¡La autodefensa es un derecho! 12 Editorial Niños perdidos 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 62, No. 46 Nov. 12, 2020 $1 Black vote dumps Trump By Monica Moorehead and Louisville, Ky., respectively this past spring. There were also signs saying that Once it was confirmed on Nov. 7 that the election was not about Biden/Harris, the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ticket but about the defeat of Trump and that had defeated Trump, literally tens of the struggle will continue. thousands of people around the U.S. There was also the recognition of his- spontaneously took to the streets for tory being made with Kamala Harris hours in jubilation and celebration. Not being the first woman and the first only were downtown areas taken over woman of color to become a vice-presi- but also neighborhoods, block by block, dent elect. While describing herself as a where traffic came to a standstill with Black woman of Jamaican heritage, her horns blaring. family roots also come from the Indian While the majority of those in the state of Tamil Nadu. There were thou- streets were young people, all ages partic- sands of women, including Muslims, car- ipated regardless of nationality, gender, rying signs expressing equal if not more gender expression and abilities. People support for Harris winning than Biden. Lead banners of march in Philadelphia Center City, Nov. 7. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE could hardly wait to let off steam after While there was a wide gauntlet of waiting for what must have seemed like political views of people who poured out an eternity—​if only five days—​to see if in the streets of Philadelphia, Atlanta, the four-year nightmare of Trump would New York City, Chicago, the Bay Area, Philly celebrates, come to an end. Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and else- And who could blame them, for he had where, there was one view that united insulted and degraded the dignity and them all—​their utter hatred and disgust pledges to keep fighting integrity of so many sectors of the work- for Trump. By Ted Kelly Wallace’s killing, as communities across ing class inside and outside the U.S. These Philadelphia the city condemned the cops for respond- include im/migrants, Black, Latinx, Asian Referendum on police violence, health crisis ing with deadly force to a Black man who and Indigenous communities, women, As soon as the news broke late on the was experiencing a mental health crisis. LGBTQ2S+ people and people with dis- Close to 145 million people cast votes morning of Nov. 7 that the 2020 U.S. Police body camera footage released the abilities—​anyone and everyone who in the presidential election with Biden/ presidential election was over, workers day after the election reveals the cops say- has felt marginalized by Trump’s racism Harris winning more than 74 million, the here could be heard cheering the humili- ing “Shoot him” to each other as bystand- and misogyny felt exuberated to be seen most in any U.S. election. The percent- ating defeat of Donald Trump. Soon after, ers—​including Wallace’s mother—​beg and heard. Even other world imperialist age of eligible voters who turned out was they were in the streets—​dancing and the cops not to shoot. leaders, though with a diplomatic tone, 66.3%, the highest since the 1908 elec- banging pots and pans. Strangers greeted On Nov. 7, one part of the city wept as expressed relief at seeing Trump ousted. tion. And more than 100 million votes each other warmly on corners and waved the other danced. The distance between And while many carried Biden/Harris were cast early, compared to 47 million to each other from their cars. these two realities is only widened by the placards and waved U.S. flags, there were in 2016. (CBS Sunday Morning, Nov. 8) Thousands began to assemble at election of Biden, who, when asked prior many carrying Black Lives Matter signs as Biden was able to garner more votes than City Hall, Independence Mall, West to Election Day if he had any response well as carrying the names and images of any U.S. presidential candidate with the Philadelphia’s Clark Park and elsewhere to the murder of Wallace, responded by George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, mur- help of an additional 6 million more vot- in this city, which is credited with pushing condemning the people protesting police dered by the police in Minneapolis, Minn., ers compared to the 2016 election. the vote for former Vice President Biden violence. The “defeat Trump” sen- over the top. The spontaneous jubila- timent was in essence a tion sparked by news of Trump’s ouster Philly United Front: ‘Keep the referendum rejecting his should not be underestimated! struggle in the streets!’ mishandling of COVID‑19 Yet at the same time these celebra- Nov. 7 was also the day chosen by the and his white supremacy tions began, a very different event was Philly United Front to stage their first where police brutality is underway across town—​the funeral of public demonstration in the city. concerned. For months, Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old Black The United Front, initiated by Workers Trump downplayed and dis- man gunned down Oct. 26 by two white World Party’s Philadelphia branch, is a missed the severity of the Philadelphia cops, Sean Matarazzo and broad assembly of progressive and radical pandemic by speaking at Thomas Munz. Classmates of Matarazzo organizations, including Philly Boricuas, ultraright-wing campaign claim that he is a longtime white the Philly Black Radical Collective, rallies, where his supporters supremacist. Black Alliance for Peace, Black Lives PHOTO: BLACK VOTERS MATTER Continued on page 6 Protests erupted immediately after Continued on page 10

Seattle marches 2 Elections 2020 6-8 Ant Smith released 3 Dancing in Atlanta streets Wallace family: ‘Fire officers!’ 3 Buffalo post-election protest COVID surges, economy sputters 5 Wake-up call China shows way to fight virus 5 Global response Winning ballot initiatives

New Jersey: 2,261 released Editorial Get out, 45! 10 San Quentin – Sistas speak out 4 Nigeria 9 Bolivia 11 Page 2 Nov. 12, 2020 workers.org Seattle Anti-racist marches continue during election week

By Jim McMahan this week Seattle ◆ In the U.S. Black-led marches against racist Black vote dumps Trump ...... 1 and economic oppression contin- Philly celebrates, pledges to keep fighting . . . .1 ued during election week in Seattle. Seattle anti-racist marches continue ...... 2 Trump’s racism has led more peo- ple to stay in the streets. While the Movement welcomes release of Ant Smith . . . 3 vote for Biden was big, the election Wallace family calls for firing officers ...... 3 definitely didn’t take people out of NYC: Workers Assembly against racism . . . . 3 the streets. New Jersey releases 2,261 – but to what? . . . .4 The marches continued to press the five basic demands of the local Sistas With Voices demand mass releases . . . .4 Black Lives Matter movement: COVID-19 surges while the economy sputters . .5 “Defund the Seattle police depart- Class oppression and the virus ...... 5 ment—​by 50% at least!” “Invest Atlanta ‘Dancing in the streets’ ...... 6 in the Black community!” “Free all the protesters!” “No new youth jail!” Buffalo: ‘No matter who wins, we lose!’ . . . . .6 and “Mayor Durkan, you resign!” “Count Every Vote—​Protect Every Person” rally, Seattle, Nov. 4. ‘We’ve got to see this election as a wake up call’ . 7 On Nov. 4, mainly Black dem- Revolutionaries worldwide on U.S. elections . . 7 onstrators marched past the East Voters approve police reforms and more . . . . 8 Precinct on Capitol Hill, carrying Black Lives Matter signs. that deported 4 million people between 2009 and 2017. The cops attacked. Seven were arrested for standing up There were speakers from the Washington State Portland keeps marching ...... 8 against racist attacks on their community. Kel Murphy- Labor Council, representing 550,000 workers, and the Drug decriminalization: It works! ...... 8 Duford, a Black trans man, was grabbed by cops. They Washington state Poor Peoples Campaign. The famous slammed him to the ground and “his head hit the pave- “Katie,” organizer of the daily Morning March, also spoke. ◆ Around the world ment,” according to his lawyer, Karen Koeler. This was People heard from the Black Action Coalition, which then Black Lives Matter – from Nigeria to the U.S. . . 9 witnessed by demonstrators and even recorded on police led the 400-person crowd on a march through downtown. Bolivia: Massive rally ushers in new MAS gov’t .11 body cameras. The following night the Black Action Coalition led dem- Public officials and the cops have been extremely vague onstrators on an evening march to the massive construc- ◆ Editorial about Murphy-Duford's medical condition. On the evening tion site of a new youth jail. The march was guarded by of Nov. 5, Karen Koeler reported he was “still intubated volunteer car brigades in both the front and the rear, and Get out, 45! ...... 10 and unconscious” in the hospital. Murphy-Duford has bike brigades along the sides—a​ common security set-up. ◆ Noticias en Español been active in the LGBTQ2S+ community and has been a Marchers sat down and blocked the street for over an regular at anti-racist protests since June. hour while a peoples assembly was held in front of the jail. ¡La autodefensa es un derecho! ...... 12 On Nov. 5 a large rally was held in Occidental Park for People of color spoke bitterness and exposed the racist tor- Editorial: Niños perdidos ...... 12 Black lives and to “Count every vote—Protect​ every per- ture and loss of youth they endured in the so-called “Youth son!” A Native Duwamish man from the First People of Service Center.” Seattle spoke and sang a drum song. Palmira Figueroa In Seattle, Black Lives Matter protesters have marched spoke from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity for over 150 days and provided energy and leadership Network. A Black undocumented activist reminded the for the overall struggle of the working class. The struggle crowd that Joe Biden was a member of an administration continues. ☐ Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. Join us in the fight New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 for socialism! E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist and trans people are gunned down by cops and bigots on Vol. 62, No. 46 • Nov. 12, 2020 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a mul- a regular basis. Closing date: Nov. 11, 2020 tinational, multigenerational and multigendered organiza- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out Editor: Deirdre Griswold tion that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to build a decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, Martha Grevatt, Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Monica Moorehead, Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational Web Editors: ABear, Harvey Markowitz, Janet Mayes 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. sion, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ2S+ WWP fights for socialism because the working class Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Mirinda oppression and mistreatment of people with disabili- produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Crissman, Sasha Mazumder, Scott Williams ties. It means joblessness, increasing homelessness and remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, impoverishment and lack of hope for the future. No social talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially S. Hedgecoke 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. Durkin, Sara Flounders, Teresa Gutierrez, Joshua has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Hanks, Makasi Motema, Gloria Rubac education or anything else—​unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Mundo Obero: Teresa Gutierrez, Carlos Vargas seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Copyright © 2020 Workers World. Verbatim copying make it to college. Black, Brown and Indigenous youth branch near you. ☐ and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. If you are interested in joining Workers World Party contact: 212.627.2994 Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published monthly by WW Publishers, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., National Office Boston Dallas Portland, Ore. New York, NY 10011. Phone: 212.627.2994. Subscrip- 147 W. 24th St., 2nd floor 284 Amory St. [email protected] [email protected] tions: One year: $36; institutions: $50. Letters to the New York, NY 10011 Boston, MA 02130 Durham, N.C. Salt Lake City 212.627.2994 617.522.6626 editor may be condensed and edited. 