Vietnam vets march ...... 3 TH£ Support grows for June 12 rally. .4 Nuclear weapons & antiwar fight ...... 8

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 46/NO. 21 JUNE 4,1982 75 CENTS Reagan deepens U.S. role in British war on Argentina Antiwar Pentagon protest rushes arms in London to Royal Navy

The U.S. capitalist press is trying to BY FRED MURPHY convince American workers that there As three more British warships were is 100 percent support in Britain for reported sinking in the South Atlantic, Thatcher's war against Argentina. No­ Washington declared it was increasing thing could be further from the truth: military aid to Margaret Thatcher's opposition is mounting in the British bloody invasion of the Malvinas Islands. labor movement, despite government ef­ The U.S. government has now admit­ forts to intimidate antiwar unionists. ted it is shipping Sidewinder air-to-air More than 8,000 people turned out in missiles and other ammunition to the London May 23 to demonstrate against British, according to the May 26 New the imperialist war in the Malvinas. Y ark Times. The Times said that British During the demonstration, police broad­ forces "were consuming missiles and cast warnings to the marchers not to other ammunition at a high rate to fight chant "provocative slogans." They off attacks by Argentine aircraft." Antiwar march in Manchester, England, on May 1 threatened to arrest those they deemed White House officials also "suggest­ provocative for "breech of the peace." ed" to the Times that they were consid­ Despite such intimidation, the de­ ering supplying Britain with "more ad­ monstration went ahead as planned. vanced missiles." Tony Benn, the leader of the Labour While much of the actual U.S. invol­ U.S. war on Nicaragua: Party's left wing, told the crowd at vement is still kept a secret from the Trafalgar Square that their action, and American people, it is clear that the others like it taking place around the U.S. rulers intend to do everything pos­ the cover-up continues country, were "an antidote to the poison sible to help the British imperialists res­ of nationalism and hate released in our tore their colonial grip on the Malvinas society by the war." BY MICHAEL BAUMANN ragua. These include businessman Al­ and deal a sharp blow to the Argentine MANAGUA - "Listen, companero. fonso Robelo, leader of the so-called Ni­ Other speakers at the demonstration workers and peasants. · They came around 9:30 in the morning. caraguan Democratic Movement included Fire Brigades President Bill "Not only does Britain urgently need "They began by shouting, 'Give up, or (MDN), the main capitalist outfit. Dean, Tobacco Workers Union General immediate military equipment and in­ you're going to die!'" Along with several of his associates, Secretary Terry Marsland, and Rafael And then the counterrevolutionaries Runco, a former Argentine political pris­ telligence assistance, but it also needs Robelo has now openly gone over to the U.S. diplomatic backing over the long opened fire. side of armed counterrevolution. In vo­ oner. haul to en~ure the islands have the kind Alberto Reyes was one of the lucky In Edinburgh, hospital worker Kevin luntary "exile" abroad, he has joined of future Britain can accept," the Wall ones. A small farmer and head of the lo­ Holmes told 2,000 antiwar de­ forces with ex-Sandinista Eden Pastora, Street Journal said May 25. cal militia unit in the little town of El who has publicly called for overturning monstrators: "We are not at war with Guabo in central Nicaragua, he and his Nicaragua's government. the Argentine people. We are at war "U.S. backing 'matters more and more 14-year-old daughter held off the terror More than 60 clashes between coun­ with Mrs. Thatcher. This is the war we as time goes on,' says Col. Jonathan Al­ squad during a two-hour gun battle May terrevolutionary forces and the Sandi­ should all be fighting." ford of the [British] International Insti­ tute for Strategic Studies. 'We would 6. Although he and his family· were nista military have taken place so far Holmes appealed for support to the feel totally isolated without U.S. sup­ eventually able to slip out the back way, this year- that is, since Reagan put in­ fight for higher wages now being or­ port.'" their house and all their belongings to effect his $19 million CIA program to ganized by health service workers in Reagan officials coupled their an­ were burned to the ground. "destablize" Nicaragua. Britain. Both the health workers and nouncement of more aid to Britain with You'll find no word of this in major Most attacks have been along the rail workers have come under attack for U.S. newspapers. It has never been re­ Honduran border, but some have taken carrying out strikes during the war. threats against the Soviet Union, Cuba, and other Latin American nations. De­ portedon U.S. radio or TV. place deep inside the country, and at They have been accused of "treachery" But the attack on the home of Alberto least three along the southern border by the Tory press. fense Department spokesman Benjamin Welles declared that "any extracontin­ Reyes is part of an undeclared war with Costa Rica, including one May 20 Demonstrations · also took place in ental involvement in the Falklands against Nicaragua that is being organ­ Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 2 ized and directed by the White Ho\).Se. would be viewed seriously by this ad­ It was never voted on by Congress or ministration." approved by the American people. Welles specifically mentioned the So­ Yet scores of Nicaraguans have been Iran wins major battle in Iraq war viet Union, and Pentagon officials as­ killed, hundreds wounded. One whole sured reporters the warning was meant section of the country, the area along BY SUZANNE HAIG bilizations to send volunteers to the for any "outside interference." the northeast border with Honduras AND FRED MURPHY front. But the war in the South Atlantic is where the Miskitu Indians live, has had The streets of Tehran broke into cele­ Khorramshahr was seized by the Ira­ precisely about "outside interference"­ to be evacuated because it could not be bration May 24 as news arrived that qis in the early days of the war. The by the British imperialists, who have in­ defended. Iranian troopE! had liberated the city of fierce resistance its citizens put llp to vaded Argentine territory, and by their Most of these attacks are mounted by Khorramshahr in Khuzestan province. the Iraqi occupation led Iranians tore­ partners in the United States, who are forces based in camps locatedAust across This was the last major stronghold of name it Khuninshahr, or "city of blood." escalating their own involvement. the border with Honduras. There, some Iraqi troops in the war against Iran. The Iraqi retreat in the first weeks of 4,000 to 5,000 counterrevolutionaries. Upon hearing the news, Iranians May was only the latest in a series of The British rulers had hoped for a are permanently based. rushed to stores to buy candy and cook­ military setbacks for the Baghdad re­ quick retreat by the Argentine regime These opponents of the 1979 revolu­ ies as gifts for friends celebrating the gime headed by President Saddam Hus­ in face of intense military, economic, tion that overthrew U.S.-backed dicta­ victory. Dancing began in the streets. sein. These began last September when and diplomatic·pressure. Instead, con­ tor Anastasio Somoza are trained, Drivers turned on their car lights and Iran's army broke the siege of Abadan, a fronted at home with massive expres­ armed, and paid by the U.S. govern- beeped their horns. key city just south ofKhorramshahr. In sions of anti-imperialist sentiment, the ment. At 9 p.m. tens of thousands of Tehran November, the Iraqis were routed from junta stood firm on its demand that Lon­ Most are former members ofSomoza's residents went up on their rooftops and the border town of Bostan and 70 adja­ don give up its 149-year-old colonial hated National Guard. Others have chanted ''God is great!" cent villages. And in late March, with rule over the Malvinas Islands. been recruited from military forces The celebration was especially big in an offensive marking the Iranian New As a result, the conflict has escalated throughout Latin America. south Tehran, the working-class area of Year, combined army, Revolutionary into a major confrontation between In recent months they have been the city. Many of the soldiers killed in Guard, and volunteer militia forces semicolonial Latin America and the im­ joined by representatives of capitalist the war had come from south Tehran. drove the Iraqi occupiers from an 860- perialist powers. political formations based inside Nica- The. population there had continual mo- Continued on Page 5 Continued on Page 2 Reagan escalates military aid to Thatcher

Continued from Page 1 London] say similar situations could de­ the British Labor Party have criminal­ giil, the Liverpool Trades Council, the "Continental solidarity has taken mand that the United States or France ly defaulted on their elementary duty to Fire Brigades Union, and others. firm hold around the contention that a make commitments outside Western oppose a war that can only bring further Reflecting this growing rejection of rich European nation is punishing a Europe.... hardship to British workers. Despite Thatcher's war by the trade unions are poor Latin one," a New York Ti'mes dis­ "The diversion of much of the British this, there are growing signs of opposi­ the representatives of the left wing of patch from Brazil said May 22. armed forces creates a serious situation, tion to the war inside the working class the Labor Party led by member ofP&rli-/ Demonstrations in solidarity with Ar­ alliance planners agreed. But more in Britain. ament Tony Benn. Thirty-three Labor gentina have . taken place in various frightening prospects for them are out­ On May 19, for example, the annual MPs voted against a motion to support Latin American countries, including a breaks of iimited. war;; in Southwest ·conference of the Associated Society of Thatcher's policies that was presented march of some 200,000 persons in Lima, Asia, Africa or Southwest Asia. In some Locomotive Engineers and Firemen May 20. Three of these were front-bench Peru, on M~y 12. Latin American feder· eases, they say, these would demand (ASLEF) voted to demand the recall of leaders of the Labor Party not previous­ ations of banking and communications Amencan or British intervention." the British t1eet from the South Atlan­ ly identified with the left wing, whom workers have called for boycotts of Brit­ U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Wein­ tic. The Times of London described·this Foot and Healey are now threatening to ish business. The revolutionary govem- berger luu made this point explicitly to as "a further demonstration of the Brit­ remove. . ments of Cuba and Nicaragua have de­ his 'Nest European counterparts, the ish trade union movement's hostility to Thus the image of near-unanimous clared their solidarity with the Argen­ New York Times reported May 16. the Government's handling of the Falk­ support in Britain for the war against tine people and have even offered to pro­ "Mr. Weinberger, the officials said. lands Islands crisis." Argentina that the imperialist news vide military aid if requested. has been pointing to the crisis in the ASLEF General Secretary Ray Buck­ media have presented is false. But be­ Washington is already providing Lon­ South Atlantic to reinforce the Adminis­ ton told the Times, "Delegates continu­ cause of the Tories' jingoistic campaign don with a staging area on Ascension Is­ tration's contention that members of the ally stressed the fact that the over-rid­ and the default of the Labor Party's top land in the mid-Atlantic, logistics and North Atlantic alliance have interests ing need was for the promotion of world leadership, "the fears and reservations intelligence support, KC-135 tanker air­ outside the boundaries of NATO and peace which should not be lost sight ofin of many Britons about this war have not craft with U.S. pilots, and possibly ad­ must be ready to send forces to protect waves of national fervour." even been articulated, let alone debat­ vanced naval reconnaissance planes, al­ those interests." The rail workers' resolution comes ed," British journalist John Pilger wrote so U.S.-piloted. A ll.st of additional wea­ U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. from a union that has been engaged in a in the May 21 New York Times. pons and equipment that has been Thomas Hayward criticized the British struggle with the Tory government over "The danger for Mrs. Thatcher and .drawn up by the Pentagon for rapid government May 20 for its "significant wages. It indicates the anger in the her war party," Pilger said, "is that pub­ shipment to Ascension Island includes error in judgment" in cutting back the working class over Thatcher's readiness lic support is likely to be withdrawn surface-to-air missiles, land-based rad­ size of the Royal Navy in recent years. to spend billions on war while denying suddenly when the British body-bags ar, portable fuel tanks for fighter jets, Hayward said London should have sent the most basic needs of working people. start to come home in ever-increasing ammunition, and engineering equip­ an even bigger task force to the South Opposition to the war has also come numbers." ment, the New York Times reported Atlantic.· from coal miners' leader Arthur Scar- From Intercontinental Press May 21. According to the May 22 New York The U.S. imperialists are looking out Times, HaY-ward "suggested that he for their own interests by backing up would have deployed a battle group of at .1 ,000 at N.Y. antiwar demonstration their allies in Britain. They want to help least two, and probably three, nuclear­ London ''teach a lesson" to the oppressed powered aircraft carriers with nearly BY STEVE BRIDE Centro de Ia Raza, and the Socialist peoples throughout the semicolonial 300 high-performance att.ack planes NEWYORK-Acrowdofaboutl,OOO Workers Party. world. They want to demonstrate to aboard. They would have been guarded marched through a steady rain here May Among the chants that went up from working people in the United States and by cruisers, destroyers, frigates and sub­ 23 to demand that Britain and the picket line were "British hands off Western Europe that military might marines, with the battle group includ­ Washington end their colonial war on Argentina! No U.S. intervention!" and will be used abroad to defend imperial­ ing a Marine amphibious force of20,000 Argentina. "British out of the Malvinas, U.S. out of ist interests, even in defiance of massive troops." Th~ march went to the United Na­ El Salvador!" antiwar sentiment. Operations of this scope are not the tions, where demonstrators sang the The task is turning out to be not as ea­ fantasies of a few overheated members Argentine national anthem and voiced sy as Reagan and Thatcher had hoped. of the Pentagon's general staff who long their solidarity with that country's bat­ British protests The British Defense Ministry has al­ for the days before the anti-Vietnam tle to reclaim the Malvinas Islands. ready admitted the loss of two warships War movement changed the face ofU.S. Continued from Page 1 The mostly Argentine crowd was and severe damage to a third, the down­ politics. They are central to Washing­ Glasgow, where 1,500 turned out, and ing of at least four Harrier jet fighters ton's plans for halting the spread of anti­ joined in the protest by supporters of in Manchester, Leeds, and Nottingham, Ireland's fight against British col­ and nine helicopters, and the death of70 imperialist and revolutionary struggles each of which saw protests of about 500. onialism. personnel. in Central America, the Middle East, These actions, along with the one in On May 26 it was announced that southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and Earlier, the crowd had rallied at the London, were the biggest yet in opposi­ another British destroyer had been elsewhere. edge of Centr.al Park in midtown Man­ tion to the war on Argentina. sunk, as well as a frigate and a supply Thatcher's war against Argentina has hattan, in front of statues ofLatin Amer­ Dick Withecombe, a representative of ship. become a crucial test Qf the imperialists' ican liberators Jose de San Martin and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarma­ Imperialist politicians and ml.litary ability to carry out such foreign inter­ Simon Bolivar. San Martin in 1816 freed ment, told the demonstrators in Man­ figures are using the South Atlantic ventions. In the midst of a deep econom­ Argentina from Spanish rule, then chester that the soldiers and sailors in conflict to press their propaganda for a ic crisis that has brought ma8sive unem­ joined with Bolivar to liberate most the South Atlantic are "losing their lives major buildup in conventional military­ ployment and mounting social discon­ other Latin American countries. · in a war of hypocrisy, lies, and forces. New York Times military ana­ te:f!t and political radicalization, Elsewhere, 40 people picketed British bloodshed." lyst Drew Middleton pointed April 30 to Thatcher has sent thousands of work­ Airways in Seattle May 17. The protest Withecombe is a supporter of Socialist some of the "lessons" NATO officials are ing-class youth to face possible death in there was sponsored by the Committee Challenge, British sister publication of drawing from the war: an imperialist war. in Solidarity with the people of Argen­ the Militant. Socialist Challenge suppor­ "Officials at NA'J'O headquarters in Thatcher has managed to get away tina, and endorsed by Nicaraguan and ters played a leading role in organizing Brussels and at the Defense Ministry [in with this so far because the leaders of Guatemalan solidarity committees, El the demonstrations.

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2 ·The Militant June 4,1982 Vietnam vets say: 'No to unjust wars'

