· AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.00 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · sweden kr10 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Malcolm X is relevant for fighters today — PAGE 9

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 74/no. 35 September 20, 2010 Obama plan offers September California: no relief for jobless protest to Court voids Gov’t bank to boost business profits back Black antigay farmers nuptial law By susan lamont BY BETSEY STONE WASHINGTON—Black farmers San Francisco—The debate plan to gather here September 21–23 on same-sex marriage is intensify- to protest the U.S. Senate’s continued ing nationally. At issue is the right to refusal to approve $1.25 billion in equal treatment under the law. funding to settle long-standing claims Five states and the District of Co- of discrimination by the United States lumbia now allow same-sex marriag- Department of Agriculture (USDA). es. Thirty-nine states have laws that “The Black farmers’ lawsuit was prohibit them. cut short after 1999 and many farm- At the federal level, the Defense of ers were left hanging,” said Robert Marriage Act, signed into law by Wil- Binion, 56, a farmer and long-time liam Clinton in 1996, defines marriage civil rights activist from Clanton, as a union of a man and a woman. In Alabama, in a telephone interview July, a federal judge in Massachusetts with the Militant. “We should have ruled that this law is unconstitutional. finished the job back then.” The federal government has not indi- “Our gathering in Washington is cated whether it will appeal. urgent,” continued Binion. “When A recent CNN poll found that a ma- AP Photo/Paul Sancya the Civil War ended, they told us we jority of U.S. residents support same- Job fair in Southfield, Michigan, August 25. State has one of highest jobless rates in country. would get ‘40 acres and a mule.’ But sex marriage by a narrow margin. BY brian williams stiff challenges because of the grind- all we’ve had is empty promises and On August 4 Federal District Court At a Labor Day speech in Milwau- ing economic crisis. It calls for spend- more promises. We’re not asking for a Judge Vaughn Walker struck down kee September 6, President Barack ing $50 billion over the next year to handout, but for simple, equal justice. Proposition 8, California’s law ban- Obama announced a jobs plan to re- set up an “infrastructure bank” run Both the Democrats and Republicans ning gay marriage. The measure was pair the country’s transportation in- by the government that would seek are responsible for this situation. It’s adopted by referendum in 2008, win- frastructure. Even though he rolled up investments from banks and other fi- Continued on page 8 Continued on page 11 his sleeves to suggest he was getting to nancial institutions. work, there is likely to be little impact The bank will “focus on the smart- on unemployment or the deterioration est investments,” based on “competi- South African public workers of roads, railroads, and runways. tion and innovation,” said Obama. He Obama announced the plan on the promised that it will “not only cre- eve of midterm elections when in- ate jobs immediately” but “make our press wage demands on gov’t cumbents in both parties are facing Continued on page 6 White House policies aimed against Cuban Revolution BY seth galinsky son William Burton said that Obama The Barack Obama administration would “continue to do things . . . that recently leaked news that it may ease help to create a more democratic en- some restrictions on travel and com- vironment and expand freedoms for munication with Cuba. These mea- the Cuban people.” sures, like the ongoing U.S. economic According to the August 6 Miami embargo, seek to foster internal oppo- Herald, the key change is the expan- sition to the Cuban government and sion of existing “purposeful” educa- subvert the Cuban Revolution. tional, religious, and cultural travel While refusing to confirm the de- between Cuba and the United States. tails, deputy White House spokesper- U.S.-Cuba flights, currently al- Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko lowed only from Miami, Los Ange- Public-sector workers in South Africa on strike in capital Johannesburg August 26 les, and John F. Kennedy airport in Drive opens: Sell New York, could be permitted from BY brian williams some 35 U.S. airports. The measures A three-week nationwide strike ‘Workers Power’ would also make it easier to pay in the by some 1.3 million public workers Also Inside: United States for telephone and other in South Africa was suspended by services, the Herald said, “in hopes of union officials for 21 days September Stem cell ruling aims to and ‘Militant’ increasing communications between 6. Workers will consider again a re- undercut abortion rights 5 BY paul mailhot the island and Cuban exiles.” vised government offer that the larg- Supporters of the Militant news- Washington has been stepping up est unions had voted down earlier. Chile mine owners never paper begin an eight-week campaign its aid to counterrevolutionary groups The government, led by the African fixed unsafe conditions 6 September 11 to sell some 1,800 cop- in Cuba. Some $15 million for the National Congress (ANC) and headed ies of Malcolm X, Black Liberation, “Cuba Democracy” programs of the by President Jacob Zuma, has cam- Glenn Beck rally in D.C. and the Road to Workers Power by U.S. Aid for International Develop- paigned against the workers’ walk- prompts counterprotest 7 Jack Barnes, alongside a Militant sub- ment (USAID) were released in June, out. scription drive to sign up some 2,100 including $3 million for “groups that The strike began August 18 after the Justice Dept. drops probe new and returning readers. The cam- are particularly marginalized” to help federal government refused union de- of fifty killings by Klan 8 Continued on page 4 Continued on page 3 Continued on page 11 Workers in Peru force gov’t to lower gas prices by Jorge Lertora coal because they can’t afford the gas After a 13-day strike and a series of produced on the land where they live. demonstrations, thousands of work- Carlos Quispe, leader of the Commit- ers and peasants of La Convención, a tee to Defend the Interests of Kiteni, province in the Andes mountains of denounced the gas companies for hir- Peru, forced the Peruvian government ing local residents “only for seasonal to pledge it will build a natural gas jobs and unskilled labor.” plant and lower the price of gas for On the 11th day of the strike, hun- domestic consumption in the region. dreds of students, peasants, and work- Prime Minister Javier Velásquez ers marched on Cuzco to call a halt said August 9 that one of the gas fields to gas exports from Camisea. Peo- in La Convención will be exclusively ple carried posters saying, “Gas or for domestic use. Before, local resi- Death!” “Enough of the gas robbery!” dents had to spend between 20 and and “Peru’s natural resources are not June demonstration in Cuzco, Peru, protesting higher price of natural gas and underde- 40 soles (1 sole = US 35 cents) more for sale!” velopment in countryside where gas reserves are located. than what people pay in Lima, the capital of the country, for a standard tank of approximately 20 pounds. A large part of the gas extracted