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Box 34249 Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. Oakland, CA 94609 216.738.0320 Philadelphia, PA 19101 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 510.394.2207 [email protected] 610.931.2615 Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org Nov. 12, 2020 Page 3 Movement welcomes release of Ant Smith By Ted Kelly urge the community to brought these politically motivated charges Philadelphia recommit to standing against Smith, is an ambitious and cor- by Anthony as we con- rupt prosecutor who has been using pub- Beloved community orga- tinue the fight for his lic funds to plaster his face on billboards nizer and teacher Anthony release. Anthony has across the state, boasting of his “tough on (Ant) Smith was finally released always fought for the crime” and “law and order” record. He reg- from federal custody on Nov. 9. equitable treatment ularly barges into the city to hold press con- “For the second time in just a of the members of our ferences and claim jurisdiction on cases he few days, Ant’s defense attor- community, and now it deems the Philadelphia District Attorney’s ney Paul Hetznecker success- is our duty to stand up office to be “too soft on.” fully argued for his release on and fight for him.” McSwain made the bogus claim at a bail,” stated supporter Jasmine Supporters note that press conference announcing the charges, Peake-Miles. “We won the Smith is a key figure in that he did not know who Anthony Smith appeal, and Ant will be coming the community, both as was before targeting this well-known WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE home. Let’s get ready to wel- Contingent calling for Ant Smith’s release in Nov. 7 march. an activist and a teacher. activist in the midst of another uprising come him back!” Over 70 letters attesting against police murder, this time against Smith was kidnapped by federal forces Despite the fact that a federal judge to Smith’s upstanding character and ser- the murder of West Philly resident Walter on Oct. 28. Acting on orders from right- ordered his release on Nov. 6, Smith vice to the people of Philadelphia were sent Wallace Jr. He was killed by two white wing U.S. attorney William McSwain, the remained imprisoned in Allentown, Pa., to the judge prior to the ruling that ordered cops in front of his mother on Oct. 26, feds trashed Smith’s house and terrorized after McSwain’s team appealed the ruling his release. As well as being a member of two days before Smith’s arrest. his family. He was brought into custody of the detention hearing in an attempt to REAL Justice, Ant spends every Friday Speaking at a press conference held for on bogus charges related to vandalism of keep Smith in custody until his trial. If feeding people in need at 60th and Market Smith on Oct. 30, Deandra Jefferson said, a cop car during a May 30 protest amid convicted of arson, he faces a mandatory streets with Food Not Bombs Solidarity. “They messed with the wrong person.” the uprisings protesting George Floyd’s minimum of 7 years in federal prison. Supporters have circulated a photo of Workers World Party welcomes the murder by police. A petition circulated by Black Lives Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney giving release of Anthony Smith and calls for Smith has been held in general popu- Matter Philly, a constituent of the Black Smith an award for his distinguished ser- all charges against him to be dropped lation in Lehigh County Jail since then, Philly Radical Collective reads, “As we vice to the people of the city. immediately. over an hour outside Philadelphia. await his second detention hearing, we William McSwain, the U.S. attorney who Free Ant! ☐ Wallace family calls for firing officers, criticizes lack of police reform By Betsey Piette other side. Eventually both demonstra- tions merged. The Oct. 26 police killing of Walter The 911 dispatch recordings that Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia was caught brought Munz and Matarazzo to the on a video that went viral, bringing thou- scene made no mention of Wallace’s sands into the streets to demand justice mental health history or the two earlier for the 27-year-old Black man, who had police responses. In the bodycam foot- been experiencing a mental health cri- age, Wallace, who had a knife, appears to sis. Despite a series of 911 callers saying be walking aimlessly rather than aggres- Black Philly Wallace needed an ambulance and two sively. His mother and two neighbors are Radical previous police visits where they were yelling at the police not to shoot. Collective made aware of Wallace’s condition, the Members of the Wallace family, their member Gabriel Bryant calls final response was by two police officers attorney Shaka Johnson and Gwen Carr, for “Justice for who fired 14 shots at Wallace within min- the mother of Eric Garner, spoke out at a Walter Wallace utes of their arrival. press conference Nov. 6. Garner was killed Jr.” at rally in On Nov. 4, one day after the election, by New York police in July 2014. His final Philadelphia, the city released police bodycam footage words, like George Floyd’s, were “I can’t Nov. 7. of Wallace’s killing by officers Thomas breathe,” and his case was a milestone in WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE Munz Jr. and Sean Matarazzo, both in the Black Lives Matter movement. their 20s. The Wallace family had been Ramsey, identified “serious deficiencies in thousands of mentally ill people [who] are shown the video days before it was made Failure to follow 2015 Department the department’s use-of-force policies and getting gunned down every day because public. In the footage, one of the officers of Justice call for reforms training, including a failure to maintain a the police are the first responders. This can be clearly heard saying “Shoot him” While not calling for charges to be certified field training program; deficient, has to stop.” (Philly.com, Nov. 7) before both officers fired. brought against the two officers, the inconsistent supervision and operational In addition to support from Carr, other The Black Philly Radical Collective Wallace family is demanding they be control of officer-involved shooting inves- parents of victims of police violence vis- called a protest to disclose the officers’ fired. Johnson criticized the Philadelphia tigations and crime scenes.” ited with the Wallace family to offer sup- names and denounce the city’s delay in Police Department for failing to imple- While the DOJ report applied to the port. They included Samaria Rice, whose releasing the footage. They gathered on ment reforms and training recommenda- entire Philadelphia Police Department, 12-year-old son Tamir Rice was gunned one side of City Hall, while demonstrators tions made in a 2015 U.S. Department of it named police districts where civilian down by Cleveland police Nov. 22, 2014, demanding that every vote be counted in Justice report. The report, requested in complaints of brutality were particularly and Lisa Simpson, whose 18-year-old son the presidential election amassed on the 2013 by then Police Commissioner Charles high—including the 18th district where Richard Risher was fatally shot by police Munz and Matarazzo are in Los Angeles July 25, 2016. currently employed. A rank-and-file caucus of AFSCME Workers Assembly Johnson and other speak- District Council 33 and DC 47 issued a ers called for all police to statement calling on Philadelphia Mayor be armed with Tasers and Jim Kenney and the City Council to imme- against racism for a change in the way diately defund the Philadelphia Police the city responds to men- Department by at least half—$364 mil- A Workers Assembly against Racism rally tal health crises. However, lion—with the money to go instead to in New York, near Trump International Hotel even with reforms like man- fund public services, including mental and Tower, builds anti-racist solidarity between datory bodycam use imple- health. Wallace’s father is a 33-year vet- organized and unorganized workers. This event mented, it has not changed eran of the city’s Streets Department. started just as the Biden electoral victory was the “shoot him” mentality of Several hundred people attended the being announced on Nov. 7. Tens of thousands racist police officers. funeral for Wallace Nov. 7. All Wallace’s of people came out onto the streets of New York Gwen Carr noted that nine children including his infant daugh- to celebrate the defeat of Trump. The message by while she had learned of her ter, born just days after he was murdered, the Workers Assembly Against Racism—​of the son’s death in a phone call, were there. In his obituary, Wallace was need to continue the struggle and push far beyond Wallace’s parents had the remembered as “a handyman who would Biden—was​ well received. The Workers Assembly horror of witnessing his kill- try to fix almost anything, he was depend- Against Racism was a dose of class struggle and ing. “Can you imagine, just able and an avid learner.” reality in the midst of a Biden celebration. Anti- imagine, what trauma they The family wrote: “We never saw Walt racist solidarity is the key to uniting the struggles went through seeing their having a disability. We saw the man who of working and oppressed people! son murdered right in front fought through it and did so with his best —By Sara Flounders WW PHOTO: TONI ARENSTEIN of their eyes? There are ability.” (Philly.com, Nov. 8) ☐ Page 4 Nov. 12, 2020 workers.org San Quentin Sistas With Voices demand mass releases By Judy Greenspan horror of contracting COVID while inside. Lisa San Rafael, Calif. Strawn, a recently released trans woman spoke of getting COVID toward the end of her 25-year sen- Nov. 8—​Today, prisoner support groups and tence: “I actually didn’t think I was going to make family members held a spirited demonstration at it out alive.” Strawn reminded the crowd that San San Quentin State Prison’s main gate, demanding Quentin is not just a “men’s prison”: “There is an the state order a mass release of incarcerated peo- entire LGBTQ community inside. I am here to rep- ple instead of a transfer to other prisons. The pro- resent that community.” test was organized by Sistas With Voices and family A phone call by J.B., who is held inside San members of people inside. Quentin, made it clear why On Oct. 21, a state CDCR is only interested appellate court ordered in transfers, not releases: the prison population at “CDCR knows that as long San Quentin be cut by as they keep the beds filled half, due to mismanage- and the cells filled, that’s ment at the facility during money” coming in for the the COVID‑19 pandemic. prison system. He added San Quentin is not only that the transfers from the oldest California state CIM have spread COVID prison, it houses death row to other prisons around for prisoners classified the state besides San “male” by the California WW PHOTO: JUDY GREENSPAN Quentin. Department of Corrections Elsie Lee of Sistas With Voices demands mass The decision by San and “Rehabilitation.” (AP, releases not transfers of San Quentin prisoners. Francisco’s First District Oct. 21) Court of Appeal called the A transfer in May spread COVID from the CDCR’s handling of the virus “the worst epidemi- California Institution for Men in Chino to San ological disaster in California correctional history.” Quentin. Since then, over 2,800 of those held in San But though the decision mandates the San Quentin Quentin have contracted the virus, and 28 have died. prisoner population be reduced by 50%, it does not The immunocompromised health suffered by most rule out the use of transfers. of the aging incarcerated population—coupled​ with Activism by groups like Sistas with Voices and poor ventilation and unsanitary conditions—​accel- No Justice Under Capitalism pushed the California erated COVID transmission. courts to order some relief for those held in San As families of those inside rallied to demand Quentin. “Mass Releases, Not Transfers!” a speak-out was But it will take additional pressure from prison- held to reinforce this demand. As Elsie Lee of Sistas ers’ rights organizations, family members, formerly With Voices chaired, family members who had trav- incarcerated people, health care advocates and other eled from all over the state read statements from allies to win the mass release of 1,500 San Quentin loved ones—most​ of whom had caught COVID while prisoners. incarcerated. The Sistas organizers say that COVID‑19 should Formerly incarcerated people from San Quentin not be a death sentence. Mass releases, not and other state prisons spoke and emphasized the transfers—now! ☐ New Jersey releases 2,261–but to what? By Mirinda Crissman be released as many as eight months early.” (New York Times, Nov. 4) The State of New Jersey released 2,261 incarcer- This selection—​between who is granted release ated workers from its state prisons on Nov. 4. This from their own kidnapping from their communities largest single-day release in U.S. history comes on the at the hands of police, and who is left to face a possi- heels of state law S2519, passed in September, which ble COVID‑19 death sentence inside jail facilities—​ calls for the release of nearly 3,000 people in prisons reinforces and reproduces the myth that cages keep to stop the rampant spread of dis- society safer from real harm, like ease inside and protect the health murder and sexual assault. This of the public during the raven- false myth disregards the material ous coronavirus pandemic. (NBC reality that these cages reproduce News, Nov. 4) murder and assault themselves, This release is an important rather than addressing the root win that was hard fought by vari- causes of these ills. ous community organizations and Mia Mingus, of