AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Kurdish union leader: Workers faced years of tyranny, war — PAGE 6 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 83/no. 19 May 13, 2019 NY Workers US hands off Venezuela! Memorial Day: US hands off Cuba! No one needs Washington steps up its war threats, as coup attempt fails to die on the job by brian Williams and Janet Post NEW YORK — “I’m going to fall!” 51-year-old Nelson Salinas yelled as he clung to a scaffold suspended seven sto- ries high against a building in midtown Manhattan April 8. He had been hit in the head by a falling stone pried loose from the top of the building while work was being done to restore it. Salinas was rescued but died in the hospital shortly afterwards. He had worked in construc- tion for 20 years. Salinas’ death and that of two other construction workers here that week, aren’t “accidents,” but the result of the bosses’ relentless drive for profits. Com- panies and contractors have increasing- Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini Hundreds of thousands of people march during May Day rally in Havana to protest U.S. threats. Banner says, “Unity, Commitment and Victory.” ly pushed unions out of more and more sites, pressuring workers to go harder by seth galinsky Party has issued a call to action, urging and called on army officials to over- and faster. This means rising deaths and In the aftermath of a failed U.S.- working people to organize and join in throw the government. injuries on the job. backed coup in Venezuela, packaged protests, forums and other actions de- Guaidó and U.S. officials spread ru- As the Workers Memorial Day mass as an “uprising” by pro-imperialist op- manding U.S. hands off Venezuela! U.S. mors that high-ranking military officials here showed, most of those paying with position figure Juan Guaidó, Washing- hands off Cuba! had agreed to back a coup. But the at- their lives for the bosses’ profit drive are ton is stepping up threats against revo- tempt fell flat after a short exchange of Continued on page 7 lutionary Cuba. The Socialist Workers Call to action: fire. Several leading officers rumored Continued on page 5 oppose US moves May 1 actions demand driver’s — SWP statement page 8 Guaidó’s April 30 move to oust Ven- As Beijing and licenses, amnesty for immigrants ezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was his most provocative action yet. Washington The self-declared “acting president” showed up outside a military base in Caracas, accompanied by a small talk trade deal, group of National Guard defectors, rivalry deepens by Roy Landersen Join the fight to For over a year, punishing tariffs by Washington, and Beijing’s tit-for- tat levies on U.S. products have roiled overturn Florida world trade. Now talks between the two governments point to a possible prison censorship accommodation reflecting the relation- ship of forces between the two powers, of the ‘Militant’ at least for now. by seth galinsky The U.S. rulers are trying to stave off After months of noninterference, a growing challenge from Beijing’s ex- Florida prison authorities have banned panding capitalist economy alongside three issues of the Militant since April advances in its political and military 12, violating the constitutional rights of power in Asia and beyond. Militant/Seth Galinsky Continued on page 8 Marchers in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, chanted “Licenses yes, promises no” on May Day. both the socialist newsweekly and its Handmade signs were everywhere. For many it was their first time joining a protest action. readers behind bars. The jailers falsely charged that each of by lea sherman pay and then going after all others — the issues “encourages activities which Northern New Jersey/New York PERTH AMBOY, N.J. — More and boost profits. Fighting for amnes- may lead to the use of physical violence Militant Labor Forum than 250 people from across the state ty is key to unify the labor movement. or group disruption” or “otherwise pres- US hands off — including construction, restaurant “I decided I had to do something,” ents a threat to the security, good order, and factory workers and small-busi- said one young worker, who didn’t or discipline” of the prison. Venezuela! ness people — marched here May 1 want to give her name. It was her For issue no. 12, they cite an article on US hands off Cuba! to demand driver’s licenses for un- first protest ever. Drivers without li- protests against the acquittal of the cop Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m. documented immigrants. Sponsored censes, face steep fines, jail and even who shot and killed 22-year-old Stephon by Cosecha, it was one of many May deportation. Clark in Sacramento, California, last 307 W. 36th St., 13th floor Day actions across the country. The demand for driver’s licenses March. For issue no. 15 they point to an New York [Manhattan] U.S. capitalists use immigrant labor for all was at the center of many of the article about the speaking tour of Albert For similar forums in other cities to lower all workers’ wages — using actions nationwide. The Militant will Woodfox, who spent nearly 44 years in see www.themilitant.com undocumented status to slash their have more coverage next week. Continued on page 8 Speakout protests Beijing’s New Zealand picket defends women’s right to abortion repression of Uighur people By Edwin Fruit are forced to undergo indoctrina- REDMOND, Wash. — “We are not tion sessions, sing hymns praising an ethnic minority but an indepen- the Chinese Communist Party and dent people with a long history. The write essays of self-criticism. Learn- Chinese government is attempting to ing Mandarin is mandatory. They’re wipe this out,” Duke University stu- forbidden to fast during Ramadan. dent Aydin Anwar told a speakout Solitary confinement, beatings and at the Muslim Association of Puget torture are used to try to break those Sound here April 19. who buck the authoritarian rules. Close to 100 people attended the event, which was called to oppose Fight for independence the oppression of the Uighur people Anwar described how the Uighur by Chinese authorities. Uighurs are people established an East Turkistan a Turkic-speaking, largely Muslim Republic in 1944, as Japanese colo- people who live in a region they call nial rule in China was overturned. Militant/Felicity Coggan East Turkistan. Chinese authorities This republic was then overthrown AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Supporters of a woman’s right to choose refer to the area as Xinjiang, a huge after the 1949 Chinese Revolution by abortion were welcomed by passersby April 13 as they picketed in defense of expanse of northwest China border- the newly established Chinese gov- the Auckland Medical Aid Centre here, which provides abortion. The picket ing Central Asia. ernment led by Mao Zedong. was the third in a series organized by Auckland Feminist Action to counter “Forty Days for Life” anti-abortion actions organized annually at the clinic. “We are calling for an end to the In the discussion period, other Ui- “Abortion is a medical procedure that should be safe and readily avail- concentration camps,” said Anwar, ghurs explained how they are pre- able,” 22-year-old engineering student Melanie Duff told Communist League an activist in the East Turkistan Na- vented from communicating with members at the protest. “If it’s hard to get, that doesn’t stop people getting tional Awakening organization, and relatives in China and fear what will abortions. It just makes them more unsafe.” for “the right to practice our reli- be done to their family members there In New Zealand abortion is deemed illegal under the Crimes Act unless gion, wear traditional clothing and to if they speak out here against the Chi- a series of criteria are met. Women must satisfy two doctors — “certifying speak our languages.” nese government’s repression. consultants” — that they are legally qualified to have the procedure. The vast She described how the Chinese gov- Anwar described how Beijing has majority of abortions that are permitted are on grounds that continuation of ernment attempts to erase any national stepped up surveillance of Uighurs, the pregnancy would endanger the woman’s mental health. or cultural identity for the Uighurs. placing cameras everywhere across A report commissioned by the Labour-led coalition government last Oc- They can be jailed for using East Xinjiang. In some cases Uighur fami- tober proposed repeal of criminal offenses for abortion, a move promised by Turkistan as the name of their home- lies are forced to have Chinese mind- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the