from Rights in elections weakened by court ruling the Camisea reserves in La Conven- By John Studer fortable” conversations with those These included precedents won by the ción is exported. By an 8-1 vote, the U.S. Supreme who had signed in their area. Socialist Workers Party protecting cam- Under the agreement, gas will cost Court struck a blow against the rights On August 11 U.S. District Judge paign contributors from having their no more in La Convención that it does of working people to engage in electoral Benjamin Settle issued a temporary names publicized by the government, in the capital. The government also activity. The June 24 ruling opens the order barring Washington State from providing an “enemy’s list” to govern- agreed to look at alternatives than door to attacks by government agencies releasing the names of the petition sign- ment agencies, employers, and rightists would prevent damage to the Megan- and political opponents on those who ers. He acted on the basis of a “narrower for harassment and victimization. toni Nature Sanctuary, where the gov- sign ballot petitions. The decision, writ- challenge” allowed by the June 24 Su- The Supreme Court ruling mandat- ernment plans to run a gas pipeline. ten by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled preme Court ruling that making public ing disclosure was hailed by the New During a town meeting to discuss in favor of a Washington State law re- the names on this particular petition York Times, which ran an editorial the agreement people gathered to dis- quiring public disclosure of the names would violate the right to free speech, “Full Disclosure,” stating that “the cuss the issues in the fight, accord- and addresses of anyone who signs a pe- because individuals might be subject to Supreme Court was right . . . to rule ing to Peru’s La Primera newspaper. tition to put a referendum on the ballot. “violence and harassment.” that there is no constitutional right to Some brought their black cooking The ruling involved a ballot petition The big majority on the Supreme hide in the shadows when signing a pots to demonstrate that they are using for a referendum challenging a new state Court who endorsed releasing names referendum petition.” law in Washington that extends legal and addresses of petition signers to the At issue in this fight is the right of the rights to same-sex domestic partners. public included all the justices who are working class to participate in politics Books on workers’ struggles Organizations supporting the counted as “liberal” in the bourgeois free from harassment and victimization. law, including WhoSigned.org and press. Sonia Sotomayor, the newest The capitalist rulers support decisions pathfinderpress.com KnowThyNeighbor.org, had an- member of the court recently appointed such as the one in Washington State in Complete catalog on nounced that they would put the sign- by President Barack Obama, pushed order to intimidate and put obstacles in the Internet ers’ names and addresses on a Web aside any argument that petition signers the way of working people taking the site, urging people to make “uncom- had a First Amendment right to privacy road of independent political action. in such cases, writing that “legislating Public disclosure and other such elec- by referendum is inherently public.” tion reforms, often touted as safeguards The only justice to oppose the ruling against elections being stolen by big was Clarence Thomas, who wrote that money interests, open the door to efforts signing to put a measure on the bal- by the major parties to force not only lot “necessarily entails political speech working-class candidates off the ballot, and association under the First Amend- but even lesser capitalist rivals. Washington’s long war ment.” He added that the decision “se- In Pennsylvania several candidates verely burdens those rights and chills who petitioned to be on the ballot in Some 50,000 U.S. troops citizen participation in the referendum 2010 were forced off after challenges remain in Iraq. In Afghani- process.” filed by Democratic and Republican stan the number is more The debate in the court included argu- candidates and their supporters. Those than 95,000 and growing. ing the relevancy of previous decisions ruled off included candidates of the The ‘Militant’ covers concerning state disclosure of the names Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and Washington’s long war in of supporters of political candidates. a self-proclaimed Tea Party member. Iraq, Afghanistan, and the border regions of Pakistan, $85, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above address. The Militant Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For and explains why working Vol. 74/No. 35 one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. people need to take power Closing news date: September 8, 2010 Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 away from the war makers. U.S. helicopters in Iraq in August Editor: Paul Mailhot to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- Managing Editor: Martín Koppel treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Business Manager: Angel Lariscy United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Seth by check or international money order SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Galinsky, Cindy Jaquith, Angel Lariscy, made out to CL London, First Floor, 120 Omari Musa, Doug Nelson, Jacob Perasso, Bethnal Green Road (Entrance in Brick Brian Williams Lane), London, E2 6DG, England. 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2 The Militant September 20, 2010 Art show by Cuban Five prisoner opens in N.Y.C. by martín koppel 12, 1998, FBI agents arrested “our NEW YORK—A month-long ex- five brothers”—Guerrero, Gerardo hibit of artwork by Antonio Guerre- Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Fer- ro, one of five Cuban revolutionaries nando González, and René González. locked up in U.S. prisons on trumped- They were convicted on trumped- up charges, opened here September 3 up charges including “conspiracy to with a public event that drew 100 peo- commit espionage” and, in the case ple. The exhibit is being shown until of Hernández, “conspiracy to commit October 1 at the Clemente Soto Vélez murder,” receiving long sentences. Cultural and Educational Center, a Warren noted that in reality, the historically Puerto Rican arts center five had been monitoring the activi- on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. ties of right-wing Cuban exiles who The exhibit, titled “From My Alti- launch armed attacks on Cuba with tude,” features 28 works by Guerrero, Washington’s knowledge and com- who learned to paint and draw from plicity. fellow inmates at the maximum-secu- The frame-up methods used rity federal prison in Florence, Colo- against the five show that “we can rado, where he has been held for most expect no justice from the courts of of the 12 years he and the other four this country,” Warren said. Nonethe- Roberto Mercado Cubans have been kept behind bars. One hundred people turned out for opening night of Antonio Guerrero art show at less, thanks to pressure created by the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center on New York’s Lower East Side. Guerrero’s work includes pencil