attorney Flo Kennedy. Liberties Union, she filed suit, demanding reinstatement as a reporter. Join the mobilization! The state Supreme Her case has genera~ed enormous support Court will hear the case in June. Meanwhile, because of what's at stake: the fundamental Nelson and her campaign team are not rest right of all workers to speak freely and take ing on their laurels. In February, for example, part in civic causes - whether their bosses defense committee members distributed fly like it or not. ers and sought support at a massive labor rally in Olympia, ~ashington; in March, Nelson Anti-labor rUlings. Nelson's lawyers ap participated as a panelist in the Media and pealed to the state Supreme Court last year Democracy Congress in San Francisco. after Pierce Coun ty Superior Court Judge Vicki You don't have to sit on the sidelines of Hogan ruled for the Tribune, which is part of this important battle. Donations are much the McClatchy chain, on all the basic issues. needed; please send them to the Sandy Nel Each side had asked Hogan to summarily son Defense Committee, P.O. Box 5847, decide the case in their favor, without trial. Tacoma, WA 98415. And additional organi Nelson cited protections for free speech and politi Nelson's activism ever negatively affected the paper, zations may still sign on to the NLG brief; if interested, cal activity in both the state constitution and a state and concludes: "The pretext is clear: TNT's real objec call Val Carlson at (206) 667-0065. law directed specifically at employers. tion is to the 'unpopular' conten t of Nelson's poli tics. " The Guild points out in its brief that the Washing TNT claimed that neither applied, arguing that Each co-signer attached a letter explaining their ton constitution guarantees that political power is private-sector employees like Nelson are not covered interest in the suit. Environmentalist Hazel Wolf, a "inherent in the people." Let's let McClatchy know we by the state constitution and that freedom of the press former Communist Party member targeted for harass intend to fight for what's ours! C under the First Amendment gives publishers immu ment during the McCarthy era, said this: nity from the state statute. liThe McCarthyites acted with particular aggression Angela Bennett Stark coordinates outreach When Hogan sided with TNT on both points, toward people in the communications industry... Jour for Nelson's defense committee and is active in Nelson asked for direct review by the top state court. nalists suspected of being communists or communist Washington Federation of State Employees She got it with the help of a powerful public campaign sympathizers were forced to testify before the House LocaI843.
Radical-sounding demagogues like '60s, and '70s, for example, galvanized Louis Farrakhan aren't doing us any every other group of oppressed people favors either. Cultural nationalists, who in the U.S. - and reverberated around ... Profit and prejudice focus on self-help and want to increase the globe. the separation between the races in People of color have shown that we from the cover tively, the only biological distinctions stead of eradicating it, are playing right have an indispensable leadership role to essential ingredient of capitalism. among the races are superficial, like skin along with the bosses' agenda - sex play in the struggle for a better life for color. And skin pigmentation certainly ism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and all. What's needed is revolutionary in Differences only skin deep. Bosses doesn't determine intelligence, psychol aU. tegration - the coming together of all today would be lost without the cheap ogy, or propensity to violence or crimi This is why Farrakhan and other or races and both sexes to challenge the labor of people of color, especially of nal behavior! Race is a social category. ganizers ofthe recent Million Man March basiC, inhuman precepts of this money desperate immigrants who are often flee decided the event should emphasize driven world order. ing countries devastated by U.S. poli Unite to fight. Liberal efforts to over personal atonement rather than put de That's the politiCS humanity needs cies. The powers-that-be attack these come racism, such as the diversity train mands on the system. so that we can enter the 21st century necessary newcomers not to keep them ing seminars springing up all over, don't But despite misleaders like these and finally ready to put the problem of the out, but to keep them down - scorned begin to address the root cause of the terrible repression by the ruling class, color line behind us. C as lazy freeloaders and underpaid. problem: the dependence of big busi racial minorities have a militant and Stereotyping like this is used against ness on a divided working class and a principled history of fighting for equal Alaskan Native Debra O'Gara is every racial group to excuse the abuse special pool of inexpensive labor. That's ity. And when people of color move, a tribal lawyer who has taught on they are dealt and to keep workers angry why these programs are so popular with everybody moves. The civil rights and race relations and the Black and at each other, not the bosses. But objec- corporations and government. Black Power movements of the 1950s, Chicano/a movements.