party’s 2017 election campaign. But her land or displaying the region’s tradi- ers live with them. government hasn’t introduced the legislation. tional flag. To bolster their domination She also reported that leading Ui- “Abortion should be like any other medical procedure,” Duff said. “Women of East Turkistan the Chinese govern- ghur public figures and supporters should be able to go to their family doctor, rather than having to convince the ment fostered the immigration of Han of independence have recently been provider that they are mentally or physically unfit. It’s demeaning to women.” Chinese into the region. Today they “disappeared” for opposing Beijing’s — FELICITY COGGAN comprise 40% of the population there. repressive measures. These include Anwar described how the Chinese the former president of the Univer- government has organized the in- sity of Xinjiang, sentenced to death Supporters of the Chinese rulers for markets and expanding their sway definite detention of over a million for “separatist tendencies,” and Ilham have attempted to silence those who across Asia and elsewhere. Uighars in “vocational centers” — in Tohti, a writer and professor who was speak out in the U.S. in support of Because of this, “the Muslim-ma- reality concentration camps. Uighurs sentenced to life in prison. their national rights. When Uighurs jority countries, every one of them has and their supporters organized a pro- remained silent,” about the conditions test at Duke University, counterpro- Uighurs face, Anwar said. “They all testers tried to break up their action, have deals with China.” claiming participants were “Islamic “My family members are Uighur- extremists.” American activists and we’ve made Xinjiang is important to the Chi- the decision to speak out because it nese capitalists as well as to the state. is silence on the issue that is killing End US economic war against people of Cuba! It has rich deposits of oil, coal and Uighurs,” Anwar told Militant report- natural gas. And it is located along- ers at the Redmond event. “There is Last month Washington side the path of the Chinese rulers’ no turning back.” imp­osed new sanctions on Belt and Road Initiative, a series of Cuba. The U.S. rulers have vast infrastructure projects aimed at Mary Martin contributed to this ar- never forgiven workers and advancing Chinese capitalists’ fight ticle. farmers there for making a socialist revolution and pro- $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. viding an example to work- The Militant Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For Vol. 83/No. 19 one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to ing people worldwide. The above address. Closing news date: May 2, 2019 ‘Militant’ covers the fight to Juvenal Balán Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 end the U.S. rulers’ embargo. May Day action in Havana, May 1, 2018. Editor: John Studer to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Terry treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Evans, Seth Galinsky, Emma Johnson, Mar- United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year tín Koppel, Jacob Perasso, Brian Williams. by check or international money order made out to CL London, 5 Norman Road SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 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2 The Militant May 13, 2019 ‘Fight for workers control on the job’ by terry evans can fight together against the impact of only act on specifics related to “Hospital nurses are given respon- the crisis we all face.” Kelly described workers’ immediate conditions, sibility for too many patients and then the challenges confronting immigrant instead of organizing broadly,” face losing their license if they make workers she looks after as they try to get Clos-Sasseville said. a mistake,” Kathleen Kelly told Can- health care they need and can afford. “That’s it!” he exclaimed when dace Wagner, Socialist Workers Party “I still haven’t made up my mind Young showed him Tribunes of candidate for New Jersey General As- about driver’s licenses, but I’m against the People and the Trade Unions. sembly, and socialist campaigner Jenny the deportation of immigrants. I’d like to The new book explains why or- King when they knocked on her door in come to the May Day rally,” Kelly said. ganizing to strengthen the unions Tom’s River township to introduce the She got a Militant subscription and three is essential and why a “tribune of party and its program. Kelly works as a books on working-class politics. Party the people” uses every aspect of private home nurse. members are offering books by party capitalist oppression to explain “I work on the railroad. The bosses leaders and other revolutionaries world- that working people are capable there are shortening training periods wide at 20% off as part of the drive. of transforming themselves in and cutting crew sizes,” Wagner replied. David Clos-Sasseville met Commu- struggle and building a move- “It’s the same thing all over.” The SWP nist League members Katy LeRougetel ment that can take power out of campaign explains the capitalist bosses and Joe Young when they knocked on the hands of the capitalist rulers. are driven by competition for markets his door in Villeray, Montreal, April 21. Clos-Sasseville got the title and a and profits to try to force workers to He said he opposed the Quebec govern- Militant subscription. work ever harder and faster, with utter ment’s moves to ban the wearing of reli- In his introduction to the book, disregard for our safety. Workers need gious symbols at work by many govern- SWP National Secretary Jack to organize and use union power to fight ment workers. Barnes says that books by revo- for workers control over production. “The unions should be campaigning lutionaries “place us in history, This is the only road to enforce health on this, to unite workers against the pro- along the line of march of work- and safety, to halt pollution and the mak- posal,” Young said, explaining that the ing people around the globe.” ing of dangerously flawed products like government is seeking to divide work- To find out more about the the Boeing 737 MAX. ing people and scapegoat Muslims and books, the Militant and the Militant/Carole Lesnick The SWP and sister Communist immigrants to divert us from seeing that SWP, or to join in the effort, Joel Britton, Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor of San Francisco, talks to Tayler Jones at her Leagues in Australia, Canada, New capitalism is our common enemy. contact the branch nearest you door in Oakland, California, April 27. Jones, a grad- Zealand and the United Kingdom are on “The problem with the unions is they listed on page 8. uate student, got a subscription to the Militant. a seven-week drive to expand the reach of the Militant and books by revolution- aries, as well as raise $115,000 for the The ‘Militant’ has always been financed by its readers paper. The goal of the effort is to help the party systematically reach out in BY TERRY EVANS tant was then named, also appeared the Co-Op mine in Utah. The paper towns, cities and rural areas to meet and A great response by readers this three times a week to respond to the organized the Militant Fighting Fund, develop ongoing political collaboration week brought in over $20,000 to the widespread interest in a working-class gaining endorsements and finan- with working people. Militant Fighting Fund, putting the voice in opposition to the imperialist cial contributions widely in the labor Wagner explained she was building total collected at $43,834, with a fur- slaughter being prepared by the U.S. movement, that helped push back the May Day actions demanding driver’s ther $2,321 in the mail. This bodes rulers. Contributions from readers bosses’ efforts. licenses for immigrants. Kelly said, “It well for the financing of theMilitant , a funded that effort, too. Today’s Militant Fighting Fund is or- was hard for me to get a license! You big step toward meeting the $115,000 As the rulers intensified their patri- ganized in the same tradition, appeal- need six forms of ID. Why should they goal by May 28. otic fervor heading into the war, sup- ing to fellow workers and those who get a license just like that?” Since the Militant began publishing porters of the Socialist Appeal from appreciate the paper’s uncompromising “Requiring all these forms of ID is over 90 years ago it has had only one Detroit wrote in the July 6, 1940, issue, efforts to speak in the interests of the working class and all others exploited by bad for all workers,” Wagner said. “The source of financing — its working- “The house-to-house