DECEMBER 14, 1979 50 CENTS VOLUME 43/NUMBER 48

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

By Fred Feldman Escalating the drive toward war against Iran, President Carter granted the shah sanctuary at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This followed the Mexican government's refusal November 29 to readmit the deposed tyrant, whose proven record of murder, torture, and theft have made him hated by working people around the world. The granting of sanctuary is a step toward giving this criminal permanent asylum in the United MilitanVRita Lee States. SEATTLE-Hundreds demonstrate at University of Washington No- While pretending to seek the release of the hos­ vember 28. Action was part of growing wave of protests against U.S. war tages, Carter keeps the crisis boiling by refusing to return the ex-shah to Iran for trial. That simple act threats. See pages 6-13. would produce instant freedom for the fifty Ameri­ cans in the embassy. Instead, administration officials are fabricating hostages are released-are a crude effort to provoke present in favor of the war drive. war propaganda about the treatment of the hos­ harm to the embassy personnel. Carter thinks the In a December 2 campaign speech in Los Angeles, tages. On December 4 the administration charged­ death of hostages would win popular support for Sen. Edward Kennedy described the shah's reign as without presenting a shred of evidence-that hos­ war moves against the Iranian people. "one of the most violent regimes in the history of tages "have been threatened with execution if they Twenty-one U.S. warships, including two aircraft mankind-in the form of terrorism and the basic fail to cooperate." carriers, have been sent to the Arabian Sea in and fundamental violations of human rights, in the Students occupying the embassy angrily denied preparation for an attack on Iran. Two more air­ most cruel circumstances, to his own people." the slander. craft carriers attached to the U.S. Sixth Fleet have "How do we justify," he continued, " ... accept­ Their assertion that the hostages are well treated been ordered to stand ready in the Mediterranean. ing that individual because he would like to come is supported by everyone who has visited the But Carter's push toward war is making little here and stay here with his umpteen billions of embassy as well as by the public statements of the headway among American working people. Gov­ dollars that he's stolen from Iran." In an appeal hostages who were released. ernment-inspired rightist demonstrations that mo­ particularly directed at the Chicano community Administration officials hinted that released hos­ nopolized the headlines at the start of the crisis Kennedy contrasted the red carpet treatment given tages were the sources of Carter's claim. But not a have been increasingly overshadowed by antiwar the shah with the harassment meted out to Mexi­ single freed hostage was quoted to support it. rallies, teach-ins, and polls showing overwhelming cans who seek work in this country. To make sure that no former hostage contradicts opposition to U.S. military action. Kennedy's statements provoked outraged howls the accusation, the Carter administration has pres­ More and more Americans recognize that the by politicians and the media. He responded by sured them to keep silent. They were subjected to Iranians have a point in calling for extradition of a backpedaling slightly, stressing his support to intensive "decompression" at army bases in West man whose reign brought suffering, poverty, and Carter's phony efforts to win release of the hos­ Germany in an effort to get them to retract calls for death to so many. tages. But he repeated his opposition to giving the the return of the ex-shah to Iran. Opposition to Carter's support of the shah is so ex-shah asylum in the U.S. Carter's recent actions-including a steady drum­ widespread that it breached the solid front that Some of Kennedy's critics pointed out his past fire of threats that Iran will be attacked even if the Democratic and Republican politicians tried to Continued on page 5 In Our Opinion VOLUME 43/NUMBER 48 DECEMBER 14, 1979 CLOSING NEWS DATE-DEC. 5

The lives of the people of Vieques have been criticized continued suppression of demo­ totally disrupted and the livelihood of Vieques cratic rights. In addition, three dissident jour- · fishermen impaired. nalists and an undisclosed number of other Despite the broad protests, the navy remains critics had been arrested earlier, under strict adamant. In response to the death of the two martial law regulations that were continued in young navy people, Rear Admiral Arthur force after dictator Park Chung Hee was slain Knoizen declared the navy had no intention of on October 26 by his own secret police chief. giving up its firing range. "If they think they The new regime, headed by acting president U.S. out of will drive us out of Vieques with this action," Choi Kyu Hah and martial law commander he belligerently asserted, "they had better Chung Seung Hwa-the top government and Puerto Rico! think again." army officials under Park-reneged on its Responsibility for the deaths of two navy What is at stake, clearly, is not the need for earlier promise to release political prisoners personnel in Puerto Rico December 3 falls a firing range. The admiral's hard-nosed stand jailed by Park and announced that martiai squarely on the U.S. government's brutal is a measure of U.S. response to mounting law will continue for an indefinite period. colonial repression of the island. independence sentiment among Puerto Ricans. The new Korean strongmen also announced The ambush of the navy bus by a clandes­ Washington is determined to resist the nation­ that elections would be put off for a year. In tine group was an expression of the rage alist aspirations of the Puerto Rican people by the meantime a "caretaker" regime will be created among the Puerto Rican people by any means necessary. selected by the 2,561-person electoral college, a eighty years of U.S. occupation of their coun­ Because the United States rulers are so rubber-stamp body set up by dictator Park. try and disregard for their rights. determined to hang on to their colony, it will The course that the new Korean regime has The group that carried out the attack de­ take a massive movement of the Puerto Rican charted is clear. As the arrested Korean protes­ clared that it was in response to three killings people to achieve independence. ters said in their statement, the regime has of Puerto Rican activists at Washington's It will not be done by underground grouplets launched "a clear challenge to democracy and hands. engaging in such acts as the assault on the an attempt to extend dictatorial powers." One was Angel Rodriguez Cristobal, who navy bus. Washington bears full responsibility for the was found hanged in a Tallahassee, Florida, Such actions are counterproductive. They continued suppression of the Korean people. prison last month. Authorities said it was permit the U.S. rulers to shift responsibility for U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance flew to "suicide," but could not explain a gash on his violence from themselves onto the Puerto Korea immediately after Park was killed and forehead or a bruise on his temple. Rican people, the better to justify new repres­ held consultations with Park's successors. He Rodriguez Cristobal was among a group of sion. stressed that Washington's chief concern was demonstrators jailed for protesting U.S. Navy Already, it is reported, the Puerto Rican big­ "the preservation of stability"-codewords for use of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques as a business news media ar~ trying to whip up a the repressive actions the new rulers are shelling ground. campaign of hysteria against the entire inde­ taking to stem the growing demands for demo­ The other two died in July 1978 when Puerto pendence movement. cratic rights. Rican police ambushed three people. As the There is a simple way to end violence in In fact, U.S. officials took the unusual step December 4 Newark Star Ledger blandly re­ Puerto Rico. Washington should withdraw its of publicly endorsing the plan for a "care­ called, "Two of the three were killed, and the 4,000 occupation troops and permit the Puerto taker" regime that would function under the third turned out to be a police undercover Rican people to determine their own destiny. old dictatorial constitution. agent who led them into the trap." And the U.S. position was backed up, after Each of these deaths clearly warrants a full­ Park was killed, by the demonstrative alert of scale federal investigation. Yet none have been 38,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. forthcoming. American working people have no interest in Vieques has come to be a major symbol of Korea crackdown these moves to prop up the successors of the U.S colonial rule over Puerto Rico. The new regime in South Korea carried out a hated and discredited Park dictatorship. Claiming to own 80 percent of Vieques, the series of arrests at the end of November, Our interests lie with the Korean working navy is continuing to bomb and shell the jailing 189 people. These included student people, peasants, students, and intellectuals island for "practice" despite the mounting protesters and most of the best known figures who want their democratic rights. protest of the Puerto Rican people. in church and intellectual circles who have U.S. troops out of Korea now!

Militant Highlights This Week The Militant Editor: STEVE CLARK Associate Editors: CINDY JAQUITH ANDY ROSE 4 Nicaragua's literacy campaign Business Manager: PETER SEIDMAN 8 Protests spread against war moves Editorial Staff: Nancy Cole, Fred Feldman, Jim Garrison, Suzanne Haig, Osborne Hart, Gus 7 Iran antldeportatlon suit he_ard Horowitz, Diane Jacobs, Janice Lynn, August 8 Millions march against Imperialists Nimtz, Harry Ring, Dick Roberts, Priscilla Schenk, Stu Singer, Arnold Weissberg. 9 YSA spurs antiwar protests Coal versus nuclear power Published weekly by the Militant 10 Anti-shah demonstrations In Texas The 'Militant' replies to readers' questions. Page 16. {ISSN 0026-3885), 14 Charles Lane, 11 Carter's war alms New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: 12 Pulley blasts U.S. on Iran Editorial Office, {212) 243-6392; Busi­ 14 Rhodesia regime escalates war ness Office, {212) 929-3486. 18 Steelworkers picket over conditions Correspondence concerning sub­ scriptions or changes of address 20 Gary Steelworkers face layoffs should be addressed to The Militant 21 Cubans In U.S. oppose violence Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, Pulley denounces steel layoffs 4 Solidarity with Nicaragua New York, N.Y. 10014. Second-class postage paid at New 13 Hear the Socialist Candidates Socialist Workers Party presidential candid proposes nationalization of plants to cou York, N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $20.00 14 Auto Notes U.S. Steel's profit drive. Page 19. a year, outside U.S. $25.00. By first­ 22 In Review class mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: 27 capitalism Fouls Things Up $50.00. Write for airmail rates to all Union Talk other countries. 28 In Brief For subscriptions airfreighted to London and then posted to Britain and Ireland: £3.00 for ten 29 Women In Revolt issues, £6.00 for six months (twenty-four issues), What's Going On £11.00 for one'year (forty-eight issues). Posted 30 Our Revolutionary Heritage from London to Continental Europe: £4.50 for Letters ten issues, £10.00 for six months, £15.00 for one 31 Learning About Socialism year. Send checks or international money order If You Like This Paper . .. (payable to Intercontinental Press account) to Intercontinental Press (The Militant), P.O. Box WORLD OUTLOOK 50, London N1 2XP, England. 23 Protests hit dissident jailing ··.·Nationalize big oil! Signed articles by contributors do not neces­ sarily represent the Militant's views. These are 24 Brazil mov't for workers party United Transportation Union President AI Chesser calls on Carter expressed in editorials. 25 Brazil unionist on workers party ·.to take over the oil industry and open its books. Page 15.

2 Behind spy charges: U.S. Embassy vs. Iranian people By Fred Feldman dished out by embassy personnel. In his November 28 news conference That's what happened in Chile after President Carter tried to fire up hatred Salvador Allende was elected president of Iran by claiming that "innocent in 1970. The embassy and its "diplo­ Americans" were being "abused" by matic" staff funnelled money to oppo­ the Iranian students holding the U.S. sition groups and forged close ties with Embassy. right-wing generals. The news media here portray the The embassy's work bore fruit in fifty U.S. personnel as though they September 1973 when General Pin­ were working people like you or me ochet led a military coup that resulted who just happened to be in the wrong in the murder of Allende and thou­ place at the wrong time. sands of Chilean working people. That picture doesn't fit most of the The Iranian people have had a lot of hostages. grim experience with the "intelligence­ The students occupying the embassy gathering" U.S. Embassy and its "in­ say they have found documents that nocent" employees. prove the hostages were spies and the In 1953, the masses in Iran rose up embassy was a "spy center" that bears against the shah and he fled the coun­ responsibility for many of the shah's try. The U.S. oil magnates wanted the crimes. shah back on the throne. So the CIA­ · They say that the embassy contin­ operating through its agents at the ued to be a center for conspiracies embassy and elsewhere-put together against the revolution after the shah a military conspiracy that brought fled. Carter's decision to admit the down the new regime in August. The deposed tyrant added to the evidence Iranian students pray during occupation of U.S. Embassy. American personnel at shah returned and began a twenty­ that the U.S. rulers were plotting to thirty-three-acre embassy compound did a lot more than process visas. five-year reign of terror. restore him to the throne. CIA employees organized SAV AK, And the students have begun to the shah's dreaded secret police force prove their case. They published a In many countries dominated by side, killing hundreds of thousands of that terrorized Iranians for two de­ letter from U.S. charge d'affaires L. U.S. economic interests, the U.S. em­ people. Washington carried this out in cades. bassy and spy agencies operating complete violation of international law Bruce Laingen in which he asked that Some 40,000 U.S. advisers helped under cover of "diplomatic immunity" and treaties. Malcolm Kalp and William Daugher­ run the shah's army, which gunned are often more powerful than local ty-two of the hostages-be given down 60,000 Iranians in the last year governments themselves. 'Destabilization' in Chile "cover" because of "great sensitivity of the shah's regime. locally to any hint of CIA activity." This was true in Laos, where U.S. When governments in Asia, Africa, The students say Daugherty has "ambassador" William Sullivan and and Latin America escape from U.S. When the shah fell, an embassy staff admitted his CIA ties. his staff organized and ran a secret air control, U.S. embassies take on differ­ of 1,000 was left-a remnant of the Imam Ruhollah Khomeini endorsed war against Pathet Lao rebels. ent tasks. Their job is to "destabilize" force that had overseen every detail of the students' charges. While going Hundreds of thousands of tons of U.S. the government and help bring in a Iranian life from the torture of poets to ahead with plans_ to try the embassy bombs devasted the Laotian country- regime more amenable to the orders Continued on page 5 personnel and prove their charges to the world, the students stress that all will be released when the shah is returned to Iran for trial. U.S. doesn't deny charges Students nail CIA men at embassy For all of Carter's demagogy about Students occupying the U.S. Em­ Such titles are used to place CIA Laingen ends on a worried note: "I "innocent" hostages, the U.S. govern­ bassy in Tehran distributed copies of operatives under the protection of suppose I need not mind the depart­ ment doesn't deny the charges. a telex message proving that two of diplomatic immunity. ment that the old and apparently "The White House and the State the embassy hostages-William The message goes on to recom­ insoluble problem of R designation Department have refused to comment Daugherty and Malcolm Kalp-have mend holding to the "present total of for S.R.F. officers will inevitably directly on that accusation," reported CIA ties. four S.R.F. officers." complicate and to some degree weaken our cover efforts locally no Bernard Gwertzman in the November Asked what SRF meant, the stu­ The message was addressed to the matter how much we work at it." 20 New York Times. "Instead they dents admitted they didn't know. U.S. secretary of state and signed The message was marked for distri­ have insisted that the charge was "Laingen." That's L. Bruce Laingen, "Ask the CIA," they suggested. irrelevant because even if some em­ bution through "Roger channel." the U.S. charge d'affaires in Iran. The December 2 New York Times According to the December New ployees were engaged in intelligence­ reported that SRF means "special gathering functions their diplomatic "I concur in assignments Malcolm York Times, this may only be the Kalp and William Dougherty as reporting facility" and that it "refers beginning of the students' revela­ immunity barred them from trial." to an office in embassies that is Carter is trying to swing public demonstrated reftels," it begins. tions. "They also distributed a book­ "With opportunity available to us usually staffed by C.I.A. ana­ let in Persian and English of the opinion behind a U.S. military attack lysts ...." on Iran if the hostages are even tried­ in the sense that we are starting documents they had previously re­ regardless of what such an attack from a clean slate in S.R.F. coverage Perhaps the most tantalizing pas­ leased, several of which appeared to would mean for their fate. at this mission, but with regard also sage in the message was the follow- show that the United States had One aim of the threats is to intimi­ for the great sensitivity locally to ing: been considering admitting the shah date the Iranians from presenting the any hint of C.I.A. activity, it is of "We are making effort to limit at least as early as July, three evidence they have accumulated. the highest importance that the knowledge within emb of all S.R.F. months before he entered a New York hospital for medical treat­ Some U.S. officials try to defend U.S. cover be the best we can come up assignments; that effort applies par­ spying in Iran. After all, they say, all with. Hence there is no question as ticularly to Daugherty, pursuant to ment." governments use their embassies to to the need for second and third new program of which he is a pro­ Washington has not disputed the "gather intelligence." But U.S. person­ secretary titles for these two officers. duct and about which I have been accuracy of any of the documents nel in Iran and elsewhere are hardly We must have it." informed" (emphasis added). released by the Iranian students. limited to such scholarly pursuits.

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Please send a gift subscription to: Send the Pathfinder gift indicated to: For every four-month (or longer) gift subscription you order, we'll send you (or your friend) a free gift Name Name from Pathfinder Preas. Your choice: Fidel Castro at Address Address the UN, the complete text of the Cuban leader's October 12 speech to the General Assembly, or City ---- State -·-- Zip ------City ---- State __ Zip The Nicaraguan Revolution, featuring an interview Card to read from Card to read from with Sandinista leader Jaime Wheelock, speeches Enclosed is: 0 Castro at the UN by Daniel Ortega and Fidel Castro, the Statute on 0 $5 for 4 months 0 $12 for 6 months 0 Nicaraguan Revolution the Rights of Nicaraguans, and much more. 0 $20 for 1 year 0 $2.50 for 10 weeks (no gift) Just fill out the coupon at right and sent It to: Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, New York Also enclosed is $__ as a donation to the 10014. Militant's prisoners fund. (Good through December 25, 1979)

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 3 Nicaragua tackles illitera revolution's enemy By Nancy Cole ing by Somoza's air force during the While Democratic and Republican civil war that ended in the dictator's officials are cutting back on education ouster. ·. funds despite studies showing an as- In conjunction with the literacy cam­ tounding 23,000,000 Americans are paign, a national program is underway functional illiterates, the poor, war- to construct and repair schools in Nica­ torn nation of Nicaragua has launched ragua. a literacy drive as its top priority. Illiteracy is viewed by the Sandi- The National Literacy Campaign is nista National Liberation Front aimed at teaching more than 800,000 (FSLN) as an immediate enemy of the Nicaraguans to read and write. More Nicaraguan revolution. than 200,000 volunteers are expected to All the mass organizations led by participate in the teaching brigades. the FSLN will be involved in the The Somoza dictatorship not only literacy campaign-Sandinista De­ imposed bloody repression and poverty fense Committees, Sandinista Workers on the people of Nicaragua, but it Federation, "Luisa Amanda Espinoza" denied them education, culture, and National Women's Association, Na­ any kind of social welfare. All money tional Association of Nicaraguan Edu­ Somoza and his crew could lay their cators, "Luis Alfonso Velasquez" San­ hands on went directly into their own dinista Children's Association, and pockets. others. in need of widespread international gua, he said. Thus the illiteracy rate at the time On November 18, reported the FSLN cooperation. Remember that on July 26 The U.S. solidarity movement has Somoza fled in July was 65 percent, daily Barricada, thousands of young we made an appeal, a challenge, to pledged to aid the literacy drive by and even higher in many areas, espe­ people met for the First National Gath­ send aid to Nicaragua. It's true that immediately collecting 275,000 yards cially in the countryside. ering of Nicaraguan Youth. Organized aid is being sent, but it's not enough to of fabric for uniforms for the literacy Added to the classroom shortage by the July 19 Sandinista Youth, the meet the country's needs." workers in Nicaragua. that already existed, severe damage meeting's central slogan was: "We won Castro explained that it was impera­ At the November 17-18 national sol­ was done to schools and educational in the insurrection, we will win in the tive that every Nicaraguan child have idarity conference in Detroit, FSLN equipment by the indiscriminate bomb- literacy campaign." a chance to attend school, even if some representatives explained that with the The Ministry of Education has even classrooms were set up under a tree or fabric they hope to reopen a clothing called upon Nicaraguan composers to inside a hut, explained the November factory abandoned by the Somozaists use their talents to aid the literacy 25 Granma. More than 29,000 teachers and provide work for some of Nicara­ drive with songs about the campaign. had applied for the mission in Nicara- gua's many unemployed. The ministry is sponsoring a contest for amateur composers. A demonstration and fiesta wel­ comed 100 Cuban teachers when they arrived in the city of Le6n last month to aid the literacy drive. "We have come to share with you the needs, poverty, and calamities," Teresa Draker from the "General Augusto Cesar Sandino" teachers contingent told the crowd. "We are willing to work and to reconstruct this city. We have come to show you the love of the Cuban people. We are willing to work Letter sent to 500 Bay Area unions with you day and night." A letter initiated by Walter Johnson, president of Department Store In all, more than 1,000 Cuban Employees Local 1100, has gone out to 500 unions in the northern teachers will spend two years in Nica­ California Bay Area. The mailing included a leaflet advertising the ragua. At the send-off in San Antonio December 8 "Labor/Community Rally for Emergency Aid to Nicaragua" de los Banos for the second contingent, in San Francisco and a brochure directed toward trade unionists printed Cuban President Fidel Castro told the by Casa Nicaragua, the Bay Area solidarity group. teachers, "The country has suffered a In addition to Johnson, the letter is signed by Jack Weintraub, great deal of destruction and they are president of Teamsters Local 85; Curtis McClain, international secretary­ treasurer of International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union; Dave Jenkins, legislative representative for San Francisco ILWU; J. B. Martin, Automotive Machinists Local 1305; Hilding Martinson, United Electrical Workers Local 1412; and Vince Courtney, Service Employees Somozaists go on trial International Union Local 400. By Pedro Camejo begin forming a popular militia based During the week of December 3, the Nicaraguan consulate organized MANAGUA-The Sandinista-led in the workplaces and on the mass several meetings for Rafael Solis, Nicaraguan ambassador to the White government of Nicaragua has an­ organizations. House, with unionists and Latino organizations in the Bay Area. This nounced the creation of a special court Although the enemies of the revolu­ included a "labor breakfast" December 5 hosted by the ILWU. to try 7,000 members· of Somoza's tion may be stronger militarily, Ortega National Guard and other Somozaists. said, "They cannot conquer us." 100 attend film showing on Maryland campus At the press conference, Ortega also It is expected that the trials of these The Latin American Student Union at the University of Maryland in commented on instances of undisci­ torturers, murderers, and thieves-who College Park sponsored a showing of the film Nicaragua: September- ran Nicaragua with Washington's plined activity by EPS personnel, in­ cluding unauthorized executions of 1978 on November 29. More than 100 people attended the showing and blessing until last July-will begin heard a talk by David Funkhouser, coordinator of the National Network later in December. some Somozaist prisoners. He said the EPS was investigating charges of such in Solidarity with the Nicaraguan People. The prisoners will be guaranteed all abuses and taking preventive mea­ legal rights, including the right of sures. appeal, that were denied to the Nicara­ Network tables at national gatherings Ortega announced an educational Activists from the National Network set up tables at two national guan masses during Somoza's forty­ campaign to raise the political level of five years of tyrannical rule. meetings in Washington, D.C., on the weekend of November 16-at the EPS members. Some 20 percent of the AFL-CIO convention and at the Democratic Agenda Conference. Names On November 29, Humberto Ortega, ranks are now illiterate, so the EPS of unionists from across the country interested in organizing solidarity head of the Sandinista People's Army has organized its own literacy cam­ activity were collected. (EPS), and EPS Commander Luis Car­ paign alongside the nationwide liter­ Nicaragua: September-1978 was shown as part of the labor film series ri6n held a news conference here. acy drive. Among the issues they addressed was Pointing to a serious problem imped­ during the AFL-CIO convention sponsored by the International Associa­ the series of provocations in November ing recovery of the Nicaraguan econ­ tion of Machinists and the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee. by the right-wing government in omy, Carri6n said that some 300,000 of neighboring Honduras. These included Nicaragua's stock of 3 million cattle Ann Arbor benefit concert border incursions into Nicaragua, have been illegally smuggled out of the The Ann Arbor Nicaraguan Solidarity Committee sponsored a benefit flights over Nicaraguan territory by country over the past few months. In concert and poetry reading at the University of Michigan November 18. the Honduran air force, and harass­ just one two-week period, he reported, About $230 was raised for the Nicaraguan literacy drive. ment of Nicaraguan diplomatic offi­ some eighty shipments of contraband cials in Honduras. were stopped along the Honduran The Nicaraguan government has border, and 434 people have been de­ Available from the Network sent delegations to Honduras and El tained. Fund-raising brochures, poetry pamphlets, reprints, and films are Salvador to try to maintain peaceful Also on November 29, the Govern­ available from the National Network in Solidarity with the Nicaraguan relations with the governments of ment of National Reconstruction an­ People. Solidarity groups, unions, and other groups can rent the film these two countries. nounced a special public works cam­ Nicaragua: September-1978, and rent or buy ($50) a slide show, Nicara­ Oretega and Carri6n said that the paign to create jobs for the un­ gua: A People in Struggle, which also includes a thirty-minute cassette EPS is prepared to defend Nicaragua employed. Some 33 percent of Nicara­ recording. against any attempted invasion. guans are jobless. A new brochure will soon be available detailing the literacy drive and They reiterated the FSLN's policy of The program will be directed by a what the U.S. solidarity movement can do to support it. basing defense on the Nicaraguan· council of trade union and government Contact the NatiQnal Network at 1322 Eighteenth Street NW, Washing­ workers and peasants. Along with officials. Among the contemplated pro­ ton, D.C. 20036; telephone (202) 223-2328. efforts to train and equip the EPS as a jects are a flood control program in -Nancy Cole professional army, they said, the Managua and a new road from Le6n to FSLN is speeding up preparations to Managua.

4 'The tide is turning~ Militant sales key in debate on Iran By Peter Seidman ~------~ For an entire month, the big­ business politicians and news media have been doing their best to create Iran meetings racist, prowar, anti-Iranian hysteria FLORIDA among working people in the United MIAMI U.S. HANDS OFF IRANI STOP RACIST DE· States. PORTATIONSI Speaker: Hector Marroquin, Members of the Socialist Workers member of Socialist Workers Party, seeking Party and Young Socialist Alliance political asylum in U.S. Wed., Dec. 12, 8 p.m. 8171 Northeast 2nd Ave. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: have been on a counter-campaign to Hector Marroquin Defense Committee. For more answer the government's lies and orga­ information call (305) 756-8358. nize protests against Washington's war drive. The socialists have stepped up sales INDIANA of their papers, the Militant and Pers­ GARY COMMUNITY SPEAKOUT ON IRAN. Wed., pectiva Mundial. They have organized Dec. 12, 7 p.m. Glen Park Community Center, picket lines, forums, and debates. 3910 Broadway. Ausp: Calumet Committee Socialists are campaigning to answer Carter's lies. Above, the 'Militant was pictured The response of working people has Against U.S. Intervention in Iran. For more In 'Detroit Free Press' (left) and In 'EI Dlarlo-La Prensa,' New York's Spanish­ information call (219) 884-9509. not been patriotic frenzy, but debate, language dally. discussion, and growing protest. Senti­ ment is going in a "send back the MASSACHUSETTS shah" direction. But it's not only younger workers the Iranian people than with Carter BOSTON "People's attitudes are changing," who feel this way. and the shah," SWP organizer Jerry THE EVENTS IN IRAN: A PUBLIC FORUM. Andrea Doorack says. Doorack, a Speakers: Richard Falk, professor at Princeton One socialist at Westinghouse Air­ Hunnicutt reports. Univ.; representative of Civil Liberties Union of member of International Union of brake in Pittsburgh posted the Mili­ The work of socialists in circulating Massachusetts; others. Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m. Electrical Workers Local 780, works at Arlington St. Church, 355 Boylston St. Ausp: tant's "Why die for the shah?" center­ the Militant and PM has made a Boston Committee to Defend Iranian Students. the Friedrich Refrigeration Company spread on his tool box. A heated For more information call (617) 262·4620. in San Antonio, Texas. contribution to this shifting mood in discussion broke out among members factories and on campuses. "Two weeks ago, after an antiwar of the United Electrical Workers Union picket line here," she explained, "there • The SWP's opposition to the U.S. NEW JERSEY there. war drive was one of the lead stories was a lot of confusion and hostility at NEWARK One older worker told another, "The on the Channel 4 TV news in New the plant. In my department a sign shah must go back. Not one drop of STOP VICTIMIZATION OF IRANIANS. Speak· went up reading 'Iranians go home.'" Orleans December 2. Viewers saw ers: Shelley Davis, attorney for Socialist Workers American blood should be shed for former SWP gubernatorial candidate Party in suit challenging deportation of Iranians. But now the mostly Black and Chi­ him." Sat., Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. 11-A Central Ave. Dona· cano workers at Friedrich's are getting Greg Nelson selling the Militant. A few tion: $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For The second worker answered that days earlier, Channel 4 broadcast an more information call (201) 643-3341. angry about the shah, "and fearful he'd "be willing to die." about the danger of war," Doorack editorial reply by Nelson blasting Car­ To which the first responded, "Sure, ter's moves. adds. you would. But I'm not willing to let PENNSYLVANIA "When a local paper ran the head­ Another New Orleans station inter­ my son die.'' · viewed participants in a Militant Fo­ PITTSBURGH line 'Kennedy says shah is a thief a SPEAKOUT ON IRAN. Speakers: Phil Carter, few days ago, it went up in the plant­ "The tide is turning in an antiwar rum on Iran November 28. chair of Western Pennsylvania Political Assam· and stayed up," she said. direction on campuses now," Twin • In St. Louis, people who'd bought bly; Eric Davin, editor of Civil Liberties Record; Cities SWP organizer Susan LaMont the Militant started calling up the Ellis Jefferson, vice-president, United Steel· A Militant subscriber and member of workers Local 1531; Jesse McDowell, Socialist reports. Pathfinder bookstore for more informa­ Workers Party and United Electrical Workers the United Steelworkers at Capitol Local 610; Liane Norman, professor at Univ. of Casting in Phoenix told Dan Fein that "A socialist literature table at the tion on the SWP. University of Minnesota was a beehive Pittsburgh; others. Fri., Dec. 7, 8 p.m. 1210 E. "I sure wouldn't die for the shah." • Many cities report increased in­ Carson St. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor of people talking about Iran. One stu­ Forum. For more information call (412) 488-7000. Another steelworker there noted how dustrial sales. A Communications "it's always the rich that make money dent wearing . an anti-Iran button changed his mind after a twenty­ Workers of America shop steward is off war.'' helping get out the Militant to co­ minute conversation," LaMont said. Such antiwar sentiment runs deep, "Another person who bought a Mili­ workers at the C&P Phone Company have to play as discussions and pro­ in Washington, D.C. Karen Newton, SWP organizer in New tant came back later and bought four tests unfold. Orleans, reports. "Workers at Avon· more papers for his friends." But this progress is only a modest Branches of the SWP and YSA are dale Shipyard here, especially the Black students at Howard Univer· beginning. making sales a top priority. These young workers-Black and white-are sity and the University of the District The response so far to the antiwar papers are weapons in the fight to talking about how they'll go to jail of Columbia in Washington, D.C., tell campaign of the Militant and PM make sure the government's war drive rather than fight." us they have "more in common with underscores the key role that socialists continues to lose ground.