the Bay Area saves thousands of lives. And, as Transformative Justice Collective we see this system reproducing and a fierce advocate around its violence in mutated and new Disability Justice, explains: “As forms, we must be sure to fight all a survivor of child sexual abuse, the conditions that have allowed working for abolition via trans- the death-making policies of formative justice, more police and human captivity, trafficking, and more prisons will not stop sexual family separation to flourish since violence. If it did, we would not settlers first stepped foot on the have the devastatingly high epi- Western Hemisphere. demic-level rates of sexual vio- Whether it’s an im/migrant lence that continue to persist.” detention center, jail and/or prison, those walls don’t (tinyurl.com/yy6e9rzd, June 26) and won’t ever stop the spread of disease and death Collectively attacking cultural conditions of rac- from reaching inhabitants outside walls. These cages ism, ableism, patriarchal violence, and homopho- in their various forms exist to maintain the law and bia alongside attacking the structural conditions of so-called order of settler-imposed capitalism on sto- housing, food and job insecurities are essential in our len land, while simultaneously serving as lethal, over- efforts to break free of the rot of this system, which crowded catch-alls for society’s contradictions. was designed to divide and conquer. Because prisons have been hotspots for COVID and Fighting further criminalization a detriment to public health, the legislation passed In anticipation of these New Jersey mass releases, in September explains that “prisoners in New Jersey many volunteers and community organizers within a year of completing sentences for crimes who greeted released people at bus stations used other than murder and sexual assault are eligible to Continued on page 5 workers.org Nov. 12, 2020 Page 5 Class oppression and the virus By Deirdre Griswold How is this huge disparity possible? At the time, China was Clearly, this virulent epidemic calls impoverished, having The United States continues to lead for an examination of health care in the been pillaged for decades the world—​in the number of COVID‑19 U.S. But there are other issues as well. by the imperialist powers cases as well as in deaths. How much trust do people here put in of Japan and the West. As of Nov. 9, this rich, high-tech what their government says needs to be Rich landlords oppressed imperialist country has now registered done? How does the economic system the majority, made up of 243,302 deaths from the virus. This is we live under affect human behavior and landless peasants. Life twice as many coronavirus deaths as in solidarity? expectancy then in China China has valuable lessons for the world in how to fight India, even though the population of The biggest difference between China was 39. COVID‑19. India is four times that of the U.S. and and the U.S. is not population size or level Today life expectancy India is a country with a much lower stan- of development. It is the type of social in China is 77 years, almost twice what it that tears down—​rightfully—​trust in dard of living. system and which class is in power. was when the revolution triumphed and those who govern, but at the same time The contrast becomes even more The U.S. is unabashedly capitalist. just two years less than the U.S. With the it puts the burden of this competition on shocking when comparing the U.S. to Millionaires and billionaires control the coronavirus having been conquered in the people themselves. China. With a population four times that political system. The people vote, yes, but China, even as it continues to rage in the It will take a huge struggle by pro- of the U.S., China has had only 4,634 they have to pick from candidates chosen U.S., the contrast between the two coun- gressives to get even close to the kind of deaths from the virus. [Coronavirus by the ruling class. Trump is obviously a tries becomes even greater. socialized medicine that exists in some of Update (Live)] Breaking that down fur- millionaire, but so is Biden. And Biden is In the election just ended here, both the European capitalist countries, where ther, the U.S. has suffered 734 COVID‑19 also a serious contender only because he capitalist parties vied for control of a gov- there has historically been a strong social- deaths per million people, while China has the backing of the Democratic Party ernment that doles out favors to the win- ist-oriented mass movement. has had only 3 deaths per million. establishment. ners. No change is expected in how this But millions of lives are at stake. In addition, China is where the virus China has a very different history. A for-profit health system operates. Nor The COVID‑19 epidemic must spur first broke out, meaning that every- Communist-led popular revolution there has the two-party system done anything on the movement for universal, free thing about combating it there had to be came to power in 1949, after years of to develop solidarity. On the contrary, it healthcare. ☐ learned from scratch. guerrilla struggle against the old regime. pits people against one another in a way COVID‑19 surges while the economy sputters By G. Dunkel who have stopped working to help their workers will suffer hunger, homelessness, Trump's chief of staff, who last week kids with Internet-based schooling. sickness brought on by a lack of a job, and announced his administration’s policy Both the economy and COVID are vitally The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) the loss of public services brought on by of not attempting to control it, has tested important issues for working people in estimates around 30 million workers in the budget shortfalls afflicting state and positive this week, along with five other the United States. Lost in the tension of the U.S. have lost hours, jobs, or seen local governments. Nearly every state White House staff. the postelection week, news about bet- their wages cut because of the pandemic. government is facing a deep drop in tax North Dakota is a good example of ter-than-expected unemployment figures Long-term unemployment, defined as revenue due to losses produced by the the dangers COVID‑19 brings about. and the horrible surge in COVID‑19 cases being “out of work” for over 27 weeks, pandemic. This Great Plains state abutting Canada were both almost completely ignored. increased sharply in October. This is is mostly rural, with an extensive oil The official report of the Bureau of a problem for many workers since 26 COVID‑19 surge foretells extraction industry and about 762,000 Labor Statistics makes this point: The weeks is also the time in most states when economic devastation inhabitants. There are five federally rec- unemployment rate for white workers is unemployment insurance runs out. The 10 millionth coronavirus case in the ognized Native reservations and one other 6.0% while for Black workers it is 10.8%, While the economy has increased its United States was reported Nov. 8, with Indigenous community located at least which is more than 70% higher. The over- production since last spring, it is still far the latest million added in just 10 days. partially within North Dakota borders, all unemployment rate declined by a The seven day average is over 100,000 with the Native population over 36,000—​ percentage point to 6.9%. new cases per day. With less than 5% of the 60% of whom live on the reservations, and This rate understates real unem- world’s population, the U.S. has 25% of the over 40% are under the age of 20. ployment. A more accurate rate, world’s coronavirus cases. According to Renae Moch, public called the U-6 rate, which includes People who were poor, or one major health director for the city of Bismarck workers who have given up looking emergency away from being poor before and Burleigh County, N.D., infections for a job and workers who are forced the pandemic, have been pushed deeper are occurring in North Dakota at six times to take part-time jobs, has unemploy- into poverty. According to the EPI, this the national rate. Gov. Doug Burgum ment at 12.1%. includes 60% of African American peo- has promoted what he calls a “pro-busi- But neither of these unemployment ple (26 million), 64% of Latinx people (38 ness policy” of “personal responsibility.” rates accurately reflects a more basic rate, from reaching pre-COVID levels. The million) and 33% of white people (66 mil- (Washington Post, Nov. 6) that of participation in the labor force. This GDP for October was down 3.5% from lion). Systemic racism is behind impover- Hospitals are overwhelmed, forcing rate measures the number of people work- February; in monetary terms, that is ishment of people of color. the movement of patients from local hos- ing or seeking work as a percentage of the around $800 billion. At the current rate Poor people are exposed to more pitals to remote facilities. There are still total population of working-age people. of economic growth, it will take more danger since there is no nationally no statewide mitigation measures being This has decreased during the pandemic, than a year to eliminate this gap. coordinated policy on containing and enforced in North Dakota; local govern- particularly for parents, mostly women, This will be a year in which many controlling COVID‑19. Mark Meadows, ments must plead for accepting “personal responsibility.” It is very likely that situations like that New Jersey releases 2,261–but to what? in North Dakota will continue to be the norm, while the Trump administration Continued from page 4 inside-outside solidarity. that target particular populations for avoids assisting local health care mea- Another related area of orga- genocide, and they currently serve the sures. ☐ community crowdfunds to provide nized state violence we must orga- ruling class in their global plunder of people with resources upon their nize against is immediate rearrests the planet for profit over people’s lives. re-entrance into society. by Immigration and Customs Documentation of criminalization New Jersey “Department of Enforcement. ICE immediately rear- across borders drawn by the imperi- Corrections” officials spoke of how rested 88 of the 2,261 people released. alists precipitate punishment and a folks would be released with IDs so Although New Jersey was once a never-ending conveyor belt of vulner- they could pick up prescriptions and sanctuary state, prisons can and do ability to premature death rather than procure housing, but community orga- notify ICE when prisoners who have any substantive change in the material nizers witnessed many left stranded committed certain crimes, specifically conditions that had led up to the bars during the pandemic by state neglect, related to “violent crimes” and “drug of a cell. without a single one of the promised offenses,” are released. We must be sure to resist crimi- resources. (WNYC, Nov. 7) While some of these incarcerated nalizing and caging members of our They were released without even workers are undocumented, others are class trying to survive, whether they’re one of them having secured a safe permanent residents at risk of depor- using drugs or participating in sex housing plan or a way to access tation because of prior convictions. work. We must attack harm at the root resources needed to not only sur- Municipal, county, and out-of-state causes as we build for the presence of vive but to live safely during an law enforcement agencies immedi- abolition and socialist revolution. Free unprecedented pandemic. Such a ately recaptured 98 additional folks them all for public health! Attack the lack dooms those released to a caged of the 2,261 released. (WNYC, Nov. 5) conditions that necessitate cages! Tear future, unless members of our col- Cages are a form of state surveil- down the walls! ☐ lective class can intervene with lance and death-making machines Page 6 Nov. 12, 2020 workers.org Atlanta ‘Dancing in the streets’ By Dianne Mathiowetz County sheriffs campaigned on the promise of ending the program and won Nov. 8— After spending days watching decisively. scenes of hundreds of election workers working long hours processing mail-in Senate runoff ahead ballots in arenas and convention cen- Georgia remains squarely in the national ters across metro Atlanta, this writer spotlight with two Senate seats in a runoff decided to attend a “Voters Decide” scheduled for Jan. 5, 2021. Billionaire Kelly event at Freedom Park. It was called by Loeffler, appointed to the Senate position many grassroots and nonprofit organiza- by Governor Kemp, touts her 100% record tions that had carried out intense voter of support for Trump. Her opponent is Rev. registration and “Get Out The Vote” Raphael Warnock, well-known pastor of campaigns. the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, long Stacey Abrams’ “New Georgia Project” identified with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was the key organization that connected and his family. local efforts to statewide resources, advice Loeffler, who has described herself as and personnel. Abrams had made his- being to “the right of Attila the Hun” in Women celebrate Trump’s defeat in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 7. tory