campaign is still capital, here and around the world. SWP calls for amnesty for the 11 million class readership. going on. One would think that the pres- Keep your contributions coming people in the U.S. without documents. The first issue of the paper in Novem- ent barrage of war-propaganda … would It’s a way to unite working people so we ber 1928 was put out by communists in! You can do so online at the paper’s effect this method of distribution [of the website: www.themilitant.com. before they even knew how Appeal] and money-raising. Fortunately Campaign to expand reach of they were going to finance no such thing is the case.” Those they it, when they were expelled spoke with on their doorsteps “treat us from the Communist Party ‘Militant,’ books, fund ... generously with finances.” calendar for fighting to continue Decades later the Militant was tar- April 6 - May 28 (week three) the revolutionary course New York geted in a harassment lawsuit by coal Sub Subs Books Books Fund of V.I. Lenin and the Bol- New York bosses at C.W. Mining in 2004, as Thomas Sankara’s Revolutionary Legacy. Country quota sold quota sold quota Received shevik Party against the a result of the paper’s backing of a Sun., May 5, 4:30 p.m. The People’s Fo- UNITED STATES growing Stalinization of rum, 320 West 37th St. Tel: (917) 743-5637. 10-month strike by 75 coal miners at Albany 65 22 65 31 $5,600 $1,930 the CP. They realized get- Atlanta 70 30 70 26 $9,750 $3,560 ting the Militant published Chicago 85 36 110 55 $11,400 $5,944 was a political necessity. Books on special offer... Dallas 40 19 40 19 $2,500 $635 An appeal to the Mili- Lincoln 14 9 16 12 $250 $75 tant’s readership in 1933 Below: $7 each, $5 with subscription. Normally $10. Los Angeles 85 42 185 148 $10,800 $2,660 ensured it was possible to Louisville 50 17 50 13 $2,800 $2,206 make an unprecedented Miami 25 5 25 8 $3,500 $1,500 move to publish the pa- N. New Jersey 40 18 50 49 $3,500 $1,442 per three times a week, in New York 80 27 80 55 $14,000 $3,269 Oakland 70 32 70 47 $13,000 $6,510 response to the looming Philadelphia 25 10 25 9 $3,000 $500 showdown in Germany, as Pittsburgh 15 3 15 0 $1,200 $0 Hitler’s fascists sought to Seattle 70 20 70 28 $10,000 $5,223 seize power. “We have un- Twin Cities 35 11 35 14 $4,750 $2,360 dertaken this great task,” Washington 40 12 40 21 $5,000 $2,177 wrote James P. Cannon, Total U.S. 809 313 946 535 $101,050 $39,991 the SWP’s long-standing national secretary, in the Prisoners 25 16 0 0 0 $0 Feb. 20 issue, “without UNITED KINGDOM any resources except our London 50 22 90 74 $2,500 $455 confidence that you and At left: $15, $10 New! Manchester 35 17 45 29 $1,300 $161 other Communist workers $5 Total U.K. 85 39 135 103 $3,800 $616 will support our initiative with subscription. CANADA 70 25 80 33 $8,200 $1,287 with your solidarity and Normally $20. financial aid.” NEW ZEALAND 20 7 20 8 $3,400 $1,765 As the U.S. rulers See distributors on page 8 AUSTRALIA 20 14 30 23 $500 $175 stepped up their prepara- For full catalog visit: tions to enter the Second pathfinderpress.com Total 1,029 414 1,211 702 $116,950 $43,834 World War in 1939, the So- SHOULD BE 1,050 452 1,050 452 $115,000 $49,450 cialist Appeal, as the Mili-

The Militant May 13, 2019 3 Albert Woodfox tours against Philadelphia rally demands new trial for Abu-Jamal solitary, prison officials’ abuse by seth Galinsky Fanon, Malcolm X, Ho Chi Minh, Mao After his release from the notorious Zedong, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Angola, Louisiana, prison after nearly “These books helped shape and change 44 years in solitary confinement, Albert my way of looking at the world,” he said. Woodfox has kept doing the same thing “They were motivating factors for he had been doing behind bars — stand- writing Solitary,” he said. “I’m 72 years ing up for what he believes in. Woodfox old. No matter how many speaking en- is touring the country and the world gagements I go on, it’s still a limited speaking out against the savagery of the number of people I can reach. The book U.S. “justice” system and calling for an allows me to reach hundreds of thou- end to solitary confinement. sands, maybe more.” He is promoting his book Solitary: Despite being in solitary, Woodfox, Militant/Ruth Robinett King and Herman kept organizing PHILADELPHIA — Dozens marched in Germantown here April 27 de- My Story of Transformation and Hope, manding freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal. A former Black Panther and journal- against abusive conditions and winning which describes his imprisonment, po- ist, Abu-Jamal has been incarcerated for 37 years, much of it on death row. fellow prisoners to join in solidarity. litical awakening, frame-up on charges He has been fighting for a new trial, seeking to overturn his frame-up murder of killing a guard and prison officials’ It was a fight to get books. “You should conviction in the 1981 shooting of Philadelphia cop Daniel Faulkner. Speak- failed attempt to break his spirit. see how many administrative remedies ing is human rights fighter Ralph Pointer, who recently visited Abu-Jamal. “I could have let the prison culture I filed to get them to reverse capricious Between 1995 and 2012 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied four ap- consume me,” Woodfox said in an April decisions,” he said. Books and newspa- peals by Abu-Jamal against his conviction. The court was presided over by 25 phone interview with the Militant. pers were passed hand to hand. former Philadelphia District Attorney Ron Castille. In 2002 federal Judge Wil- “Instead, I was determined to be a better liam Yohn overturned the death sentence hanging over Abu-Jamal. human being. To fight with strength and Institutional racism is the threat In December 2018 Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker ruled Abu- determination for a better cause.” Woodfox won his freedom in Jamal could renew his appeal because Castille refused to recuse himself from In Solitary Woodfox doesn’t flinch February 2016. When asked about the ruling on Abu-Jamal’s four appeals. Tucker ruled this was a conflict of interest. from telling the truth about himself or biggest difference he saw in life out- Current Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner initially announced he would ap- the prison system. He recalls how he side prison now, compared to before peal Tucker’s ruling, claiming it would set a precedent affecting an unlimited ended up in prison. he was sent to Angola, Woodfox says, number of convictions. Krasner said April 17 he had changed his mind after “I robbed people, scared them, threat- “Technology. Other than that, racism Tucker explained his ruling was limited to Abu-Jamal’s particular case. ened them, intimidated them. I stole still exists, it just isn’t as brutal as when The April 27 action celebrated Krasner’s decision and the new opening for from people who had almost nothing,” I left society. It’s more subtle.” Abu-Jamal to fight to win his freedom. — osborne hart he wrote. “My people. Black people.” “Individual racists are easier to com- While in prison in New York in 1970, bat and overcome,” he said. “But the in- he met members of the Black Panther stitutional racism is the real threat.” Party who impressed him with their dis- “They say this system is democracy,” said. “There’s no criteria for working their treatment is to break your spirit.” cipline and conduct. They told him that Woodfox said. “Really it’s all about your way out. There’s nothing you can “Neither prisoners nor security guards change was coming and individuals can class warfare. They have perfected a do to get out of the predicament.” come from other planets,” he said. There make a difference. And he began read- way to get people to fight against their Some prison reform proposals, like are some individual guards “who don’t ing. By the time he was on his way back own interests. This economic system one in New York, call for a 15-day limit treat prisoners like animals or degrade to Louisiana “it was as if a light went on divides everyone by race, gender, class for any stay in solitary. “I don’t know them. But the culture of abuse is so pow- in a room inside me that I hadn’t known and sexual orientation.” where the 15 days comes from,” he said. erful it eats the individual up.” existed,” Woodfox wrote. Woodfox is pleased with the breadth “Anyone who’s been in solitary, I don’t Woodfox’s U.S. tour continues. In Woodfox was sent back to Angola for of attendance at the meetings he has think they would say 15 days.” May he will promote Solitary in England armed robbery, where he helped set up been speaking at around the country. “Try