Demonstrations against U.S. embassies spread to But the resolution included no condemnation of Kuwait, the Philippines, India, and Libya. Iran. It nodded to growing international sympathy ... shah And four governments-Syria, Libya, Vietnam, for Iran by calling on the United States and Iran Continued from front page and Albania-have issued statements denouncing "to resolve peacefully the remaining issues between record of support to the mass murderer. Kennedy the U.S. war drive against Iran and blaming the · them to their mutual satisfaction"-a hint that Iran visited' him in Iran in 1975. Carter administration for provoking the conflict. may have some just grievances. The blasts against Kennedy are really aimed at Growing opposition to Carter's course toward war It urged "Iran and the United States to exercise intimidating American working people. Any criti­ even found a dim reflection in the United Nations the utmost restraint," indicating that it was not cism of the shah is proclaimed to be unpatriotic and Security Council-a faithful water-carrier for U.S. openly endorsing U.S. military attack on Iran. disloyal. imperialism on all important questions. The failure of Carter's war drive to gain ground at The U.S. rulers fear that widening knowledge of At the beginning of the crisis the Security Council home or abroad is a victory for working people the the shah's crimes will cripple efforts to present the issued an unconditional call for the release of the world over. But the danger remains great that the hostages as the "only issue" in the Iran crisis. Any hostages-without any recognition of Iran's grie­ U.S. imperialists may try to recoup their losse& national debate on the shah would quickly make it vances against the shah. This gave the aura of through some desperate military strike against clear that Washington's real concern. is not freeing moral sanction to Carter's military threats. Iran. the hostages, but crushing the gains won by the The new resolution adopted December 4 by the Now is the time to step up educational and protest Iranian workers and farmers and reestablishing Security Council helped Carter's cover-up of U.S. activities that express the majority antiwar senti­ U.S. economic and political dominance over Iran. complicity with the shah's crimes by focusing on ment in the United States. As opposition to war grows in the United States, the demand for the release of the hostages. The Extradite the shah! the Carter administration is also running into Stalinist regimes in both Moscow and Peking joined Stop the racist deportations of Iranian students! problems internationally. in the cover-up. U.S. hands off Iran!

He was succeeded by none other American working people have Like Carter, the FBI tries to protect than William Sullivan, fresh from his heard defenses of "innocent intel­ its stable of criminals by claiming murderous "intelligence-gathering" in ligence-gathering" right here in the "immunity" for them. ~~!~~ssy Laos. Sullivan stood by the shah as United States. That's how the FBI evicting poor peasants from their the monarch attempted to drown the tried to justify Cointelpro operations. Is there any reason to think that the homes. And all in the interests of the rising revolution in blood, and left But these turned out to be something Gary Rowes in the U.S. Embassy have big U.S. oil companies, the arms manu· after the February insurrection. else-burglaries, beatings, bombings, cleaner hands? facturers, the banks, and their faithful forgeries, disruption, provocation, and servant-the shah. Laingen's role in protecting CIA U.S. working people have no reason operations in Tehran places him in even murder directed at critics of the to join Carter in trying to block the Gary Rowes of Iran this ugly tradition. government. trials of the U.S. Embassy personnel in The U.S. ambassadors typified the Gary Rowe, a typical FBI "in­ Tehran. We have an interest in giving Given this record, is there any rea· the students every opportunity to lay nature of the embassy's activity. Until telligence-gatherer," participated in son to doubt that the U.S. rulers have out the full story of what the U.S. 1976 Richard Helms-former director the murder of civil rights activist Viola been trying to undermine the new government has been doing in Iran. of the CIA and a specialist in illegal, regime as they did when the shah left Liuzzo and helped organize brutal covert operations-was Washington's in 1953 or when Allende came to power beatings of Black and white freedom If past experience is any yardstick, it man in Tehran. in Chile? riders in the South. will be a very educational experience. THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 5 U.S. grotests demand: 'Send the shah back! No more Vietnams!' Washington, D.C. John Roberts of the All African Peo­ By Jerry Hunnicutt t1 - ples Revolutionary Party; and Joanna WASHINGTON-Seven hundred Misnik of the Socialist Workers Party. people marched in a demonstration organized by Muslim students here Boston November 29. Marchers carried signs By Anne Chase reading, "Extradite the shah," "No BOSTON-Sixty people picketed Im­ more Vietnams," and "No U.S. inter­ migration and Naturalization Service vention in Iran." offices here December 3 under the A rally that followed, across the US, auspices of the Boston Committee to street from the U.S. State Department, Defend Iranian Students. was heckled by well-dressed right­ The picket line was covered by local wingers who appeared to be depart­ and national news media. ment employees. The hecklers chanted ~5END An earlier picket line at Boston racist obscenities. University was disrupted by right­ Antiwar speakouts have taken place wing students and broken up by Bos­ at Howard University and the Univer­ ton cops. The committee will hold a sity of the District of Columbia. public meeting December 14 to bring Kahile Hill, student government out the truth about the situation in president at Howard, declared that Militant/Lou Howort Iran and the brutality of the shah's Black people have no interest in fight­ NEW YORK, Dec. 2-Chantlng 'Butcher shah must go,' 500 people marched through rule. ing against the Iranian people. He said midtown Manhattan. Marchers carried signa reading 'No war against Iran-send back a war would mean that Blacks would the shah' and 'U.S.-CIA hands off Iran.' Gary be the first to go and the first to be By Mitchel Rosenberg killed. GARY, Ind.-"Send back the shah," On December 1, the D.C. Committee The teach-in begins at 2 p.m. at Free Cleveland "No more Vietnams," chanted 25 oppo­ to Extradite the Shah held a march For All Baptist Church, 2218 Candler By Pat Wright nents of U.S. intervention in Iran as and rally in downtown Washington. Road in Decatur. CLEVELAND-A hundred people, they picketed the Armed Forces Re­ Speakers included representatives of On November 29 the two ministers nearly all of them Black, came to a cruiting Center December 3. the Socialist Workers Party and the held a news conference to call for speakout November 28 at Cuyahoga Organized by the Calumet Commit­ Revolutionary Workers Headquarters, sending the shah back to Iran. They Community College (CCC). It was the tee against U:S. Intervention in Iran as well as Luis Fernandez, president of recounted his crimes and condemned first Cleveland meeting called to pro­ as an informational picket, the demon­ the Latin American Student Union at the long-time U.S. support to his dicta­ test the war threats against Iran. strators called for "No U.S. interven­ Georgetown University. torship. Speakers included Linda Watson, tion in Iran"; "Bring the shah to The Committee Against Military national chairperson of the Third justice"; and "Stop the deportations of Newark Intervention in Iran has held two well­ World Student Coalition, who ap­ Iranian students." By Gale Shangold publicized picket lines in downtown plauded the Iranian revolution as a Passersby were almost unanimous in NEWARK, N.J.-"Deport the Shah, Atlanta. It is circulating a fact sheet "turning point in the history of the expressing agreement that the shah not the Iranian students" chanted on the shah's atrocities and petitions world"; Ted Brown of the Black Stu­ should be returned to Iran. Many more than 150 students-mostly Black demanding no U.S. intervention and dents Union; Bangkola Ugundu of the raised clenched fists or shouted sup­ and Iranian-as they marched from an end to harassment of Iranians. International Students Union at CCC; port. Essex County College to the federal building November 30. Shoppers in the city's downtown area watched the march, some took literature as the march passed by, and SEIU resolution hits war hysteria others showed their solidarity with The following resolution was return of the Shah has the support ble military intervention in Iran to shouts of "Yeah, send that shah back!" adopted by the State Executive of the overwhelming majority of protect the Shah, and will also be Few observers voiced any hostility. Board of Social Services Union the Iranian people, and used to justify increased military Akram Abdul-Majeed, ECC student Local 535, Service Employees WHEREAS President Carter is spending at the expense of human government president and a leader of International Union, in Los responsible for the fate of the hos­ and social services at home, there­ the march, said the group wants an Angeles on November 18. Local tages iri the American embassy in fore be it end to the deportation of Iranian stu­ 535 represents 10,000 social Teheran due to his actions in bring­ RESOLVED that Social Services dents and extradition of the shah to service workers. ing the Shah to this country and Union, Local 535, calls on the Iran. protecting him, and federal government to immediately "The students who took the hostages WHEREAS the denial of the deport the Shah, and be it further were reacting to the United States WHEREAS the Shah of Iran is democratic rights of Iranians in RESOLVED that we call for a harboring the shah," he said. "The responsible for the torture and this country, including the racist halt to the deportations and other return of one man can end all this." murder of tens of thousands of hysteria being stirred up against civil rights violations being com­ Iranian people, and them, the denial of their democratic mitted against Iranians living in Atlanta WHEREAS the Shah's regime, right to political protest, and the the United States, and be it further By Jean Savage installed by the U.S. through a CIA threat of their deportation jeopard­ RESOLVED that we oppose Uni· ATLANTA-A teach-in on Iran will coup in 1953, and maintained by izes the rights of all in this country ted States military intervention in be held at a major Black community U.S. military support for the follow­ who may disagree· with govern­ Iran, and be it finally church here December 8. The event is ing twenty-five years, denied the ment policy on Iran or other issues, RESOLVED that this resolution co-sponsored by the Committee Iranian people all democratic and be submitted to the SEIU State Against Military Intervention in Iran rights, including the right to form WHEREAS the war hysteria be­ Council and other appropriate bod­ and the Free For All Baptist church. trade unions, and ing whipped up in this country is ies for their consideration and con­ Speakers will include Rev. W.J. Staf­ WHEREAS the demand for the aimed at laying the basis for possi- currence. ford and Pastor Abdul Muhammad. Polls show big majority against war By August Nimtz Press/NBC News poll taken No­ those surveyed favored "an investi­ as people become more familiar The solidarity of American vember 27 and 28 shows that 79 gation by the UN of criminal with the crimes of the shah they Blacks with the struggle of the percent of adults surveyed "would charges against the Shah in return are more likely to oppose U.S. Iranian people was dramatically oppose any military retaliation if for the release of the hostages ..." military intervention and support shown in a poll reported by the the hostages were released un­ And 76 percent favored "making Iranian demands for his extradi­ Detroit Free Press November 30. harmed." (New York Times, De: sure" the shah leaves the United tion. This underscores the necessity Fully 61 percent of Detroit-area cember 1). Carter has threatened States .. of educating even broader layers of · American workers on the real Blacks polled agreed that "the Uni­ just such retaliation. This finding complements the issues in the crisis. ted States should meet the de­ In the Detroit poll, "More than 82 Detroit poll: "63.6 percent agree mands of the Iranians and return percent oppose a punitive military with the statement that the Iran­ It is no coincidence that Blacks the shah to Iran in exchange for strike against Iran, and 91.6 per­ ians seized the U.S. Embassy be­ in the Detroit area have a clear the American hostages." Twenty­ cent oppose a seizure of Iranian oil cause they 'sincerely feel that the understanding on what must be one percent of whites surveyed fields in retaliation." shah is a criminal and that this is done to resolve the crisis. Meeting were also for sending the mass "I don't want a war," a Macomb the only way to get him back to in Detroit November 16, the first murderer back. County tool-and-die maker told the Iran for trial.'" National Black Pastors Conference Detroit paper. "I fought a war, and condemned the shah as a criminal The real concern of the White I don't want my sons in a war." Furthermore, the Detroit poll re­ and unanimously called on the House has been the whipping up of The Carter administration has vealed, "A plurality of 48.4 percent Carter administration to deport war sentiment among the Ameri­ also been unable to get Americans say that the shah committed him to Iran. can people. However, both the De­ to dismiss, as it does, the grievan­ crimes such as murder and embez­ If leading labor officials adopted troit poll and nationwide surveys ces of the Iranian masses against zlement when he ruled, while 10.8 the stance of the Black ministers, reveal that Carter has been far the shah. In a nationwide ABC percent disagree and 38.2 percent the effects on American workers as from successful. News/Harris poll conducted the are unsure." a whole would be even more dra­ A nationwide Associated week of November 26, 70 percent of All of these figures suggest that matic.

6 Can Carter ignore constitution? Suit to halt Iranian deportations is heard By Arnold Weissberg WASHINGTON-Attorneys for the Socialist Workers Party and National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee have asked a federal judge to stop the government's persecution of the 50,000 Iranian students in this country. Joined by David Carliner of the SEND American Civil Liberties Union, Shel­ ley Davis of the SWP and Eric Lieber­ man of the NECLC presented their BAC 1<. arguments before Federal District Judge Joyce Green here December 4. 1Hf BOTC Green will rule later on the suit. The suit is a class action originally SH~...... filed on behalf of three Iranian students-Cyrus V ahidnia, Behzad Vahedi, and Gholamreza Narenji. It challenges Carter's order requiring Iranian students to report to the Immi­ gration and Naturalization Service by December 14 or face deportation. The order violates constitutional guaran­ tees, including that of free speech, the suit asserts. Appearing with Vahidnia on NBC's "Today" show the morning of the hearing, SWP attorney Margaret Win­ ter said that "President Carter is on a war drive against Iran and he's trying to whip up a racist hysteria against

Iranians." i At a news conference, Cyrus Vahid­ Left, Cyrus Vahldnla tells reporters 'U.S. gov't Is trying to shut up Iranian students.' Right, New York City protest. nia said the government's goal was to "shut up" Iranian students. The gov­ president to do virtually whatever he imposed restraint" by not demonstrat­ people-like Blacks, socialists, working ernment fears the students, Vahidnia wanted during an "international cri­ ing or speaking for returning the shah people-who don't want to go to war in said, because they dared to tell the sis." to Iran. Iran will be intimidated and afraid to truth about the shah and the Iranian Government attorney Brook Hedge Then, contradicting herself, Hedge speak out against the administration's revolution. admitted the Iranian students were cited Attorney General Benjamin Civi­ policies." Vahidnia said that Iranian students being used as a "bargaining chip" to letti's assertion that the order was not Meanwhile, the first Iranian student who had reported to the INS had been obtain the release of American hos­ aimed at stifling the rights of Iranian to be deported left the U.S. November asked about their political views­ tages in Iran. students. 30. Ali Aminian, who had been study­ whether they supported the shah or Hedge went so far as to admit the Despite a request from attorney Car­ ing at Central State University in Ayatollah Khomeini, for example. Iranians had been singled out for spe­ liner, Judge Green refused to order a Eamond, Oklahoma. was seized only Such questioning has nothing to do cial treatment, asserting it was "cru­ freeze on deportation of Iranian stu­ four days earlier by the INS. "I have with the student's legal status in this cial" for the president to have the right dents pending a decision in the case. stayed in school, and still they are country and is flagrantly unconstitu­ to do so. On the "Today" show, interviewer going to deport me," Aminian said. tional. In an appeal reminiscent of Nixon's Robert Abernathy repeatedly asserted Opposition to the government's cam­ Also speaking to the press was An­ defense of his Watergate crimes, Hedge that Cyrus Vahidnia's presence on the paign against Iranian students was drew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party insisted there could be no ."second­ show disproved the claims that Iran­ expressed editorially November 28 by presidential candidate. Pulley said the guessing" of Carter's moves. "The ian student's rights were being vio­ the Minneapolis Tribune, which called roundup of Iranian students was plaintiffs' judgement," she said, "is not lated. the order "witchhunt tactics." aimed at "justifying a new racism." By to be substituted for that of the presi­ Winter responded by noting that Opposition also came from the Com­ seeking to prevent Iranians from dent." although the INS said it was no longer mittee for Public Justice, a New York­ speaking out about Iran, Pulley said, Hedge also admitted the govern­ asking Iranian students about their based group chaired by playwright the government order deprives Ameri­ ment's order had silenced Iranian stu­ political views, "what the administra­ Lillian Hellman, as well as from the cans of their right to hear the truth. dents, but she made the incredible tion has done is to publicize that it is National Lawyers Guild, and civil At the hearing, attorney Davis sub­ claim that they were exercising "self- asking these questions so that other liberties groups. mitted sworn statements from Iranian students who said the INS order had made them fearful of expressing their views on Iran. In arguing the case, Davis noted 6 that the government admitted the pur­ f'm afraid to say f'm Persian' pose of its order was to prevent demon­ strations by Iranian students. "Everyone is in a state of ge­ ties with Tehran, a move never of student status if they didn't Davis noted that the government nuine panic. They call up and say, contemplated by the city's rulers report to the Immigration and Nat­ claimed its order would protect Iranian 'What if somebody comes and during the long years of the shah's uralization Service on December 5, students from violence by angry Amer­ knocks on my door at night?'" said bloody reign. even though the government has icans. But, she asked, why didn't the a Los Angeles attorney, 40 percent • Five Iranian employees of a officially given them until De­ government try to protect the Iranians' of whose clients are Iranian. Chicago club were fired after they cember 14. right to free speech instead of victimiz­ The Carter administration's anti­ were arrested at a demonstration in And in Baltimore, Carliner said, ing them for exercising that right? Iranian campaign continues to en­ defense of Iran. the INS isn't scheduling any more If the government can suspend the courage violent harassment of both Despite the government's efforts, appointments for Iranian students Iranians' constitutional rights, Davis students and non-students. the anti-Iran, pro-war forces have until after December 14. Yet any said, it could use the same argument to • A Dallas clothing store owned been unable to mount big public student who fails to report before suspend the rights of civil rights by an Iranian was extensively displays. Only 150 people showed then can be deported. marchers or anyone else who the gov­ damaged by fire. Anti-Iranian slo­ up at a Newark rally December 2 to gans and empty gasoline cans were hear racist assemblyman Anthony Iranian students have been ernment claimed represented an un­ among the most outspoken in de­ popular minority. found on the scene. Imperiale call for war, if necessary, • The Minutemen, an extreme to free the hostages. fending the Iranian revolution and The government's response brushed exposing the crimes of the shah. aside these charges and focused in­ right-wing paramilitary outfit, has Right-wing Cubans were also stead on an asserted power of the threatened "selective action" unable to muster more than 150 for "Nobody tells Americans: Who is against Iranians in Colorado. a "pro-America" rally a few days the shah?" said Farrokh Khatami, • The anti-Iranian actions des­ earlier in New Jersey. president of Iranian Moslem Stu­ cend to the crudest racism. "No And despite tens of thousands of dents at Western Michigan Univer­ Dogs and No Iranians Allowed," dollars poured into a vast publicity sity. "Why are Iranians so upset by read a sign in a Chicago liquor campaign, with prominent advance the shah? If Americans know the store. coverage in the media, an anti-Iran history [of Iran] they would not • One company printed a poster rally at the 100,000-seat Los An­ protest." of the Ayatollah Khomeini and geles Coliseum drew only 5,000. An Iranian student at Wayne advertised it as suitable for "house­ The pressure is particularly in­ State University in Detroit, identi­ breaking a dog, covering the bot­ tense for Iranian students. fying himself only as Karim, put tom of a bird cage." Others have "I'm afraid to say I'm Persian," his finger on the source of the printed Khomeini pictures as gun said a Los Angeles student. hostility. "The American people are targets. American Civil Liberties Union nice-great people. But they are not • A California state legislator attorney David Carliner told a the government. The government is proposed rounding up Iranian stu­ federal judge December 4 that stu­ the CIA, the oil companies, Henry dents as hostages. dents at one Washington-area cam­ Kissinger." · SWP attorney Margaret Winter on 'To­ • Los Angeles cut its sister city pus had been threatened with loss -A.W. day' show.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 7 masses enter politics By Janice Lynn ~~ democratic rights or the rights of op­ The past weeks have seen masses of pressed nationalities, and it falls short Iranians take to the streets to show on the question of women's rights. their determination to resist Carter's It also preserves private property, war moves and to rid themselves of which the HKS explains is an obstacle foreign domination. to carrying through the revolution and Members of the Socialist Workers breaking the grip .of U.S. imperialism. Party of Iran (Hezb-e Kargaran-e The HKS explains that the growth of Sosialist-HKS) report that on No­ shoras (councils) of workers in the vember 30 millions poured out. The factories and peasants in the villages throng of demonstrators completely is not adequately reflected. Although filled the mile and a half stretch be­ the constitution provides for electing tween Tehran University and the U.S. shoras from the village to the state Embassy. level, they are assigned only a consul­ One of the striking features of the tative role. mobilization was the massive partici­ The Tudeh (Communist) party gave pation of workers and farmers, who uncritical support to the constitution. came from all areas of the city and the The U.S. news media have been on a surrounding towns and villages. campaign to portray the constitution Training the population in the use of as a "tyranny of the clergy," "one-man weapons continues, and on December 4 rule," "giving astonishing powers to the government announced the forma­ Thousands march in Tehran and pledge to defend country from U.S. military attack the nation's leader," and so on. tion of new "combat cadre" of thou­ Such outcries against "one-man sands of former soldiers to help protect rule" were conspicuously absent dur­ the country from U.S. attack. They Iranian bank officials have disclosed ment for women's rights. ing the twenty-five-year reign of terror paraded past the U.S. Embassy. documents showing that over $1 bil­ Mina Tavana, a forty-two-year-old by the shah. There has also been a marked out­ lion was removed from banks in Iran federal government employee who What the pro-imperialist commenta­ pouring of women, the majority wear­ and placed into secret accounts for the voted in favor, explained, "The new tors really object to is not the lack of ing the chador (veil). shah's personal use. constitution guarantees that there will democratic guarantees but the possibil­ Many of the participants in the Demonstrations in support of the be full equality between men and ity that further concessions may be demonstrations are eager to receive students occupying the U.S. Embassy women, but it does not define what won by Iran's working people as they leaflets and newpapers from political have taken place throughout the coun­ equality means. I hope the new consti­ press forward their demands for a groups. The HKS reports selling 400 try, including in Kurdistan, Azerbai­ tution will fully support women's decent life, free from U.S. domination. copies of its now legal newspaper jan, and other areas where Iran's rights because Iranian women have From the same reactionary stand­ Kargar (Worker) at one of the demon­ oppressed minorities have been strug­ demonstrated and fought alongside point, a boycott of the elections was strations. Many of those who pur­ gling for their right to control their men in this revolution of ours." called for by bourgeois forces in Iran chased a copy of the paper were own affairs. The voting was heaviest in the work­ who are dead opposed to the massive women who tucked it inside their veil. In the midst of the mobilizations, ing class districts. Many voted for the mobilizations of workers and farmers. One of the best selling items at the voting on Iran's constitution took constitution as a way of showing their The HKS is finding a growing inter­ tables set up daily in front of the place December 2 and 3, stirring much support for Khomeini's unrelenting est in socialist ideas. The best-selling embassy by the HKS is the Persian debate on how best to further the struggle against U.S. imperialism. feature in Kargar, they report, is the translation of the pamphlet by Marxist revolution. Initial returns indicate its Iran's leaders announced that there Nicaraguan Bill of Rights, which is anthropologist Evelyn Reed, Is Biology approval by a wide majority. would be opportunity for amendments reprinted in full as an example of a Women's Destiny? Many from Iran's oppressed nation­ later on. constitution in the interests of workers The Iranian masses are also de­ alities, however, staged a boycott of the The HKS participated in the election and farmers. manding that the billions of dollars referendum. In Kurdistan an almost and explained in Kargar why they The HKS has been receiving phone stolen from them by the shah be re­ total boycott took place. The Kurds, were voting against the constitution. calls from people who wish to join the turned to Iran. Last week the Iranian along with the Baluchis, Azerbaijanis, In an article entitled, "A Worker's revolutionary socialist party. A group government filed suit in a New York Arabs, and Turkomans, object to the Guide to the Constitution," they ex­ of sailors, a glass cutter, a General court charging the shah with misap­ lack of any constitutional guarantees plained that the constitution does not Motors auto worker, and a few nurses propriating $20 billion and demanding for their right of self-determination. reflect the gains made by the revolu­ are among those who have expressed its recovery. The constitution contains a state- tion. It does not contain guarantees for their support and asked to join.

Iran grieves for dead of the revolution The November 30 New York Times One is Fakhari Shahkhalili. Her printed a report by correspondent husband, Hussein Shahkhalili, an Pranay B. Gupte, capturing the sen­ employee of the Ministry of Educa­ timents of the hundreds of thou­ tion, was tortured and shot by the sands of Iranians who lost loved police 11 months ago. He was 34. He ones to the shah's guns and tanks. It left behind his 27-year-old wife and helps illuminate the deep hatred felt 4-year-old daughter, Shirwan, who by the Iranian masses for this ty­ has just been told that her father is rant and the justice of their call to "away." send back the shah to stand trial for His picture shows a man full of his crimes. Excerpts follow. vigor. Next to it is a painting, show­ ing the same man slumped on the SHAH ABDUL AZIM, Iran, Nov. ground, bleeding from a bullet 29-A cold rain drives through Be­ wound in the heart. heste Zahra Cemetery. In the failing afternoon light, hundreds of men ·'1 Wanted to Never Forget' and women and children, some with "That is how I last saw him when umbrellas, most with jackets or I went to get his body in the robes drawn over their heads, walk Tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators were machine-gunned by the morgue," Mrs. Shahkhalili says. "I silently toward a large meadow. shah's troops. wanted to never forget that and so I In the distance, beyond the squat asked a friend to paint a scene for pines, the elms and cypresses, there down there where you are and too come and be my son for a few min­ me. I described it to her from me­ are faces, mostly young faces, faces dark. You are alone there, aren't you, utes." mory." - of the dead. They are photographs and we are alone up here. Come back She clasps him tightly and holds She pauses and looks at the in­ framed in glass and mounted over to us, my beloved son." on for several minutes. The young scription below the picture of her the simple stone slabs of burial. Some . of the photographs are in man starts to cry. She comforts him. husband: "Never say to those who Today is Tasoah, a day of reli­ color, like that of Mehdi Spandi, a Several rows away, Sadegh Hos­ are killed for the way of God that gious mourning in Shiite Islam, a 22-year-old electrician from Teheran, seini huddles over the stone slab they are dead. They are martyrs and time to remember the thousands of about 15 miles from here. A bullet that covers his nephew, Hussein they will always be alive." people who were killed during the fired by an army officer pierced his Amiri. Mr. Hosseini tenderly wipes Mrs. Shahkhalili stands up from reign of Shah Mohammed Ri~ Pah­ heart late one night last January. the slab, trying to brush away the her kneeling position. She looks levi. Mr. Spandi was walking home to falling rain. His nephew was 27 around the cemetery. "This is the dinner. when he was killed by the secret meadow of our country, filled with 'Come Back to Us' His mother, Mahbobeh Spandi, police a year ago. flowers of our youth-this is not a Azizeh Amanzadeh, her tradi­ stands in front of her son's picture. A woman walks by carrying dates cemetery, it is a living park," she tional black robe wrapped loosely His face, smooth and cleanshaven, and offers them to the mourners. says. around her frail body, rivets her eyes with bushy eyebrows and dark eyes, Many mourners bring fruits or It has turned cold. Mrs. Shahkha­ on the picture of her son, Ghulam holds a smile, as if in gentle thought. sweets and pass them around in the lili draws her fur-lined black coat Reza Amanzadeh. He was 23 years "Don't look at me like that," says cemetery. By nightfall more than around her and adjusts her scarf old when he died at the hands of the the mother, who is a widow. "You 300,000 visitors will have come to and starts to walk away. Two thin Shah's secret police last January. are tearing my heart, my son, you this immense place. The parking lot moist lines move down her face. But "Come back home, my loved one," are the only treasure I ever had." outside the minareted gates is full. in the dying light of the wintry Mrs. Amanzadeh says, in soft Per­ A young man passes Mrs. Spandi. Some people have traveled from November afternoon it is hard to tell sian. "My loved one, it is too cold She looks at him and says: "Please Teheran in buses. whether they are tears or the rain.