as a Black woman candidate for the a series of TV ads, has so publicly dis- Georgia governorship, barely losing to paraged the Black Lives Matter move- then Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who votes needed to win. It quickly turned needed to be done to achieve progress on ment that the members of the Atlanta as governor has overseen the elimination into a jubilant celebration of the end of these issues. Dream—​the WNBA basketball team of thousands of voter registrations lead- the Trump presidency, with throngs mov- Nevertheless, the absolute euphoria Loeffler partially owns—​are wearing ing up to the election. ing in unison to dance music. that Donald Trump would no longer be Vote for Warnock T-shirts. My goal was to see whether the strug- president exploded, with raucous, cheer- The other Senate seat is currently held gles against racial injustice, immigrant Understanding the real work is ahead ing crowds lining Moreland Avenue and by Sen. David Perdue, a wealthy business- detention and deportation, discrimina- An AFL-CIO bus filled with members John Lewis Parkway, and a cacophony of man who was appointed to the influen- tion against LGBTQ2S+ communities, wearing union T-shirts unloaded and cars blew their horns for hours late into tial Georgia State Boards by his cousin, denial of women’s reproductive rights, joined the festivities. Unable to find park- the night. then-Governor Sonny Perdue, before the jobs and housing crises, the pandemic ing, dozens of drivers who had accom- The same was true at a spontaneous David Perdue jumped into the Senate race and more remained at the top of organiz- panied the bus kept up a horn-blowing celebration of thousands at the cross six years ago. David Perdue’s opponent ers’ future priority list. circuit around the park. streets of 10th and Piedmont in Midtown Jon Ossoff, who barely lost a U.S. House What had been organized was a rally When the rally began, speakers from Atlanta—part​ of the route of the annual election in 2018, heads a documentary film supporting the emerging vote count for the stage—​mostly Black, women and Pride parade. Others gathered at the huge company that investigates corruption and the Biden/Harris ticket in Georgia, to LGBTQ+—​made clear that the vote in mural of voting rights champion and late other criminal behavior internationally. counter the pro-Trump protesters alleg- Georgia and the country was an encour- Congressperson John Lewis, off historic At stake is potential Democratic con- ing “fraud” and “illegal ballots.” Often aging sign: Working and oppressed peo- Auburn Avenue. trol of the U.S. Senate, possibly ending armed right-wingers were outside the ple had exercised power, but the real Similar scenes were seen in Decatur a barrier to COVID stimulus legislation ballot-counting facilities—and​ so intim- work was ahead. The elimination of near the square where a Confederate sought by millions without jobs, health idating that in some cases workers were white supremacy, sexism, transphobia, monument was recently removed after care, affordable housing or education. escorted to their cars by security guards. mass incarceration and poverty would years of public protest. Immigrant com- The many I spoke with on Saturday Just before the rally was scheduled to require efforts far beyond what the occu- munities celebrated another victory with who celebrated Biden’s electoral victory start, however, the news came that with pant of the White House could or would the defeat of two proponents of 287g, said, “voting is just one element of the the count in Pennsylvania, Biden had do. Everyone I spoke with echoed that the program that turns local sheriffs into struggle for real justice. What people do passed the threshold of 270 electoral same understanding of the groundwork ICE agents. The new Cobb and Gwinnett afterwards is decisive.” ☐

Black vote dumps Trump Buffalo, N.Y. Continued from page 1 Abrams; and More Than a Vote, orga- nized by Black National Basketball play- ‘No matter who wins, we lose!’ did not wear face masks, and there was ers like LeBron James to register athletes. no social distancing, until he and others Football stadiums and basketball arenas in his administration tested positive. To were transformed into voting areas, fol- date, close to 240,000 people have died lowing a three-day strike by NBA playoff in the U.S. from the virus. teams following the police shooting of Trump openly backed police assaults Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. and arrests on activists in solidarity with The threat of voter suppression was also the Black Lives Matter movement fol- on the minds of these voting rights proj- lowing the Floyd lynching. Every police ects and rightfully so. Trump cried “voter “union” endorsed the reelection of Trump. fraud” in mainly cities like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Detroit with large Black Impact of Black Lives Matter and brown populations who voted early Following the vicious attack on dem- by mail to help defeat Trump. Some of his onstrators by federal troops and police supporters went to voting centers to try to in Washington, D.C., on June 1 in front intimidate and physically stop poll work- of the White House, paving the way for ers from counting votes. Trump to have a photo op with a bible in With the changing of the guard in the his hand, it was reported that voter regis- White House, there is the immediate tration increased dramatically during the question of how will Trump’s neofascist WW PHOTO: LYDIAN DEFORD BLM-led protests. base react to the defeat, especially with Post-election demonstration in Buffalo, N.Y., on Nov. 4. In the first half of June, more than 1 his not conceding defeat? How will the million registered to vote, compared to workers, organized and unorganized, By Lydian Deford World Party. After the main speakers, 1.5 million during the whole month of along with revolutionaries and social- an open atmosphere encouraged people June 2016. Before June 1, there had been ists respond to any right-wing attacks? Workers World Party and the Green to take the megaphone who do not often a decline in voter registration due to the These questions and many more will be Party of Erie County held a jointly spon- get the chance to have their voices heard. coronavirus pandemic. answered in due time. sored protest called “No matter who wins, Those speakers included WWP friend According to Pew Research Center, an The electoral defeat of Trump has we lose!” on Nov. 4 evening. While most Kawiye Jumale, who spoke about her estimated 76% of registered Biden sup- invigorated the more than 74 million of the country is enraptured by the drama experience as an African immigrant, and porters surveyed over the summer said people who voted for Biden and Harris, of the phony U.S. democracy, the demon- Elise Schreiber (Seneca) who reminded that racial inequality would be a deter- but it can’t be discounted that 70 million stration carried the message that we must the audience about Indigenous political mining factor on who they voted for, people voted for Trump. What also can’t not relent in our work as activists in the prisoner Leonard Peltier. compared to 68% surveyed around the be discounted is that an election cannot streets. No matter who sits in the Oval As the first postelection demonstra- question of climate change as a determin- vote away police terror, mass incarcera- Office—class​ struggle, not electoral pol- tion in Buffalo, it put us on the right path ing factor. (Nov. 6) tion, unemployment, evictions, hunger, itics, is the only avenue towards progress towards leftist unity, with a goal of mak- Some grassroots nonprofit groups that lack of health care and the general mass for oppressed people. ing sure the movement avoids falling organized voter registration projects suffering of the people. Only an indepen- The rally drew around 50 left-wing asleep under a Democratic presidency or include Rock the Vote; Color of Change; dent, revolutionary struggle for socialism activists. The two scheduled speakers of giving up at the prospect of another four New Georgia Project, initiated by for- can bring about real equality and ensure the event were Sandy Przybylak of the years of the incumbent. ☐ mer state gubernatorial candidate Stacey all human needs are met. ☐ Green Party and RJ Red from Workers workers.org Nov. 12, 2020 Page 7 ‘We’ve got to see this election as a wake-up call’ The following is an edited inter- Kamala Harris is a Black woman. She’s less revolutionary, in the view conducted by Nate Chase, with also South Asian. We are sensitive to that. interests of the workers Workers World Party First Secretary When you look at her class, she was a top and oppressed and against Larry Holmes, during a WWP post-elec- cop, the top prosecutor in California and racism? It’s contradictory. tion webinar on Nov. 5., two days was no friend to poor and oppressed peo- It’s obviously problematic. before Biden officially became the pres- ple, including women, who she had pros- And it creates a crisis for ident-elect. Go to workers.org to read ecuted for being poor. some of us who are really more remarks. NC: Given Trump’s record, given every revolutionaries. atrocity he’s been responsible for the past We’ve got to see this Nate Chase: Even a Biden victory is four years, given his complete failure to election as a wake-up call. not providing solutions to the crises faced address the COVID pandemic, why is this We are in a political cri- by working and oppressed people in the election remotely close? sis. We see people being U.S. He doesn’t have a program for that. LH: When the Democratic Party evicted, and those evic- Larry Holmes: The Intifada against throws the working class under the bus tions are going to grow. Larry Holmes racist police terror still going on shows to neoliberalism, wages a war on the There’s Depression-level that they’re not an appendage to the working class, eviscerates wages, takes unemployment. All those millions of jobs around all these issues, stopping mass evic- elections. They’re not reduced to hav- away gains, globalizes the competition lost—​they’re not coming back. There are tions, jobs or income for the unemployed, ing some bourgeois politician speak for for labor, then it becomes impossible huge budget cuts coming at every level. food for the hungry, health care, housing, them, which would be disastrous. Neither for their leaders and their candidates to They’re waiting until after the elections. everything that we need, or nature and pol- Biden or Kamala Harris are big defend- genuinely become the lightning rod for People are lining up to get food in larger itics are paused in a vacuum. And if there’s ers of Black Lives Matter. Biden has said opposition to Trump. How can a party and larger numbers. And the police war no class struggle, no unity in that class he is unequivocally against defunding that’s done all of this terrible stuff to the against Black and brown people continues. struggle will bring the working class into the police. If they do win, there’s gonna working class—​that’s discredited itself Either we see this election as a clarion call the anti-racist struggle. be a lot of excitement amongst especially in the bourgeois media—​how can it to get busy organizing a powerful, militant, A number of unions representing women voters, women of color, because really lead something progressive, much anti-capitalist, kick-ass, workers fightback Continued on page 11 Revolutionaries worldwide on U.S. elections The following are brief excerpts from a small sample Like many others in the Global South and civilized essentially continue [whoever wins], because these are of commentaries on the U.S. elections written by rev- world, we make ourselves available to restore and rebuild the policies of the system. olutionaries and anti-imperialists on three continents democracy in the USA, for the people of the USA. Change can only come from the struggle of the work- just before the U.S. corporate media declared the Biden/ ers and people of the USA, an integral part of the struggle Harris ticket the winner. of the peoples of the world. It is a struggle that has had — John​ Catalinotto, Workers World managing editor. Dangerous decadence moments of great expression in recent months, which are a factor of encouragement for the future, whatever By Jorge Cadima African NGOs call for the results of the elections. United Nations intervention Published Nov. 7 in avante.pt, newspaper of the Portuguese Communist Party. It’s easier to guess who lost Issued on Nov. 6 by Tiisetso Magama (www.africa4palestine.com) than to know who won The election of Trump in 2016 reflected the decadence By Sergio Ortiz of the United States. His presidency has accentuated that The human rights organization #Africa4Palestine, decadence. The social crisis has worsened for years. Most together with the South African Peace Initiative (SAPI) Published in laarena.com.ar, web magazine in Argentina of the people of the greatest capitalist power live in pov- and our partners, observe with concern the unravelling erty, even if they have a job. At the same time, the ruling of the electoral process in the troubled, oil-rich, nucle- In electoral competition both Republicans and class accumulates