BY OSBORNE HART plained that they came to the nation's WASHINGTON, D.C. -"We're not capital to "talk about El Salvador, going to follow Exxon to El Salvador, Agent Orange, nuclear war" and other Nicaragua - not to any country fight­ issues concerning not only vets, but ing for self-determination," said Viet­ everyone in this country. nam veteran Walter Klemps. "We're here to demand decent health "We don't want to fight in any unjust care for everyone," Perry said. "Every­ wars anymore," Klemps declared. He body in this country has a right to a job." was speaking at a May 15 rally of vete­ Jobs, income, and benefits for vets rans held here at the construction site of and their families were the focus of lob­ the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. bying efforts and pickets at the various The action was part of a series of pro­ government agencies. tests held May 12-15, organized by the George Narrow, a Black vet who Vietnam Veterans Against the War and served in Vietnam in 1968-69, told the called "Operation Dewey Canyon IV." Militant he is demanding "decent health "No intervention in El Salvador" and care for vets to treat Agent Orange ex­ "No more Vietnams" were central posure." Narrow- an unemployed fa­ themes for the more than 200 vets and ther of eight-receives no benefits from their families, representing 20 vet or­ the Veterans Administration. ganizations, several unions, and peace The VV A W estimates that there are groups, who traveled here from 40 cit­ 719,000 jobless Vietnam vets. In the ies. special demonstration issue of the Vete­ May 15 march by veterans in Washington, D.C. "We weren't fighting [in Vietnam] for ran, the VV A W reports that of those un­ freedom and democracy," Klemp told employed vets, "250,000-plus are be­ the crowd. "We know better. It was for tween 30 and 35" years old. ITT, Dow, and the Du Ponts. We were Aside from the general economic cri­ Disabled war veterans mercenaries for the whole Fortune 500 sis, the VV A W attributes some of the. list." unemployment to the "less than honora­ Prior to the rally, the vets conducted a ble" discharge given many by the mil­ wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington itary. The VVA W demands retroactive organize in Nicaragua Cemetery. "single type discharges" for all vets that As the vets marched from Arlington simply states they served. This will re­ BY JANE HARRIS ting out a book on self-care. to the rally site carrying "No draft, No move from the military the power to MANAGUA, Nicaragua- There are Was there anything they wanted to war" banners and chanting "Test, treat, judge a person's life and decree that a some 10,000 permanently injured vete­ say to Vietnam vets? compensate Agent Orange!" taxi driv­ particular individual will suffer under a rans of the Nicaraguan revolution "Yes," said Freddy Trejos. "Tell them ers, tourists, and joggers raised fists and bad discharge for the rest of his life. against dictator Anastasio Somoza. that if today they have a disability from responded with shouts of "Right on!" Vets are also calling for treatment These veterans have formed the Or­ a struggle that can't be compared with The four days of protests included: and compensation for Agent Orange vic­ ganization of the Revolutionary Dis­ ours, that didn't benefit them - they congressional lobbying; a candle-light tims and their children. The chemical abled. About 20 vets have also organ­ still have the opportunity to fight a dif­ procession at the White House; picket defoliant used in Vietnam is the subject ized themselves into the Ernesto Che ferent kind of fight - a fight that will lines at the Veterans Administration, of several law suits pending against Guevara Platoon, to help militarily de­ benefit them. Office of Budget and Management, and government and chemical corporations. fend the country from counterrevoution­ "Here we feel proud even though we Department of the Interior. The actions The VVA W and other veteran groups ary attack. have physical limitations. We had to culminated with a rally on the Capitol plan to return to Washington on No­ "We worked out equivalents for all pay for liberty and it can be expensive. steps. vember 11 for a demonstration during the military drill orders," explained Fe­ Even though we have some disabilities, National Association of Concerned the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans lipe Paz, who helps coordinate the work we're still continuing the process.'' Vets representative Bruce Perry ex- Memorial. of the group, many of whose members are in wheelchairs. "Left! Right! Atten­ tion! The members figured out what was the best way to roll out of their wheel­ U.S.-backed raids on Nicaragua continue chairs and fall into firing position." The revolutionary disabled were inte­ Continued from Page 1 . That same day, an eight-hour fire ours even exists any longer, because the gral to the Sandinista movement long in which a Sandinista border guard was fight occurred as some 120 counterrevo­ bands set out to destroy and rob every before they were able to form their or­ killed. lutionaries tried to overrun the Playa thing." ganization in 1980. Adding to tension along the southern Hermosa border post. Sixty returned at The raids are clearly growing increas­ "There were companeros who did border was a military "state of alert" de­ dawn May 15 in another attempt, but ingly bold. clandestine work. There were those who clared by Costa Rica following the most were driven back across the border after According to Commander Lenin Cer­ did propaganda work, those who made recent clash, based on rumors circulated a 10-hour battle. na, head of State Security, this appears arms, and those who delivered mail. by associates of Pastora that Nicara­ • May 18. In San Marcos, a small to be the result of the CIA decision to They went around by wheelchair and guan troops had crossed the border. town near Matagalpa, a 21-year-old seek unification of the various bands, so tucked their pistols under the pillow of The Costa Rican government later ad­ grade school teacher was gunned down as to jncrease their "capacity to strike their chairs," Paz said. mitted it had "no information" on the as he returned home from a day's volun­ effectively." And being handicapped was no pro­ supposed incursion, and ordered Pastora teer work in the campaign to vaccinate Much bigger raids are expected soon, tection from Somoza's National Guard, deported from the country. all Nicaraguan children against polio. Cerna said in a recent interview. For­ including for a local Sandinista poet In Nicaragua, armed confrontations His roommate, an activist in the local eign pilots - mercenaries recruited by who, at a very early age, became a quad­ with the counterrevolutionaries just Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UN­ the CIA - have begun appearing in. raplegic. The National Guard threw this month have included: AG), was also murdered. Honduras and Costa Rica, signaling him in jail and tortured him unmerci­ • May 2-3. A gang that had been op­ The choice of victims in such attacks preparations for further escalation of fully. erating since October, terrorizing the is not accidental. the undeclared war. Families tied to the Somoza clan area near the northern port of Corinto, Victor Guevara, a member of the re­ made a quick beeline for Miami after was captured by security forces. Identi­ serves and one of the survivors of the the revolution, leaving behind a number fying themselves as members of the Playa Hermosa raid, pointed out that of attractive homes. Two such homes "Anti-Communist Revolutionary Bri­ the counterrevolutionaries "seek out have been transformed into a headquar­ gade" (BRAC), they were stocked with our best people, strike them down, and ters for the organization and a training leaflets and periodicals published by torture them. They want to sow terror center for the disabled. counterrevolutionaries based in Miami and lower our morale. But they won't A lot of activity is organized out of and Honduras. succeed." these two homes. Some of the center's • May 4-5. On the Atlantic side ofthe Vidal Rosales Ramos, a 22-year-old members created a cultural brigade that country, in Zelaya Province, a unit of farmer and militia member wounded in rehearses there and often performs at 120 counterrevolutionaries attacked the the raid on Alamikamba, expressed sim­ Sandinista Defense Committee meet­ small, isolated town of Alamikamba, ilar determination from his hospital ings. killing one soldier and wounding two. bed. What used to serve as a front room of Sandinista reinforcements sent in to "My family and I worked a small piece one house is now used as a wheelchair pursue the band broke it up, killing 20. of land in another area for a while," he repair workshop. The vets' basketball • May 6-7. In a two-day clash near said. "But there the counterrevolution­ team is busy gearing up for a competi­ Matagalpa, in the center of the country, ary bands stole our crops, kidnapped tion with a Costa Rican team. The vets a recently formed band was broken up peasants, and raped the women. My own are also working with the army to figure by the army. Five counterrevo­ father was once kidnapped by them, but out how they can further aid the coun­ lutionaries were killed in the fighting, managed to escape. We never agreed try's defense efforts. eight were captured. with them, which is why they hated us. Several ministries have come togeth­ • May 14-15. Three major attacks So we came to Alamikamba, where I er to form the National Council of Inte­ took place near the Honduran border. In joined the local militia unit. gral Rehabilitation (CONARI), which a May 14 ambush on a military convoy a "I was wounded," he said, pointing to attends to disabled vets' special health, few kilometers south of the boundary the bandage across his abdomen. "But education, and job needs. The vets them­ line, four were killed. One of them was I'm going to return to the militia be­

selves place particular emphasis on Andres Valle Gutierrez, a journalist cause all of us who have been victims of MilitanUMichaell!_a~.mumn their ability to independently take care heading toward the frontier to film a TV the bands have to fight back to win our Sandinista soldiers at Los Planes of themselves. To that end, they're put- documentary on the border attacks. homes back - although I don't know if post near Honduran border.

June 4, 1982 The Militant I -SELLING. THE SOCIALIST PRESS------Over the top sion against Argentina. In one on the gains made in that suc­ day, two teams of salespeople in cessful effort by widely circulat­ SALES SCOREBOARD in Phoenix garment districts in Hoboken, ing the Militant and PM. N.J., and Manhattan sold 32 pa­ In Lansing-; a city where "The Phoenix branch is hot. pers - 15 PMs and 17 Mil­ many signatures were ga­ (Militant issue #19, PM issue #8) We're way ahead, we hit the itants. thered, a campaign table was Militant PM Total spot. Together we will lead the Martin Koppel reports that he set up and 15 copies of the Mil­ Area 'Goal/Sold Goal/Sold Goal/Sold % nation, but it starts with partici­ introduced the papers by saying itant were sold. pation." So goes an excerpt from that they support Argentina's Selling to auto workers is Phoenix 90/106 45/108 135/214 159 Atlanta 100/108 a poem the branch of the Social­ struggle against Britain. He got another goal of the sales drive 0/0 100/108 108 Iron Range 50/53 0/0 50/53 106 ist Workers Party in Phoenix into a number of discussions. in Detroit. Last week, nine pa­ St.Louis 90/95 0/0 90/95 106 has composed as it continues to One group of people asked why pers were sold at the River Baltimore 110/114 0/1 110/115 105 surpass its goal each week of the the U.S. was supporting Bri­ Rouge Ford plant; two of these Manhattan 135/110 30/60 165/170 103 sales drive. tain. Koppel explained that the were PMs sold on the basis of Lincoln 40/41 0/0 40/41 103 They see sa,les of the revolu­ U.S. government always sup­ the paper's support to Argenti­ Schenectady 90/92 0/0 90/92 102 tionary press as a way of fight­ ported oppressors. They nodded, na against British colonial ag­ Salt Lake City 90/87 5/10 95/97 102 ing back - against Washing­ and chipped in to buy a copy of gression. Birmingham 90/91 0/0 90/91 101 ton's war in Central America the Militant. .Indianapolis 75/75 0/0 75175 100 and against the war at home on Newark 120/114 20/26 140/140 100 our democratic rights and living Militant at Seattle 80/77 3/2 83/79 95 standards. Petitioning in Twin Cities 135/116 5/14 140/130 93 Following up on the success of plant gates Louisville 80/72 0/0 80/72 90 North Carolina Portland 70/58 the tour of Hector Marroquin, a Both the Baltimore and St. 0/0 70/58 83 socialist activist fighting for Brooklyn 140/102 30/21 170/123 72 In Winston-Salem, N.C. sup­ Louis branches report consist­ Tucson 30/22 20/14 50/36 72 political asylum and against de­ porters of the SWP campaign of ently high plant gate sales. Two portation, and on the outrage in Detroit 115/83 5/2 120/85 71 Meryl Lynn Farber for U.S. weeks ago, socialists in Balti­ Kansas City 105/72 5/5 110/77 70 Phoenix over Immigration Congress have been on a drive more organized 12 plant gate Denver 80/57 5/1 85/58 68 agents' detention of Marroquin to collect 5,000 signatures to sales, netting a total of 37 pa­ Wash., D.C. 70/42 20/16 90/58 64 May 7 in nearby Tempe, Phoe­ place Farber on the ballot. pers. These papers were sold to Cincinnati 70/42 0/0 70/42 60 nix socialists mobilized to sell Petitioning at the Northside workers in the garment indus­ Toledo 50/28 0/0 50/28 56 the Militant and its Spanish­ shopping center where regular try, in steel, rail, auto, and to Albuquerque 50/28 10/5 60/33 55 language sister publication Militant sales have occurred, machinists. Philadelphia 140/84 15/0 155/84 54 Milwaukee 90/46 10/5 100/51 51 Perspectiva Mundial. In just one they found that people eagerly Again this week, they sold 21 week, they sold 214 papers - Cleveland 65/34 10/4 75/38 51 signed the petitions when they papers in eight different sales; Los Angeles 140/44 25/26 165/70 42 106 Militants and 108 PMs. learned that Farber agreed with the largest amount to rail Many of the PMs were sold to Miami 60/15 10/13 70/28 40 the Militant's views and that workers. Morgantown 90/34 0/0 90/34 38 undocumented workers and oth­ the Militant was her campaign One of the aids that the Chicago 125/35 15/17 140/52 37 . er Latinos at grocery stores in newspaper. branch uses to help familiarize Boston 140/52 10/2 150/54 36 South Phoenix, at a furniture workers with the Militant is to San Antonio* 35/14 15/2 50/16 32 factory, and at a Motorola plant. reprint articles from the Mil­ Harrisburg 50/15 0/0 50/15 30 Campaigning in itant about issues facing partic­ Charleston* 50/14 0/0 50/14 28 ular unions. These reprints also San Jose 60/20 20/2 80/22 28 Garment workers Piedmont* 85/20 0/0 85/20 24 Michigan include a subscription form. San Diego 40/10 5/0 45/10 22 and Malvinas In St. Louis, over 10 papers Dallas* 25/7 15/0 40/7 18 Socialists in Detroit spent the are consistently sold at McDon­ Totals 3,985/2,329 398/356 4,383/2,685 61 Newark .salespeople are find­ first part of the sales drive col­ nell Douglas. The regular coal ing a lot of interest on the part of lecting thousands of signatures mine sale continues to be a suc­ Areas not reporting: Gary, Houston*, New Orleans, Oakland, garment workers in the Militant to place candidate Tim Craine cess, with eight papers sold this Pittsburgh, Price, San Francisco, Tidewater and PM's coverage and explana- on the state ballot. pastweek. · *Petitioning to put socialist candidates on the ballot. '- tions of the U.S.-British aggres- Now they were following up -NANCY ROSENSTOCK June 12 organizers predict big turnout

BY JIM GOTESKY Cagan estimates that people are or­ rally at the. Great Lawn. munities-hardest hit by the cutbacks." Confirmed speakers at the rally in­ NEW YORK- A very big turnout is ganizing in 500 cities for the demonstra­ The Third World and Progressive clude Coretta Scott King; Monsignor expected for the June 12 demonstration tion. Peoples Coalition contingent will assem­ Bruce Kent of the Committee for a Nu­ that will coincide with the UN disarma­ There will also be a large interna­ ble at 9 a.m. on 48th Street between 1st clear Disarmament in Great Britain; ment conference. tional participation in the march and and 2nd avenues. According to Leslie Cagan, a principal rally. Up to 10,000 people are expected Roman Bedor of the Committee for a organizer for the June 12 Rally Commit­ from other countries. Nuclear Free Pacific; Cleveland Robin­ The Committee in Solidarity with the tee, more than 1,500 buses are expected A mass Japanese delegation will pre­ son of the Coalition of Black Trade Un­ People of El Salvador (CISPES) is or­ from around the country. sent to the United Nations a mammoth ionists; Rev. Herbert Daughtry of the ganizing a march contingent focusing Boston already has 150 buses slated, petition bearing the signatures of 35 National Black United Front; former on the demand for U.S. hands off El and 125 are scheduled from Philadel­ million Japanese appealing against nu­ congressmember Bella Abzug; Yolanda Salvador. The committee is also prepar­ phia. Long Island, N.Y., activists will be clear weapons. Sanchez of Hispanics for Survival and ing a special June 12 leaflet explaining using six trains. There will be two char­ Marchers will assemble in the area Disarmament; Norma Becker, chair of the struggle of the Salvadoran people. ter flights from Minneapolis and bicycle immediately north of the United Na­ the War Resisters League; and Randy On June 11, the evening before the contingents are expected from Forsberg of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze tions in Manhattan and at 10 a.m. will demonstration, a speakout is being or­ Washington, D.C., and western Mas­ begin marching past the UN and then Campaign. ganized against U.S. intervention in the sachusetts. proceed across to Central Park for a Invited speakers include ,Guillermo Ungo of El Salvador's Revolutionary Third World. Sponsored by the Third Democratic Front; a representative of World and Progressive Peoples Coali­ tion, the meeting will feature speakers We Demand: the Grenadian government; Douglas Fraser, president of the United Auto from the Revolutionary Democratic Unconditional U.S. Workers; William Winpisinger, presi­ Front of El Salvador and supporters of dent of the International Association of the revolutionary governments of Gre­ Disarmament Machinists; Carlos Zen6n of the Associ­ nada and Nicaragua. ation of Vieques Fishermen which is Labor participation is growing. Victor • Redirect resources from the mlllt..-y to mMI human fighting to end U.S. military use of that needs especially to. minority communlt... -hardest Gottbaum, executive director of District hit by the cutbacks Puerto Rican island; and a representa­ Council 37 of the American Federation tive ofthe American Indian Movement. • No U.S. Intervention In Asia, Afrlce, the Middle East, of State, County & Municipal Employees Latin America, and the Caribbean Representatives of the Japanese anti­ announced formation of a steering com­ nuclear movement and others are also mittee of major union officials who have June 12-U.N. Special expected to speak. pledged to bring out their members for Session on Disarmament The work of publicizing the action is a labor contingent. U.N. Plaza- Central Park (New York) expanding. Posters are being distributed At a May 15 state conference, the New and activists have already dispersed Jersey National Organization for 300,000 leaflets. Women adopted a resolution endorsing Thousands of special posters and leaf­ the demonstration and pledging a lets are being distributed by the Third strong, visible NOW contingent. They World and Progressive Peoples Coali­ invited others to join the contingent, tion, Hispanics for Survival and Disar­ which will assemble at 10 a.m. at Broad­ mament, the Afro-American Coordinat­ way and 58th Street before proceeding ing Committee, and the Asian-Amer­ to the UN. ican Caucus for Disarmament. The leaflets demand: "Unconditional Subscribe to Perspectiua Mundial, biweekly, U.S. Disarmament"; "No U.S. interven­ Spanish-language sister publication of the tion in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin Militant. $2.50 for 5 issues, $8 for 6 months, America, Caribbean"; and, "Redirect re­ or $16 for one year. Write to 408 West St., sources from the military to meet human New York, New York 10014. Leaflet distributed by the Third World and Progressive Peoples Coalition. needs, especially in minority com-