8 19th National Convention of the Young Socialist Alliance Come to Louisville December 29-January 1 Hands Off Iran! Galt House Saturday, December 29 8:00 a.m. Registration Socialist Workers Campaign Rally 12:30 p.m. Welcoming Session 1:00 p.m. Defense of Nicaraguan Revo­ Hear: lution Report Andrew Pulley, SWP candidate for president 5:00 p.m. Greetings from Iran Matllde Zimmermann, SWP candidate for vice-president 7:30 p.m. Expansion of the Socialist Hector Marroqufn, YSA leader fighting for political asylum Movement (slides from Iran and Nicaragua) Sunday, December 30 9:30 p.m. Disco/Movie 8:30p.m. Sunday, December 30 Galt House, Archibald Room 9:00 a.m. Trade Union Workshops (Fourth St. at River) 11:00 a.m. Radicalization of the Ameri­ Louisville, Kentucky can Working Class and Tasks of the YSA Report 8:30 p.m. Socialist Campaign Rally Name 0 I want to join the YSA 10:30 p.m. Disco/Movie Address ------­ 0 Send me more information City ------on the YSA convention Monday, December 31 State ___ Zip _____ 0 I want to subscribe to 9:00 a.m. YSA Support for 1980 SWP Phone ------the 'Young Socialist' Election Campaign Report ($2 for one year) 5:00 p.m. Workshops 9:30 p.m. New Year's Eve Party Clip and mail to YSA National Office, P.O. Box 471 Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003. Young Socialists spur antiwar protests By Janice Lynn pus are bustling with constant non­ Twin Cities YSA organizer Betsy activities on the University of Wash­ Margaret Kelley is a twenty-five­ stop discussions on Iran," Kelley re­ Gilson reports a lot of interest among ington campus in defense of Iranian year-old electrical worker at Louis­ ports. young people in the Twin Cities area in students. They participated in a ville's giant General Electric plant. YSA member Robert Busch, also a the upcoming convention. The YSA's broadly sponsored news conference She is also the organizer of the Louis­ GE worker, spoke at a widely covered outspoken opposition to war and their and a campus demonstration of about ville Young Socialist Alliance. news conference on the campus No­ simple proposal for resolving the 300 which demanded, "No war! No Kelley is one of hundreds of young vember 26 demanding that Washing­ crisis-to send back the shah­ racism! No deportations!" socialists around the country who are ton stop its war threats, and against provokes much sympathy, and coun­ The demonstration was initiated by actively building a movement to pro­ the deportation and victimization of ters the small, but vocal groups of Chicano students on the campus who test U.S. war threats against Iran and Iranian students. A broad array of right-wingers. had been attacked by small groups of to defend Iranian students' rights in speakers participated. At nearby Mankato State, where a right-wingers and jeered as "foreign­ this country. racist frame-up against Iranian stu­ ers" because of their support for the Before she goes to work, Kelley and dents was attempted, Sedwick spoke rights of Iranian students. other YSA members fan out on the Minnesota out against the victimizations. Several Storsteen reports that 150 copies of University of Louisville campus to sell In Minnesota, YSA national leader students from this campus are plan­ the Militant were sold last week on the the Militant and Young Socialist news­ Cathy Sedwick spoke before 200 people ning to come to Louisville for the con­ campus and at least thirty copies sold papers. They also distribute copies of a November 16 at the University of vention. to workers at Boeing. YSA statement pledging their support Minnesota as part of a panel on the "People are beginning to realize that YSA members picketed outside the to the fight of young people in Iran to Iranian situation. the United States government is really November 30 town meeting of Vice­ extradite the butcher shah. The St. Paul Dispatch! Pioneer Press hated around the world. Many young president Walter Mondale with signs, The socialists are encouraging peo­ quoted Sedwick: "'Send back the shah; people didn't understand how strongly "Why die for the shah?" and "No more ple to attend the YSA's Nineteenth put him on a plane and do it now,' these countries resent U.S. domination Vietnams." They distributed a YSA National Convention, December 29-31, demanded Cathy Sedwick, national and interference in their affairs," Gil­ statement to those who went inside. being held this year in Louisville. They chairwoman for the Young Socialist son reports. "They are interested in On November 29, nineteen-year-old have printed a special "come to the Alliance. 'He's a murderer. He's killed finding out more about what the YSA Delfino Munoz spoke on behalf of the YSA Convention" leaflet. over 70,000 Iranians. The U.S. govern­ says and our defense of the Iranian YSA at a meeting of 250 people at the "We have found a lot of people who ment is conducting a campaign of revolution." University of Washington on "What's are interested in finding out more hysteria against Iranians, when the YSA member Jerry Lamecker, happening in Iran?" Gerry Foley, staff about our convention especially after logical solution to the whole problem is twenty-one, works at the Twin Cities writer for Intercontinental Press! In­ they learn about our opposition to a to send the shah back to Iran to stand Ford Plant in St. Paul. He reports how precor, was the featured speaker at the war against Iran. Our tables on cam- trial.'" young workers there do not want a meeting. war. "We'll just be dying over there for the shah,'' they say. They know they're 'New birth of freedom' the first ones to go if the U.S. sends In a teach-in like atmosphere, remin­ troops. iscent of the anti-Vietnam war days, Foley told the truth about the Iranian YSA leader on television revolution. He reminded people of the J amileh Sayrafiezadeh is a sian Gulf. New York tortures of the shah's regime, placing member of the Young Socialist The racist campaign against Sixteen-year-old J amileh Sayrafie­ the blame for training and funding of Alliance National Committee Iranians in the U.S. only serves to zadeh is the New York City YSA SAV AK secret police operations and organizer of the New York increase the war hysteria. organizer. In addition to speaking squarely on the American CIA. City YSA. A sixteen-year-old There is one simple way to get before millions on CBS-TV (see box), Blasting the media portrayal of Iran­ Iranian-American, she is also the hostages released: stop the war she has been speaking at nearby cam­ ian demonstrators as mobs of religious co-chairperson of the New threats and extradite the Hitler of puses to get out the truth about Iran, fanatics, Foley said when he visited York Socialist Workers Cam­ Iran back to face the justice he and participating in picket lines and Iran he found a mood of "festivity and paign Committee. On No­ deserves. demonstrations demanding, "Hands confidence" at the victory in over­ vember 30 she appeared on The shah held hundreds of thou­ Off Iran!" throwing the shah's tyranny. The ad­ CBS-TV to reply to an editorial sands of political prisoners. He The YSA at Cornell University in vance of the revolution has brought "a on Iran. Below is the text of tortured tens of thousands-many Ithaca, New York, helped initiate an new birth of freedom," he said. her rebuttal. to their death. My own father spent antiwar rally of 750. At the New The December 29-31 YSA convention twenty-six years in exile and was School for Social Research in New will further discuss how best to build Channel 2 supports President only able to go home after the shah York City, the YSA is participating in the crucial movement against military Carter's attacks on Iran by calling fled from his own people. Now the a Committee to Defend Iranian Stu­ intervention in Iran; the defense of them "prudent" and "likely to pro­ Iranians are demanding that the dents, which held a successful meeting Iranian students against racist harass­ duce the safe return of the Ameri­ shah and his stolen billions be of 250 November 29. ment and the threat of deportations; can hostages." returned. As a result of their activity the New and defense of the continuing Iranian This is not true. Channel 2 and President Carter York YSA reports that a number of revolution. Carter's oil embargo is the same called it "blackmai~,'' but what the Iranian students are interested in at­ Young socialists will also be discuss­ economic weapon the U.S. used in Iranians are asking for is simple tending the YSA convention. ing the revolution in Nicaragua; de­ the 1953 CIA-backed coup which justice. fense of Cuba; building support for the put the shah on the throne. The Socialist Workers Party de­ Socialist Workers presidential cam­ The seizure of billions of Iranian mands the shah be sent back to Washington paign of Andrew Pulley and Matilde funds in U.S. banks is a major Iran and that the racist deporta­ Twenty-three-year-old Margo Stor­ Zimmermann; and sharing their expe­ attack on the Iranian economy. tion of Iranians from the U.S. end. steen organizes the Seattle chapter of riences of work in the unions and on The two carrier task forces sent We demand the U.S. keep its hands the YSA. Storsteen is also a member of the campuses. to Iranian waters are the first step off Iran and stop the war threats International Association of Machi­ If you're interested in being part of toward a Vietnam war in the Per- now! nists Local 751(C) at Boeing. these important discussions, clip the The YSA has been in the forefront of coupon above.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 9 SWP candidate: 'Get shah out of San Antonio' By Steve Marshall coalition of labor, student, and com­ lence against Blacks and Chicanos Iranian students, and no military in­ SAN ANTONIO-The shah's arrival munity groups plans a picket line to tomorrow." tervention in Iran. An SWP-organized here December 2 has provoked a storln demand the shah get out. He also hit the crackdown on civil picket in defense of Iran November 20 of controversy. The San Antonio Socialist Workers liberties in Texas, saying the shah's received prominent coverage in the Party is right in the middle of opposi­ arrival had given Texas "a taste of San Antonio Light. State and local officials, fearing tion to sanctuary for the criminal what his regime was like." At the news conference, Gonzalez public opposition, moved immediately shah. invited the public to join a "Get the to restrict free speech. Gov. Bill Cle­ National, state, and local news me­ At an emergency news conference shah out of San Antonio" picket line at ments is trying to ban demonstrations dia packed the conference to hear the December 4, SWP congressional candi­ only candidate in the city who is city hall December 6. throughout the state, while the city date Anthony Gonzalez declared: "The The picket is sponsored by Jaime administration prohibited pro- and speaking out against the shah and arrival of the ex-shah is an insult to Martinez, IUE District 11; Jose Tre­ anti-Iranian actions. And the Ku Klux Washington's war drive. Associated the working people of this city. It is no Press and United Press International vino, vice-president of United Auto Klan announced it would counter any honor to harbor a mass murderer. Workers Local 1735; Oscar Garcia, anti-shah protests. wires sent Gonzalez's statement to "The shah is in the same league with papers across the country. vice-president of IUE Local 1013 Nevertheless, working people here Hitler or Somoza," Gonzalez told the Tampo Group; Rosa Maria de la Torre, have been quick to express their out­ media. "It is the height of hypocrisy to The socialist was also covered by MEChA chairperson at University of rage. The membership of International give protection to this criminal." eight television stations from three Texas in San Antonio; and others. Union of Electrical Workers (IUE) Gonzalez denounced the racism of Texas cities, as well as both San Anto­ Despite the ban on demonstrations Local 1013 voted to publish a fact sheet the anti-Iranian campaign whipped up nio daily papers. requiring a permit, the picket line was on the shah's crimes against human by the Democrats and Republicans. The SWP campaign has been help­ declared legal by the city manager and union rights. Iranian students are "From violence against Iranian stu­ ing organize protests demanding extra­ because it will be held on public prop­ organizing protest activities. And a dents today, it is a short step to vio- dition of the shah, no deportations of erty. Right-wingers fail to block pro-Iran meeting By Nancy Rosenstock the opportunity to apeak after Zimmer­ helped to convince many in the instigate a riot. ALBANY, N.Y.-Right-wingers tried mann. A couple of them spoke, then audience of the correctness of opposing In the face of this stance by the city, unsuccessfully to prevent Matilde Zim­ most of the right wingers walked out. the war drive. the committee decided to postpone the mermann, Socialist Workers Party The other speakers-an Indian stu­ Prior to the meeting, the Ad Hoc U.S. picket until December 8. vice-presidential candidate, and others dent activist, and Tom Capuano from Hands off Iran Committee had In the meantime the committee has opposed to Washington's war moves the campus Nicaragua Solidarity Com­ planned to picket the Chase Manhat­ gone on a campaign to expose the against Iran from speaking to a cam­ mittee-were able to present their re­ tan Bank on December 1. Mter the complicity of the mayor and police pus meeting here November 28. marks without incident. A question disruption of the meeting and phone chief with the right wing. The actions The meeting, which was sponsored and answer period followed for one threats against the picket-the SWP of the two officials have become front by the Young Socialist Alliance and and a half hours. office also received such threats-the page news here. titled "Stop U.S. Threats Against Clearly the majority of those in committee asked Police Chief Edward Anger at the disruption of the meet­ Iran," was widely publicized ahead of attendance came to listen to the speak­ McCardle and Mayor Erastus Coming ing and the response of the city offi­ time by the news media. ers and opposed the disruption. Many to assure the safety of the pickets. cials has generated even more support were upset at what had occurred. McCardle refused, offering the in­ ·for the picket line. The local antinu­ It became clear that there would be Despite a local media attempt to credible excuse that providing police clear alliance is encouraging its sup­ some kind of right-wing intervention. make it seem that the rally had been protection would be equivalent to en­ porters to attend the picket after learn­ Shortly before the meeting a leaflet halted, the fact that the meeting did dorsing the picket. Mayor Coming ing about the right-wing slogan "Nuke appeared saying, "Support America, continue was a major victory. It accused the committee of trying to Iran." protest the pro-Iran meeting tonight­ bring signs." Four hundred people turned out. About 150 of them began an organized disruption as the meeting got under way. The disrupters, who seemed to be mainly fraternity members and Zion­ ists, heckled the first speaker in opposi­ tion to Carter's war drive, Prof. James McClellan. Several of them marched up on the stage and unfurled an Ameri­ can flag. Some foreign students in the audi­ ence-mainly Indians-were physi­ cally threatened by the right wingers. The thugs aimed most of their fire against Zimmermann, trying to shout her down with racist and sexist re­ marks. They also unfurled a banner saying, "Nuke Iran." Militant Organizers of the meeting were able At Albany meeting of 400, Matllde Zimmermann, Socialist Workers Party vice-presidential candidate, speaks out against to quiet the disrupters by offering them war drive despite attempted right-wing disruption. Iran: 'We felt something had to be done' By L. Paltrineri months ago a small group of campaign supporters tons. Supporters of the Socialist Workers Campaign of decided to establish their own 1980 Socialist We need your help to distribute this literature. Andrew Pulley and Matilde Zimmermann are fight­ Workers Campaign Committee. And we need your financial help to continue to print ers and doers. As Carter began escalating the war drive against more. That's why right now you will find them in every Iran the Vermont committee went into action. As There are only a few weeks left in our $80,000 for comer of this country, rolling up their sleeves and Jon Flanders, one of the campaign committee '80 fund drive. Help us make it a big success. Send joining the campaign to defend the Iranian revolu­ organizers explains, "We really felt something had your contribution today. tion. to be done." Vermont is the scene of one such effort. Several They printed a flyer explaining "Why the shah r------, should be sent back" and distributed 1,000 copies on Enclosed is my contribution of $ their jobs, on campuses, and on street comers. I pledge $15 ·-- $25 $50 __ Next, campaign activists went to a Burlington $100 to the Socialist Workers Peace Coalition meeting and suggested a protest Campaign by December 15. demonstration. On November 30 forty people marched in Burling­ Name ------ton, Vermont, to protest the U.S. war drive against Address ------Iran. Also joining the action were activists from the City State _ Burlington Safe Energy Coalition. Zip Phone It made front-page news in the Rutland Herald Union/School!Org. and the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus. Make checks payable to: Socialist Workers Presidential Campaign $53,960 Says Flanders, "I would encourage other cam­ Committee, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. paign committees to do the same thing." 10014. We couldn't agree more. A big part of our defense effort is arming our A copy of our report is filed with the Fedf'ral Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal supporters with the literature they need. This week Election Commission, Washington, D.C. the campaign office is reprinting 25,000 copies of A federal court ruling allows us not to disclose the names the centerfold poster on Iran from the last issue of of contributors in order to protect their First Amendment the Militant. And we have just ordered several ,______rights. .. sao,ooo for ·so thousand "Why die for the shah?" campaign but- 10 Why Carter provoked Iran crisis By Fred Feldman Why did President Carter pennit the hated ex-shah of Iran to come to the United States, even though he was warned that this would provoke uphea­ val in Iran and endanger U.S. Em­ bassy personnel? Why does Carter insist that the death of the fifty American hostages is preferable to returning the deposed mass murderer, torturer, and thief to Iran for trial? More and more American working people are asking themselves these questions. In the view of millions of Iranians, one explanation is that Carter still hopes to re-install the shah as the monarch of Iran, perhaps on the bayonets of American troops. This is not as improbable as some may think. The shah has not abdicated the throne. He still claims to be Iran's legitimate ruler. Carter's refusal to admit any of the shah's proven crimes reinforces the shah's pretensions. Iranian workers and fanners re­ member well that the shah fled a mass uprising once before-in 1953. He was returned to power by a military coup engineered by the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Embassy. Millions of Iranians are determined not to let this happen again. It is becoming clear that the U.S. rulers had even broader aims in pro­ 'VIetnam syndrome'-unwllllngness of American workers to die for U.S. corporate Interests around the world-Is major obstacle voking the crisis with Iran. They hope to rulers' plans. that the propaganda barrage will make it easier for them to send U.S. troops and bombers to prevent the port "military intervention even in ing 'its sense of guilt, its complexes' troops to fight and die in other coun­ overturn in 1979 of dictators such as friendly countries if Western oil inter­ over the Vietnam War." tries. the shah in Iran, Somoza in Nicara­ ests are threatened," according to Ball-who can count on fighting any gua, and Pol Pot in Kampuchea. They Smith. future war from the safety of a plush fear more such setbacks are coming in Washington office-wants us to believe 'Political watershed' Dotting the i's and crossing the t's, 1980 unless the American people can that opposition to war is neurotic. Correspondent Hedrick Smith ex­ Church went on, "The vital interests of be whipped into a war fever. The hostages are pawns in this plained in the December 2 New York the United States, Western Europe and bipartisan drive to gull American Times that "administration officials, Japan in Saudi oilfields would necessi­ working people into supporting a new members of Congress, specialists on Bipartisan war drive tate military action if our interests The campaign for war is a biparti­ foreign policy and others, liberals as were threatened. If that required orga­ Vietnam in the Middle East. san one, with the leaders of both That's why the rulers press ahead well as conservatives, speak of a politi­ nization of strike forces, there would be capitalist parties vying with each with plans to attack Iran even if the cal and psychological watershed far strong support for this on Capitol other in anti-Iranian demagogy. more important than the immediate Hill." hostages are released, even though concern over the American hostages in John C. White, chainnan of the they know such plans only create new Teheran. They view the situation as a Democratic National Committee, ex­ Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) cheered that obstacles to freeing them. pivotal event marking the close of the pressed the hope that Iran would in­ the Iranian crisis would make massive In a column in the December New post-Vietnam era" (emphasis added). spire "a feeling that we have a right to increases in military spending "politi­ York Times, Tom Wicker conceded that What does "close of the post­ protect legitimate American interests cally much more palatable and accep­ "a remarkable 79 percent of the Asso­ Vietnam era" mean? More Vietnams! anywhere in the world." table now." He kept mum about the ciated Press/NBC poll respondents Washington was dealt a historic "Legitimate American interests" is inflation, higher taxes, and cuts in said they would oppose military action defeat in Vietnam. It was unable to White's term for the billions of dollars funds for basic human needs that will if the hostages were released." smash the Vietnamese liberation fight­ in profits that U.S. corporations rip off accompany stepped-up anns expendi­ But he insisted nonetheless that ers, and massive antiwar sentiment in by exploiting the resources and low­ tures. Carter "would be obligated to act the United States finally forced with­ paid workers of semicolonial countries. And Sen. Charles Mathias (R-Md.) swiftly and sternly." drawal of the expeditionary force of It is U.S. working people, of course, declared his readiness to "join conser­ If the rulers get away with their more than 500,000 sent to occupy the who will have to do the protecting­ vatives in urging the rebuilding of attempt to herd us into war in Iran, the country. with their lives. intelligence capa hili ties"-meaning Iranian people and the U.S. personnel Opposition to war took deep root Liberals who have a reputation as CIA covert operations like the one that in the embassy will only be the first among American working people, who "doves" are being given special promi­ put the shah back on the throne in victims. As in Vietnam, the rulers are learned they had nothing to gain and nence. Their endorsement of war 1953. eager to sacrifice the lives of tens of everything to lose from imperialism's moves is supposed to create the illusion thousands of working people­ drive to police the world. In this way, that the war drive is supported by "all 'Sense of guilt'? especially the poorest and most op­ U.S. workers became a decisive ally of Americans." George Ball, who was Lyndon John­ pressed, such as Blacks and freedom fighters in Asia, Africa, and Frank Church (D-Idaho), chainnan son's under-secretary of state during Chicanos-in order to protect the Latin America. of the Senate Foreign Relations Com­ the Vietnam War, told correspondent billion-dollar investments of the oil The U.S. rulers were unable to send mittee, stressed his readiness to sup- Smith that "the nation was overcom- companies.

New ripoff by Big Oil: Iran used as scapegoat By August Nimtz percent capacity, compared to 90 per­ considering proposing in January a our economic plight. At their upcoming A major assault on American work­ cent at this time last year. sharp increase in the current four-cent­ meeting on December 17, OPEC coun­ ing people is under way. It comes not The real source of the price gouging a-gallon tax on gasoline, possible to 50 tries are expected to raise prices-to try from Iran, but from the Carter admin­ is not hard to find. The Carter admin­ cents a gallon." to capture a share of the higher profits istration on behalf of Big Oil. istration just proposed a 50 percent It becomes even clearer now why the oil companies are raking in. This offensive is taking a fonn all increase in the markup allowed to Carter has always coupled his major And that, Jacobson says, is the key too familiar to most Americans­ gasoline middlemen. And it is remov­ pronouncements on the Iran crisis to current U.S. oil company stockpiling increasing fuel prices. ing all price controls on butane and with pleas for support to his energy and refinery cutbacks. "There is only Already prices are creeping up natural gasoline-both used to make program, the centerpiece of which is one conclusion I can draw: The major again, gas lines are fonning in some gasoline-as of January 1. decontrol of domestic crude oil prices. domestic oil companies are holding states, and the Department of Energy As bad as these increases will be for Carter's aim is to use Iran not only to back on the production of refined pro­ is taking the wraps off a rationing most workers, the real stickup comes create a prowar climate in the U.S. but ducts in anticipation of OPEC's meet­ plan. next year, when, the Wall Street Jour­ also as a cover for these fuel price ing." We're supposed to believe the prob­ nal reports, "President Carter's phased hikes. The companies will then reap "huge lem is shortages, presumably caused decontrol of domestic crude-oil prices is For Carter the contrived Iran crisis inventory profits," he explains. And by the Iranian revolution. But there is scheduled to move into high gear. looks like a god-sent answer to a major use OPEC as a scapegoat. no shortage. Each month in 1980 and 1981, more problem-trying to convince American As Jacobson asserts, "Even the Crude oil inventories, at 355 million and more U.S. oil will automatically workers that we shouldn't mind being record-breaking profits recorded by the barrels, are now "the highest in our double in price, and then eventually be robbed at the gas pumps. oil companies during the first three­ nation's history," reports New Jersey freed from controls. altogether." Along with Iran, Carter also wants quarters of 1979 are apparently not Energy Commissioner Joel Jacobson. To make matters even worse, the Americans to blame the Organization enough to satisfy their, I can think of But refineries are operating at only 84 Journal says that "the White House is of Petroleum Exporting Countries for no other word for it but, greed."

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 11 SWP ~residential candidate: 'American workers have no interest in The following is excerpted from a speech given by Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party candidate for president, to a December 2 campaign rally in New York City.

The United States government is at the brink of war with Iran. This war will be fought to protect the oil and banking interests of the Rockefellers and other billionaires, and, of course, to save the neck of the shah. But the American working people, Black people, and other oppressed mi­ norities have absolutely no interest in a war with the Iranian people. We, like the Iranian masses, will be the victims of this war. We are the victims of all the anti­ Iran policies that are being mounted today. The anti-Iran oil policy, for example, will permit the oil companies, which rule this country and most of the world, to force us to pay even more at the gas pumps. They're talking about two dollars a gallon! We will pay for the suppression of the rights of Iranian students in this country, because that threatens our rights as well. And we will pay on the battlefields with our very lives. The fifty remaining hostages in the Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party candidate for president, addresses New York City campaign rally. Militant/Lou Howort U.S. Embassy are simply being used as a pretext-a pretext to justify Wash­ ington's planned military action. about the nation's honor. They say the when this government put into power ed into the Arabian sea toward Iran. If Carter was serious about getting nation's honor is at stake and that this and backed to the hilt a mass mur­ Carter stated that even if the hostages the hostage~ released, he would extra­ honor is now more important than the derer, a butcher of thousands, an ex­ are released the slate would not be dite the shah-that's all that's re­ hostages. ploiter and thief. swept clean. That's what he said, "The quired. That violated our honor. That vio­ slate will not be swept clean." Surely, if there's a war, more than Whose honor? lated the honor of humanity. This means the U.S. government is forty-nine or fifty Americans will die. But whose honor are they talking The honor they are talking about planning to go· to war, regardless. Certainly more than that number of about? Are they talking about the defending is the honor of Rockefeller. But the overwhelming support Car­ Iranians will die. Thousands will die. honor of American working people? That is not honor at all, but rather ter wants for such a war will not be So saving lives is not Carter's con­ I submit that our honor was violated Rockefeller's billions. That's what ho­ found among the American people. cern at all. when the U.S. government followed nor means to them. Rather, the great masses of people, as The rulers of this country are talking the policies it did up to now in Iran- Right now U.S. war ships are head- confirmed by recent polls, object to and

Pulley at ~Hands off Iran' rallies By Betsy Farley Louisville, Kentucky. "Iranian students are being denied group of Cuban leaders in the Uni­ NEW YORK-"We're here to send Peggy McKee of the Elias Ayoub their freedom of speech, and out of ted States who favor a dialogue a message to James Earl Carter: Defense Committee brought greet­ fear, many are forced to deny their . between the Cuban community American working people will not go ings to the rally. Ayoub is a Palesti­ nationality." abroad and the Castro government. to war against Iran." nian student currently facing depor­ Rally participants came from all Negrin was gunned down by right­ That's how the Socialist Workers tation from the United States. over the New York area. They in­ wing Cubans in nearby Union City. campaign rally held here December "We thank the members of the cluded auto workers from New York Comparing the assassins to a 2 began. As the NBC-TV cameras SWP for your support in this case," and New Jersey, railroad and ship­ "nest of rats," Nieto urged the au­ panned over the crowd, the two McKee said. "You've taken an active yard workers, and Teamsters. Also dience to join a national emergency hundred people at the Marc ballroom role because you understand that in attendence were seyeral Iranian telegram campaign to demand a chanted, "Hands off Iran! Send back Elias's case isn't just a case of one and Pakistani students, and young federal investigation into Negrin's the shah, not Iranian students." man. Elias's case is representative of Latinos; death. The featured speaker that after­ thousands of cases in which the U.S. The rally raised more than $7,500 Other rally speakers included noon was SWP presidential candi­ government harasses and intimi­ in pledges to the SWP campaign. Chris Hildebrand of New Jersey date Andrew Pulley. dates those non-citizens who dare to NOW's Labor Task Force; Robert Reba Williams Dixon, SWP candi­ speak out and tell the truth." Bersen of the Young Socialist Al­ date in the Nineteenth Congres­ McKee continued, "We'll win liance; and Deborah Jamison, presi­ sional District-which includes Elias's case. We'll win Hector Marro­ By James Edwards dent of the Summit (New Jersey) Harlem-chaired the rally. Dixon is quin's case. We'll win the Iranian NEWARK-More than one Area NOW chapter. a twenty-three-year-old assembly students' right to demonstrate and hundred people gathered here De­ Jamison described how she be­ line worker at the General Motors speak out against the shah and his cember 1 to hear Andrew Pulley, came disillusioned with Carter and plant in Tarrytown, New York. She regime of terror and exploitation. We Socialist Workers Party candidate other Democratic party politicians is a member of United Auto Workers will hear the truth. And that's why for President, denounce Carter's war and how she arrived at the conclu­ Local 664 and the National Organi­ we're here today. We're here to hear drive against the Iranian people. sion that socialism was the only way zation for Women. your candidates speak the truth and For at least one-third of those to change "an economic system that Dixon introduced the SWP's New we wholeheartedly support you in present, this was their first socialist lines the pockets of a small minority York senatorial candidate, Victor your efforts." campaign rally. of people, while denying the rest of Nieto. Born in Cuba, thirty-two-year­ Greetings were also read from the Railroad workers, electrical us the right to full employment, old Nieto is a member of the Brother­ Socialist Workers Party of Iran and workers, teachers, members of the decent wages, safe work environ­ hood of Railway and Airline Clerks from the Brooklyn Black United National Organization for Women, ments, and the right to keep from Lodge 173. He spoke out against the Front. The BUF message declared, anti-nuclear power activists, young freezing to death this winter." stepped-up campaign of right-wing "We say send the ex-shah back and people, and a few retirees packed Messages of solidarity were given terror against supporters of the Cu­ the money back. Call off the war into the SWP headquarters. They by antinuclear activist Michele ban revolution. hawks. Stop the harassment of Iran­ greeted Pulley's fiery speech with Hughes and by Barbara Harris, Robert Miller is running on the ian students." cheers and applause. president of the Newark Teachers SWP ticket in New York's Seven­ A special guest at the rally was Willie Mae Reid, the SWP's vice­ Association. teenth Congressional District. Miller Cyrus V ahidnia, a plaintiff in the presidential candidate in 1976 and Harris expressed her appreciation is a leader of the New York chapter class-action suit against the round­ an Exxon oil refinery worker, of the Militant. "By the time I go of theY oung Socialist Alliance and a up and deportation of Iranian stu­ chaired the rally. She underscored from Iran to Mexico, to Nicaragua, member of UAW Local 980 at the dents in the United States. the need for Blacks, women, and all down to Greensboro, North Carol­ Ford assembly plant in Metuchen, Stressing the importance of pro­ working people to "rely on our own ina, I've fought a million battles," New Jersey. He explained how the tests against the deportations, V a­ strength to win our rights." she said. YSA and SWP are campaigning to hidnia explained, "If the govern­ Victor Nieto, SWP candidate for Rally participants expressed their aid the young freedom fighters in ment sees no response to the U.S. Senate from New York, con­ enthusiasm for the SWP's 1980 cam­ Nicaragua and Iran and invited deportations, this will be used demned the November 25 assassina­ paign by pledging more than $2,800 rally participants to attend the up­ against others, including against the tion of Eulalio Negrin. Negrin was a and volunteering their time to work coming YSA National Convention in U.S. people themselves. member of the Committee of 75, a for the Pulley-Zimmermann ticket.

