Jan. 29, 2004 Vol. 46, No. 4

Propuesta migratoria de Bush es una trampa 12 Labor turns up heat in grocery strike Workers use militant tactics in fight to save healthcare BULLETIN: As we go to press on Jan. 21, By John Parker nearly one thousand grocery workers Los Angeles and their supporters protested outside the Vons/Safeway corporate headquarters After 14 weeks of hardship and sacrifice, in Arcadia, Calif. Twelve people were the current phase of the struggle of 70,000 arrested for blocking the entrance, grocery workers in Southern California including: Rick Icaza, president of UFCW has received a major boost. Local 770; John Grant, strike director for The AFL-CIO announced on Jan. 16 Local 770; and the secretary-treasurer of that it was developing a national strategy the California State Federation of Labor. for the strike and that more than 40 Also arrested were John Parker and national labor unions had immediately Preston Wood of the Community Action responded to its initial call for fundraising Project to Support Labor/ANSWER, Mike by pledging more than $600,000. Schwartz of L.A. Strike Support Organiz- And the International Longshore and ation, and members of a Pasadena church. Warehouse Union announced at a Jan. 21 media conference that it plans to raise at least $1 million to $2 million for health benefits for the picketing grocery workers. IRAQ With many workers facing the threat of losing their homes and cars, these devel- Resistance roiling opments are right on time. Muslim, Arab open letter The strike and lockout involve a work force that is predominantly Black, to anti-war movement 9 Latina/o and Asian workers, with a high WW PHOTO: JULIA LA RIVA proportion of women. They are fighting Still strong after 14 weeks. ALL OUT FOR MARCH 20! for their healthcare benefits, pensions and decent wages against a two-tier hiring sys- to starve out the grocery workers and est of the state, particularly children. The tem. These workers see that the Greedy bring them to their knees. The AFL-CIO AFL-CIO recognizes that the crisis of Three supermarket chains—Vons, involvement may compel the supermarket healthcare is an issue that affects all its 15 FREEHOLD, N.J. Albertsons and Ralphs—continue to pay chains to negotiate with the UFCW lead- million members. Mustering support their CEOs and executives millions in ers in good faith. And the role of the Pressure from the rank and file of the salaries, bonuses and stock options, as national labor organization has the poten- union movement, along with the commu- for day laborers 3 well as health benefits that provide opti- tial of being a challenge to the anti-worker nity, brought the AFL-CIO into the fray. mum care for them and their families. Bush administration and to the new gov- “To win this, we need an expansion The AFL-CIO intervention is a blow to ernor of California, who has begun impos- nationwide,” stated Rick Icaza, president MONTERREY SUMMIT the Greedy Three, whose main strategy is ing drastic cuts in healthcare on the poor- Continued on page 3 Setback for Bush and FTAA 8

MLK Day protests hit war, racism & poverty 6-7 HAITI U.S. pushes for 'regime change' 11

BANK MEGA-MERGER Stage set for bloody competition 4

MICHAEL JACKSON In the lion's den 5

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SOCIALIST CONFERENCE National Labor turns up heat in grocery strike ...... 1 Diverse crowd supports struggle of day laborers . . . . 3 Saturday Anti-war longshore work stoppage scheduled ...... 4 Growing crisis underlies bank mega-merger...... 4 On the picket line ...... 4 January 31 Michael Jackson in the lion’s den ...... 5 Atlanta activists confront Bush ...... 6 Buffalo, N.Y., battle against racist police brutality . . . . 6 You are invited to a Protests honor Dr. King ...... 6 NYC rally: ‘No Republican convention here!’ ...... 7 regional conference Former Black Panther announces bid for mayor . . . . . 7 on the struggle for Hawaii: the struggle continues ...... 11 socialism. International Palestinian youths in Gaza. Rising struggles frustrate U.S. plans for FTAA ...... 8 1 pm Forum Mass protest: U.S. out of Iraq ...... 9 Chelsea Auditorium Open letter from Arab-Americans & Muslims ...... 9 281 9th Avenue Imperialism & Self-Determination Workers around the world ...... 10 U.S. pushes for regime change in Haiti ...... 11 & West 27 Street in the MIDDLE EAST (Trains: 1/9 to 28 St. or C/E to 23 St.) Editorials It’s not just Iowa ...... 10 PANEL: Bush's election speech ...... 10 Larry Holmes WORKSHOPS. Noticias En Español Sara Flounders Propuesta migratoria de Bush es una trampa ...... 12 Fred Goldstein 10 am –12 pm 1. Fighting Racism and National Oppression ` Growing resistance to Bush's WW CALENDAR colonial occupation in Iraq 2. The Chinese Revolution LOS ANGELES. SAN FRANCISCO. ` Imperialist rivalry and the Dual Character Every Friday Every Sunday and the drive to control Workers World Party weekly meet- Workers World Party weekly meet- of China's Economy Today ings at 7:30 p.m. Dinner at 7. ings. 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After mayor bans ‘muster zone’ Diverse crowd supports struggle of day laborers By Deirdre Griswold The Committee of Workers for Progress ended up in a rally of 100,000 in Queens, thousands of informational flyers and that Freehold Borough, N.J. and Social Wellbeing handed around a list N.Y., now the most multinational borough turned up in force at the rally. In addition, of the day laborers’ demands: “The imme- in New York City. The Freehold workers people drove through the sleet from Drivers negotiating their way through diate annulling of the measures imposed chose Jan. 18 for their rally to coincide nearby communities like Middletown and the slush and snow on Main St. couldn’t by City Hall. The immediate end to harass- with the Martin Luther King holiday, Toms River, and delegations came from believe their eyes. Their heads snapped as ment and intimidation against our com- underscoring their connection to the civil the International Action Center in New they passed the large crowd of huddled munity and our work center. The recogni- rights movement. York and the All Peoples Congress in umbrellas near the sign proclaiming tion of our contribution to the cultural, With the help of the Puerto Rican Legal Baltimore. “Borough Hall, Freehold Municipal economic and social development and Defense and Education Fund and the The solidarity shown this day in Building, Settled 1683.” progress of Freehold. That we not be con- National Day Laborer Organizing Freehold has put the authorities and their On a day “not fit for man nor beast,” sidered delinquents or terrorists. That our Network, they have also filed a class racist backers on notice that there are nearly 200 people had gathered and rights be respected like those of every action suit demanding a reversal of the many people in the area who take seri- marched to declare support for the rights inhabitant of Freehold and of the world.” “muster zone” ban. ously the old union slogan, “An injury to of immigrant workers, specifically the day “Delinquents or terrorists.” What’s that Also supporting the immigrant workers one is an injury to all.” This is an ongoing laborers whose right to meet each morn- about? It seems that, in addition to impos- are Monmouth County Residents for struggle and the day laborers say they will ing with contractors in a “muster zone” ing fines and jail terms, the town author- Immigrant Rights, a group of Black, white not stop until their rights as workers and has been banned by Freehold Mayor ities have threatened to turn over to the and Latino residents that has passed out as human beings are respected. Michael Wilson and the Town Council. Department of Homeland Security the As a temporary measure, Rev. Andre names of day laborers who defy their new McGuire of the Second Baptist Church, rule. This super-department created by whose congregation is mostly African the Bush administration has taken over American, has come forward in solidarity the Immigration and Naturalization with the Latino immigrant laborers and Service, further criminalizing the treat- allowed them to gather at the church in the ment of immigrant workers. mornings in their quest for work. Freehold is a town of 11,000, 28 percent What brought people out on Jan. 18, a of whom are Latinos, that is surrounded day of unrelenting sleet and snow, was not by upscale developments like Freehold just the official ordinance but also the Pointe, where new single-family homes campaign of slander, abuse and harass- start at $600,000. Doing the landscaping ment against the workers, most of whom and yard work plus a thousand other low- were born in sunny Mexico but have had paying jobs in and around the town are the to look for work in the U.S. day laborers. The wealthy want an avail- The passage of the North American able pool of underpaid workers—but they Free Trade Agreement 10 years ago has also want them to be invisible and with- accelerated the destruction of small farms out a voice. and businesses in Mexico, allowing U.S. However, the workers are part of a new capital and goods free access to the civil rights movement that will not shut Mexican market. But it has provided no up. It got media attention last Oct. 4 when relief for workers, millions of whom must national labor unions organized a cross- WW PHOTO: DEIRDRE GRISWOLD now emigrate to find employment. country caravan for immigrant rights that Solidarity shines in Freehold, N.J., Jan. 18. Labor turns up heat in grocery strike