staying in your bathroom or and in August in Australia. Don’t miss a prison chapter of the Black Panthers “King and I talked about the meet- draw a 6-by-9-foot space in your liv- your chance to hear him. together with fellow inmates Herman ings,” he said. “There were a lot of ing room for 23 hours,” he said. “You questions the audience had that were Wallace and Robert King. can have a TV, radio, all those things never addressed.” They insisted that at “We were serving the Black commu- that we won through our resistance Hear Albert Woodfox each meeting there be time for the audi- and hunger strikes.” nity, but it went beyond that. We were Sun., May 5, 5 p.m. ence to join in. “It gave us a better un- Woodfox knew about the 2013 hun- concerned with oppressed people,” Freight & Salvage derstanding of how they see America ger strike against solitary by 30,000 Woodfox told the Militant. “Not just op- Berkeley, Calif. and the world. There are a lot of very California prisoners, who forged unity pressed Blacks and Hispanics.” Tues., May 7, 6 p.m. decent people who make up humanity, between Black, Latino and Caucasian Underground Books ‘Blacks, whites have same oppressor’ far more than not,” he said. “The desire prisoners, including some who had once Sacramento, Calif. for change is there.” been part of racist groups. “What they At the time Angola prison was segre- Thurs., May 16, 7 p.m. At every speaking engagement did was just brilliant,” he said. Books & Books gated. “The one area where Blacks and Woodfox describes the cruel nature of “Prison officials try to justify their Coral Gables, Florida whites were allowed altogether was in solitary confinement. “The way they inhuman treatment by demonizing For more info: groveatlantic.com sports,” he said. “We came over with the impose solitary is arbitrary,” Woodfox prisoners,” he said. “The purpose of idea that we could have football games and use that to communicate with each other. We tried to show the white prison- ers that we had a common enemy and if you like this paper, look us up a common oppressor and we had much Where to find distributors of the NEBRASKA: Lincoln: P.O. Box 6811. AUSTRALIA more in common. We began to build Militant, New International, and a full Zip: 68506. Tel: (402) 217-4906. Email: Sydney: Suite 22, 10 Bridge St., bridges between Black and white and display of Pathfinder books. [email protected] Granville, NSW 2142. Tel: (02) 8677 0108. Email: [email protected] other minorities.” UNITED STATES NEW JERSEY: P.O. Box 308. Union Their political activities were not to CALIFORNIA: Oakland: 675 City. Zip: 07087. Tel: (551) 257-5753. CANADA the liking of prison authorities. When Hegenberger Road, Suite 250. Zip: 94621. [email protected] QUEBEC: Montreal: 7107 St. Denis Tel: (510) 686-1351. Email: swpoak NEW YORK: New York: 306 W. 37th St., #204 H2S 2S5. Tel: (514) 272-5840. Email: prison guard Brent Miller was stabbed to @sbcglobal.net Los Angeles: 2826 S. 13th Floor. Zip: 10018. Tel: (646) 434-8117. [email protected] death in a cell on April 17, 1972, prison Vermont. Suite 1. Zip: 90007. Tel: (323) 643-4968. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Albany: officials framed Woodfox and Wallace P.O. Box 8304. Zip: 12208. Tel: (518) 810- FRANCE for the killing, even though they knew FLORIDA: Miami: P.O. Box 380641 1586. Email: [email protected] Paris: BP 10130, 75723 Paris Cedex 15. neither man had anything to do with it. Zip: 33238. Tel: (305) 420-5928. Email: Email: [email protected] PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 2824 Miller’s widow, Leontine Rogers, came [email protected] GEORGIA: Atlanta: 777 Cleveland Cottman Ave., Suite 16. Zip: 19149. Tel: (215) NEW ZEALAND to the same conclusion and became a Ave. SW Suite 103. Zip: 30315. Tel: (678) 708-1270. Email: [email protected] Auckland: 188a Onehunga Mall, supporter of their fight for freedom. 528-7828. Email: [email protected] Onehunga. Postal address: P.O. Box 13857, TEXAS: Dallas: P.O. Box 210524 Zip: Auckland 1643. Tel: (09) 636-3231. Email: King was also framed up for the kill- ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1858 W. Cermak 75211. Tel: (469) 513-1051. Email: dallasswp@ [email protected] ing of a fellow prisoner. Together they Road, 2nd floor. Zip: 60608. Tel: (312) 455- gmail.com became known as the Angola 3. All 0111. Email: [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C.: 7603 UNITED KINGDOM three were found guilty in grossly unfair KENTUCKY: Louisville: P.O. Box Georgia Ave. NW, Suite 300. Zip: ENGLAND: London: 5 Norman Road 21434. Zip: 40221. Tel: (502) 208-9171. trials and placed in solitary for decades. 20012. Tel: (202) 536-5080. Email: (first floor). Seven Sisters. Post code: N15 Email: [email protected] Woodfox credits books for help- [email protected] 4ND. Tel: Tel: 020-3538 8900. Email: MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 1821 [email protected] Manchester: Unit ing to change his life. He read widely, University Ave. W Suite S-106A. Zip: WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier 9, Progress Centre, Charlton Place. Post from novels like A Different Drummer 55104. Tel: (651) 340-5586. Email: Ave. South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) 323- code: M12 6HS. Tel: (0161) 258-2569. by William Melvin Kelley to Frantz [email protected] 1755. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

4 The Militant May 13, 2019 Uber drivers call strike May 8 over pay cuts, work conditions by brian williams “We want a living wage,” San Fran- As the profit-seeking Uber bosses cisco Uber driver Mostafa Maklad told head toward their first public stock of- Gizmodo website. “Most drivers living fering, hoping to raise a war chest of in San Francisco are forced to work at some $10 billion, the company’s drivers least 70-80 hours a week in order to are planning a strike and public protests survive in the city. Living expenses in- in seven cities May 8 over declining pay crease, gas prices increase, food expens- and poor working conditions. Drivers es increase, everything is getting more plan to turn off their apps for 12 hours, expensive in order to live in San Fran- demanding higher wages, benefits, and cisco. We have to drive more and more, respect in Chicago, Los Angeles, Min- deal with health and stress problems, but neapolis, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Uber doesn’t care.” Francisco and Washington, D.C. Barbara Lloyd, a spokesperson for In Los Angeles the strike is targeting Chicago Rideshare Advocates, which is both Uber and fellow e-hail car outfit organizing the protest there, said driv- Lyft. The drivers are demanding that ers’ rates have been cut about $1.75 per Militant/Thabo Ntweng Uber immediately rescind its recent mile since rideshare bosses began oper- Uber drivers in Redondo Beach, California, March 25, during daylong strike against bosses’ 25% per mile wage cut, and that both ating in the city. “This has forced many 25% per mile pay cut. Union of Uber, Lyft, taxicab and other drivers needed for united struggle. companies guarantee drivers a $28 per drivers into poverty,” she said. drivers’ competition is the problem. Cab one union for all drivers,” says a state- hour minimum rate — or $17 after ex- The bosses and investors agree that barn bosses tell taxi drivers their prob- ment by Seth Galinsky, Socialist Work- penses, according to the 4,200-member the road to profits has to come off the lem is Uber and other e-hail workers. ers Party candidate for public advocate. Rideshare Drivers United-L. A., which backs of drivers. Some get starry-eyed Nine drivers in New York City alone “When that day comes, workers across is organizing the protest. about a future where robot cabs will have committed suicide in the last cou- the five boroughs and far beyond will The Los Angeles action follows a totally eliminate workers. Uber tries to ple years confronted by mounting debts. side with the drivers, organize solidarity similar protest the group organized justify wage cuts and other attacks on “Drivers in New York City need to in their fight against their exploiters, and March 25 outside the company’s head- their drivers by telling them the taxicab look to solidarity and a united fight for look for ways to emulate their example.” quarters there to oppose Uber’s wage restructuring scheme. After drivers in L.A. turn off their apps, they plan to picket at Los Angeles Washington steps up war threats, as coup attempt fails International Airport in the morning and Continued from front page ers. They are respected by many work- would be considered an act of war by afternoon, hold a noon rally, and have a to be defecting instead announced