12 war with Iranian people' oppose this war drive. porate interests, had to brutally sup­ volley after volley of machine gun fire Despite all the effort on the part of press the masses. He prohibited any can testify. And it is in Iran where the the newspapers and politicians, the democracy. masses who were victims of his war propaganda, the racist hysteria robbery and thievery can point to the and the incitement to riot that has Shah's tyranny role he played. taken place this past month, the Amer­ The Iranian people had no right to The politicians and the news media ican people are not in a frame of mind speak, no right to assemble. They say that other countries are kicking us to go to war. didn't have the right to read what they around. wanted. Iranian workers didn't have We are being kicked around. The Religious fanatics the right to form trade unions. They American workers are being kicked So the newspapers, radio, and televi­ didn't have the right to practice their around. But not by the Vietnamese. sion owned by the superrich realize Not by the Black Africans. Not by the they have to step up the propaganda. Nicaraguans. And not by the Iranians. They have shifted into high gear. When you go to the gas pumps, They are telling us the Iranian peo­ somebody kicks you in the head. But it ple are simple-minded fanatics, reli­ is Rockefeller. gious fanatics, medieval. When you go to the supermarket, We are being told that the Muslim somebody kicks you in the head. It's people (who happen to be dark­ Rockefeller, or his cousins, or a skinned, you may have noticed), are member of his class. uncivilized. Their culture, along with When you breathe radiation, you're their religion, is backward. Whereas being kicked around in the lungs and PHILADELPHIA the Western Christian culture is ad- in the chest, but not by the Iranians. vanced, you see. you're being kicked around by red­ U.S. Hands Off Iran! The newspapers tell us that Kho­ blooded American capitalists. Speakers: meini is a "madman"-a "holy mad­ Andrew Pulley, SWP candidate man," as they try to get us ready for 'One voice'? for president war. That's why all this is going on. Carter and the other Democrats and Nora Danielson, 1979 SWP candi­ Anybody who dares to challenge Republicans keep telling us we have to date for mayor of Philadelphia American imperialism is declared in­ "speak with one voice" about Iran, Saturday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. sane. that all Americans must join together AFSCME District Council 33 Hdq. They said the same thing about to defend our national interests. 3001 Walnut Street Malcolm X, didn't they? They said, Well, I disagree 100 percent. For more information call "He preaches hate"-because he hated There's no such thing as "common (215) 927-4747. racism, because he hated U.S. domina­ 'It was the United States government American interests." The interests of tion of foreign countries. ruling Iran-ruling through the shah­ Rockefeller and the other tycoons are They said Fidel Castro was crazy­ ruling from the hated U.S. Embassy.' different from and antagonistic to the crazy because he dared to say Cubans interests of Black people and to the PORTLAND should control Cuba. That's a crazy religion freely. Rights that we take for interests of all working people in this idea to Rockefeller. granted were denied. country. Stop U.S. War Threats And they say Khomeini is crazy The masses were forced to live in Our interests-the interests of the Against Iran because Iran won't sell oil any more to poverty, burdened by high unemploy­ American working people-are the Speaker: racist, apartheid South Africa. That's ment and high inflation. They were same as the interests of the working Matilda Zimmermann, SWP can­ very crazy. Rockefeller wouldn't act forced to live in bad houses, small tin people of Iran. didate for vice-president that way. shacks, with very few schools. But lots I don't own anything in Iran. I don't Saturday, December 8 They say Khomeini's crazy because of prisons. own any oil wells or automobile plants. Reception 6 p.m. he wants to bring the murderer shah to They were forced to live like this in a We have nothing to lose if the people of Dinner 6:30 p.m. justice, because he wants to recover country that is extremely rich in natu­ Iran establish their independence and Rally 8 p.m. some of the billions stolen from the ral resources. But the wealth from that deepen their revolution to gain a better 1819 Northwest Everett Iranian people. oil went directly to the shah and to his life for themselves. We welcome this. Dinner & rally: $4 When I think of crazy people, I'll tell American friends, the Rockefellers, not It is necessary that we here in the Rally only: $1 you who I think about. I think about to the Iranian masses. United States make our voice heard­ For more information call the first family-Jimmy Carter's fam­ The Iranian people rose up last year our antiwar voice. It is necessary that (503) 222-7225 ily. I think about Billy Carter. I think to change all this. And now they are we continue breaking through the wall about what I read the other day. Miss continuing their revolution, fighting of lies and distortions. In our unions, Lillian, Jimmy's mother, who got hot for some of the very same things we on our campuses, in our organizations, under the collar and said if only she need too: to nationalize the big indus­ we will take the lead in helping to Andrew Pulley had an extra million, an extra million, tries like they did with the oil industry; build and organize this antiwar con­ candidate for president she would hire somebody to kill Kho- to win control of production in the sciousness and this future antiwar meini. factories; to halt inflation; provide jobs movement, just as we did against the Dec. 13-16 Washington D.C./ for the unemployed; to gain land to war in Vietnam. Baltimore Hostages farm; to insure the rights of oppressed This is the main task of my cam­ Carter and the media are lying about minorities. paign and of all the ot)ler campaigns Matilde Zimmermann the "abuse" of the hostages. This is And most of all they are striving to of Socialist Workers Party candidates. candidate for vice-president another way to whip up the public to keep their country free from foreign We are helping explain the truth to the favor war. But everyone who has seen domination-the same thing we fought American working people. Dec. 9-12 Puget Sound the hostages, including the hostages for 200 years ago. The SWP and Young Socialist Al­ themselves, deny they are being mis­ liance are helping build a movement to treated. Send back shah defend those who are suppressed by Who are these hostages anyway? Let the U.S. government recognize, the rulers of this country and who Other socialists on tour Well, we can be sure that many of for the first time, the rights of the resist that oppression. We are helping Cathy Sedwick them are simply spies. That's what Iranian people to determine their own build a movement that can not only Dec. 8-10 Louisville they are-spies or people assigned to fate, by extraditing the shah. The shah "kick around" Rockefeller's govern- protect the spies. should be returned to Iran where the . ment, but that can ultimately kick it A U.S. embassy in a country in the massive evidence of his crimes exists. out-kick it out of power and replace it Fred Halstead middle of a revolution-a revolution It is in Iran where the hundreds of with a worker's government that will Dec. 7-9 Denver against U.S. domination and repres­ thousands who were tortured are. It is follow a real human rights policy sion-that U.S. embassy is not preoc­ in Iran where the relatives of tens of abroad and follow policies to satisfy cupied with simply processing visas. thousands who were mowed down by human needs at home. Hector Marroquin Dec. 6-8 Albuquerque The few Americans who remain are Dec. 12 Miami part of the staff of 1,000 that existed after the revolution toppled the shah last February. And the 1,000 were New button, poster on Iran those who remained from what was The Socialist Workers Presidential 0 Please send me __ copies of the before a 70,000-strong American pres­ Campaign Committee now has availa­ poster. Single copies free. $2 for 100. ble a new poster and button to protest 0 Please send me __ copies of the ence in Iran-advisers to the military, button. 50 cents each. 35 cents for 10 or advisers to the secret police, advisers Carter's war threats against Iran. The poster, a reprint of the center­ more. to the shah, CIA operatives, as well as 0 Please send me more information on employees of U.S. corporations. spread from the December 7 Militant, the SWP Campaign. documents the atrocities of the shah's It was the CIA in 1953 that orga­ regime. Clip and mail to Socialist Workers Presi­ nized the military coup that brought The button says "Why die for the dential Campaign, 14 Charles Lane, New the shah back to power. Why should shah-Stop U.S. war threats against York, N.Y. 10014. Name we think they have any different aims iran-Vote Socialist Workers." Address today? Order yours today! It was the United States govern­ City State ment ruling Iran-ruling through the Zip Phone ______shah-ruling from the hated U.S. Em­ Paid for by the Socialist Workers Presidential Campaign Committee. A copy of our report is filed with bassy. the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commis­ sion, Washington, D.C. The shah, acting for American cor-

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 13 S. Africa sends trooP-§ Rhodesia regime escalates war on Blacks By Ernest Harsch · the London talks. and civil service; and prohibit any At the Zimbabwe negotiations in 0 For several weeks, the British major constitutional changes for ten London, the imperialists are talking of government-with tacit American years. "peace." But in southern Africa, they backing-has been applying considera- On November 15, it also agreed to are escalating their war drive. ble pressure at the negotiating table to accept the authority of a British gover- With the backing of Washington and force political and military concessions nor, who would take over the govern- London, the white-dominated Rhode- from the leaders of the Patriotic Front. ment of Zimbabwe until new elections sian government of Bishop Abel Mu- Partly as a result of the devastating had been held. The governor would zorewa and the apartheid regime of attacks on Zambia, Kaunda himself also head a Commonwealth "peace- . South Africa have greatly stepped up has counseled the front to compromise. keeping" force, which is to include their attacks against the Zimbabwean While giving barely disguised appro- several hundred British troops. freedom struggle-and against the val to the relentless Rhodesian war Although the terms of the settlement Black masses of southern Africa as a drive, the British negotiators, led by carry grave risks for the Zimbabwean whole. Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington, masses-in particular if British troops On November 30, South Africa issued a series of ultimatums to the are sent-the actual course of the Prime Minister Pieter W. Botha Patriotic Front, warning that if it did struggle will be decided in Zimbabwe admitted-for the first time-that not go along with the British settle- itself. South African military forces were ment proposals, London would lift Settlement or no settlement, the level already involved in Zimbabwe. economic and military sanctions of mobilization of the Zimbabwean Botha said that "South Africa, after against the Rhodesian regime anyway. masses will make it very difficult for consultation with the Government of the imperialists to impose their will. Zimbabwe Rhodesia, has for some time 'Blackmail' The South African authorities them- now been looking to the protection of In face of such "blackmail selves have very little confidence that our interests as well as our vital lines boring Zambia and Mozambique, both attacks"-as Zimbabwean leader Jo- the London talks will be successful in of communication, such as the rail of which provide sanctuary to the shua Nkomo called them-the Patrio- derailing the Zimbabwean struggle. links to Beitbridge and the railway Patriotic Front guerrilla forces. tic Front made a number of conces- In an open threat to intervene with links through it." Beitbridge is in Thousands of Zimbabwean refugees sions. massive military force should the Pa- southem Zimbabwe. and Mozambican civilians have been On October 18, it decided to accept a triotic Front come to power, Botha killed by Rhodesian troops over the British-proposed constitution, which warned on November 19 that Pretoria Paratroop battalions past two years. Dams, bridges, build- would ensure a disproportionate white would not tolerate "chaos" on its Although Botha gave no further ings, and railway lines have been representation in parliament; safe- borders. details, the South African intervention seriously damaged as well, in a deliber- guard white control of the army, police, From Intercontinental Press/lnprecor in Zimbabwe is already quite exten­ ate effort to disrupt the Mozambican sive. According to reports in the De­ economy. Rhodesian-backed terrorist cember 1 Washington Post, there is groups within Mozambique have car­ one, and possibly two, South African ried out numerous sabotage actions in paratroop battalions stationed at Ru­ Maputo and other cities. tenga, in southern Zimbabwe. Since October, Rhodesian planes and South African helicopter pilots have commando units have knocked out flown with the Rhodesian forces, and many of Zambia's main road and rail South African Mirage jet fighters have links to other countries, including the participated in bombing raids into Mo­ vital Tazara railway through Zambia zambique. and Tanzania. In early November, the South African officers are legally Rhodesian government declared a allowed to serve with the Rhodesian blockade on all shipments of com from military for extended periods, without South Africa to Zambia. loss of seniority or rank. South African Muzorewa has threatened to use "far infantrymen have been asked to volun­ greater" force tha11 Zambia "has expe­ teer for the Rhodesian army. rienced in the past, and the consequen­ Agricultural Implement workers face long strike Rhodesian troops have received ces will be disastrous for the unfortu­ More than 75,000 United Auto Workers members employed by Interna­ training in South Africa. And accord­ nate Zambian masses." tional Harvester and Caterpillar-two of the three major agricultural ing to some reports more than 40 Declaring that Zambia was in a implement corporations-are facing a long, hard strike. percent of the Rhodesian war budget­ "full-scale war situation," Zambian {n addition to economic demands, auto workers are striking against now estimated to run $2 million a President Kenneth Kaunda on No­ Harvester's attempt to impose forced overtime. Previous UAW contracts day-is provided by the South African vember 20 ordered a mass military have included provisions against compulsory overtime. But the company g~vernment. mobilization. All reservists were called South African support for Muzorewa up and all military leaves were can­ is trying to take away the overtime safeguard. and former Rhodesian Prime Minister celled. Members ofUAW Local974 in Peoria, Illinois, walked out of Caterpillar Ian Smith has long been apparent. But "The party and its government," on October 1. After they struck for three weeks without international Botha's speech marked the first time Kaunda said, "will also take the neces­ UAW authorization, a nationwide walkout was sanctioned October 29. since the withdrawal of South Africa's sary steps to mobilize all other resour­ Some 40,000 workers in eight Caterpillar plants are participating. On police from Zimbabwe in 1976 that the ces for the war." November 1, 35,000 UAW members at Harvester joined the strike. Pretoria regime has openly acknowl­ In addition, Kaunda appealed for Negotiations are at an impasse. On November 26 the union and edged that it was directly involved in material and other forms of assistance Harvester met for the first time since the strike began. But no progress the war. to both Zambia and the Patriotic Front was made and no· further talks are planned. His speech could only have been "to fight this just war to its logical What has already been a long strike is shaping up to be even longer-a intended as a threat of even greater conclusion." major battle for the UAW. South African intervention against the The strike is a test not only for auto workers but for the entire union peoples of Zimbabwe. It is part of the 'Britons go home' movement. Solidarity activities in support of the strikers are urgently current efforts by British and U.S. Laying responsibility for the Rhode­ needed. imperialism to put maximum pressure sian raids where it belongs-with on the Zimbabwean liberation forces London-several thousand Zambian and the so-called front line states. youths marched on the British High Local fights sexism at A.C. Spark Plug Commission offices in Lusaka on No­ Sue Hagen from Local 1866 in Milwaukee sends this report: Bombings & sabotage vember 23 and 24, chanting, "Britons Workers punching in at A.C. Spark Plug several weeks ago were greeted Backed up by the much more power­ go home!" with a display of sexist placards around the time clock. Some of the signs ful apartheid regime to the south, the Within Zimbabwe itself, the Rhode­ read: "A woman's place is in the kitchen and the bedroom," and "Down Muzorewa-Smith regime has conducted sian army's efforts to crush the strug­ with the ERA." The rest were crude references to the female anatomy. frequent bombing raids, sabotage ac­ gles of the Zimbabwean workers and Some of the workers on the previous shift were striking a blow at the tions, and troop incursions into neigh- peasants continue to claim the lives of "radicals" and "women's libbers' in the plant. They had the tacit backing scores of Blacks each week. of management-which removed one pornographic sign, but allowed the The vast bulk of the country is now rest to stand. ruled under martial law, under which The woman-baiters misjudged, however. The plant is nearly half the white-led armed forces can act with women, and many of them were outraged. legal impunity against Black villagers and suspected supporters of the Patrio­ They weren't just personally insulted; they saw it as an attack on their tic Front. right to work at A.C. A Local 1866 alternate committeeperson went one Despite the massive force employed step further. "This is anti-union bullshit," she said. She collected the against the Zimbabwean freedom placards and marched up to the union office. struggle, it has continued to gain in The next day, several of us circulated a statement condemning the strength. There are now up to 17,000 incident as an attack on the whole union. We had no trouble collecting a Patriotic Front fighters operating in page of signatures during break. the country, and thousands more are Local 1866 promised a quick response and came down hard on the based in Zambia and Mozambique. woman-baiters. The next issue of the newsletter was out within a week. In The Rhodesian regime has been forced a front-page editorial the union reaffirmed its defense of women's rights to abandon some areas of the country­ and explained the need for unity. side to the liberation forces. The union's action effectively silenced the antiwoman campaign. We are now in a stronger position to help the local build an active women's Pressure In London committee. That way, we can involve the whole membership in the fight Unable to defeat the Zimbabwean to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. struggle on the ground, the imperial­ Compiled by Osborne Hart tha ists are hoping to sidetrack it through 14 Letter to Carter Rail union head calls for oil nationalization The following letter to President Carter from AI Chesser, president of the United Transportation Un•···n, is reprinted from the No­ vember 17 'UTU News.' C' esser's call for nationaliza­ tio :c of the oil companies. is part of an accelerating discussion within the labor movement on the energy crisis. Thousands of unionists across the country joined the Stop Big Oil protests October 17, where nationalization was a popular proposal by many rally speakers. When the 'International Teams­ ter' printed an energy survey in August, more than 10,000 Teams­ ters filled it out and sent it in, many adding their own angry comments. Fifty-five percent didn't believe there was an energy crisis, and 27 percent of the re­ mainder believed the crisis was artificially created to drive up pri­ ces. Recent conventions of the Uni­ ted Electrical Workers and the International Woodworkers of America passed resolutions calling MilitanVMarc Lichtman for nationalization of the oil in­ Labor protests oil ripoff In Charleston, West VIrginia, October 17. Demand to nationalize energy Industry was well received at dustry. union demonstrations across country. The United Transportation Union, with 238,000 members, is the largest rail union. in town, but also the biggest game in the cancer of higher cost to the individ­ companies know the facts. Even pow­ history. The Four Sisters are willing to ual and his health: heating oil has erful Senate committees cannot get the Dear Mr. President: sell human lives for unsightly profits. gone from about 40 cents per gallon to facts about oil. That is the first job of Again, you have seen the figures for about 90 cents per gallon in one year. the government. There is no more important matter the 1979 third quarter. Oil companies have been accused of To perform the task now necessary facing this nation today than the getting out of the home heating oil in the public interest, you must immo­ Profit increases: energy ·crisis. Behind the scene, the 130 per cent field to enter the more profitable jet bilize the runaway spiral of energy Mobil cost. Only the President can now lead heavy hand of the big oil companies 191 per cent fuel market. makes human sacrifice to corporate Sohio the way to stabilizing energy develop­ 64 per cent At this point, with the industry Cities Service ment, production and supply for this profit. 118 per cent threatening the U.S. and the world at Exxon country. Periodically, since monopolists dis­ 97 per cent regular intervals, no citizen can believe covered that oil can be manipulated in Gulf Oil anyone: not the oil companies, not I call on you as the leader of this Conoco (Standard nation to nationalize the nation's oil supply and price, we have had oil 134 per cent Congress and, yes, Mr. President, not scares. I don't think it necessary to Oil of Indiana) even you. companies so that the full measure of detail the events of the 1920 scare-the All these figures topped outlandish Already, it is too late to change the fact can be developed from their re­ British were the bad guys then; nor the growth figur:es for previous quarters. direction of greed in the multinational cords and files. I call on you to hold 1929 scare, this time "conservation," These profits, representing a cancer­ oil companies. Now that they have this industry in nationalization, as a nor the 1947 scare when government ous growth of energy company profits, crossed the border of reason, it is time vital natural resource, until facts can officials said U.S. supply was at an have now reached the point where the to follow the will of the people. The be established and a formula devised end, nor the 1959 scare, when protec­ profiteers have begun trading in hu­ people of this country cannot directly to protect the public against the mad­ tive tariffs were raised to keep profits man lives. Again, you know the head­ impose their will on renegade corpora­ ness of oil profiteering, and the nation up. lines: tions. They leave that to their elected from the private. rule of oil companies. Then came the heavy guns. OPEC, "South Dakota county prepares to representatives in Congress and in the . To move firmly and resolve doubts, with the guidance of the four American house folks who can't pay heating oil White House. For the good of the to clear the present muddled picture, is oil giants-the core of the Seven Sis­ bill" nation, it is time to move directly, the first step back to public confidence ters: Aramco, dealt the cards that led "Cold is expected to kill thousands" fearlessly, and with purpose to bend in the Congress, the Presidency and to gas lines, big price increases and "Heating oil costs hits elderly" the will of the powerful men who head the nation. unsightly profits. "Federal aid may be too late" the oil companies. That was only a rehearsal for today. As a by-product of this insatiable We must have full and proper deter­ Sincerely, We now have not only the only game greed, the oil companies are spreading mination of facts: now, only the oil s/ AI H. Chesser, President

Workers pay for Milwaukee Road bankruptcy By Cindy Burke ces" (pink slips) would start going out merce Commission (ICC) directs to way Labor Act and threatening em­ ST. PAUL, Minn.-Attempts to liqui­ the following Monday to all affected service lines embargoed by the Mil­ ployee "self-help" if this were not date the Milwaukee Road came danger­ employees. Then came the second waukee. In turn, the government in­ turned around. ously close to succeeding recently blow. Furloughed employees would sures the carrier a 6 percent profit as The federal loan amounts to a stay when U.S. District Court Judge Tho­ receive no back pay, no severance pay, long as service is maintained. of execution. It was granted sup­ mas McMillen authorized an "em­ and no vacation pay. However, word has it that due to posedly to give employees and shippers bargo" of half the railroad's trackage. This was all confirmed in a "to all expenses around directed service for time to come up with a stock owner­ This embargo would idle some 5,000 concerned" message sent out the fol­ the Rock Island Railroad, there are no ship plan to buy the railroad. This railroad workers and deprive many lowing day by Worthington L. Smith, government funds left for directed plan must then be approved by the small farmers and shippers of needed president of Milwaukee Road. Any services and the logical carriers to ICC. rail service. claims for back pay or 1980 vacation perform such services for the Milwau­ But this will not solve the problems time earned in 1979 would become of Milwaukee Road workers and the The October 26 embargo order was kee Road have already declined to do claims against the Milwaukee "estate." so on a credit basis. shippers and farmers they service. followed a week later by President In other words, railroad workers Similar plans on other railroads, such Carter's signing of a bill authorizing a would have to stand in line behind the When the furlough notices went out as the Chicago and North Western, $10 million loan to the Milwaukee Internal Revenue Service, government after October 26, workers in the St. have meant only more of the same­ Road. Sources estimate that this sum agencies, and private creditors for all Paul terminal were angry and bitter. the same management, the same con­ will ~:llow the Milwaukee to continue their earned benefits and back pay. Although only a few employees here ditions. runr..ing until around mid-December. Nothing was said about the fate of would be immediately affected, there Since the current management has The $10 million was enough to sus­ employees who had been injured on the was a pervasive feeling that what was so clearly shown itself incapable of pend the embargo, but what happened job and had not yet settled for lost happening to employees from the West running the Milwaukee Road, the gov­ in the week before the loan came wages and other compensation owed was only a preview of what was in ernment should take it completely out through was an ominous sign of what them by the railroad. store for all workers in the Milwaukee of their hands and nationalize it as a is in store for Milwaukee Road workers As a parting shot, management an­ in one or two short years. public utility. in the future. nounced that medical and dental cov­ Some employees talked strike-as a Two union locals here, BRAC Local Within minutes of McMillen's em­ erage would be cut off within four way of forcing the government to step 1478 and United Transportation Union bargo order, Trustee Richard Ogilvie months of furlough date. in and stop the shutdown. Local 911, have endorsed that prop­ issued one of his famous "to all con­ To try to placate furloughed workers, A general chairman of the Brother­ osal. As have scores of Milwaukee cerned" notices on the teletype. These Ogilvie and company continually refer hood of Railway and Airline Clerks workers who signed petitions during messages go out to all stations and are to the chances of being rehired by a sent Ogilvie a telegram, charging the the past months calling on the U.S. posted up in all yard offices. "directed carrier." A directed carrier is railroad with failure to live up to government to halt the shutdown and He announced that "furlough noti- a railroad that the Interstate Com- employee protection claims of the Rail- nationalize the Milwaukee Road. THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 15 Our readers ask ...... The Milit4 Utilities resist clean coal resource which, if used properly in experienced at confronting the The Socialist Workers Party fluidized-bed boilers, can provide a system and moving, inspiring By Nancy Cole should commend itself for its part of the alternative. people. Any discussion of alternatives to several-year-old opposition to The other parts, which have I just get a feeling your nuclear power must begin with a real­ nuclear power plants. And Harry essentially no environmental movement picked coal partly istic assessment of the deadly time­ Ring in the June 8 Militant is right problems associated with them, are because of the potential for bomb this technology represents for all on target in his article when he the immediate adoption of an confrontation and consciousness of humanity. points out that reliance on energy-conservation program and raising. Every day nuclear power plants con­ capitalist politicians to stop the immediate start of a building Other energy sources tend to tinue to operate, they threaten a disas­ nuclear power will get the program of solar and wind power sidestep the confrontation and lack ter that a 1965 government report movement nowhere, and that sources. the political nature that coal has, predicted could kill 45,000 people im­ getting labor support behind the It's up to socialists to educate although in the long run, mediately. movement is the way to go. themselves on this vital issue, and scientifically and economically, Every day nuclear power plants are But Harry is wrong to point to then go on to educate the larger they promise a better future for us. allowed to operate, they produce more coal as "the feasible alternative to public that energy conservation Gilbert Lee radioactive waste, which remains poi­ nuclear power"-especially without means eliminating waste in the San Francisco, California sonous for thousands of years and for any qualification. The truth is that way we use energy, not freezing in which there is no known method of these are severe environmental and the dark or having a lower disposal. Nuclear needed for now Every day, every hour, nuclear health problems associated with standard of living; that I believe nuclear power is an expanded use of coal. photovoltaic cells which directly power plants are allowed to operate, unsuitable long term energy source they emit "low-level" radiation, greatly Coal plants release huge convert sunlight to electricity are BUT as a short term source it is increasing cancer rates among resi­ quantities of air pollutants-sulfur feasible and economical now, and both necessary and desirable. It is dioxide gas, soot and microscopic that wind power for making dents of surrounding communities. safer and cleaner than coal at this No other method of generating "fly ash" particles. These fly ash electricity has been used for many point and will continue to be so. particles contain many cancer­ decades. electricity-including even the dirtiest Additionally, I support the methods of burning coal-represents causing substances. Once in the Edward Gogol dismantling of nuclear weapons, atmosphere, the sulfur dioxide gas Chicago, Illinois anything close to this nuclear threat to the shutting down of all breeder present and future generations. can be absorbed by the fly ash reactors, and the denial of licenses particle, where it is oxidized to Safely and cleanly for any more construction of Wendy Hays is wrong when she extremely corrosive sulfuric acid. Coal is indeed a feasible nuclear fission power plants. asserts that filtering and waste dispo­ The stuff falls out to earth, alternative. There have been many We already have acid rain on a sal for nuclear fission products exist. making our rivers and lakes acid, coal miners in my family in global scale. The scientists are now In addition to the problems of disman­ and killing off fish. And people Pennsylvania so I take particular finding a lot of supportive reasons tling abandoned plants and disposing breathe in these extremely fine interest in any discussion of coal for believing that unless we of used water from which radioactive particles, which can penetrate to mining. drastically curtail those carbon atoms cannot be filtered, there is the the deepest of the lung. I ask that in any future mention dioxide emissions soon, we will, frightening spectacle of temporary The end result? Lung diseases of coal in the Militant or by your indeed, have a climatic cataclysm storage pools that are quickly filling such as asthma, bronchitis, readers that certain other sometime before the end of the up with tons of radioactive waste. emphysema, and lung cancer (and inseparable demands be included. century. There is no answer to this problem others). One should be a demand that coal Worse, they feel that if coal is after thirty years of research. It's true that pollution control be burned cleanly. developed on the scale that Carter Hays says that the problem of car­ devices on conventional coal­ Another demand to be coupled is proposing, then this process will bon dioxide, which is released into the burning power plants can remove a with any discussion of coal is that be greatly accelerated. atmosphere when fossil fuels are great deal of this pollution. it be mined safely. The mines could I have long been aware of the burned, will cause a climatic cataclysm Also, there are two new kinds of be clean, safe, places to work potential of fusion power-an before the end of the century. coal plants which promise to be except that the capitalists refuse to energy system that's been ignored The "greenhouse effect," where car­ almost pollution-free, called use the money they steal from us to in the U.S. because we have so bon dioxide in the atmosphere could fluidized-bed boilers, and let us work in safety. much money tied up in nuclear possibly raise the earth's temperature magnetohydrodynamic generation. Let's demand that coal be used, fission and in oil. Fusion energy is to drastic levels, is a serious question The fluidized-bed boiler technology but let's also demand that it be the kind of power generated in the is all developed and ready to go, mined safely and burned cleanly, heart of our sun, and England has and with fluidized beds, pollutant as it can and must be. been working in this "field for a releases can be cut by more than 95 Terry Mulcahy long time. It's quite possible they'll percent. Secretary, have a working plant by the early But the electric utilities will resist Communications Workers of 1990s. building fluidized-bed boilers for · America Local 8671 Another piece of "classified" the same old reasons. Albuquerque, New Mexico information that took the First, they are slightly more invocation of the Freedom of expensive than conventional Information Act to release is that boilers, and hence mean lower Renewable energy there's a method of solar energy profits. They tell us nukes generate 17 use (called Solaris) that is Second, if a utility did install one percent of our power, some areas competitive with the installation of or two clean-burning fluidized bed more dependent than others (like conventional oil, gas, or electric boilers, public outcry to replace all Chicago). By actively fighting to furnaces and is useful even in low the filthy, conventional (but invest research and development in sunlight areas. profitable) coal burning plants solar, wind, cogeneration and The third piece of suppressed with fluidized bed boilers would be conservation, we could probably information is that we have immense. make up the loss of nuclear power enough nuclear fuel already to Profit demands of the coal in about five years, given the power all existing nuclear power companies create the same type of proper political decisions, funding, plants through the year 2050- situation in the coal mines. Many and tax breaks. which I think is long enough to thousands of miners have died and Yes, coal can shoulder that 17 make a transition to solar/fusion are dying from black lung disease percent immediately, but it bothers methods. from the high levels of coal dust, me that I rarely see the phrase Unlike coal, we do have the and from accidents, explosions, "renewable versus nonrenewable filtering and waste disposal and cave-ins. energy sources" mentioned in your capacity to deal with [nuclear] This outrageous situation could paper. Just as shutting down nukes fission power for a short time. And be halted by proper ventilation of is an obligation to future it won't complicate the biosphere's the mines, paying attention to generations, so is developing the carbon dioxide problem. safety practices, and putting the renewable energy sources. Confronted with this gloomy coal miners in control of the whole Your paper deserves credit for information, I think we must work process. But again, this would pushing coal. Other [energy] to close the coal mines, get the mean lower profits for the coal sources don't have the potential for nuclear power plants out of private companies, and so we will have to mobilizing the American people hands, and push for the use of struggle for it. around relevant issues like job existing nuclear plants as a Instead of saying coal is "the safety, worker control, opening the stopgap ONLY. alternative" to nuclear power, bosses books. The UMW A is the Wendy Hays socialists should point to coal as a best organized and best San Francisco, California