4 The Militant June 4, 1982 Refugees from Iraqi aggression in Khuzestan Province, anticipating return home. Jubilant Iranians take to the streets Continued from Page 1 cording to the May 16 New York Times, put down in 1975 after Hussein enlisted dacity on the part of the population, who square-mile area north of the current Cairo "in recent weeks has stepped up the help of the shah of Iran in closing seem to no longer give credence to the fighting. its military assistance to Iraq, becoming the border between the two countries, dire threats of the Ba'athist regime." Saddam Hussein's aim in invading that country's principal military and mobilized most of the Iraqi army Morale among Iraqi troops at the Iran in September 1980 was to strike a partner." against the Kurdish areas. front is reported to be extremely low as a blow against the Iranian revolution, be­ According to the May 15 Le Monde, result of the recent Iranian victories. In cause he feared its impact within Iraq. U.S. 'neutral' -like in Malvinas the mqst recent Kurdish protests began the March-April fighting, Iraqi units This was spelled out to Wall Street Jour­ surrendered en masse without a fight. As for Washington itself, its formal April 24 when several thousand persons nal correspondent Karen Elliott House This happened again in Khorramshahr. diplomatic stance in the conflict has in the town of Qala-Dizi tried to march According to a dispatch from the front in April by Hussein's deputy prime min­ been "neutrality." in commemoration of a massacre perpe­ by correspondent David Hirst of the ister, Tareq Aziz. "We have to keep In March, however, the Reagan ad­ trated there in 1974. Iraqi security for­ fighting, we have no choice," Aziz said. London Guardian, Iraqi troops "evolved ministration formally removed Iraq ces opened fire, killing nine persons. techniques of surrender which evaded "Iraq is a dam. If the dam collapses then from its list of countries alleged to sup­ the vigilance of Ba'ath party loyalists the Iranian 'flood will wash through the port "international terrorism." This Kurdish strikes, demonstrations whole area." cleared the way for the Boeing Co. to sell whose task it is to shoot would-be deser­ The "Iranian flood" Aziz fears is the On April 25, Le Monde continued, ters from the rear." the Iraqi regime five aircraft, delivery of "strikes and demonstrations spread ongoing fight of the Iranian workers which has already begun. Hirst also encountered members of an and peasants to defend and deepen their through many towns of Kurdistan, in­ "Arab brigade" - supposedly volun­ The imperialist news media have ac­ cluding Halabjah, Penjwin, Ranya, Su­ revolution. A key part of this is the mo­ cused the Iranian government of both teers - among the prisoners of war cap­ bilization for the war effort. Thousands laimaniyah, Kirkuk, and, reportedly, tured by the Iranians. "They included plotting a counterinvasion oflraq and of Mosul, where the confrontations con­ of Iranian workers and youth are fight­ inciting a sectarian revolt against Hus­ two Lebanese Druzes, one of whom had tinued until May 13." been taken from a building site a week ing at the front as part of the Mobiliza­ sein by followers of the Shi'ite branch of Le Monde described how the war has tion Corps of the Oppressed (Baseej-e the Muslim faith (who make up a major­ before, and the other as he arrived at affected the situation in Iraqi Kurdis­ Baghdad Airport. Darwich Shehadeh, Mustazafin). Many more are taking part ity in both Iraq and Iran). Iranian Presi­ tan: in support activities behind the lines. dent Ali Khamenei rejected these who had received all of two days' mil­ "Since the beginning of the Iraq-Iran itary training, begged Lebanese · In a letter published in the May 4 charges in a speech in Tehran in March. issue of the Iranian socialist newspaper war, Baghdad's security forces - the cameramen to tell his family where his Hemmat, a reader reported a conversa­ "Propaganda mouthpieces are trying majority of which have been transferred prized Iraqi 'work permit' had got him tion with a woman who had been work­ to make the world, especially Arab to the front- have had a hard time con­ to." ing as a volunteer at Shush, near Dez­ countries, believe that Iranian forces trolling the situation in Kurdis­ Citing "Western diplomats" in Bagh­ ful: are going to invade them," Khamenei tan.... Despite the curfew irp.posed dad, New York Times correspondent "This sister talked about the high mo­ said. "Our Muslim brethren in Iraq, from sundown in certain towns, guerril­ Henry Tanner reported from there May rale of the fighters, the active participa­ both Shi'ite and Sunni, are supported la attacks by various Kurdish organiza­ 10 that "a major question now is wheth­ tion of women behind the lines, and the equally by us. But our support does not tions have multiplied. er the Iraqi forces can make a controlled presence of very young people among mean that we shall move our forces into "With the latest military reverses at retreat with their strength intact, thus · the fighters. Of the women's activities, Iraq. We are not foolishly over-ambi­ the front, a dual process has come to avoiding the impression of a military she said, 'The mobilization to send wom­ tious, like the Ba'athists." light: on one hand, a letup in vigilance rout. The question is crucial, diplomats en is continuing. Some sisters could not It is clear that U.S. imperialism is by the security forces, which, to safe­ say, not only for the outcome of future go to the front, so they are working in deeply concerned over the latest round guard their own future, have accepted negotiations but also for the prestige of the neighborhoods to gather material of Iranian victories in the war. Some of tacit compromises with the Kurdish re­ President Saddam Hussein and the fu­ aid, weave clothing and bedding, and these concerns were outlined in an April sistance. And on the other, immense au- ture of his regime." donate blood." 14 New York Times column by William Olson, a research associate at the Cen­ Pro-U.S. regimes 'frightened' ter for Strategic and International Stud­ ies (CSIS) at Georgetown University in March hits training of Salvadorans The Iraqi regime's concerns at the re­ Washington. The CSIS is a think-tank gional impact of the Iranian revolution founded by ex-CIA officials; it has close BYANDREEKAHLMORGAN was necessary to bring Salvadoran are fully shared by Washington and its ties to the Reagan administration. FT. BENNING, Ga. -Demonstrators troops to this country for training indi­ local clients throughout the Middle Olson presented his prognosis for the marched here May 16 to protest the cated the successes being registered by East. According to the May 16 New York Persian Gulf region: training of Salvadoran troops in this the guerrilla forces. Times, "Virtually all the Arab govern­ "A victory [for Iran] would feed the country. These troops are being sent Responding to Washington's charge ments with which the United States is Iranians' sense of moral superiority and back to El Salvador to fight the popular that Cuba and the USSR are responsible on reasonably good terms are vitally in­ make them a more destabilizing influ­ liberation forces. for the war in his country, Rubio de­ terested in the survival of the Iraqi re­ ence in the region. Though they are un­ Called by the Concerned Citizens for clared, "The Salvadoran dictatorship gime of President Saddam Hussein. likely to launch major attacks on their Latin America in Columbus, Georgia, came into power before Fidel Castro was They are badly frightened by the pros­ neighbors, menacing gestures and aid to born, and before the Soviet Union exist­ pect of an Iranian military victory, more than 125 people marched three subversive forces could threaten region­ miles to the entrance of the fort where ed. Salvadorans don't need anyone to which could make Ayatollah Ruhollah al security.... they were met by army brass. The lead­ tell them we are hungry and being Khomeini's Islamic revolution a force in "For Iraq, defeat would mean wrench­ ers of the march presented the brass slaughtered. neighboring countries." ing self-criticism that could produce a with the demands: No U.S. intervention "Ronald Reagan is trying to stop a his­ Hussein's war has been largely bank­ coup against President Saddam Hussein in El Salvador, No Salvadoran troop torical process taking place in El Salva­ rolled by the Saudi Arabian monarchy or, conversely, a purge of the army. training in the United States. dor. This process cannot be stopped any and by the rulers of Kuwait and some of Though it is unlikely that the Iranians more than Johnson could stop Viet­ the smaller princedoms around the Per- . could sustain a major offensive into At a premarch rally, the keynote nam." sian Gulf. In January, King Hussein of Iraq, the consequences ofan Iraqi defeat speaker was Victor Rubio, a representa­ Sidney Hunter, speaking for the Na­ Jordan- a staunch U.S. ally- called could mean years of political upheaval." tive of the Democratic Revolutionary tional Black Independent Political Par­ for Arab "volunteers" to join the belea­ Olson's fears are already starting to Front of El Salvador. Rubio began by ty, talked about why Blacks should op­ guered Iraqis. According to the April 1 materialize. Saddam Hussein is now talking about Nicaragua. pose American intervention in El Salva­ Wall Street Journal, the king has sent facing a big rise in protests by the op­ "The Nicaraguans," he said, "are now dor. some 4,000 troops to Iraq. pressed Kurdish nationality of northern in the process of building a society "Blacks are the first to go to the front More recently, Egyptian President Iraq. The Kurds make up one-quarter of where hunger and exploitation don't ex­ lines and die," he said. "We are the last Hosni Mubarak has come to Baghdad's the Iraqi population. Throughout the ist. They are setting a good example for. to get any benefits from defending this assistance. "We sympathize with Iraq 1960s, and into the 1970s, the Kurds the people in El Salvador, Guatemala, so-called democracy. We have no inter­ and will not hesitate to do whatever we fought an on-and-off civil war against and around the world." est in the murder of people of color like can," Mubarak said in late March. Ac- the Iraqi government. They were only Rubio said that the very fact that it ourselves."

June 4, 1982 The Militant 5 Protests defend 'Lou Grant' BY NELSON GONZALEZ A letter sent out by two assistants to ganized to boycott sponsors of the "Lou On May 17, 1,500 people picketed Asner, who are organizing a letter-writ­ Grant" show. CBS Studios in Los Angeles to protest ing campaign to have the show reinstat­ In addition, one advertiser, the Kim­ the cancellation of the popular "Lou ed, points out that "according to our berly-Clark Corp., withdrew its sponsor­ Grant" TV show. The show stars Ed sources, one of the reasons for the can­ ship as a direct result of Asner's an­ Asner, an outspoken opponent of U.S. celiation is the 'controversy' surround­ nouncement last February 15 that he intervention in El Salvador. ing the show - such as Ed's involve­ was organizing to raise $1 million for The previous Monday, 1,200 people ment in El Salvador." medical supplies to El Salvador. Kim­ came out for a· picket. Asner is the founder of Medical Aid to berly-Clark owns a big manufacturing El Salvador, which has raised tens of plant in El Salvador, and has large in­ Demonstrators chanted, "Asner yes, vestments there. CBS no! Censorship has got to go!" and thousands of dollars toward medical "If you must fire an actor, fire Reagan!" supplies distributed by the rebels of the Asner denounced CBS for bowing to Revolutionary Democratic Front to the political pressure. He pointed out that CBS canceled the show claiming its people of El Salvador. the cancellation evoked the 1950s, with Nielson ratings were too low. However, its "muzzling of the First Amendment the network plans to run a show with an Asner, who is also president of the and blacklisting." even lower Nielson rating in the same Screen Actors Guild, told a press confer­ time slot as "Lou Grant," and has re­ ence in New York that as a result of his When Asner was asked if he thought a newed other shows with lower ratings. stand on El Salvador moves had been or- new wave of blacklisting was imminent, he replied, "If it is, it's going to have to be a lot more sophisticated, because they're going to find a lot more outspok­ Utah coal miners discuss June 12 rally en people." He also noted that the right of unions BY DAVE HURST safety cuts that kill our coal miners to ing class used nuclear weapons on hu­ to be involved in politics is at issue. PRICE, Utah-A forum sponsored by the social service cuts that kill our poor man populations in the past, they will 1Within the Screen Actors Guild, opposi­ the Young Socialist Alliance heard a by starvation. not hesitate to use them in Central tion to Asner's stand on El Salvador has been led by Charlton Heston, who ac­ panel of speakers condemn nuclear wea­ "This country is at war abroad, too. It America if they thip.k they can get away pons and urge mass participation in an is waging an undeclared war in Central with it.. cuses Asner of "politicizing" the Guild. antiwar rally called for June 12 in Salt America and the Caribbean." The meeting ended with a call to or­ Organizers of the picket in front of Lake City. The majority of those in at­ Reddington cited the recent ban on ganize people from Castle Valley to go to CBS Studios included the American tendance were union coal miners. travel to Cuba, a practice invasion of Salt Lake on June 12. Plans are under Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Speaking at the gathering, which was Grenada, and the hostilities against Ni­ way for car pools from Carbon and Democratic Action, the Committee in held May 19, were David Meyer, a coor­ caragua as examples of the secret war Emery counties to bring coal miners, Solidarity with the People of El Salva­ dinator of the Castle Valley Coalition being carried out by the United States. students, office workers, warehouse dor and others. They vowed to continue for a Nuclear Weapons Freeze; Rev. Such aggression, she said, increases workers, and others to the antiwar ral­ picketing CBS until "Lou Grant" is rein­ Alan ReKate, pastor of Good Shepherd the nuclear danger. Just as the U.S. rul- ly. stated. Catholic Church in East Carbon City; Jeff Misner, a draft-age union coal min­ er; and Kari Reddington, a union coal miner and member of the YSA. Asian-Americans protest war, nuclear arn1s A slide show prepared by the MX In­ BY DIANE WANG formation Center in Salt Lake was also "to stem the tide of national liberation gressive Peoples Caucus on June 12 NEW YORK - The Asian American movements" such as those in El Salva­ around the slogans: "U.S. Reverse the shown. Caucus for Disarmament sponsored a David Meyer spoke in favor of a freeze dor and the Philippines. Arms Race"; "Unconditional Resump­ teach-in here May 23. Seventy people Other solidarity messages were given tion of Negotiations - Use Resources on U.S. and Soviet nuclear arms. "Al­ though the Soviet Union has made some attended. by representatives of the Black Vete­ For Human Needs"; "No U.S. lntE~rven­ David Chen, coordinator of the caucus rans for Social Justice and the Chol Soo tion in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin mistakes in its handling of the arms along with Yuri Kochiyama and Yee race," he said, "the United States bears Lee Support Committee. America, Caribbean"; "End Racism in Presentations by a variety of Asian the U.S."; and "Oppose All Government the main responsibility for propagating Ling Poon, explained why the group was organized. the massive expansion of nuclear wea­ artists concluded the meeting. Violence and Repression against the The Asian American Caucus for Dis­ American People." pons programs." "Beginning with the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the nuclear armament is organizing a contingent to For more information call coordinator ReKate asked: "Can we count on Ro­ testing in the Pacific, the war in Viet­ march with the Third World and Pro- David Chen at (212) 233-5734. nald Reagan to stop the proliferation of nam and other Asian countries, Asian nuclear weapons? No! Will Alexander people have repeatedly been the victims Haig stop nuclear weapons? No! They of U.S. armament policy," explains a 'Militant' Cuba tours canceled; scare me .... statement by the caucus. "We the people will be the ones to stay the hands of madness." "While these brothers and sisters are new Nicaragua trips scheduled being massacred by these murderous Jeff Misner said he did not want to be weapons paid for with our tax money drafted to fight in El Salvador. "I regis­ BY JOSE G. PEREZ PM tours, said that the cancellation of ... oppressed nationalities are forced The organizers of Militant/Perspecti­ the Cuba trips "was not a decision we tered for the draft, not because I wanted to suffer the genocidal social consequen­ to, but because they threatened to throw va Mundial tours have announced that, wanted to make, but was forced on us by ces of budget cuts in social services and due to the U.S. travel ban that went into the U.S. government." me in jail and fine me if I didn't. But I entitlement programs." don't understand why I should be torn effect May 15, all Militant/PM tours of Pichey said that, under the new regu­ away from my wife and kids to go fight Nuclear physicist Michio Kaku de­ Cuba ha:ve been cancelled. lations, both travel directly from the in another country against people who scribed the experience of Japanese­ Instead of the scheduled Cuba trips, United States as well as through third are just like you." Americans during World War II, when two additional tours of Nicaragua have countries is banned, and anyone violat­ they were put into camps in this country Kari Rl}ddington declared: "Our coun­ been planned: a one-week miners tour ing the rule faces up to $10,000 in fines while relatives were victims of the bomb at the end of June and a two-week tour and 10 years' imprisonment. The only try is already at war. First, there's the in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. war at home, the war against the rights in July. exceptions are for people with close rela­ and living standards of U.S. working· Kaku pointed out that there have The one-week miners tour had origi­ tives in Cuba, working journalists people - everything from the mine been 27 accidental bomb drops in this nally been slated to go to Cuba, and the covering a story in Cuba, and scholars country and Europe which have only two-week tour had originally been pro­ engaged in professional research. narrowly avoided disaster. These in­ grammed to visit both Cuba and Nicara­ "It's clear that the government espe­ cluded incidents in South Carolina in gua. cially sought to eliminate political tours As Reviewed by NACLA 1958, North Carolina in 1961, and The miners tour is set for June 27 - of Cuba, such as those we were conduct­ Spain in 1966. July 4. It will visit Managua and several ing," Pichey said. "At a time when the Nicaragua: other cities. A special trip to the silver An Introduction "The American military fights for Reagan administration is stepping up someone's interests and those interests mines and a meeting with the miners its intervention in Central America and to the Sandinista are not yours but those of the transna­ union have been requested. The tour threats against Cuba, the last thing Revolution tionals, such as Chase Manhattan," Ka­ cost of $775 round trip from Miami in­ Reagan wants is for working people in ku concluded. "That's why they lost in cludes all transportation, food, hotel, the United States to be able to go to Cu­ By Arnold Weissberg, Vietnam and will lose in El Salvador. guide service, and translation. The ba to see the truth for themselves." 48pp., $.95 deadline for a deposit of $150 is May 31. "There is one thing the military fears Full payment is due by June 15. For more information or to make res­ more than nuclear missiles, one thing ervations on the Militant/PM tours con­ "This brief pamphlet fulfills the promise more than the Russians," he said. "That While the tour schedule is designed tact the tours at 410 West Street, New of its name by placing the Sandinistas' is you, me, the American people." with miners in mind, anyone can partic­ York, New York 10014; (212) 242-5530. struggle in an historical context, out­ ipate. Bhaichand Patel from the United Na­ lining problems the new power holders The two-week tour of Nicaragua is set have, praising the revolution's accomp­ tions Disarmament Office spoke about for July 17-31. It will join thousands of military spending. One million dollars lishments and candidly discussing the Nicaraguans in celebrating the anniver­ is spent on war every minute, he said, To our subscribers pitfalls and challenges of the Nicara­ sary of the revolution on July 19 in Ma­ emphasizing that 85 percent of that is nagua. Then it will travel to Matagalpa, guan model." spent on conventional weapons. With this issue we have updated -North American Congress Esteli, Leon, and the Black, English­ our sorting procedure for second­ on Latin America Reverend Sato, international liaison speaking area of the Atlantic Coast - class mailed subscriptions. It is representative of the World Peace Bluefields and Corn Island. The round­ our hope that subscribers will re­ Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West March, also spoke. trip cost from Miami is $1000. The dead­ ceive the Militant faster. Please let St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Please in­ A representative for the Union of De­ line for a deposit of$150 is June 15. Full us know if this improves delivery clude $. 75 for postage and handling. mocratic Filipinos pointed to the cause payment is due by June 30. time. of U.S. war policy, Washington's efforts Mimi Pichey, coordinator of Militant/

6 The Militant June 4, 1982 'Imperialist wars are at center of world politics' Young socialists map antiwar strategy YSA leader Nan Bailey presented political report for discussion at Young Socialist Alliance meeting.