todas partes, no han comenzado a ha militancia en la lucha por la igualdad, y blar acerca de la causa fundamental del cuando la gente de color se mueve, problema: la dependencia de las gran todos se mueven. Los movimientos pro ... Lucro y prejuicio des empresas de una clase trabajadora derechos civiles y del Poder Negro de los dividida y de una fuente de mano de afios SO, 60 Y 70, por ejemplo, galvani vlene de 10 prlmera paglno estos recien Uegados vitales, no para obra barata. Por eso es que estos progra zaron todos los demas grupos de gente propio beneficio en todas las fases de la expulsarlos sino para aplastarlos, des mas son tan populares entre las corpora oprimida en los Estados Unidos con vida economica. Mujeres de piel obscura preciandolos por ser oportunistas pere ciones y el gobierno. reverberacion en el mundo entero. y judias sudaban en fabricas de ropas en zosos y pagandoles menos. Los demagogos que parecen radicales La gente de color ha demostrado que la Costa Oriental, trabajadores chinos Este tipo de estereotipos es usado en tales como Louis Farrakhan no nos es tenemos un papel de liderazgo indis pusieron los rieles del tren que cruzaba contra de todos los grupos raciales como tan haciendo ningtin favor tampoco. pensable que realizar en la lucha por el pais, y trabajadores agricolas morenos excusa para los abusos en contra de ellos Los nacionalistas culturales, los cuales una vida mejor para todos. Lo que se y amarillos produjeron el florecimiento y para mantener la ira de unos contra se concentran en la autoayuda y quie necesita es integracion revolucionaria, de la Costa Occidental. A pesar de la otros y no contra los patrones. Sin em ren incrementar la separacion entre las o sea, la integracion de todas las razas y resistencia reiterada por parte de los bargo, objetivamente hablando, las uni razas en lugar de erradicarla, estan si de ambos sexos para desafiar los precep trabajadores de color, la superexplota cas diferencias biologicas entre las razas guiendo los pasos de los planes de los tos basicos inhumanos de este orden cion con bases raciales se convirtio en son superficiales, como el color de la patrones: el sexismo, la homofobia, el mundial motivado por el dinero. un ingrediente esencial del capitalismo. piel. jLa pigmentacion de la piel en antisemitismo y todo 10 demas. Por eso Ese es el tipo de politicas que necesita verdad no determina el nivel de inteli es que Farrakhan y los organizadores de la humanidad para que podamos comen La diferencia solo se encuentran gencia, sicologia, ni la propensidad a la la reciente Marcha del Millon de Hom zar el siglo XXI listos, al fin, para dejar en la piel. Los patrones de hoy dia violencia 0 al comportamiento crimi bres decidieron que el evento deberia atras el problema de la barrera del color. C estarian perdidos sin la mano de obra nal! La raza es una categoria social. enfatizar la expiacion personal en lugar barata de la gente de color, especialmen de hacerle demandas al sistema. Debra O'Gara es una abogada te la de los inmigrantes desesperados Unidos para pelear. Los intentos Sin embargo, a pesar de malos lideres tribal e indigena de Alaska que que con frecuencia vienen huyendo de liberales para superar el racismo, tal como como estos y la terrible represion por educa acerca de las relaciones ra palses devastados por politicas de los los seminarios de adiestramiento sobre parte de las clases gobernantes, las mi ciales y los movimientos negro y Estados Unidos. El status quo ataca a la diversidad que se estan realizando en norias raciales tienen una historia de chicano. t 1-----
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4 Freedom Socialist April-June 1996
Dateline Australia Huge turnout for first pride march shows off fiery spirit of Melbourne gays
BY ALISON THORNE Fittingly, Pride 96 assembled at the biggest anti-Kennett battle ground - the site of the he queer community in Mel Grand Prix motor race. Kennett destroyed a pub bourne, Australia, made history lic park to build this race track and fill the pockets on February 4. More than 11,000 of private developers. T lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, His government is now in the midst of closing transgenders and supporters streamed Fairfield Hospital, a public facility which is a through the bayside neighbourhood of centre of excellence for treating people St. Kilda in the city's first large-scale with HIV/AIDS. The Radical Women con pride march. tingent chant "Fund hospitals, not race Four thousand enthusiastic spectators tracks!" proved popular with march on cheered and applauded as contingents represent lookers. ing 85 organisations danced, waved, and chanted Another crucial issue is the state anti along the parade route. discrimination law. Led by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Amended in 1995 to include coverage of Gays and promoting the slogan "hate is not a gay men and lesbians for the first time, the family value," the marchers extended over a update offers little real safety - and in fact kilometre. opens some dangerous doors. Pride 96 was formed at a public meeting just 12 It protects "lawful sexual activity" rather weeks before the march. The event, which at than sexual identity or orientation, and it tracted even greater participation than the inter contains an astonishing 55 exemptions! nationally renowned Lesbian and Gay Mardi Those who work with children or for busi Gras in Sydney, was held as a component of nesses employing less than five workers Melbourne's annual Midsumma gay and lesbian receive no protection at all. cultural festival. Pride 96 was a collective shout - a Inspired by the resounding success of this demand by the gay community to be ac inaugural event, Pride organizers announced that knowledged as a force to be reckoned with and to the march has earned a permanent place on the push issues like these to the