16 tnt replies '1.at deserves immediate research and American people, the antinuclear •nsideration. movement needs an alternative to nu­ But the threatened nuclear cata­ clear plants. And second, because the :lysm faces us-not in the year 2000- United Mine Workers-a major indus­ ut even before the beginning of 1980! trial union that is already on record against nuclear power-can be the key Technology exists to drawing the entire labor movement Edward Gogol points to the acid rain into this struggle. md lung diseases that can accompany 0al burning. Then he goes on to detail Immediate alternative 1ow this is totally unnecessary be­ Why do antinuclear forces need to :ause the technology exists to bum put forward an alternative energy ·oal cleanly. source? But the utilities, he argues, will resist Because in the eyes of most working .his relatively more expensive technol­ people, the strongest argument the >gy just as the coal companies have pronuclear forces have is that shutting ~esisted operating their mines safely. down nukes would mean factories That is absolutely right. closed, lights blacked out, millions It is part of the very nature of jobless, and a drastic decline in our !tpitalist corporations to resist each standard of living. Whatever the dan­ md every measure that will cost them gers of nuclear power, they say, stop­ nore money, whether it is safety and ping it would provoke an even worse 1ollution controls or higher wages and catastrophe. ob security. Every gain working peo­ Coal is an abundant, immediate >le ever won from these profit-hungry alternative that could substitute for ~ompanies was always the result of a nuclear power plants if they were all :truggle, including the safety advances shut down tomorrow. ~oal miners have won through contract There are reserves of coal to last an ~lauses and federal and state laws. estimated 400 years. And there are The demand to shut down the deadly thousands of experienced coal miners 1.uclear power plants, as well as the now laid off who could be put back to lemands for clean coal and safer work immediately to mine the needed nines, will be no different. They will coal. cake a figbt. It is a common-sense answer to those The real question is, ·how do we go nuclear advocates who say shutting 1.bout organizing the most effective down nuclear power plants would -:-ht to ensure victory? throw the country into chaos. The Socialist Workers Party believes And it will be apparent as such to the answer is to educate the masses of millions of working people-the forces American people on the nuclear danger we must win to the antinuclear fight. md to mobilize their power to shut the That is not the case with our readers' ,1uclear plants down once and for all. other proposals-"renewable" energy Militant/Anne Teasdale fhe organized labor movement has the sources and energy conservation. dout to do this, and there are encou­ It is true that technology exists for the Democratic and Republican politi­ Gilbert Lee explains that the de­ raging signs that labor can and will generating electricity from the sun and cians, we drive too far and heat too mand for coal in place of nuclear take up the antinuclear cause. wind. But it has not yet even ap­ much. "Energy conservation" always power has the "potential for mobilizing That's exactly why the SWP says proached the stage where solar or translates as, "Stay at home, turn the American people around relevant coal is so important. First, because to other "renewable" energy sources down the thermostat-and pay higher issues like job safety, worker control, win over the vast majority of the could generate enough electricity to energy prices to boot." opening the bosses books." keep the country going. It is self-defeating for antinuclear Yet he suspects the Militant and Gilbert Lee puts a five-year deadline activists intent on winning many more other proponents of the coal alterna­ on developing adequate solar power to to their ranks to give credence to such tive have picked it "partly because of replace nuclear if "proper political anti-labor efforts by championing the potential for confrontation and decisions, funding, and tax breaks" "energy conservation." consciousness raising." were to occur. Well, in a sense Lee is right. We Socialist society didn't choose for there to be a confron­ · Five years is too long It is important to be clear on exactly tation, but there is one. Between those Yet even if Lee's scenario were to what we mean by proposing coal as who want to see humanity survive, happen (most solar advocates estimate the alternative. We say, "Coal is the and the capitalist class that is jeopard­ the time much further in the future), answer to how society can keep operat­ izing that survival. five years is too long to jeopardize ing if all the nuclear plants are shut There are powerful forces working to New humanity! down immediately." No more and no promote nuclear power-from the Insisting on development of solar less. energy monopolies to the president of energy as the alternative to nuclear We are not ·saying that coal or any the United States. Millions of dollars from power-regardless of the intentions of other fossil fuel will necessarily be the are poured into advertising campaigns the many sincere activists who hold preferred energy source under a social­ alone to try to convince the American Pathfinder this position-thus cuts across the ist society, where such decisions will be people of its desirability. antinuclear movement's demand to made rationally on the basis of human Carter's hand-picked Commission on shut all the nukes down now. Not five needs. We do not pretend to be quali­ the Accident at Three Mile Island was Press or ten or twenty years from now-by fied to' make such a judgment in ad­ forced to conclude that there is no then it may be too late-but now! vance. "guarantee that there will be no se­ Well, is conservation a reasonable Nor do we deny that coal use poses rious future nuclear accidents." 40 pages, $.95 answer while we wait for solar, wind, environmental problems. But for coal, But that didn't stop Carter from or tidal energy? these problems can be solved, and continuing to push nuclear power. Nor Order from Pathfinder Gogol contends that to propose many already have been. did it deter the House of Representa­ Press, 410 West energy conservation means eliminat­ As the United Mine Workers points tives from rejecting a bill this month to Street, New York, N.Y. ing waste, not freezing in the dark or out, since World War II the federal · halt construction of new nuclear reac­ 10014 (Please enclose having a lower standard of living. government has subsidized the nuclear tors. $.75 for postage.) We certainly agree that there is vast industry to the tune of $10 billion. It is It will take a powerful movement to waste of energy in this capitalist coun­ still deadly. If even a fraction of that win against these odds. And the pros­ try. This is because the corporations amount were put into research and pect of bringing into the struggle one design, construct, and manufacture development of coal technologies, ev­ of the most powerful industrial solely on the basis of profit rather than ery indication is that coal could be unions-one that is "the best orga­ what is in the best interests of society. safely and cleanly burned. nized and best experienced at confront­ But whenever energy conservation is ing the system and moving, inspiring proposed as a national objective under 'Mobilizing people' people," as Lee describes it-could capitalism it is without exception That's what the UMWA is for, and mean the difference between victory aimed at working people. According to they deserve our support. and defeat.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 17 USWA Local 8888 resists splitting efforts By Jon Hillson launched a fourth attempt to gain a NEWPORT NEWS, Va.-An attempt decertification election. by company union diehards to break Three previous anti-Steelworker ef­ from United Steelworkers Local 8888's forts were tossed out by the regional bargaining unit is doomed to fail, NLRB, the most recent in October. USW A District 35 Subdirector Jack But anti-union designers, who Hower told the Militant. scabbed against Local 8417's two-and­ The splitting effort is being pro­ a-half-year strike, are now taking their moted by members of the Peninsula decertification petition to the NLRB's Shipbuilders Association in the mold national office in Washington, D.C. loft of the Newport News shipyard. They claim to have enough signatures There are fewer than 100 workers to force an election. Leaders of the pro­ assigned there, the overwhelming ma­ company designers are working in jority of them white. It is the most cahoots with the ragtag remains of the highly paid department in the yard. PSA. The PSA has petitioned the National MilitanVJon Hillson .Discredited and despised by ship­ Labor Relations Board to separate the Workers at Newport News shipyard struck for union recognition and will resist any yard workers, the PSA is reduced to unit from Local 8888. attempt to undermine their solidarity. sniping attacks on the Steelworkers. "The PSA is dead," Hower told the The main concern of shipyard workers Militant, "and the sooner everybody today is the progress of Local 8888's realizes it, the better off everybody will workers and in the midst of a massive workers when they voted in the elec­ contract negotiations. be." signup of new union members, the tion, they are now, and they will be in Three preliminary sessions were held Workers in the mold loft voted in the PSA is seeking to peel off some 1,000 the future." A Steelworker elected by prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. January 1977 union representation workers in the mold loft and elsewhere mold loft members of Local 8888 serves Negotiations were set to resume No­ election, in ·which the Steelworkers with the bogus. claim of a separate on the union's negotiating committee. vember 28. defeated the PSA as the bargaining bargaining unit for "technical A second pot shot against. the The first issue of the "Steelworkers agent for production and maintenance workers." Steelworkers-this one aimed at Bargaining Bulletin," published on employees at the huge shipyard. "The USWA represents everybody in USWA Local 8417, which represents November 15 by the subdistrict office, Nearly two years later, in the face of the shipyard," Hower said. "They marme designers-was fired on No­ reported to members that the negotia­ the shipyard's recognition of the Steel- [mold loft workers] were production vember 18, when scab designers tions had gotten "off to a good start." Steelworkers demand better conditions for women By Maggie McCraw fix up the Chern. Lab" (near where CHICAGO-On November 14, more the most women without lockers work), than 100 men and women members of "safe, clean, adequate locker rooms for United Steelworkers Local 65 picketed the women in each division without the main office at U.S. Steel South displacing our brothers," and "women Works. are here to stay-fight sex discrimina­ The rally, which was organized by tion." the local's Women's Committee, was The rally was very spirited, with endorsed at a membership meeting in picket signs reading: "Mice are nice October. but I'd rather shower alone," and U.S. Steel has refused to fulfill its "Fleas-an added benefit for women obligation to provide lockers and show­ workers at U.S. Steel." ers for women workers. A survey by The son of one Women's Committee the Women's Committee found that 40 member carried a sign reading "Kids percent of the 500 women workers have want clean moms." inadequate facilities. Twenty percent Speakers included members of the of the women have no lockers or show­ Women's Committee and Local 65 ers, and another 20 percent share President Alice Peurala. lockers. Several grievances have been The rally received good coverage filed over the past three years. At the from the media, with articles in two latest meeting with management in papers and wide coverage on radio and October, the union turned down U.S. television. It also was watched closely Steel's inadequate proposals. by U.S. Steel officials. Throughout the The company proposed dislocating two-hour rally the company took pic­ men from their lockers and suggested tures of the participants and brought that women be given lockers so far various foremen out to watch and take away from their work areas that it down names in their notebooks. would add at least an hour onto their The union and the Women's Commit­ work time and would be impossible to tee plan to press grievances around walk to during Chicago's winter. this issue through to arbitration if By refusing to provide decent locker rooms and toilets, U.S. Steel hopes to drive After this meeting the local called necessary and plan to make adequate women out of the mill. the rally around three demands: "build facilities for women a part of the a locker room at Eighty-Third Street or upcoming negotiations on local issues.

"It will take many organizations working together to win the ERA," she ... ERA said. "We have the capacity and we ERA calendar Continued from back page certainly have the will. To win the pointed proudly to his union's involve­ Civil Rights Act of 1964, it took ment in the LERN coalition in Virgi­ marches and a broad coalition. These nia. laws came about only as a result of December 8 December 11 Additional speakers came from the mass struggle." San Francisco-"1980-the year for Pittsburgh-Rally sponsored by Al­ postal workers,. Chicago' CLUW, Uni­ Toni Sterling, a co-chair of the the ERA," sponsored by San Francisco legheny Labor Council and USW A In­ ted Farm Workers, and others. women's committee, closed the meet­ CLUW. At Department Store Em­ ternational. At 7:30 p.m. YMCA, 4th One of the high points of the meeting ployees Local 1100 Hall, 1345 Mission and Wood, Assembly Room. ing. "Members of our committee were Street. was the introduction of the members of in Virginia for the LERN conference, the Local 65 Women's Committee. Lo­ and we will be there January 13," she cal 65 President Alice Peurala praised Harrisburg, Virginia-March and said. "Failure is impossible." rally from James Madison University December 12 them for doing what she called the to Court Square, sponsored by NOW Boston-"Labor's case for the ERA" "Jenny Higgiris" work in the local. ATLANTA, December l-One and LERN. For more information call sponsored by CLUW at 7:30, SEIU ("Jimmy Higgins" is the legendary hundred and fifty people attended a (804) 269-6331. union hall, 145 Tremont Street. union stalwart who sees that every Georgia State AFL-CIO-sponsored ben­ chore, no matter how small, gets done.) efit for the Equal Rights Amendment Newport News, Virginia-March As the twenty-five names were read, held at the International Brotherhood and rally. Assemble 1 p.m. at 50th December 15 the women rose to applause from the of Electrical Workers hall here De­ Street and Washington Avenue. Virginia, Minnesota-March and audience. cember 1. rally sponsored by Mesabi Iron Range The women's committee presented Publicized to all of the AFL-CIO NOW chapter. 1 p.m. Silver Lake, Peurala with a dozen roses in apprecia­ unions in the Atlanta area, rank-and­ December 9 march. 2-4 p.m. rally at Carpenter's tion of her support and inspiration to file workers and union officials-most­ Baltimore-"Labor speaks out for the Hall, 307 N. 1st Street. fighting union women. ly Blacks and women-attended from ERA," rally at 4 p.m. Local 2610 Steel­ To a standing ovation, Peurala said a number of unions. Many people workers Hall, 540 Dundalk Avenue. that she had recently accepted a La­ brought their families. December 16 dies Home Journal award as one of the The program consisted of a panel Alexandria, Virginia-Rally at 1 Oakland, California-"Salute to ten women of the future, "on behalf of on the ERA. The January 13 march in p.m. at Town Square. For more infor­ ERA," East Bay CLUW's annual holi­ hundreds of thousands of women in Richmond, Virginia, was announced mation call (202) 321-7711. day party at 2101 Woodbine. the labor movement who had in the and leaflets for it were on every chair. past and would continue to make such Twenty-three people signed up to go on big contributions to labor's cause." buses or in car pools to Virginia. 18 Pt0/1.0Ses com11.any_ be nationalized Pulley denounces U.S. Steel cutbacks Socialist Workers presidential candi­ or pay cut represents the fighting date Andrew Pulley was in Pittsburgh mood of labor. They realize the econ­ the week U.S. Steel announced one of omy is worsening and they won't just the biggest industrial cutbacks in let the company take it out on them," American history-13,000 jobs elimi­ the socialist candidate said. nated. U.S. Steel had threatened to close the Anticipating a company offensive American Bridge plants if workers did from the Board of Directors meeting not agree to the wage freeze. scheduled for Tuesday, November 27, "We still need steel. We need bridges Socialist Workers campaign supporters and construction material. Closing the had scheduled a Monday morning plants ruins the lives of the workers news conference for. Pulley outside the and their families," Pulley declared. U.S. Steel headquarters. "But the well-being of the workers is Pulley denounced both Carter's war no concern of the company. Their only threats against Iran and the com­ concern is profit." pany's war threats against steel­ The socialist candidate offered new workers. proposals: "Nationalize steel. The gov­ Andrew Pulley himself is a victim of ernment should take over these plants the steel crisjs-he is laid off from his and run them in the public interest. production job at U.S. Steel Gary "If we had a labor party-a political Works along with 5-6,000 other party based on the unions-it would workers. fight to prohibit the company from At his news conference, Pulley throwing workers out into the street. It Steelworkers march on U.S. Steel headquarters In Pittsburgh protesting elimination praised the steelworkers' vote against tells you a lot to see what the parties of thousands of Jobs. company blackmail at the U.S. Steel that are now in power do: nothing. The American Bridge plants a week earlier. Democrats and Republicans show no "Their refusal to accept a wage freeze concern for the lives of workers." What can be done now? "The unions, especially the steel­ Protest plant closings workers, can take action. We can orga­ Three hundred workers from saying: "Out of your sweat, out of 17 5 rally for nize special local meetings all around Youngstown, Ohio, rode buses to your muscle they took millions and the country. Discuss the layoffs and Pittsburgh November 30 to protest millions, hundreds of millions and right to vote plant closings. Let's make our protests the latest steel plant closings. They put it in hotels, Disneyland, every­ By Barbara Matson known. were joined by 100 to 200 steel­ where except in Youngstown." EAST CHICAGO, Ind.-About "Our union can fight to open up the workers from the Pittsburgh area Various expressions of the Iran 175 supporters of the union mem­ company books. How much money are in a rally at U.S. Steel Corporation crisis came through at the rally. bership's right to• vote on contracts they really making? What do they do headquarters. Ron Weisen, president of USW A attended a rally here November 30 with it? What are their hidden plans The workers stormed into the Local 1397 at U.S. Steel's Home-. sponsored by United Steelworkers for increasing productivity at our ex­ building demanding to see David stead Works near Pittsburgh, where Local 1010. With 18,000 members at pense? Roderick, the new company chair­ the company is cutting at least 100 Inland Steel's Harbor Works, 1010 "The union should fight to spread man, who announced the closings jobs, said: "Send Roderick and the is the largest local in the union. the work around. For a thirty-hour on Tuesday. Neither Roderick nor shah to Iran." This was greeted Bill Andrews, Local 1010 presi­ week with forty hours pay. That's a lot any other company official ap­ with loud cheers. better than what the companies are peared. dent, opened the meeting. Also There were also signs reading: speaking were District 31 Director doing: lay some off and work the rest As the American steel industry overtime. cuts production, it is choking off "Ayatollah Roderick" and "13,049 James Balanoff and local presi­ hostages." The views of the protest­ dents Frank Guzzo of Local1033 at "We need more democracy in our the economic life of entire cities. Most victimized so far is Youngs­ ing workers about Iran were not Republic Steel and Pat Clark of unions," Pulley continued. That's the consistent. But they certainly did Local 1026 at Blaw-Knox. way to strengthen the union for the town. Last week both U.S. Steel and Jones and Laughlin an- not represent the war hysteria or Local presidents representing the fights that lie ahead. Mobilize the readiness to sacrifice for "national vast majority of steelworkers in the power of the ranks. , nounced the elimination of about 5,000 more jobs there. unity" the government and news Chicago-Gary district are on record "As a steelworker, I feel very media are trying to whip up. in favor of the right to ratify. The strongly about the right to ratify our Marvin Weinstock, a United last three district conferences have contract. We have to live with it. How . Steelworkers staff representative in Another sign that was carried passed right-to-ratify resolutions. can anyone but us decide on the con­ Youngstown, was quoted there as read "People Before Profits." The issue is to be debated at the tract? I bet when the company and the USW A Basic Steel Industry Con­ international let the American Bridge ference of local presidents in Pitts­ workers vote on their contract they burgh December 6-7. didn't expect them to reject it. That Homestead and Edgar Thompson They were very friendly, came up and Over 5,000 signatures on peti­ vote shows the workers won't take this Works. shook my hand, wished me luck." tions for the right to ratify were lying down." "The response was especially good at More than eighty people attended brought to the meeting from Pulley's tour in Pittsburgh included Homestead on Tuesday morning,"Pul­ the SWP campaign rally in Pittsburgh around the district. campaigning at the gates of two of the ley told the Militant. "Many people November 29, with a high proportion biggest steel mills there, U.S. Steel's had seen me on TV tlie day before. coming from the area's steel mills.

Happy Holidays from U.S. Steel By David Salner future, and probably won't hire back derline cases as well as the other to defend all employees in the bar­ VIRGINIA, Minn.-It was the the ones they think are "troublemak­ · seventy-four laborers could easily gaining unit, no matter what kind of Wednesday before Thanksgiving in ers." have been absorbed into the work­ label the company puts on them. my lunchroom, one of many at U.S. Few of the seventy-six will be able force. One sentiment expressed by sev­ Steel's giant Minntac iron ore mine to find work in the middle of winter, But as one member of my crew put eral people on my crew was that the operation. But instead of eating but all of them will need extra funds it, "They don't care about the human union should take action to get those lunch, everyone started gathering to pay for heating fuel bills, which side, we're just a number to them." jobs back, not leave those seventy­ around the bulletin board. So I went average over $100 a month this time Most of my crew agreed that the six workers out in the cold. The over to see what kind of Thanksgiv­ of year, or to buy Christmas presents firings-the "Thanksgiving Day discussions also broadened out. ing message the company had put for their families. Massacre"-were part of a calcu­ ·"Don't worry about layoffs. up for us. I double-checked to make sure my lated move. The company wants to They're going to send us to war in "The following employees have name wasn't on the list. I was lucky, soften us up and put our union, Iran," one older worker bitterly as­ been terminated . . . " was the way because I'd worked overtime shifts United Steelworkers Local 1938, on serted to a friend of mine. "Once the notice began. and completed my 520-hour proba­ the defensive with negotiations on they start spilling blood, business Without warning, they were axing tion period ahead of schedule. the basic steel contract coming up in usually picks up." seventy-six workers who were just In the locker room at the end of 1980. The war drive-discrimination­ about to come off probation. So the the day one of the victims, a laborer, USW A Local 1938 and the other big business control of gov­ company gets out of paying unem­ told me he only needed one more Mesabi Range and northern Michi­ ernment-these are all ideas that I ployment and health insurance. shift to get off probation. In another gan iron mining locals took the expeet to hear more and more at They are "terminated," not even building a worker was terminated companies on in a 138-day strike work. "laid off." This means U.S. Steel, the with 20 minutes to go. over local issues after the last basic Everyone knows what the oil com­ main employer in the area, is not Both workers asked the company steel contract in 1977. In a move to panies did, and no one thinks the obliged to hire them back in the if they could work out their proba­ undercut our fighting spirit, the com­ steel companies are any different. tion, which would at least upgrade pany singled out the probationary Yes, the Holiday Greetings being David Salner is a laborer at U.S. their status from "terminated" to employees because of the. widespread sent our way by U.S. Steel and a few Steel's Minntac plant and a "laid off." ' notion that the union can't defend other corporations may not give us member of United Steelworkers Minntac employs almost 5,000 peo­ them. much to be thankful for,' but they Local 1938. ple, so it's clear that these two bor- Actually, it is the duty of the union certainly give us a lot to think about.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 19 ~Y.offs & Iran Gary steelworkers face uncertain future By Stu Singer GARY, lnd.-The massive new com­ pany attack on steelworkers' jobs hit · the headlines November 27, when U.S. Steel announced the closing of sixteen plants and elimination of 13,000 jobs. Even before the devastating shut­ downs, 8,000 to 9,000 steelworkers in the Chicago-Gary area had been laid off. The largest number of these were at the giant Gary Works of U.S. Steel, where conflicting reports put the number between 4,100 and 5,500 out of an hourly workforce of around 20,000. Gary Works was not directly hit by the November 27 job massacre, but steelworkers here are definitely among the company's intended victims. As the Wall Street Journal observed, U.S. Steel's action was "a thinly veiled threat to employees at [Gary Works and Fairfield Works in Birmingham, Alabama] to perform their jobs better or risk losing them." With the opening of 1980 steel con­ tract talks less than two months away, an industry analyst told the Journal, ''The company's saying, in effect, that it's time for those steelworkers to ante Militant/Stu Singer up some productivity and, after this, At least 4,000 out of 20,000 workers at U.S. Steel Gary Works are laid off. Some layoffs are attributed to repair work on the union better believe the company number 13 blast furnace, shown at right, under crane. means business." In Gary a few days before U.S. ported. But they pay the same prices at Powell was laid off from his job in Barney acknowledges that Inland is Steel's catastrophic announcement, I the store. quality control on September 30. He not a "foreign steel" competitor and talked with many steelworkers, both Linking the unemployment supple­ has two children, both girls; his wife that foreign competition may not working and laid off, to find out how ment to imports serves to reinforce the works as a waitress. With unemploy­ really have much to do with the U.S. they are getting along and how they company campaign to blame foreign ment, TRA, and SUB he makes about Steel layoffs. see the future. workers for the threat to jobs. With top fifty dollars a week more laid off than Inland's giant Indiana Harbor officials of the United Steelworkers when he was working. But his family Works is in East Chic"ago, Indiana, Blast furnaces down echoing this propaganda, it is not has cut back its standard of living just west of Gary. A company spokes­ In addition to the huge Gary Works surprising that many workers believe while on layoff because the checks man said they have had ten layoffs layoffs, there are some 500 steel­ come erratically. recently, out of an hourly workforce of laid off at U.S. Steel's South it. workers But the cause of these layoffs can about 18,000. The ten were probation­ Works in Chicago and 800 at Republic "I think it's unusual that both furna­ easily be traced to U.S., not foreign, ces in Gary and South Works are down ary workers in the open hearth, which Steel's South Chicago mill. sources. Are imports to blame for the is temporarily shut down. At all three mills the layoffs are at the same time," he says. "The intransigence of Caterpiller and Har­ It is hard to tell whether Inland supposed to be temporary, while blast company says orders are down, but vester managements, which refuse to management is more or less incompe­ furnaces are relined and repaired. The you never see the books." come to terms with the UAW? Are tent than that at U.S. Steel, as several blast furnaces produce molten iron imports to blame for U.S. Steel's irra­ Powell is Black and grew up in Gary. people suggested. The two mills are from ore, a key initial step in steelmak­ tional maintenance procedures, which He went into the army after high designed for somewhat different ing. put short-term profit ahead of long­ school and was sent to Vietnam. "I markets. At Gary the number 13 blast furnace term production? Are imports to blame thought the war was okay, but I I ask Ann Barney about the shah. is down. Workers say this is the first for the decline in auto production? changed my mind once I got there," he "Send him back, at least to Mexico," time it has been relined in five years. says. she says. The lining bricks had been burnt out, What about Iran? "I don't think we A worker next to her declares: "Put they say, to the point that the red-hot $74 a week should send back the shah. But I don't Unemployment compensation in In­ some chains on him and send him glow of the furnace could be seen think Iran has anything to do with gas back to Iran." outside diana is ridiculously low. Workers get through parts of the shell. prices. That's a case of Israel and the Then Barney says, "Why ask me? Steel, a Jap­ about seventy-four dollars a week, with Engineers from Nippon oil companies dictating to us." They don't care what we think. They'll anese company, are advising in the about eleven dollars more for each just do whatever they want anyway. work on number 13 to increase its dependent. Would he volunteer to fight if there is a war in Iran? He looks at me as if I'm Look at Carter. He said everyone output. The plan is ,more steel produc­ One Indiana State Employment Of­ tion per worker-or fewer workers pro­ crazy. "No way. One time was should sacrifice about the gas short­ fice is in the Glen Park area of Gary on enough." age. But he's still driving around in ducing the same amount of steel. the south edge of the city. The office There is irony in the use of Japanese Etta Ettlinger, twerity-five, has been those big limousines. He's not sacrific­ does not distribute money, but you at Gary Works a year and a half. She ing. I sacrifice every time I go to the engineers here. Normally U.S. Steel have to report every week to maintain blames everything from layoffs to is a motor inspector on cranes that grocery store." your eligibility. The checks are mailed remove molds from the steel ingots. price hikes on Japanese steel. out. At South Works the number 8 fur­ She was laid off October 6, the day she 'Become a Canadian' After waiting in line thirty minutes was supposed to start two weeks of Tim Polovitch is a tall, long-haired nace is down, and at Republic the only to an hour, you get inside and are blast furnace is being worked on. apprentice school. young man from Gary who works in asked three questions: Were you "Missing those two weeks of school the blooming mill, where the ingots are Blast furnace maintenance is a nor­ eligible to work last week? Did you mal procedure, but it is no coincidence will set me back a full year in my shaped into long, thick "blooms" be­ work? Did you refuse any work? apprentice program. I heard of some fore going to the rolling mills. the mills are scheduling it now. A The normal answers for a laid-off Republic spokesman said that "rela­ people who were laid off in the middle Polovitch has been laid off for a steelworker are "yes, no, no." There is of their two weeks school. I don't know couple of weeks after being at Gary tively lower business levels were a no pretense that other jobs might be factor in our timing." if it was planned that way or not." Works more than two years. He has available. not gotten TRA money yet. He expects Blamed on strikes The state employment office also 'Money comes so irregularly' work to pick up once the blast furnace The business problems are blamed handles the federal TRA money. Ann Barney is thirty-eight and has is relined. on the United Auto Workers strikes at Workers eligible for TRA can receive five children, two of them working. She He knows he is draft-bait if there is a Caterpiller and International Harves­ $250 minus what they get in unemploy­ works at the Broadway machine shop new war. What will he do if that ter and on the slump in auto sales. ment compensation. in Gary Works and was also laid off happens? "I'll become a Canadian." Caterpiller and Harvester, makers of In addition, laid-off steelworkers are October 6. Laid-off workers I talked to did not construction and agricultural equip­ eligible for Supplemental Unemploy­ Barney gets unemployment, SUB, seem desperate. Most exf>ect to get ment, are two of the biggest buyers of ment Benefits after working for two and TRA. "I have to be very careful their jobs back. The newest workers, steel from the Chicago-Gary area mills. years. SUB pay was negotiated by the with my money even though I'm sup­ including a disproportionate number of Most Gary workers have been certi­ union, but is in a fund administered by posedly getting seventy-five or a women, are having a hard time finan­ fied to receive TRA (Trade Readjust­ the company. As long as the money hundred dollars more every two weeks cially. ment Allowance) pay supplements holds out, it provides roughly the dif­ than when I was working. The money Those with more seniority, especially while laid off. These federal govern­ ference between unemployment com­ comes so irregularly. You have to pay if they get TRA, may be suffering from ment funds are authorized for workers pensation and average weekly take­ for food and the house and you never government inefficiency but not yet supposedly laid off because of imports home pay. know when the next check will come." losing money because of the layoffs. competing with American steel. She expects to get her job back this These people do not seem too worried TRA funds are, of course, welcomed Disparities time, but she's worried about future about the immediate future, but they by those who get them. But the arbi­ All these programs lead to big dis­ layoffs. "If they don't produce cars, are uneasy looking further ahead. trariness of the payments introduces a parities in what .a worker can get. they won't produce much steel. The Now, with U.S. Steel sacrificing division within the union. For exam­ Roderick Powell, twenty-eight, has layoffs are also caused by foreign steel 13,000 workers' jobs to show it "means ple, Gary workers who make galvan­ been at Gary Works six years. His and by bad management. Inland· has business" in driving for higher produc­ ized steel do not get the TRA money father has a lot of seniority and is still better management and they aren't tivity and lower wages, both fear and because galvanized steel is not im- working in the mill. having layoffs." anger are likely to increase.