Continued from page 1 Day,” declared Jan. 18 “a success.” year’s parade was initially sponsored by march and rally on Jan. 31. Local 770 is A rally at the Vons corporate headquar- Wal-Mart, a terrible insult to Dr. King’s devoting many of its resources and has of Local 770 in Los Angeles. ters in Arcadia is planned for Jan. 21. legacy as well as the labor movement and gotten commitments from the Central On Jan. 24 there will be services to the oppressed community. Labor Council and State Labor Federation Class struggle heating up mourn 10 grocery workers whose deaths After City Councilmember Martin to make this a success. In spite of severe hardships put on were related to the strike. In some instan- Ludlow approached the labor community In addition, a community and labor sol- UFCW grocery workers in southern Cali- ces, stress was the cause, and in some about this issue, Wal-Mart—a racist, anti- idarity organization kicked off by groups fornia due to the refusal of Vons, Albert- exhaustion. worker, anti-union corporation—was out that held food and toy drives for the strik- sons and Ralphs to negotiate in good faith, On Jan. 27, the UFCW is organizing a and labor was in. The AFL-CIO became ing and locked-out workers, including the the UFCW local union members and their caravan to the home of Steven Burd, the official sponsor of this year’s parade. Community Action Project to Support leaders remain even more determined and Safeway CEO and the engine behind the This was a victory for the hundreds of Labor initiated by ANSWER-Los Angeles, more willing to elevate the struggle against supermarkets’ strategy. Burd’s home will thousands in the Black community in Los has unified and become the official repre- the big three grocery chains. be surrounded with religious leaders and Angeles, who make up a high percentage sentative of Local 770’s community out- As a result, more militant actions—like striking families who will bring their chil- of grocery workers. reach under the name CLASH—Commu- civil disobedience, the expansion of pick- dren and puppies. The UFCW Local 770 website explains: nity and Labor Acting to Save Healthcare. ets, and increased outreach to the com- Burd has proclaimed his commitment “Dr. Martin Luther King died 36 years ago This newly formed Local 770 group will munity and rank and file—are being to the welfare of animals, so the union is fighting for striking union members in concentrate all its efforts on building this implemented. demanding that he also recognize the Memphis. It is because of civil rights pio- march and rally. It is charged with acti- For example, at a Vons supermarket in impact on the children’s lives of his refusal neers like Dr. King that we have the right vating community, labor and UFCW Garden Grove on Jan. 17, union officials to provide adequate healthcare to his to fight collectively for our healthcare, our rank-and-file support for the rally and were among 15 arrested for blocking the employees. pensions, our wages and our futures. Every includes a full-time staffer from this store entrance. Among those arrested One worker from Local 342, for exam- single member is encouraged to participate group assisted by the local. were Greg Conger, president of Orange ple, fell asleep at the wheel and was killed in the annual Martin Luther King Day “We plan on getting as many posters County’s UFCW Local 324; Art Pulaski, while trying to supplement his income by parade today in South Los Angeles.” up, leaflets out, petition signatures and head of the State Labor Federation; and driving a pizza truck at night after his pick- And the unity didn’t end with the phone calls made to every labor, student Mike Garcia, local president of the Service eting shift. parade. A local Black community organi- and community organization and their Employees International Union. The grocery workers’ determination to zation had called for a solidarity picket at rank-and-file members as humanly pos- Local 770—the largest of the UFCW keep on fighting is partly motivated by a the Albertsons located at the beginning of sible,” said Page Getz, a member of the unions with over 20,000 members— desire to not let those who’ve fallen in bat- the parade. Union officials decided to group who is concentrating on getting resumed temporary pickets at Ralphs on tle die in vain. endorse and participate in the event. As a publicity out to some of the progressive Jan. 18. Picketers had been removed from result, a loud and militant picket line radio stations. Ralphs early in the strike, union officials Anger mounts, community-labor blocked the entrance to the store. A new determination that can be felt said, to minimize hardship on consumers support grows and sensed, like a powerful second wind, and focus more of the attack on the Local 770 successfully blocked a cynical All out for Jan. 31 is pushing forward the struggle to save Safeway chain, which owns Vons. The attempt by the superstore Wal-Mart to The biggest example of this new strat- healthcare and the union. The community Local 770 web site, in a brief report enti- sponsor this year’s annual Martin Luther egy to cement further community and support has risen in concert with the tled “Back to Picketing at Ralphs for a King Day parade in Los Angeles. This labor support is the building of a massive heroic sacrifices of the grocery workers. Page 4 Jan. 29, 2004 www.workers.org Stage set for bloody competition ON THE Growing crisis underlies PICKET bank mega-merger Immigrant coal miners locked out in Utah erated this trend and destabilized global By Milt Neidenberg will be further victimized by massive More than 70 coal miners in Huntington, trade. It is a disaster in the making, which increases in interest rates and fees for Utah, have been on strike against the Co-Op will lead to defaults and bankruptcies. “When the elephants dance, ants get services, from mortgage rates to auto Mine for almost four months. Most are In another Jan. 16 article, the Financial crushed.” That old saying reverberates on loans to credit cards. They will also entice Mexican immigrants who went on strike to Times warned of these probabilities: Wall Street these days as J.P. Morgan millions more to board the credit card protest flagrant safety violations and harsh “The question is not if the next crisis will Chase and the giant Chicago bank, Bank train with an advertising blitz of monu- disciplinary measures imposed when they occur, but when.” One, enter a mega-merger in which $58 mental proportions. tried to organize into the United Mine Are the battles looming ahead a rerun billion in stock is being exchanged. And The stage is set for an industry-wide Workers union. The company retaliated by of the power struggles that broke out it applies to other giant mergers in the banking struggle. Who wins and who locking the strikers out. more than half a century ago within the banking industry, which have accelerated loses will have a major impact on the Company owners, the Kingston family, ruling factions of U.S. finance capital? in the last few years. The crushed ants are stock market, investors and depositors. reportedly make profits of up to $1 million a The principal contenders in that mam- the losing rivals and factions within the Due to the growing concentration of cap- month by paying the workers $5.25 to $7 an moth conflict were the Rockefellers, the merger and in the struggle to be top ital, many corporations that profess to be hour. Standard union wages range between richest family in the world with global player in the industry. Hundreds of bil- independent are actually meshed with $15 and $20 an hour. holdings in oil; the Morgan empire, lions of dollars are at stake in this power banking trusts and combinations. Karl Working conditions at the Co-Op Mine whose interlocking power over U.S. struggle, which will have major effects far Marx explained the significance of the are dangerous. Miners, who complain of industry dominated corporate America; beyond these empires. concentration and centralization of cap- being inadequately trained, are forced to and the Du Pont dynasty, whose profits The merged J.P. Morgan Chase is now ital in his monumental work, “Capital.” work under unsafe conditions that violate from two world wars made them a close in mortal combat with Citigroup, number Mine Safety and Health Administration reg- A trillion-dollar struggle second to Rockefeller. one in the industry. In April 1998, at the ulations. For instance, they have to use The glittering prize was the domina- height of the 1990s boom, a mega-merger The New York Times of Jan. 18 defective and unsafe machinery. When they tion of banking, the most lucrative sec- of Travelers Insurance and Citicorp describes the magnitude of this struggle: become injured, they do not have access to tion of the capitalist system. A virtual civil formed Citigroup, valued at $72.6 billion. “With combined assets of $1.1 trillion, the workers’ compensation or decent medical war continued through decades of booms Citicorp is a huge retail banker that new banking giant runs a close second to insurance. There are no retirement benefits. and busts, wars and periods of peaceful monopolizes the credit card industry; Citigroup. Its market value, though, at a Racist abuse and mistreatment by the coexistence among them. War has now Travelers is a giant holding corporation combined $132 billion, would still be bosses are routine. broken out again. that has absorbed other financial institu- about half the size of Citigroup’s $255 bil- The Co-Op miners have the full support Today, the old patterns of domination tions. lion.” The article adds that the executives of the Mine Workers and the labor move- don’t fit with the new technology. Old Bank of America, which took over Fleet of J.P. Morgan have “much to accomplish ment in Utah, as well as students, religious alliances among ruling factions based on Boston Financial Corp. for $43 billion in before they can begin to challenge groups and supporters of immigrant rights. old relationships of forces are breaking October 2003, is in third place. These Citigroup’s title as the world’s largest But they need support from around the apart. Are the present-day captains of three giants are the products of earlier financial institution.” country to win the strike, their jobs back banking and industry different from the mergers that rolled over many financial An analyst from Deutsche Bank told and union recognition. Supporters can former dynasties that controlled so much institutions, which now are either part of the Times that, although it was still early, spread the word about their strike and of the wealth here and abroad? Are there their empires or no longer exist. the merger gives the new bank’s execu- organizing drive. Send a message of solidar- new constellations of ruling-class fac- Before the ink was dry on this latest tives “the platform to eventually make ity from your union, community group, stu- tions that are beginning to show signs of merger contract, J.P. Morgan Chase and another acquisition.” dent organization or church by writing to the coming apart? Bank One announced a wage freeze and The ruling class banking empires are United Mine Workers of America District In his remarkable work, “America’s a minimum of 10,000 layoffs. They have now directly connected with the stock 22, 525 E. 100 South, Price, Utah 84501. Sixty Families,” Ferdinand Lundberg in assured Wall Street investors that they market and intimately bound up with Make checks out to “Co-Op Miners Relief 1937 described the relationships that will initiate $2.2 billion in cost-cutting credit institutions—the multitude of Fund.” For more information, visit existed among the U.S. ruling class fam- moves as soon as possible. They are ready smaller banks, pension funds, insurance www.umwa.org/coop/coop.shtml. to do battle with Citigroup. The turf will companies, mortgage institutions and ilies. His research needs to be updated. encompass the lucrative credit card credit unions. They reach into the Federal As these divisions grow in proportion industry and its tens of millions of con- Reserve Bank, the Securities and to the vastness of their holdings, owner- Strike brings Tyson sumers. Exchange Commission and other govern- ship is sure to become the bone of con- It will be a bloody scene. Huge num- ment regulatory agencies, and have polit- tention among them. Will holding a to the table For the first time since the 470 meat bers of credit card users have exhausted ical influence in the inner circles where strategic amount of stocks assure these packers of Food and Commercial Workers their savings, lost their jobs and over- government policies are made. Banking- tycoons that their huge aggregations of Local 538 in Jefferson, Wis., went on strike spent on their cards. The robber barons industrial empires, they are the nerve property will remain in their hands? No. against Tyson Foods last Feb. 28, the com- will fleece the consumer/borrowers, who center of capitalism. In a crisis, it is likely that the capitalist pany agreed to bargain, as of Dec. 18-19. Most important, through mega-merg- state will intervene to establish order and Negotiations are continuing. ers they have acquired huge funds, pre- keep the system afloat. The workers have refused to accept viously unmanageable, which become State capitalist intervention is no answer Tyson’s demands for a four-year wage freeze Anti-war longshore centralized and speculative. No large- for the workers, however. The working for current workers and a cut of $2 an hour scale speculation in stocks, bonds and class, which creates all value with its labor work stoppage for all new employees. Along with cutting commodities can take place without the power, has intervened on its own behalf sick leave and vacation time and eliminating banks. They supply the loans for specu- in the past—including in the U.S. in the scheduled profit sharing, Tyson also wanted to freeze lation and risk and accept all kinds of crisis of the 1930s, when workers seized pension benefits for current workers and By Richard Becker stock, mortgages and other collateral. factories in the great sit-down strikes. eliminate pensions for all new employees. There is a risk that these loans may The overall reality is that the capitalist The company intended to shift health-care In a great boost to the March 20 anti- become non-performing—that is, system is moving toward another major costs to employees, making coverage unaf- occupation mobilization, International unpayable. Argentina went into a tailspin crisis. In a period of decline, the ruling Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10, fordable for many families of current after it defaulted on its loans. Recently, class depends on imperialist wars, para- representing port workers in the San employees and unaffordable for almost all the International Monetary Fund issued sitic military production, and the deepen- Francisco Bay area, voted at its Jan. 15 families of new employees. a report saying that U.S. deficits could ing exploitation of the working class and membership meeting to hold a Stop Work Union officials attribute the company’s wreak havoc on the world economy. oppressed. The so-called war on terror- meeting on March 20—that is, to shut resumption of negotiations to national pub- down San Francisco Bay ports to protest The Financial Times of Jan. 16, in an ism that has outraged the people of the licity, pressure from members of Congress the war and occupation of Iraq. article headed, “Banks Warn on world, speculation, the huge debts, a and Wisconsin activists, and continuing loss Unique among U.S. unions, the Emerging Markets,” quoted William falling dollar and overproduction that of profits. (Labor Union News, Jan. 2004) Longshore and Warehouse Union has a Rhodes, senior vice-chairperson of gluts world markets also threaten to Tyson executives asked to resume negoti- long history of stopping work in support Citigroup and first vice-chairperson of destabilize global class relationships. ations the day after strikers, University of of progressive causes, ranging from the the Institute of International Finance, The most effective answer to this crisis Wisconsin students and local labor sup- struggle against apartheid in South Africa which represents more than 300 of the lies in a general, independent counter- to protests of U.S. wars in Vietnam and porters picketed the home of the head of world’s banks and finance houses: “There offensive by the multinational working Central America to support for death row Tyson’s board of directors. The day before, is now a risk that markets may again be class and oppressed peoples, along with political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. the U.W. Board of Regents had announced moving ahead of fundamentals, as was the rising immigrant struggle, against the The Stop Work meeting will be held in it would divest more than $200,000 the case in 1997 before the Asian crisis.” bankers and industrialists, who are weak- solidarity with the actions planned in San invested in Tyson Foods. The move, which Francisco and around the world. The local With short-term interest rates at 1 per- ened by mounting factional struggles but supported a campus boycott of Tyson prod- will be mobilizing for the San Francisco cent, U.S. investors and bankers have backed up by a capitalist government that ucts, was the first time the Regents had march and rally, and is calling on other enlarged their appetites for risk and spec- is prepared to bail them out. The counter- withdrawn investments since they divested locals on the West Coast to hold similar ulation. The devaluation of the dollar— offensive must be a nationwide class from companies doing business with Stop Work meetings. the world’s reserve currency—has accel- mobilization. www.workers.org Jan. 29, 2004 Page 5