forefront. Melbourne calendar. Build on success. Next year, let's use that They said it couldn't happen. Pride 96 mighty shout to press for a clear set of demands. walked all over the assumptions of timid gay The opportunity to do this was missed with this movement leaders who have argued for years year's event, held just the week after Prime Min that most Melbourne queers are not out enough ister Keating (now ousted) announced the March to demonstrate openly. "This isn't flamboyant 2 federal elections. Sydney," they've persistently cautioned. Marchers were asked to think for a moment Well, February 4 said goodbye to all that. about everyone who has died from AIDS. We A sort of predecessor to Pride 96 was the now were asked to reflect on the young gays, lesbians, defunct Gay Day, first staged to celebrate the bis and tranys (transgenders) who have taken 1981 repeal of the Victorian state's laws against their own lives. But speakers and organisers did male homosexuality. not present us with strategies for resistance. Put on by the big-budget, super-moderate Alterna nervous to march. And visibility alone will not protect against homo tive Life Style Organisation (ALSO), Gay Day was an But not a single such letter arrived. Instead, they phobia. inward-looking event. It attracted crowds from the were swamped by registrations. So next time, let's use our voice to press the politi gay and lesbian community, but little media public Speaker Madeline Swain, who gave the key note cians for what we need, and let's ask our speakers to ity, and it featured no political speeches or demands. address, summed up the strengths of Pride 96 in a tackle the nitty-gritty questions: How can freedom be ALSO consistently refused to hold Gay Day at a public speech based on the "seven deadly sins." Lust and won for all queers? Can equality be won within the venue, preferring to stay closeted behind the walls of pride, Swain argued, are not sins. The real sins are status quo, or will it require an all-encompassing an enclosed football stadium. apathy and procrastination - sins, she said, we had all restructuring of society? The overwhelming turnout for Pride 96 should go just banished! To the Koori dyke with no job prospects, the queer a long way toward ending this insularity. The march and rally positively flaunted the fact youth with no home, the HIV -positive gay man facing Addressing the exhilarated crowd at the end of the that Victoria's gay and lesbian community is ready the closure of Fairfield Hospital, and the lesbian teacher parade, Pride co-convener Peter Dewildt described and willing to mobilise in the streets. left out of anti-discrimination laws, the answer is how organisers mailed letters inviting groups all over obvious. The fight for our liberation is a class question. the state. Having absorbed some of the pessimists' Pride means politics and protest. For many in This year we marched to say, "We're here and we're gloomy predictions, they had expected to receive at attendance, battle lines were drawn with the election queer." Next year, let's add, "And we're taking on the least a few regretful replies from organisations too of conservative Premier leff Kennett in 1992. system!" [J ... First Nations
from page 8 and education in the streets, the courts, and other [J $100 for a 5-year sponsoring sub (20 issues) forums. and a free copy of Socialist Feminism: The In September, for example, Mohawk nation dem FirstDecade, 1966-1976. onstrators in Quebec, mostly youth, marched and [J $50 for a 3-year sustaining subcription, blocked highways to oppose police assaults against 12 issues. Natives taking back their lands. Native women are also prominent in the new [J $25 for a 2-year supporting subcription, assertive wave. Shuswap clan mothers, most of whom Sissues. had sons and daughters embroiled in the Gustafsen Lake face-off, were prepared to meet government force [J $5 for a J-year subcription, 4 issues. with force. Institutions $10. Youth, women, and many elders know that the survival of their people is tied to retaining sovereignty over their territory. They believe they are responsible NAME for preserving the health of the earth for future genera tions, and they intend to stop the corporate ex ADDRESS ploitation that leaves in its wake a polluted wasteland that will last for centuries. CITY STATE/PROVINCE And they are ready to use any means necessary. [J Ann Rogers is a socialist of Chippewa de ZIP/POSTAL CODE COUNTRY scent, leader in the United Front Against Fas Send checks or money orders to: Freedom cism, and mainstay of Seattle Radical Women. Socialist,5018RainierAve.S.,Seattle,WA98118, USA. Add $5 for overseas mail. In Australia: $6.00 (AUD) to Freedom Socialist, P.O. Box 266, West Financial donations to the Gustafsen Lake legal defense Brunswick,VIC 3055. In Canada: $6.00 (CAD) to Freedom fund can be made payable to TS'peten Trust Account and Socialist, 2278 E. 24 Ave_. Vancouver, BCV5N 2V2. sent to Splitting the Sky, P.O. Box 6475, Hinton, AB T7V lX7, Canada. Phone: (403) 865-1784. April-June 1996 Freedom Socialist 5 Calling all activists! June convention will found u.s. labor party BY STEVE HOFFMAN Well, some workers love Buchanan nomic and social liberation for all. too. But why should labor cater to its Word on the street: inally, a breath of fresh air for most backward elements? Its historic Ideas whose time has come. To get U.S. voters sick of holding their role has been to fight for a more equal workers the jobs, wages, and social pro "It's high time!" noses in the polling booth! From world - not a more retrograde one. grams they must have to survive, the The following quotes were culled from im FJune 6-9 in Cleveland, Ohio, Many labor heavyweights who sup labor party platform has to directly con promptu interviews by reporters David working people from around the coun port LPA are also reluctant to anger AFL front corporate