obscene wealth. ar-armed, North American nation of the USA. Democrats tend to widen the political and style differ- Inequalities have reached unprecedented levels for We join other NGOs and Africans in calling for people ences of candidates, seeking to win the electorate of that many decades. The disaster of COVID‑19 in the U.S. of both sides to practice restraint, while they await the country of 332 million people. In the end, there are more reflects Trump’s disdain and attempt at anti-China outcome of the vote counting. We join all peace-loving similarities than differences. Both defend the economic politicization of the epidemic. But it reflects much more peoples of the world in condemning recent incidents of system dominated by Wall Street, banks, investment than that: the absence of a national health service and incitement, violence and intimidation against voters by funds, Silicon Valley, multinationals and international basic labor rights such as sick leave and glaring levels members and supporters of the ruling Republican Party. financial organizations where the U.S. vote weighs more of poverty. We note that businesses and stores in the USA capi- than any other. The election of Trump in 2016, like the election of tal, Washington DC, are boarded up and that streets are A Democrat started the blockade of Cuba, John F. Obama in 2008, was due in part to deep discontent abandoned amidst growing tension and fear gripping the Kennedy, and other Republicans tightened it, like Bush and a desire for change. Many believed [Trump’s] false troubled and disease-ridden country. We unequivocally and Trump. The Democrat Barack Obama declared anti-system discourse, the proclamations about “drain- condemn reports of armed militia, who back the embat- Venezuela a serious danger for U.S. security in 2015 and ing the swamp,” the false promises to put an end to mil- tled president, roaming the streets and interfering with the neo-Nazi that today inhabits the Oval Office contin- itary adventures. voting processes. ued with the line of blockade, aggressions and even the Of course, the reality was quite different. Underneath We condemn the pronouncements by the unhinged project of military invasion. the radical nature of the anti-system discourse was hid- USA President Donald Trump of declaring both victory In any case, with these and many other policies [in den a candidate of the system, who fattened (and fraud simultaneously), which the two parties] coincide, it is incorrect to say that big business even more and who openly even before all votes were Trump and Biden “are the same.” Like many others nurtures fascist and racist forces and unre- counted. Regarding the pandemic, Trump was criminal, mini- strained police violence to impose submission We are also extremely in the Global mizing it, without adopting health measures and accus- domestically. concerned by the dire ing China of having manufactured and exported the On the contrary, U.S. external aggressive- humanitarian situation, South and civilized coronavirus. In good measure, that is why today the U.S. ness has not diminished, as can be seen in exasperated in recent has 9 million infections and more than 230,000 deaths, world, we make Iran, Venezuela, Bolivia, Palestine, Cuba, months due to COVID‑19 while the demonized Cuba and Venezuela regret only 129 Syria, Yemen, or Belarus. The campaign in the crisis-wrecked USA. and 810 deaths. ourselves available against China, “guilty” of its economic and We support the call for As in the rest of the world, the pandemic is linked to social development and growing role in the humanitarian aid organi- to restore and negative economic and social consequences. The U.S. world, is leading the planet into a crisis that sations, charities and the has always had 40 million poor people, the result of the could have dramatic outcomes. international community rebuild democracy Republican-Democratic capitalist system of yesteryear. The violent clashes between sectors of the to do more to protect the And with the COVID‑19, another 25 million joined in, in the USA, for the U.S. ruling class focus on how to halt decay civilian population of the seeking unemployment benefits and state aid. and maintain Washington’s dominant posi- USA, particularly vulnera- [Trump] even declared that he would not accept the people of the USA. tion in the world. Trump bets on generalized ble women and children in results, that is to say, he would stay in the White House confrontation, including with U.S. allies, to this male-dominated and in anticipation. That would be a flagrant crime, but also impose submission. He has recorded suc- patriarchal society. — #Africa4Palestine an incitement to violence, in a country that is violent out- cesses in the subordination of the European We call for an urgent side, like the sheriff of the world, and also violent inside, Union. meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) especially against the poor, African Americans, Latinos, He is preparing a major clash with China. But Trump’s to discuss the worsening tensions in the volatile, strate- Indians and women. rise has been fueled by decades of war, crime and vio- gically located Western nation and to take firm measures With incomplete recounts and denunciations, today lence, including the wars against Syria and Libya, the to secure the country’s nuclear and chemical weapons it is not known who won; it is easier to venture who lost, coup by Ukrainian fascists, the siege of Venezuela and stockpiles until stability is restored and the will of the the U.S. population. the confrontation with Russia, unleashed under Obama, American people is respected. If the UN must intervene with Biden as his vice president. These policies will militarily, including imposing a no-fly zone, then so be it. Continued on page 9 Page 8 Nov. 12, 2020 workers.org Voters approve police reforms and more By Betsey Piette Measure E in San Francisco in Congress. Kim Jackson, a lesbian social removed mandatory police staff- justice advocate, became the first out queer Nov. 9—​The 2020 presidential elec- ing levels from the city’s charter. member of the Georgia Senate. In Florida, tion ended just short of noon ET on In Portland, Ore., Measure 26-217 Shevrin Jones is now the first openly Nov. 7, when networks announced that established a new police oversight gay member of the state’s Senate, while former Vice President Joe Biden had board in the city’s charter. Question Michele Rayner-Goolsby is the first openly passed the 270 Electoral College votes 1 on the ballot in Philadelphia added queer Black woman elected to its House needed to be declared a winner. language to the city’s charter calling of Representatives. In Kansas, Stephanie Although Biden’s delegate count is for police to “eliminate the practice of Byers, who is Indigenous, was elected as now closer to 290, many in the progres- unconstitutional stop and frisk, con- the state’s first transgender legislative sive movement are stunned that Donald sistent with judicial precedent.” member. Trump received over 70 million popular In Washington state’s King Among progressive ballot measures passed on votes, given his blatant failure to con- County voters approved Charter Nov. 3, Florida approved raising the minimum Desperate conditions tain the coronavirus pandemic and his Amendment 1 requiring investiga- wage to $15 an hour. demand faster change rabid embrace of far right, racist and tion into all police-related deaths All of these wins are to be applauded, but neo-fascist elements. and providing public attorney represen- “tax the rich” resolution to fund universal relying on the electoral process for change Yet behind that disturbing fact, there tation to the decedent’s family during the pre-K. In several states, voters approved is coming at a pace that looks like too little, are strong signs of hope in the variety of investigations. decriminalizing a range of drugs. too late in the midst of country-wide crises. progressive referendums passed on state The full impact of all these measures In Mississippi 73 percent of voters Millions of workers continue to remain and local ballots. remains to be seen, but their passage finally rejected the “Lost Cause” of the unjustly incarcerated by the U.S. injustice clearly reflects the ongoing broad and vehe- enslaving Confederacy by adopting a new system. Nearly a quarter million have Stop the cops! ment movement against police brutality. state flag with the former Confederate already died from COVID‑19. Millions Spurred by mass protest against the symbol removed. face job loss and the inability to feed cop killing of George Floyd in May, 18 More progressive wins and house their families. Police brutal- police-related measures were on the Nov. Ballot referenda for a $15-per-hour Gains in representation ity, while challenged, continues to attack 3 ballot in nine cities and four counties in minimum wage passed in Portland, While several centrist Democrats failed the lives of Black and Brown people. And six states. The measures related to police Maine, and Florida, despite that state’s to win over incumbent Republicans on in this election, no effective measures to practices, police oversight boards, staffing, presidential vote going to Trump. the state and local levels, many progres- curtail environmental destruction were funding, the use of police body cams and Portland also voted for rent control, sive incumbents were re-elected by wide on ballots for voters to okay. more. against facial surveillance and for a local margins. Winners included “the Squad” Working and oppressed people in the At least ten measures designed to cur- Green New Deal. Voters in Wisconsin, of women of color and immigrant descent U.S. are in desperate need of real social tail police abuse passed. Arizona and elsewhere passed referenda frequently demonized by Trump: Ilhan and economic change. Stopping Trump is Measure B in San Diego, Calif., replaced to increase public school funding. Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna important, but fighting capitalism—​and the existing police review board with one In Boulder, Colo., a No Eviction Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. its attacks on workers and oppressed peo- appointed by the City Council and having Without Representation measure will Other gains were widespread through- ples—​must be the goal. This oppressive the power to conduct investigations and tax landlords and use the money for legal out the country. In New York state progres- system can’t be voted away with a ballot also subpoena witnesses and documents representation for tenants facing evic- sive educator Jamaal Bowman defeated initiative. We need a people’s revolution. related to deaths from police interac- tion. Colorado also defeated an attempt an entrenched incumbent representative, This is change that a fight for socialism can tions and other complaints against police to restrict abortions, family leave and while in Missouri Cori Bush became the bring on! ☐ officers. medical leave. Oregon voters supported a first Black woman to represent the state

After ‘Defund Police ’ victory Drug decriminalization: It works! Portland keeps marching By Harmony Rodriquez In Portugal, the drug By Lyn Neeley addressed Trump’s attempts to sabo- policy since 2001 has been Portland, Ore. tage the election and prevent votes from focused on decriminaliza- being counted in other states. Black Lives tion and treatment. The After 170 days of uninterrupted pro- Matter demonstrators joined the rally country decriminalized tests against racism, fascism and police and then marched through downtown small personal use amounts brutality, 82 percent of Portlanders have Portland later in the evening. of drugs, which led to a fall voted for a community oversight board to Protests continued in Portland all in HIV, hepatitis B, and investigate and discipline cases of police week after the election. On Nov. 7, 300 hepatitis C rates, as well as violence. people took part in a Black Lives Matter overdose rates. People who Since the brutal lynching of George march called “Break the White Silence.” had predicted that such a Floyd, Black Lives Matter protests have Demonstrators carried signs saying “Just policy would cause a rise finally led to this measure to partially because Biden won doesn’t mean the job in drug use were proven defund the police by using 5 percent of is done” and “The Vote Is Over. The Fight wrong; fewer people there A drug rehabilitation facility in Portugal. the Portland Police Bureau’s budget to Goes On.” now use hard drugs. set up an independent committee. The On Nov. 8, a rally for Black Lives Prior to the drug decriminalization pol- all drugs and supports the legalization board will “investigate police misconduct Matter and to defend workers’ rights icy, illnesses like HIV, hepatitis B, hepa- of marijuana in all 50 states. The United cases related to death, use of force, and ended with a silent vigil for eight min- titis C, and tuberculosis were on the rise States spends $1 trillion on drug crimi- discrimination—​and to mandate officer utes and 46 seconds in remembrance of in drug-injecting groups. Portugal didn’t nalization and the War on Drugs, with- discipline, including an officer’s termina- George