BYMARYZINS imperialist perspective in the Black the Black community against U.S. war that they must go all the way in the NEW YORK - The Young Socialist movement, in particular the National policy. fight against the U.S. warmakers - Alliance National Committee met here Black Independent Political Party and After being excluded from the "offi­ that they have to take the government April 24-27, amidst a deepening of the the National Black United Front. cial" June 12 rally committee, groups out of the hands of the capitalists and U.S. government's war throughout Lat­ 3. The sizable and growing Central like NBIPP and NBUF united to form put it in the hands of workers and farm­ in America and growing opposition to American and Caribbean populat.ion in the Third World and Progressive Peo­ e:t·s in order to permanently end the that war by the U.S. working class. the United States, which will play a big ples coalition (TWPPC). threat of war. The leadership meeting took place as role in leading and educating U.S. The TWPPC is fighting to focus June "The task of disarming the U.S. impe­ Washington stepped up CIA-organized workers and farmers about the real na­ 12 against the U.S. government and its rialist cops, with their vast arsenal of border raids into Nicaragua and aid to ture of U.S. foreign policy. wars. The coalition demands uncondi­ nuclear and 'conventional' weapons, is the bloody regime in El Salvador. Bailey reported that the YSA has its tional U.S. nuclear disarmament, an the special responsibility of the U.S. Britain had just invaded the South largest industrial concentration in the end to U.S. intervention in Central working class. No other force can do the Georgia Islands and begun its military garment and textile industry, where America and the rest of the Third job. The survival of humanity rests on assault on the people of Argentina, with many workers are from Central Ameri­ World, and funds for human needs- es­ our ability to accomplish the American U.S. backing. And just days before the ca and the Caribbean. pecially in Third World Communities­ socialist revolution in time." YSA meeting, Reagan announced a new In the course of the discussion, many not for the war machine. In a report on the YSA tasks, NEC ban on travel to Cuba. YSA leaders took the floor to explain "It is the working class that the YSA, member Mark W eddleton focused on the Thus, Washington's wars and the that the question of war- and opposi­ NBIPP, NBUF, and the TWPPC are YSA's support to Socialist Workers Par­ fight against them were at the heart of tion to the draft -- is uppermost in the speaking for as we wage the fight to ty election campaigns and the positive all the young socialist leaders' delibera­ minds of the young workers they talk change the political character of the response these have received, particu­ tions. with in the garment shops, mines, and June 12 demonstration," said Bailey. larly on the war question. He also dis­ These discussions were based on the steel mills. "We want to ensure that the majority cussed the importance of selling the political experience of the YSA as an or­ "The decision we made to place our sentiment against Washington's wars is Militant, the Spanish-language biweek­ ganization that is firmly rooted in the members in industrial jobs," said Bai­ reflected at June 12." ly Perspectiva Mundial, and the Young industrial working class, with a grow­ ley, "puts us right at the center of the Bailey said the YSA would work to Socialist, the YSA newspaper. ing number of members who are Black powerful working-class forces who will unite the broadest possible forces The increasing antiwar activities or Latino. The big majority of the 90 be essential to constructing a movement around this perspective, including acti­ across the country, he said, mean that YSA leaders attending the meeting against imperialist war." vists in solidarity groups supporting the many young people - both workers and work in garment, steel, coal, oil, and struggles in Central America and the students in colleges and high schools - other industries. Oppressed nationali­ June 12 demonstrations Caribbean, opponents of the draft, and can be won to the YSA. ties make up 23 percent of the YSA's high school and college youth. The meeting discussed the June 12 membership and 40 percent of its elect­ "Coming out of June 12-coming out Turning points for YSA ed national committee. demonstrations coinciding with the United Nations disarmament session as of the process of building that demon­ In an organization report, NEC stration - we will begin to forge a Imperialist war sets framework a major opportunity for antiwar forces member Margaret J ayko drew a balance to mobilize opponents for U.S. wars movement that can mobilize millions of sheet of the last several years' expe­ "Imperialist war sets the framework abr.oad. people against U.S. wars in Nicaragua, rience in building the YSA. Jayko noted for all of politics today," said Nan Bai­ Some of the official organizers for the El Salvador, Argentina, and throughout two key turning points: ley, a New York garment worker who June 12 actions oppose the formation of the world, independent of the prowar, 1. The YSA's decision in 1979 to focus presented the major political report for a massive movement against the wars capitalist politicians." its activity and root its membership in the YSA National Executive Committee Washington is waging today. They have the industrial working class, where a (NEC). counterposed such demands as a "bilat­ Issue of disarmament new generation of anti-imperialist, anti­ Washington's wars, Bailey explained, eral nuclear freeze" on Soviet and U.S. Bailey said that the threat to peace capitalist fighters is emerging. are aimed directly at "the workers and atomic weapons. does not come from bombs or nuclear 2. The decision by the SWP National farmers of the world, who are rising up "The aim of these misleaders," said weapons per se. The issue is that these Convention in August 1981 to make against imperialism." Bailey, "is to confuse the question of weapons are in the hands of the U.S. rul­ available all young SWP members to be­ "U.S. imperialism's central target is who is to blame for war and to divert ing class, which has no scruples about come active in the YSA. the Central American and Caribbean massive antiwar sentiment into support using them against workers and farm­ These moves strengthened the YSA, revolution - the workers and peasants for prowar, capitalist politicians of the ers around the world. Jayko said, and prepared it to respond of Nicaragua, Grenada, Cuba, El Salva­ Democratic and Republican parties. It is the U.S. imperialists who must be more effectively as Washington stepped dor, and Guatemala, who are fighting to "These misleaders reject focusing the .disarmed, she said. They are the threat up its war in Central America and the advance the world socialist revolution. June 12 demonstration on opposition to to humanity and they are the cause of Caribbean. The moves have helped win "More and more American workers," the U.S.-British war on Argentina or war- not the Soviet Union, Cuba, or new members to the YSA and to train she explained, "oppose U.S. interven­ the U.S. war on the workers and peas­ Nicaragua. The YSA supports the right them to be leaders of the revolutionary tion in Central America, the Middle ants of Central America. They oppose of working people and oppressed around movement. East, or elsewhere. Many sense that calling for unilateral U.S. nuclear disar­ the world to arm themselves to defend In separate reports, the YSA leaders another Vietnam is beginning in El Sal­ mament. against the U.S. warmakers. also discussed the Polish workers' strug­ vador." "Such a strategy is dead wrong. Any "We demand immediate, uncondition­ gle, the fight for democratic rights in the Bailey said that the fight against im­ genuine movement for peace in this al nuclear disarmament of the U.S. gov­ United States, and the important prog­ perialist war is the "axis ofthe working­ country must express its clear, unequiv­ ernment," she said. "We say, not one ress the YSA is making in putting its fi­ class struggle against capitalist exploi­ ocal opposition to the wars the U.S. gov­ man or woman, not one penny for the nances on a sound footing. tation." Progress in the fight against ra­ ernment is waging right now. Our fire imperialist war machine. The national committee called for the cism, women's oppression, attacks on . must be directed at the real threat to "U.S. workers have a special responsi­ next YSA convention to be held in Chi­ democratic rights, and union-busting is world peace - Washington. bility to fight for these demands, to de­ cago from December 30, 1982, to Janu­ dependent on what the working class "Washington is the only government fend the colonial revolution, because of ary 2, 1983. and its allies will say and do in response that ever dropped the nuclear bomb. U.S. imperialism's role as the foremost to Washington's wars. Moreover, it is precisely in the so-called slave master in the world. "Our central task today as revolution­ conventional wars under way today that "We must also pay special attention to ary Marxists is to help deepen workers' the threat is posed of U.S. nuclear wea­ Subscribe to the the fight against racism, xenophobia, Young Socialist consciousness of this fact in order to help pons being used." and all forms of chauvinism, which are a forge a working-class movemenhlgainst powerful prop of imperialist foreign pol­ imperialist war," Bailey said. Antiwar forces Bimonthly revolutionary youth pa- icy and the propaganda used to justify it. . per covers the fight against Washing­ Thus the fight against racism at home is Important forces are fighting along ton's wars and racism, the struggle for Three powerful forces closely linked to the fight against impe­ with the YSA and Socialist Workers women's liberation, and the fight for a rialist aggression abroad. Black and La­ She pointed to three powerful forces Party to change the character of the socialist world. that are the basis for constructing a June 12 actions. tino workers will suffer the most from the new Vietnam we are being driven movement against Washington's wars: A special report by NEC member Mel­ $1 for half -year 1. An increasingly conscious and rad­ vin Chappell explained the important into. $3 for one year icalizing working class. The organized role the National Black Independent "As a result of the government's war labor movement, she explained, will be . Political Party (NBIPP) and the Nation­ policies and its parallel war on our liv­ 14 Charles Lane al Black United Front (NBUF) are play­ ing standards and rights at home, many the determining factor in the develop­ New York, New York 10014 ment of an antiwar movement. ing in helping construct an antiwar workers are radicalizing," said Bailey. 2. The organized forces with an anti- movement. and mobilizing the power of "Some are coming to the conclusion

June 4, 1982 The Militant 7 The light against war and· nuclear weapons A reply to 'The Fate of the Earth'

The Fate of the Earth, by Jonathan can turn our backs on the lessons of his­ in the attainment by mankind as a Schell. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, tory - even though, as Schell says, nu­ whole, after millenia of scientific prog­ 1982.244 pages, $11.95. clear weapons "threaten to end history." ress, of a certain level of knowledge of Yet it is these issues that Schell fails to the physical universe." BY DAVID FRANKEL address. He insists that the origins of "the nu­ Since atomic bombs were first used by His concern is with the weapons clear predicament . . . lie in scientific the United States in August 1945, the themselves, which he sees as having es­ knowledge rather than in social circum­ world has lived under the shadow of caped human control. As he puts it at stances." these fiendish weapons. Yet, Jonathan one point, "Strategic theory seems to And later on, he repeats ·that "the Schell observes in The Fate of the Earth, have taken on a weird life of its own, in origin of the nuclear peril lies, on the "Only very recently have there been which the weapons are pictured as hav­ one hand, in our nature as rational and signs, in Europe and in the United ing their own quarrel to settle, irrespec­ inquisitive beings and, on the other, in States, that public opinion has been stir­ tive of mere human purposes." the nature of matter." ring awake, and that ordinary people He raises the possibility that the This argument takes the political Left: building in Hiroshima, one of f may be beginning to ask themselves world may "simply blunder into extinc­ problem of war and mass destruction in how they should respond to the nuclear tion by mistake." today's world and turns it into an exis­ against nuclear weapons and for dis1 warmakers." peril." tential dilemma, removed from any spe­ Why is it that masses of people have Role of social relations cific historical context, from the actual suddenly been aroused to the nuclear 10 grew directly out of Washington's ef­ It play of events and from the clash of con­ danger? is hardly surprising that Schell forts to defeat revolutionary struggles should express such an idea. The irra­ tending class forces. Schell does not attempt to answer this After all, it was not "our nature as ra­ in Asia and Latin America. These were: question, but it is crucial to the issues he tionality of capitalist society has always • Iran in 1946, when Truman de­ encouraged the idea that our lives are tional and inquisitive beings" that re­ raises in his book. sulted in the production of the atomic manded that the Soviets halt their sup­ Working people around the world controlled by anarchic social forces that port for nationalist regimes that had are beyond human influence. The bomb. Scientific knowledge was neces­ sense that the Reagan administration is sary, but so were certain social circum­ been set up in Kurdistan and Azerbai­ set on a course toward war. Washington growth of productive forces .results in jan as a result of the revolutionary up­ economic crisis. New advances in stances - specifically, World War II is already waging an undeclared war and the mobilization of scientific and heaval that had erupted in Iran. against the workers and peasants of science are turned into the means of our • Korea in 1950, and again in 1953 .. destruction. material resources in the Manhattan Central America, and it has repeatedly Project. In both cases the threat was against the announced its readiness to fight in the Karl Marx pointed to this characteris­ Chipese revolution as well as the Ko­ tic of capitalist society in a speech he de­ Furthermore, why was the bomb used Middle East. rean revolution. livered in 1856: -not once, but twice- when Japan Meanwhile, British imperialism has was already on the verge of surrender? • Vietnam in 1954, when Washing­ launched a war in the South Atlantic "There is one great fact, characteristic ton secretly offered the French three of this our 19th century, a fact which no Did this have nothing to do with "partic­ with U.S. support, and British Foreign ular social or political circumstances"­ tactical nuclear weapons to relieve the Secretary Francis. Pym has already party dares deny. On the one hand, colonial troops beseiged at Dienbien­ there have started into life industrial specifically, the explosion of the colonial threatened Argentina with the possible revolution in Asia toward the end of phu. use of "tactical" nuclear weapons. and scientific forces, which no epoch of • The Middle East in 1958, when Ei­ the former human history had ever sus­ World War II, and the determination of The development of a new generation U.S. imperialism to confront these revo­ senhower authorized the use of nuclear of nuclear weapons such as the Cruise pected. On the other hand, there exist weapons if these were deemed necessary symptoms of decay, far surpassing the lutions, and with them the Soviet missile and the neutron bomb has Union? to prevent the extension of the Iraqi rev­ aroused millions because it comes as horrors recorded of the later times of the olution of that year. Roman Empire. part of the imperialist drive toward ac­ A 'race' with one runner • Also in 1958, Eisenhower directed tual wars in which these weapons are "In our days, everything seems preg­ the Pentagon to use nuclear weapons to most likely to be used. nant with this contrary. Machinery, We frequently hear reference to the defend the Chaing Kaishek dictator­ It is within this context that Schell's gifted with the wonderful power of shor­ nuclear arms race. The image is of two ship's military outpost on the island of book appears. tening and fructifying human labour, contestants crouched at the starting Quemoy, a few miles off the Chinese we behold starving and overworking it. line, then racing neck-and-neck. But the mainland. Focus on weapons themselves The new-fangled sources of wealth, by reality was different. • In 1962 there was the Cuban mis­ some strange weird spell, are turned in­ As Daniel Ellsberg notes in his intro­ sile crisis - a confrontation that grew Schell's focus is on nuclear weapons to sources of want. . . . At the same and the possibility of human extinction duction to Protest and Survive (a collec­ out of Washington's attempts to crush pace that mankind masters nature, man the Cuban revolution. that their existence poses. As he puts it tion of essays on the issue of nuclear seems to become enslaved to other men arms, edited by E.P. Thompson), "The • The Vietnamese revolution was on the very first page of the book, "These or to his own infamy. Even the pure bombs were built as 'weapons' for 'war,' U.S. Strategic Air Command was estab­ again threatened by nuclear weapons in light of science seems unable to shine 1968, when thousands of U.S. Marines but their significance greatly tran­ lished in early 1946 with the function of but on the dark background of ignor­ delivering nuclear attacks upon Russia were surrounded at Khe Sanh. The scends war and all its causes and out­ ance. All our invention and progress comes. They grew out of history, yet when so directed, at a time when it was Vietnamese never did make a final as­ seem to result in endowing material for­ sault on the Marines trapped at Khe they threaten to end history. They were publicly proclaimed by the president ces with intellectual life, and in stultify­ Sanh, and during the the 1969-1972 pe­ made by men, yet they threaten to an­ and high military that the Soviet Union ing human life into a material force. riod, they were repeatedly threatened nihilate men." was not expected to possess operational "A Republic oflnsects and Grass,'' the "This antagonism between modern in­ nuclear weapons systems for a decade or with a massive escalation of the war, in­ dustry and science on the one hand, cluding the use of nuclear weapons. first of Schell's three essays, takes its ti­ longer." tle from the fact that these forms of life modern misery and dissolution on the Schell does not place responsibility on • The latest U.S. nuclear threat came other hand; this antagonism between in the context of the Iranian revolution. are most resistant to nuclear radiation. the U.S. government for the nuclear the productive powers and the social re­ It was first enunciated in January 1980, It succeeds in presenting the threat of threat. He tries to avoid this issue by lations of our epoch is a fact, palpable, after President Carter staked out the extinction hanging over humanity in taking the existence of nuclear weapons the starkest terms. overwhelming, and not to be cont~overt­ and the current level ofnuclear arma­ Persian Gulf region as U.S. turf. After ed." Having described this dire and ever­ ment as his starting point. The potential taking office a year later, Reagan reaf­ present threat, however, Schell draws It is the social relations - the exist­ for the extinction of humanity, he says, firmed Washington's determination to ence of a society divided into classes - back from discussing its specific origins makes all political ideologies fade into use nuclea,r weapons if necessary to hold and what to do about it. Quotations from that Schell ignores. As a result, he can­ irrelevance. onto Middle Eastern oil. not explain the origin and real charac­ Kant, Hegel, Kafka, Hannah Arendt, But as soon as we turn from the de­ In addition to these explicit threats to and Bertrand Russell explore the philo­ ter ofthe nuclear threat. The problem is structive power of nuclear weapons in use nuclear weapons, there have been not that the weapons are out of control; sophical implications of the annihila­ the abstract to the actual instances in numerous actions such as the worldwide tion of humanity, while submerging and it is that they are under the control of an which their use has been threatened, we alert of U.S. forces during the October imperialist ruling class whose interests obscuring the urgent political task of run into the problem of "war and its 1973 Mideast war. what is to be done. and objectives conflict with those of causes," and specifically the role of U.S. Nuclear weapons do threaten the ex­ working people everywhere. imperialism, once again. How Schell sees the world Nuclear war has been threatened tinction of the human race. Because of The scramble for profits by giant cor­ many times, as will be seen below. But U.S. nuclear threats this, Schell argues that their signifi­ porations, the struggles of the colonial the threats have not come about due to cance "transcends war and all its causes In the essay quoted above, Daniel peoples for independence, revolution, accident or blunders. and outcomes." He says that the extinc­ Ellsberg refers to 12 instances in which imperialist war - all this is missing tion of humanity would rob all past and the U.S. government is known to have from Schell's version of the nuclear Origin of nuclear peril present human life of its meaning. directly threatened the use of nuclear threat. Although his book is newly pub­ But if such extinction comes about, it For Schell, "the fundamental origin of weapons. There is no instance of the So­ lished, it never once mentions the crimi­ will be precisely because of "war and all the peril of human extinction by nuclear viet government ever having made such nal U.S. intervention in Central Ameri­ its causes." We cannot turn our backs on arms lies not in any particular social or a threat. ca, where Washington is preparing the war and its causes, any more than we political circumstances of our time but Of the 12 instances listed by Ellsberg, next Vietnam.