profiteering. For start Barlavi and Muffy Sunde, Los Angeles; try will convene to found a labor party. CIO bigwigs by running a candidate ers, the party should call for: George Morrison, Louisville, Kentucky; Kim A labor party could do what unions against the Democrats. Thus, in six years, • Total equality. Full reproductive Larson, Seattle; and Emily Woo Yamasaki, cannot: give workers an organized po LP A has made no concrete progress to rights for women; affirmative action New York City. litical voice. Its formation could be as ward getting into the electoral ring. with enforceable quotas; immigrant important as the rise of the CIO. But all that could be about to change. rights; sovereignty for Native American And has labor ever needed its own nations; rights for lesbians, gay men, party more? With Clinton having be Broad participation key to LPA's bisexuals, and transgenders. "I don't expect uto trayed every promise he ever made to future. The most vital groups in labor • Full employment by adopting new pia, but I understand working people, KKK-connected Pat today are the women, people of color, public works projects and reducing the why a person would Buchanan is posing as the standard youth, and sexual minorities, many of work week with no cut in pay. be discontented with bearer for the toiling and middle classes. them activists, who are the vast major- • Free, nationalized healthcare and the Democrat and Re This has got to stop! childcare. More funds for publican parties, be The construction of a education, social services, cause there's not workingclass electoral alter and the environment by tax that much difference native will face obstacles, of ing the rich and disman between them. People course. Some who are in tling the Pentagon. shouldn't have to sleep under bridges./I volved already plan to use • Global labor solidarity Helen Bonks, retired variety the convention as a launch instead of war. Repeal of performer, New York City ing pad not for a third party, NAFTA and GAIT and a but for a pressure group to higherstandardoflivingfor -----, ...... ______"'. reform the Democrats. workers worldwide. " A labor party But the people who have sounds like a good idea. been sold out by both par Spread the word! LPNs The government is al-
ties - rank-and-file union future will rise or fall on its (j) ways trying to make ists, low-paid workers, wo programj whether it moves ~ moneyfromyou. They men, people of color, lesbi from advocate to actual cre- ~ always want to give ans and gays, and radicals atorj and whether its leader-
Weekly study groups for activists HTeaching and learning are complementary obligations of every leader." - James P. Cannon, 1945
Los Angeles - 213-365-1792 San Francisco - 415-864-1278 Socialist Feminism: The First Decade Caste, Class and Race New York City -212-677-7002 Seattle - 206-722-2453 Readings from Feminists of Color U.S. Radical Lab.or History: From Colonial Times to the Founding of the CIO Port Angeles, Wash. - 360-452-7534 The Rising of the Women is the Vancouver, B.C., Canada - 604-874-9048 Rising of the Race An Introduction to Socialist Feminism Portland, Oregon - 503-228-3090 Melbourne, Vic., Australia - 03-9386-5065 Struggle for a Proletarian Party The Fundamentals of Marxist Economics 6 Freedom SOCialist April-June 1996
Editorials Ht;/<.E, W~ L.f~J 616- 6U5/Ne55 HAvr; TWO u.s., not Cuba, PARTIES deserves to be pariah ! "BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE" has come to the res cue, all right - of the U.S. government's smash-Cuba policy'. The U.S. is using Cuba's entirely legitimate downing of two hostile planes on February 24 to justify cracking down against stateside supporters of the island and strengthening the anti-Cuba embargo. You don't have to be Oliver Stone to figure out that the convenient juxtaposition of all these events is no accident. The U.S. provoked the February confrontation through its support for the "Brothers" and its long record of encourag ing anything, legal or illegal, that might bring the Cuban workers state to its knees. And the U.S. bears the blame for the consequences ..
IN ITS OBSESSIVE CRUSADE to put Cuba back into capitalist hands, the Yankee giant is just as willing to trample on the rights of people at home as on the self determination rights of Cubans. In January and February, U.S. border officials seized four Ton;ue in Cheek hundred computers gathered by people in the U.S. and ,;;:;.::::::;&J::::::::~:::::::::::::;.::::;::::;::::::::::::::::.:.:::::.;:::;:::::::~::::::::::.::~;::~:::~.;::~:::I Canada for Cuban hospitals, and they refuse to return them. On February 7, the government launched a grand jury witchhunt against Pastors for Peace, the solidarity movement's leading force, and made sweeping demands for A retiree's work is never done private records. to us after forty years of labor. repose. They're angry and in As Clinton and his crowd move to toughen the embargo Or at least this is the time- . volved. A favorite button at a and codify it into law through the Helms-Burton bill, they honored notion of retirement recent labor rally read, "Our are seeking to cripple domestic opposition to their plans. we grew up with. The 18th Golden Handshake Was a And these people are brazen enough to accuse Castro of be century French writer Voltaire Golden Shower!" ing undemocratic! created for his characters So when retiree organizer The U.S. took its Cuba-bashing campaign to the U.N., Candide and Pangloss a simple Jackie proposed that we ex where it bullied the Security Council into "strongly deplor retired life of cultivating gar Boeing workers march to the ing" Cuba's action against the invading planes. But in the BY dens and munching pistachios. company's employment office global arena, the U.S. is playing to a tough crowd; probably HENRY I know one recent retiree and demand our jobs back, we no other country has consistently done