Floyd. The rally was organized by just expand drug treatment spending, it out any major achievements. The DPA tion, without a police chief’s approval.” Jobs with Justice, Labor Action to Defend expanded its welfare state and this aided supports the repeal of the Controlled (tinyurl.com/y537wgts) Democracy and the Black-led group in dealing with the drug problem. Substances Act and the abolition of the Portland Labor for BLM Against J.U.I.C.E. (Justice, Unity, Integrity, In this year’s election, in which Trump Drug Enforcement Agency. Fascism, a newly formed group, joined Community, Equality). ☐ and Biden were duking it out at the top Decriminalization involves the elim- the Nov. 4 “Count Every of the ticket, Oregon passed Measure 110. ination of punishment for possession Vote” rally organized by M-110 decriminalizes small amounts of of small amounts of drugs, drug para- the Defend Democracy drugs, including so-called “hard drugs” phernalia such as needles and syringes, Coalition. Hundreds of like crystal methamphetamine and her- and low-level drug sales. This would workers, unionists and oin. Additionally, money from the state’s save money spent on prisons, prioritize unemployed people, marijuana tax revenue is to go towards drug treatment above carceral non-solu- many wearing union drug treatment programs. tions, and remove barriers to marijuana tee shirts, gathered at Why is this new drug policy import- legalization and heroin/methadone/ Portland’s Revolution ant? It will serve as a pilot program for buprenorphine-assisted treatment. Hall and marched across other states looking to end the supposed In Portugal, drug use levels remained the river to Waterfront “War on Drugs,” which has driven a rise about the same before and during Park. They were joined in mass incarceration. decriminalization, but overdoses, HIV by protesters from a sec- Based in New York state, the Drug and AIDS diagnoses, and crime spend- ond rally organized by Policy Alliance, which supported legaliz- ing went down. This is what we can look the Pacific Northwest ing marijuana in Oregon, was the primary forward to if the whole U.S. goes down Community Action backer of the Yes on M-110 campaign. the path of decriminalization. ☐ Network. Speakers Rally for Black Lives Matter and to defend workers’ rights, The Alliance backs decriminalization of Portland, Ore., Nov. 8. workers.org Nov. 12, 2020 Page 9 Revolutionaries worldwide on U.S. elections Continued from page 7 Will Trump attempt a power grab pro-fascist Trump, the current President of the United States of America, is a clear loser at the ballot box in the Some things remain: with the help of the Supreme Court? American general elections that are drawing to a close. Statement published Nov. 3 at initiative-communiste.fr/, This is obviously not a surprise. Not that the candidate Trump, Biden and the U.S. elections monthly magazine of the Pole of Communist Revival in nominated by the Democratic Party leadership after a France. completely unfair “primary” process—which​ once again By Arnold Schölzel discarded the most progressive candidate of Bernie Junge Welt daily newspaper, Germany No one can believe for a second that Joe Biden, the Sanders—raises​ popular enthusiasm. great “Democrat” who dreams no less than the fascis- Let us also recall at the international level that Biden, When the incumbent U.S. president declared that he tic Trump of taking on Castro, Maduro and Putin, is the Obama’s right-hand man in every sense of the word, had won the election, but that it was rigged, which is why awful “communist” who populates the nocturnal fanta- makes no secret of his intention to continue his ambi- he will have any lengthy counting stopped by the courts, he sies of the increasingly fascistic “Republican” militants. tious warfare program and to step up the imperialist once again changed the structure of the U.S. state system However, the testimonies of the comrades from the USA wars waged by Washington against the peoples who dare to make it recognizable. Billionaires like him don’t even who reach us show that the situation in this country is to claim sovereignty and a multi-polar world, and above bother with a façade democracy, but instead they throw so explosive, and the class struggle there lacks even more all against progressive and socialist countries such as a political party with all the trimmings: vulgarity, crimi- than here the means of its frank and direct expression, Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, China and North Korea. nal energy, enjoyment of dissipation, habitual corruption, [that] a violent outburst is by no means to be excluded While there is nothing to be expected from the U.S. infantile me-me shouting, including state-terrorist assassi- in the “world’s greatest democracy.” elections on the international level, since Trump and nation attempts and a robust armament program. Trump And meanwhile, Americans continue to die like flies Biden are only two sides of the same imperialist war pol- may not have started a great war, but he did everything he from Covid 19. While there is one U.S. resident for every icy, the danger of an openly fascist overthrow in the short could to make future wars “great again.” 23 people on Earth, one out of every 4.5 Covid deaths is term should not be underestimated in a U.S. brought to A President Joseph Biden will probably slow down the from the United States. ... A dreadful record of health the point of ignition by the systemic crisis of capitalism. [U.S.] decline, but nothing is certain. After all, for almost problems that cannot be compared, either remotely or This election remains in fact marked by the daily 50 years he was one of the people high up in Washington closely, to that of China, not to mention the record of decline of the hegemon, which wanted to be bigger than who helped to bring the United States into the impasse in Cuba or Venezuela, both of which are under an American it really is. The capitalist U.S., the dominant imperialists, which up to recently the “only superpower” today finds blockade. is a tragic drama for which all workers, Black workers in itself. If there is one thing that is certain, it is that the openly particular, pay the price. ☐ Black Lives Matter — from Nigeria to the U.S. By Olujimi Alade down by Tallahassee, Fla., police, and Polanco, an Afro-Latinx trans woman, As a Nigerian-American, I was very died because of medical negligence by disappointed in myself for my lack of Rikers Island prison staff in New York knowledge about #EndSARS protests in City. They have been rendered invisible Nigeria that have captivated the world relative to the cisgendered, heterosexual recently. (In Nigeria, SARS stands for the Black victims of police brutality. so-called "Special Anti-Robbery Squad" The spirited fight of queer #EndSARS police force unit.) protesters in Nigeria could provide the The dissonance between my words impetus for Black LGBTQ+ activists in and my action was painfully obvious. the U.S. to increase their fight for repre- I've been saying that all Black lives sentation within the broader Black Lives should matter, no matter what part of Matter movement. the world they inhabit, and I was ignoring an important movement from my mother Women’s pivotal role in #EndSARS country. Rectifying that, I spent the past As someone with lifelong sympathies week reading up on #EndSARS protests. with feminism, I feel proud of the role As I read, I noticed similarities women have played in the #EndSARS between violence carried out by SARS movement. While a large focus on police in Nigeria and violence doled out by the People protest against abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos, Nigeria, brutality centers on cishet men, women "men in blue” in the U.S. Both forces Oct. 12. are also victims of sexual violence at the rely on profiling in order to identify tar- hands of SARS and the Nigerian police in gets for their attacks. The SARS forces In Nigeria the deaths of the two young #EndSARS movement could potentially general. One grassroots organization in carouse the streets looking for "suspects" men became a call to action for that be their Stonewall movement. That upris- particular, the Feminist Coalition, is play- based on certain lifestyle traits, such as country’s marginalized, just like Trayvon ing in the U.S. in late June 1969 was the ing a pivotal role in the ongoing protests, the car they are driving or the jewelry on Martin's death in 2012 provided the culmination of frustration and anger that providing food, shelter and medical treat- their wrists. SARS used this disturbing impetus for the Black Lives Matter move- the most marginalized LGBTQ+ people ment to protesters fighting for an end to method on Oct. 3 to rob a yet-to-be-iden- ment in the U.S. felt at being on the receiving end of police police brutality. tified young adult of his life in Ughelli, brutality. Black Lives Matter was founded in a town in southeastern Nigeria. He was Nigerian LGBTQ+ resistance builds The Stonewall Rebellion sent shock- the U.S. in 2012 by three Black women, killed for the dangerous crime of driving Learning about the origin of the waves throughout the world and com- at least one of whom identifies as gen- a Lexus. Two days later, SARS forces shot #EndSARS movement piqued my pelled generations to fight for queer der-nonconforming. Black women and and killed Daniel Chibuke, a 20-year-old interest. To find out more about liberation. As the current rebellion against femmes have been a major presence at up-and-coming rapper, for daring to sit this grassroots organizing, I googled police violence is waged in Nigeria, queer protests against police brutality, near a hotel with a friend. SARS and discovered this hashtag: and trans activists leading the charge It warms my heart to witness the long I was reminded of the laws and meth- #QueerNigerianLivesMatter. Seeing could serve as inspiration to the BLM tradition of Black women and femmes ods U.S. police use to target Black people, those four words pleasantly surprised me activists in the U.S., like the Stonewall continuing and driving political move- such as "stop and frisk." Black men and as it's not often that LGBTQ+ people in activists have inspired millions. ments forward. From Harriet Tubman masculine of center people are targeted Nigeria are granted such visibility. In Nigeria, people such as non-binary and Sojourner Truth during the 19th-cen- by police for the most frivolous minutiae, There, as in the States, queer and trans activist Matthew Blaise and queer libera- tury abolition movement, to today’s pro- such as wearing a hoodie or driving a car people live under the specter of police tion organizer Ani Kayode Somtochukwu tests spearheaded by Damilola Odufuwa, with the radio too loud. Basic things that violence. Earlier this year, police raided could be the Marsha P. Johnson and the Odunayo Eweniyi, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia people of other ethnicities can do without a Lagos Hotel and arrested 57 men on Storme DeLarverie of the modern day. Garza and so many more, Black women a second thought can endanger the lives the mere suspicion of being gay. Similar Queer and trans Nigerians’ fight to have have contributed immensely to the fight of Black masculine people. police raids are conducted all over Nigeria the #EndSARS movement recognize their for Black liberation. In both countries, Black masculine on gay men and lesbian women. trials and tribulations mirrors the fight The week I spent educating myself people are harassed, beaten and killed Since President Muhammadu Buhari for Black LGBTQ+ people to gain visi- about #EndSARS has taught me that for not buying into classist respectabil- signed the 2014 Same Sex Marriage bility within the mainstream Black Lives the global fight for Black lives is alive ity politics and daring to live as their true Prohibition Act into law, police violence Matter movement in the States. and well. In an era of increasing fascism, selves. The young men's deaths remind against queer and trans people has sky- In the U.S., local grassroots organi- Black people—​no matter which part of me of a time when I was profiled and pat- rocketed. It is noteworthy that many zations have worked hard to recognize the world they inhabit—​need to band ted down by a police officer for having the current oppressive anti-queer laws stem Black queer and trans victims of police together to rebel against oppression—no​ audacity to go to a grocery store wearing from the colonial era when the British brutality, but Tony McDade and Layleen matter how it manifests itself. a hoodie on a chilly night. The fear I felt instituted puritanical,Western-style sex- Polanco haven’t been able to garner as The simultaneous protests in Nigeria at that moment must have been exactly ual mores into law against Nigeria's many much notice as George Floyd, Ahmaud and the United States are a positive devel- what those two men—and​ others – were ethnic groups. Arbery and even Breonna Taylor. opment in working toward a world where experiencing as they met their tragic end. For Nigerian LGBTQ+ people, the McDade, a Black trans man, was gunned all Black people are truly free. ☐ Page 10 Nov. 12, 2020 workers.org

editorial Get out, 45!