20 U.S. Cubans press Carter Demand that gov't halt exile terrorism By Harry Ring of terrorist action were received from Leaders of the Cuban community in Omega 7. the United States have opened a cam­ The Cubana Airlines plane left from paign to compel the federal govern­ Kennedy without incident. ment to act against counterrevolution­ Shielded by officials, local and fed­ ary exile terrorists. eral, the exile terrorists represent a The move comes in the wake of the serious threat. November 25 assassination of Eulalio But they are becoming increasingly Jose Negrin in Union City, New Jer­ isolated within the Cuban community. sey. A reflection of this was an editorial Negrin was a member of the Com­ on the N egrfn assassination in the mittee of 75, leaders of the Cuban November 28 issue of El Diario. This community abroad who travelled to New York Spanish-language daily Havana in November 1978 for the states that, "We bow to no one" in opening of a "dialogue" with the Cu­ opposing "the oppressive Castro re- ban government. . gime." That dialogue resulted in the release Despite that opposition, El Diario by Cuba of 3,600 prisoners convicted of Militant/Lou Howort declared that the Negrin murder "must crimes against the revolution. It also New York demonstration welcoming Fidel Castro to United Nations. Growing be condemned in the strongest possible sentiment for normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba has driven counterrevolution­ made it possible for some 100,000 Cu­ terms." ban emigrants in this country to visit aries Into a frenzy. The paper declared that, "Those who their homeland in the past year. claim responsibility for the act must be volutionaries assassinated Carlos After a visit by a delegation of hunted down by police authorities and Bitterly opposed to the dialogue, and Muniz, a supporter of the Committee of Cubans, the FBI announced November sentenced to the stiffest penalties pro­ increasingly isolated in the Cuban 75. Muniz operated one of the travel 28 that it would officially enter the vided by law." community, the counterrevolutionary agencies that organized family reunifi­ investigation of the Negrin murder. The editorial added: killers have escalated their terrorist cation visits to Cuba. Meanwhile, on December 3, the first "The authorities too bear their full efforts. There have also been a number of regular charter flight from Newark to share of the blame for the success of One of these gangs, Omega 7, took bombings directed against proponents Havana had to shift its scheduled these activities. It is inconceivable to credit for gunning down Negrin in of the dialogue. departure to Kennedy Airport. us that the Union City police could not front of his twelve-year-old son. Before his assassination, Negrin had The first of seventeen December protect a man who had been threat­ The Committee of 75 has appealed to his office bombed and received a series flights to Havana for members of the ened numerous times in the past individuals and organizations to send of death threats. Cuban community in the New York­ months. telegrams to President Carter demand­ Union City officials, who have close New Jersey area, the flight was "It is also inconceivable that the FBI ing that he take action to put a halt to political ties to the counterrevolution­ switched after the company that was has no clues as to who committed the the terrorism. aries, turned a deaf ear to his pleas for to provide ground service pulled out. act when a well-known gang claims Last April in Puerto Rico, counterre- protection. Officials of the company said threats responsibility for it." Counterrevolutionaries an isolated minority For many years it was assumed that We are a majority that is speaking has been defeated. The people here ment, which is organized throughout counterrevolutionary Cuban exiles had out, but they try to muffle our voices. represent many different nationalities, the United States. We are in touch with a strong base among the Cuban emigre They won't cover us in the newspapers, and this is what is important, they all members of the Christian commun­ population. they limit our freedom of movement, represent the solidarity of the different ity who were in Cuba and with the The impressive support extended to they let the terrorists act with impun­ peoples. Because you can struggle, but Committee of 75 that went to meet the proponents of a dialogue with ity. if you don't have solidarity you are with the Cuban government. Cuba has demonstrated that this is not For example, on September 7 terror­ forsaken, you are an orphan. And this so. ists put a bomb in my church. The demonstration shows one thing: the Q. What are your plans for the Despite threats from the counterrevo­ authorities gave me names of suspects. Cuban people are not alone. immediate future? lutionary terrorists, an increasing They have not been arrested. A. First, to increase the pressure on number of Cubans in this country have There have been eight attempts on Q. Is your organization in Miami in the authorities to stop the terrorists spoken out and acted in favor of end­ my life. There have been attacks on touch with groups in other cities that once and for all. The government ing the blockade of Cuba and estab­ people who were involved in the Dia­ oppose the blockade? knows who they are, it has their lishing a policy of friendship. logue with Cuba; recently they at­ A. Wetl, I'm pastor of a church which names, and it knows all about their A principal proponent of such a tacked the Antonio Maceo Brigade has 5,000 members. I am secretary movements because the government position has been the Rev. Manuel when they showed a film. general of the Christian Civic Move- trains them. Espinosa of Miami. A leading figure in There has even been reliable infor­ the Committee of 75, Rev. Espinosa mation that they were going to try to has stood fast in the face of persistent assassinate me here this afternoon. counterrevolutionary threats on his Those [counterrevolutionary] groups life. that are marching today up the street On October 12, he led a group of don't represent even one percent of more than 100 people from Miami to those who have travelled to Cuba. participate in a demonstration at the Q. And how do you see the role of the United Nations welcoming Fidel Cas­ North American people in this strug­ tro. gle? At the demonstration, Rev. Espinosa A. The North American people are was interviewed by Perspectiva Mun­ waking up now. After the movement dial. The following is a translation of a against the Vietnam war, they began section of that interview. to open their eyes and are now raising their voices in a better understanding * * * of the smallest nations, nations which Question: What possibility do you want to live in peace, nations which see that, with the new upsurge of are independent, which are no longer activities in defensJ of Cuba, the block­ colonies of the Yankees and who have ade will be lifted? the same right as the United States to Answer: One of the biggest problems carry out the plans that they consider that we've confronted is that for years best and to follow the road that they the U.S. government has been using believe necessary to build a better the Cuban community as a Trojan future for their children. horse in order to say that relations can't be improved. Q. What impact do you think Fidel's But the 80,000 Cubans who have visit will have on public opinion in the visited Cuba since the dialogue was Hispanic community in the United started have been the best answer to States? that. They have demonstrated the sup­ A. It was a brave gesture, a gesture port for establishing relations. worthy of a chief of state in a difficult Now it is the community itself which situation. is asking that the blockade be lifted. They tried to discredit the visit of the Now it isn't only the Puerto Ricans, president of Cuba here with the the Black Americans, the Chicanos, comedy of a so-called crisis [of the now it is the Cubans themselves. 'Soviet combat brigade' in Cuba]. In Cubans who were once used by the this way they try to create adverse U.S. government have now opened conditions and the kind of atmosphere their eyes, have begun to understand of panic they have used here for many that we have roots that go back to our years. homeland. Here we have demonstrated that fear

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 21 In Review Literacy campaign: the Cuban example Children of the Revolution. By Jonathan Kozol. One former brigadista, Armando Valdez, sum­ Delacorte Press, New York, 1978, 245 pages. marized his reactions and experience as a young literacy teacher in this way: Children of the Revolution is Jonathan Kozol's "I never could have known that people lived in inspiring and thought-provoking account of the such conditions. I was the child of an educated, Cubans' battle for literacy, begun in 1961. UNESCO comfortable family .... It was, for me, the dying of has called this campaign "a success story that has an old life and the start of something absolutely no end." Its implications and relevance for the new .... I did not need to read of this in Marx, in United States are immense. Lenin, in Marti. I did not need to read of what I saw At the beginning of the campaign, nearly one before my eyes. I cried each night. I wrote my million Cuban adults (one out of four) were illiter­ mother and my father. I was only twelve years old. ate. I was excited to be part of something which had Many of these people were peasants in remote never happened in our land before." mountain villages. The literacy campaign would be brought to them. They would be given instruction Impressive results The results of this literacy campaign were impres­ on a one-to-one or -two basis. sive. At the end of nine months, 707,212 (out of 979,207) illiterate adults had been taught to read and write at a minimal level, and less than 5 percent of Cuba's population remained illiterate. Books No other country in Latin America had ever succeeded in bringing the rate as low as 8 percent. The entire Cuban population was mobilized to In fact, in 1960, the median for all of Latin America participate in and contribute to this campaign. was 32.5 percent. By way of comparison, in 1973, Posters, television, and radio sent the message out: UNESCO estimated the illiteracy rate in the United "Those who know, teach. Those who don't, learn. States as 6.6 percent. Every Cuban a teacher, every house a school." Kozol goes on to tell of the Battle for the Sixth The young volunteer-teachers, known as brigadis­ Scholar Grade, the follow-up to the first part of the literacy tas, were divided into brigades and were trained at Illiteracy Is a tool of repression used by reaction­ campaign. Five hundred thousand adults were a special camp, Varadero, for seven to ten days. The ary regimes to keep workers and peasants under successfully involved in this campaign. brigadistas were instructed in the use of two essen­ control. Cuba's 1961 literacy drive was part of tial teaching aids-a book of oral readings (Alfabe­ program of liberation to prepare the masses to run Education today ticimos), which also served as a teacher's manual, their own lives and their own country. The current goal in Cuba is for all citizens over and the learner's primer (Venceremos). fifteen years to reach the ninth grade level in the These booklets were prepared after an extensive next few years. Today, the illiteracy rate in Cuba is search for "charged" or "active" words, words or poor. Together they all discovered their own pa­ less than 2 percent. ideas that come from the actual experience and tria." (Dr. Mier Febles) During the initial phase of the literacy campaign, interest of the learner. The attitude of the brigadistas was also consi­ 10,000 new schools were established. In 1976, the The fifteen lessons in the primer were developed dered important. They were advised to avoid an education ministry had a budget of 960 million around these "active" words. For example, the authoritarian tone. pesos, compared to the 80 million pesos spent in chapter entitled "The Land" begins: Dr. Ferrer, vice-coordinator of the campaign, 1958 under Batista. Education accounts for the "The campesinos now at last are owners of the explained: "The goal for us was to instruct the single largest area in the budget, including military land. brigadistas not to try to imitate the condescending costs. "The campesinos cultivate their land. manner of the kinds of teachers they had known in The socialist transformation of Cuba made it "The Cuban land is rich." public schools before the revolution. This was one­ possible to mobilize the tremendous resources­ half the job of preparation . . . we emphasized to human and material-necessary to teach a nation A sense of solidarity the brigadistas that the campesino, even though he to read and write. In the U.S., a similar transforma­ As part of the brigadistas' training, a great deal is an adult, is extremely vulnerable in many ways. tion will be necessary to eradicate illiteracy. Capi­ of emphasis was placed on the issue of "the city to Courtesy-not falsified flattery, but feelings. of talism, under which private profit for the super-rich the country." Building a sense of solidarity between respect and of affectionate collaboration-seemed comes before meeting human needs, uses illiteracy the educated urban residents and the isolated essential to convey right from the start." to help keep a segment of the population unedu­ peasants was one of the objectives of the literacy A well-defined sequence of conversation, reading, cated, unskilled, and unemployed. struggle. practice, and exercise was devised for the brigadis­ Only when the U.S. government represents the "The goal of the campaign was always greater tas to follow. The young teachers were also charged vast majority-working people, Blacks, Latinos, than to teach poor people how to read. The dream with the responsibility of keeping accurate records women-as does the Cuban government, will illiter­ was to enable those two portions of the population of the learner's previous experience, attendanee, acy be eliminated. Such a socialist reconstruction of who had been most instrumental in the process of and progress. Each brigadista was equipped with a society will open a new era in human progress in the revolution from the first to find a common bond, few pieces of clothing, a hammock, a lantern for the field of education and every other area of a common spirit, and a common goal. The peasants travel, and studying light, and their primer and human endeavor. discovered the word. The students discovered the teacher's manual. -Brenda Brdar Nicaraguan film: 'Necessity for the revolution' By Nancy Cole stay in the United States for several Somoza left a nation that is 65 on how important the gold mines were During the last stages of the civil weeks to raise money for the newly percent illiterate, with the percentage for Somoza and interviews with miners war that drove dictator Somoza from formed INCINE (Nicaraguan Film In­ even higher in many rural areas of the on the unsafe working conditions Nicaragua, the liberation fighters real­ stitute). country. The massive literacy drive, under the dictator's rule. ized the need to document the revolu- "We filmed the FSLN training although a top priorit~ of the new INCINE also plans four feature- tion. camps, the underground life" of the government, will take t1me. length documentaries next year. The The Sandinista National Liberation liberation fighters during the revolu­ Reaching the people through film is first will be on the Atlantic Coast of Front (FSLN), however, had no film tion, he told the Militant. At one point an important part of consolidating the Nicaragua, the area most oppressed equipment nor skilled filmmakers-all he was wounded and hospitalized for revolution. and exploited under decades of Somoz- that was in the camp of Somoza. several weeks. a1sm. So the FSLN put out an interna­ One of INCINE's priority projects is tional appeal for filmmakers willing to The camera crew entered Managua a series of fifieen-to-twenty-minute As in every area of Nicaraguan take part in the Nicaraguan revolu­ four days before the final insurrection black and white newsreels. Beginning reconstruction and cultural recovery, tion. in July. in January, one newsreel a month will INCINE needs funds and equipment to Emilio Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican On July 20, three days after Somoza be distributed to movie theaters carry through these ambitious projects. filmmaker, was living in New York at fled, Rodriguez and others took over throughout Nicaragua to be shown as The thirty-five millimeter equipment the time. A socialist, Rodriguez viewed Somoza's film offices and formed IN­ shorts before the regular feature films. being used for the newsreels is old and in need of repair. They don't yet have a victory for the Nicaraguan people as CINE. These newsreels will eventually be one way to help his own people achieve Today they have a team of thirty­ distributed elsewhere, with the priority sixteen millimeter cameras needed for liberation from U.S. domination. In five Nicaraguan filmmakers, all being Latin America. They're working the color documentaries. April 1979 he joined the FSLN war trained during the past year by Rodri­ on subtitling so that the films can also To contribute money or equipment, correspondents corps. guez and Cubans. be shown in non-Spanish-speaking contact COMU-NICA, 512 Broadway, Rodriguez was in Detroit November "It might seem that to make movies countries. New York, New York 10012 (212) 226- 17 and 18 as part of the Nicaraguan would be a luxury that Nicaragua The first newsreel will be on the 2796. COMU-NICA works with the delegation to the second national con­ can't afford," says Rodriguez. "But it nationalization of Nicaragua's foreign­ National Network in Solidarity with ference on Nicaragua. He planned to isn't. It's a necessity." held mines. It will include information the Nicaraguan People. 22 World Outlook News, analysis, and discussion of international political events

Wall gosters condemn 'trial' Protests hit jailing of Chinese dissident By Dan Dickeson "democracy movement," thundering in When Wei Jingsheng, one of the particular against activists who had best-known dissident activists in contacts with foreigners. China, was sentenced to fifteen years The witch-hunt whipped up over imprisonment in a show trial in Pek­ "suspicious" dealings between dissi­ ing October 16, it drew an immediate, dents and foreigners represented an angry reaction. attempt by the regime to cut the dissi­ Wall posters denouncing the "iniqui­ dents off from any international solid­ tous trial" began appearing on "Demo­ arity, and also to prevent them from cracy Wall" October 18, as Wei's sup­ reaching a broader audience within porters went on a campaign to protest China. the sentence, and even defied the au­ Dissident activists cultivate relation­ thorities by publishing the transcript ships with foreign journalists so that of Wei's courtroom defense. As a result they can find out about news the at least five persons have been ar­ official Chinese media do not report. In rested, including dissident editor Liu . addition, reports on the dissidents that Qing. appear in the foreign press are repro­ Wei, the editor of the unofficial mag­ duced in the foreign press summary azine Explorations, was convicted on distributed to ten million government charges of "counterrevolutionary agi­ and party officials throughout China, South China Morning Post and are often picked up by the tation" and "supplying a foreigner Pr:otest at offices of XInhua news agency In Hong Kong October 29 demands Chinese-languages broadcasts of the with Chinese military intelligence" release of Wei Jlngsheng. Action was sponsored by Revolutionary Marxist League. during the Chinese invasion of Viet­ BBC and the Voice of America. nam. His appeal to a higher court was But although the crackdown earlier rejected November 6. this year was harsh, it did not crush Authorities had packed the court­ press and broadcast media ran story cript buyers and bystanders, seized the fledgling movement for democratic room for the supposedly public trial, after story slandering Wei. Particular most of the pamphlets and arrested rights. For a few months after the forcing Wei's family and activists who emphasis was placed on the accusation four persons. arrests, other authors of wall posters supported him to wait outside during of "passing secrets" to foreigners in Activists later went to the police steered clear of the most controversial the six-hour hearing. Wei rejected the return for cash. station to demand to know what those topics, and some dissident magazines services of a state-appointed lawyer, Despite the media witch-hunt arrested were being charged with, suspended publication, at least for a and chose to speak in his own defense. against Wei-and by extension against given that the contents of the pam­ time. (See excerpts below.) other fighters for democratic rights-a phlets were material from a supposedly But the "democracy movement" did number of courageous activists sought public trial. Police officials could give not die out; on the contrary, dissident to publicize the truth about the case. no answer, but when a second delega­ publications spread to other major Verdict, then trial Within a week of the trial, the editors tion went to the station, April 5 Forum cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou If Wei's trial was intended to demon­ of the dissident journal April 5 Forum editor Liu Qing was arrested. (Canton), and Tianjin (Tientsin). strate that things have changed since began pasting up the transcript of the These publications, from which arti· the days of Mao, it was a dismal flop. trial in installments on Democracy 'Democracy movement' cles are often reproduced as wall pos­ Journalists at the official Xinhua news Wall in Peking. The text was appar­ Wei was arrested in late March, in ters, have become the forum for a agency had reportedly begun writing ently based on a tape recording one of a series of government attacks lively discussion among dissidents. the reports of his conviction before the smuggled out of the courtroom by a against the new dissident movement Some magazines devote much of their trial was over. spectator. that has grown up since November space to reprinting letters from their A sign of official concern over the On November 11, the trial trans­ 1978. An estimated twenty other acti­ readers, or important articles from the unpopularity of the verdict was a mas­ cripts in pamphlet form went on sale vists were also arrested, new restric­ dissident press in other cities. sive media campaign launched to jus­ at Democracy Wall. But this time tions on the pasting up of wall posters Of course the publishers of the dissi: tify Wei's conviction and sentence. For police moved in, and after an angry were imposed, and the official press dent magazines, and their readers and at least two weeks after the trial the shoving match with hundreds of trans- went on a campaign to discredit the Continued on page 26 Wei Jingsheng's courtroom defense The following has been ex­ access to anything classified as se­ dong thought as a prescription only talks about that right shows not cerpted from the transcript of cret. slightly better than the medicine only that he is prejudiced in his Wei Jingsheng's testimony in I am an ordinary man in the street peddled by charlatans." I did not. thinking, but that he has forgotten court. We have taken the trans­ and my source of information was No things exist in the world that his responsibility to protect the dem­ lation from the November 15 hearsay and not any official govern­ never change from beginning to end. ocratic rights of citizens. 'New York Times.' ment documents. The news I talked Marxism is no exception. The prosecutor accuses me of try­ about could not cause any harm to After 100 years of development, ing to overthrow the socialist sys­ the situation on the front line. I took Marxism has been successively tem. In the course of my editing, our • • • this into account beforehand. changed into many different publication Explorations has never For instance, I mentioned the branches, for example, Kautskyism, engaged in conspiracy or violence. I believe the charges enumerated name of the commander in chief at Leninism, Trotskyism, Stalinism, Explorations is a journal of theo­ in the prosecutor's indictment are the front. Who has ever heard that Mao Zedong thought and Eurocom­ retical investigation on public sale. untenable. I published articles and one side ever lost a battle because munism. It has never taken the overthrow of wrote big-character posters on the the other side knows the name of the The fate of Marxism is like that of the government as its aim. basis of Article 45 of the Constitu­ commander? many schools of thought in history. The prosecutors perhaps do not tion, which says that citizens have Second, the indictment states that Its revolutionary essence was emas­ agree with my theories. In my sev­ the freedom of speech, correspon· I carried out counterrevolutionary culated after its second and third eral conversations with them we dence, assembly, publication, associ­ propaganda and agitation. If this is generations. Some of the ideals of its have talked about this. I would just ation, parade, demonstration and so, we should first clarify what is teachings have been used by rulers like to add a point. The Constitution strike as well as freedom to write revolution and what is counterrevo­ as the pretext for enslaving people. gives the people the right to criticize big-character posters and hold big lution. Is this not a prescription that is leaders because they are human Because of the policy of hoodwink­ debates. only slightly better than the medi­ beings and not deities. Only through On the first charge, the indictment ing the people adopted by the Gang cine peddled by charlatans? criticism and supervision by the states that a counterrevolutionary of Four, some people have the follow­ Fourth, the indictment states that people can they reduce their errors. crime is committed when our coun­ ing view: It is revolutionary to act in I "put forth the banner of so-called Criticism cannot possibly be nice try's military intelligence is given to accordance with the will of the lead­ freedom of speech and the demand and appealing to the ear or all a foreigner. The word military intel­ ers in power and counterrevolution­ for democracy and human rights to correct. To require criticism to be ligence is a very broad concept. ary to oppose the will of the people agitate for the overthrow of the entirely correct and to inflict punish­ in power. Citizens have the duty to keep se­ dictatorship of the proletariat." ment if it is not is the same as crets, but the premise is that citizens I cannot agree with this debasing prohibiting criticism and reforms must know what secrets are to be of the concept of revolution. Revolu­ I must point out that freedom of and elevating the leaders to the kept. tion is the struggle between the old speech is not a wild allegation, but is position of deities. Is it really true I was never told of the secrets I and the new. guaranteed in black and white in the that we must again take the path of must keep. After the outbreak of the Third, the indictment says I "slan­ Constitution. superstition of the Gang of Four? Chinese-Vietnamese war, I had no dered Marxism-Leninism Mao Ze- The tone in which the prosecutor The above is my defense.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 23 World Outlook

Class ~olarization dee~ening Brazil: movement for workers party By Socorro Ramirez Until the end of 1978, the opposition to the Brazilian dictatorship seemed to be an undifferentiated grouping domi­ nated by factions of the liberal bour­ geoisie, such as the Movimiento Demo­ cratico Brasileiro (MDB-Brazilian Democratic Movement), the official opposition party. Since then, however, differing class perspectives have led to a process of differentiation within the opposition. The appearance of the workers move­ ment· in the struggle against the dictatorship-in strikes, street demon­ strations, and in the debate over how to carry out the officially sponsored reorganization of political parties-has significantly changed the situation. Following the May 1978 metal­ workers strike in Santo Andre, Sao Bernardo, 11nd Sao Caetano-the in­ dustrial suburbs of Silo Paulo known as ABC-and the later meetings of the metalworkers unions as well as other Trabalho unions, a proposal to build a Workers Striking metalworkers demonstrate In Slo Paulo. Hundreds of thousands struck during November, seeking wage Increases to Party was put forward. catch up with 64 percent annual Inflation. Unions were subJected to severe pollee brutality and repression, with hundreds It was proposed as a party "without . of strikers arrested. bosses, without foremen, and without sell-outs, a party that· would fight to defend the economic and democratic is for the formation of a "People's Important discussions on the ques­ dictatorship." rights of the workers and for social­ Party." tion of how to organize the Workers The meeting counterposed the slogan ism" as "Lula" [Luis Inacio da Silva], Others call for maintaining the unity Party have also taken place in of "a free and sovereign constituent the leader of the Sao Paulo metal­ of the MDB as the vehicle for "unity of Belo Horizonte-for example discus­ assembly" to Figueiredo's proposals workers, put it in presenting the pro­ all the oppositionists." The Brazilian sions on creating nuclei that can inter­ for a "democratic opening" and "insti­ posed definition of the party. Communist Party supports this prop­ yene in various areas of struggle: in tutionalization." osal. So do the "historic leaders and the factories, the schools, committees At the same time, the meeting de­ the moderates of the MDB," who hope against the high cost of living, and manded the "dismantling of the repres­ Pressure on military to use it to their benefit. committees for general amnesty. sive apparatus" and the "annulment of Under the pressure of rising opposi­ The proposal for a Workers Party is repressive measures." tion to military rule and the economic a response to all these proposals. Union leaders meet Concerning the situation of the crisis shaking Brazil, Gen. Joao Bap­ The process has particulariy acceler­ trade-union movement, they came out tista de Figueiredo, who has been 'Movement for Workers Party' ated since the Contagem (Minas Ge­ for trade-union unity and for building president of the country since last A "Movement for the Workers rais) meeting last July 28, which deter­ a "United Workers Federation." March, has proposed a series of politi­ Party" has been established and is mined the platform and structure of Their declarations were also com­ cal reforms that he calls a "democratic beginning to set up committees in the Workers Party. pletely clear regarding the need to opening." several regions. The idea has assumed In Porto Alegre the coordinating fight for a union structure freed from These include the possibility of legal­ a national dimension, although on an committee was enlarged through carry­ verticalism-the •situation where each izing other political parties besides, the organizational level it is still develop­ ing out massive propaganda about the union functions in isolation from two officially sanctioned ones­ ing slowly and unevenly. Platform of Principles and the Pro­ unions in other fields. This division ARENA (Alianca Renovadora The proposal for the Workers Party gram in community organizations and and atomization of the workers move­ Nacional-Alliance for National Rene­ is the expression of the present rise in neighborhoods, among unions and pol­ ment is a relic of state and police wal) and the MDB. the class struggle in Brazil. The push itical groupings and organizations, as control over the unions. It is within this context that the was given by what are called the well as within the student movement. Demands for the establishment of moves to establish a Workers Party "authentic" trade-union leaders (not to There is, for example, a nucleus "factory committees" elected by union take place. be confused with the wing of the MDB among bank employees that began assemblies to negotiate contracts The discussion now taking place on that uses the same designation). several months ago to organize pay­ through collective bargaining, as well the reorganization of political parties They began to develop links with ment of monthly dues, to search for as for the election of trade-union dele­ is not simply restricted to the proposal class-struggle currents that arose in offices to function from and to set up a gates with job security were among and the initiatives made by the mil­ recent struggles (administration, newspaper. those adopted by the unionists. Also itary dictatorship. banks, teaching, construction, etc.) as From August 2 to August 6 a na­ adopted was the demand for the crea­ Figueiredo is looking for a way to set well as links with trade-union opposi­ tional meeting of trade-union leaders tion of a trade-union coordinating up a loyal parliamentary majority, as tion forces who for a long time were was held in Gragoata (Rio de Janeiro) body. well as to form an independent liberal the only organized expression of the under the auspices of the Centro Brasi­ Discussions regarding the Workers party that . would be based on the workers movement's resistance to the. leiro Democratico (Brazilian Demo­ Party were an important part of the bourgeois opposition but would remain dictatorship and to state control over cratic'Center). This was the first such deliberations that took place in Gra­ an auxiliary of the regime. the unions. meeting since the 1964 coup. Many goata. Two proposals were debated­ Through his "proposals for an open­ In most of the present struggles the trade unionists from cities and from the "authentic" trade-union leaders ing,'' Figueiredo is trying tc come up workers are placing their confidence in the countryside attended. Despite the supported the formation of the Workers with an authorized representative with the strike leaders, the strike command absence of representatives of the trade­ Party, while Communist trade-union whom he Cfm negotiate and ratify his centers that are elected by general union oppositions, the meeting was leaders proposed maintaining the regime's self-reform. Above all he is assemblies of workers. There are nu­ very large and very representative. unity of the MDB. looking for a partner who, through a merous strike command centers and This meeting played a preponderant While the CPers explained that a combination of repression and conces­ their leaderships ultimately accepted role in analyzing the economic and proletarian party, the CP, already ex­ sion, will be able to control and demo­ the idea of building a Workers Party. political situation and especially in isted (since 1922), others called for a bilize the workers movement. These leaders ·have been strengthen­ analyzing the perspectives outlined for fight to legalize the CP and, more Through "reorganization of political ing the pro-Workers Party nuclei and the workers movement. generally, to legalize all the parties parties" the dictatorship hopes to re­ committees, the majority of which are In the face of the severe economic now underground. solve the crisis that the two-party made up of the leaders of recent crisis and the austerity that is hitting The representative of the Silo Paulo ARENA-MDB system is going strikes, "authentic" unionists, and the working class, the meeting viewed leatherworkers union stated: "Com­ through, and to establish new forms of members of the trade-union opposition. the need to prepare a call for a general rades from the CP, you must leave the domination that correspond to the new The members of the trade-union op­ strike as one of the central tasks that MDB. That party is not a workers situation, particularly to the rise of the position came in following long discus­ must be undertaken. party. If you cannot get your party workers movement. sions on the program of the Workers Basic demands of the population­ legalized, enter the Workers Party as a The discussion over whether AR­ Party and are, on the whole, integrated such as the "struggle against inflation, way of functioning legally. Tendencies ENA and the MDB should be retained into the work of building the party. against the increase in the cost of will exist within it, because we would or dropped takes place in this context. Meetings of unions, meetings to sup­ living, for general wage increases, and be utopians if we did not recognize the Numerous possible courses are being port and set up the Workers Party, are for job security"-were taken up in the different tendencies within the workers proposed. Some call for the possible taking place every week in many re­ "Gragoata Charter." Several places in movement." dismantling of the MDB to benefit gions. In Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio the charter contain declarations in In the course of the