as much for the NOBLE with similar aspirations who almost took her up on it. world's oppressed peoples as has revolutionary Cuba. set the answering machine to As it turns out, retirement is Now it is time to repay the debt, because only an inter very new stage in life notify callers, II I'm retired now, no escape from working. It's a national mobilization can back down the U.S. The Cuban brings a new reality to and I may return your call if I grand opportunity for differ government took an important step in this direction when be faced, and retire get around to it." ent work: sharing talents with it issued a call to all friends of Cuba to denounce the seizure ment is no exception. But my friend Gene, a fel other skilled and wily survi of the computers. E At the center where I exer low Boeing graduate, only vors to wrest back for our own cise, veteran retirees warn those smiles wryly at the idea of use, and the use of those who MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE - and U.S. sym new to this status about the lifestyle in which every day is follow, the wealth we created pathizers will be crucial in making it all happen. Pastors for "Honey, do" jar. This is the Saturday. He's caring for a new during our workforce years. Peace will need public and legal support to resist the grand receptacle that one's room grandson, repairing flood dam Young radicals were once jury subpoena of documents. The pressure on Washington mates have filled up over the age to his home, and battling supposed to distrust anyone to release the technology stolen at the borders must be esca years with an ominous collec to protect the pension that our over thirty. But in fact, they lated. Outreach needs to be stepped up to win increased tion of chores that must be ex-employer is eager to cut. can find among the fifty-plus backing from organized labor, people of color, women, les dodged if we are to indulge in Gene is one of hundreds of generation a multitudeofmili bians and gays, and other activists. the cruises, golf matches, and ex-wage-slaves I'm meeting tant allies - ones who have Readers can help. Call your elected representatives and fishing that are rightfully due who experience anything but the time to fight back! 0 demand the return of the computers and the lifting of the embargo. And get out into the streets! On March 22, the SUbpoena deadline, many major cities will hold rallies to protest the inquisition against Pastors and to show solidar ity with five Cuba defenders who are on a "Fast for Life" in Book Review San Diego. Other demonstrations are sure to follow; call Pastors at (612) 870-7121 for updates. jAbajo el bloqueo! Down with the blockade! 0 Profile ofcourage against Nationalize healthcare redbaiters and courts to solve Medicare crisis They Refused to Name This is a book that should refiled against the organiza Names: The Freeway Hall scare the hell out of anyone tion over an eight-year period PRESIDENT CLINTON HOPES that voters have a Case Victory. who belongs to, works for or of time are staggering, and short memory. In 1991, when he won office by champion Seattle: Red Letter Press, 1995. believes in progreSSive, labor should give all activists pause ing universal healthcare, 37 million people were uninsured. 48 pages, 20 photos, $4.00. or radical organizations. It to wonder how courageous Today, they still are. But it gets worse: the government in shows how the law works one they would be in similar cir surance programs that do cover elderly and poor people, BY BILL JOHNSTON way for some and another for cumstances. But the FSP Medicare and Medicaid, are under the bipartisan knife. those individuals or groups showed "Tenacity, tenacity, Forecasters predict that these institutions will soon begin o tell the truth, I can't who are not "economically tenaCity" - in the words of to hemorrhage red ink, in large measure because of skyrock remember where I correct" in the system's eyes. their National Chairperson, eting health care costs. So, to II save" Medicare and Medicaid, purchased my copy For six years a disgruntled Clara Fraser, quoting Leon the politicians are pressing for radical surgery. T of They Refused to former member of the Free Trotsky - and eventually they Clinton, who poses as a guardian of these programs, Name Names, a quick SO-page dom Socialist Party dragged the won. wants to slash $54 billion from Medicaid. And he lines right read on what became known officers of the organization I won't tell you how. You're up with Gingrich et al. in advocating deregulation of pro as the Freeway Hall Case. through the court system in going to have to go get the viders, privatization schemes, and increaSing reliance on Not only that, but I have to an attempt to recover a contri booklet yourself. It will be corporate HMOs - whose payments from the government admit I picked it up at 3:00 bution freely given years be worth it! 0 he would like to raise by 10 percent! a.m. one morning figuring it fore. At every juncture the The Republicans, not to be outdone in gift-giving to the would almost certainly cure courts allowed this ridiculous As the Pacific Northwest rich, sought to take one hundred billion dollars of savings me of the insomnia I was suffer lawsuit to move forward, when Newspaper Guild's Adminis wrung from Medicare and put it into the general Treasury ing. It didn't. Two hours later I it never would have been al trative Officer, BiIIJohnston - where it would help to fund their coveted $245 billion in realized I had breezed through lowed to do so had the agency makes defense of civilliber tax cuts, mostly for the affluent. this interesting little legal soap receiving the contribution ties a union priority. The opera and was still quite awake! been United Way or a church. Guild is a pillar of support in SO WHO WROTE THE RULE that says corporations My reading of the history of But the Freedom Socialists reporter Sandy Nelson's case must be allowed to make money from people's pain and the American legal system has are not on the courts' "approval against The News Tribune. suffering, anyway? There's a simple, logical, and humane never convinced me the Ameri list." Their opponent was given solution to the Medicare/Medicaid problem. It's way past can courts should be held in the benefit of every doubt. He To order copies of They Re time to take the profits out of the medical industry: let's high regard - They Refused no longer questioned the sys fused to Name Names, please nationalize healthcare. 0 to Name Names just added to tem as they do. use the form provided with the ad that perception. The motions filed and on the facing page. April-June 1996 Freedom SOcialist 7