President-elect Joe Biden probably the basest racist prejudices. The vote of compassion, empathy and the sanctity of Arguing “electability,” the Biden win scored a few debating points with voters long-disenfranchised Black and brown democracy. is being used to counter progressives. when he said, bluntly, to the 45th presi- communities drove the much-needed nails Since this election, mainstream The New York Times cites examples dent: “Will you shut up already?” into the coffin of Trump’s poisonous rule. Democrats have wasted no time in where voters picked Biden but voted for Now the question has become: Will he Now how much of a struggle will it denouncing the party’s “progressive” Republicans in Senate and House races. concede already? take to force out the defeated president? wing, blaming key losses in the House But the flip side is that many reluctantly But Trump is defying tradition and General strikes, continued mass demon- and Senate on candidates who raised voted for Biden to get rid of Trump but insisting, over appeals from some of his strations, direct action and more have “Medicare for All,” “Defund the Police,” skipped over the rest of the ballot because advisors and family members and with been discussed, which is a healthy step and a “Green New Deal.” they didn’t see much difference between zero proof, that the election is being sto- forward in the struggle. A lot of their ire is directed at the four the candidates. len from him. A captive Republican Party, But donor lists expose that a big sec- women of color known as ‘The Squad,’ Socialist-baiting is not the sole prov- with a few notable exceptions, has so far tion of the capitalist class prefers a sta- even though Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan ince of the Republicans. “We need to not allowed him to do so. Whether the right ble, centrist Biden over Trump’s erratic Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) ever use the words ‘socialist’ or ‘social- wing—after​ more days of posturing and extremism. and Rashida Tlaib easily won reelection ism’ ever again,” Virginia’s Democratic tantrums and baseless legal threats—​ Unfolding events will reveal more. to Congress. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger accepts defeat remains to be seen. Ocasio-Cortez pointed out in a stated. Biden repeatedly bragged that Until then Trump might try extra-le- Dems bait progressive wing post-election interview: “Every single he “beat the socialist”—​a reference to gal means to stay in office, like a coup If a smooth transition to a Biden pres- candidate that co-sponsored Medicare Bernie Sanders. (wjla.com) attempt. idency is the best case scenario for work- for All in a swing district kept their seat.” In fact, the only meaningful message Right now large masses of oppressed ers and oppressed people, it leaves a lot When the interviewer asked, “What to workers worried about their future is a workers and anti-racist white workers are to be desired. if the administration is hostile? If they real socialist program. Reforms under the celebrating their electoral win over the Once elections are out of the way, cap- take the [former Republican governor capitalist system of exploitation go only bigot-in-chief. It’s like his knee has been italist politicians usually commence a of Ohio] John Kasich view of who Joe so far. Any serious threat to Wall Street’s lifted off their collective necks, bringing wide range of nefarious bipartisan acts, Biden should be?” Ocasio-Cortez replied, bottom line will face a right-wing back- tears of relief. The news of Biden’s win from sanctions and war to expanding the “It’s going to be really hard after immi- lash—and​ a Biden administration won’t was met with horn honking, street danc- prison-industrial complex. The exploita- grant youth activists helped potentially offer up a serious challenge. ing and champagne toasts. tion of labor by capital goes on regardless deliver Arizona and Nevada. It’s going to Stay in the streets—​and not just to A mass get-out-the-vote mobiliza- of who controls the branches of gov- be really hard after Detroit and Rashida dance. tion overcame Trump’s crass appeals to ernment, despite all the blather about Tlaib ran up the numbers in her district.” Keep your marching shoes nearby. ☐

Philly celebrates, pledges to keep fighting

Continued from page 1 importantly, build the world that we all want to see.” Matter Philly, Mobilization For Mumia, the International Concerned Family ‘Justice for Walter Wallace! Free Ant!’ and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Hundreds of workers marched behind MOVE Organization, Anakbayan Philly, the United Front’s banners from City Hall Socialist Alternative, the Black and Brown to Rittenhouse Square, one of the city’s Coalition, the Black Trans Assembly for wealthiest neighborhoods, demanding Abolition, Amistad Law Project, Food Not justice for Walter Wallace Jr. and call- Bombs Solidarity, the Party for Socialism ing for the release of Anthony Smith, a and Liberation and the Democratic local organizer who was arrested on false Socialists of America. It also includes charges by federal forces. Several people rank-and-file members of the Temple in outdoor restaurant seating stood and Association of University Professionals, applauded the march and joined in with

Philadelphia Joint Board Workers, the WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE “Justice for Walter Wallace” chants. International Electrical Workers (IBEW), Kempis Ghani Songster of the Amistad Law Project addresses Philadelphia rally, Nov. 7. Fermin Morales, a union worker and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, member of Philly Boricuas, took to the and retired postal workers. history, especially as it relates to the several more dragons out there to fight.” mic after the march wound its way around Organizers from this impressive alli- Black community. And we know Biden’s “If you been fighting, if you been cam- Center City, where it picked up hundreds ance gathered for a rally at City Hall, history.” paigning, if you been hitting the streets, if more protesters to swell the ranks of the where hundreds joined in to voice their you been dismantling, if you been destroy- United Front. He proudly and uncompro- commitment to the principles that unite ‘Fighting injustice is a lifelong struggle’ ing, you know it in your heart that today misingly declared that he was a socialist and them: opposition to white supremacy; Vanessa Maria of Philly Boricuas told feels a little bit still like yesterday,” Bryant that no one should be ashamed to say it: abolishing police and carceral violence; the growing crowd, “Fighting against said. “Because you’re gonna keep fighting; “When you become a socialist, you stop and defending workers rights. injustice is a lifelong struggle. We have to you’re gonna keep building; you’re gonna being a racist. Socialism is the way we will “We’re gonna keep our feet on the be committed to organizing beyond this keep collaborating; you’re gonna keep end racism and imperialism. Don’t learn gas,” said Kempis Ghani Songster of the election and to fighting for the rest of our coming together; you’re gonna keep uni- about socialism from a capitalist! Learn Amistad Law Project, who opened the lives, not just to make sure that we’re free, fying. You’re gonna destroy the systems what socialism really is!” ☐ rally. “We don’t care about your man- but that everybody is free. We have mil- that are not in our interest, and, more date,” Songster said, referring to the lions of comrades who are behind bars recent electoral victory of the Democrats, right now, who don’t have a say in what’s “Our movement has a mandate! happening in these elections. We have Marxism, Reparations & “For the first time ever, we have a to continue to fight for them and to free woman in the White House. Make no mis- them all.” the Black Freedom Struggle take, women of color showed up strong. Tamara Anderson from the Racial So let’s salute our sisters; let’s salute all Justice Organizing Committee explained An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. women, but especially those who are the history of Philadelphia arch-racist Edited by Monica Moorehead. always forgotten. They got Trump out of mayor and police commissioner Frank there. Now we have a woman of color in Rizzo and gave an emotional appeal. “Just Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination ◆ the White House, which is poetic, con- like how America has never achieved the Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery ◆ sidering that Trump started his political promise of democracy for all its citizens, Black Youth: Repression & Resistance ◆ The Struggle career on birtherism, which is essentially American public schools have not achieved for Socialism Is Key ◆ Domestic Workers United delegitimizing nonwhite people in posi- equity, democracy, and liberation for all Demand Passage of a Bill of Rights ◆ Black & Brown tions of power. of her students. If this Philadelphia is Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Human Rights & Global “But let’s be clear. Women in seats of where the history of America began, then power don’t necessarily translate into we should be the leader in showing every- Justice! ◆ Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior ◆ Racism power for women, if those women are one else what it should be.” & Poverty in the Delta ◆ Haiti Needs Reparations, Not

upholding patriarchy and white male Gabe Bryant from the Black Philly Sanctions ◆ Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, BARRON SAHU GRAPHIC: COVER domination. Just as Black people in seats Radical Collective came to the rally Sharecropping & Segregation ◆ Are Conditions Ripe of power don’t translate into the empow- straight from the funeral of Walter Again Today? Anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion erment of Black communities. We know Wallace, Jr., saying: “Although we may [Kamala Harris’] history—​we know her have slayed the dragon today, we have Available at online booksellers and workers.org.books workers.org Nov. 12, 2020 Page 11 Bolivia Massive rally ushers in new MAS government By Marco Teruggi and Senkata, which had occurred a few prosecution for crimes, La Paz, Bolivia days after the coup in November 2019. A while in addition minute’s silence was held for those who Carlos Mesa is trying to Published first in pagina12.com.ar were killed. The new president referred consolidate his place as on Nov. 8. The inauguration reported to them as “a symbol of dignity and resis- the main [legal] oppo- on here follows the landslide victory of tance,” and paid homage to “the fallen, the sition. Nevertheless, pro-socialist forces in the Oct. 18 elec- heroes of the people who have won back there is another sec- tions. They took place almost a year after democracy.” tor, led in part by Luis a coup backed by U.S. imperialism drove Several international delegations were Fernando Camacho—​ Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous present at the inauguration, includ- who finished a distant president, from office. Morales is expected ing from the governments of Argentina, third in the elections—​ to return to Bolivia from exile on Nov. 9 Paraguay, Colombia, Spain, Venezuela, that embodies the most for a triumphant caravan. Translation Uruguay, Iran, Chile, Arab Emirates, radical pro-coup wing by John Catalinotto. as well as delegations of political par- of the rightist forces. PHOTO: MAS “We hope to be remembered as the gov- ties from different countries, along with This same Camacho President Luis Arce (left) and Vice President David ernment in which the Bolivian people rose Bolivian movements and members of sector refuses to recog- Choquehuanca. up to recover democracy, dignity, peace, parliament. nize the validity of the growth, and social justice,” said President As expected, the coup “interim” election results or the inauguration. What Bolivian Workers Central, as well as by Luis Arce in his inaugural speech, from President Jeanine Áñez failed to show will they do from now on? This is one of broad layers of the population who in less the premises of the Legislative Assembly. up. After her departure to the city of the main questions. than a year faced the impacts of a reces- At his side were Vice President David Trinidad, in the department of Beni, she President Arce said, “These minority sion, the pandemic, and a de facto govern- Choquehuanca, President of the Senate announced her absence and also denied sectors raise the banner of democracy ment that threatened and persecuted the Andrónico Rodríguez, and President of that she planned to flee the country [to only when it is convenient for them, and popular organizations, and failed to honor the House of Representatives Freddy escape prosecution]. when it is not, they resort to destabili- any of its promises. Mamani. From the opposition to MAS, the politi- zation, violence, or coups d’état to take The new president referred to the As he spoke, the social, Indigenous, cal leader Carlos Mesa was present. Mesa power.” Arce referred to the use that these international situation and affirmed, as mining, union, and militant movements came in second in the Oct. 18 elections sectors made of “paramilitary groups,” had been anticipated, that he will focus that make up the Movement Towards [with about only half of the 55% who voted which carried out actions until Friday, efforts on building the “political unity of Socialism (MAS), which had come from for MAS]. Mesa recognized Arce’s victory Nov. 6, in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. the diversity of Latin America and the different parts of the country, filled and from the beginning. However, both he and Caribbean” through the Community of surrounded Plaza Murillo, turning the his parliamentary group left the premises New gov’t faces triple crisis Latin American and Caribbean States center of La Paz into a celebration. The before the speeches. The new government faces a triple (CELAC), and in the South American mobilization had begun the night before In a message of dialogue and unity, crisis, mentioned by Arce: democratic, arena through the Union of South when the organizations held a vigil near present also in President Arce’s speech, a product of the coup regime’s persecu- American Nations (UNASUR), “as a space where the inauguration was scheduled. Vice President Choquehuanca said, “We tion of the people; health care, because for integration and a mechanism for coor- The movements making up MAS mobi- must overcome the division, hatred, rac- of the pandemic; and economic. Áñez’s dinating policy, where we all meet regard- lized early to counter threats from a sector ism and discrimination among compa- government left the budget with a deficit, less of the political orientations of the of the right wing—​threats that persisted triots, end the persecution of freedom with a drop of 11.1% of the Gross National governments.” until the last minute. On Saturday night, of expression, and stop judicialization Product, a fiscal deficit of 12.1%, a defi- The new Bolivian