international campaign for their free- drawings as well as paintings employ- dom, he added, three of the five won bands, Hernández and René González formation and picked up literature ing oil, pastels, watercolor, acrylic, reductions in their sentences in the respectively. about the case. and airbrush techniques. past year, including Guerrero. A number of those attending the The exhibit is open at the Clemente His subjects range from Havana’s Warren asked those present to event had heard about it through the Soto Vélez Center Mondays through harbor to a view of the Rocky Moun- call on the Obama administration to cultural center and were learning Fridays from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. tains from the Florence prison, nudes, grant visas to Adriana Pérez and Olga about the Cuban Five for the first Other hours can be arranged by ap- cats, birds, and portraits, including Salanueva in order to visit their hus- time. Dozens signed up for more in- pointment. of Fidel Castro, Ernesto Che Gue- vara, his mother Mirta Rodríguez, and other relatives of the Cuban Five. One striking work portrays his beige White House policy targets Cuban Revolution prison outfit, with name and prisoner Continued from front page restrictions on travel and trade with number, hanging from a wall. At the up Track II organizing and financing “empower them,” including aiding the Caribbean nation. bottom Guerrero wrote in Spanish, of internal opposition. them in setting up private businesses. The 50-year embargo of Cuba “One day my prison shirt will be left In March 1996 President William USAID boasts that it “directly sup- “hasn’t brought down Castro’s gov- hanging there.” Clinton signed the Helms-Burton bill ports” groups like Ladies in White ernment,” Lee argues. “We need to The September 3 inaugural event into law, further tightening the em- that organize provocative actions try a new approach.” was moderated by Nancy Cabrero, bargo and adding penalties to busi- against the Cuban government and “When Cubans start buying our president of Casa de las Américas, a nessmen from other countries who that it sends “international experts” to goods and forming relationships with Cuban American organization here invest there. Clinton justified the law Cuba to train “independent” groups. Americans, the path to their future—a that supports the Cuban Revolution. as a way to punish Cuba for shooting On August 5 the U.S. State Depart- democratic and prosperous one—will Manuel Morán, president of the execu- down two hostile aircraft flown by ment announced that it was keeping become clearer than ever,” she said. tive board of the Clemente Soto Vélez counterrevolutionaries who had re- Cuba on its list of “state sponsors of This approach is also supported Center, spoke and introduced from peatedly violated Cuban airspace. terrorism.” On August 31 a federal by many U.S.-backed counterrevolu- the audience actor-director Nelson By January 1999 Clinton an- appellate court upheld a Florida law tionary groups and individuals inside Landrieu, cofounder of the center. nounced he was initiating steps to that prohibits state funding of aca- Cuba who want to restore capitalism Also speaking were New York City expand “people to people” contact, demic and research trips to nations on there. A letter to the U.S. House of Council member Rosie Méndez, hu- two-way exchanges of scientists and the list. Representatives backing the Lee- man rights lawyer Michael Warren, academics with Cuba, emphasizing sponsored bill was signed by 74 Cu- and Pedro Núñez Mosquera, Cuba’s the Track II approach. Embargo aimed at crippling Cuba ban “dissidents.” ambassador to the United Nations. President George W. Bush tightened Since the early 1960s, every U.S. In a speech to Cuba’s National As- Celebrated actor Harry Belafonte, a up interaction in 2003, limiting remit- president, Democrat and Republican sembly of People’s Power August 1, longtime supporter of the campaign tances sent by Cuban Americans to their alike, has maintained the economic, Cuban leader Raúl Castro pointed out to free the Cuban Five, was also in- families on the island and cutting back commercial, and financial embargo that the Obama administration is not troduced. on cultural and academic exchanges. imposed on Cuba. Their aim is to easing Washington’s hostility to the Warren explained that on Sept. cripple the country’s economy and Continued U.S. hostility to revolution revolution. punish the Cuban people for having The Obama administration began “In essence nothing has changed,” made a revolution that overthrew the a return to the Clinton-era Track II Castro stated, “although there is less U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio approach last year with the removal rhetoric and occasional bilateral talks Batista. Except for a brief period in of restrictions on Cuban Americans are held on specific and limited top- the late 1970s and early ’80s, Wash- traveling to Cuba and sending money ics, in reality the blockade continues ington essentially banned travel to to their families there. White House to be applied. Cuba by U.S. citizens, with excep- moves to further expand specific types “We will keep acting with the seren- tions for journalists and some aca- of travel take place in the context of ity and patience we have learned over Join activities to demic exchanges. economic, social, and political chal- the last 50 plus years,” he concluded. An integral part of Washington’s lenges confronting the Cuban Revolu- Two weeks after Castro’s speech, the free Cuban Five! efforts has been combining violent tion in a period of prolonged absence U.S. Treasury Department announced armed actions against Cuba with of revolutionary struggles worldwide that it was fining Barclay’s Bank $176 Events to demand what the U.S. imperialist rulers call and mounting consequences of the million for violating U.S. sanctions freedom for the “Track II,” creating opposition politi- worldwide capitalist economic crisis. against Cuba, Burma, Iran, and Sudan. Cuban Five are cal groups that could aid in overturn- Some liberal politicians, includ- ing the revolution. An October 1962 ing California congresswoman Bar- taking place in State Department memo states that bara Lee, who present themselves as militant U.S. cities from U.S. advisors would keep their “direct “friends of Cuba,” say that the ex- September 12 to participation” to a minimum, while pected Obama measures do not go far labor financing such groups. enough. October 8. To learn In 1992 President George H. Bush Lee, a Democrat and member of the forums more go to: signed the Cuban Democracy Act— Congressional Black Caucus, issued a california often called the Torricelli bill—which statement August 18 titled “Mr. Presi- San Francisco freethefive.org tightened the embargo of Cuba, in- dent: Lift the Travel Ban.” She is a A Real Jobs Program—Why Working Peo- cluding restrictions on remittances sponsor of the Travel Restriction Re- ple Need a Labor Party. Speaker: Represen- or thecuban5.org by family members and travel to the tative, Socialist Workers Party. Fri., Sept. 17, form and Export Enhancement Act, a 7:30 p.m. Donation: $5; unemployed $1. 5482 island, and at the same time stepped congressional bill that calls for fewer Mission St., Tel.: (415) 584-2135.