Letters to the Editor
QUEBEC SOVEREICNTY SOCIALISM FOR SKEPTICS no release date. This slanderous lie [against Shared perspectives Revolution needed Williams] has the stink of the Clara There seems to be much to abolish privilege FBI COINTELPRO on it. It's Fraser common ground between your In a letter in Vol. 16 No.2, designed to cause mental an analysis and that of Fourth In MarcTooley asserts that social guish and physical attack. ternational supporters in Que ism will never be more than a Jaan Laaman, Ohio-7 Socialism for Skeptics VII: bec ("Quebec Independence a dream by asking: Under social Leavenworth federal Step Forward for All Workers," ism, how can you ensure that a prison, Kansas Vol. 16 No.3). Our comrades man (sic) gets out of the sys Looking Backward at are involved in the Popular tem exactly what he puts into Network fora Yes! Vote, which it? He also states that with hard ((Better life" in West a lie the Year 2000 makes similar arguments. work and ingenuity, clever I'm recently incarcerated. THAT NEW YEAR'S DAY I LOST MY JOB at Boeing International Viewpoint men (sic) can make it to the My crime was related to the Paris was the day I decided that I, Cheryl Jordan, had had enough. same top as the power elite. poor health care of this state Standing in the unemployment line and thinking about the In one sense, Tooley is right. and country. I thOUght that poor woman in Mexico now getting a dollar a day for the Message appreciated Men, and other privileged once in prison, I'd get better work that paid me $12 an hour was the last straw. groups, have used capitalism health care. Wrong! We don't I found a job as a nurse's aide in a big new HMO. The week Good to hear such a refresh to maintain avenues that al even have true physicians. ing message! Thanks a lot! I started, the employees won union representation. low only them to be rewarded I'mfromthe former Czecho But contract negotiations stalled. The bosses wanted to D. Chartier for their work and initiative. slovakia. I was deceived by the Montreal, Quebec make a mockery of patient care with low wages, long shifts or Though I am not a Leninist, multinational capitalist propa reduced hours, relentless speedup, and cuts in service. I am coming to see that an all ganda about a "better life" in We went on strike the same week that federal employees Simplistic treatise encompassing revolution will the West for the working man. walked out nationally. For four years they had been yanked be needed to achieve justice. Now I know that socialism has around at budget time, deprived for weeks of their paychecks, Simplistic and chock full of George Morrison its own values! Even the as people were ruthlessly cut off from vital programs. inaccuracies best sums up your Louisville, Kentucky "hated" communism gave The new Labor Party called for a general strike. article. If this is an example of something back to the people the intellectual rigour of the A year earlier, the idea might have given me pause, out of (free education or Medicare). concern for my two children. But I couldn't support a family left, our cause is doomed. After all I've experienced, on HMO wages - and, by god, there had to be more to work Lech Lesiak I'm a strong propagator of so [email protected] ing than just managing to stay alive so you could keep on cialist ideas. Today I know that slaving away. A battle was underway for worker dignity, and I Trotsky was right and Stalin had to join it, to be true to my class, my color and my kind. Commonality as workers terribly wrong! All I'm missing While I support unequivo is a good socialist publication. THE GENERAL STRIKE was a huge success in terms of cally the right of national self Would you send me some cop participation, but the government wouldn't budge. Radicals determination, as a socialist I ies of your awesome paper? were saying we needed to make arrangements ourselves to Jaroslav Kukla #739412 believe that in the long run the provide food, electricity, heat and medical care for the public. McNeil Island Correction My union wanted to occupy the neighborhood clinics. I Quebecois will only really be Center, P.O. Box 881000, free when they unite with the Steilacoom, WA 98388-1000 was on the Planning Committee. entire North American work When we proposed this to the local Labor Council, a hand ing class to defeat capitalism. Yes; we send gift subscriptions ful of bureaucrats who had survived the shakeup a few years The English ruling class is to prisoners upon request. -Ed. back were afraid we would bring the military down on our bringing out all its jingoistic heads; the National Guard had already murdered strikers in Il propaganda and rallying the linois and Mississippi. boys around the flag, setting SCHOOLS UNDER FIRE But I saw no reason why the soldiers shOUldn't be on our back class struggle in Canada BULLETINS FROM PRISON Unions must play offense side, and I said so. Weren't they as mistreated as we were by a many years. Forthis reason itis system that used them and threw them away? (It was the first necessary to not only defend NBC slanders Ohio-7 Please write more on the time I'd spoken