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Two Faces of Imperialism G7/NATO: Diplomacy Venezuela, Cabo Verde, Among Thieves the Case of Alex Saab to Grasp the Essence of the a Fledgling U.S

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Two Faces of Imperialism G7/NATO: Diplomacy Venezuela, Cabo Verde, Among Thieves the Case of Alex Saab to Grasp the Essence of the a Fledgling U.S Naomi Osaka, ¿explotada? 12 La resistencia palestina 12 Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 63, No. 24 June 17, 2021 $1 Two faces of imperialism G7/NATO: Diplomacy Venezuela, Cabo Verde, among thieves the case of Alex Saab To grasp the essence of the a fledgling U.S. power present— By Sara Flounders and Roger D. Harris Otherwise, the U.S. would be sending meetings in Europe, in which Joe aimed to coordinate European colo- Venezuela aid instead of lavishing aid on the Biden has been talking nicely to nialism’s looting of Africa. France Facing the possible extradition to the U.S. apartheid state of Israel, the narco-state of Washington’s predatory imperial- and Britain had already seized the of a Venezuelan diplomat on bogus charges, Colombia and the absolute monarchy of Saudi ist allies, we should examine their lion’s share of the continent, with an emergency human rights delegation orga- Arabia. historical precedent: the 1884-1885 Portugal, Italy, Germany, Belgium nized by the International Campaign to Free The kidnapping of Alex Saab is a dramatic Berlin Conference to divide and and Spain taking most of the rest. Alex Saab on June 3 flew to Cabo Verde, where and far-reaching effort to enforce the illegal plunder the African continent. The conference drew bound- Saab is imprisoned. This island archipelago U.S.-decreed policy of economic sanctions. Armed with aries dividing nation off the west coast of Africa is one of the Washington is attempting to impose its will on this historical the colonies to smallest, poorest and geographically isolated a country by deliberately attacking the civilian perspective, it is mitigate the countries in the world. population. These illegal sanctions are a con- easy to debunk editorial interimperial- The international human rights delega- scious policy of imposing economic havoc to Washington and ist infighting, tion did not gain Alex Saab’s freedom. They “make the economy scream.” the corporate media’s whitewash of which slowed down the continent’s were even denied a visit with him. But they Saab, a Venezuelan diplomat abducted by these mid-June 2021 gatherings— conquest and had the potential made breakthroughs raising the visibility of the U.S. government a year ago, has been held construed to be “summits” of fellow to unleash a war in Europe. Its the case, which involves enormous political, under torturous conditions. The denial of dip- “democracies” that share “common other goal was to restrain compe- legal and moral issues with long-term political lomatic immunity by the U.S. is illegal, a viola- values,” opposed to “autocracies.” tition from the emerging empires consequences. tion of international law. What are those common val- Saab’s case involves the abduction of a dip- ues? The Berlin Conference— with Continued on page 10 lomat by the world’s sole superpower, which International campaign to Free Alex Saab is locked in an unequal strug- The powerful corporate media, by omission, gle to destroy the formerly can render a news item invisible. The Saab case prosperous, oil-rich country of is virtually unknown in the U.S., even among Boston Venezuela. The U.S. attack on progressive political journalists, left organi- Venezuela is not motivated by zations and solidarity activists. Washington’s imperfections in Venezuelan demand for the extradition of Alex Saab is society, but on Venezuela’s past being covered more extensively in African and successes in fighting poverty, Latin American publications. In Venezuela, as promoting regional integra- expected, the case is well known. tion and acting like a sovereign Among some who are aware of the case, there nation. Continued on page 3 Second Annual Boston Trans Resistance March, Vigil and WW PHOTO: S. KIRSCHBAUM Pride Fest, from Roxbury to Dorchester, June 12. Page 2. Reparations victory 2 Harvard workers battle layoffs 3 Colonial legacy: anti-LGBTQ+ laws 5 Worldwide tribute 4 Palestine & solidarity 7 LUMA protest 9 Mumia honors Ramsey Clark Editorial Life without parole Cuts punish jobless 10 Palestine’s twin activists 6 India 8 Greece 8 Honduras 9 France 9 ‘African Lion’ 10 Peru 11 Page 2 June 17, 2021 workers.org December 12th Movement applauds reparations victory in New York State Assembly this week The Dec. 12th Movement International Secretariat ◆ In the U.S. issued the following press statement June 10, 2021. Reparations victory in N.Y. State Assembly ......2 Harvard dining hall workers resist layoffs .......3 The December 12th Trans resistance! ............................3 Movement congrat- Life without parole...........................6 ulates the New York State Assembly for its Mumia Abu-Jamal on Ramsey Clark.......... ..6 passage of the historic Solidarity with Palestine — Seattle .............7 Reparations Bill authored Palestinian Youth Movement rallies ............7 by Assemblyman Charles Vigil at Tacoma migrant prison ............... 