The Militant September 20, 2010 3 Workers at U. of Miami win gains in new contract by deborah liatos At the August 21 rally speeches were Miami—Nearly 400 cleaners translated into English, Creole, and and landscapers at the University of Spanish. Josette, a worker at the Fort Miami won a new contract with the Lauderdale airport, said, “Our bosses Boston-based contractor UNICCO are like animals that suck blood. If we September 1. unite stronger we will be victorious.” The three-year agreement includes Students have been among the stron- a 7.5 percent wage increase, improves gest backers of the workers’ struggle at benefits, including sick days and holi- the university. Many were active in sup- days, and increases employer contribu- porting the organizing drive in 2006. tions to the health-care fund up to 23 Stephanie Sandhu, a member of Stu- percent. dents Toward a New Democracy, spoke The workers will get three weeks’ va- at the August 21 rally. “We will not let cation after eight years on the job instead the university push you back to save a of 10, gain Martin Luther King Jr. Day few pennies,” she said. as an additional paid holiday, and receive four personal days, up from three. Deborah Liatos is the Socialist Work- Militant/Deborah Liatos The workers won a strengthening of ers Party candidate for U.S. Senate University of Miami cleaners and landscapers march August 21 for better contract. seniority rights so they can bid on jobs, from Florida. Unionists won wage increase, more benefits, and better seniority rights. change shifts, and get higher classifica- tion jobs. On August 21 the Service Employees Drive opens to sell ‘Workers Power’ book International Union 32BJ, which rep- resents the workers, held a rally after Continued from front page how the toilers can wield that state pow- Washington, D.C., which was called to paign will run through November 9. which the unionists unanimously voted er to end all forms of oppression and counter a rally organized by conserva- The drive builds on the success of to authorize a strike if UNICCO main- exploitation. In this context, the book tive talk-show host Glenn Beck, sold 23 tained its position of freezing wages, socialist workers last spring in intro- discusses the last year of Malcolm X’s copies of the Workers Power book, along with 23 subscriptions to the Militant. health care, and other benefits. ducing 1,870 people to the Workers life and “how he became the face and the authentic voice of the forces of the At the August 28 demonstration in In the spring of 2006, cleaners at the Power book, many of whom also sub- coming American revolution.” Detroit, an auto worker who is Black University of Miami held a nine-week scribed or renewed their subscription As communist workers begin selling bought the book. He told John Hawkins, strike that included marches, sit-ins, and to the Militant. the book and introducing workers, farm- the Socialist Workers Party candidate a hunger strike. As Barnes’s introductory sentence ers, and young people to the Militant for governor of Illinois, “You see all this The walkout received national atten- describes, the book is “about the dicta- this fall, there has been no letup in the going on—layoffs, closing down plants, tion because the president of the univer- torship of capital and the road to the dic- capitalist crisis. It continues to grind on foreclosures. You know people who are sity is Donna Shalala, former secretary tatorship of the proletariat.” It is a must with its economic, political, and social going through it. At a certain point you of health and human services under the read for any militant worker or young consequences for the world’s toilers. At just have to stop sitting there and do William Clinton administration. She was person today, as it puts in perspective the last century and a half of the class strug- the same time, the rulers are expanding something.” widely criticized by workers at the time their war in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and In conjunction with the drive to sell gle in the United States to illustrate the for not responding to their demands. the surrounding region, and increasing the Workers Power book and subscrip- weighty role that workers who are Black The 2006 strike won union recogni- the economic and political pressure, in- tions to the Militant, the Socialist Work- will play in the mass social movement tion and led to a contract that increased cluding plans for military action against ers Party has launched a party-building that will make a socialist revolution. wages and provided health care and other Iran. These are the conditions that make fund to raise $95,000. The fund-raising benefits. It gained wide support among Barnes explains the necessity of working people look for the perspectives campaign will also run from September students, faculty, and other workers in working people wresting power from presented in Malcolm X, Black Libera- 11 to November 9. The money raised the area. the hands of the capitalist rulers and tion, and the Road to Workers Power. will help finance the work of the party The heart of the effort this fall will to reach out to working-class struggles be sales in working-class communities, in the United States and around the Support Troy Davis case, say especially where many Black workers world. live. In addition socialist workers will Socialist workers around the world, reach out on the job and at plant gates. whose campaign halls are listed on page Georgia socialist candidates They will go to political events and onto 10, will spearhead the Workers Power By Janice lynn sumption of innocence, an important the campuses for the type of exchange book sales and subscription drives. SWP Atlanta—The Socialist Work- democratic gain for working people,” that will advance an understanding of branches in the United States will orga- ers Party candidates for public office said a socialist campaign news re- the capitalist dictatorship and the road nize the fund-raising campaign. Quotas in Georgia condemned the August lease. “Putting the burden of proof on to workers power. This effort will be adopted by local areas will be printed in 24 action of U.S. District Judge Wil- the accuser, not the accused, is a fun- substantially aided by the election cam- next week’s issue of the Militant, along liam Moore upholding the conviction damental democratic conquest that paigns of socialist candidates in cities with the overall goals. of Troy Davis for the 1989 killing of the working class must defend.” across the country presenting a work- Readers of the Militant are encour- a white Savannah police officer. The “Having to prove your innocence ing-class alternative to the Democratic aged to join in the effort and send ar- party is running Jacob Perasso for beyond a reasonable doubt in order to and Republican parties. ticles, pictures, and short pieces that governor, Lisa Potash for U.S. Sen- get off death row and receive a new Recent experience indicates the kind illustrate the discussions with working ate, and Rachele Fruit for agriculture trial—a virtually impossible task—is of response we can expect. Socialist people that are helping to advance these commissioner. a travesty of justice faced by many campaigners at the August 28 march in campaigns. Davis, who is Black, has been on working-class prisoners, especially death row for 19 years. Three attempts Blacks, Latinos, and Asians,” said the by state authorities to execute him SWP statement. have been stayed due to widespread It also pointed out that the protec- international support for Davis. tions against the state that working At a June 23 and 24 evidentiary people have won over centuries, such hearing for Davis the judge heard as the presumption of innocence, Mi- from several of the seven prosecution randa rights, defendants’ rights of witnesses who recanted their testi- appeal, the Bill of Rights, and other mony at the original trial. Three have amendments to the Constitution, are told how they were coerced by police under attack. “Davis’s case is a pow- to finger Troy Davis. Others have said erful illustration of how the death they could identify another man as the penalty is a class-biased and racist one who killed the officer. weapon used by the rulers against In his ruling, however, Moore said working people,” the socialist candi- Davis failed to prove his innocence, dates said. stating, while “new evidence casts The candidates pledged to contin- some additional, minimal doubt on ue fighting with others for freedom his conviction, it is largely smoke and for Troy Davis, for the abolition of Militant/Alyson Kennedy mirrors.” the death penalty, and for defense of John Hawkins, Socialist Workers candidate for governor of Illinois, campaigns with Malcolm “This decision is a blow to the pre- workers rights. X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Workers Power at August 28 demonstration in Detroit.