LINE SUE DAVIS Michael Jackson apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. “About the same time the Bill Moyers in the lion’s den show featuring the strike aired nation- wide, the company’s quarterly earnings By Leslie Feinberg delayed their arrival. the furious scrutiny and criticism he faced statement came out showing that they But the judge interrupted: “There are no after having appeared with the 12-year-old lost about $36 million in the prepared “Not guilty.” Those two words received ifs, no excuses. I will not have it.” in a television documentary, aired last food division,” said union representative short shrift in the massive media storm Under pressure from the prosecution, Feb. 6, in which they were shown holding Dick Knapp. “The company attributes a surrounding Michael Jackson’s Jan. 16 Melville imposed a gag order to keep any hands and saying that they had slept in the lot of that loss to the strike, and it must arraignment in Santa Maria, Calif., on parties from speaking to reporters. same room but not in the same bed. have had a lot to do with their change of child molestation charges. The judge ruled that Jackson’s lawyers Reportedly based on a complaint to a attitude.” The word “circus,” however, took cen- can see copies of search warrants and affi- county hot line from an enraged school ter stage in media coverage. And in virtu- davits, and transcripts of tape recordings administrator who saw the documentary, Borders workers ally all the accounts, it was Jackson—fac- on which the prosecution is basing its case. Los Angeles County child welfare officers ing charges that could lock him in a jail cell Prosecutors had fought to keep a seal on began investigating Jackson’s relationship ratify first contract for more than two decades—who was the records. Melville denied a motion by with the boy. The 60 workers at the flagship Borders accused of creating that atmosphere. media outlets—including The Associated The investigation, which ended Feb. 27, Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Mich., repre- Christopher Darden, who was a prose- Press—demanding the material be concluded that the allegations of molesta- sented by Food and Commercial cutor in the O.J. Simpson criminal trial released into the public record. tion were groundless. The boy, his mother Workers Local 876, ratified their first that ended in acquittal by the jury, told The judge also barred cameras, includ- and his siblings all denied that any impro- two-year contract on Jan. 8. They will reporters, “The circus has begun, and he ing television, from the court—a ruling prieties had taken place. receive an annual increase of 3 percent, [Jackson] is the ring master.” Darden told that enraged the networks. Further adding to questions of credibil- or the Borders national rate, whichever is the syndicated TV show Entertainment Geragos asked the judge to recognize ity in this case is the fact that the boy’s fam- higher. Tonight, “It’s a circus from minute one, Jackson’s new co-counsel, Benjamin ily has a history of litigation involving hun- Some other hard-fought gains include and it’s going to be a circus up until sen- Brafman, a New York attorney who is not dreds of thousands of dollars in compen- an increase in starting salaries from tencing happens, or”—Darden had gotten a member of the California bar. “Such sation claims. $6.50/$7 an hour to $6.75/$7.25. Wage ahead of himself—”up until we get a ver- requests are routinely granted,” the Jan. Sneddon, who unsuccessfully brought caps at the top end of the pay scale were dict in this case.” 17 New York Times reported, “but Judge charges of child molestation against removed, and a merchandise credit was The mass demonstration of public sup- Melville refused to allow Mr. Brafman to Jackson a decade ago, said he did not translated into wages. A grievance proce- port for Jackson outside the courthouse speak. Later, the judge relented and gave think the Los Angeles County findings dure was created, and a union-manage- was also billed as a “circus.” Thousands Mr. Brafman courtroom privileges.” were relevant to his case. ment committee was created to discuss came from Los Angeles and Fresno, Calif., Jackson’s role in the proceedings only Sneddon’s widely publicized appeal in non-grievance issues. Breaks have been Las Vegas, Phoenix and Philadelphia, and took five minutes. Two hours later, when November 2003 for anyone, anywhere, lengthened from 10 to 15 minutes. from South Carolina and other parts of the his lawyer asked if Jackson could leave the who had any evidence of misconduct by Outsourcing of maintenance jobs was United States. People also traveled from courtroom, “as a personal courtesy,” the Michael Jackson to contact his office is a also stopped. Brazil, England, Japan, France, Spain, judge told the court, “I assume Mr. prosecutorial version of “reality televi- The workers’ strike weapon wins again! Holland, Germany and Australia to stand Jackson has to go to the bathroom.” sion”: Who wants to be a millionaire? up for Jackson. Melville then warned Mr. Geragos to Attorney Mickey Sherman told the CBS Police estimates of the crowd outside instruct Michael Jackson to restrict his News Early Show: “I think everyone Fighting layoffs the courthouse seemed low—1,500 to “liquid intake” before court. expected there would be more victims com- 2,000—based on the aerial views visible Support for Jackson is becoming an ing out of the woodwork and that hasn’t at Harvard on electronic coverage. But the day after objective factor that the judge and prose- happened. I think that’s rather significant.” Harvard University workers are brac- the arraignment, virtually all the print cutor have to take account of now. Jack- ing for a wave of layoffs at the univer- media reported “hundreds.” son’s entire family was with him during his The stench of racism sity’s library system this January despite Assume for a moment that the wide- court appearance. The Nation of Islam is “Wacko Jacko,” “bizarre,” “freak”— Harvard’s record endowment of $19.3 spread use of the word circus is not being providing security for him. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is publicly dehumanized by media billion. Library administrators claim the used to dehumanize Jackson by associat- Jackson admonished the prosecutor and pundits for his perceived sexuality, gender cuts are necessary because of “budget ing him with the most immediate images media for the way they have treated expression and sex ambiguity. But this shortfalls,” though no middle-manage- of circuses: clowns, “freak shows” and Michael Jackson. Civil-rights activist Dick inhuman tabloid-journalism scarcely masks ment cuts have been proposed. Many performing animals. Perhaps the media Gregory is waging a 40-day hunger strike the deep racism involved in this case. layoffs occurred in 2003. are merely trying to convey the mood of to support Jackson. And many other Googling the words “Jackson” and “race The layoffs have triggered campus spectacle? African American political and cultural card” lifts the rock. protests, spearheaded by the No-Layoffs If that is true, might not the following leaders have publicly stood up for Jackson. In actuality, the “racist card” has already Campaign at Harvard, a group of union have been offered as the generator of spec- The day of the arraignment, simultane- stacked the deck. Just two examples, pain- workers, students and alumni. In a tacle at Jackson’s court appearance? ous demonstrations of support for Jack- ful to repeat in print, offer greater under- recent letter to Harvard faculty, the More than 2,500 police were standing son took place in Mexico, Ireland, Hun- standing about the intensity of racism NLCH contrasted the layoffs with the six rows deep around a court complex gary, Russia, England, the Netherlands, involved in the demonization of Michael record endowment; the university’s vast now guarded 24 hours a day. Cops used Sweden and other countries. Jackson. program of expansion, building and ren- attack dogs for “crowd control.” Extra Jermaine Jackson said that his brother One newspaper article refers to the com- ovation; and salaries of $40 million to court officers were shipped in from Michael and their entire family “are over- pact-disk players that some Jackson sup- two Harvard money managers—enough nearby Santa Barbara. whelmed at the outpouring of support porters played outside the courthouse as to pay the salaries of 900 clerical workers Half a dozen police and media helicop- from the fans. It is a testament, a true tes- “ghetto blasters.” (The Australian, Jan. 16) at $30,000 a year. The letter predicted ters circled and hovered in the air above tament to Michael’s messages of love and And Orville Schell, dean of the graduate more deterioration of already-failing the court complex. inclusion, that so many people of diverse journalism school at the University of library services if the cuts go through. More than 600 journalists, producers backgrounds are traveling around the California at Berkeley, dredged up a NLCH vowed to continue its protests in a and television crew members jostled each globe to support him.” vicious Jim Crow metaphor familiar to Jan. 9 news release. other and everyone else. Some 100 televi- Jackson appeared not to leave the white supremacists when he said of sion stations from around the globe sent courtroom intimidated. He climbed up on Jackson, “He is a tar baby of monumental Connecticut janitors personnel. Forty TV satellite trucks were top of his vehicle and sang to the crowd. proportions, into which all too many rep- parked outside. The throng of supporters pushed past utable news outlets are being stuck.” (St. ratify contract Vendors hawked T-shirts and fast food. police and surrounded Jackson, chanting Petersburg Times, Jan. 11) The 2,000 Connecticut janitors repre- If Jackson’s court appearance was a cir- slogans and singing lyrics from one track Jackson faces an amorphous charge of sented by Service Employees Local 32BJ cus, it was reminiscent of the brutal of his 1995 album “HIStory” that indicts molestation, defined in California as lewd overwhelmingly ratified a new one-year ancient circuses organized by the emper- the Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom and lascivious. According to Michael contract. Hourly pay for full-time work- ors of the Roman Empire as part of the “Mad Dog” Sneddon for what is widely Hestrin, a Riverside County, Calif., deputy ers will go to $10 an hour on Dec. 31, political tactic of public diversion. Those perceived as his vendetta against Jackson. district attorney, “There’s no requirement 2004, up from $9 under the previous who found themselves in the center ring that Michael Jackson touched the child contract, which expired on Dec. 31, 2003. of the Circus Maximus had to fight—often ‘Mad Dog’ Sneddon underneath the clothing, it could be on the Employers also agreed to increase health to the death—for their freedom. Jackson is accused of sexual miscon- shoulder, it could be anywhere on the coverage contributions for each duct with a 12-year-old boy with cancer body.” (mtv.com, Jan. 16) employee by $40 a month. In the lion’s den who had asked to meet the singer. The Hestrin added, “The prospective jurors To increase its negotiating leverage, Inside the courtroom, Santa Barbara alleged acts for which Jackson was being in this case are going to be largely affluent, the union asked for a one-year contract County Superior Court Judge Rodney arraigned were supposed to have taken largely white.” There is no legal require- that will expire on the same date as the Melville castigated Jackson for being 10 place between Feb. 7 and March 10, 2003. ment to include any number of Black, union’s other agreements with commer- minutes late. That timing is very odd. Latino, Native or Asian people as jurors. cial buildings in New York, New Jersey Attorney Mark Geragos tried to explain According to the charges, Jackson Michael Jackson, in the center ring of the and Connecticut. that unprecedented traffic and crowds had would have begun molesting the boy amid Circus Maximus, is fighting for his life. Page 6 Jan. 29, 2004 www.workers.org

ATLANTA. Activists confront Bush By Dianne Mathiowetz Atlanta

More than 1,000 protesters defied police attempts to move them into a distant “free speech” area and noisily denounced the anti-people, war-mongering policies of President George W. Bush as he arrived at the gravesite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for a wreath-laying ceremony on Jan. 15. Many in the crowd were incensed that Bush would exploit the legacy of Dr. King and his contributions to the struggle for justice, peace and equality for a campaign photo opportunity. When the very diverse demonstrators refused to leave the sidewalk directly across from King’s crypt, the police Bush takes advantage of Martin Luther King birthday for a 'photo-opportunity.' But 1,000 protestors give the Commander in brought in city buses to block people’s Chief of the racist war against Iraq the kind of 'welcome' he so richly deserves. The King placard reads, "No War on Iraq!" view and access to the brief ceremony. Riot-geared police stood atop the buses. The cost of Bush’s trip to Atlanta, esti- entering or leaving historic Ebenezer Organizers of the protest, including the Sharpshooters were positioned on the mated at over $300,000, will be born by Baptist Church from noon on. Rev. Timothy McDonald of Concerned roofs of nearby buildings. A phalanx of taxpayers because of his “presidential” The MLK March Committee, which has Black Clergy and the various member heavily armed police lined the street. ceremony at the gravesite. annually organized the public events hon- organizations of the Georgia Peace and Nevertheless, the crowd spilled onto The White House staff had called the oring and continuing the message of Dr. Justice Coalition, noted that people had higher ground and climbed onto fences King Center just days before to announce King, refused these conditions. broken the zone of insulation from protest and walls, and people raised their signs the presidential visit. Longstanding plans In news conferences, the civil-rights and dissent that has become a defining over the buses. With drums, chants and for an all-day program on human rights leaders recalled that on King’s birthday in trademark of the Bush presidency. boos, Bush’s exercise in political oppor- with participation from a broad range of 2003, Bush announced his opposition to Articles in the Atlanta newspapers tunism was disrupted. activists and leaders, including Maria affirmative action and was actively push- before Bush’s visit had detailed the Secret The presidential entourage then sped Elena Durazo of the Immigrant Workers ing for war against Iraq. Service’s elaborate efforts to deny any down historic Auburn Avenue—where still Freedom Ride, were put in jeopardy. This year, Bush waited until Jan. 16 to effective protest against him. In city after more protesters, unable to get to the King The Secret Service said that Bush’s announce his recess appointment of Charles city, the rights of free speech and assem- gravesite, were at different corners. security required that the entire area Pickering to the 5th Circuit federal appeals bly are routinely denied so that Bush Bush spent only a few minutes “honor- around the crypt be sealed off for four court in New Orleans. Pickering’s nomina- rarely is personally confronted by opposi- ing” King. He then spent hours at a cam- hours before his arrival and that Auburn tion has been vigorously opposed by civil- tion to his policies. paign fundraising dinner at the World Avenue be cleared of cars. No one would rights, labor and women’s organizations. For many in Thursday’s demonstra- Congress Center that netted him at least be able to visit the gravesite on what would There was worldwide news coverage of tion, the outrage they felt at Bush’s hypo- $1.2 million for his 2004 election cam- have been Dr. King’s 75th birthday for the Atlanta protest. Headlines in major critical use of Dr. King’s message of uni- paign. In his speech to the well-heeled most of the day. Participants in the human newspapers blared that Bush had been versal justice and peace overcame any crowd, he made no mention of Dr. King. rights conference would be barred from booed at King’s gravesite. police intimidation.