8 The Militant June 4,1982 v left standing after 1945 atomic blast, is today a memorial. Right: more victims of U.S.-backed junta in El Salvador. "Schell seeks to substitute the fight !lament in the abstract for the fight against the actual wars going on today and their source. The only way to finally end the nuclear peril is to disarm the imperialist

Far from blaming the warmakers in above all, the imperialists in Washing­ sion of all the concrete questions of revo­ to overthrow an unjust, outmoded, and Washington and helping to show the ton who are ultimately responsible for lution.... life-threatening social system, and tore­ way toward ·disarming them, Schell the survival of every reactionary dicta­ "'Disarmament' means simply run­ place it with a higher form of human so­ blames us. "The world's political lead­ torship in the region, should be dis­ ning away from unpleasant reality and ciety. ers," he says, are not the enemy because, armed. At the same time, we should sup­ not fighting against it" ("War Program The Russian revolution of October "though they now menace the earth port the right of Cuba, of Nicaragua, of of the Proletarian Revolution," Lenin 1917 was the first giant step in that pro­ with nuclear weapons, [they] do so only Grenada, and of the liberation fighters Collected Works, Volume 23). cess. The Chinese revolution, the Cuban with our permission, and even at QUr in El Salvador to obtain whatever wea­ Disarmament in the abstract was also revolution, the Vietnamese revolution, bidding. At least, this is true for the de­ pons they need to defend themselves in vogue on the eve of World War II. the Grenadian revolution, the Nicara­ mocracies." against imperialist aggression. And Leon Trotsky pointed out in 1935, "For guan revolution - every one of these Schell speaks of "our role as both the that includes nuclear weapons. Marxists the struggle against war coin­ events has been a blow to imperialism victims and the perpetrators of mass Perhaps this seems ironic. Nuclear cides with the struggle against impe­ and a step forward for humanity on the murder." But the U.S. people never vot­ weapons could be a force for peace in rialism. The means for this struggle is road to a better world. ed to build the atomic bomb, nor to drop Central America? not 'general disarmament' but the arm­ It is this process of social transforma­ it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. U.S. But it should be recalled that if it ing of the proletariat for the revolution­ tion that is essential for ending the workers and farmers first found out threat of nuclear extinction. were not for the fact that the Soviet ary overthrow of the bourgeoisie and the about those decisions in the newspapers. Union developed atomic weapons in establishment of a workers' state" ("To That is another reason why the con­ Nor did working people vote in favor 1949, the U.S. government in all likeli­ Young Communists and Socialists Who text in which Schell's book appears is so of any ofthe acts of nuclear blackmail or hood would have used the bomb against Wish to Think," Writings of Leon important. Under the impact of the any of the imperialist interventions that world economic crisis and the imperial­ the Korean and Chinese revolutions the Trotsky, 1935-36). Washington has carried out since World ist war drive, big changes are taking next year, and against the colonial re­ It is through the workers and farmers War II. On the contrary, only years of place inside the labor movement in the bellion worldwide that sprang up at that taking governmental power, and using massive opposition at home finally United States and other imperialist time. that power to reshape society in the in­ forced the imperialists to get out ofViet­ countries. Working people more and Moreover, as Ellsberg explained terests of the toilers, that real disarma­ nam. more feel that the capitalist system can~ above, the U.S. rulers had every inten­ ment can finally come about. As long as Disarmament is Schell's solution for not guarantee them a better life, and tion of using the nuclear bomb on the society is divided between oppressed the nuclear threat - "what everyone is even threatens life itself. Soviet Union itself. Once the Soviets ob­ and oppressing classes and ruled by a now called on to do is to sink all the The struggle for a workers and farm­ tained the bomb, Washington was minority that subordinates everything ships, and also ground all the planes, ers government in the United States is forced to retreat from its plans for to its search for profits, there can be no and fill in all the missile silos, and dis­ becoming less and less of an abstraction. launching a third world war, against end to war. mantle all the warheads." the Soviet Union. The need for such a government is in­ As he makes clear a few pages later, creasingly posed by events in the class The weapons themselves are not. the What we have accomplished his actual political perspectives do not threat. U.S. imperialism is. struggle. And that includes the rise of go beyond the measures already pro­ Within this context, it is worth noting the peace movement. !JOsed by various figures in the U.S. rul­ Like E.P. Thompson, a leader of the one of Schell's statements. "As a spe­ Ultimately, the working people of ing class. Schell suggests that "at a min­ antinuclear movement in Britain, cies," he says, "we have as yet done no­ America will have the decisive say in imum, a freeze on the further deploy­ Schell seeks to substitute the fight thing to save ourselves" from the threat whether the human race is to survive. ment of nuclear weapons, participated against nuclear weapons and for disar­ of nuclear extinction. Those are the real stakes in the fight for in both by countries that now have them mament in the abstract for the fight Not true. a workers and farmers government in and countries that do not yet have them, against the actual wars going on today As a species, we have been struggling the United States. is called for. Even better would be a re­ and their source. The only way to finally duction in nuclear arms -for example, end the nuclear peril is to disarm the by cutting the arsenals of the superpow­ imperialist warmakers. ers in half, as George Kennan suggested recently." Two different approaches FIDEL The difference in the two approaches Who should be disarmed? can be seen quite clearly in the debates CASTRO Socialists are fighting for a society in occurring over the character of the June Speaks to trade unionists which war and the weapons of war 12 demonstration called to coincide with Further reading would be abolished. But the question is the United Nations session on disarma­ how to get there, and who the demand of ment. The U.S. War Drive and the disarmament should be aimed at today. Some peace groups, who look to the World Economic Crisis There is a war going on right now in Democratic Party and are swayed and By Fidel Castro. 31 pp., $.75 southern Africa. The racist South Afri­ confused by capitalist ideological pres­ Writings of Leon Trotsky can regime, armed with nuclear wea­ sures, are opposed to including demands (1935-36) pons, is occupying Namibia and south­ against the U.S. war in Central Ameri­ 574 pp .. $7.95 ern Angola, and carrying out repeated ca and the British-U.S. war against Ar­ Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West massacres of the civilian population gentina in the June 12 demonstration. there. Working people around the world The demand for disarmament in the ab­ Street. New York, New York 10014. would like to see the South African im­ stract is thus counterposed to the fight Please include$. 75 postage and handling. perialists disarmed, but to raise that de­ against war in the real world. mand against Angola would be a betray­ al. We should support the right of Ango­ Disarmament and war la and the freedom fighters in Namibia There is nothing new about the idea of to have more ships, more planes, more disarmament in the abstract being missiles. counterposed to the actual fight against The same is true in Central America. imperialism and imperialist war. Lenin The butchers in El Salvador, the U.S.­ explained in 1916, "The main defect in backed death squads in Guatemala, and the demand for disarmament is its eva-

June 4, 1982 The Militant 9 Communist Party ducks antiwar fight Says campaigning for Democrats is path to peace

BY HARRY RING re-calculate and maneuver. The tactical tente between the imperialist world and Actively opposing each concrete, on­ The Communist Party held a national maneuvering is a direct response to the the Soviet Union. To win such an accom­ going war, such as the one against the meeting in Milwaukee this past April increasing pressure." modation with the imperialists they are people of Central America, is the only 23-25. It was billed as the "Second Ex­ Certainly popular opposition has been ready to sacrifice the struggles of other way to block an ultimate attack on the traordinary Conference" of the party. an enormous barrier to Washington's targets of imperialism and to help divert Soviet Union as well as avert nuclear The first was in 1933. perspective of sending troops to directly authentic antiwar movements into extinction. In a keynote speech, CP National Sec­ intervene in Central America. "safe," ineffective channels -namely, Even in terms of U.S.-Soviet rela­ retary Gus Hall said there were two r:ea­ But it is dangeroul'lY misleading to capitalist politics. tions, the picture Hall paints is danger­ sons for the "extraordinary" gathering suggest, as this lone paragraph does, That's the key reason for working ously misleading. - the need to counter the reactionary that the U.S.-sponsored war there is within the Democratic Party. The CP Hall asserts, "The U.S. role as ruler Reagan offensive at home and to oppose winding down. leadership believes that by helping to and dictator· of the capitalist world is its threat to world peace. Military funding for the Salvadoran keep the workers .tied to capitalist polit­ over." The political line for accomplishing dictatorship has been increased. More ics they can persuade "progressive," This being the case, Hall continues, this was laid out in Hall's lengthy key­ guns are being shipped in. The U.S. "ad­ "far-sighted" sectors of the ruling capi­ U.S. policies "are a mixture of retreat, note speech. visers" are very much on the scene, talist class that friendship with Moscow maneuver, manipulation, aggression The most striking feature of the mapping antiguerrilla strategy. Salva­ is a better, more profitable policy. and confrontation, alternating with pol­ speech is how little of it is devoted to the doran army officers are continuing to be Certainly the Soviet Union remains icies of moves toward arms negotiations, war issue - and, most particularly, to trained in this country. under constant pressure from world im­ backtracking, defensiveness and peace wars Washington is carrying out right perialism, particularly U.S. imperial­ posturing." now. Washington is continuing to wage its ism, and it is essential to combat that "Maneuver, manipulation"? This is no oversight. undeclared war against Nicaragua, us­ danger. For sure. The purpose of the conference, as ing mercenary exile forces for incur" But this will not be accomplished by Even "peace posturing." spelled out in a text of Hall's report sions from border sanctuaries in Hondu­ subordinating the political interests of But "retreat"? made available at the conference, was to ras. Nicaraguan villages are attacked. the workers to those of the capitalists in That's false. mobilize the ranks of the Communist Bridges and strategic installations are the utopian hope of persuading, or even Historically speaking, the U.S. role as Party and its youth organization, the blown up. Nicaraguan civilians and "pressuring," imperialism to change. world ruler is over. But it will never be Young Workers Liberation League, for soldiers are being killed. Quite the opposite. Continued on Page 12 all-out participation in the 1982 Demo­ When Havana made known again its cratic Party primaries and the No­ readiness to negotiate with Washington~ vember elections. for a relaxation of tensions between the That and the fight against war don't two governments, Reagan's response mix. was the reimposition of the Cuba travel You can't actively oppose the U.S.­ ban, a move that underlines the omi­ Anglo war against Argentina and cam­ nous, unrelenting character of the drive paign for the Democrats. They're for against that revolution. that war. You can't really fight the drive to mil­ What road to peace? itarily and economically strangle the Peace- as the U.S. Communist Par­ Nicaraguan revolution and stump for ty leaders conceive it - doesn't mean the Democrats. They're for the war on throwing themselves into the fight Nicaragua. against such ongoing wars as those in You can't seriously champion revolu­ Central America and the Caribbean, or tionary Grenada and be for the Demo­ into the struggle to halt U.S.-Anglo ag­ crats. Like Reagan, the Democrats have gression against Argentina. a different idea about Grenada. To the contrary, they see independent It would be a hot potato to vigorously moves against such ongoing imperialist oppose the escalated drive against Cuba aggressions as an obstacle in the path of Americans are demonstrating increased concern over U.S. aggression in and be for the Democrats. They initiated "peace." Central America and Caribbean. But Gus Hall assured Communist Party the get-Cuba campaign. Their concept of peace is to achieve de- that Washington is in retreat there. How can you say, "Not a cent, not a gun" for the Salvadoran dictatorship and say yes to the Democrats? In Con­ gress, they vote with the Reaganites to Imperialists get some free advice send more guns and dollars. Nor can you fight for unilateral U.S. disarmament and campaign for the The May 19 Daily World featured an For example, he writes, "Britain's fails to take an active stand of opposi­ Democrats. article assessing the impact of the Mal­ Royal Navy ... has been equipped tion to Britain's ongoing imperialist war vinas crisis on the British ruling class. merely to fight a war against the Soviet against Argentina, it will contribute Malvinas? It was written by the paper's long-time Union. In obsessive pursuit of that goal nothing to the cause of world peace. London correspondent, William Pome­ the other possibilities in a complex And if the fight for nuclear disarma­ Gus Hall's speech was delivered 22 roy. world of developing states and of inter­ ment of the Thatcher government is to days after Argentina reclaimed the Mal­ The article is a striking example of imperialist rivalries have been ignored. advance, it will not be done by gratui­ vinas Islands and Britain responded how practitioners of the politics of class "British imperialist strategists," he tous advice to the arms-wielders that with its armada of gunboats. collaboration find themselves offering continues, "are now awakening to the conventional weapons are more versa­ Hall's speech literally doesn't men­ free advice to the ruling class about harmful [!] implications of the anti-So­ tile. It will take determined, uncom­ tion the aggression against Argentina. viet course they have been taking. what's assertedly in its best interests. promising action by the British workers Central America and the Caribbean It's a bit like the union bureaucrat "For example, they realize that if the and all other peace forces against the get a passing reference. The paragraph Malvinas crisis had developed a year who, instead ofleading the workers in a very real war being carried out by their on it in Hall's speech states: from now, then the most important com­ fight for gains, prefers to sit down the government today, a war where the ."In Central and Latin America, espe­ boss and persuade him that granting ponents of the royal navy task force sent · British rulers have already threatened cially in El Salvador, Nicaragua and some concessions will avoid costly to the South Atlantic -the aircraft car­ to use nuclear weapons if necessary. Cuba, the basic U.S. policy of aggression strikes, improve workers' attitudes, in­ riers, Invincible and Hermes - would continues. But the fast-rising tide of re­ crease production and, in the long run, have been sold off or scrapped as part of Incidentally, it should be noted for the sistance and opposition by a majority of prove more profitable. the rundown to pay for the Trident. record that the Communist Party our people and the world has forced the doesn't limit itself to advising imperial­ Pomeroy's article purports to be simp­ Therefore, an effective military confron­ Reagan administration to slow down, ism. ly a report on the debate the Malvinas tation with Argentina would have been The May 8 issue of the People's World, crisis has sparked within the British ruled out." ruling class. Actually, that's a thin ve­ As a result of all this, Pomeroy dedu­ West Coast weekly reflecting the views of the Communist Party, carries an edi­ neer for what's really intended to be ces, the British rulers are growing wis­ helpful advice to them. Pomeroy's main er. They "seem to be coming to the view torial which declares in part: "Of course, to bring the war to an end point is that if the British rulers hadn't that it is a mistake to be totally trans­ will require give on both sides. The Ar­ listened to Uncle Sam and sunk all their fixed by an assumed threat from the So­ gentines must take into account the as­ money in nuclear missiles aimed at the viet Union, when threats to imperialist pirations and well-being of the people Soviet Union, they would be in a better interests can come from many a direc­ currently living peacefully on the is­ position to deal with Argentina. tion." In addition, Pomeroy explains, the lands they call their Falkland home. The Malvinas crisis, he reports, is war with Argentina is costing a bundle The British must recognize the legiti­ having a "traumatic" effect on the and there will have to be cutbacks in macy of Argentine claims of sovereignty members of the Thatcher government British military expenditures. over the territory." and the ruling circles they represent. "The obvious item to be pruned," he Concern about the "aspirations and In the past decade, he says, British sagely advises, "is the Trident." well being" of those living on the Malvi­ military policy has been "almost totally After this free advice to British impe­ nas should be directed to the British im­ oriented toward war with the Soviet rialism Pomeroy goes on to assure that, perialists who have plunged them into Union." To make things worse, the "These are problems and dilemmas for the center of a bloody battle. Thatcher government had made the British imperialism and its allies. They Meanwhile, the advice to the Argen­ U.S. Trident missile "the centerpiece of are separate from the peace movements, tines is a bit like a sideline observer that policy." and from the campaign for nuclear dis­ shouting to a striking picket fighting off This, Pomeroy notes, cost so much armament, which continue unabated in a club-wielding cop, "Remember, moder­ money that it led to a cutback in conven­ their own course." ation!" Gus Hall tional arms. But if the British peace movement -Harry Ring

10 The Militant June 4, 1982 Greensboro rally hits gov't spying

BY GREG McCARTAN He then spoke about how the bosses GREENSBORO, N.C.-A rally of the use unemployment to terrorize and in­ Political Rights Defense Fund (PRDF) timidate working people. here May 1 took up a broad range of at­ "As we have witnessed attacks on pol­ tacks on the democratic rights of itical and civil rights, we are also seeing workers and political activists. attacks on labor and the rights of Speakers at the rally, which was workers," said Wiley. "We must see un­ titled "Reagan vs. Workers Rights: Stop employment as a part of this attack. Government Spying," included Harris "High unemployment creates a re­ Freeman, a St. Louis worker recently pressive atmosphere. It creates an at­ fired by McDonnell Douglas for his pol­ mosphere to compromise workers' itical ideas; Earl Jones of the Greensbo­ rights, union rights. It allows a witch­ ro chapter of the NAACP, which has en­ hunt of dissenters, workers in industry, dorsed PRDF and the Freeman case; and the undocumented. and Howard Wiley of the National "Having high unemployment contrib­ Black Independent Political Party utes to these things. Workers will accept (NBIPP). anything to have a job. But the real cul­ Jones explained the history of govern­ prit is corporate attempts to protect Harris Freeman (left), St. Louis worker fired for his political views, and How­ ment spying on the Black movement. their profits under a depressed economy. ard Wiley of the National Black Independent Political Party, speaking at "Spying isn't anything new," he said. And also to protect the war industry and Greensboro rally to defend democratic rights. The government spies on and tries to the wars they have on the drawing disrupt "any organization that is fight­ board." ing." Pointing to the massive civil­ Wiley explained that "attacks on one rights movement, Jones explained that political organization or the political ac­ "the government had to make a decision tions of one person are attacks on every­ Ballot victory in N.C. about the movement, and what they de­ one - they are attacks on the whole cided to do was to destroy Dr. Martin movement." BY GREG McCARTAN law. The current law allows a party, Luther King. But King's ideas still live Freeman, one of three workers fired WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After a once on, to stay on the ballot unless its on, Malcolm X's ideas still live on." by McDonnell Douglas, was the fea­ federal judge exempted the Socialist percentage of the vote in a gubernator­ Jones also discussed attacks on the tured speaker. He is a member of the Workers Party from a law that severely ial or presidential election falls below 10 Voting Rights Act. The Greensboro Young Socialist Alliance and the Social­ restricts ballot access, supporters of the percent. NAACP is fighting a discriminatory vo­ ist Workers Party. The International Meryl Lynn Farber for Congress cam­ Farber said, "The people of North ter-registration form which is used at Association of Machinists Lodge 837B, paign began petitioning to put the SWP Carolina deserve a choice. The SWP, un­ predominantly Black A&T University Freeman's union local, is fighting his on the ballot here. like the Democrats and Republicans, is but not at other universities in the area. firing. opposed to the government's secret war Howard Wiley of the NBIPP scored Freeman connected the stepped-up They gathered almost 1,000 signa­ against Nicaragua, and to its support to U.S. support for the attempt by Britain war moves and the massive buildup of tures the first day; 5,000 are required Britain's colonial aggression against to keep its colonial hold on the Malvi­ nuclear and conventional forces by the for ballot status. Argentina. nas. This indicated, he said, "that the Reagan administration to his firing. Under the old law, anyone who signed "The SWP supports the extension and vestiges of old colonialism and attempts Freeman described the massive oppo­ such a petition for a party other than the strong enforcement of the Voting Rights to uphold imperialist objectives are still sition to U.S. war plans and the poten­ Democrats or Republicans would have Act, extension of busing and desegrega­ plaguing us all." tial for an antiwar movement in this been automatically registered as a tion, ratification of the Equal Rights "Those in power," he went on, "are go­ country. member of that party. Amendment, and abolishing the antiun­ ing to make every attempt to maintain "The government is especially anx­ The law was passed by the state legis­ ion right-to-work (-for less) laws. These the existing world order. However, peo­ ious to keep those workers who build the lature in 1981 after the SWP had gotten are crucial issues in this state." ple all over the world are on the rise." bombs, nuclear submarines, and jet on the ballot the year before. It was the fighters out of any new antiwar move­ first time socialists had been on a North ment," Freeman added. "One of the Carolina ballot since the 1930s. crudest campaigns against democratic Steve Craine is a Rpokesman for the Fired antiwar· machinists gain rights and union rights is taking place North Carolina Ballot Fund, a broadly in the war industries of this country. based organization that filed suit "Any worker can be fingered by a against the law. Craine called the rul­ support in nationwide tour company spy in a union meeting or on ing, which came on April 30, "an initial the job. Anyone the company doesn't victory against this anti-worker legisla­ BY STEPHEN THOMAS Among the speakers were Twin Cities like can be labeled a security risk. tion. TWIN CITIES, Minn.- A fired anti­ NOW President Sue Abderhalden; Na­ "The goal is to drive opponents of gov­ "The suit charged that the law uncon­ war trade unionist won important new tional Black Independent Political Par­ ernment and corporate policy out of the stitutionally stifled and chilled any support for the fight against company ty leader Janice Dorliae; and Frank plants, intimidate workers from partici­ challenge to the political monopoly of and government victimizations of trade Guzman, a leader of the National Chica­ pating in their unions, get them to ac­ the Democratic and Republican par­ union activists, during a four-day tour no Alliance. cept wage concessions and speedup, and ties," he said. here. Four radio stations carried interviews reverse the growing antiwar sentiment But in exempting the SWP from the Barry David, a member of Interna­ and news spots on David's case, and he in the war industries." law, Judge Franklin Dupree did not dis­ tional Association of Machinists (lAM) was interviewed by five papers, includ­ The rally also heard Steve Craine of agree with its intent, Craine said. Lodge 837B and a member of the Social­ ing the Black community newspapers, the North Carolina Ballot Fund de­ "In fact, in the rest of his decision," ist Workers Party, toured here May 2-5. the St. Paul Recorder and Minneapolis scribe the victory for democratic rights Craine pointed out, "he counsels the leg­ David is one of three machinists fired by Spokesman; and the St. Paul Dispatch, won the day before in a ruling by a fed- - islature on other 'constitutional' means McDonnell Douglas last fall because of the major daily. David also spoke at fo­ eral judge that exempted the SWP from to achieve' their purpose - keeping their union and antiwar views and ac­ rums at St. Cloud State University and a restrictive ballot law. workers parties off the ballot. He pro­ tivities. the University of Minnesota. The rally protested spying by local posed increasing the number of signa­ David is on a nationwide speaking • cops on recent picket lines and demon­ tures required from 5,000 to 140,000. tour to win support for the fired McDon­ BY BOBBI SPIEGLER strations. That gives you an idea of whose side he's nell Douglas unionists, and for 15 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - During a really on." members of lAM Lodge 709 fired by three-day tour here, Alison Beckley, a Lockheed-Georgia in similar company­ fired member of International Associa­ At a news conference May 6 announc­ government vicimizations. tion of Machinists (lAM) Lodge 709 at ing the petitioning drive, candidate Lockheed-Georgia, won new support for Farber said the ruiing "paves the way to David met with David Roe, president the battle to stop firings and harass­ of the Minnesota AFL-CIO; John Peter­ get our party and my name on the ballot ment of union activists. in November." son, district business representative of The tour began with petitioning and the lAM in Minnesota; the Executive She also pointed out that being on the leaflet distribution at the General Elec­ ballot this year would keep the SWP on Board of Brotherhood of Railway and tric plant here, where workers are rep­ Airline Clerks Lodge 1310; Roger Aik­ in 1984 under present. North Carolina resented by the lAM. Several workers en, editor of the local American Postal stopped to talk with Beckley and signed Workers newspaper; and Tom Laney, a petitions protesting the firings of UAW activist recently fired here be­ unionists at Lockheed and McDonnell Socialist cause of his union activities. Douglas in St. Louis. activist dies Many of the unions showing interest Beckley addressed the monthly chap­ in David's case and the issues it raises ter meeting of the Albuquerque Nation­ Tom Nagle, a member of the are the same ones that have come out al Organization for Women (NOW). Socialist Workers Party, died in against U.S. intervention in El Salva­ NOW members were shocked at the Cleveland May 17. Nagle, 45, dor. Twenty unions here endorsed are­ spy network set up by Lockheed and be­ joined the SWP in 1976. A meeting cent demonstration in St. Paul to de­ gan reading with amazement from the to commemorate his contributions mand U.S. out of Central America and company spy files that were passed to the socialist movement was the Caribbean. around. The chapter voted unanimously scheduled for May 27 in Cleve­ David was the featured speaker at a to send letters of protest to both McDon­ 48 pages, $1 land, sponsored by the SWP. A fu­ rally of 60 people to support the fired nell Douglas and Lockheed. ture issue of the Militant will Order this pamphlet &om: unionists and defend democratic rights. The tour culminated in a program Pathfinder Press carry an appreciation of Nagle's Th~ rally, which raised over $800 to protesting Reagan's attacks on workers' 410 West St., New York, New York life. fight these cases, was a broad showing of rights, sponsored by the Political Rights 10014 support. Defense Fund.