8 Barron. This “Reparations Remedy” bill, different ◆ Around the world from any others being considered around the U.S., provides for a Commission The Reparations bill complements our campaign to Venezuela, Cabo Verde, the case of Alex Saab ....1 with majority representation of community members demand an executive order from President Biden pro- International tribute to Ramsey Clark ..........4 who have a demonstrated expertise in and commitment viding for a $50 billion down payment on reparations to Western colonizers imposed anti-LGBTQ+ laws ..5 to the demand for reparations. It also sets a timetable for be directed to the reform of health care delivery systems Palestinian youth defiant .....................6 rapid implementation of a process which is long overdue. in Black communities. It is now up to the New York State Senate to act TODAY On this day, in this period between the commem- U.S. Empire deploys troops . .7 to complete this stage of the campaign. Any further delay orations of the George Floyd lynching, the Tulsa Race Indian farmers take actions .................. 8 is inexcusable. Massacre and Juneteenth, we celebrate this victory. It Workers battle austerity in Greece . 8 We, the December 12th Movement, who for over thirty is not a time for complacency; it must inspire all of us to Author of Berta Cáceres’ assassination on trial ...9 years have been waging the fight for reparations, locally, push forward with greater commitment, passion, resolve nationally and internationally, in the streets, in the class- and consistency. ‘LUMA out of Puerto Rico!’....................9 rooms and in the courts, are honored to be one of the As we said at the 2001 United Nations World Protests against racism sweep France...........9 three community-representative organizations (along Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa: ‘African Lion 21’ hunts for new prey ...........10 with N’COBRA and the Institute of the Black World) des- They stole us! They sold us! They owe us! Reparations Political earthquake in Peru ..................11 ignated to the Commission. Now! ☐ Marxism, Reparations & the Black Freedom Struggle ◆ Editorial G7/NATO: Diplomacy among thieves ...........1 Edited by Monica Moorehead An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. No work, no eat ............................10 Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination • Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Wage ◆ Noticias en Español Slavery • Black Youth: Repression & Resistance • The Struggle for Socialism Is Key • Domestic Workers United Demand Passage of a Bill of Rights • Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Human Rights Naomi Osaka, ¿explotada? ...................12 & Global Justice! • Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior • Racism & Poverty in the Delta • Haiti Needs La resistencia palestina ......................12 Reparations, Not Sanctions • Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation • Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? Anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion Available at major online booksellers. Free PDF at workers.org/books BARRON SAHU GRAPHIC: COVER Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Join us in the fight Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] for socialism! Web: www.workers.org Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist and trans people are gunned down by cops and bigots on Vol. 63, No. 23 • June 17, 2021 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a mul- a regular basis. Closing date: June 16, 2021 tinational, multigenerational and multigendered organiza- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out Editors: John Catalinotto, Martha Grevatt, Deirdre tion that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to build a decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- Griswold, Monica Moorehead, Betsey Piette, socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Minnie Bruce Pratt Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Web Editors: ABear, Harvey Markowitz, Janet Mayes world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational ever-greater profits. working class. It is time to point the blame at— and chal- Prisoners Page Editors: Mirinda Crissman, Ted Kelly Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and repres- lenge— the capitalist system. Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Mirinda sion, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ2S+ WWP fights for socialism because the working class Crissman, Ted Kelly, Sasha Mazumder, Scott Williams oppression and mistreatment of people with disabili- produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, ties. It means joblessness, increasing homelessness and remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- S. Hedgecoke impoverishment and lack of hope for the future. No social talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially problems can be solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guaran- Contributing Editors: LeiLani Dowell, G. Dunkel, The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one tee basic human needs. K.
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