BUFFALO, N.Y.. Battle against racist police brutality

By Matthew L. Schwartz Buffalo, N.Y.

It was the biggest protest so far in the fight against police abuse and racist pro- filing in Buffalo, N.Y. On Jan. 17, over 100 protesters rallied at noon in front of a central city transit sta- tion. Then, in a determined show of soli- darity, they marched two miles across town in 20-degree weather. The march was followed by a 20-car caravan. The rally was held at the location where, in October, three white Niagara Frontier Transit Authority cops beat a young African American student for not showing her transit pass, and then beat the African American woman bus driver who came to Protests the teenager’s defense. Protesters have been demanding that the bus driver be By Monica Moorehead reinstated to her job and all charges against her be dropped. Activists inside the United States and The Coalition Against Police Abuse WW PHOTOS: MATTHEW L. SCHWARTZ internationally paid tribute to the strug- sponsored the rally and march, which was gle-oriented legacy of Dr. Martin Luther led by a banner reading, “In the spirit of Speakers and placards made it clear inside to a public hearing and speak-out King with marches, civil disobedience, ral- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stop racism, that the group was targeting all police where many angrily described the racist lies and much more. A majority of these stop police brutality!” repression and violence, and attacks on abuse and profiling they and their fami- actions took place on Jan. 19, the U.S. fed- The crowd reflected the diversity and civil liberties, in all communities. One of lies have suffered. Over and over again, eral holiday recognizing his birthday. unity of this coalition of individuals and several similar placards signed by the their stories ended with a call to “fight In a number of demonstrations, local organizations from the African American coalition read, “Stop Racist Profiling— back!” ANSWER—Act Now to Stop War & End community and the anti-war movement. Free Our Yemeni Neighbors!” That was As a significant contribution to the fight Racism—coalitions linked the occupation At the very front of the march, one of the targeting the “Homeland Security” siege against police brutality, other community of Iraq to the struggle for social justice at coalition’s African American organizers and arrests of Arab and Yemeni commu- leaders have planned a one-day total boy- home. The following round-up is just a carried a placard reading, “Money for city nity members and leaders here. cott of the Buffalo transit system on Jan. microcosm of what took place all over the services and schools, not war.” Over and Protesters chanted, “An injury to one is 21. This event has sparked interest from globe: over, the marchers tied the NFTA cops’ an injury to all,” some shouting on mega- the media, and excitement among those In Los Angeles, over 100,000 people racism to city cutbacks under the rule of phones: “Speak out now! You could be hearing about it, and is intended as a pow- attended a parade on Martin Luther King the banks’ financial control board, and to next!” erful statement to demand respect and Jr. Blvd. Sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the the price of the “endless war.” After the march, the protesters moved dignity. parade was led by a delegation of striking www.workers.org Jan. 29, 2004 Page 7

NEW YORK CITY RALLY:. ‘No Republican convention here!’

By Monica Moorehead of New York City Labor Against the War; New York Cleo Silvers, 1199ers for Peace and Justice; the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, House of the “Send Bush to Mars! Bring the troops Lord Church; Charlotte Kates, New Jersey home!” Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of This was a popular chant among the Palestine; Sara Flounders, International hundreds of multinational activists who Action Center; Gloria Pacis, mother of heroically rallied and marched in New imprisoned GI resister Stephen Funk; York’s brutal sub-zero temperatures on Dustin Langley, Support Network for An Jan. 15, the 75th anniversary of the birth Armed Forces Union organizer; Brian of civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther Becker, ANSWER steering committee King Jr. They were there to protest Pre- member; Teresa Gutierrez, Stop the U.S. sident George W. Bush’s racist, colonial War in Colombia Committee; Amanda war and occupation of Iraq as well as other Vender, Network in Solidarity with the important foreign and domestic policies. People of the Philippines; Wolsan Liem, The demonstration began with a rally in Nodutdol for Korean Community Devel- front of Madison Square Garden. The opment; Brian Barraza, CASA Mexico and arena is the designated site of the Repub- Mexican Workers Center; Louis Jones, lican National Convention scheduled for N.Y. Aids Housing Network; Jennifer late August 2004, when Bush is expected Wager, Pastors for Peace; and others. to be reselected as the party’s presidential One of the highlights of the indoor rally nominee. was the appearance of a delegation of A significant coalition, made up mostly Mexicano immigrant workers from Free- of people of color, labor, community and hold, N.J., who are mounting a struggle for anti-war forces, has been formed to civil rights and against racism. WW PHOTO: DEIRDRE GRISWOLD protest against the convention being held Protesters rally in front of Madison Square Garden. in New York City. After the outdoor speak- out, protesters marched to the Com- munity Church for an inside rally. Along the march route, a great majority of Former Black Panther announces passersby expressed their solidarity with the chants and slogans by clapping, rais- ing their fists or giving the thumbs up. bid for mayor Some spontaneously joined the march. The stage banner inside the church read: By Monica Moorehead “The Convention Is Cancelled Until All New York Troops Are Home and New Yorkers Have: Jobs with decent wages, housing-afford- Flanked by hundreds of enthusiastic able-no rent hikes, healthcare, education- Brooklyn supporters and representatives no tuition hikes, immigrant rights, civil from the New York Black political move- rights and liberties.” ment, City Councilperson Charles Barron Larry Holmes, a leader of the ANSWER officially announced his mayoral candi- coalition, proclaimed King’s birthday as a dacy on the steps of City Hall on Jan. 19. “day of struggle against war, racism, colo- The election takes place in November 2005. nialism and for liberation.” He also called Barron announced his candidacy on the for a U.S. war crimes tribunal against the official holiday honoring the birth of Dr. Bush administration and denounced Martin Luther King Jr. Barron spoke Bush’s visit to King’s gravesite in Atlanta, about his candidacy to the cheering crowd which invoked protest there. He spoke of by saying: “We launched this movement in the importance of reaching out to the peo- the name of Dr. King. We are calling for a ple of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Harlem and PEOPLES VIDEO NETWORK: JOHNNIE STEVENS racially balanced, gender balanced ... Mayoral candidate Charles Barron, with raised fist. other oppressed sectors that have been structure in New York City. ... We are traditionally excluded from the anti-war developing a people’s platform that we are environment and much more. campaign to keep the 2004 Republican movement. going to take across this city.” Barron told his supporters that while National Convention out of New York City, Speakers at the rallies included City This platform includes free tuition for his opponents may have millions of dollars in protest of the Bush administration’s Councilperson Charles Barron; Nellie all City University of New York students, at their disposal, he has a movement racist occupation of Iraq at the expense of Bailey, Harlem Tenants Council; Randa freedom for all political prisoners, eco- behind him, especially Black people. mass unemployment and cuts in social Jamal, Al-Awda-Right to Return Coali- nomic development and job creation to Barron is a longtime political activist programs at home. tion; Walid Bader, Arab Muslim American battle poverty, real affordable housing, and a former member of the Black Panther For more information on the Barron Federation; union leader Brenda Stokeley reparations, quality health care, a cleaner Party. He is currently helping to lead a campaign, call (718) 303-9590. honor Dr. King at home and abroad grocery workers who are fighting for war organizations. police, a solidarity action with the striking On Jan. 15, Dr. King’s birthday, the health care. Other multinational labor In Boston, demonstrators rallied in Sterling Laundry workers prevailed. Anti-War Joint Action Committee ended contingents along with the ANSWER front of the Massachusetts Statehouse to Prominent Black activists Mahdi Bray, a a two-day sit-in in Tokyo, Japan, at the coalition participated in the parade. protest Gov. Mitt Romney’s attacks on leader of the Muslim American Society, Defense Agency, in which they had In Detroit, protesters marched to an poor and working people and President the Rev. Graylan Hagler, Latina members protested the Koizumi government’s plans indoor rally at the Central Methodist George W. Bush’s war on Iraq. The demon- of the UNITE union, and representatives to send Japanese advance troops to Iraq. Church where a tape of Dr. King making strators then marched to the Tremont of the Baltimore All-Peoples Congress TransAfrica forum sent a delegation to his famous April 4, 1967, speech against Street Military Recruiting Center to were present, and repelled these physical Caracas, Venezuela, to commemorate Dr. the Vietnam War was played. The stage demand: “Bring the troops home! End the attacks by goons. King’s birthday. Minister of Education banner read, “Michigan Says No to War.” occupation from Iraq to Palestine.” In San Francisco, over 5,000 people Aristobulo Isturiz took the delegation to The Detroit rally, along with a march in In the San Diego parade, the ANSWER gathered at the train station to greet the the opening of one of the 3,000 Bolivarian nearby Ann Arbor, denounced a reac- coalition adorned a truck with a banner “freedom” train that arrived from San schools, named in honor of Dr. King. tionary petition put forth by right-wingers highlighting the Dr. King quote, “The Jose, Calif. ANSWER organizers passed Under the Hugo Chavez administration, to end affirmative action in Michigan. greatest purveyor of violence in the world out fliers about the March 20 demonstra- education of the poor is being given top In Seattle, some 10,000 people today is my own government.” Another tion. Contingents included anti-death- priority. marched and rallied under the theme banner included a portrait of political pris- penalty advocates trying to stop the exe- Contributors to this article include “March in MLK’s Footsteps—Justice oner Mumia Abu-Jamal with the slogan: cution of Kevin Cooper, supporters of the Abayomi Azikiwe, John Beacham, Sharon Begins at Home.” Those who participated “Stop Police Brutality! Jail Killer Cops!” striking grocery workers in Southern Black, Peter Cook, Jane Cutter, Bill came from the Black, Latino, Asian com- In Washington, D.C., despite physical California and striking Latino mine work- Hackwell, Cheryl La Bash, Bob McCubbin, munities as well as the unions and anti- intimidation by security personnel and ers from Utah. Matthew L. Schwartz, and Kikuchi Takao. Page 8 Jan. 29, 2004 www.workers.org