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 25 World Outlook

later reported that as many as 10,000 actly that they rebelled not because people had participated in armed Mao encouraged them, but because ... China clashes with the police in the Hainan they were indignant at seeing all the Continued from page 23 incident, and that troops had to be sent inequalities and irregularities in so­ subscribers, are just a tiny minority of in to restore order. ciety and in school. . . . Mao used the Chinese people. But they represent One of the key measures taken at the them later by giving them full support the most visible and articulate compo­ June meeting of the National People's so as to achieve his personal nent of the broader movement of work­ Congress, China's formal legislative mms. .... " ing people pressing for increased free­ body, was the adoption of a new legal Also in contrast to most Soviet oppo­ dom and a better life. code. The code spells out new rules and sitionists today, the majority of dissi­ Mass protests against repression procedures for conducting trials, in­ dent activists in China identify them­ have forced China's rulers to make cluding a prohibition on forced confes­ selves as socialists. Commenting on concessions, including in their han­ sions and the right of the accused to a letters from readers of the April 5 dling of the organized dissidents. legal defense. It was heralded in the Forum, Xu Wenli noted that "there are official press as a cure for the arbitrary many people who do not understand Peasant protests bureaucratic repression so many pea­ the West, and think everything is OK The flow of peasants bringing their sant protesters were complaining of. there. Despite that, the majority of our grievances to Peking and other major young people don't want either private Among the first to press for the cities, which started as a trickle, grew Wei Jlngsheng: fifteen years in frame­ redistribution of capital or the return to a flood by midyear. The September extension of such guarantees in prac­ up trial. of the big landlords, but no more do 26 People's Daily put their number in tice were the organized dissidents. they want a new bureaucratic class at the hundreds of thousands. Some of the publications that had shut the head of our state." In Peking, many peasants demon­ down after the March-April crackdown There have been reports of some strated in Tiananmen Square in the began to reappear. pay tax on their modest profits, in an actions outside China in solidarity center of the city, or in front of govern­ Hailing the fact that under the new attempt to gain de facto recognition as with the embattled dissidents. On the ment offices, or staged sit-ins at the legal code the mere expression of opin­ legal enterprises. day after Wei's conviction, Soviet oppo­ entrance to Zhongnanhai, the walled ions was not considered a crime, dissi­ sitionist Andrei Sakharov sent a state­ compound in central Peking where top dents demanded that Wei Jingsheng A working-class movement ment to Chinese Premier Hua Guofeng officials live. and the others arrested be either re­ One notable feature of the dissident protesting the verdict and demanding It is impossible to gauge the extent leased or given public trials as speci­ groups in China is their composition. that it be reviewed. of mass struggles in the countryside, fied in the new code. April 5 Forum editor Xu Wenli told one On October 29 in Hong Kong, the given the lack of news reports in the Dissidents gained experience in the interviewer: "Many foreign journalists Trotskyists of the Revolutionary Marx­ official press and the absence of for­ course of an ongoing political struggle have got us wrong in comparing us to ist League organized a picket line eign journalists outside the largest to establish and defend their right to the Soviet dissidents. The Soviet hu­ outside the offices of the Xinhua news cities. But the masses of peasants who function openly. They began to public­ man rights movement is supported by agency to denounce the frame-up of travelled all the way to Peking are ize and protest every incident of police high-grade intellectuals, while we in Wei. likely just the tip of the iceberg. interference with the production or sale China are ordinary workers from the The Chinese dissidents deserve the On August 21, the Hong Kong news­ of their publications. lowest social level" (September 7 Far broadest possible international solidar­ paper Ta Kung Pao reported that ma­ To establish the legality of their Eastern Economic Review). ity. An ongoing campaign in their jor antigovernment protests had activity, some dissident authors sub­ A large number of dissident activists behalf by supporters of the Chinese broken out on the island of Hainan, in mitted their articles for publication in are former Red Guards, who radical­ · revolution around the world can help the far south of China. A local radio official scholarly magazines. ized through the bitter experience of assure these antibureaucratic fighters station was reportedly occupied, and In August, the editors of April 5 the Cultural Revolution. that they are not alone, while making the offices and homes of top Commu­ Forum and Peking Spring both pub­ Wei Jingsheng recalled in one of his it politically more costly for the bu­ nist Party officials ransacked. lished statements of their operating articles: "I joined the first group of Red reaucracy to attack them. The dissident journal Explorations expenses and incomes, and offered to Guards (April-May 1966). I know ex- From Intercontinental Press/lnprecor

The strikes that are not organized by Q. What role will the Brazilian Labor pened in Argentina with the return of the unions, as in Belo Horizonte, are Party play? Peronism, no specifically working­ ... Brazil all identified with the Workers Party. class alternative will exist. Continued from preceding page When the head of the construction A. In past decades the Brazilian The PTB as it is today conceived the Crimson Wing of the Communist union shamefully sold out the strike, Labor Party (PTB) was the trump card under the leadership of Leonel Brizola Party of Brazil, the Maoists have not the strike committee brought together used by the ruling class. After the 1964 or Ivete Vargas ("dismissed" former joined the Workers Party. The Maoists the main union leaders in Sao Paulo coup the trump card was the military parliamentary deputy, and daughter of called for building a party within (who are the main forces behind the dictatorship, which now is trying to the late dictator) becomes an even which a popular front with sectors of Workers Party) to take part in workers cloak itself in limited formal demo­ more suspect instrument, despite its the national bourgeoisie can be ce­ assemblies in order to counteract the cracy while keeping the working class self-criticism of past errors. I do not mented. weight of the bourgeois politicians excluded from politics. believe that today the PTB can develop The groupings of Trotskyist origin from the MDB, who had nothing to do Today the PTB is being revived a nationalist program, .opposed to im­ have all supported the proposal for the with the workers movement. again. Those who look to the past hope perialism. Peron could not do it during Workers Party, with the exception of The presence of the Workers Party that by launching the PTB they can his second return to power. the Posadaists and the Lambertist . provided a certain form of continuity place a major obstacle in the way of Finally, we should note that since OSI, which belongs to the Organizing to the struggle, restoring the workers' the working class freely expressing the launching of the proposal to build Committee for the Reconstruction of full confidence to lead the struggle, itself, and they hope to avoid the the Workers Party, the Brazilian Labor the Fourth International. side by side with the Workers Party, destruction of the vertical union appa­ Party has not been able to win the The Communist Party maintains toward a Workers Government. ratus. adherence of any significant trade­ that the workers party has already During the Vargas period [1930-55] If the bourgeoisie is successful in union leaders. been in existence for 57 years and that the trade-union structure was tied into imposing this party in Brazil, as hap- From Intercontinental Press/lnprecor they are it! the state, and a vertical form of organi­ The other tendencies on the left, zation was imposed upon it. This still from the left Catholics to the national­ holds true today. ist movements, tend to support the Recently a big movement has arisen Workers Party. with the aim of creating an autono­ For the very best coverage But all these groups still display a mous union structure. This movement great deal of distrust toward the Wor­ is made up of trade-union opposition­ Intercontinental Press kers Party. They don't understand the ists and fighting trade-union leaders. ···.Qf.world politics . , ."~u~,.d-~•th !.Jl} }]'(~'{)~~ role it can play. They cannot conceive In my opinion the establishment of Frankly, 'Intercontinental Press/ln­ of building a Leninist party except an autonomous union structure is the precor' carnes fat: more articles. doc­ through a handful of intellectuals who biggest task facing the workers move­ uments, and spectal features about then attract thousands of workers in a ment. world politics than the 'Militant' has process of organic growth. A political instrument is needed to room for. They do not understand that the carry this task to completion, to organ­ 'Intercontinental Press/hiprecor' is Russian Social Democratic Labor ize the workers even inside the official publishe<;jto help people struggling Party itself was decentralized for a unions with an understanding of the for a better . world learn from each very long period before the phase of need to wrest these unions from state othe(s successes and setbacks You centralization began in 1903. This is control, to eliminate the union tax, to can't afford to be wit~out it.Fill in the what we should use as our model. win the right to freely establish by­ coupon below and subscribe today. laws, to control union finances, and, Q. What are the prospects since the finally, to organize the workers strug­ lnterCQntinental Pre&slfnprecor recent strikes? gles. Post Qtfice .aox 116; Varick Street Station. New York. New York 10014 A. Until recently strikes took place This is the fight to build a "United 0 Send rrie six months of 'Intercontinental Press/lnprecor: Enclosed is only through unions led by leaders of Workers Federation," which must fifteen dollars. the Workers Party. Today the process come out of a big congress of labor in 0 Send me sample copy. t;nclosed is eighty·five cents. of mobilization has gone well beyond which every industry and every fac­ a that. We can say that the Workers tory is represented. In contrast, the CP Party is the reflection of all the strug­ proposes establishing a federation gles for the demands of the working simply by bringing together the pres­ class. ent union leaders.

26 Capitalism Fouls Things Up Arnold Weissberg Agent Orange: continuing horror of Vietnam In their rush to start a war with Iran, the men The herbicides spread over Vietnam included international outcry forced a halt to Agent Orange who own and run America would like us all to think some 368 pounds of dioxin. spraying, a liver cancer epidemic broke out in that "the Vietnam syndrome"-that is, the deep The effects are horrifying: southern Vietnam, the area most heavily sprayed. antiwar feeling shared by most Americans-is over. • Julio Martinez, a twenty-six-year-old former Cancer has taken a toll among U.S. veterans, too. It may be over for them-they aren't the ones who marine, has lost strength in his arms and is losing will fight and die. But for a group of U.S. service­ his hair. Four of his children have been born dead The best-known case was that of Paul Reutershan, who died a year ago. Reutershan spent his last days men, the Vietnam war continues as a living horror. or deformed. Martinez remembers being sprayed in demanding that the U.S. government accept its These are the thousands of GI's and marines Vietnam. The brass told the marines "to cover our responsibility for the effects of Agent Orange. whose lives have been destroyed by exposure to the mouths and watch for the enemy," Martinez says. deadly toxic herbicide Agent Orange. • Kenneth Pullen, thirty-two, has been in con­ The Pentagon, for its part, has tried to dismiss In an effort to "destroy sanctuaries" of Vietna­ stant pain since he left the marines in 1968. Earlier the claims of thousands of Vietnam veterans either mese freedom fighters, the U.S. government this year, he had surgery to remove rot-like scabs on by denying that they had been sprayed with Agent dropped twelve million gallons of Agent Orange on his feet. Nerves leading to his feet have been Orange, or denying that the plant killer was proven Vietnam. Tens of thousands of American soldiers deliberately severed. Doctors have suggested ampu­ to have any serious health effects. were exposed to it. And thousands of them are tating his feet, but they are unable to agree on what But a recent report by Congress's General Ac­ suffering the results. Some have already died from is wrong. cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange. More counting Office exposed the military cover-up. Ac­ will die. • Other veterans' medical problems include cording to the GAO, uncounted numbers of soldiers Agent Orange is made up of two chemicals, changes in skin color, paranoia, hyperactivity, and at least 22,000 marines were either in sprayed known as 2, 4-D and 2, 4, 5-T. The manufacture of 2, reduced sexual drives, and pain. Birth defects are areas or entered them shortly after the spraying. common. 4, 5-T produces a byproduct called dioxin. No, "the Vietnam syndrome" has not gone away Even in the most minute amounts-dioxin is The effect of Agent Orange on the Vietnamese for these tens of thousl!nds of men and their measured in parts per trillion-dioxin is one of the remains to be calculated fully. But a few facts have families. As Paul Reutershan put it. "I died in deadliest poisons on earth. emerged. Beginning in 1974, four years after an Vietnam and didn't even know it." Union Talk Unemployed committee at Jeep This week's column is by George Windau, a Two women workers who signed the proposal safety seems to have been "put out on the street" member of the United Auto Workers union. said, "They should shorten the work week and put along with a fourth of the union members. more people back to work." Management personnel can often be seen working TOLEDO, Ohio-UAW members have voted over­ The establishment of this committee comes at a right along with workers in full view of the union whelmingly to establish an Unemployed Committee critical time for UAW Jeep members. Ohio state stewards. The company claims absenteeism is high, for the Jeep Unit of Local 12. More than thirty unemployment benefits are running out for those so foremen are put on the job. members signed up to serve on the committee after who were laid off last July. Many members feel The fact is that in most places absenteeism is less the November union meeting. benefits should be extended. There is massive sentiment among those still than normal. Workers are angry because the com­ working at .Jeep to do something about the layoffs A new contract is being negotiated and the old pany will not honor their seniority and allow them that, as of October 22, have put 1,700 people out of one will expire in February. Involving laid-off to "bump" onto jobs. Basically, Jeep is putting work. members in this process is also an issue the commit­ whoever it wants on whatever job it wants. UAW members both working and laid off see the tee could deal with. Many workers who are still working are getting committee as a first step. When petitions proposing There are rumors of more layoffs at Jeep. Yet the involved with the unemployed committee. They an unemployed committee were circulated in the company is executing a mammoth speedup and job understand that speedups and layoffs go hand in Jeep plant and at the Local 12 hall, almost 1,000 elimination campaign in the plant. Jobs have been hand and are a real threat to all employees. signatures were gathered. retimed and combined. "They are pushing us to the Jeep is Toledo's largest employer, and now that "We have almost a fourth of our membership laid max," as one worker on the body shop re-spot line the UA W has an unemployed committee a large off," one worker said, "and it's time the union did said. Several severe accidents have taken place that sector of the city's jobless can begin to have some something." can be attributed to the speedup and to the fact that voice.

Black steelworker, civil rights· fighter dies By Jane Van Deusen With the organization of the Black workers to Baltimore and at the first International Civil NEW ORLEANS-Rev. Isidore Booker, a fight and the filing of a lawsuit to win these Rights Conference of the USW A. Black steelworker and civil rights activist and a rights in the mid-1960s, the company was forced Weber was defeated last summer in a Supreme leader of the fight to overturn the Weber decision, to back down. Court decision. The credit clearly goes to the died here November 9 at the age of fifty-two. It wasn't an easy fight. The bosses had union movement's strong anti-Weber stand. It Booker helped lead a battle to destroy segrega­ whipped up the racist views of many white was a victory we were all proud of. tion and Jim Crow in his plant in the 1960s. He workers and this had to be dealt with and Booker was not only a union leader but also worked for twenty-seven years at Kaiser Alumi­ overcome. Booker would always patiently ex­ president of the West Bank-Jefferson Parish num's Chalmette, Louisiana, plant and was a plain to all the workers why racism was a tool of NAACP for seventeen years and an activist and leader of his union, United Steelworkers Local the bosses and only served to divide and weaken leader in numerous community and church or­ ganizations. 13000. the union. When Booker hired into the plant in the early I knew Booker for only about two years but I One of his biggest contributions was in the came to appreciate his abilities and learned from '50s, he and the other Black workers were rele­ fight to defeat Weber. Brian Weber, a white gated to the lowest paying jobs-porter and him. I'm one of only four women in our plant and worker at Kaiser's Gramercy, Louisiana, plant, the going was rarely easy. laborer. The plant, which employs 2,300 produc­ filed suit in 1974 against the company and the tion and maintenance workers, was totally The women in our plant know the value of our union there, USW A Local 5702, to halt a skilled­ fight and how to win largely because of Booker's segregated-bathrooms, lunchrooms, showers, jobs training program. locker rooms, etc. patient help. He let us know we could lead the Booker and many other Black workers banded Bidders for the training positions were chosen union too and pushed us forward every chance he together to take on the company and fight for by an affirmative-action plan to increase the got. equal rights. The Black workers wanted equal numbers of Blacks, women, and other minorities Booker died from cardiac complications after pay, the right to bid on and hold any job in the in skilled jobs. an automobile accident. In a tribute to his contributions, several hundred people attended plant, and the right to be treated with human Last fall, Booker, along with other members of his funeral and wake, including about 200 of his dignity. our local and other unionists and activists, co-workers. formed the Committee to Overturn the Weber Many people in our union miss Booker and feel ·Jane Van Deusen is a member of United Decision. a great loss. I do too. But the most important Steelworkers Local13000 at Kaiser Aluminum As a member of our local's executive board and thing is to keep on fighting for our rights as in Chalmette, Louisiana. As a result of the chairman of its Civil Rights Committee, Booker Black workers, as women workers, and above all defeat of Brian Weber's lawsuit against affir· helped lead the debate and educate on the dan­ as union members. Many white workers learned mative action, she is now in a skilled-job gers of Weber within the USWA nationally. He the importance of all these battles as well, and training program at the plant. spoke on Weber to steelworkers in Chicago and because of this we are stronger today.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 27 In Brief SEEMED LIKE ORDINARY Liberation Organization ob­ He said, "Israel was founded war preparations.· To loud ap­ c1vil liberties have opposed the NEW YORK-AREA SOOT server at the United Nations; on terror. They say nothing plause he reported that the pending new criminal code The CIA and army con­ and Rev. Michael Amon-Ra of about the mass terror carried U.N. General Assembly voted sponsored by Sen. Edward ducted bacteriological and the Black United Front. out by the Israeli government to condemn the deportation of Kennedy. They point to omi­ chemical tests in the New York The rally opened with solid­ against Palestinians. They are Bassam al-Shaka by a vote of nous restrictions that would area in 1956. arity songs by Rev. Fred Kirk­ silent about the assassination 103-1. ' curb the labor and civil rights Without warning to the pub­ patrick, a longtime activist in of Eulalio Jose Negrin, who Sheila Ryan of the PSC movements and more. lic, they released as yet uniden­ the antiwar and civil rights was brutally gunned down in called upon the audience to But, it was recently dis­ tified substances from aerosol movement. the presence of his twelve-year­ step up the campaign against closed, Kennedy had moved devices concealed in trick suit­ Dellinger denounced the at­ old son." Dellinger went on to U.S. military aid to Israel. quietly to soften some of the cases and from exhaust pipes tacks on Black leaders who describe the destruction he saw provisions of the projected of a specially modified 1954 have spoken out in support of of hospitals, schools, and code. Mercury. The car traveled Palestinian liberation. He also churches-by U .S.-made KENNEDY GETTING SOFT The ones that would apply to through area turnpikes and pointed to the hypocrisy of bombs. ON CRIMINAL CODE? big business. tunnels spraying the test sub­ those who accuse the PLO of Terzi condemned the Camp A wide range of groups and In a behind-the-scenes deal stance. being terrorist. David accords as a cover for individuals concerned with with a top executive of the The facts on "Operation Big duPont Corporation, Kennedy City," as the spray job was agreed to water down a statute called, were compiled by the inmates win prison conditions case to allow prosecution of com­ Scientology Church from mate­ panies that "recklessly" en­ ~ . rial obtained under the Free­ danger the public; a require­ dom of Information Act. ment that companies convicted Recently it was also dis­ of fraud or deceptive practices closed that in a 1950 experi­ notify the victims; and one that ment, military personnel re­ .~~ ,.,.. )·, would permit courts to order leased a "harmless biological (' ' • t'_-~.., restitution to victims. stimulant" from giant spray : +'-' ~m~r-rtj -~:-~~ These proposed secret \ "file. r ...... fct ( : . t.t.nJJ,9 .~ ...!.JJ. amendments were apparently nozzles on a ship cruising off '\-· ;; - t .. .. the San Francisco Bay area. so raw that a representative of The "harmless" substance the Carter administration told By Sue Adley mum security institution. cleanup and repair. By coin­ the duPont man it couldn't go. caused an undetermined DENVER-A federal Also, there are few educa­ cidence, of course, the noon number of cases of pneumonia. Earlier, however, Kennedy judge has handed down a tional, vocational, or recrea­ meal was fried chicken-the did get through modifications clean-up-or-else decision that tional programs or facilities first appetizing lunch the of a provision permitting treble could affect prisons all over at Canon City. prisoners had had in damages against companies in NEW YORK RALLY the United States. In a letter to the Militant months. BACKS PALESTINIAN civil suits for fraud, as well as Prisoner Fidel Ramos in­ earlier this year, three pri­ Nevertheless, Kane ruled one permitting judges to im­ RIGHTS itiated a suit in 1977 on soners wrote, "The condi­ November 15 that condi­ Two hundred and fifty people pose fines on defendants dou­ behalf of all prisoners who tions in cell-house #3 [puni­ tions at the prison violate ble the loss or gain resulting rallied in New York City No­ are or will be confined in the tive segregation] are outra­ the Bill of Rights prohibi­ vember 30 to support the Pales­ from their crime. maximum security unit of geously bad, causing sui­ tion against cruel and unus­ It adds up to just about what tine Liberation Movement and the Colorado State Prison at cides, bitterness; destruction ual punishment. He gave condemn the deportation by you should expect from a Dem­ Canon City. to self and property. oral orders for the strength­ ocratic "friend of labor." Israeli authorities of Bassam The prison first opened in "It is physically and men­ ening of mental health and al-Shaka, the mayor of N abu­ 1871. It has been described tally oppressive to the extent medical services at the pri­ lus. by prisoners and official of insanity." son. The rally, organized by the . investigators as unfit for After hearing testimony Kane reportedly made it AIR TRAFFIC DANGER Palestine Solidarity Commit­ human beings. for several weeks, Judge clear that if state officials · KEEPS MOUNTING tee, featured Dave Dellinger, The plaintiffs estimated John Kane paid a "surprise" don't act promptly after his A recent series of air traffic editor of Seven Days magazine, that at least two-thirds- of visit to the prison. Fore­ written order is filed, he will near-misses underline the who recently returned from a inmates should not have warned officials had set pri­ shut down the whole facil­ growing danger of overcrowded fact-finding tour of the Middle been assigned to a maxi- soners to work in a flurry of ity. flight facilities and continued East; Zuhdi Terzi, Palestine use of obsolete traffic control