in front of so many people!) Quebecois rights, but to always On October 1, NBC aired capitalist crisis and corporate After intense debate, the Labor Council approved our plan. point out the commonality of "In the Line of Duty: The Hunt and bipartisan attacks on "pub workers' struggles everywhere. for Justice." The movie was lic" education (Vol. 16 No.4, THE ARMY WAS WAITING FOR US at the clinics. We Harry Paine billed as the "true story" of the "Public Schools Under Fire.") appealed to them: "Brothers and Sisters, don't fire on us. We Winnipeg, Manitoba government hunt for anti-im Please explain why unions are your families, your neighbors, your friends. We're fighting perialist political fugitives who only play defense with no of for a better life for you, too." They didn't shoot. We embraced were called the Ohio-7. fense. Seems like these "tac instead, and cheers resounded. Will independence Besides casting the Ohio-7 tics" always get workers pinned They were mostly kids, lots of them African American. I've benefit First Nations? in a negative light and the gov back to their own five yard never been prouder of my people than at that heart-stopping line. With this method and I am not convinced the pro ernment in a heroic one, a moment when the youngsters retreated from the doorway to totally fabricated element was pro-Democrats doorbell ring let us pass. posed independent govern ing calls for '96, school em ment would support First Na included in the movie. Rich And how much I learned in that first heady experience ard Williams, one of the Ohio- ployees will keep getting a when we actually ran the clinics! How competent we became, tions peoples' claims. With a thrashing from the school desperation to compete in a 7, was shown as cooperating and how thrilling it was to understand the great power that and providing information to boards and other political was ours to wield. North American economy, the henchmen of the rich. needs of First Nations may be the FBI. This is absolutely Strikers all around the country took over their job sites as false. No defendant, includ Karl Roman well. The army was in disarray - whole groups of soldiers "put aside." I can only see that Los Angeles ending in stalemate, or possi ing Williams, ever was a gov would break ranks and bring us their weapons. bly violence. However, I agree ernment witness or collabora Still the strike was deadlocked. And soon the socialists were that a step needs to be taken. tor. gaining everyone's attention. They explained that the only KSC Williams was convicted for Readers are encouraged to submit way to end poverty and racism and sexism and war was to [email protected] conspiracy, bombing, and letters, news stories, commentary, change the economic system so it functioned along collective shooting a state trooper. He cartoons, graphics, photographs, lines, where nobody could exploit another for profit. They • • • received a double life sentence and resource information. Letters called for a massive March on Washington and advocated that Several readers poin ted out that from New Jersey and 4S years may be edited for length. Please we occupy key government bUildings and seize state power! the population of Quebec is one in federal court. Like three write to 5078 Rainier Ave. S., Se quarter of Canada's total, not other Ohio-7 prisoners, he has attle, WA 987 78, or e-mail us at I WAS ONE OF 50 DELEGATES sent from my union to one-third, as we wrote. -Ed. spent 11 years in prison with [email protected]. provide first aid at the March, which turned out to be the larg est ever. I am so proud to have been there among the enthusi astic millions who converged on the Potomac. Every union sent members. So did every tribal nation; every progressive or ganization of women, people of color, lesbians and gays, stu The inspiring story of a notable dents, elders, farmers, disabled people, environmentalists, art ists, and intellectuals; and every branch of the armed forces. fight for justice-and a model We saw that the power was in us, and we strode ahead to claim that power. When the speeches were over, we streamed for defeating harassment lawsuits. into the White House, announcing that the working class was now in charge. All the bosses' hired guns had deserted them, Order today! and I never even had to take out my medical kit. That giant March on Washington, in retrospect, had grown NAME up to become a revolution - America's Third, this one to complete the other two. ADDRESS CITY After that, everything happened at once. A new govern ment was formed, based on councils like the soviets in the STATE/PROVINCE ZIP/POSTAL CODE COUNTRY early USSR and administered by the most popular socialist Please enclose $4.00 for each booklet. AcId 80~ shipping for first leaders. The exciting work of revamping the entire political booklet, 50$ each additional copy. Send check or money order to: structure began. A brand new day was dawning, a new world Red Letter Press, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118. Phone: 206-682-0990. FAX: 206·682-8120. was about to be born. And I was one of the midwives. .' But that's a tale for another time. C 8 Freedom SOCialist NATO occupies Bosnia under cover of keeping peace BY LINDA AVEIUlL theirecollPlJli~a'll~pQliti¢al positions nia, two relatively··. prosperous .repu~ inthe.O'fnl(.i~"p contrOlofthe lies in which Germany has massive n the name of bringing peace, the coUDuysfutureoutofthehandSofthe investments. U.S. has dispatched 2Ot OOOtroops Bosman working class. . The breakup of the Yugoslav work to Bosnia and Herzegovina - with ersstate provoked an inevitable Iorders to shoot and kill any Bosni-: The West establishes control. scramble for territory, political power ans who resist. The imperialiSts are none too subtle and econo.mic domination among the Not faraway,lVorkersareitl~~.,; .... ·~llt their self-interest. Fpr exattlpl~: ~PlJ"1i~.them~vesan.. tamongthe ingly rebelling against the ctiaoticand .. . . .• -1.'heDayton agreemetlt,ratified in· natioIlSof£1)rope;...... Parisjn[)ecemt,;er, stipulat¢$that 3.n ··.WeSternpontidllDSa,ndmedia~t· .. b:lte'Nlatj(mal>M()netal'yFundg()vet~ . the> conflict .. as .~···senseless .··oneth3t 'fl(jr.·\Vil1·.Wtl·Bosn~3'syenttal Bank. expl®(KIoutof l~ingrainedinter. • Aspeedy ttmetabl~ was. set fOt the ··regionalhatreds.· This is the starlda)rd establishm.ent ofa.new constitutional Ueuse torati()tlaJw!a)l,gte:sSi(lJila,gai;nst {or· "intetIlatiot'ulUy sup