At Monterrey summit Rising struggles frustrate U.S. plans for FTAA

By Berta Joubert-Ceci government who are paying more atten- stature and respect for Cuba and there may not even be a recall referen- tion to the needs of the masses than to the Venezuela in the region because of their dum, since Venezuela’s constitution states Amid protests restricted by the govern- wishes of the U.S. These new heads of gov- stand for dignity and sovereignty, the U.S. that one can be held only if there are a ment and a heavy police presence, the ernment, with some exceptions, are very mounted an attack on both countries required number of valid signatures— Americas Summit was held on Jan. 12-13 aware that the people could oust them if before and during the summit. U.S. something the National Election Council in Monterrey, Mexico. Many protesting they passively accept U.S. demands. A Undersecretary of State for Hemispheric must decide. groups had signed a statement declaring prime example of this was the ousting of Affairs Roger Noriega, National Security What makes the U.S. rulers so desper- U.S. President George W. Bush “persona the pro-U.S. Bolivian president, Sánchez Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of ate? Their dreams of hegemony in the non grata.” de Lozada, last October by huge militant State Colin Powell and President Bush all hemisphere are vanishing along with con- In the U.S., with rare exceptions, it was protests and strikes by the Indigenous generated a verbal blitzkrieg against both trol over the resources. South America is called the Americas Summit. But outside masses and others. countries, accusing them of being unde- a very wealthy region with precious met- the U.S., particularly in Latin America, it In Ecuador a year ago, Lucio Gutiérrez mocratic and destabilizing the region. als, fertile lands, oil, gas and great biodi- was called the “Extraordinary” Americas was elected by popular vote on a very pro- Bush also accused President Nestor versity. The Amazon, straddling Vene- Summit, meaning unusual, unscheduled. gressive political platform. Now he has Kirchner of Argentina of being a friend of zuela, Brazil and Argentina, is often refer- It was a meeting imposed by the U.S. aligned with the U.S. against the masses. Fidel Castro, to which Kirchner red to as the world’s lungs. The Guaraní The U.S. had requested this summit The people are now trying to oust him, responded that Argentina is a sovereign underground water reservoir covers an through the Organization of American too, and several actions are organized for country and not the USA’s backyard. area larger than Spain, France and States to “discuss common economic, the coming weeks. Similar arrogance was displayed Portugal put together and is part of Brazil, social and political themes among all the Popular governments have been against Brazil. But the fiercest attack was Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. heads of governments of the region.” All, elected in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala against Chávez, whose audio was even cut The market of Southern Cone coun- that is, except Cuba, which since the 1960s and Paraguay, and the forces of the off during his speech to the summit. tries, Mercosur, which encompasses has been barred from the OAS by U.S. Bolivarian Revolution keep growing Chávez was the head of state most Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, veto. stronger in Venezuela. In Uruguay, the opposed to the FTAA and the summit in is planning to include Venezuela, which is In 1994, when the Americas Summit Broad Front—Frente Amplio—is likely to general. After Bush spoke criticizing in the north. The Latin American and first met in Miami, the result was the so- win the October 2004 general elections. Cuba, Chávez spoke on behalf of that Caribbean countries are forming econo- called “Washington Consensus.” At the Even in Colombia, where the right-wing island. He mentioned the Robinson mic associations to challenge the U.S., time, the governments south of the Rio government aligned with the U.S. abets Mission, in which 100,000 Cuban teach- dealing a major blow to Wall Street’s plans Grande were pro-U.S. and pro-market assassinations of union leaders and pro- ers have brought literacy to 1 million for the region. economy, headed by right-wingers like gressives, the masses defeated a devastat- Venezuelans, and the Barrio Adentro To secure its domination of the region, Sánchez de Lozada of Bolivia, Fujimori of ing referendum pushed by President (inside the neighborhood) Mission, in the U.S. is fast militarizing the hemi- Peru, Menem of Argentina and Samper of Alvaro Uribe. The following day, a left- which 10,000 Cuban healthcare providers sphere. But a popular slogan now is: Colombia. That summit announced the wing candidate was elected mayor of have helped the poorest of the poor in “Beware, imperialists, Bolívar’s sword is Free Trade Area of the Americas—the Bogotá, the second most important gov- Venezuela’s most desperate neighbor- moving throughout Latin America.” FTAA, or ALCA in Spanish. ernment post in the country. hoods. Millions of Latin Americans have also The FTAA begins officially in 2005, but Also, there has been tremendous oppo- With the deliberate aim of dividing to been forced to emigrate to the U.S. to find the “neoliberal” process has already begun sition in Latin America to the U.S. war rule, Bush held a press conference before jobs, in spite of the tremendous wealth of to be imposed on the region. In order to against Iraq. The growing recognition that the summit with Mexican President the region. These children of Bolívar work get loans from the international banks the real terrorism comes from the U.S. is Vicente Fox, announcing, among other in the restaurants of New York, the valleys controlled by imperialism, these countries accompanied by an increase in accept- things, that Mexico was going to be of California, the mushroom farms of must open their markets to U.S. finance ance, friendship and cooperation with involved in Venezuela’s referendum to Pennsylvania. They carry the struggling capital and privatize their most profitable Cuba. recall President Chávez. Mexico will give spirit and consciousness of belonging to national enterprises. They have to open This change of the political spectrum $10,000 to an OAS organization to be an the working class, without any illusions their borders and remove duties on U.S. has correctly made the Bush administra- observer during the referendum. But about the “American dream.” goods. At the same time they must lower tion think that the goal of achieving the or completely eliminate any subsidies to FTAA by the year 2005 is at risk. They their own manufacturing and agricultural were hoping that the talks towards that industries. They also must lower or elim- goal would be wrapped up this year. That inate their budgets for social programs, is why this “extraordinary” summit took March 20, 2004 health care, housing, education and so on. place. GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION Poverty in region doubles Chávez: ‘FTAA is a cadaver’ ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE It is not surprising, then, that this pol- Bush and the U.S. ruling class didn’t get U.S. BOMBING AND INVASION OF IRAQ icy has resulted in a terrible devastation of what they wanted. The final statement the region and the intensification of vaguely mentioned continuing discus- poverty. Venezuelan President Hugo sions in the spirit of the Miami 2003 min- Chávez at the summit referred to the isterial meeting, where the U.S. insistence FTAA as a model for inequality, not for on continuing agricultural subsidies integration, that has doubled the number almost stopped the FTAA negotiations in of poor from 110 million to 227 million. their tracks. As Chávez said, “The FTAA is This acute erosion of the basic standard a cadaver.” BRING THE TROOPS of living, of the people’s ability to feed and The other main issue pushed by house their families and have access to Washington was the exclusion of “corrupt HOME NOW ! education and health care, has caused an governments” from the negotiations. The increase of political consciousness. The opposition to this was equally strong, masses identify their misery with neolib- since the U.S. gave no definition of what END COLONIAL OCCUPATION eralism, the FTAA and capitalism. The it meant by “corruption.” It was perceived upsurge of resistance to capitalism, even as a plot to exclude any government that FROM IRAQ TO PALESTINE if not expressed as such, is evident in their the U.S. deemed problematic. slogans and actions. The most significant outcome of the AND EVERYWHERE! Mobilizations against neoliberalism summit was the emergence of two poles: MONEY FOR JOBS, HEALTH CARE and its visible symbol, the FTAA, have on one hand, the U.S., Canada and Mexico HOUSING & EDUCATION been organized in almost every country of with a few others; on the other, for the first NOT FOR WAR & OCCUPATION the region. This goes along with a very time in history, a bloc of countries On March 20, 2004, people in cities around the world will join together to demand: "End the Occupation -- Bring the Troops Home NOW!" New York City appropriate anti-U.S. sentiment. opposed to the neoliberal policy of the We will demonstrate on March 20 to support the right of the Iraqi people to self- New Yorkdetermination City withoutWashington, condition. .D.C. San Francisco Los Angeles Boston This is very different from 1994. The U.S. in the region. Cuba, which has resis- We will demonstrate on March 20 in solidarity with the Palestinian people and 12 noon 12their noon right to self-determination,12 including noon the right to return. 11 a.m. Assemble 12 noon mobilization of the masses has changed ted imperialism for 45 years, is of course We will demonstrate on March 20 to overturn the "USA Patriot" Act, and to end Times Square Timesthe repression Sq. directed atWhite Arab American, House South Asian, MuslimDolores and immigrant Park com- Hollywood Bandstand at the balance of forces to the detriment of part of this bloc, even though it is not part munities. (18th St. & Dolores St.) March toWe U.N.will demonstrate 202.544.3389on March 20 to call for money for jobs, housing, health care Marchand Vine. to theBoston UN Common and education, not for war and occupation. March to Civic Center those who automatically supported every of the OAS. The bloc also includes 212.633.6646We will demonstrate on March 20 to demand an end to U.S. intervention, occupa- 213.487.2368 617.522.6626 tion and threats against Korea, Colombia, Afghanistan, Cuba,415.821.6545. Iran, Zimbabwe, U.S. move, including keeping the U.S. Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay Venezuela, Syria, the Philippines, Haiti and everywhere. 212-633-6646 Only the people's movement offers hope that an effective challenge can be Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico, against the and the majority of the CARICOM coun- mounted to the Bush administration's war drive. Leaflet issued by Call issued by A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Arab Muslim American Federation, Free A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition people’s wishes. The actions of the people tries of the Caribbean. For Palestineinformation Alliance, Muslim contact American SocietyA.N.S.W.E.R. Freedom Foundation, Act Muslim Now to [email protected] War & End Racism have resulted in the election of heads of In desperation to dismiss the growing Student Association. To read thehttp://www.internationalanswer.org call in full: www.InternationalANSWER.org www.InternationalANSWER.org www.workers.org Jan. 29, 2004 Page 9