June 4, 1982 The Militant 11 -THEGREATSOC~TY------Survival plan - To ensure physically fit, and skilled going See, it works- Initially, we a Wisconsin sociologist. Urging P .S. - The Reagan adminis­ survival of civilization as we first. Last on the exit list would were skeptical of the president's an end to the nuclear buildup, tration proposes cutting the know it, Robert Kingsley, a Los be "the elderly, the infirm, the idea that we rely more on pri­ he said some young people feel, number of meat and poultry in­ unskilled, the unessential." It vate charity for the needy than "Ifl don't get sex now, I'll never spectors by 50 percent. Fewer would be, he said a "Noah's Ark" government programs. But then know what it feels like." inspectors are needed, they say, approach. Maybe he could get we read about the Reagans' tax because the companies now have included as a chimp. returns listing more than more sophisticated quality con­ $30,000 in gifts from friends. Softener- It takes a tough trol equipment. Like, for in­ Capitalism's best hope - And that's not counting the man to turn out a tender chick­ stance, at Perdue's. Harry Farm leaders met with Secre­ clothes loaned to Nancy by fash­ en, say the commercials by tary of Agriculture John Block ion companies, or the rocks pro­ Frank Perdue of the union-bust­ The march of culture - A Rin,g in an off-the-record session to vided her by jeweler Harry ing Perdue chicken outfit. One Madison Avenue agency that discuss the worsening plight of Winston. tenderizer seems to be plain old leads in composing radio and TV farmers. Block reportedly told water. With a maximum of 12 commercial jingles boasts, "Our Angeles official, favors reloca­ them the only thing that would Last-ditch proposition - percent water allowed in chick­ music is heard by more people, tion after a nuclear blast on a improve farm prices was ana­ Fear of the bomb is leading some e"ns, inspectors found Perdue's more times, than any other kind priority basis, with the young, tional and world crop disaster. teenagers to engage in sex, says running at 19 percent. of music.''- Communist Party ducks antiwar fight

Continued from Page 10 the myth that the Soviet Union is the cians - a fear shared by the reformist tion process" now getting under way for persuaded to simply accept that reality real threat to world peace, and set up leaders of the Communist Party - is 1982, Hall actually says: and depart peaceably from the scene. antiwar activists to be diverted into sup­ that this sentiment will be translated by "We can't afford to because that is Nor will it accept the "rational" idea porting "peace" candidates of the Demo­ the labor movement into independent where the mass upsurge is." that it can avoid its demise by adopting cratic Party in the November elections. political action. Everybody in the CP, Hall declares, a policy of peace. World imperialism "Freeze" advocates in the Democratic In his report, Gus Hall speaks of the must get on the stick. will have to be overpowered and driven Party have been the most persistent independent forces that are developing ''We must assign [party] cadre," he in­ off the stage of history. Fighting it and partisans of an increase in expenditures "inside and outside" the Democratic sists, "that will make the elections their its wars every inch of the way will re­ for a "conventional" arms buildup - Party. The job of the CP, he declares, is main and even only activity." duce the substantial damage it inflicts like more battleships - to better pre­ to "unite" these forces. Alluding to inner-party criticism, on its way out. pare for wars in the colonial world. How? Hall reports, "Some say we are adopting Hall also argues a major reason to go the lesser evil concept." What retreat? If the CP considers its main job to be Another problem "is the fear some ex­ all, out in support of the Democrats is to work in the Democratic Party, then ob­ press that we will abandon our cam­ What are the signs of imperialist "re­ advance the mounting opposition to viously the only way way to unite those paign for political independence." treat" perceived by Hall? "Reaganomics" - the employers' drive "inside and outside" is to try to bring Plus, "Some have drawn the wrong He points to recent declarations by against U.S. workers in general and the those outside back into the Democratic conclusion that for the time being we the Reagan administration that it fa­ poorest in particular. Party. vors a nuclear arms reduction, after a will put the campaign for political inde­ But how can you fight attacks on your This is consistent with a policy that pendence in moth balls." further buildup. While recognizing this living standards and rights at home if goes back to the mid-1930s. Ever since For a party that has long taken a dim is a fake, he asserts that it does repre­ you resist building a movement against that time, the CP has stubbornly op­ sent "concessions to the popular and view of internal disagreement, even this the dollars and guns being shipped to posed independent labor political action, is quite an admission. congressional challenges." Central America, or the material now counterposing the ruinous policy of sup­ Yes, popular antiwar sentiment has being supplied to the British for the war porting "progressive" or "lesser evil" Muddy waters forced Reagan - and the Democrats - against Argentina? How can you fight capitalist politicians. How does Hall answer his critics? into a "peace posture." But the posture the economic crisis by backing candi­ Today, Hall is pressing hard for the Mainly, with a single stroke. has a single, sinister purpose - to put dates who support the massive budget pro-Democrat line precisely because the "We should keep in mind," he re­ themselves in a better position to wage for these wars? prospects for a working-class break with sponds, "that when we swim in large, war. To suggest that it's a backing away The Democrats are not only for "Rea­ the two capitalist parties are greater uncharted seas there are always going from a war policy serves only to give gan's" war abroad, they have been total­ than at any time since the 1930s. credibility to the swindle. ly complicit in his moves at home to be problems about what strokes to use in swimming. There will be currents, And just what is the "congressional against the working class, from budget 'Mass upsurge' cross-currents and under-currents. We challenge"·to Reagan? cutbacks, to antilabor legislation, to at­ tacks on desegregation, to knifing the The growing opposition to the employ­ must learn all the swim-strokes so that Equal Rights Amendment and legal er offensive and the swift rise ofantiwar we are prepared to handle all the cur­ Nuclear freeze abortion. sentiment are testimony to a developing rents. That way, we'll eliminate the To work for the Democrats, the CP is They have zero to do with the mount­ mass upsurge outside of, and against, sink or swim syndrome." compelled to parrot those Democrats ing opposition to "Reaganomics"- ex­ the two parties. To speak of a "mass up­ If Communist Party cadres make calling for a ''bilateral nuclear freeze." cept for trying to exploit the deep popu­ surge" inside the Democratic Party, as work in the Democratic Party "their This is a proposition whose sole pur­ lar sentiment against it in order to get Hall does, is an obscene joke. main and even only activity," they have pose is to take the fire off U.S. imperial­ themselves elected. Asserting that "the left and Party to swim with the stream. Like, they can ism and the wars it is waging, bolster The worst fear of the capitalist politi- cannot afford to sit out the primary elec- be for "peace," but not against war. --CALENDAR------

INDIANA Muiioz, Casa de Unidad; Adela Garcia, Latin Schenectady Guatemala; Jack Hart, former international Gary American Task Force; others. Fri., June 4, Socialist Workers Campaign Open organizer, United Electrical Workers; Jean U.S. Government vs. Workers' Rights: 7:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Church cafeteria, House. Meet Peter Thierjung, SWP candi­ Savage, member oflnternationaJ Association Defend the Antiwar Unionists. Speakers: corner of Labrosse and 6th St. Donation: $2. da,te for lieutenant governor, and Patricia of Machinists Lodge 709, fired by Lockheed­ Harris Freeman, fired from McDonnell Doug­ Ausp: Political Rights Defense Fund. For Mayberry, SWP candidate for 23rd Congres­ Georgia for her union and political activities; las for his political beliefs; Rudy Lozano, or­ more information call (313) 875-5322. sional District. Wed., June 2 and Wed., June Jose Acevedo, member of United Auto Work­ ganizing director, International Ladies' Gar­ 16, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 323 State St. Ausp: ers Local 92 and Young Socialist Alliance; ment Workers Union Midwest region; repre­ Socialist Workers Campaign Committee. For Gerard Ferere, coordinator, Coalition for sentative of Professional Air Traffic Control­ NEBRASKA more information call (518) 374-1494. Haitian Concerns. Sun., June 6, 7 p.m. recep" lers Organization; others. Fri., June 4, 7 p.m. Lincoln tion, 8 p.m. rally. Church of the Advocate, 1199 Union Hall, 745 E Ridge Rd. Donation: A Panel Discussion on Disarmament, Nu­ parish house, 18th and Diamonds Sts. Dona­ $2. Ausp: Political Rights Defense Fund. For clear War, and the Wars in Latin OHIO tion: $2. Ausp: Political Rights Defense more information call (219) 884-9509. America. Speakers: Brian Coyne, coor­ Cincinnati Fund. For more information call (215) 927- dinator, Nebraska Nuclear Weapons Freeze Britain vs. Argentina: What's Behind the 4748. Campaign; Joe Swanson, Socialist Workers Malvinas Islands War? Speakers: Elena KENTUCKY Party, member of United Transportation Blair, Argentine faculty member, Xavier Louisville Union Local 305. Sun., June 6, 7:30p.m. Sa­ University; Bill ·o'Kain, Socialist Workers WEST VIRGINIA Britain and the United States vs Argen­ cred Heart School, 530 N 31st St. Ausp: Milit­ Party member and activist in Latin Amer­ Charleston tina: Behind the Malvinas War. Speakers: lmt Labor Forum. For more information call ican solidarity movement. Sun., June 6, 7:30 Disarmament and the New Antiwar Craig Honts, Socialist Workers candidate for (402) 475-2255. p.m. 2531 Gilbert Ave. Donation: $1.50. Movement: What Strategy is Needed? 3rd Congressional District; others. Fri., June Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ Speakers to be announced. Sun., June 6, 7 4, 7:30p.m. 809 E Broadway. Donation: $2. mation call (513) 751-2636. p.m. 1584-A Washington St. E. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant forum. For more information NEW YORK Ausp: Socialist Workers Party. For more in­ call (502) 587-8418. Manhattan Cleveland · formation call (304) 345-3040. Puerto Rico and Disarmament, Stop U.S. Nuclear War Drive! Speaker: Militarism and the Caribbean. Speaker: Eric Flint, Socialist Workers Party. Sat., MASSACHUSETTS Jorge Rodriguez Berouff, professor at the June 5, 7 p.m. 2230 Superior. Donation: $2. UTAH Boston University of Puerto Rico, director Qf Re­ Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ Price Film: Cambodia: Year One. Sun., June 6, search Project on Militarism in Puerto Rico. mation call (216) 579-9369. Grand Opening of Socialist Headquar­ 7:30p.m. 510 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Fri., May 28, 8 p.m. Taller Latinoamericano, ters. Speakers: Kay Sedam, rail worker and Square. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. 19 W 21st St., 2nd floor. Donation: $3. For SWP candidate for U.S. Senate; Mary Zins, For more information call (617) 262-4621. more information call (212) 989-6820 or 741- PENNSYLVANIA SWP Political Committee and YSA National 3131. Philadelphia Executive Committee; Agnes Chapa, coal Film: Decision to Win. Filmed in areas lib­ Rally· for Political Rights: Speak·Out miner and member, YSA National Commit­ MICHIGAN erated by El Salvador's armed rebels. Fri., Against U.S. War Drive. Speakers: Father tee; Jim White, chairman, Price SWP. Sat., Detroit June 4, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. P.S. 41, Sixth Ave. Paul Washington, longtime civil rights June 5, 7:30p.m. reception. Oliveto Building, Rally to Stop Deportations. Speakers: Hec­ at 11th St. Also: Sun., June 6, 2 p.m. Museo leader; Jack McKinney, Philadelphia Daily 23 South Carbon Ave., Room 19. Ausp: Price tor Marroquin, socialist facing deportation del Barrio, Fifth Ave. at 104th St. Donation: News columnist, just returned from assign­ SWP. For more information call (801) 637- from the U.S. for his political beliefs; Roberto $4. ment in Nicaragua, Honduras, and 6294.

12 The Militant June 4,1982 Documentary: 'Case of the Legless Veteran'

The Case of the Legless Veteran: James dow, arbitrarily dragging people before it to be inter­ Simon Bloom, editor of the Newark Jewish Ledger, Kutcher, produced and directed by Howard Pe­ rogated on their political views. is one of those who responded with outrage to the vic­ trick, 65 minutes. Through actual newsreel footage of the time, Pe­ timization of the legless veteran. The film is punctu­ trick also presents another interesting aspect of these ated with his outspoken comments about the govern­ BY MARTIN KOPPEL kangaroo-court proceedings-how many of the ques­ ment's complicity in the McCarthyite attacks on the Most people today have probably never heard of tioned Hollywood screenwriters, actors, and directors labor movement. James Kutcher. They should. stood up to and challenged the inquisitors on their Kutcher's fight took almost 10 years. Dllring that His is the remarkable story of an otherwise ordi­ turf. time, the government tried to have Kutcher and his nary man, a disabled veteran, who was targeted by The Case of the Legless Veteran makes it clear, elderly parents evicted from their modest housing by the United States government during the McCarthy­ however, that the main target of the McCarthyite using a new law requiring loyalty oaths from tenants ite Era. campaign was the labor movement. in federal projects. Later they revoked Kutcher's dis­ They fired him from his civil service job, tried to get The attorney general's list of "subversive" organi­ ability pension. In both cases these crude moves him evicted, and took away his disability pension. zations, the Government Employee Loyalty Program, sparked such public outrage that the government The reason? Being a member of the Soc~alist and other steps taken under Truman and Eisenhow­ was forced to back down. Workers Party. er, were used to harass and fire government workers, The film culminates with the incredible footage·­ But Kutcher fought back courag~ously. He won and then were extended to workers in the war indus­ shown here for the first time ~ of Kutcher's Loyalty widespread support and- in the middle of the anti-. try. They laid the basis for collusion between private Board hearing. The atmosphere of this rigged affair is companies, government spy agencies, and conserva­ captured by the chief interrogator's remark that "I'll tive labor bureaucrats to subdue the unions and drive make the rules as I go along." out the militant workers. In contrast, Kutcher patiently answers the charges FILM One example shown here is the FBI's direct inter­ against him and reasserts his socialist beliefs. As the vention against striking Westinghouse workers in Soho News reviewer put it, "James Kutcher's simple REVIEW 1956. insistence upon his civil rights is very impressive." The star of the film, of course, is James Kutcher It was impressive enough that in 1956, after an communist hysteria- defeated the witch-hunters. himself, one of the first victims ofthe thought-control eight-year battle oflegal appeals and a vigorous pub­ It became known as the Case of the Legless Vete­ programs during the cold war. lic campaign, Kutcher won his job with full seniority ran (a phrase coined by journalist I. F. Stone). Today, He tells his case in his own modest style, which and, two years later' all his back pay. a documentary film by the same title retells that in­ makes it all the more compelling: how he grew up The example of Kutcher's battle and his victory has spiring story. during the Great Depression and became a socialist, a special importance these days. We're reminded of The Case of the Legless Veteran is a wealth of re­ was drafted, lost both legs in the war, and- despite this as the film credits come on the screen and the vealing information. It brings to light many impor­ an excellent work record - ended up being fired for voice of a contemporary newscaster reports on Ronald tant facts about the nature of the Cold War and the "disloyalty" from his $39-a-week clerk's job at the Ne­ Reagan's attempts to introduce legislation allowing government-inspired witch-hunts of the 1950s. wark Veteran's Administration. The basis for dismis­ increased spying on antiwar activists. Director Howard Petrick did a lot of careful re­ sal was his membership in the SWP, which had been The Case ofthe Legless Veteran is a valuable contri­ search to document the successful campaign to de­ placed on the attorney general's list. . bution to today's labor movement and the fight fend Kutcher, making the story come alive and bring­ Kutcher describes the choice he had to make, the against Washington's war drive. ing out some important lessons for working-class most important one in his life. Backed by the SWP, he fighters and political activists today. decided to fight back. It's inspiring to see how a young One of the best features of the film is how it pres­ worker, who had never spoken up at a meeting be­ International acclaim ents the political context of the case. This is done fore, refused to be intimidated by the U.S. govern­ through a combination of fascinating interviews and ment. for Petrick film newsreel clips. Instead we see James Kutcher openly expressing Most of us were probably subjected in school to his socialist views and firmly asserting his right to The Case of the Legless Veteran is being countless documentaries on World War II. These hold his federal job as well as his membership in the shown in many U.S. cities by supporters of the were all intended to drill into our heads the idea that SWP. Political Rights Defense Fund, which is backing the United States fought in that worldwide bloodbath The Kutcher Civil Rights Defense Committee current legal fights by the Socialist Workers in the name of democracy and against tyranny. helped organize an ambitious campaigh. It put out Party and the Young Socialist Alliance against But how many of us learned about the Going Home literature, raised funds, successfully sought media government spying. Movement? The film shows newsreels of huge demon­ coverge, held public meetings, and sent Kutcher on a Howard Petrick's documentary has also at­ strations of Gls in 1945, protesting U.S. plans to keep nationwide speaking tour. tracted very wide interest internationally. them abroad to wage new wars. Scenes of the Chinese Kutcher's defense campaign solicited support on Since its premiere in the spring of last year, it revolution remind the viewer of the colonial revolu­ the basis of his right tO a job. And it solidarized with has been shown at the 30th Mannheim Film tions then breaking out around the world, which all victims of government harassment, regardless of Festival in West Germany and at international Washington was intent on crushing. political differences. film festivals in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, We also see the postwar layoffs leading to a mas­ The Case of the Legless Veteran portrays the broad and Hong Kong. sive strike wave involving rail workers, truckers, public backing won through this principled defense In Atlanta it won the Atlanta Constitution merchant seamen, and others. effort, the lessons of which still apply today. Support­ and Atlanta Journal Award for best film docu­ The narration by Farrell Dobbs, former national ers included civil libertarians, educators, artists, reli­ mentary. secretary of the SWP and leader of the Teamsters or­ gious figures, and a number of unions, such as the In­ The film has been slated for festivals in Mel­ ganizing struggles in the 1930s, provides many in­ ternational Ladies' Garment Workers Union. boume and Sydney, Australia, as well as Flor­ sights. Dobbs explains how, in response to the work­ Interviews with several of Kutcher's backers - ence, Italy. It is a finalist in the American Film ing-class upsurge, then-president Harry Truman I. F. Stone, Kutcher Defense Committee head George Festival, to be held in New York City this com­ cracked down on the labor movement (signing into Novack, prominent civil liberties lawyer and ing June. law the antiunion Taft-Hartley Act) and launched a Kutcher's attorney Joseph Rauh Jr., and others-re­ The Case of the Legless Veteran is available witch-hunt. veal the important fact that, despite government­ for rental from New Front Films, 1409 Willow Under Truman also came the House Un-American sponsored intimidation, there was widespread public St., Suite 505, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403. Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, which un­ opposition to the witch-hunt and curbs on democratic For more information, call (612) 872-0805. ceremoniously threw the Bill of Rights out the win- rights. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------