government seems to Nov. 7, a rightist rally and march took [using the courts to eliminate political cit of 8.7% of the Federal Treasury, and be a possible actor to bring together and place in La Paz, its slogans charging elec- opposition], no more abuse of power a debt of $4.2 billion contracted in the work together with different parts of Latin tion fraud and demanding the inaugura- (...) no more impunity − we’ll have jus- last eleven months. “Each day that passes American progressivism. tion be suspended. tice, brothers, but justice must be truly without taking action is a day that the sit- The inauguration opens a new Although at that time it was clear that independent.” uation becomes more complicated,” said moment within the process of change the transfer of office would take place and President Arce. in Bolivia: “We are committed to rectify that the social forces of the right were What will the ultra-rightists do? Social expectations of the new govern- what was wrong and deepen what was demoralized, the movements stayed alert The new government takes office in a ment are high. This is on the part of those right,” affirmed Arce. Within this new up to the last moment to counter any climate of instability. It may be that on the who mobilized in the Plaza Murillo, as stage, there are challenges to the inter- unforeseen events. one hand, those who made up the de facto well as the 36 Indigenous nationalities, nal order, such as requests from move- In his speech, President Arce focused coup government are in retreat and may the organization of the Ponchos Rojos that ments for a change of leadership, as well on the political climate. He characterized try to escape from Bolivia so as to avoid was part of presidential security, and the as threats from destabilizing forces that what has happened since the coup have already warned they will not d’état as “an internal and systematic return to the democratic road—​o r war against the people, especially so it seems. against the poorest (...) they sowed Sunday, Nov. 8, was a day of cel- death, fear and discrimination, inten- ebration in La Paz, now that Evo sified racism (...) persecuted the lead- Morales is close to re-entering the ers of MAS and the social movements, country, and Bolivia is leaving behind and caused deaths, injuries, impris- one of the grimmest pages of its recent onment, persecution, isolation and history with a democratic victory and exile.” a new popular government. ☐ There was constant mention of the massacres in the cities of Sacaba

‘We’ve got to see this election as a wake-up call’

Continued from page 7 thought they were on the top of the hill—​ the streets, who see Biden as just another struggle. He shut the struggle down. He they were in the U.S. imperialist empire, oligarch—​that of course includes us. So pursued a program of globalization and millions of workers came out around the greatest empire in human history. And how do we reach those who believe that neoliberalism, union busting, and the Labor Day and said that unions need to they were above everybody else. But that’s Biden is just going to solve everything? concentration of even more and more be organizing work stoppages in support changing. U.S. imperialism is falling. And And how can we win them to a more strug- wealth to fewer and fewer people. The of Black Lives Matter. This is a step for- the living standards of the entire working gle-oriented revolutionary perspective? Democratic Party is dangerous because ward. The mere fact that some unions and class, including white workers, are falling. LH: The Democratic Party doesn’t it paved the way for Donald Trump. We some labor councils have passed resolu- And in the absence of a struggle, workers come off the same way as Trump and have to make sure going forward that the tions calling for a general strike if Trump who are freaking out will drink anybody’s the fascistic allies, the Proud Boys and class struggle in the streets, in the work- refuses to concede, shows that there is Kool Aid, including Trump’s. A racist white all the mercenary groups do. They’re places, amongst the unemployed, fighting something going on. supremacist and fascistic danger has to be more dangerous because they lull you the evictions—​takes over all at once. The There’s a change that’s being brought countered by a united, militant, revolu- into passivity. You end up with a greater conditions are there. The only question is: about by COVID, by the capitalist crisis, tionary and anti-capitalist class uprising. fear of white supremacy and violent fas- Are the people going to fight? by Depression-level unemployment. And Or that danger will grow. So we want to be cist developments. When Barack Obama Someone who wants socialism and the some of us are working to form a revolu- involved in that uprising. was elected, it was a historic moment—​ end of capitalism and all of the nastiness tionary merger of the anti-racist Intifada NC: How do we address so many people a Black person becoming president. But and horror, that’s part of it, COVID, and and the workers movement. Let’s talk who consider themselves progressive, who that smooth-talking, skillful politician, so forth, we’ve got to bust a move, we’ve about white workers who are freaking still think that Biden will solve everything? servant of the ruling class made it very got to get deeply involved in organizing out, because maybe not so long ago, they And on the other hand, we have those in difficult for us to unite and fight the class our class. ☐ Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 62 Núm. 46 12 de de noviembre noviembre 2020 2020 $1$1

FOTO MO: JUDY GREENSPAN El 23 de octubre, en Bakersfield, California, se entonó el coro "¡Liberen a nuestras hermanas!", ¡La autodefensa es un derecho! en el que se pedía a dos mujeres que se protegieran a sí mismas y a sus familias contra protesta en California contra la violencia doméstica. violencia doméstica Por Judy Greenspan Bailey también criticó el racismo del sistema de jus- audiencia para Howard, cuyo juicio se pospone hasta ticia del condado de Kern: "El condado de Kern sigue finales de marzo de 2021. Permanece libre bajo fianza 23 de octubre—​El coro de "La autodefensa no es marginando a los negros a través de la aplicación de la hasta entonces pero bajo la sombra de una posible sen- un crimen! Liberen a nuestras hermanas que cumplen ley y el sistema judicial. Hay grandes disparidades entre tencia a cadena perpetua. condena!" sonó hoy en el edificio de la Corte Superior las mujeres negras y las mujeres caucásicas que enfren- Mientras Howard estaba en la cárcel del condado de del Condado de Kern en apoyo de dos mujeres que se tan cargos similares, y las mujeres negras suelen cumplir Kern, conoció a Bowers y a otras mujeres con cargos defendieron a sí mismas y a sus familias contra parejas sentencias más severas". similares. Ahora Bowers y Howard están luchando para abusivas. Un grupo de coalición que apoya ambos casos es retirar los cargos y educar a la comunidad sobre los dere- Las sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica, personas Survived and Punished, con sede en Los Ángeles. chos de los sobrevivientes de la violencia doméstica. anteriormente encarceladas, activistas por la abolición Varios miembros hablaron en la manifestación en nom- La protesta, durante el mes de octubre, fue organizada de la prisión, clérigos y familiares que convergen en el bre de ambas mujeres. Alisa Bierria vinculó la lucha y coordinada por No Justice Under Capitalism (No hay tribunal estuvieron allí en apoyo de Wendy Howard, una de las mujeres maltratadas con el Black Lives Matter justicia bajo el capitalismo), una coalición del área de mujer blanca que enfrenta cargos de asesinato en primer Movement, diciendo: "Estamos aquí para ganar justicia la bahía que protestaba por las condiciones dentro de grado por matar a su compañero abusivo, y Michaele para Michaele Bowers y Wendy Howard. ...recuerden las prisiones para las personas con COVID, y Survived Bowers, una mujer negra encarcelada desde febrero de que Black Lives Matter incluye vidas negras que son víc- and Punished (Sobrevivida y Castigada), que apoya a las 2017 por defenderse de su abusador. timas de violencia doméstica". mujeres encarceladas y a los transexuales dentro de las Howard—​una madre, abuela y líder de la comuni- Bierria añadió: “Diga su nombre' para todas las prisiones de mujeres. dad en el condado de Kern—​no pudo hablar en el mitin mujeres negras cuyas vidas se han perdido por la violen- La protesta—​durante el mes de octubre de la debido a una "orden de mordaza" de la corte. Fue rep- cia policial, y también para todas aquellas mujeres negras Concienciación sobre la Violencia Doméstica—​fue orga- resentada por amigos y varios de sus hijos, que llev- que siguen vivas pero no están con sus familias porque nizada y coordinada por No Justice Under Capitalism, aban fotos de su madre con las palabras "Justicia para han sido atacadas y criminalizadas y encarceladas”. una coalición del Área de la Bahía que protesta por las Wendy". La hija mayor, Miranda, habló de la violen- condiciones dentro de las prisiones para las personas cia que había sufrido la familia y de por qué creen que Lucha contra la violencia doméstica con COVID, y Survived and Punished, que apoya a las Howard no debería ser encarcelada por defenderse a sí Después de la charla, el grupo se reunió en la oficina mujeres encarceladas y a las personas trans dentro de misma y a sus hijas del abuso físico. de la Fiscal de Distrito Cynthia Zimmer, que está proc- las prisiones de mujeres. También se leyó una declaración del hijo de Michaele esando los casos. Allí la gente sacó sus teléfonos celu- Bowers, Orlynn Bailey, durante la manifestación. lares y marcó a Zimmer, exigiendo que retirara todos Para obtener más información, consulte el equipo Aunque dos jurados en desacuerdo han producido los cargos contra Bowers y Howard. "¡Retiren los cargos y el comunicado de prensa de Violencia Doméstica y juicios erróneos en el caso de Bowers, Bailey señaló: "El ahora!" sonó durante todo el día. Procesamiento de la Autodefensa preparado por la fiscal insiste en mantener a mi madre encarcelada". El mitin estaba programado para coincidir con una NJUC. Niños perdidos — ​y el imperio de los EE.UU. El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de EE.UU. riesgo de salud durante la pandemia de coronavirus. de seres humanos como bienes inmuebles para ser com- ha tenido que revelar que "perdió el rastro" de las famil- El horror generalizado ante las anteriores separa- prados y vendidos, significó siglos de ruptura forzosa de ias de 545 niños separados a la fuerza de sus padres en ciones de padres e hijos provocó manifestaciones masi- las unidades y relaciones de las familias negras. Este la frontera entre EE.UU. y vas en los Estados Unidos. Estas asalto de compra y venta a las estructuras sociales del México. Los niños migrantes protestas deben continuar—​con- pueblo negro fue la base original de la actual riqueza eco- siguen sufriendo, solos y sin stante y enérgicamente — ​contra nómica capitalista de los EE.UU. padres, en los EE.UU. Una todas las políticas racistas de los La estructura misma de los Estados Unidos como país presentación judicial del editorial Estados Unidos que atacan, soca- imperialista sigue descansando en ataques sistemáticos 21 de octubre por la Unión van e intentan destruir las estruc- y legalmente "justificados" de supremacía blanca contra Americana de Libertades Civiles (ACLU) dice que sus turas familiares y culturales que son esenciales para la las comunidades de indígenas, negros y morenos. Estos padres deportados son inalcanzables, muchos de ellos supervivencia y la resistencia de los pueblos oprimidos. ataques continúan, desde la separación de las familias han huido a la clandestinidad en sus países de origen. migrantes de Latinx en la El "enjaulamiento" de las familias migrantes y de El enjaulamiento continúa la El horror generalizado frontera de los Estados los menores no acompañados en albergues temporales historia racista de los EE.UU. Unidos, hasta los ata- comenzó durante el gobierno de Obama. El suprema- Tales ataques racistas han sido parte ante las anteriores ques a las comunidades cista blanco Trump puso entonces en marcha un ataque de la estrategia de construcción del separaciones de indígenas que defienden de "tolerancia cero" contra los inmigrantes, que incluía imperio de los EE.UU. desde su inicio. los derechos a la tierra y ordenar la separación de padres e hijos en la frontera En 1779, durante la Guerra padres e hijos provocó al agua, pasando por los de los Estados Unidos en 2017-2018. Se trataba de una Revolucionaria Americana, el General asesinatos policiales y el medida deliberada para que las familias temieran buscar George Washington (el "Padre de su manifestaciones masivas encarcelamiento masivo refugio en los Estados Unidos al huir de sus países de País") ordenó una campaña militar de en los Estados Unidos. de las comunidades opri- origen devastados por las guerras militares y económicas tierra quemada contra las naciones midas y empobrecidas. fomentadas por el imperialismo estadounidense. Haudenosaunee en el Valle Mohawk Estas protestas deben Un programa de tran- La cifra de niños migrantes bajo custodia de los de lo que hoy es el estado de Nueva sición destinado al fin del Estados Unidos ha vuelto a aumentar hasta unos 1.900 York. Los soldados "revolucionarios" continuar — constante y capitalismo en los EE.UU. en octubre, en comparación con los 800 de hace unos arrasaron aldeas y huertos, quemaron enérgicamente — contra y al comienzo del socia- meses, a medida que más niños no acompañados cruzan cosechas de invierno y condujeron a lismo significa luchar para la frontera, enviados solos por sus familias desespera- las familias indígenas al exilio, donde todas las políticas racistas. abolir el ICE y la Patrulla das. (Washington Post, 23 de octubre) muchos murieron de hambre. Fronteriza, luchar para Mientras tanto, el asalto de la administración La historia de los Estados Unidos está ensangrentada abolir la policía y cerrar las prisiones, y luchar para aca- Trump a los niños migrantes continúa, esta vez con la por las masacres de indígenas desarmados, a menudo bar con la supremacía blanca. presión sobre los científicos de los Centros de Control niños y ancianos, a medida que los ejércitos estadouni- Los revolucionarios comunistas pretenden poner y Prevención de Enfermedades para que acepten un denses pusieron en práctica el "Destino Manifiesto" de fin para siempre a estos ataques racistas contra las plan peligroso y prohibido por los tribunales para uti- la expansión de los Estados Unidos mediante el robo de comunidades y familias oprimidas, incluidos los lizar los hoteles de la frontera para retener a los niños tierras indígenas en todo el continente. niños migrantes que todavía esperan reunirse con antes de deportarlos. Los funcionarios de los CDC se han Y la esclavitud legal de los pueblos africanos en los sus padres. ☐ resistido, diciendo que esto pone a los niños en grave Estados Unidos desde sus comienzos, con la designación