Mass protest, armed attacks send clear message: U.S. OUT OF IRAQ! By John Catalinotto out the greatest and most rapid replace- when they joined up. change in equipment: more lighter, faster ment of troops since World War II. This The officers have ordered 25,000 vehicles, more Humvees, fewer tanks and Massive demonstrations, armed actions movement will repatriate the 130,000 Marines to the “triangle” to replace the Bradley Armored Vehicles. against U.S. and other troops, and a direct troops, most of whom have been in the 101st Airborne troops. There they are sup- A Knight-Ridder reporter wrote in a assault on U.S. headquarters in Baghdad field for a year and are anxious to get posed to carry out tactics similar to those feature story that all Iraqis, from college have shown once again that the Iraqi home. Some 105,000 new troops are sup- used in Vietnam to win the “hearts and students to cab drivers, are using the resistance to foreign occupation remains posed to replace them over the four minds” of the Iraqis. archaic word “Ulooj” to refer to U.S. a painful obstacle to Washington’s expan- months until May 2004. In Vietnam this was done by trying to troops. The ancient term from Arabic lit- sionist plans. Some 39,000 of the new fresh troops discover who the local political leadership erature can be translated as pigs of the A reported 100,000 members of the will be reservists, wrenched out of their was and then murdering them. The desert, foreign infidels, little donkeys, Shiite community demonstrated in Bagh- jobs and from their families and plunged Vietnamese won despite this slaughter. medieval crusaders, bloodsuckers and dad Jan. 19, marching three miles to the into a nightmare none had ever imagined With the change in troops will come a horned creatures. University of al-Mustansariyah. A similar demonstration of 30,000 had taken place Jan. 15 in Basra in the south of the coun- try. The protesters’ main demand was direct elections of an Iraqi government to Open letter from the replace the Coalition Authority. Shiite religious leader Grand Ayatollah Arab-American & Muslim community Ali al-Sistani, speaking for the Shiite com- munity, has rejected the present U.S. plan to impose a provisional legislature to U.S. anti-war movement selected by 18 regional caucuses. Al- Sistani wants national elections where Dear peace and justice organizations and gate these rights, regardless of any Listed in alphabetical order. To join as Iraqis can elect their leaders directly, activists, other position they may take on an organizational signatory or to be listed something Washington wants to postpone On March 20, 2004, the world will Palestine, are acting contrary to the in solidarity, please write to: until at least 2005. mobilize against war and colonial occu- will and aspiration of the Palestinian [email protected] When a spokesperson for Al-Sistani pations. The significance of this historic people. Signers raised these demands in Baghdad, the day is evident to all and requires no 3. We view all attempts to relegate Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return crowd responded by chanting: “Yes, yes to further elaboration. The political clarity our collective presence to the margin Coalition elections. No, no to occupation.” and character of this mobilization in and to tokenize our participation in the Al-Bireh Palestine Society, Calif. Chapter This hostile reaction to U.S. authority the U.S., however, remains illusive. movement to be racist in character. In Al-Qalam Institute is among the Shiite community, which This is where our community stands: its attempt to silence the Arab and American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) Muslim voices for decades, particularly U.S. analysts always claim is the sector of In confronting war, the people of American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Com- Iraqi Arabs most favorable to the U.S. that of the Palestinian people, the mittee, Greater Sacramento Area Chapter Palestine and Iraq have paid dearly. movement in the U.S. has stood alone intervention. They stand against the imperial project American-Arab Anti-Discrimination in the global movement for justice. We Committee, N.J. Chapter shoulder to shoulder with communities see ourselves as full partners in leading Resistance continues of color and the working class in the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination the movement as signified in the heavy Committee, Seattle Chapter The Iraqi resistance has continued to United States, along with a great many price we continue to pay along the way, subjugated peoples around the globe— American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Commit- carry out armed attacks on the 130,000 and reject any attempt to objectify our tee, Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter U.S. troops and their 40,000 or so allied from Afghanistan to Colombia, and from presence. the Philippines to Vieques, and on. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Com- forces throughout Iraq. On Jan. 17, a bomb mittee, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Without a doubt, the Palestinian and 4. We regard the positions that the that exploded under a Bradley Fighting Iraqi people are both welded together “colonial occupation of Iraq must be Arab Center of Washington-Seattle Vehicle killed three U.S. troops and three in an inextricable unity at the forefront internationalized,” or that ending the Arab Muslim American Federation Iraqi “Civil Defense Forces.” of the global anti-war movement, occupation must be conducted over a Arab-American Community Center, The three U.S. dead raised the number transforming themselves as a whole as period of time until the “Iraqis are able Chicago of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the its embodiment and paying in its to secure their democracy,” as implic- Arab-American Forum, N.H. March 20, 2003, invasion to 500. This is defense with the dearest of all—their itly colonial and racist. These are posi- Arab-American Press Guild more than the number of U.S. troops very existence. Yet, despite every home tions that are rooted in the construct of San Francisco Bay Area Palestine Coalition killed in the first four years of U.S. inter- destroyed, child murdered, acre confis- “manifest destiny” and the “white Canada-Palestine Association vention in Vietnam, between 1961 to cated and tree uprooted, town colo- man’s burden” to “civilize.” Canada-Palestine Friendship Society 1965. nized and ethnically cleansed, wall 5. We call on our people everywhere Canadian Arab Federation Other reports noted that 14 U.S. heli- built, refugee remaining nation-less, to hold all organizations accountable to Committee for Democratic Palestine- and incremental robbery of their self- copters have already been shot down and the positions they take, especially those Canada determination, they remain the very that Iraqi fighters are getting more skilled that depict racist attitudes towards us, Committee for Justice-USA antithetical formulation of empire and in using the rocket launchers that can implicitly or otherwise, particularly Deir Yassin Society of N. Y. with a vision of justice for all. those that tokenize and objectify our bring them down. Free Palestine Alliance-USA (FPA) struggle. Any organization or movement In addition to those killed, there have In the United States, we, Arab- Friends of Ghassan Kanafani, Toronto Americans and Muslims, have been that finds it acceptable to minimize or been 3,000 U.S. troops wounded badly Chapter maliciously targeted, stripped of our disregard for political expediency the enough to be evacuated. Thousands more Kana’an Review rights, and positioned outside the con- struggle of any people should not be have been sent away for treatment of ill- Muslim American Society Freedom stitutional framework of this country. A allowed to function within the global Foundation (MAS Freedom Foundation) nesses. Perhaps an even more significant justice movement. Justice is neither new COINTELPRO has been unleashed Muslim Students Association of the U.S. number is the 21 suicides among U.S. against our homes and living rooms, as selective, nor partial or conditional. and Canada (MSA-National) troops. our fathers, mothers, sons, and daugh- We are firm on these principles for Muslim Students Association, Calif. State A 1,000-pound car bomb detonated ters are plucked away and thrown into the March 20th mobilization and beyond University, Sacramento Jan. 18 near the gate to the U.S. headquar- unknown prison cells. Thus, in a contin- as we call on all communities and Muslim Students Association, University ters in Baghdad, killing more than 30 peo- uum of history, we stand with African organizations to mobilize and stand in of Calif., Davis ple, some of them reportedly Iraqis want- Americans, Japanese Americans, force under the following unifying five National Council of Arab Americans (NCAA) ing to work with the occupation. Two U.S. Latinos, Native Americans, and all oth- slogans: Palestine Children’s Welfare Fund ers in the painful struggle for justice. contract employees may have been killed Palestine House Educational & Cultural From them all, we take our cue, for 1. End all colonial occupations from in the blast. Center, Canada they are our predecessors and our part- Iraq to Palestine to everywhere! This guerrilla attack demonstrated the Palestine Right of Return Congress-USA ners in this long march. 2. Bring the troops home NOW! complete lack of security for anyone who Palestine Solidarity Committee- cooperates with the U.S. occupiers. Accordingly, we the undersigned 3. No to internationalizing colonial Los Angeles hereby declare that: occupations! Palestine Solidarity Committee-Seattle Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago Changing tactics 1. We do not accept de-linking the 4. Stop the attacks on civil liberties! To try to recover the initiative, the U.S. struggle of the Palestinian people from Palestinian American Women’s Association 5. Money for jobs, education, and (PAWA) command has carried out more severely the anti-war movement, and regard the health care, not for war! Sacred Roots repressive and murderous actions against struggle in Palestine, as it is viewed worldwide, to be central to any peace Students for Justice in Palestine, Calif. the Iraqis, especially within the so-called As we salute and stand empowered and justice mobilization. with sectors of the movement that have State University, Sacramento Sunni triangle to the north and west of taken a principled stand on justice, we Students for Justice in Palestine, Baghdad. This has led to more Iraqi civil- 2. We insist that the Palestinian right University of Calif., Davis to return and to self-determination are seek to participate in the empowerment ians being arrested, beaten and murdered of all as we call for a genuine global The Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) by the nervous U.S. troops, who see the the key anchors of the Palestinian struggle, and that organizations that united front against war. The United Muslim Association of High entire population as their enemy. attempt to diminish, sidetrack, or abro- All out on March 20, 2004! Schools Club The Pentagon has also begun to carry Page 10 Jan. 29, 2004 www.workers.org

....WORKERS AROUND... TH It’s not just Iowa

very time election season Thus it is not surprising that in Iowa begins with the Iowa caucuses, John Kerry, who artfully came across idays. Those strikes challenged the $103- E we have to point out that Iowa as the anti-war, pro-war candidate, ITALY. a-month raise that more moderate unions is not typical of the United States. helping to confuse the voters with settled for earlier. By Jan. 14, the Milan Before too many conclusions are peace demagogy wrapped in flag wav- city government capitulated, agreeing to drawn about the political climate in ing, came out ahead. Having the Wave of higher raises for the city transit workers. this country today, let’s look at the Kennedy machine behind him and a But labor unrest is far from over. facts about this Midwest state. personal fortune didn’t hurt, of course. transport strikes Alitalia workers have planned another Low pay along with threatened layoffs First, its population comes to about Capitalist politics boils down to the strike for Feb. 9. Air traffic controllers and privatization have provoked a series 1 percent of the countrywide total. Of fine art of ignoring and marginalizing have called for more job actions on Feb. of strikes and protests across Italy. its 2.86 million people, 91 percent are the most exploited and oppressed— 20. Italy’s labor union confederations Unions at Alitalia, the state-owned air- white, compared with 69 percent in the thus discouraging them from partici- have also been considering a nationwide line, have taken the lead in the protests. United States as a whole. (Most Native pating—while finding, or manufactur- general strike if the national government The Italian government cleared the way people were forced out of Iowa or ing, divisive issues that will arouse big- proceeds with plans to cut back pension for privatizing the airline in 2003, and killed in the 1800s.) Some 12 percent oted passions and energize those on benefits. management announced plans to lay off of children in Iowa live below the the right. 2,700 workers. That announcement poverty level, while the figure for the Bush did that in his State of the spurred a Jan. 19 one-day strike by airline whole U.S. is 21 percent. While nation- Union address when he called for a CHAD. workers. The walkout forced Alitalia to ally 81 percent of the people live in “marriage amendment” that simulta- cancel 364 flights. BBC News reported metropolitan areas, in Iowa only 46 neously denies same-sex couples civil Telecom workers that the check-in desks at Rome’s percent do. unions while promoting the idea that Fiumicino airport were deserted. It’s just a fact that if the first primar- people are poor because they’re not walk off the job Striking workers rallied at the Finance ies or caucuses were held in New York married—and not because decent-pay- Telecommunication workers in the cen- Ministry in Rome. “We want the [layoff] or California or Ohio, the outcome ing jobs are as scarce as hen’s teeth tral African country of Chad walked off the plan withdrawn and discussions to start would be different. these days. job Jan. 16 in an unlimited strike aimed at again from scratch,” union leader Stefano By following a schedule that puts At the same time, of course, Bush ousting the general manager of the pub- Pietrini said. Iowa and New Hampshire—which is had to say something about jobs, since licly owned Sotel-Chad. The strike fol- The strike comes less than three weeks actually 95 percent white—first, the his corporate cronies are laughing all lowed management’s announcement that after a Jan. 8 strike by air traffic con- capitalist political establishment is the way to the same banks that are it would cut back employee benefits. trollers shut down flights across the coun- already skewing the race for the nomi- foreclosing on jobless workers. A public resolution by the workers’ try. Air traffic controllers have been with- nation in a conservative direction. But neither Democrats nor Repub- union Synatel demanded “the uncondi- out a union contract for two years. They This is typical ruling class politics. licans have any program to deal with tional departure of the general manager, are demanding raises to keep up with Industrialization and the gobbling up the looming capitalist economic crisis the nomination of future leaders in line inflation. of farmland by agribusiness have that has made a mockery of the term with the law, and the immediate lifting of Air transport workers are not the only driven most of the population of the “recovery.” All around the world, the antisocial measures,” the French News Italian workers on the picket lines. Bus, U.S. into the areas around the big political climate is shifting to the left as Agency reported. subway and train workers in Milan cities, yet the political institutions— this bankrupt system drives millions By Jan. 19, the strikers declared victory. launched wildcat strikes Jan. 12, picking especially, of course, the U.S. Senate— into poverty while creating a new class A presidential decree released Sotel CEO up a campaign they began before the hol- are weighted to discount the views of of billionaires. The U.S. elections don’t Myaro Beramgoto from duty. these large, multinational working provide even a pale reflection of this class concentrations. gathering storm.