4 The Militant September 20, 2010 Stem cell ruling aims to New Zealand: 400 protest child care cuts undercut abortion rights BY seth galinsky treating currently incurable diseases A federal judge granted an injunc- such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkin- tion on government funding of human son’s, spinal injuries, and some types of embryonic stem cell research August blindness. In spite of this, in 1996 U.S. 23. The lawsuit seeking the halt was Congress passed the Dickey-Wicker brought by opponents of a woman’s Amendment, which prohibited the use right to choose abortion. of federal funds for “the creation of a In their original filing to block gov- human embryo” for research purposes ernment funds, antiabortion doctors or research in which human “embryos James Sherley and Theresa Deisher are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly were joined not only by two antiabortion subjected to risk of injury or death.” groups; they also sought to include hu- The William Clinton administration man embryos as plaintiffs in the case. interpreted the law as allowing govern- In some stem cell research, cells are ment-funded research on embryonic removed from fertilized ova (human stem cells that were created using only Militant/Terry Coggan eggs), destroying the embryo in the private funds. President George W. Bush TAURANGA, New Zealand—Four hundred people marched here Au- process. The embryos are from fertility imposed tighter restrictions, but still al- gust 28 to protest planned cuts in government funding for early childhood clinics where they are no longer needed lowed government funds to be used for education. The march and rally was organized by two local preschools in for in vitro fertilization. The embryos researching stem cells extracted before conjunction with the New Zealand Educational Institute, the union covering at this early stage are smaller than the his Aug. 9, 2001, policy statement. junior school and preschool teachers. period at the end of this sentence. Judge After taking office, Obama loosened The cuts target child care centers with the highest proportion of trained Royce Lamberth dismissed the case in the restrictions, allowing greater use staff, including all the fully state-funded kindergartens and many private cen- October 2009, saying that those bring- of stem cells from embryos discarded ters that charge fees. Many will be forced to lay off teachers or raise prices. “This is a really important cause. We don’t want to settle for a lower qual- ing the suit “lack[ed] standing.” from fertility clinics. Sherley and De- ity education for our children,” said Greta Doyle, a junior school teacher In June this year an appeals court isher filed their suit after the National currently retraining as a preschool teacher. overturned the dismissal and ordered Institutes of Health issued new guide- —FELICITY COGGAN Lamberth to hear the case, but with lines implementing Obama’s executive Sherley and Deisher as the only plain- order. tiffs. Proponents of using stem cells from ways to treat disease. But in their state- The group’s Web site features a page After a new hearing, Lamberth ruled embryos argue that these cells are more ments they make clear they are suing promoting “frozen embryo adoption” to that government guidelines changed versatile than stem cells that are grown to promote their belief that human life help “frozen embryos realize their ulti- by the Barack Obama administration from other sources, such as skin tissue mate purpose—life.” violate a law passed by Congress and or bone marrow. In 2009 the govern- begins with conception and that embry- Deisher works in Seattle for AVM “threaten the very livelihood” of Sher- ment allocated $143 million on more onic stem cell research is immoral. Biotechnology, which says it is “dedi- ley and Deisher, who depend on govern- than 330 scientific projects that use Ron Stoddart, executive director of cated to the discovery, development, and ment funding for their research using human embryonic stem cells. Many of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, one of commercialization of safe, effective, and stem cells extracted from human tissue, those programs are now in jeopardy. the original plaintiffs who were removed not embryos. The opponents of these programs from the suit, told the New York Times, affordable pro-life therapeutics.” Sherley Many scientific experiments show claim that non-embryonic stem cells “Embryos are preborn human life that works at Boston Biomedical Research that stem cells could open advances for are as good or better for developing new should be protected and not destroyed.” Institute, which gets more than 75 per- cent of its funding from federal grants. Judge Lamberth ruled that harm to people who have diseases that embry- Iowa socialist defends access to abortion pills onic stem cell research could aid, by The following statement was issued been under sustained attack by succes- the depression drags on. We need closing the door to government funding, by Rebecca Williamson, Socialist Work- sive Democratic and Republican admin- to build a movement that will orga- “is speculative,” but the harm to Sherley ers Party candidate for U.S. Congress, istrations on both the state and federal nize the power of the working class and Deisher, from the “increased com- Third District, in Iowa in response to an level. Many of these attacks have been to defend the rights and the living petition for limited funds is an actual, effort by Operation Rescue and other aimed at limiting access to abortion. standards of all workers. Defending imminent injury.” antiabortion groups to end a program Access to safe, legal abortions is a a woman’s right to choose means The Justice Department has said it that provides abortion pills to rural Iowa precondition for equality and libera- she can control what she will do will appeal the injunction, but the White clinics. The program, run by Planned tion of women. Women’s rights and with her life, including whether or House has yet to issue a public statement Parenthood, allows patients to consult workers’ rights are under attack as when to have children. on the ruling. a doctor via computer videoconference and get abortion pills prescribed. 25, 50, and 75 years ago Efforts by Operation Rescue and other antiabortion groups to shut down Planned Parenthood’s telemedicine pro- gram should be vigorously opposed. I and the other SWP candidates call on working people to defend Planned September 20, 1985 September 19, 1960 September 21, 1935 Parenthood’s efforts to expand access to The Reagan administration has im- NEWARK—Gladys Barkers Grau- Reformists and liberals of all shades abortion services to rural women. posed some mild sanctions against the er, Socialist Workers nominee for U.S. and varieties are fond of calling Marx- Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme racist apartheid regime in South Africa. Senator from New Jersey, has urged ists “sectarians,” “dogmatists,” fantastic Court decision legalizing abortion, a This is a concession to the deepening Gov. Meyner to act against local offi- “extremists.” This is the way in which woman’s right to choose abortion has anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa cials and racist hoodlums in Hamilton jelly-backboned individuals always de- and to the growing anti-apartheid move- Township who are trying to prevent scribe those who have principles and ment here in the United States. The most Roderick Woodward, a Negro, from take them seriously. It is a verbal cover important of the economic sanctions moving into his newly purchased that reformists use to hide their own will ban further imports of the Kruger- home there. cowardly refusal to face facts and draw rand, the South African gold coin. In an Aug. 29 letter to the governor, conclusions. Reagan said he was banning loans to Mrs. Grauer demanded that he probe Nowhere is this more evident than the South African government. But he the failure of township officials to pro- on the question of war. Reformists are excepted those “which improve eco- vide Woodward police protection when grievously “offended” when Marx- nomic opportunities or educational, racists tried to burn down his home. She ists are not merely scornful of every housing, and health facilities that are also urged investigation of the town- form of pacifism but fight mercilessly open and accessible to South Africans ship’s invoking a previously unused or- against it. Pacifism, far from being a of all races.” In the past, Reagan has dinance against Woodward requiring a force against war, in practice aids the claimed that all U.S. investments and health permit before a real estate sale is war-makers; they describe pacifism as loans in South Africa help Blacks. closed the hypocritical front for imperialism, The imposition of sanctions is a blow A reply to Mrs. Grauer from the a means whereby, under the pretense

Militant/Diana Newberry to the apartheid regime. It reinforces the Statehouse said that the governor agreed of opposition to “war in general,” this Rebecca Williamson (left) SWP candidate status of the murderous South African with her that discrimination in housing particular war—whichever is may for Congress campaigning in Des Moines. government as an international pariah. “has no place in the United States.” be—is made morally respectable.