they ing people for working in some of the any nation on the planet targeted by such family picnic from 5-7 that evening. backed the government. The next day, poorest neighborhoods and most iso- military action. The White House hasn’t “We are striking both companies, as Guaidó and defenders of the govern- lated regions of Venezuela. yet taken any steps to implement this both are in a race to the bottom to im- ment held competing rallies. Washington has carried out an em- threat, however — and it’s in the class press their investors at the drivers’ ex- President Donald Trump and other bargo of Cuba — sometimes tighter, interests of working people in Cuba, the pense,” Brian Dolber, from Rideshare administration officials threatened the sometimes looser — since soon after U.S. and worldwide to make sure Wash- Drivers United-L.A., told the press. government and people of Cuba. “If working people overthrew the dictator- ington never does. In March, Uber cut drivers’ pay in Los Cuban Troops and Militia do not im- ship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. The Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Angeles from 80 to 60 cents per mile. mediately CEASE military and other U.S. rulers — no matter what party is in and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is- Soon after Lyft joined in new attacks operations for the purpose of causing the White House — have never forgiven sued statements condemning the blatant on drivers, ending “multipliers,” which death and destruction to the Constitu- the Cuban people for bringing to power U.S. violation of Venezuelan sovereign- allowed some drivers to earn more than tion of Venezuela, a full and complete a government of workers and farmers. ty and its lies and threats against Cuba. the base rate of 80 cents per mile. embargo, together with highest-level The White House recently announced Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said The bosses are under pressure from sanctions, will be placed on the island measures tightening the embargo, in- that “military action is possible. If that’s investors to begin turning a profit. of Cuba,” Trump threatened in an April cluding a cap on remittances by Cuban- what’s required, that’s what the United Uber’s gig-economy owners say their 30 tweet. “Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers Americans to relatives on the island and States will do.” White House National “business model” is to forgo profits in will promptly and peacefully return to allowing U.S. citizens to sue over prop- Security Adviser John Bolton told MS- order to crush their competitors and their island!” erties expropriated during the revolu- NBC that “all options are open” in Ven- get rich. The investors — who advance But the U.S. government knows tion. Washington also announced it will ezuela, as did Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., money seeking immediate returns — full well that the 20,000 Cuban inter- impose as yet unspecified restrictions on chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. are skeptical. Since Lyft bosses an- nationalist volunteers in Venezuela travel to Cuba. Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan nounced their IPO March 18, their stock are overwhelmingly doctors, nurses, A “complete” embargo could only be canceled a trip to Europe to remain at has continued to fall. sports and dance instructors and teach- enforced through naval action, which the Pentagon. It’s not just Trump’s Republican allies who are backing the threats. Democratic presidential candidate and Denounce Jew-hatred, a threat to all workers former Vice President Joe Biden said The following is from a statement nearby Escondido last month. middle-class left, forces whose opposi- April 30, “The U.S. must stand with released by Dennis Richter, Socialist There is no broad expansion of tion to Israel carries over into broader the National Assembly & Guaidó in Workers Party candidate for Los Ange- rightist or fascist currents in the Unit- Jew-hatred. their efforts to restore democracy.” les City Council District 12, at an April ed States today. There is less racism, History has shown capitalists will use Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pe- 29 vigil in Poway, California, where less anti-immigrant sentiment among Jew-hatred and fascist thuggery in in- losi called on Maduro “to acknowledge thousands gathered to respond to the working people today than at any time creasingly organized and deadly ways the will of the Venezuelan people.” deadly attack on the Chabad of Poway in U.S. history. as the decay and crisis of their system The governments and people of Cuba synagogue there. But this kind of Jew-hatred, and its deepens. Attacks against Jews by iso- and Venezuela have had close relations murderous consequences, rise to the lated rightist outfits and individuals, like since 1998 when Hugo Chávez won The Socialist Workers Party con- surface in times of crisis under capi- Earnest, will grow if not countered by election as Venezuelan president in the demns the anti-Semitic assault that talism, as class tensions sharpen. The the working class and its organizations. midst of a rise in struggles by working resulted in the killing of Lori Kaye scapegoating of Jews for economic and Socialist Workers Party candidates people. Thousands of Cuban interna- and wounding of three others at the social problems is a deadly threat to the campaign across the country, uniting in tionalists have aided social programs Chabad of Poway synagogue April 27. working class. It is used to turn working struggle with anyone being scapegoated there, and Caracas has provided Cuba Working people and the entire labor people away from challenging the roots and victimized — Jews, Muslims and with inexpensive oil. movement should speak out against of the carnage we face — the dog-eat- immigrants. We oppose any attempts to The U.S.-backed opposition, which this attack, and offer solidarity with dog private-profit system that Demo- use the killing in Poway to promote the attempted a coup against Chávez in the Jewish community there. crats and Republicans work to uphold. death penalty. Our candidates advance 2002, has been banking on the deep John Earnest, who was arrested for The owners of industry and finance a course to unify the working class and economic and social crisis in Venezu- the attack, reportedly wrote an anti- don’t feel the need to turn to the goons our allies in action, on the road to taking ela to win support for overthrowing the Semitic manifesto. In it he stated that and thugs of fascist gangs to preserve political power into our own hands and government. They are focused on trying Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler, as well their class rule today. They continue to begin organizing society in the interests to turn the military officer corps. as the Pittsburgh Tree of Life syna- rely on their Democratic and Repub- of the vast majority. The crisis has been exacerbated by gogue and Christchurch New Zealand lican parties, and the two-party shell Along those lines we urge working the policies of the Chávez and Maduro mosque shooters were his role models. game, to keep workers and others pick- people to join in fighting Jew-hatred governments, which tried to “regulate” He claimed he was also the attacker who ing between “lesser evils.” Much of and anti-Semitic attacks wherever and capitalist relations, as many in the state attempted to burn down the mosque in today’s anti-Semitism comes from the whenever they occur. Continued on page 8 The Militant May 13, 2019 5 Kurdistan union leader: Workers faced years of tyranny, war No worker should die on job! NY mass honors construction workers killed on the job BY STEVE PENNER vice president of the Erbil Continued from front page illnesses, the AFL-CIO reported. ERBIL, Kurdistan Region, Iraq — branch of the federation; workers employed at nonunion sites. With “widespread under-reporting of “Workers here have faced decades of and Maghdeed Ahmed, Union membership in New York’s workplace injuries” by bosses, “the true tyranny, war and terrorism,” Hangaw the founding leader of the construction industry has dropped toll is estimated,” the report says, to be Abdullah Khan, president of the Kurd- Erbil branch and its most from 90 percent in the 1970s to less “7.0 million to 10.5 million injuries and istan United Workers’ Union (KUWU), senior member. than 31 percent today. Union officials illnesses a year.” said at an April 4 meeting with a delega- They met with Steve say it’s hard to organize because many For decades, union officials have told tion of leaders of the Socialist Workers Clark, a