Where to find the Socialist Workers Desk, Indiana Memorial Union. Zip: 47405. A Central Ave. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643- RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and so­ Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. Zip: 46400. 3341. P.O. Box 261, Annex Station. Zip: 02901. cialist books and pamphlets Tel: (219) 884-9509. Indianapolis: SWP, YSA, NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. Tel: (317) 283- YSA, 1417 Central Ave. NE. Zip: 87106. Tel: Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 6149. . (505) 842-0954. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 2817 Live Oak. Zip: 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- IOWA: Cedar Falls: YSA, c/o Jim Sprall, NEW YORK: Capital District (Schenec­ 75204. Tel: (214) 826-4711. Houston: SWP, 3079. 803 W. 11th St. Zip: 50613. tady): SWP, YSA, 323 State St. Zip: 12305. YSA, 6333 Gulf Freeway, Room 222. Zip: ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 611 E. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 Tel: (518) 374-1494. New York, Brooklyn: 77023. Tel: (713) 924-4056. San Antonio: Indian School. Zip: 85012. Tel: (602) 274- E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: <502) 587·8418. SWP, YSA, 335 Atlantic Ave. Zip: 11201. Tel: SWP, \'SA, 337 W. Josephine. Zip: 78212. 7399. Tucson: SWP, P.O. Box 2585. Zip: WUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, C212l 852-7922. New York, Manhattan: Tel: (512) 736-9218. 85702. Tel: (602) 622-3880 or 882-4304. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: <504> 486- SWP, YSA, 79 Leonard. Zip: 10013. Tel: <212> UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 8048. 226-8445. New York: City-wide SWP, YSA, Ave., Suite 19. P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 79 Leonard. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 925-1668. C80ll .637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 2864 Telegraph Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235- NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, 677 S. 7th East, 2nd Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel: Ave. Zip: 94609. Tel: (415) 763-3792. San 0013. YSA, 216 E. 6th St., Winston-Salem. Zip: (801> 355-1124. Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. MASSACHUSETI'S: Boston: SWP, YSA, 27101. Tel: (919) 723-3419. VI.RGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport Tel: (714) 234-4630.San Francisco: SWP, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 2531 Gil­ News): SWP, YSA, 111 28th St. Zip: 23607. YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 824- 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. bert Ave. Zip: 45206. Tel: (513) 751-2636. Tel: (804) 380-0133. 1992. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 46lf2 Race St. MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 6404 Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2230 Superior. Zip: WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Zip: 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875- 44114. Tel: (216) 579-9369. Toledo: SWP, Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. 5322. YSA, 2120 DorrSt. Zip: 43607. Tel: (419) 536-' 797-7699. Baltimore-Washington District: 12th Ave. Zip: 80204. Tel: (303) 534-8954. MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, 0383. 3106 Mt. Pleasant St., NW., Washington, FLORIDA: Gainesville: YSA, c/o Bill Pe­ YSA, 1012 2nd Ave. South, Virginia, Minn. OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW D.C. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7021. tersen, 612 SW 2nd St. Zip: 32601. Tel: (904) Send mail to P.O. Box 1287. Zip: 55792. Tel: Everett. Zip: 97209. Tel: (503) 222-7225. WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 376-0210. Miami: SWP, YSA, 1237 NW 119th <218l 749-6327. Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, 508 , · PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, 4868 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: St., North Miami. Zip: 33167. Tel: <305) 769- N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: Edinboro State College. Zip: 16444. Tel: (814) (206) 723-5330. 3478. 1612) 644-6325 .. 734-4415. Harrisburg: SWP, YSA, 803 N. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, GEORGIA! Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 504 Flat MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, · 2nd St. Zip: 17105. Tel: (717) 234-5052. Phi­ YSA, 1584 A Washington St. East. Zip: Shoals Ave. SE. Zip: 30316. Tel: (404) 577· 4715A Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. ladelphia: SWP, YSA, 5811 N. Broad St. Zip: 25311. Tel: (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: 4065. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 19141. Tel: (215) 927-4747 or 927-4748. SWP, YSA, 957 S. University Ave. Zip: ILLINOIS:Chicago:SWP, YSA,434S. Wa­ 63130. Tel: !314) 725-1570. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 1102 E. Carson St. 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. bash, Room 700. Zip: 60605. Tel: (312) 939. NEBRASKA: Lincoln: YSA, P.O. Box Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) 488-7000. State Col­ WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 0737. 30209. Zip: 68503. Tel: (402) 475-2255. lege: YSA, P.O. Box 464, Bellefonte. Zip: 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, Activities NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11- 16823. Tel: (814) 238-3296. 445·2076.

June 4, 1982 The Militant 11 -EDITORIALS------What French workers accomplished in 1871 Paris Commune Another step deeper into war "The civilization and justice of bourgeois order comes out in its lurid light whenever the slaves On May 18, Maj. Gen. Thomas Turnage, director It is worth reviewing how far they've come in this and drudges of that order rise against their mas­ of the Selective Service System, announced that the campaign: ters." Karl Marx wrote these words during the . government is making a list of young men who have January 1980: Then-President James Carter an­ brutal crushing of the Paris Commune in May not registered for the draft. The names will be turned nounces his intention to revive draft registration. 1871. July 1980: Draft registration begins. over to the Justice Department, which says prosecu­ The Commune was the first attempt by work­ tions will begin this summer. June 1981: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the ers to seize control of government and run it in Nonregistrants face a five-year jail term and a draft is constitutional in response to a suit brought the interests of the oppressed and exploited. On $10,000 fine for the "crime" of refusing to fight in by the American Civil Liberties Union. March 18, 1871, the rulers of France attempted January 1982: President Ronald Reagan, after Washington's wars. to disarm the workers of Paris, in the middle of Official government estimates put the number of campaigning as an opponent of draft registration, a war with the Prussian army. The workers re­ men who haven't registered at 527,000. The plan is extends registration indefinitely. He also announces belled and took over the city. They established to move first against a select group of 220, particu­ a grace period until March 1, during which nonregis­ a new government, which they called the Paris trants can sign up without being prosecuted. larly those who have publicly declared their refusal Commune. to register. May 1982: General Turnage declares prosecutions When the Commune was overthrown two Meanwhile, Representative Gerald Solomon (R­ will begin in the summer. In addition, he announces months later, Marx wrote The Civil War in Fr­ N.Y.) has introduced a bill into Congress that would that personnel for 2,112 draft boards are being trained ance, in which he drew the lessons of what this deny federal benefits to anyone who doesn't register. to begin classifying registrants "in the event of a first battle by workers to run their own govern­ These would include student aid, welfare, food national emergency"; and 97 draft appeals boards are ment had accomplished. Below are excerpts. stamps, school lunches, unemployment compensa­ being readied. The government estimates that regis­ tion, Veteran's Administration dependents' benefits, tration will save five to seven weeks in starting up The first decree of the Commune . . . was the and Social Security. a draft. suppression of the standing army, and the substitu­ . These latest moves are aimed not just at antiwar These latest moves serve to underline the hypocrisy youth, but at the U.S. working class as a whole. Their tion for it of the armed people. of Turnage's claim that registration is "a prerequisite The Commune was formed ofthe municipal council­ purpose is to take another step in preparing the Amer­ for the draft" but "no~ necessarily a precursor to the lors, chosen by universal suffrage in the various ican people for the use of U.S. troops in wars abroad, draft." like the wars Washington is already waging in Argen­ • tina, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Certainly the prosecutions of draft resisters will • open a political battle. Those refusing to sign up know OUR The announcement of draft prosecutions came on full well that Reagan is preparing to use them as the eve of the British invasion of the Malvinas Is­ cannon fodder in Central or South America. REVOLUTIONARY lands. Even after Reagan's "grace period" was up March Britain is waging a classic imperialist war, 8,000 1, the government admitted that 900,000 young men HERITAGE miles away, against a semicolonial country, Argen­ still hadn't registered. tina, which has asserted its rightful sovereignty over Since then, under continual threat of legal action, the Malvinas Islands. about 400,000 of those young men have reluctantly wards of the town, responsible and revocable at short The U.S. government is up to its neck in this dirty registered, according to the Selective Service System. terms. The majority of its members were naturally war, providing indispensable military support to · However, the General Accounting Office says that working men, or acknowledged representatives of the working class. The Commune was to be a working, Thatcher's pirate fleet. The U.S. has provided a base the rate of registration for each new group of 18-year­ for the invasion force at Ascension Island, and is olds that become eligible is decreasing. not a parliamentary body, executive and legislative shipping missiles and tanker planes to the British. When the announcement of draft prosecutions was at the same time. Instead of continuing to be the White House officials have refused to say whether made, excerpts of a transcript from an April 12 Pen­ agent of the Central Government, the police was at U.S. personnel are involved in the South Atlantic, tagon meeting of the Military Manpower Task Force once stripped of its political attributes, and turned but clearly Washington is becoming the lifeline for was "leaked" to the press. into the responsible and at all times revocable agent the British war expedition. Present at the April 12 meeting were General Tur­ of the Commune. So were the officials of all other The Malvinas war results from the irreconcilable nage, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, White branches of the administration. conflict between imperialist powers like Britain and House official Edwin Meese, and John Herrington, a Having once got rid of the standing army and the the United States and the aspirations of the exploited Navy official. The excerpts were printed in the May police, the physical force elements of the old govern­ masses of the colonial world. The imperialists cannot 19 Washington Post. ment, the Commune was anxious to break the tolerate the smallest scrap of land being wrenched What the officials discussed was how to carry spiritual force of repression, the "parson-power," by the disestablishment and disendowment of all from their grip - it sets an example for all those through some initial prosecutions of nonregistrants yearning to be free of domination and class exploita­ and minimize the scope of political opposition. Her­ churches as proprietary bodies. The priests were sent back to the recesses of private life, there to feed upon tion. rington acknowledged prosecutions could be "a rally­ The retaking of the Malvinas by Argentina's Gal­ ing point" for antiwar forces. the alms of the faithful in imitation of their predeces­ tieri dictatorship was in response to a working-class sors, the apostles. The whole of the educational in­ "I think the~ases should be quiet; and pick the upsurge in that country. Galtieri hoped to restore right jurisdiction so you don't end up in New York or stitutions were opened to the people gratuitously, and control by his seizure of the islands. In fact, what has Chicago," he suggested. at the same time cleared of all interference of church resulted is a big strengthening of the workers' resolve Weinberger chimed in: "Not the District of Colum­ and state. Thus, not only was education made acces­ to throw off both the tyranny of British and U.S. bia." sible to all, but science itself freed from the fetters colonialism, and that of the Argentine junta. The transcript shows the ruling class recognizes which class prejudice and governmental force had imposed upon it. What the Malvinas war has brought glaringly to the depth of antiwar sentiment- especially in cities light is the impossibility of imperialism relying on with big Black and Latino populations. But it also The judicial functionaries were to be divested of the regimes it has installed in the colonial world to that sham independence which had but served to shows that despite this sentiment, top governme1,1t defend its interests. Even the most iron-fisted dic­ mask their abject subserviency to all succeeding gov­ officials have decided to go ahead with their plans to tatorships are weak in the face of a mass working­ ernments to which, in turn, they had taken, and dragoon young workers and farmers into their army. class upsurge. broken, the oaths of allegiance. Like the rest of public The problem for them is how to defuse and confuse servants, magistrates and judges were to be elective, Imperialism has no choice but to rely more and opposition as they do this. more on the use of its own troops. The open backing • responsible and revocable. ofthe British invasion ofthe Malvinas by Washington Massive sentiment without organization cannot tie [The Commune's] true secret was this. It was essen­ has a strong element of trying to legitimize the direct the hands of the warmakers. What is needed is pre­ tially a working class government, the produce of the use of U.S. troops in Latin America. cisely to build a movement that stands squarely in struggle of the producing against the appropriating The U.S. government is already at war in El Sal­ opposition to Washington's wars - including its class, the political form at last discovered urider which vador and Nicaragua. Fresh military aid has just moves to draft young people to fight them. to work out the economical emancipation of labour. been sent to the Salvador junta, and U.S. advisers The draft was abolished in 1973. This victory for Except on this last condition, the Communal Con­ are actively helping the army try to contain the guer­ working people came as part of building a powerful stitution would have been an impossibility and a rilla forces. movement against the U.S. war in Vietnam. delusion. The political rule of the producer cannot In Nicaragua, the U.S. is organizing a secret war Today, partly becau~e of the Vietnam struggle and co-exist with the perpetuation of his social slavery. of border raids, sabotage, and economic strangulation. its impact on the consciousness of American workers, The Commune was therefore to serve as a lever for CIA and Green Beret advisers are operating in Hon­ opposition to a new Vietnam is much deeper. It is uprooting the economical foundations upon which duras to direct the counterrevolutionary bands who directly tied to growing resistance to the rulers' war rests the existence of classes, and therefore of class continually attack Nicaragua. at home -plant shutdowns, devastating unemploy­ rule. With labour emancipated, every man becomes But to most effectively carry out these wars in ment, cutbacks in vital social services, and attacks a working man, and productive labour ceases to be a Central America, Washington needs to use U.S. on democratic rights. class attribute. troops- and that means it needs the draft, just like A new antiwar movement is needed, one that The great social measure of the Commune was its it needs more "conventional" weapons, battleships, mobilizes the working class, Blacks and Latinos, Gls, own working existence. Its special measures could and Rapid Deployment forces. veterans, and youth against the wars Washington but betoken the tendency of a government of the • has already started. Such a movement would oppose people by the people. Such were the abolition of the Deep sentiment against new Vietnams has forced reinstitution of the draft because it opposes the wars nightwork of journeymen bakers; the prohibition, the U.S. rulers to proceed step by step, testing the Washington needs the draft for. under penalty, of the employers' practice to reduce reaction to each of its war moves, hiding some of them The June 12 rally at the United Nations can be an wages by levying upon their workpeople fines under behind news blackouts, and attempting to mask its opportunity for advancing the fight for this antiwar manifold pretexts- a process in which the employer motives with fake rhetoric about its supposed defense movement, and for voicing opposition to the moves combines in his own person the parts of legislator, of democracy. to prosecute draft resisters. judge, and executor, and filches the money to boot. The same government that is carrying out an as­ Those who refuse to register are upholding their Working men's Paris, with its Commune, will be sault on democratic rights at home can hardly be constitutional and moral right not to fight in an forever celebrated as the glorious harbinger of a new credited with defending democracy abroad. imperialist war in Nicaragua, El Salvador, or any­ society. Its martyrs are enshrined in the great heart The new plans to prosecute nonregistrants have to where else. of the working class. Its exterminators' history has be looked at in that light - as the most recent step These courageous youth deserve the fullest support already nailed them to that eternal pillory from which in a whole series of moves to drive through conscrip­ and commendation of all those fighting to end all the prayers of their priest will not avail to redeem tion despite popular opposition. Washington's new Vietnams. them.