The Militant September 20, 2010 5 Chile mine owners never fixed unsafe conditions BY FRANK FORRESTAL GlobalPost. As 33 trapped miners prepare for The paper wrote, “‘This is the fa- what will be the longest-ever mine res- mous refuge,’ said miner Mario Sepul- cue attempt, more facts are emerging veda in the video, as he pointed to the on the unsafe working conditions that shabby sign with ‘Refuge’ stamped on led to the mine disaster in Chile. it. ‘It was supposed to be in conditions The copper and gold miners have to shelter us, but when we got here, the been trapped 2,300 feet underground energy was cut off and there was no since August 5. The nonunion San José ventilation,’ he said bitterly.” mine employs 140 workers and is owned In response to the disaster, Chilean by the San Esteban Mining Company. president Sebastian Piñera dismissed Chile is the world’s top copper pro- the national director of Sernageomin, ducer, accounting for 35 percent of a government agency responsible for global production. miner safety, and created a work safety Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images It took rescuers eight attempts to drill commission that does not include any Rescue crews outside San Esteban mine in Chile where 33 miners are trapped a bore-hole to the miners. “All 33 of us miners. Piñera is also calling for in- are fine in the shelter,” wrote one of the creasing the number of inspectors from a criminal lawsuit accusing both com- bankruptcy to protect its profits. How- miners 17 days later. Due to the depth of 18 to 45—a paltry figure for a country pany owners and government officials ever, many of the miners’ families suc- the mine, estimates are that it will take with 4,500 mines. Thirty-one miners of negligence by allowing the mine to cessfully petitioned a Chilean judge, at least three months to rescue them. have died in accidents so far this year. be reopened in 2008. In response, San who froze $1.8 million of the mining The miners are trapped in a 650-foot- One of the miners’ families has filed Esteban said it is considering filing company’s assets as a “precaution.” square space. San Esteban Mining said that it was thanks to company safety regula- tions that the miners were found alive. Washington steps up covert actions in Yemen The comment outraged families of the BY Doug Nelson diers and at least three civilians. Con- In the north, the Yemeni govern- trapped miners. U.S. government officials are dis- flicting reports of the number of al-Qa- ment has been at war off and on for the The mine is notorious for its unsafe cussing how to step up Washington’s eda fighters killed was between 12 and last six years with Houthi rebels fight- working conditions. The most serious is covert military campaign against al-Qa- 19. Among those reportedly killed was ing against government discrimina- the fact that there was no escape route eda forces in Yemen and allied groups Adel Saleh Hardaba, AQAP’s second in tion. The two sides signed a cease-fire out of the mine. After the cave-in, min- in Somalia. Under consideration is in- command; at least five professed al-Qa- pact in Qatar August 26. Last year the ers tried to escape up the emergency creasing direct U.S. strikes in Yemen, eda members surrendered. Conflicting government initiated what it calls Op- ladder in a ventilation shaft, but only including the feasibility of using aerial reports in the Yemeni Observer have eration Scorched Earth—a six-month got a third of the way because the mine drones as the CIA and U.S. military put the number of al-Qaeda combatants massive bombing campaign of civilian owners never finished constructing the regularly do in Pakistan. in the city between 60 and 200. areas with some assistance from the ladder to the top. Operations in Yemen are directed The government claims AQAP is al- Saudi Arabian military—that displaced In 2004 a miner was killed by a cave- at disrupting al-Qaeda in the Arabian lied with groups fighting for separation more than a quarter million people. in. Two years later a truck driver was Peninsula (AQAP), which took respon- for southern Yemen, which existed as The Yemeni government has like- killed. That same year 182 workers sibility for a failed suicide bombing of an independent nation from 1967–1990. wise sought to brand Houthi fighters were reported injured, 56 of them se- a Detroit-bound flight last Christmas. The nationalist movement denies any allies of al-Qaeda, which Houthi lead- riously. Following the 2007 death of a Following the bombing attempt, Wash- connection with al-Qaeda. ers deny. Houthi are Shiite Muslims, a geologist in a mining accident, the mine ington expanded its military coopera- A range of exiled leaders from south branch of Islam whose adherents have was ordered shut by the government. tion with the Yemeni rulers, announc- Yemen, both those for and against in- been a major target of sectarian killings Despite the trail of fatalities, injuries, ing $155 million in additional military dependence, have denounced the siege, by al-Qaeda and its cothinkers in Iraq and safety violations, the mine was re- assistance. The White House has pub- pointing out that the government has and elsewhere. opened in 2008, even though the com- licly ordered the assassination of Anwar used its war against AQAP to justify its Hundreds demonstrated August 24 in pany had not corrected many unsafe al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen and alleged violent repression against rising discon- Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, demanding working conditions, like completing the leader of the group believed to be in Ye- tent in the south. payment of the regular Ramadan bo- escape route. men. Amnesty International accuses the nus to state teachers and the release of After communication was reestab- U.S. operations in Yemen over the government of organizing a violent jailed journalists. People forced to flee lished with the trapped miners, they re- last nine months have included five crackdown on all government opposi- their village of Al-Ja’ashin nine months ported that the company did not main- reported strikes from fighter jets and tion and criticism under the pretext of ago called on the government to protect tain the safety refuge. With the use of sea-launched cruise missiles containing combating terrorism. them from the local sheikh. a small camera that had been lowered cluster bombs. One cruise missile strike down the bore-hole, miners “showed killed more than 40 civilians. Washing- their living conditions and took turns ton appears to have taken a respite af- greeting their loved ones,” reported the ter an attack accidentally took out Jabir Obama plan little aid on jobs al-Shabwani, deputy governor of Marib Continued from front page American Society of Civil Engineers Province. economy hum over the long haul.” on the deterioration of