National Com- of these workers don’t have legal pa- workers they can bank on Democratic Party of the United States and the Com- mittee member of the pers, but they don’t do anything to Party candidates, or occasionally Re- munist Leagues of the United Kingdom Socialist Workers Party fight for amnesty and legalization as publicans, to defend the unions, instead and Canada. and editorial director of part of organizing them. of organizing and leading workers in a “It’s difficult to know what to do Pathfinder Press, which Vlad Restoration, the contractor Sali- sustained fight against the attacks of the when you face these kinds of condi- had a booth at the Erbil nas was working for, was sued last year bosses and the government. tions,” he said. “It makes it more diffi- International Book Fair by six demolition workers for $290,000 Today, union membership in private cult for workers to fight for their rights.” at the time; Alyson Ken- over unpaid overtime, a suit the boss- industry — where the large majority Abdullah Khan was referring specifi- nedy and Osborne Hart, es finally settled for less than half that of injuries and deaths occur — has de- cally to the decadeslong tyranny of Sad- the U.S. SWP’s 2016 amount. The building where Salinas clined to 6.4 percent of the workforce. dam Hussein, including the murderous candidates for president worked was by the site of a crane col- The challenge facing working people attacks on the Kurdish people, and the and vice president; and lapse in 2008 that killed six workers is to build and transform the unions Militant photos by Brian Williams 1980-88 war the dictatorship launched Ögmundur Jónsson and and a pedestrian. with the power to ensure safety is en- NEW YORK — Hundreds of con- struction workers participated in a against Iran, in which hundreds of thou- Steve Penner from the Militant Two days after Salinas’ death, Erik forced on the job. sands were killed on both sides. Communist Leagues Participants in April 4 meeting in Erbil of Kurdistan United Workers’ Union and leaders of Socialist Workers Mendoza, 23, fell 13 stories to his This was won and implemented by “Hard Hat” mass at St. Patrick’s Ca- thedral here April 25 to honor work- Also the U.S. imperialist rulers’ two in the United Kingdom Party of U.S. and Communist Leagues of U.K. and Canada. Standing from left: Hangaw Abdullah Khan, death while working on the roof of a the United Mine Workers union several KUWU president; Steve Clark, SWP; Steve Penner, CL, Canada; Maghdeed Ahmed, Erbil branch, KUWU; ers killed on the job over the past brutal wars against Iraq in 1991 and and Canada. luxury building in Brooklyn Heights. decades ago. In the late 1960s and ’70s Osborne Hart, Alyson Kennedy, SWP 2016 candidates for vice president and president; Nazem Qoda, Iraqi year. Sixteen hard hats were placed 2003, with a decade of economic sanc- “The unions in Iraqi Communist Party; Saber Othman, KUWU executive board; Ögmundur Jónsson, CL, U.K.; Omar Ismaail, Erbil He and another worker had been plac- miners led a revolution in their union on empty chairs on stage to commemorate workers who lost their lives since tions in between. Then Washington oc- Kurdistan belonged to branch, KUWU. Front row from left: Houree Toufeq and Abed Al Qader Ahmed, KUWU executive board. ing bricks underneath the building’s that put the fight for safety and against last year’s Workers Memorial Day — two union members and 14 nonunion. cupied the country from 2003 to 2011. Iraqi federations until water tower. It was Mendoza’s first deadly black lung disease at the fore- Inset, family members during ceremony on stage with the hard hats of their The Iraqi people have lived through a 1991,” Maghdeed Ahmed said. “They demands to the government.” es, their parties, and their government. week on that job. front. In a series of popular strikes and fallen relatives. Above, workers march into the cathedral. campaign of terror by sectarian mili- became independent at the time of the This year KUWU marched April And to the fight to end the officials’ On April 13, 34-year-old Gregory social battles they forced the coal bosses “Safety is a big issue for us. What we do is dangerous,” Collins Greene, a tias over the last decade and a half, as 1991 Kurdish uprising that led to the 30. Kurdistan 24 TV quoted KUWU political support for U.S. imperialism’s Echevarria, a crane rigger, was crushed to accept union safety committees in the member of Ironworkers Local 46, told the Militant. “We work at heights with well as ongoing encroachments on Iraqi establishment of what is now the Kurd- leader Saber Othman saying the union foreign and military policy — and its to death when part of a 16-wheeler crane mines with the power to shut production steel and reinforcing steel so foundations can be strong.” and Kurdish national sovereignty at istan Regional Government.” is demanding changes to KRG labor bloody and devastating wars.” he was helping to assemble came crash- — power they used — to enforce safety. “While most deaths are of nonunion workers, we are all workers and all the the hands of both Washington and the Two separate Kurdish union federa- law better protecting the rights of “In the 1930s the working class in the ing down on him at a SoHo construction Then workers need to expand work- same,” said John Carroll, member of International Brotherhood of Electrical bourgeois clerical regime in Tehran. tions were formed, each affiliated with workers. A May Day action the next U.S. made its biggest advances in the site near the Holland Tunnel. ers control over all aspects of produc- Workers Local 3, who has worked in construction for 30 years. “Construc- Under these conditions, oil produc- one of the two main capitalist parties day was organized by the Kurdistan fight to build industrial unions,” Clark The company he worked for, Cranes tion, so the eyes of the workers penetrate tion is a dangerous industry,” he said. It’s important to “shine the light on tion and refining, the major source of here, the Kurdistan Democratic Party Communist Party, Kurdistan Toilers’ said. “But those advances were under- Express Inc., brags on its website it is into all the open and hidden workings of exploitation of nonunion workers.” Rev. Brian Jordan presided over the cer- export earnings, have been set back; and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. In Party, Iraqi Communist Association mined from the outset by the fact that on “the largest non-union crane company the capitalist economy. emony. “We as workers, both union and nonunion, are truly indebted to him many industries have been shut down 2010 the unions united in a single feder- of Peshmerga and others. the political level the unions remained in NYC.” Since July seven complaints for bringing to light the atrocities that are taking place by unscrupulous and or destroyed; and construction is at ation. KUWU organizes workers in oil Kurdistan 24 reported that Kurdish tied to the bosses’ parties. The policy of have been filed against the company, Winning workers to union greedy developers,” Carroll told the Militant after the program. a standstill. Hundreds of thousands and electricity production, agriculture, construction worker Pers Safeen Os- top union officials, as well as the Com- including over unsafe conditions, ac- There are thousands of construc- — Brian Williams of displaced workers, many of them metalworks, construction, transport, man, 28, was killed May 1 when a wall munist and Socialist Parties, was to cording to Department of Buildings tion workers — union and nonunion young, are now casual workers on the textile and garment, and service jobs. collapsed on him. Over the past four support the bosses’ parties, mainly the records. In 2016 two construction — working across the street from each streets, or have joined one or another Ahmed said that in 1987 Saddam years, 25 workers have died on the job Democratic Party. They continue to do workers were killed when a beam be- other and often on the same worksites militia to find employment. Hussein ordered the dissolution of and 52 have been injured, according to so to this day.” ing hoisted into place by a Cranes Ex- in this city. Seth Galinsky, Socialist More than 1.12 million refugees government workers unions, declar- Arif Hito, director general of Labor and One meeting participant asked if the press-owned crane fell four stories at a Workers Party candidate for New York Workers faced years of tyranny, war have fled to the Kurdistan Region from ing “government employees weren’t Social Affairs in the KRG. union leadership in the U.S. is elected construction site in Queens. City public advocate, and Janet Post vis- Continued from previous page were attacked by Soviet-supplied he- other parts of Iraq, including Sunni Ar- workers, they were ‘officials.’ Since In March 2018 thousands of govern- by the membership or appointed. “In ited sites at Penn Station and the mas- for the unions to defend the rights of licopters firing Soviet missiles. Peas- abs, Yazidis and Christians, as well as then government workers have not ment employees — teachers, health care the United Mine Workers union that Construction most dangerous job sive Hudson Yards construction project nonunion workers,” she said. “There ants asked them, how that could be? 250,000 refugees from Syria, 21,000 belonged to unions.” According to the workers, doctors and others — went on I belonged to for many years, it took Construction, followed by transporta- April 17 to discuss the on-the-job safety are millions of undocumented immi- “You’re Communists, and we’re being from Turkey and 13,000 from Iran. U.N., some two-thirds of KRG resi- strike for several days in Erbil, Duhok, a big battle in the 1960s and 1970s to tion and agriculture, are the most dan- crisis and the need for workers to be or- grant workers in the U.S. — especially attacked by Russian helicopters!” dents are on the public payroll, either Halabja and Sulaymaniyah provinces. win the right to vote on district and gerous jobs across the country. Nine ganized in unions. from Mexico. But the union officials The Soviet government supported Unions in Kurdistan Region as government employees or pension- They were protesting wage cuts of up to local union officials, and on our con- hundred seventy-one construction “Without a union, there is pressure refuse to organize them into the unions the Saddam regime, Toufeq said, “but The KUWU is the main union fed- ers. The U.N. estimates that of those in half or more since 2016 by both the Iraqi tracts,” said Kennedy, who worked as workers were killed in 2017, reported to work faster and then there’s more ac- and mobilize union power to fight for an Communists here followed our own eration in the Kurdistan Region orga- the workforce 45 percent of male work- central government and the Kurdistan an underground miner for 14 years. the AFL-CIO in “Death on the Job: The cidents,” one 20-year worker from Ec- amnesty that would lift the threat of de- independent policy” toward the dicta- nizing workers in private industry. In ers and 75 percent of women workers Regional Government. In addition, the That was closely tied to a far-reaching Toll of Neglect” published this April. uador, who is a member of Carpenters portation from their shoulders and give torship. “It was very hard to answer the addition to Abdullah Khan, other union are employed by the government. KRG had been paying them every few rank-and-file miners’ fight to strength- Overall, 5,147 workers lost their union Local 1556, told Galinsky. Most them full legal rights and equality.” peasants. Working people are very con- leaders at the meeting were KUWU “If the unions want to strike or dem- months rather than monthly. This was en the union so it could defend work- lives from traumatic injuries on the of the workers at this construction site Ahmed noted that in the Kurdistan fused after what they’ve gone through executive board members Houree onstrate they need government autho- the first time the strikes extended to ers’ interests, such as establishment of job in 2017, the Bureau of Labor Sta- are nonunion, he said. Region of Iraq “there are thousands of the past 40 years,” he said. Toufeq, Nabeel Roeal Mulhem and rization,” Ismaail said. “The unions Erbil, the capital. Protesters were met union safety committees in the mines tistics reported. “No worker should die on the job be- workers from Bangladesh, India, Iran, Toufeq said they appreciated sharing Abed Al Qader Ahmed; Saber Oth- organize May Day demonstrations by thousands of police and some were that could halt work in face of danger- That means each and every day an av- cause of unsafe conditions. That’s why Turkey and elsewhere — some legal, experiences with workers from other man and Omar Ismaail, president and each year where workers present their beaten or jailed. ous conditions. They also helped win erage of 14 workers in the U.S. die from we need to reach out and organize those some not — but only 5,000 have con- countries. “We all agree on organizing coal community health clinics to treat injuries on the job. And an estimated workers into the union,” Galinsky said. tracts. The 17,000 ‘irregular’ immigrant the working class. But the challenge is Independence from capitalist state miners and prevent deaths from black 95,000 more die each year from diseases Another Latino worker heading to workers have no rights and face particu- knowing what to do in each situation.” The KUWU leaders were interested lung disease. caused by conditions where they work. the same worksite told Galinsky, “We larly bad conditions. But the unions de- Clark presented the KUWU lead- in the state of the U.S. labor movement. “One of the big challenges today is Put together, about 275 workers die each would like to be in a union, but no one fend all workers.” ers with Pathfinder books that explain Clark said that Socialist Workers Party Continued on facing page day due to job injuries and work-related has approached us.” the program and views of the Social- members work in unionized industries Across the street, James Hayes, a History of ‘external domination’ ist Workers Party, including Washing- such as rail freight, as well as in large shop steward from Cement and Con- Abdullah Khan said that “the modern ton’s Assault on Iraq: Opening Guns retail stores where the fight for a union Now available - special price crete Laborers Local 20, was laying history of Iraq has been one of external of World War III; the newly published lies ahead. a foundation at Hudson Yards. He domination — first by British imperial- Tribunes of the People and the Trade “The unions in the U.S. have been agreed the unions haven’t done enough ism, then by the Soviet Union, and now Unions; Are They Rich Because They’re greatly weakened as a result of the Tribunes of the People to try and organize. by U.S. imperialism.” Smart?; and Malcolm X, Black Libera- union officials’ class-collaborationist “But we know that some of those Toufeq related an experience that tion, and the Road to Workers Power, course refusing to organize and fight and the Trade Unions workers,” he said, pointing to the non- vividly showed the political price all by Jack Barnes, as well as In Defense unconditionally for the interests of the union job site across the street, “have paid by working people in Kurdistan of the US Working Class by Mary-Alice working class and its allies,” Clark said. A tribune of the people uses every manifestation lost their jobs just trying to talk to us.” and Iraq for the policies toward the Waters. In response to a question as to Unionization of workers for private of capitalist oppression to explain why it is “If the union went to those workers Saddam regime by Moscow and the whether he thought socialism was pos- employers has fallen from around one- workers and our allies who can and will — and said we don’t care where you were world movement it used to advance sible in the U.S., Clark pointed to Is So- third in the 1950s to little more than 6 in the course of struggles by the unions and born, we’re going to fight for amnesty the Soviet government’s diplomatic cialist Revolution in the US Possible? percent today, roughly the level it was beyond — lay the foundations for a world so that you can’t be deported and we needs and the privileged social layers by Waters and said, “Yes. This book at the end of World War I. based not on violence and competition but on can fight together to stand up to the whose perks and life styles it acted to explains why.” “The fight to organize the unorga- solidarity among working people worldwide. bosses,” Galinsky said, “and organized defend from all comers. When Toufeq “We consider building solidarity

Mohammed Shwani nized is crucial,” Clark said. “It’s tied to a real fight, including shutting down and other Communist Party cadres with Kurdish unions in the U.S., the May Day march in Erbil, Kurdistan. Banner demands the government provide jobs. Other the battle to end the labor officialdom’s $8 any site that’s unsafe, workers would had been fighting the dictatorship U.K., and Canada as well as vice versa banners demanded, “Kurdistan Regional Government must recognize workers’ rights in law!” subordination of the unions to the boss- www.pathfinderpress.com flock to the union.” in the mountains in the 1980s, they to be very important,” Clark said.