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28 Compiled by Harry Ring Women in Revolt Topeka schools still segregated In 1954 the Supreme Court Topeka to actually desegre­ outlawed "separate but gate its schools. Suzanne Haig equal" public schools, which The parents point out that were strictly separate but twenty-five years after the never equal. A year later it Supreme Court ruling, some admonished that desegrega­ schools on the west side of tion be carried through with Topeka have minority "deliberate speed." enrollment of less than 4 Women & Iranian revolution Deliberate is right. percent. Others, on the east "He's taking [Iranian] women back into tion of their country. They are fighting ior Twenty-five years later, side of town, have minority the twelfth century under his rule," right­ social and economic reforms such as on November 29, a federal enrollment of 70 percent. winger Phyllis Schlafly says of Imam health care, housing, education, jobs, district judge agreed to Still separate, still unequal. reopen the landmark Topeka Ruhollah Khomeini. land, a decent standard of living, women's Brown v. Board of Education The case is scheduled to Are "frenzied Islamic mobs" led by rights, political freedom, and indepen­ case from which the high go to trial in mid-1980. The Khomeini trying to take women back­ dence for the oppressed nationalities. court desegregation ruling judge said he would like to ward, as Carter, most of the news media, What is now occurring in Iran is a gain stemmed. see it finally closed. That and Phyllis Schlafly would have us be­ for the entire working class and the Linda Brown Smith, who could be done easily enough. lieve? The suspicions of women should be peasantry-and therefore for women. was a plaintiff in the origi­ Just get the buses rolling aroused by the fact that Schlafly opposes Women are now in the army. They are nal suit, was among eight and desegregate the schools putting a simple statement of women's leaders in the fight for factory committees parents who asked that the -with full, not "deliberate," equality in the U.S. Constitution. Even that are organizing workers to control case be reopened to force speed. Iran's new Islamic constitution includes their job conditions. Women are partici­ that. pating in land redistribution, in the set­ No, what is happening in Iran today is ting up of schools. Women are beginning equipment. computerized equipment consti­ progressive, not reactionary. The media's to raise their own demands for child care In September 1978, a Pacific tuted "a serious menace." charges about "Iran's return to the dark and equal pay. They are getting the Southwest 727 on its way into ages" are being used to justify U.S. inter­ support of men for these demands. . the San Diego airport collided vention to stop the advances of the Iran­ Iranian women are not being pushed with a small plane. The crash POT RAIDS KEEP ian revolution. back by working men, but are being claimed 144 lives, including 7 GANG-BUSTERS BUSY Under the shah, women, as well as welcomed as co-fighters. FBI statistics confirm that killed on the ground by the workers, peasants, and the oppressed flaming wreckage. hundreds of thousands of peo­ In the course of the struggle, many nationalities, were brutally exploited. U.S. issues affecting women will be raised, This past November 9, a ple are being busted for minor marijuana offenses each year, corporations and the Iranian capitalists including far-reaching aspects of women's Western Airlines jet approach­ profited from paying women less than liberation. These gains will be fought for ing the same airport came despite so-called decriminaliza­ within 150 feet of a collision tion statutes. with a small, single-engine In 1978, the FBI reports, plane. 445,000 Americans were ar­ rested on pot charges. Of these And, nine days later, another arrests, 87 percent were for PSA 727 came within 300 feet possession, not sales. of an approaching plane there. Last year marijuana viola­ That near-miss occurred just tions accounted for 70 percent beyond San Diego's stadium of all drug arrests. where 52,000 were gathered for a football game. Pilots told reporters that LITTLE GOV'T ACTION there·have been a dozen near ON COP BRUT ALl TV misses at the airport in recent Addressing a Texas sympo­ months. sium on "Law Enforcement [?] Nor is the problem confined and Community Relations," to San Diego. Drew Days, head of the civil In mid-November, New York­ rights division of the Justice area airports continued func­ Department, pointed to the tioning during a two-and-a­ growing national concern, par­ half-day breakdown of the ticularly among minorities, main traffic-control system. In with the problem of police bru­ October there was a similar tality. failure for six minutes in Wash­ The question being posed, he ington.· During those six min­ said is "Who will watch the utes two big airliners nearly watchman?" collided. The answer, he said, is the civil rights division. The Air Lines Pilots Associa­ The figures Days gave sug­ tion and the Professional Air gest the civil rights division men and from women's unpaid labor in and won by the oppressed themselves. Traffic Controllers Organiza­ doesn't see very well. tion are demanding that re­ the home. A lot has been said in the media about The department, he reported, Traditional laws and customs-such as the wearing of the chador-the veil as­ placement of obsolete equip­ gets more than 10,000 com­ the right to murder women for "violating signed to women in many Moslem ment be moved up from a plaints a year of police mis­ male honor" -were used to keep women societies-as proof of reaction in Iran. present 1986 target date. conduct. completely subjugated. Iran is a semicolonial country. Millions A spokesperson for the air Of these, between fifty and a The shah's policies left millions of pea­ of women are still affected by, and accept, traffic controllers warned that hundred of the most flagrant the increased breakdowns of are prosecuted. sants homeless and forced them into age-old oppressive traditions, including miserable urban slums. Unde:r;- such condi­ the wearing of the chador. But millions of tions there was no possibility for women women have also come into the streets­ to better their status. with and without the chador-to fight for Opposition to the shah's brutal repres­ a better life for all. sion and the desire · for a better life Some women who never wore the veil What's Going On brought the masses into the streets in the are now doing so as a symbol of national insurrection that toppled the monarchy liberation. Some wear it in opposition to last February. western dress styles that turn women into United Auto Workers Local 980, Socialist sex objects. Some have chosen not to wear MARYLAND Workers Party; Naomi Vega, United Fed­ That was the beginning of a revolution­ BALTIMORE eration of Teachers Delegates Assembly, ary process that has opened the road for it. SOCIALIST WORKERS CAMPAIGN SWP. Sat., Dec. 15, 7 p.m. 108 E. 16th St., millions of women to win liberation. When women demonstrated earlier this RALLY. Andrew Pulley, SWP candidate 2nd floor (off Union Square East). Dona­ for president. Sun., Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m. tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more Women are freer than ever before in year against Khomeini's statement that reception, 7:30 p.m. rally, social to follow. information call (212) 26o-6400. Iran. The participation of millions of women at work should wear the chador, Steelworker Hall, 550 Dundalk Ave. Do­ women in overthrowing the shah has he quickly agreed that it was not to be nation: $2.50. Ausp: SWP Campaign. For more information call (301) 235-0013. changed their consciousness and given compulsory. PENNSYLVANIA them tremendous self-confidence. They As the masses of Iranian women be­ PITTSBURGH will never return to the degrading position come self-confident through the revolu­ HOW TO STOP KU KLUX KLAN AT­ MASSACHUSETTS TACKS. A panel discussion. Fri., Dec. 14, they held under the shah's rule. tionary struggle they will shed many of BOSTON 8 p.m. 1210 E. Carson St. Donation: The concept of an Islamic republic is the shackles of customs that bind them to THE POLITICS OF FAMINE: KAMPU­ $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For identified by many Iranians with their the past. The main thing is that they are CHEA. Speakers: Mark Schneider, Social­ more information call (412) 488-7000. ist Workers Party and Brotherhood of nationalist and anti-capitalist aspira­ fighting now for the material changes Maintenance of Way; representative of tions-not as a movement toward reac­ that alone can lay the basis for real relief organization active in Kampuchea. tion. Khomeini is looked to by the workers equality between the sexes. Sun., Dec. 16, 7 p.m. 510 Commonwealth Ave. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant Fo­ WASHINGTON and peasants because of his resolute It is a striking fact that Schlafly's rum. For more information call (617) 262- SEATTLE stance against the U.S. government and denunciation of Iran finds no echo among 4621. SOCIALIST WORKERS CAMPAIGN the shah. millions of Iranian women. RALLY. Speakers: Matilde Zimmermann, SWP candidate for vice-president; Jim Like the masses of workers and pea­ The revolution that is occurring in Iran NEW YORK Levitt, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate. sants in Vietnam and Nicaragua, the deserves the unqualified support of the Sun., Dec. 9, 6 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. women's movement in this country. LOWER MANHATTAN rally. Mayflower Hotel, Plymouth Room, Iranians want to be rid of U.S. domina- LABOR'S STAKE IN THE EQUAL 4th and Olive Way. Donation: $2.50. RIGHTS AMENDMENT. Speakers: Caryl Ausp: SWP Campaign Committee. For Towner, railroad worker; Dianne Feeley, more information call (206) 723-5330.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 29 Letters Our Revolutionary Heritage Letter from Tehran It was so very heartening played a role in bringing the Seattle general strike the other day when I saw on question of Iran's desire for "Labor will not only SHUT DOWN the preserve Seattle's shipbuilding industry the front page of a daily independence to world atten­ industries but Labor will REOPEN, under through conversion from wartime use. newspaper here a subhead­ tion." the management of the appropriate The bosses preferred to see the entire line saying "Black U.S. pres­ He continued: "The Is­ trades, such activities as are needed to industry stagnate rather than allow Seat­ idential candidate demands lamic revolution in Iran is preserve public health and public peace. If tle's powerful industrial union movement shah's extradition." Inside just the beginning. And it's the strike continues, Labor may feel led to to make precedent-setting gains. there were excerpts of a a sign of things to come in avoid public suffering by reopening more In this the employers of American were statement by Andrew Pulley the U.S. The Black people and more activities. at least tacitly supported by the AFL saying the Socialist Workers of America are going to "UNDER ITS OWN MANAGEMENT. leadership, which editorialized against Party supports the just de­ do the same and get their "And that is why we say we are starting the strike and withdrew the charters of mand of the Iranian people rights ...." on a road that leads-NO ONE KNOWS locals that opposed craft unionism. and will fight the U.S. war As I watched the inter­ WHERE!" Yet the workers of Seattle felt that their drive. view, I told myself-look at Thus the Seattle Union Record an­ general strike had succeeded, and history The support we have re­ this, our revolution has in­ nounced the start of America's first gen­ confirms their opinion. Seattle remained a ceived from the American spired Blacks thousands of center of labor activity and is today one of Black community has been miles away, and young eral strike. On February 6, 1919, in sym­ Blacks are going to form the pathy with striking shipyard workers, the most highly unionized cities in the played up here and become a source of inspiration. A vanguard battalions of the nearly all the workers in Seattle walked u.s. coming American revolu­ off their jobs and Seattle came to a halt. The working-class consciousness fos­ statement of support by Jesse Jackson and another tion. The only things that moved for the next tered by the strike showed up in the Another interesting devel­ five days were those that bore the sign elections of 1920, when Washington State one by Black priests have been widely publicized. I opment was what I saw at a "Exempt by Strike Committee." gave the national Farmer-Labor ticket the huge anti-imperialist demon­ The Seattle labor movement was in highest votes of any state in the nation. would think the decision to release Black and women stration near the U.S. Em­ many ways ahead of the national move­ Throughout the witch-hunts of the 1920s bassy two days ago. There Seattle labor was a center of opposition to hostages should also have a ment. The Central Labor Council had favorable impact there. he was-an American Black already been threatened with expulsion political repression. Muslim, lifted on the by the national heads of the American Perhaps most importantly, the Seattle The day that first group of shoulders of a group of stu­ Federation of Labor for admitting women General Strike taught workers vital les­ hostages (two Black marines dents who were carrying to the barbers union and sending women sons that they summed up for themselves and a woman) were being signs in English and photos delegates from this union to the national in the official history of the strike, written released, the national TV of the Black Muslim leader AFL convention. by the General Strike Committee. First, it here . interviewed them. Elijah Muhammad. One The national labor bureaucracy also drove home the power of working people When the reporter asked one sign said "Free the Black wanted to smash the orientation of the to run a city, and, by extension, the entire Black marine what he nation from its U.S. cap­ Seattle movement toward organizing on country. Even the New York Times com­ thought about this whole tors." mented on the efficiency with which work affair, he said something Fariborz Kahasha industrial principles, across craft lines. like: "I'm proud to have Up until the 1930s, mass production sanctioned by the strike committee was Tehran, Iran workers in basic industry such as steel, carried on and the peacefulness of the city auto, and rubber were left unorganized. under workers' control The AFL organized only skilled crafts Second, workers learned valuable les­ workers, keeping them in separate unions sons about relying on themselves. As the with separate contracts. The narrow­ strike committee summed up: This "was Iranians are justified capitalists in their campaign of minded "business union" bureaucrats not a strike engineered by leaders, but one I feel compelled to register lies do, indeed, cause some adamantly opposed efforts at industrial voted for, carried on, and kept up by that sharp and angry dissent from frustration. But the proper unionism, fearing their own petty privi­ part of the rank and file which attends Paul Dougan's November 30 response to this frustration is leges and cozy relations with the employ­ union meetings or takes part in referen­ letter, in which he criticizes the an escalation of truth-telling, ers might be jeopardized. dum votes." Militant for being "onesided" not capitulation to lies! Although the general strike was a com­ Third, workers learned the need for and not saying "a word about Charles Cairns plete success in Seattle, the working peo­ industrial organization and labor solidar­ Iranian terrorism." The New Hyde Park, New York ple of that city faced a national offensive ity, lessons to be put into action in the Militant does give a one-sided by big business without support from 1930s with the rise of the CIO and the view-the truthful side. It Protest to Carter national labor officials. When the general successful organization of the Wood­ would not serve the cause of I have sent the following sympathy strike in support of the ship­ workers Union in the Northwest through objectivity to capitulate to open letter to President Carter: yard workers was called off, on February an industrywide strike in 1935. lies. As a young worker I strongly 11, 1919, a massive attack was made on On May Day 1919 the Forge of Seattle, The simplest political protest the war threats which the shipyard strikers. formed to organize returning soldiers into arguments lead inescapably to the U.S. government has been Government orders to the yard were the labor movement, summed up labor's the conclusion that the making at Iran. cancelled, and the jobs cutback this meant new understanding of the need to orga­ Iranians are completely Much has been said of the greatly weakened the strikers' position. nize all workers: "The labor movement justified in holding American situation of the hostages. You Meanwhile, a national campaign of right­ cannot go backward so with the entry of spies hostage. The U.S. have called on Americans to wing hysteria was whipped up to stiffen women into industry we shall see the government has consistently pray. Your spokesman, Mr. the owners against making any conces­ extension of the idea that all workers interfered in the internal Cyrus Vance, has maintained sions that would set precedents for other should be organized without regard to affairs of Iran, and always that this government will businesses. race, color, sex, or age." The Seattle Gen­ with evil intent and utilize every effort (even war?) Even after the ship workers settled, eral Strike was a major step in the direc­ consequences which are until the hostages are released. Associated Industries, part of a national tion of such unity. disastrous for the Iranian All this bombast is masses. open-shop movement, blocked plans to -Stephanie Coontz hypocritical and shallow. If The embassy is, by you cared one iota about the definition, an outpost of the safety of the hostages you U.S. government. In the course would send the shah back to of the recent upsurge of the face trial. It is this government Iranian revolution, a group , that has provoked this serious Our party is your party occupied the embassy. Maybe crisis by offering the shah a it would have been tactically haven in the United States. better if they had followed a THE MILITANT is the voice of 0 I want to join the SWP. different course, maybe not. The usual campaign of silence by this government and the Socialist Workers Party. o Send me __ copies of Prospects It does not matter-it is an for Socialism in America at $2.95 established fact that it the newspapers on who the IF YOU AGREE with what each. Enclosed$...,...,...... ,.._ happened and that it was an shah is and what he did while 0 Please send me more information. expression of the justified in power-not to mention the you've read, you should join anger of the Iranians against role this government played in us in fighting for a world Name ------~~~----~~ the government of "our" supporting this butcher-has capitalists. That is why the served your aim of confusing without war, racism, or Address _____...... ,_....,...~-..~ embassy takeover is so popular the American people. exploitation-a socialist City ------~-___... _ _.... among the masses of the world. In spite of this confusion, the world. Furthermore, the choice of vast majority of American State -:------Zip ~-"---"- tactics is entirely an Iranian working people are not buying Telephone --~-----__,_..,._ affair. your war threats. While many We can be sure that the may at first echo the jingoistic JOIN THE SWP. fill out this SWP, 14 Charles Lane, New Yo~ N.Y. coupon and mail it today. 10014 Iranian revolution will diatribes they read in the continue to produce many newspapers, these workers events that the capitalists will often quickly change their distort and attempt to use to minds when they hear the facts gain support for their about who the shah really is genocidal policies. Initial and how he murdered and stole JOIN THE ·swp successes enjoyed by the from the Iranian people.

30. Learning About Socialism Trotsky on hostages & morality More than a few liberals have caved in to Carter's war [United States] Civil War. A slaveholder who through drive against Iran by issuing denunciations of the "im­ cunning and violence shackles a slave in chains, and a moral" and "uncivilized" behavior of the Iranians. The slave who through cunning and violence breaks the As you are aware, Americans November 24 issue of the liberal weekly Nation proclaimed: are strongly against another chains-let not the contemptible eunuchs tell us that they Vietnam, whether it be in Iran, "The seizure of hostages violated a bedrock principle of are equals before a court of morality! Africa, or anywhere else. This peaceful intercourse among nations-diplomatic immunity. "After the Paris Commune [a working class revolt in is why you have had to brew The action of the 'students' and the all-potent blessing France which was crushed in 1870] had been drowned in up this campaign of anti­ given it by Ayatollah Khomeini, can only be ·con­ blood and the reactionary knaves of the whole world Iranian hysteria to prepare demned .... The Iranians' crude use of blackmail under­ dragged its banner in the filth of vilification and slander, Americans for another war. cuts any moral authority their proposals might have." there were not a few democratic philistines who, adapting By harboring the shah, your For such liberals the methods adopted and supported by themselves to reaction, slandered the Communards for highly touted human rights millions of Iranians to advance their struggle are so heinous shooting sixty-four hostages headed by the Paris archbi­ campaign is nothing but a that they far outweigh the crimes of the shah and the shop. Marx did not hesitate a moment in defending this cynical farce. Along with complicity of the U.S. government in those crimes. Thus, for bloody act of the Commune. In a circular issued by the American workers I demand: the Nation's editors, the demand of the whole Iranian General Council of the First International . . . Marx first Return the shah to face trial! people that the shah be returned for trial loses "any moral reminds us of the bourgeoisie adopting the institution of Stop all war threats against authority." hostages in the struggle against both colonial peoples and Iran! The Nation elevates the principle of "diplomatic immun­ their own toiling masses and afterward refers to the syste­ Rescind immediately your ity" to the status of an absolute moral law, soaring far matic execution of the Commune captives by the frenzied ban on demonstrations by above the class struggle here on earth. It completely reactionaries, continuing: ' ... the Commune, to protect Iranian students! disregards such issues as who are the hostages, who are their (the captives') lives, was obliged to resort to the An immediate halt to the their captors, and why they were taken. Prussian practice of securing hostages. The lives of the (racist) threats of deportations The Nation's absolute morality is actually quite relative. hostages had been forfeited over and over again by 'the against Iranian students! The demands of Carter and his ilk are given moral priority continued shooting of prisoners on the part of the Versail­ U.S. hands off Iran! over the demands of millions of oppressed and exploited lese [the capitalist forces]. How could they be spared any Craig McKissic Newport New$, Virginia Iranians who are fighting for their freedom. longer after the carnage with which MacMahon's praetori­ The pretense of holding to absolute standards of morality ans celebrated their entry into Paris? Was even the last allows the Nation to backhandedly support Carter's drive to check upon the unscrupulous ferocity of bourgeois crush the Iranian revolution. governments-the taking of hostages-to be made a mere The "morality" of the Nation is really class morality, sham of?'" Students not anti-Iran which defends the oppressor against the struggles of the Trotsky had a sharp reply to "socialists" who accused In visiting Mankato State oppressed. him of adopting "the morality of the Kaffir" because he University with Cathy Sedwick Malcolm X confronted such "moral" criticism when he defended such actions by working people in the course of on November 15, where she their struggles. "Kaffir" was a term adopted by Europeans gave a speech on the current supported the right of Black people to defend themselves crisis in Iran and the against racist violence. He was denounced as a preacher of to refer to the Zulu and Xosa peoples of Southern Africa. Nicaraguan revolution, it soon "violence and hatred" by people who accepted the violence Trotsky's response provided a good answer to those who became apparent that the of the racists as part of the natural order of things. today claim the right to read Iran out of the ranks of right-wing reaction on campus Class-conscious working people stand on the side of the "civilized nations." to the current Iranian events millions who are demanding the return of the butcher shah, "First of all such a contemptuous reference to the Kaffirs was neither as widespread nor including the students in the embassy. We say the way to is hardly proper from the pen of 'socialists.' Are the morals pervasive as reported in the free the hostages is to meet the just demands of the Iranian of the Kaffirs really so bad? ... local bourgeois media. people. For us, it is Carter's moral posturing about the "If we should tell the toiler-Kaffir how the workers arose Four Iranian students from hostages and diplomatic immunity that has no moral in a part of our planet and caught their exploiters unawares, Mankato State had been authority, because we remember how he backed the shah's he would be very pleased. On the other hand, he would be arrested on phony kidnap murder of tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators last chagrined to discover that the oppressors had succeeded in charges; racist anti-Iranian year, and we know he wants to impose a similar regime on deceiving the oppressed. A Kaffir who has not been demor­ articles had appeared in the Iran in the future. alized by missionaries to the marrow of his bones will student newspaper; and an Carter's appeals to "morality" and "civilization" are a never apply the same abstract moral norms to the oppres­ Iranian student had been beat cover for his drive toward brutal military attacks on the sors and the oppressed. Yet he will easily comprehend an up there. The press has tried. to Iranian people. These appeals are part of the employers' explanation that it is the function of these abstract norms to give the impression that drive to con us into accepting the role of cannon fodder in a prevent the oppressed from arising against their op­ Mankato State was one solid new Vietnam. pressors.... block of anti-Iranian feeling. In an essay written in 1938 entitled Their Morals and "We prefer the Kaffirs to all missionaries, both spiritual The impression I received in Ours, Leon Trotsky-the exiled co-leader of the Russian discussion with students was and secular!" revolution-explained morality from the standpoint of the that the right wing on campus Their Morals and Ours is published by Pathfinder Press, had a very narrow base and interests of working people. 410 West Street, New York, New York 10014, and costs had gone a long way in Here is some of what he wrote: $2.95. It can be obtained from Pathfinder or from the alienating uncommitted "History has different yardsticks for the cruelty of the bookstores listed below. students by their racist Northerners and the cruelty of the Southerners in the -Fred Feldman statements toward Iranian students on campus. The day ·Cathy spoke on campus there was a "pro­ American" rally in the same building at the same time. Its sponsors had predicted a If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up turnout of 1,000. In reality they ' Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books and pamphlets drew approximately 300. It soon became obvious that 13002 Kinsman Rd. Zip: 44120. Tel: (216) 991- ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 1609 5th Ave. MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, c/o M. Casey, the majority of students 5030. Oberlin: YSA, c/o Gale Connor, OCMR Box N. Tel: (205) 328-9403. Send mail to P.O. Box 42 McClellan. Zip: 01002. Tel: (413) 537-6537. 679. Zip: 44074. Tel: (216) 775-5382. Toledo: attending came out of 3382-A. Zip: 35205. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: (419) curiosity, as I observed many ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. McDowell. Floor. Zip: 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. 536-0383. leaving in apparent disgust. I Zip: 85006. Tel: (602) 255-0450. MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA, Room 4120, Michigan also observed several students CALIFORNIA: Berkeley: SWP, YSA, 3264 Adeline Union, U. of M. Zip: 48109. Detroit: SWP, YSA, OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW Everett. St. Zip: 94703. Tel: (415) 653-7156. Los Angeles: 6404 Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875- Zip: 97209. Tel: (503) 222-7225. corner the sponsors of the rally SWP, YSA, 2211 N. Broadway. Zip: 90031. Tel: 5322. PENl'ISYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State (213) 225-3126. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 1467 Fruit­ afterward to argue against the MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, YSA, P.O. College. Zip: 16444. Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, vale Ave. Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-1210. San racist positions put forward. Box 1287, Virginia, Minn. Zip: 55792. Tel: (218) 5811 N. Broad St. Zip: 19141. Tel: (215) 927-4747 Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel: 749-6327. Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, 508 N. Snelling or 927-4748. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA. 1210 E. It should also be noted that (714) 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) 644-6325. Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) 488-7000. State on the day of the rally, both the 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 824-1992. San Jose: College: YSA, c/o Jack Craypo, 606 S. Allen St. student body president and the SWP, YSA, 201 N. 9th St. Zip: 95112. Tel: (408) MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, 4715A Troost. Zip: 16801. Tel: (814) 234-6655. 998-4007. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. St. Louis: SWP, campus paper, the Reporter, TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 Berkman COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. 12th Ave. YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 63130. Tel: (314) Dr. Zip: 78752. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 5442 E. Grand. came out strongly against the Zip: 80204. Tel: (303) 534-8954. 725-1570. Zip: 75223. Tel: (214) 826-4711. Houston: SWP, rally and all racist attempts to FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 8171 NE 2nd Ave. Zip: NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11-A Central YSA, 806 Elgin St. #1. Zip: 77006. Tel: (713) 524- 33138. Tel: (305) 756-8358. Ave. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. create hysteria. 8761. San Antonio: SWP, YSA, 112 Fredericks­ GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 Peachtree St. NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, 1417 Central burg Rd. Zip: 78207. Tel: (512) 735-3141. D.J. Simerson NE. Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 872-7229. Ave. NE. Zip: 87106. Tel: (505) 842-0954. St. Paul, Minnesota ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 284 lllini NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): SWP, YSA, UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 677 S. 7th East, Union, Urbana. Zip: 61801. Chicago: SWP, YSA, 103 Central Ave. Zip: 12206. Tel: (518) 463-0072. 2nd Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel: (801) 355-1124. The letters column is an 434 S. Wabash, Room 700. Zip: 60605. Tel: (312) New York, Brooklyn: SWP, 841 Classon Ave. Zip: VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport News): SWP, open forum for all view­ 939-0737. 11238. Tel: (212) 783-2135. New York, Lower YSA, 111 28th St. Zip: 23607. Tel: (804) 38Q-0133. INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Student Activities Manhattan: SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Mt. Pleasant points on subjects of gen­ Desk, Indiana University. Zip: 47401. Indianapolis: Zip: 10003. Tel: (212) 260-6400. New York, Upper St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7699. eral interest to our readers. SWP, YSA, 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. Tel: (317) Manhattan: SWP, YSA, 564 W. 181 St., 2nd Floor. WASHINGTON: Olympia: YSA, c/o Lynne Welton, Please keep your letters 283-6147. Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. Zip: Send mail to P.O. Box 438, Wa&hington Bridge 1304 Madrona Beach Rd. Zip: 98502. Tel: (206) 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Sta. Zip: 10033. Tel: (212) 928-1676. New York: 866-7332. Seattle: SWP, YSA, 4868 Rainier Ave., brief. Where necessary they KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 131 W. Main City-wide SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. S. Zip: 98118. Tel: (206) 723-5330. Tacoma: SWP, will be abridged. Please in­ #102. Zip: 40202. Tel: (502) 587-8418. Zip: 10003. Tel: (212) 533-2902. YSA, 1306 S. K St. Zip: 98405. Tel: (206) 627-0432. dicate if you prefer that LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 3319 S. NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, YSA, P.O. WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 957 S. Carrollton Ave. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486-8048. Box 2486, Winston-Salem. Zip: 27102. University Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. your initials be used rather MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 Green­ OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 970 E. McMillan. Zip: WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 3901 N. 27th than your full name. mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. 45206. Tel: (513) 751-2636. Cleveland: SWP, YSA. St. Zip: 53216. Tel: (414) 445-2076.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 14, 1979 31 THE MILITANT Labor rallies for Equal Rights Amendment Momentum builds for Jan. 13 march in Va. in women's and civil rights groups. New Jersey They came from thirteen unions, By Steve Patt including seven Steelworker locals in CRANFORD, N.J.-Nearly 150 union­ District 31. ists and other supporters of the Equal James Balanoff, director of USWA Rights Amendment gathered here De­ District 31, stressed a theme of the cember 2 for a rally to build support for program: "We have to start doing this the January 13 ERA march in Rich­ all over the district and Illinois. I'm mond, Virginia. here because I want to help bring Held at the headquarters of United Illinois into the twentieth century." Auto Workers Region 9, the meeting Robert Gibson, president of the Illi­ was sponsored by the UAW, National nois State AFL-CIO, said, "The time Organization for Women, Coalition of for enactment of the ERA is past. Labor Union Women, and Women's There are no second-class citizens in Affirmative Action Committee of the this work force. When anyone is denied state Industrial-Union Council. their rights, all the labor movement The mood was spirited and deter­ suffers. The cause of ERA is not just a mined. Participants responded with woman's cause, but labor's cause." thunderous applause when Jerry Gor­ Clara Day, second vice-president of don, co-chair of Labor for Equal Rights national CLUW ·and trustee of Teams­ Now (LERN) in Virginia, declared: ters Local 743, held up the pamphlet "We are entering the decisive stage North Jersey CLUW president Arlene Minardi chaired a panel of representatives from Labor's Case For the ERA put out by of mobilization, the stage of going to unions and women's organizations at New Jersy ERA rally. Labor for Equal Rights Now (LERN) the rank and file, the stage of building and sajd, "This tells you everything an alliance between the labor move­ strong, cannot be united cannot de­ tional barriers that have divided and you need to know. You won the exten­ ment and the women's movement, the pend upon women becoming active separated us. sion [of the ERA ratification deadline], stage of turning out immense numbers and loyal unless it goes to bat all the "It is the first call by the official now let's get busy." of people into the streets-not to ask, way for women's rights and for the labor movement for workers to take to She gave .a straight and simple not to beg, but to demand that the ERA." the streets since 1975, and this is what answer to the question of the draft: _ERA be ratified." Gordon detailed several new develop­ we're going to have to do in this coun­ "We have to save both the boys and Twenty unions were represented at ments in the growing support for Janu­ try. the girls-and not go to war." the rally, with the biggest contingents ary 13. The executive board of the "We didn't do it for labor law reform Pat Grogan, a member of the Local from the UAW and the New Jersey Virginia State AFL-CIO at its De­ and we lost. We haven't done it for a 65 Women's Committee and one of the Education Association. Banners cember 1 meeting voted unanimously lot of other things and we've lost. co-chairs of the meeting, pointed to the around the hall proclaimed: "NJ Labor to endorse the LERN program. "We have to bring out the ranks­ LERN coalition in Virginia and the says: Ratify the Equal Rights Amend­ A Virginian just added to the Janu­ make January 13 an all out national . January 13 ERA demonstration ment," "We're in this together: Ratify ary 13 speakers list is Sonia Johnson, crusade." planned for Richmond. "This is ex­ the ERA," and "March on Richmond, a leader of "Mormons for the ERA" The meeting ended with the audience actly what we need to do in Illinois," January 13." who is currently under attack by her on its feet, led by the "Labor Trouba­ she said. "This meeting just has to be Nancy Stoltz, New Jersey NOW coor­ church for speaking out in support of dours," singing Solidarity Forever. the beginning." dinator, said, "NOW has been very, ERA. Dr. Joseph Lowery, president of Mary-Jean Collins, president of Chi­ very excited about the growing in­ the Southern Christian Leadership cago NOW, stressed the common goal volvement of the labor movement in Conference, will also be speaking. of labor and the women's movement. support of the ERA." Arlene Mainardi, president of North Illinois "The people who beat labor law reform United action was also stressed by Jersey CLUW, who chaired the meet­ By Maggie McCraw are the people who want to beat the Archie Cole, representing Interna­ ing, announced that fifteen buses had CHICAGO-"The labor movement ERA. The people who worked for right­ tional Union of Electrical Workers already been scheduled from New Jer­ united cannot be defeated." That's how to-work laws in Missouri are the same District 3 and the Industrial Union sey. Bus sign-up sheets were circulated. Marcella Kitching, co-chair of the people who want to beat the ERA." Council: "Labor cannot but get on Women's Committee of United Steel­ James Wright, assistant director of board this type of fight because it's the Other speakers included Georgia workers Local 65, opened a December 2 Region 4 United Auto Workers, de­ same fight that labor has had these Harris, speaking on behalf of UAW "Labor speak-out on the Equal Rights clared his union's determination to many years-to win equality for work­ Region 9 Director Ed Gray, and Irene Amendment." work for ERA in Illinois. Members ing people at the work place and in the DiMateo, chair of the UAW Region 9 Sponsored by Local 65 and the Chi­ from five UAW locals were at the meet­ community.'' women's committee. cago chapters of the National Organi­ ing. Gordon, who is assistant director of Gordon stressed the developing labor zation for Women (NOW) and the Harry Allton, assistant director of United Food and Commercial Workers unity behind the ERA: "January 13 Coalition of Labor Union Women the Civil Rights Division of the United District 2, summed up this theme: means a coming together of the labor (CLUW), the meeting brought together Food and Commercial Workers, "This labor movement cannot be movement, breaking down jurisdic- more than 200 unioni_sts and activists Continued on page 18 Industry escalates war against steelworkers By Stu Singer mills, even though they are covered ceiling or closing the plant. The steel industry's attacks are PITTSBURGH, Dec. 5-The basic under the same basic steel contract. American Bridge workers over- timed to wrest as much as it can from steel industry conference of United The newest threat against Wheeling whelmingly rejected the wage freeze. the union in the 1980 basic steel con­ Steelworke! local presidents opens here ~ittsburgh workers follows the mas- A week later, U.S. Steel included two tract. ~morrow m the sha~ow of a deepen- s1ve cuts by ~.S. Ste~l announced of the three American Bridge plants in At the Steelworkers international mg company war agamst steelworkers. November 27. SIXteen m1lls and 13,000 its massive shutdown. convention in September 1978, some The latest attack came from Wheel- workers are to get the axe. delegates fought to win the right for ing Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, the If Wheeling Pittsburgh tries to get On December 2 a TV program was members to vote on their contracts in nation's eighth largest steel company. more concessions from its workers aired here with Steelworker President order to strengthen the union in up­ Wheeling Pittsburgh announced a under a blackmail threat of the plant Lloyd McBride, U.S. Steel Chairman coming negotiations. December 8 meeting for 2,000 workers closing, this will be the second such David Roderick, and U.S. Rep. Joseph The right-to-ratify discussion was at its 1\.llenport, Pennsylvania, plant. effort in a month. Gaydos. McBride publicly revealed for tabled until the basic steel industry The purpose is "to hear a presentation In November, U.S. Steel forced the first time that he supported the conference that opens tomorrow. on the future of the plant." workers at its three American Bridge company proposal at American Bridge There have been many expressions Past company pleas of poverty re- division plants into a vote that was and had urged union members to ac­ of support for the right· to vote from suited in the steelworkers there getting posed as accepting a wage freeze and cept the wage freeze in order to make local Steelworker leaders. ' ~ · lower incentive pay than at other steel twenty-five cents a year cost-of-living the plants more competitive.