Bush’s election speech

n the three years since the Bush The Democratic Party responded administration took office, it has immediately by again proving it would I pillaged the working class to pour never challenge fundamental imperial- hundreds of billions of dollars yearly ist policies. It promised to steal a little into the coffers of the very rich. It has less from the workers, to give away a used the Pentagon’s war machine to little less to the rich and to gather more smash the governments of two almost allies behind the Pentagon when it defenseless nations in Asia. And it has wages wars of conquest. abused the fears arising from The only effective response to Bush’s 9/11/2001 to justify the detention of barrage of lies is coming from those thousands of mostly Arab and South who are choosing to fight back, from Asian people behind bars without legal Iraq to Palestine to anti-globalists who proceedings. met in India during the World Social For his State of the Union 2004, Forum, showing that billions around Bush offered more of the same. As it is the world are in solidarity with this an election year, he flavored the speech resistance to U.S. imperialist rule. with patriotic triumphalism and threw And here at home working people in Medicare drug coverage for sen- have the same choice: to passively iors—and drug payoffs for the pharma- allow young people to be turned into WW PHOTO: BILL HACKWELL ceutical monopolies. cannon fodder for conquest, to accept He lied a lot. He presented the tax the degradation of living standards, or cuts as putting money in the pockets of to join in the resistance. This can be to Subscribe to Workers World ordinary families, when far more is support striking workers, to rally taken out from cuts in social programs. behind immigrants demanding their SPECIAL TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION In truth, half the households in the rights, to defend those seized by the U.S. earn less than what Bush’s cabinet overgrown state power, and to fight ____ $2 for eight weeks (new subscription).. ____ $25 for one year members will average in savings from against the continued occupation of his tax cuts this year. He even defended Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and what- Name ______the lie about “weapons of mass ever other targets the Bush administra- Phone number ______destruction” used to justify the attack tion chooses. on Iraq, by claiming that Saddam On March 20, thousands will heed Address______Hussein had “plans.” This justified the the call by the ANSWER Coalition to sacrifices made by U.S. youths, he said. march in New York, Chicago, San City/State/Zip ______He of course omitted entirely the sacri- Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities Workers World Newspaper fices imposed on the Iraqi people, or in the U.S. and around the world and 55 West 17 St. NY, NY 10011....(212) 627-2994 the obvious massive resistance to the give that message. It will be the best Or use a credit card and subscribe online at: ongoing U.S. occupation and seizure of response to Bush’s State of the Union. Iraqi resources. .. www.workers.org/orders/subscribe.php www.workers.org Jan. 29, 2004 Page 11