6 The Militant May 13, 2019 The Militant May 13, 2019 7 socialist workers party statement Washington threats Continued from page 5 and ruling party apparatus enriched themselves. Today US hands off Venezuela! Hands off Cuba! there are widespread shortages of food and medicine This call to action was issued May 2 by Alyson Ken- is acting on behalf of “the Venezuelan people” — and runaway inflation. Millions of working people nedy, Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor in and that some 20,000 Cuban troops are running the and those in the middle classes have fled the country. Dallas. Kennedy was the SWP candidate for president country today — is known to be a bald-faced lie by Washington is pressuring Moscow to get Maduro in 2016. millions of workers and peasants in Venezuela. Many to resign. The May 1 New York Times cited a State of them can testify firsthand to the selfless conduct, Department report that Pompeo told Russian Foreign The Socialist Workers Party calls on working peo- humane treatment and class solidarity by thousands Minister Sergey Lavrov that Moscow’s friendly rela- ple in the United States and beyond to initiate and join of Cuban medical personnel, teachers and other inter- tions with the Maduro government are “destabilizing” with others to organize protests, forums and other ac- nationalist volunteers. for the “U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship.” tions demanding an immediate halt to Washington’s The U.S. rulers’ open and bipartisan support of Russia’s state-owned oil company has heavily in- dangerous violations of Venezuela’s sovereignty and provocations by bourgeois opposition figures such as vested in Venezuela’s oil industry, including billions war threats against the Cuban Revolution. Juan Guaidó, Leopoldo López and others, and Wash- of dollars in loans. We condemn President Donald Trump’s threat to ington’s menacing declarations that “all options” re- Washington is not holding out any offer of friend- impose a “full and complete embargo” on Cuba for main open, run the risk of turning the economic, so- lier relations with Havana, regardless of how the the Cuban people’s solidarity with Venezuela. If such cial and political crisis in that country into a bloodbath struggle unfolds in Venezuela, and working people an embargo were acted on, it would be recognized the and demoralizing blow to working people there. in Cuba know that. world over as tantamount to an act of war. The warn- Members and supporters of the Socialist Work- “Millions of Cubans took to the streets on Wednes- ing itself marks an escalation of Washington’s de- ers Party and SWP candidates in the 2019 election day [May 1] in protest over new sanctions imposed on cadeslong efforts, under Democratic and Republican campaigns are joining with others in picket lines, the Caribbean island by the Trump administration and White Houses and Congresses alike, to punish Cuban protest meetings, and other actions. We’re reach- U.S. efforts to topple the government of socialist ally workers and farmers for making a socialist revolution ing out to working people, trade unionists, and Venezuela,” Reuters reported. on U.S. imperialism’s doorstep. youth in cities, towns and farming areas to oppose The threats are bipartisan, with Nancy Pelosi, Jo- Washington’s attacks on Venezuela and Cuba. As seph Biden and many other leading Democratic Party we do so, we’re bringing with us the SWP’s work- voices joining in the warlike drumbeat. ing-class program — in books by party leaders, Fight ‘Militant’ ban The White House threats to slap further economic the Militant and our election campaign literature Continued from front page and financial sanctions on Cuba build on hostile U.S. — to explain and discuss with those we’re meeting solitary confinement in the notorious Angola, Louisi- moves already taken in recent weeks. These include and fighting alongside. ana, prison. tightened restrictions on travel by U.S. citizens to the Only the people of Venezuela have the right to de- Woodfox chuckled when he learned that the article island, as well as on Cuban-Americans sending remit- cide their own future. Only they have the capacity reporting on his meetings in New York presenting his tances to relatives. Washington has announced plans to forge a working-class leadership that can chart a new book was banned, and the reason given. “I’ve to begin implementing provisions of the Clinton- course out of the devastating capitalist crisis facing never preached violence,” he said by phone April 23. era Helms-Burton Act enabling U.S. citizens whose them. Oppose U.S. imperialism’s never-ending efforts “The violence always came from the prison adminis- properties were taken by Cuba’s workers and farmers to turn back the socialist revolution fought for and tration and guards trying to stop us from organizing during the sweeping land reform and other measures conquered some 60 years ago by Cuban workers and and exposing what was going on.” to restore their national patrimony to file lawsuits de- farmers and the communist leadership forged by Fidel On issue 17 which articles upset prison officials manding compensation. Castro and others. is unclear. The front page has articles on protests in The U.S. administration’s shameless claim that it U.S. hands off Venezuela! U.S. hands off Cuba! Sudan, on protests for amnesty for immigrants in the U.S., a strike by Stop & Shop workers in New England, a successful fight to overturn a ban on used books in Washington state prisons and gains won in the fight against racism by the Cuban Revolution. As Washington, Beijing talk, rivalry deepens One prisoner wrote us to say he is filing an appeal to Continued from front page others have criticized Beijing’s scheme as being a get the ban overturned. “The prison system fears what The Chinese rulers hosted their second Belt and “debt trap” for less developed countries. The rival the Militant is exposing about the government as well Road forum in Beijing April 26-27, attended by over governments of the United States, India and Australia, as the prison system in America,” he wrote. 5,000 delegates and leaders of 37 countries from wary of Beijing’s intentions, didn’t attend. Last year, Florida authorities banned seven issues in across the globe. Beijing’s goal was to defend its mas- Debt is rising across the developing world, a con- just one 10-week stretch. After the Militant won sup- sive infrastructure plans for Eurasia from criticism. sequence of exploitative trade and financial relations port for its fight against the bans from the National Co- At the same time, the Chinese rulers indirectly drawing wealth from these countries into the coffers alition Against Censorship, the American Civil Lib- flagged to their U.S. counterparts a willingness — of the imperialist powers, still headed by Washington. erties Union of Florida, PEN America, Amnesty In- rhetorically at least — to address Washington’s in- Some governments in Asia and Africa have halted ternational and other organizations, prison authorities terests in their trade dispute. President Xi Jinping projects inspired and funded by Beijing. Washington backed down. Almost all the bans were overturned. projected increasing Chinese imports, protecting in- works behind the scenes to encourage this. From Pak- But at least one prisoner in Florida informed the tellectual property rights, keeping the Chinese cur- istan to Bangladesh and Malaysia, governments are Militant that he has not received a single issue of the rency stable and allowing more foreign investment cutting back on ambitious plans that impose too high paper for months. alongside Chinese capital. a debt burden. The loans are “collateralized” against The Militant’s lawyer, David Goldstein, has filed a A capitalist crisis, with ups and downs, has wracked existing assets or territory that will fall under Chinese notice of appeal. world economic relations since the 2008 global finan- control in the event of any default. In 2017, the gov- The Militant is calling on its supporters every- cial crash. National antagonisms among all the rival ernment of Sri Lanka had to hand over control of the where to get union activists and officials, coworkers, capitalist classes are sharpening. The global order, Beijing-constructed Hambantota Port to a Chinese church groups, civil liberties organizations, student dominated by the U.S. rulers for decades since their company after defaulting on loan repayments. clubs and others to send letters opposing this latest victory in the second interimperialist world war, is The allure of plentiful Chinese investment for the round of unconstitutional censorship. being shaken. Washington remains the dominant eco- new Silk Road has further widened divisions among “The more they censor and block the Militant,” nomic, political and military power but is in decline. capitalist rulers in Europe. Some are concerned that Militant editor John Studer said April 30, “the more Like the yearly talkfest in Davos, Switzerland, there China has become a “systemic rival,” while others, respect we earn from those who are incarcerated. was little of real substance at the Belt and Road forum like the Italian and many eastern European govern- “Prisoners deserve respect and dignity. We see pris- in Beijing. The Chinese rulers were showcasing their ments, have signed onto Belt and Road plans. But even oners as fellow workers who have the right to read ma- modern version of the old trading route, the Silk Road. so, Germany, France and Britain sent ministers to the terial of their choosing and to form their own opinions, It links China with the rest of Asia, Europe and be- Beijing meeting. The city of London hopes to become to be part of politics and the world,” Studer said. “And yond by large-scale projects in rail, roads and bridges, a financial center for Belt and Road investments. they know that we won’t back down defending both ports and other infrastructure, funded by state-backed The European rulers, beset by fears of Brexit and their rights and our own.” Chinese banks. This is at the heart of Beijing’s push to other simmering rifts, are belatedly realizing the elbow Washington aside and become the prime trader changes to the order of the world capitalist system. As with, investor in, and lender to the rest of the world. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell Fontelles told Join fight against prison Reacting to criticisms of Beijing’s patent self-inter- the South China Morning Post April 24, “China is no censorship! est and “debt diplomacy,” Xi talked of a “global part- longer a developing country but a world power.” nership for connectivity.” People’s Bank of China Gov. In an April 28 Financial Times article titled “China, Get out the word: Distribute Militant articles Ui Gang said the central bank would “build an open, the US and Trade in a Dog-Eat-Dog World,” Edward on this fight. market-oriented financing and investment system.” Luce writes that the trade talks between Washington Get support statements from unions, church- Xi promised “green” projects and a “debt sustain- and Beijing are meant to overhaul economic relations es and defenders of political rights. Send to: ability framework.” After all this pious blather, the between two “deeply entwined giants.” If trade talks [email protected] Chinese rulers worked hard behind the scenes to ink in coming weeks successfully close a deal, he says, it Send checks to the Militant, 306 W. 37th St., 13th lucrative deals with visiting government leaders. They will provide a respite, but it would come at the expense floor, New York, NY 10018, for “Prisoners Rights succeeded in getting $64 billion in new projects. of future stability both between the two countries’ rul- Fight.” Or contribute online at themilitant.com Representatives of the Trump administration and ers, and across the world.

8 The Militant May 13, 2019