U.S. infrastruc- for further reading Washington has for years been The White House has not stated how ture said it would take $2.2 trillion over New International no. 12 mounting pressure and providing incen- many jobs it expects this project will five years to get the roads, bridges, le- tives for the Yemeni government to pur- create. vees, schools, water supply, and other Capitalism’s sue a military campaign against AQAP. “The outside investors would expect infrastructure into decent shape. Initially apprehension was widespread a competitive return on their money,” Allocating $50 billion over the next Long Hot Winter among the Yemeni rulers, as the weak noted the New York Times, “so many year toward infrastructure repairs is Has Begun government of Ali Abdullah Saleh has of the completed projects would have also just a drop in the bucket com- traditionally relied on alliances with to charge fees, taxes, or tolls.” pared to the $700 billion the federal by Jack Barnes armed Islamist groups and tribal mili- In a recent opinion piece lauding government allocated in bank bailouts Today’s sharpen- tias to maintain its hold on power. But the proposal as “a first step,” New with passage of the Troubled Assets ing interimperialist AQAP’s increasingly frequent attacks York Times columnist Bob Herbert Recovery Program in October 2008. conflicts are fu- directed at the government—and most acknowledged that “it’s not in any Speaking in Cleveland two days af- eled by the open- recently its declaration of war against way commensurate with our over- ter his Labor Day speech, Obama an- ing stages of what the Yemeni state in June—has helped whelming infrastructure needs or the nounced a cut of nearly $200 billion will be decades steel the resolve of government offi- gruesome scale of the nation’s unem- in business taxes over two years. This of economic, fi- nancial, and so- cials. ployment crisis.” includes allowing companies to fully cial convulsions Following an ambush on an armored The official unemployment rate has deduct the cost of purchasing equip- and class battles. personnel carrier that killed at least eight hovered around 10 percent over the ment through 2011 and a permanent $16 Class-struggle- soldiers, the Yemeni military launched past year. With the 9.6 percent rate re- extension of research tax credits. minded working an offensive August 20 on the southern ported for August, more than 17 mil- The White House hopes these in- people must face this historic turn- town of Lawdar. Troops besieged the lion workers are jobless and nearly 9 centives will spur employers to spend, ing point and draw satisfaction from city and distributed pamphlets calling million others seeking full-time jobs invest, and create jobs. But employ- being “in their face” as we chart a on the city’s entire population of 80,000 have been forced into part-time hours. ers continue to be reluctant, in spite revolutionary course to confront it. to immediately evacuate. Since January 2009 bosses have elimi- of these gifts, while their profit mar- pathfinderpress.com At least 33 people were killed during nated 940,000 construction jobs alone. gins are under pressure in a declining the four-day assault, including 11 sol- A report issued last year by the economy.

6 The Militant September 20, 2010 Glenn Beck rally in D.C. prompts counterprotest by Ned Measel Honor” rally called by Beck. and Paul Pederson “We are here to let those folks on the Washington—A rally called by Mall know that they don’t represent the conservative media personality Glenn dream,” said Jaime Contreras, president Beck at the location and on the anniver- of SEIU-32BJ, referring to those at the sary of the 1963 March on Washington Beck rally. “They represent hate-mon- drew a counterprotest here August 28. gering and angry white people. The Nearly ten thousand responded to the happy white people are here today. We call from Democratic Party politician will not let them stand in the way of the Rev. Al Sharpton, the NAACP, and change we voted for!” the National Urban League to rally to “They think we showed up in 2008,” “Reclaim the Dream,” a reference to said Sharpton, referring to the get-out- the speech given by Rev. Martin Luther the-vote effort for Obama. “We’re com- King, Jr. at the mass civil rights demon- ing out in ’10 because we’ve just begun stration 47 years ago. to fight and we’re not going to let them “I felt the need for African Ameri- turn back the clock.” cans to come together based on the The Obama administration’s educa- climate of racial tension,” said Imani tion secretary, Arne Duncan, spoke, as Lumumba. She came on one of the nine did the front-running Democratic Party candidates for D.C. mayor. Militant/Leah Morrison buses from Philadelphia. “We needed Thousands joined counterprotest to Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally in Washington, this. We need to become more united John Boyd, president of the National D.C., August 28, anniversary of historic speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. and politically conscious.” Black Farmers Association, addressed the rally. He encouraged people to con- viewed by the Militant said they came make a point about lack of respect for People came from as far away as tact their representatives in Congress to on their own and weren’t affiliated with soldiers fighting U.S. wars by President Atlanta and Milwaukee. The rally was demand they vote for the bill allocating any organization. Obama and a layer of other Democratic held at the athletic field of Dunbar High $1.25 billion for a settlement with the Earl Rissel and his son run a two-man Party liberals. The rally promoted a School. Participants then marched about U.S. Department of Agriculture for dis- water treatment business in Coatesville, scholarship fund for children of special five miles to the construction site of the crimination against Black farmers. Pennsylvania. They came on a bus, but forces soldiers killed in the line of duty. National King Memorial. A three-mile march to the site of the said they are not part of any particular “I’ve been introduced here as the Some 300 students from Howard soon-to-be-unveiled monument to King organization. mother of a soldier,” former Republican University participated, according to followed the rally. The location is just a “I wanted to get together with people vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin Brandon Harris, president of the How- short distance from the Lincoln Memo- of like mind,” Rissel told the Militant. told the crowd. “I’m proud of that dis- ard University Students Association. rial and the marchers interacted—gen- “I’m fed up with rising taxes. I’m eat- tinction. I raise combat men. You can’t More than 500 members of the erally in a cordial manner—with the ing it on my end rather than raising the take that away.” Teamsters National Black