The global overlords will never be
Bosnia's saviors. . . on ...... < ...... uJ.e:,rq~PIl.·U'IU·· ...... :...... In fact, thepost~Wo.rld-War:..IlSerbsr .. \"'llJlU:QU:~ shameful deal gives.tb.ertliUi*'~.Gerinany plans to. qO(lts, and MuslimS,w~o,were united omClal· stamp of approval to the goal potti itS 320,000 ref1tJge~inJltJlY. fOlthe first time in the fight against that the super-nationalist lea.dersof .Tientof Gelrm~my'slit1fltlenICe fascism and for sociallsm, provided a Peace,Bo~a'~S~;~~~d:rij~::; SE . Pf10SI:Jer:ity: Croatia and Serbia. Franjo Tudjman in BOsnia can be seen in the fact that .. shining model of ethnlc barm:ony and these will th~~atltl.ie1venlentS and Slobodan Milosevjc, have pursued thedeutsche .mark is. now· the only cooperation. ofthe Bosnianl?tWpletnEmse1V,es/li,JJli:t~ with such devastating fervor: the currency used in common by" all the Nowthe racist U.s. propagandamiUs ing Voices of Color Looting by multinationals forces Canadian Natives onto warpath over land and resources BY ANN ROGERS ment by Unocal Oil Co. bands successfully re In September, after Interna is causing severe health claimed the Ipperwash tional Forest Products began to hile Canada sup problems and fatalities military base in On blast roads through the forest, plies troops for among the Lubicon tario, which was cre the Nuxalk and Heiltsuk block what it falsely Cree, especially the ated on land expropri aded access to King Island. W calls peacekeep children. ated from the Chippe After an inspiring three-week ing and humanitarian missions But the new level of was in 1942 under the standoff, the RCMP again at around the globe, it hopes that thievery has provoked War Measures Act. tacked, arresting 22 people. The nobody is watching what its a new level of defense. They then occupied defendants were scheduled for military is doing at the same Last year, Natives all nearby Ipperwash Pro trial and released, some of them time at home: namely, com across the country put vincial Park, an an after spending three weeks in mitting genocide against Na their lives on the line cestral burial site. jail. Refusing to recognize tive peoples. to defend their terri On September 6, the Canada's jurisdiction over The traditional hunting and tory. Three examples Ontario Provincial Po them, they are now in hiding. fishing grounds of First Nations from a summer and lice moved in and fired contain most of Canada's re autumn of militancy: on the unarmed Na Youth and women show maining natural resources - tives, killing Anthony leadership. Many of the Na water, timber, oil, uranium, and • Shuswap nation: (Dudley) George. In tives involved in these occupa other minerals. More aggres This band's fight is over just two days, two tions are young people. They Sively than ever, the govern traditional ceremonial thousand Aboriginal are impatient with the gov ment is cooperating with trans grounds at Gustafsen people assembled for ernment's endless stalling over national corporations to steal Lake in British Colum George's funeral. land claims and angry about these resources. bia. Though they never Officials have now the often desperate quality of The looting is spurred on by signed away this land acknowledged the Na life for Aboriginal people, who the North American Free Trade to Canada, the govern tive claim to the Ipper experience Canada's highest Agreement, which can super ment granted title to a wash territory, al rates of poverty, infant mortal sede any Native, federal, or pro U.S. cattle rancher. though it is not yet ity, unemployment, crime, al vincial law deemed to put up When Shuswaps certain that they will coholism, and suicide. lt is clear barriers against foreign invest tried to reestablish themselves riously injured, the RCMP in actually honor it. to them that bold action must ment. Basically, NAFfA dictates in the area, the government September surrounded the Na be taken to halt the steady ex that what the multinationals backed up the rancher's claim tives and arrested them. • Nuxalk and Heiltsuk na termination of their culture and want, Canada must provide. with the largest mobilization of Two Gustafsen Lake defend tions: The B.C. Ministry of For ways of subsisting. While the corporations reap the Royal Canadian Mounted ers remain in jail facing at ests gave permission this sum The occupations and block the profits that result from un Police (RCMP) in the country's tempted murder charges. They mer to several logging compa ades are pressuring tribal lead checked exploitation, the First history - four hundred troops are seeking a jury trial in which nies to start clear-cutting the ers to be more aggressive, Nations reap pollution of their with heavy artillery and tanks. they can present their case for old-growth Great Coastal For prompting the formation of environment, loss of means of After several confrontations, sovereignty to the public. est. But this forest is the tradi support groups across Canada, livelihood, illness, and death. in which one Native was gravely tional home of the Nuxalk and and generally helping to spark In northern Alberta, for in~ wounded and police claim that • Kettle and Stony Point Heiltsuk nations, who have a resurgence of Native protest stance, drilling and develop- two cops were shot but not se- nation (Chippewa): These never ceded the land to Canada. ro page 4