14 The Militant June 4, 1982 Black unions challenge South African apartheid

The Black '.vorkN ; n South Africa is denied the imperialist power on the continent. bosses and the apartheid system. In me, 3,500 must elementary human rights by the white minority Thtc• economy is to Lally dep1:ndent on Blavk laLo1. \' olkswageil \Hil'l,;.,,;rs walked off the jm.· '' a pay in­ ,·egime that governs Uw coun! rv. H is the apartheid Mnn· than S-i percenL of the work force t:-. mCJde up of r·n•<~St' unde.- tlw kadPr,.hip of the Ur: .i Automo­ syster11 '' hits repn:.-; .. ,ive bw:..; ;tnd itf' mililary and PLh.'ks. And thi,; p:ruporL:un COlitinut~b to grv·v\·, }~y th;· l,ik, l1ubbc·r :Hi'.l Ailldl Wor!-,;;r:,; Unio;: l the peaf: police :-;trcngth thni. kHcps the 1 () perccni oft}u.; pnpu year 2000. \\h;L-_"-:~ v.. dl rn:~_tkt' up :)nl.v '7 fH~rcPt:t ~)ftfp_· ·,!' tht-: :-'.t.rikf·_ lh~' !-e 1<>\f_~,~e 7 . .SOO invoh ~~ :.:pread OU\ iatior1 that;;-:; whitt: lH contrnl of the l-)lacks, \\d1() af(~ w·orh ft·r-c-..· nvcr 11 L.H:lcnt~:--·.. '!. L:;• strik~:' \Va~ succt· .. · ~ ·~d and th<-_·. The BL1ck worker is Fwving mnre and mnre ir:•.o union won ib dt•m;nab. thP cente•· of the flght to overthrow tb" rncist apm i. In the Cape Towr: ,1.rea, there v-:as a .;~·ep-month ~t~·:Lf, o1· rrL·:3r v.:nr~·e1·-·~ tc! tJr!!·;_:nizc a no; tiiion shOJJ. BY .J\NY MEANS 1Yurnht•r:: oi •.v; __ ,!·kets Jrt~ nrga.nL-:.Jng P1tP lr;;dt-· unic.;""' Thi:·.w:J.''SUPf"•rT••d hv :o nat::J:l;ll boycu\. ;fredn1eat and getting f:ghtitw Pxperitmc<-. ln i~Kl. th,·r·· we,·e ,i;' ·;_Eti(_J:: r~~c~lf!niUon. }~oth ~-tn \'f·r the /.L1 I t{·.:nt:·d. 1\\t:ivi n Chappell :-;tr;h.e;, m l :-,.")•i. Black u :H'c u.•i•T'STE he• ;nany ditfi, ·;1( problern~ rf'radr· union1~"tr .:1i1lC:H.lf_~- F:~;:_cks r:lcttf":, ~{;_..;: f~1.r htH·~ :f-.; iL1 or:J;Hll.iZ:ng. i··ht' .snvPrnrnenl hns !' -...·d laws te: th~::l 1920s, f)uring the 1970.-.:; Jt \-vas reviiah:zed ~nhi c;iow :itlwit :.h;· nnmednte urgamza' of Black over 84 p<'r•.em of the· pDpulation. tBia,·k..; in South ;;sed l'nce again a" rl!1 effe(:ti\P W!'apon. ln 197'·:, unicms and prPV!~ll! 'J powerful union nw>·:·ment from Africa include African:'. Jndians. and Coloured ·--· 100.000 workers went on strike m Durban. In the lac:i devd0ping. Unions must t·egister wit!•. 1 he govern­ those of mixed race. l two years union membership has incrPased by more ment: those that refuse are denied duec~ ciwck-off and Under apartheid, the African workers do not own than 50 percent to include several hundred thousand the right to pay strike benefits. the houses they live in. They earn only a quarter of workers, The bosses respond to strikes with firing and lock­ the wages of the average white worker. They can be Unions independent of white control have been outs. Union leaders are arrested and public meetings jailed without trial and they are consistently denied formed in recent years. The largest Black union fed­ and marches are banned or broken up by riot police. the right to organize strikes and picket lines. eration is the Federation of South African Trade On February 11, 100,000 workers throughout The huge investments of U.S. and European corpo­ Unions. Founded in 1979 it claims a membership of South Africa, most of them Black, stopped work for rations in the South African economy has made the 95,000. half an hour to honor white trade unionist Neil Ag­ country the most industrialized and the most prole­ In the spring and summer of 1980, three major gett, who. died while in the custody of the police on tarianized in Africa. South Africa is today the only strikes broke out that tested the strength of the February 5.

-LETTERS------~------Jehovah's Witnesses doing political work." In a letter in the April16 Mil­ Jane Harris itant, Lois Klinglesmith re­ Managua, Nicaragua quested information on the de­ portation of 10 Jehovah's Wit­ nesses from Nicaragua. Legal murder Klinglesmith said she was Welder Billy Langston had. "disturbed" by the news, be­ been working inside a four-foot­ cause she thought that the Wit­ diameter stainless steel pipe at nesses stayed "totally neutral the Tosco oil refinery in A von, towards politics." California. The job had lasted What are the facts? several weeks. Billy, who is five Minister Sixto Ulloa of Nica­ feet eight inches tall, had to ragua's Ecumenical Committee work three and four hours at a to Aid Development (CEPAD), time doubled over inside the which includes 40 Protestant pipe, welding. denominations, told the Mil­ On Monday, April 26, his itant that the Witnesses' claim stomach knotted up and his to be apolitical is fiction, be­ chest tightened as he worked. cause "their very principles run Billy was concerned, and visited counter to the revolution." a nearby hospital. He was promptly released with a clean For starters, he said, even bill of health. Less than two days during the state of emergency later he was dead, a victim of the Witnesses actively urged what has been called "welder's people not only not to partici­ disease." His lungs had filled up pate in the Sandinista Armed with liquid in reaction to breath­ Forces and the Sandinista Peo­ ing poisonous byproducts of ple's Militias, but also not to Members of Young Pioneers, Cuban revolutionary youth organization. welding stainless steel. give blood, not to salute the flag or sing the national hymn, not In the days following Billy to participate in the vaccination Langston's death, 29 other wel­ Cuba on TV of Cuba and its territorial integ­ asked if he minded having to go campaign, and even not to par­ ders and maintenance workers Last month Ted Turner's Ca­ rity. to another country to serve or ticipate in the literacy cam­ who had been working in the ble News Network (CNN) did Anyone watching the pro­ fight? He responded, "No, I was paign. same area were hospitalized for something that hasn't been gram might have asked why very proud to go to Angola - I shortness of breath, chest pains, does the U.S. have this policy of considered it an honor." But this alone is not why the · done since 1958 - broadcast vomiting, and headaches. live from Cuba. aggression? Cuba is such a tiny This is a reflection of the in­ 10 people Klinglesmith refers to island - how could it possibly ternationalism that all Cubans were deported. This particular The California Occupational For five days CNN broadcast­ Safety and Health Administra­ eel to the millions of Americans threaten us in this country? Af­ learn and understand. They see group was also publishing anti­ ter viewing the remainder of the the fight for the existence of the revolutionary material, in vio­ tion (Cal-OSHA) has shut down who watch it via cable televi­ the work site where the workers sion. Given that CNN is owned week's worth of programming, Cuban revolution as including lation of the state of emergency, the answer became clear. The helping freedom fighters in and that is why they were asked were stricken. It is investigating and operates as any other televi­ whether safety standards were sion news media does under cap­ U.S. government is hostile to Africa struggle from the grips of to leave. the Cuban revolution because of imperialism when asked to. This information, although violated by the Tosco Corpora­ italism -that is, defending the tion and the contracting firm millionaires or corporations the inspirational example it sets I'm glad CNN gave us the published in all three Nicara­ - one that American working chance to "see for ourselves" guan dailies, was conveniently that Billy Langston worked for, that own them - it did a sur­ Bay Cities Crane and Rigging prisingly good job in allowing people can look to -an example what is going on in Cuba. I also omitted from U.S. press reports of socialism. understand better why the U.S. of the Witnesses' deportation. Company. the Cuban people and the Cu­ Richard Wade, the Cal-OSHA ban government a chance to The minister of health told government doesn't want Amer­ According to Ulloa, as well as official in charge of the investi­ talk to the American public viewers that in Cuba most medi­ icans going there themselves, Catholic representatives that gation, told the S.F. Chronicle about their revolution. cal services were free and that and why they reinstituted the the Militant spoke with, the Je­ that the agency was "checking Ricardo Alarcon of Cuba's for­ health care in this still-poor ban on travel to Cuba. They are hovah's Witnesses have a long reports that a cleaning crew was eign ministry explained Cuba country was on the level of most afraid that we might be im­ history of counterrevolutionary sent inside the tower [where favors normal relations with the developed countries. pressed by what we see. activity in Latin America, nota­ Langston was working] to re­ U.S. In all instances, though, Others interviewed included P.S. -After writing this let­ bly in Cuba. move any evidence" of wrong the U.S. has maintained a policy Vilma Espin, founder and lead­ ter another Ted Turner station Ulloa said that none of the 40 doing. of aggression towards the Cu­ er of the Cuban Federation of broadcast live the Cuban all­ denominations ofCEPAD consi­ Although Cal-OSHA has not ban revolution - the invasion Women, which encompasses 80 star baseball game. We got to dered the Witnesses' deporta­ yet completed its investigation, of the Bay of Pigs with U.S.­ percent of all Cuban women; re­ see the best of Cuban baseball. tion a violation of religious free­ an agency official said it ap­ trained, financed, and organized ports on how the revolution is Warren Simons dom, which he pointed out was peared the workers had not been mercenaries; assassination at­ moving to diversify its indus­ Virginia, Minnesota specifically protected by a provided with protective breath­ tempts against leaders; econom­ tries and agriculture; from ar­ clause written into the state of ing apparatuses even though ic sabotage; the severing of rela­ tist Alicia Alonso, who is the in­ The letters column is an open emergency law. Churches in Ni­ they were working in an en­ tions with Cuba by the U.S. gov­ spirer of the Cuban National forum for all viewpoints on caragua, he explained, were closed space. ernment; the economic block­ Ballet; and much, much more. subjects of general interest to clear that the Jehovah's Wit­ Billy Langston's wife Cynthia ade. He stated that the two This reporter's favorite inter­ our readers. Please keep your nesses' work, far from being ap­ has filed a $10-million suit countries could live ·as neigh­ view was the segment on the letters brief Where necessary olitical, was directed against against Tosco for the wrongful bors if the U.S. acted with re­ Territorial Militias, a volunteer they will be abridged. Please the revolution. death of her husband. spect and on the basis of inter­ citizens militia. One young Cu­ indicate if you prefer that your As Ulloa put it, "They say Candace Wagner national law, and respected the ban, an electrician's helper who initials be used rather than they're apolitical, but they are Oakland, California independence and sovereignty served in the Cuban army, was your full name.

June 4, 1982 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Brutal police attack in Puerto Rico

BY ROBERTO KOPEC girl whose arm was fractured, and an beaten by the cops, was charged with League (LIT), an organization in soli­ In an action that has provoked pro­ 11-year-old girl who was hit in the eye killing the policeman. darity with the Fourth International. tests throughout Puerto Rico, several with a billy club. Others suffered gun­ About 15 people were arrested. Six In New York an emergency picket hundred paramilitary cops raided the shot wounds. student activists who were supporters of line was held May 19 in front of the Villa Sin Miedo (Town Without Fear) One policeman was killed - appar­ the settlers had their bail set at $1.5 Puerto Rican Commonwealth offices. settlement near San Juan on May 18. ently by one of the trigger-happy cops million each. They were charged with Some 200 people participated. The police brutally evicted the inhabi­ participating in the attack. The settlers possession of arms. A collection of medicine and clothing tants and set fire to most of the wooden were not armed, and he was shot point­ Villa Sin Miedo was founded about a for the Villa Sin Miedo residents is be­ dwellings where more than 200 families blank through a bullet-proof vest. A year and a half ago on government land ing organized through the offices of the had been living. leader of the Villa, Jose Vellon Lauria­ that until then was only being used as Puerto Rican Solidarity Committee, 19 Several persons were injured in the no, now hospitalized with wounds in the grazing land for 35 cows, From the be­ West 21st St., 2nd Floor, New York, police attack, among them a 5-year-old legs and hands after being severely ginning the government of Puerto Rico N.Y.10010. opposed the settlement, arguing that it Money donations may be sent directly was illegal and "violated the right of pri­ to the Villa Sin Miedo Support Commit­ vate property." tee, Colegio de Trabajadores Sociales de Denied any government aid and Puerto Rico, Apartado 30382, 65 de In­ placed under constant threat of eviction fanteria, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and continuous harassment by cops and 00929. undercover agents, the Villa residents developed their community, building roads, a schoolhouse, a church, a park, Socialist threatened and a collectively cultivated field. After having been forced out of their On May 20, as he was driving on the homes, some 300 Villa residents started Americas expressway in Puerto Rico, a march towards GOvernor Carlos Pablo Soto, ~ leader of the Inter­ Romero Barcelo's residence in San nationalist Workers League (LIT), was Juan, a distance of20 miles. Barcelo had pulled over by an unmarked police car. authorized the cops' action. On the way Two plainclothes cops then began the marchers were joined by cars and threatening him and questioning him trucks whose drivers offered to take about other members of the LIT, which them. A spontaneous caravan was has been active in support of the resi­ formed. dents of Villa Sin Miedo. When Soto refused to answer their When the demonstrators reached the questions, one of the plainclothesmen Capitol, which is on the way to the gov­ told him: "You're lucky about the time. ernor's residence, they staged a rally. If it was 8 o'clock in the morning we Support for the residents and condem• would kill you." Soto had been stopped nations of the government's move in in the evening when there was heavy evicting them has been expressed by traffic on the expressway. several unions, including the Teamsters When Soto demanded the right to and the Electrical and Water Workers have a lawyer present before he would Union (UTIER). Support has also come answer any questions, one of the cops from student organizations at the Uni­ told him that "we don't believe in that versity of Puerto Rico, several church right. Here there are only three of us." Paramilitary cops attacked residents of Villa Sin Miedo and burned homes groups, the Puerto Rican Socialist Party The other added: "Next time I see you and belongings to the ground. (PSP), and the Internationalist Workers I'll put a bullet through your head.", Calif. court to rule on workers' right to campaign

BY JANICE LYNN ing people to organize themselves in the How can anyone run for a statewide Maisel also accused the board of mak­ SALINAS, Calif. -The fight for inde­ political arena. The board wants to try office and still keep a job as rigorous as ing the decision to deny Mason's leave in pendent candidate Mel Mason's right to to extend the Hatch Act to college em­ working for a school system? Judge An­ private, closed session - in violation of campaign for governor of this state was ployees. ton asked. Isn't that prohibitive? the state's Brown Act on open meetings. taken into the courtroom here May 21. The Hatch Act, an undemocratic piece Maisel requested that the discussions "The fundamental issue here," Maisel Mason's case, which has received wide­ of legislation, prevents fE)deral employ­ that took place at these closed executive declared, "is the right of a worker to run spread publicity over the last several ees such as postal workers from running sessions be submitted to the judge to for office. Anyone who depends on a pay­ months, was heard before superior court for elective office. find out if in fact Mason's socialist views check, whether they be a classified em­ Judge John Anton. California has its own statute - were a factor in denying his request for ployee like Mason or a factory worker, Mason is a socialist city councilman sometimes called the "Little Hatch Act" a leave. should not have their job jeopardized for in Seaside, California. He is suing the - which grants public employees the participating in the electoral process "If we get a favorable decision," Mai­ governing board of Monterey Peninsula right to participate in political activity and exercising their First Amendment sel told the Militant, it will be a land­ College (MPC) because it denied him a only in off-duty hours. right of free speech." mark decision. It will establish the right leave of absence to campaign. In his opening remarks, Maisel ac­ of working people in California to run Mason's attorney, Robin Maisel, cused the MPC governing board of At this point Judge Anton interjected for political office and to have a role in argued that the MPC board had abused "wanting its own special Little Hatch that lawyers and those who were very making political decisions in this state. its discretionary powers when it denied Act for MPC." rich were able to take time off to cam­ the California gubernatorial candidate Is this true? the judge asked DeLay. paign, whereas a worker could not. "If we lose," Maisel continued, "we a leave. "Yes," DeLay admitted. "I always felt it was wrong that so will take this fight as far as we have to Mason had requested an unpaid, sev­ So would it be a fair statement, Judge many lawyers represent us," Anton go." en-month leave from his job as MPC stu­ Anton asked, to say that if someone was said, "and that we don't have a better A decision is expected by Judge Anton dent activities coordinator earlier this seeking employment at Monterey Pe­ cross section." within a week. spring. ninsula College they would have to be He questioned why a working person Mason, who attended the hearing The governing board twice denied told that under the Little Hatch Act should have to lose their job if they along with a dozen campaign suppor­ Mason's request, despite the fact that it they could run for office but couldn't get wanted to take time off to run for office. ters, told the Militant, "What the board had granted a semester's leave to anoth­ a leave to do so? In his concluding remarks, Maisel ac­ is opposed to are my political views as a er college employee to go sailing. DeLay stated that he felt this was val­ cused the MPC governing board of dis­ socialist. They do not want a socialist Maisel pointed out that it was imper­ id because local agencies like college criminating against Mason because of running for office. They do not want an missible for the board to grant a person­ boards have the authority to make such his political views. He pointed out that antiwar candidate running for office. al leave to one employee to go sailing decisions and the courts should not in­ Mason was a well-known socialist and They do not want someone who marches while denying a personal leave for Ma­ terfere with the board's power. fighter for Black rights in Seaside and in support of the Voting Rights Act run­ son to participate in the political process DeLay tried to argue that the board throughout the state. ning for office. and exercise his free-speech rights. was not prohibiting Mason from run­ The MPC board is attempting to si­ "They do not want someone running The board argued that granting a ning for office. He cited the example of lence Mason's political views by refus­ for office who talks about the need for a leave for the purpose of running for pol­ another MPC employee who was cur­ ing to grant him time off to campaign, new society, governed by workers and itical office would "open the flood gates" . rently running for county superintend­ Maisel told the judge. farmers. This is against the board's in­ - setting a precedent for other college ent of schools and who had.not requested Maisel also charged there were clear terests and against the system they rep­ employees to become involved in the a leave of absence. · indications that the board was trying to resent - a system where the rich rule. political process as candidates. Judge Anton, in disbelief, asked De­ get rid of Mason because he has spoken My campaign talks about the need to The MPC board's attorney, Paul De­ Lay how he e:mld compare someone run­ out against discriminatory policies at change all that, and that is why the Lay, made it clear that what was at ning a l(l•.:<•~ ··ampaign with someone the college and against impending cut­ board is going to such lengths to try to stake in this case was the right of work- running a stat.P campaign. hacks. prevent me from campaigning."

16 The Militant June 4, 1982