HE WORLD U.S. pushes for By Andy McInerney ‘regime change’ in Haiti

By G. Dunkel as usual. The “general strike” made the liament has expired. Under Haitian law, North American press but the response to the opposition would have had to join the NIGERIA. The opposition to Haitian President it didn’t. councils setting up the elections. But they Jean-Bertrand Aristide may have failed in “It’s not really a strike,” said Ben Dupuy boycotted them as part of their campaign Protests against its violent attempt to prevent the celebra- on TNH, “It’s more like a lockout.” Dupuy against Aristide. Now they can claim he is tion on Jan. 1 of Haiti’s bicentennial of its is secretary general of the National ruling “undemocratically” without a legis- fuel tax grow victory over slavery and colonial rule, but Popular Party, a major party on the left in lature. Thousands of Nigerian workers and it is continuing its campaign to drive him Haiti. France, Haiti’s former colonial ruler, is their supporters took to the streets of the from power. Social tension in Haiti is growing so leading the EU efforts there. It is con- capital city of Lagos Jan. 15 to protest a Aristide was elected president for a high that many Haitians say that if Haiti cerned with maintaining its two present government tax hike on fuel. The protest second time in 2000 with 92 percent of still had an army, there would have been Caribbean colonies of Martinique and was part of a broader campaign by the the vote and has vowed to complete his at least one coup by now. Aristide dis- Guadeloupe and perhaps extending its Nigerian Labor Congress to force mandated term. He has the overwhelm- solved the army in 1995, just before his influence while the U.S. is preoccupied in President Olusegun Obasanjo to repeal ing support of the poor in a country that first term ended. the Middle East and elsewhere. the tax. has the lowest standard of living in the U.S. support for the opposition is grow- Washington has been determined to “There is a need for Nigerians to let our Western Hemisphere. At the same time, ing so open that even the Associated Press put Haiti under its complete control, get rulers know that tax is hurting most of us, he is calling for “national unity and rec- admitted on Jan. 15 that the International rid of President Aristide and install especially the masses,” NLC leader onciliation.” Republican Institute, an affiliate of the someone who will fully represent U.S. Johnson Fati told the French News The character of the opposition was Republican Party that gets funding from corporate interests. It has pursued this Agency. revealed in a lynching carried live on official government sources, is giving course ever since Aristide first won a Nigeria is a major world oil producer, Haitian National Television on Jan. 7. money to the organization headed by smashing victory over the pro-U.S. can- and one of Africa’s most developed coun- Opposition demonstrators could be seen Apaid, as well as to other Aristide oppo- didate, Marc Bazin, in 1990. That was tries. But most of the oil industry is heav- savagely beating a government supporter nents. The European Union, which is also much more than a electoral victory—it ily dependent on U.S. and European with fists, rocks, steel bars and broken bot- playing an imperialist role in Haitian pol- was a mass movement that put into giants like Chevron and Shell. tles, then throwing him 15 feet down into itics, appears to be backing the “Civil office someone the Haitian people The Nigerian union federation is mobi- a ravine. He reportedly died. (Haïti- Society” opposition group. wanted. U.S. policy since then has been lizing its members for a general strike to Progrès, Jan. 14-20) The situation among opposition groups set on reversing this defeat for U.S.- begin Jan. 21. On Jan. 19, the German While this beating was not mentioned is very fluid, with shifts and maneuvers managed “democracy” in Latin America. Press Agency quoted NLC President in the U.S. and European press, the death breaking out as the political winds move Even though Haiti is the poorest coun- Adams Oshiomhole saying, “All Nigerians of an anti-government protester, the this way and that, depending on what the try in the Western Hemisphere, economic should use the intervening period of attempt of her funeral cortege to storm the State Department or the EU says. pressure from the EU and the U.S.—shut- Monday and Tuesday to undertake large- Presidential Palace, Haiti’s White House, President George W. Bush and Secretary ting off promised aid, forbidding the scale shopping and withdraw as much and attacks on an anti-government of State Colin Powell met Aristide during Development Bank from distributing money from their bank accounts as possi- protest on Jan. 18 are all well reported. the Monterrey summit of the loans—hasn’t been enough to dislodge ble, as every sector of the economy will be Other news is also distorted. The Organization of American States in early Aristide. He still has a tremendous base of shut until the government returns to the “Group of 184,” headed by U.S.-born January and urged him to set up a govern- support among the poorest people. path of sanity.” sweatshop magnate Andy Apaid, called ment of “national reconciliation,” a plan Progressives in the United States and In June 2003, police killed 12 Nigerian for a “general strike” on Jan. 7 and 8. As that Haiti’s Catholic bishops are pushing. other developed countries who want to workers during an eight-day general strike in past “general strikes,” the gasoline sta- (State Department Press Briefing, Jan. 14) support Haiti must realize that the media against fuel price hikes. In those strikes, tions, stores and businesses controlled by An EU statement issued Jan. 15 concen- are waging a massive campaign of disin- oil workers did not shut down production. the Haitian bourgeoisie closed, while the trated on attacks on “peaceful” protesters formation against the Haitian people and But this time, the country’s two main oil rest of the country went about its business and the fact that the term for Haiti’s par- their government. workers’ unions have threatened to join the strike and shut down oil exports, according to AFX News. Hawaii: The struggle continues BOSNIA- . By Dustin Langley help of U.S. Marines, they engineered a HawaiiSolidarityCommittee-sub- New York coup. [email protected].” ...... On July 4, 1894, Sanford Dole, whose Other information on the struggle for HERZEGOVINA The People’s Video Network hosted a family held vast pineapple and sugar self-determination in Hawaii can be Jan. 17 showing of “Act of War: The plantations, announced the inauguration found at www.hawaii-nation.org. Coal miners win Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation,” at the of the Republic of Hawaii and declared In discussion after the film showing, International Action Center here in New himself president. On Aug. 12, 1898, the viewers noted the similarities between the better pay, York. A lively discussion about today’s Republic of Hawaii became the Hawaiian takeover of Hawaii and imperialist con- ongoing struggles for liberation followed. Territory, with Republic President quests of other countries, including Iraq. benefits The film describes Hawaii before the Sanford Dole appointed as the first terri- There too, the people’s rights and wellbe- Over 100 coal miners spent more than arrival of colonialists in 1778 as a very torial governor. ing are subordinated to the drive for con- three days underground in mid-January advanced civilization, with developed trol of natural resources and markets. when they took over mines near Zenica, agricultural and fishing techniques. The struggle continues The discussion ended on a forward- northwest of Sarajevo, to win better pay Because the land and resources were held More than a hundred years later, the looking note. One viewer said, “If the peo- and working conditions. Thirty-five min- in common, the people enjoyed great struggle for sovereignty continues. Jesse ple of Hawaii were able to enjoy such ers stayed in the mines after their shifts abundance, having to work only four Heiwa, a member of the Hawaii Solidarity abundance that they only had to work ended on Jan. 13. Seventy more joined hours a day to meet their needs. This left Committee and one of the organizers of four hours a day, just think how much we them the next day. time to create great works of art and to the Jan. 17 showing, said: “The struggle could do and how rich our lives would be, Miners’ union leader Mujo Prasko told explore the seas as far as 2,000 miles from for Hawaiian sovereignty continues and it with all the advances in technology, if we the Associated Press Jan. 15 that the work- home. is one that socialists everywhere should had an economy that was also based on ers were demanding salaries of $320 a All this changed with the arrival of Cap- support. Those interested can get updates common ownership of the land and month, better benefits including paid tain Cook and the European settlers who by sending an email to: means of production.” meals, and the resignations of the Mine followed. Tuberculosis and other diseases Union Board. wiped out much of the island’s population. By Jan. 17, after spending 82 hours Missionaries and other settlers pressured more than 1,000 feet below the surface, the Hawaiian people into accepting pri- Propuesta migratoria de Bush the miners declared victory. Ahmed vate ownership of land. Within decades, Hadzipasic, prime minister of the title to thousands of acres had fallen into es una trampa Muslim-Croat half of Bosnia- the hands of non-Hawaiians who built Herzegovina, announced on Jan. 16 that massive sugar plantations. Continua de pagina 12 Las latinas y los latinos en California all the miners’ demands would be met. By the mid-1800s the U.S. government miento laboral, de los inmigrantes y de los que recientemente dirigieron un gran Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the for- saw Hawaii as key to control the Pacific. progresistas en los Estados Unidos con- paro para protestar la revocación de los mer autonomous regions of Yugoslavia During the reign of Queen Liliuokalani duzcan las luchas de clase profundas que derechos de manejar así como la lucha de that was granted independence in 1994 and her brother, King Kalakau, a group of produjeron las gloriosas celebraciones del trabajadores en la industria de supermer- after purging the Serbian population. The planters and business owners seeking to Primero de Mayo y del Día Internacional cados luchando por el acceso al cuidado nationalist government is now protected control the kingdom politically and eco- de la Mujer. de la salud en Los Angeles son dos buenos by over 10,000 NATO troops. nomically formed an organization called Hay tremendos ejemplos de lucha en este ejemplos. Sus victorias serán una victoria the Committee of Safety. In 1893, with the país que podemos mirar para inspirarnos. para todos los trabajadores. Propuesta migratoria de Bush es una trampa Por Teresa Gutiérrez abuso. Mi padre murió en México el año del gobierno en la mayoría de estas indus- patrones. Va a sacar a los trabajadores pasado y yo no pude ir al funeral. Estoy trias es terriblemente inadecuado”. indocumentados de la sombra con la Una piñata vacía. Un gran regalo a los separado de mi esposa y de mis hijos. Yo La investigadora continuó diciendo que promesa de un estatus legal temporero, patrones. El nuevo programa de braceros gano menos que la mayoría de los otros un gran número de inmigrantes ni siquiera pero dejándolos en la voluntad de los Una gran cantidad de trabajadores tem- trabajadores.” podrá adherirse al programa porque traba- patrones. porales. Esclavitud. “Yo me he ganado mi ciudadanía”. jan principalmente en el sector informal de La economía de los Estados Unidos no Estas son algunas de las respuestas al la economía. Los patrones de jardineros, aguantaría una sola hora sin el trabajo de anuncio del Presidente George W. Bush de Bracero versus amnistía jornaleros, domésticos, lavadores de plato los inmigrantes. ¿Quién llevaría las comi- la nueva política sobre inmigración. Una de las partes más importantes de la y otros más no se verán inclinados a par- das, cortaría la grama, construiría las ofic- El 7 de enero, Bush propuso lo que la propuesta de Bush es un programa de tra- ticipar. inas, pintaría las uñas, picaría la lechuga, prensa capitalista ha descrito como “un bajadores temporales. Mientras que la ¿Y porqué deben hacerlo cuando las empacaría la carne, o cuidaría a los niños? cambio total en las leyes de inmigración prensa.ya ha sembrado la confusión dici- ganancias son tan grandes y la fuente del En el 2001, el Centro Hispano Pew del país.” Bush dijo en parte, “Hoy le pido endo que esto “efectivamente llega a ser un trabajo es tan vulnerable? estimó que “la fuerza laboral no autor- al Congreso que se una a mi para la programa de amnistía”. (New York Times, Fine también destacó que existe poco izada” alcanzó una suma de aproximada- aprobación de nuevas leyes migratorias Enero 7), eso está muy lejos de ser verdad. incentivo para que los trabajadores par- mente 5,3 millones de trabajadores. Esta que reflejan [cuatro] principios que La provisión de trabajador temporal de ticipen, dado que no hay ninguna garantía incluyó 700.000 trabajadores de restau- cumplen con las necesidades económicas la nueva política de Bush es como un nuevo de ciudadanía. rantes, 250.000 empleados domésticos, y de América y representan nuestros más programa de braceros. El programa resultaría en trabajadores 620.000 trabajadores de la construcción. altos ideales.” “Bracero” se refiere a una política puesta que se auto identifican, con la posibilidad, Claramente, el sistema capitalista Los principios que él dice mantener en en práctica durante la Segunda Guerra en cambio, que sean deportados al termi- depende del trabajo de los inmigrantes. alto fueron: “ 1)América debe controlar Mundial hasta la década de los 60. El pro- nar el programa de trabajadores invitados. Depende de una política migratoria que sus fronteras; 2) la nueva leyes migrato- grama permitía a trabajadores mexicanos crea una cantidad disponible de mano de rias deben servir a las necesidades venir a los Estados Unidos legalmente por Política de inmigración para la obra barata que pueda ser manipulada económicas de nuestro país; 3) no un tiempo determinado y para una indus- clase capitalista fácilmente, pagada lo menos posible, y deberíamos dar injustas recompensas a tria específica. El anuncio de Bush resultó en un tor- donde los trabajadores pueden ser impor- los inmigrantes ilegales en el proceso de El programa de braceros de la década de bellino de versiones periodísticas que se tados o deportados como requiere la ciudadanía o causar desventaja a aquellos los 40 trajo mano de obra barata para tra- referían a la política migratoria como una economía y a la voluntad de los patrones. que llegaron o esperan llegar legalmente; bajar, a merced de los patrones, en los cam- “política rota”. 4) las nuevas leyes deben proveer incen- pos de Texas y otros estados. Estuvo lleno Pero la política está lejos de ser rota. Es Solución a la política tivos para que los trabajadores extranjeros de abusos. Los trabajadores reportaban posible que carezca de suficientes fondos de Bush: Solidaridad temporales regresen permanentemente a condiciones horribles, y muy a menudo no y personal, según las opiniones de varias Detrás de la política migratoria de Bush sus países de origen después de que el recibían pago—y luego de servir su período personas..Y puede que esté ridícula e está el intento de dividir a los trabajadores. período permitido para trabajar en los casi como esclavo, se les expulsaba de los infrahumanamente burocratizada. Inevitablemente esto va a resultar en un Estados Unidos haya expirado.” Estados Unidos. De acuerdo a un ex abogado del Servicio incremento del racismo, chauvinismo y la El anuncio de Bush fue denunciado Este tipo de abusos continúa hoy. Un de Inmigración y Naturalización, por reacción contra los inmigrantes. poco después. Activistas laborales, inmi- representante de los inmigrantes dijo el 8 ejemplo, desde el año 2001 Bush ha pro- Sin duda se va a alentar un clima de grantes y sus representantes condenaron de enero que los obreros de la agricultura metido reducir los retrasos en el proce- temor entre los trabajadores nacidos en los inmediatamente la política como una anti en los Estados Unidos a menudo reportan samiento de las aplicaciones de inmi- Estados Unidos. Se va a forzar a los traba- inmigrante y pro patrón. que los patrones solo les pagan por medio gración. Pero ha ocurrido todo lo con- jadores a competir entre si por empleos en Durante semanas los representantes de día aún cuando hayan trabajado el día trario. El retraso ha crecido de 3,9 mil- un momento cuando la tasa de desempleo los inmigrantes, varias organizaciones completo. También se les dice que deben lones de casos hasta unos 6,2 millones está alta y la de subempleo es aún más alta. latinas y algunos miembros del Congreso “donar” una semana de pago para poder durante los últimos dos años. (Washing- Este clima va a favorecer a los patrones habían estado esperando ansiosamente regresar el próximo verano. ton Post del 11 de enero, 2004) que contarán con este miedo para forzar por conocer la posición de Bush sobre La nueva política de la Casa Blanca solo Y en un desarrollo peligroso, el nuevo la disminución de salarios. Si Bush y los inmigración. agravará la situación. Departamento de Seguridad de la Patria patrones prevalecen los estándares de vida El anuncio de Bush era importante para Bush dijo el 7 de enero, “Yo propongo un heredó las responsabilidades del Servicio van a caer más para los trabajadores en una reunión que tendría lugar esta sem- nuevo programa de obreros temporales de Inmigración y Naturalización. Esto ase- este país y en el resto del mundo. ana en México con el Presidente mexi- que combine a los trabajadores extranjeros gura que la inmigración se torne en una Un inmigrante contó a un periodista que cano, Vicente Fox. Como otros presiden- que quieran trabajar, con empresarios que cuestión sumamente política asociada él estaba indocumentado y tuvo un trabajo tes mexicanos previos, Fox revisa intensa- los necesiten cuando no se puedan encon- directamente con la llamada guerra con- en construcción que pagaba $10 por hora mente la política de inmigración. Más de trar americanos que llenen el puesto”. tra el terrorismo. pero lo perdió porque un inmigrante recién la mitad de los 8 a 12 millones de traba- La Casa Blanca dijo que los inmigrantes Pero ya sea que el sistema sea eficiente llegado aceptó trabajar por $8..Este inmi- jadores indocumentados en este país son podrán obtener estatus legal por tres años o no, la política de inmigración funciona grante expresó ira hacia los inmigrantes de México. y volver a solicitar una vez. Deben pagar precisamente como debe—orque repre- recién llegados, según el artículo. El plan de Bush desafía descarada- una tarifa para registrarse en el programa senta un gobierno capitalista que a su vez Esto es nada más un solo ejemplo que mente el sentimiento de los inmigrantes y sus nombres serán puestos en un banco representa la clase dominante. Es esta ilustra que la única solución a la política quienes en los últimos años se han levan- de datos nacional. clase la que últimamente establece la de los EE.UU. frente a la inmigración es la tado heroicamente contra décadas de “Este programa espera que los obreros política sobre la inmigración, la guerra de organizar. La solución es librar una explotación diciendo: “Basta ya”. Como regresen permanentemente a sus países contra Irak, y todas las demás cuestiones. campaña independiente de solidaridad nunca antes, desde California a Illinois y después que su período de trabajo en los Esta es la clase que no respeta ninguna entre todos los trabajadores. Nueva York, los inmigrantes están Estados Unidos haya expirado,” dijo Bush. frontera nacional. Es libre de andar por En vez de que los trabajadores estén cambiando el rostro del movimiento lab- Según reportó el diario The New York todo el planeta creando las clases de confrontándose uno contra el otro—por oral organizándose para defender sus Times, “Un trabajador indocumentado y el condiciones económicas y sociales que nacionalidad, por país de origen, por su intereses. patrón tendrán que solicitar el permiso fuerzan a los trabajadores a venir aquí. orientación sexual, etc.—la solución es la El anuncio de Bush es especialmente conjuntamente, con el patrón sirviendo Bush declaró que es incorrecto que “los de organizar un movimiento multina- una bofetada a la histórica manifestación como garante del nuevo trabajador”. empresarios utilicen el mercado ilegal de cional para demandar un fin a la del 4 de octubre de Libertad para los Janice Fine, investigadora del Instituto trabajo”. Pero no es el “mercado de tra- explotación una vez por todas, un Obreros Inmigrantes en Queens, N.Y. de Política Económica, escribió en el diario bajo” que es ilegal. movimiento que declare que no hay fron- Más de 100.000 inmigrantes partici- Boston Globe el 11 de enero que una de las La verdad es que los miles de empresar- teras en la lucha obrera. paron ese día—arriesgando deportación y razones por la cual el plan de Bush es ios y las corporaciones multinacionales Ahora el movimiento trabajador y pro- pérdida de salarios y empleos—para exi- extremadamente errado es que los impunes que emplean trabajadores ile- gresista en los Estados Unidos debe salir gir derechos y dignidad. patrones logran mucho poder. gales jamás van a cerrar los talleres súper a las calles en cifras récord y demandar El lema principal del 4 de octubre fue la Fine reportó en un estudio nacional que explotadores o comenzar voluntariamente una amnistía para todos los inmigrantes. amnistía. En su plan de inmigración, ella condujo y que documenta los mismos a pagar un salario más alto. Esta es la base Debe demandar un incremento del salario Bush enfáticamente se pronunció contra abusos que “depresivamente” suceden una fundamental del sistema de ganancias. mínimo así como empleos para todos. esta demanda. y otra vez en todo el país: “Salarios no paga- El sistema capitalista—al que sólo le Protegiendo los derechos soberanos de las Bush dijo, “Yo me opongo a la amnistía, dos, tiempo extra forzado, altas tasas de interesan la guerra imperialista y las naciones de Latinoamérica, África, Asia y que pone a los trabajadores indocumen- accidentes de trabajo, discriminación, ganancias—tiene que tener a su disposi- del Caribe debe ser la base para que las tados en un camino automático hacia la hostigamiento sexual y despidos injustos. ción la posibilidad de súper explotar a los naciones oprimidas estén libres de la ciudadanía.” Los trabajadores que se quejan son despe- inmigrantes. Hay muchas ganancias por intervención imperialista y del Fondo Un obrero mexicano en la ciudad de didos y puestos en listas Los empresarios extraer de su fuerza de trabajo. Monetario Internacional. Nueva York dijo después del anuncio de ignoran rutinariamente las regulaciones Es por esto que la política sobre la inmi- Ha llegado la hora para que el movi- Bush: “Yo he sufrido muchos años de del gobierno, y el sistema de observación gración de Bush es un regalo para los Continua a pagina 11