Caucus took thousands of participants streaming prices to my customers because I know Palin said the rally was in the spirit a break from their 35th Annual Educa- toward their buses as the “Restoring that about one-third of them are out of of George Washington, Abraham Lin- tional Conference and Banquet to at- Honor” rally wound down. work right now.” coln, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Be- tend. “I don’t like how they’re trying to hind them, Palin said, they were linked Many of the 30-plus speakers at the ‘Restoring Honor’ rally take every right you have away,” Doug- by “the unsung deeds of ordinary peo- rally expressed the point of view that A sizeable crowd stretching from the las Smith, an auto worker laid off from ple: our men and women in uniform—a the election of President Barack Obama Lincoln Memorial to the Washington a Mack truck engine plant in Cham- force for good in the world.” was an advance for all African Ameri- Monument gathered for the “Restoring bersburg, Pennsylvania, told the Mili- Nearly every speaker gave a tribute cans. Many attacked the “Restoring Honor” rally. CBS reported the turnout tant. The rights Smith was particularly to Martin Luther King, Jr. and spoke at 87,000, based on figures provided by angry about were encroachments on the against racism. an aerial photography company it com- right to bear arms. King’s niece, Alveda King, a promi- The Changing Face missioned. NBC reporter Domenico “I hate all politicians,” said Seth, a nent figure in the antiabortion move- Montanaro said a Parks Service official 22-year-old consultant for small busi- ment, spoke flanked by leading Black of U.S. Politics told him the attendance was likely some- nesses who wished to be identified only ministers. by Jack Barnes where between 300,000 and 325,000. by his first name. He was unhappy that “The procreative foundation of The event was billed as nonpartisan the rally was so “overly religious.” marriage is being threatened, and the and nonpolitical to promote “American” His friend, John Firtin, also 22, said wombs of our mothers have become values of “honesty, integrity, merit, per- he came along because he was curious. places where the blood of our children sonal responsibility, family, and God.” “There are too many executive abus- is shed in a womb war that threatens Beck’s address was much more reli- es of power,” Firtin said. “I don’t think the fabric of our society,” she told the gious and circumspect than his usual going back to 1776 is the solution. But I crowd. on-air diatribe. don’t like big government. I’m for social Unlike previous rallies organized by A number of those in attendance programs in a capitalist society.” Beck and other prominent figures in the wore T-shirts or hats with logos iden- The rally began with, and was marked Tea Party movement, rally organizers tifying themselves with the Tea Party throughout, by tributes to honor U.S. asked participants not to bring political movement. But most of those inter- troops. The event organizers strove to signs—and virtually none were visible. Jobs rally in Detroit builds October 2 action BY LAURA ANDERSON Advancement also marched. the Militant. “We need better jobs and DETROIT—A couple thousand Participants were overwhelmingly housing.” people marched and rallied here Au- drawn from Detroit and the surround- Malcolm Morris, 20, said, “I’m here gust 28 in response to unemployment ing working-class suburbs, the tradi- for schools and jobs. I can’t get a job.” and other effects of the economic cri- tional center of the U.S. auto industry. Others at the march drew attention $24 sis on working people. Organized to The majority were African American. to other aspects of the social crisis coincide with the 47th anniversary of Michigan’s official unemployment bearing down on working people. “I the 1963 March on Washington led by rate for 2009 was 13.6 percent—16.6 came because I’m tired of the gov- Building the kind of party work- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the theme percent for Hispanics and 21 percent ernment politicians not caring,” said ing people need to prepare for of the action was “Rebuild America: for Blacks. Theresa Wells Dixon who helps run coming class battles through Jobs, Justice, and Peace.” Participants included some of Mich- rehabilitation facilities for homeless which they will revolutionize Auto workers comprised the bulk igan’s most prominent Democratic and others in need. themselves, their unions, and all of the rally. Sponsored by the Rain- Party politicians. A major theme of The August 28 protest was organized society. A handbook for those bow PUSH Coalition and the United the action was a protectionist call as a building action for the October 2 seeking the road toward effective Auto Workers (UAW), contingents for “a trade policy that will create national march on Washington for jobs, action to overturn the exploit- were also organized by the Service jobs [and] support manufacturing in justice, and education. The Washington ative system of capitalism and Employees International Union; America.” mobilization, first announced July 12 join in reconstructing the world American Federation of State, County “The owners get rid of union jobs, at the 101st annual convention of the on new, socialist foundations. and Municipal Employees; and other lay off workers, then bring in contract NAACP in Kansas City, Missouri, has labor groups. A contingent from the work at much less expense,” Cass the backing of a broad array of unions PathfinderPress.com Labor Council for Latin American Ford, an auto plant electrician told and civil rights organizations. The Militant September 20, 2010 7 Justice Dept. drops probe of fifty killings by Klan

BY brian williams lished in Ferriday, Louisiana, has been Despite promises by the federal gov- writing articles connecting the killing of ernment to pursue cases against former a number of individuals in that area with Klansmen and other rightists who got the Silver Dollar Group, a Klan organi- away with killing Blacks during the civil zation. “Some of those killed were civil rights struggle of the 1950s and ’60s, the rights activists, others were not. Some federal government recently closed more whites were killed as well as Blacks,” he than 50 cases without explanation. told the Militant in a phone interview. In February 2007, Alberto Gonza- Among the cases he has been writ- les, attorney general under the George ing about are: Joseph Edwards, a Black W. Bush administration, promised that hotel porter who was killed because he the Justice Department would find and had a relationship with a white woman, prosecute those who murdered Blacks and Frank Morris, a Black cobbler who and were never brought to justice. “You did work for whites as well as Blacks. have not gotten away with anything. We He died when his shop was set on fire. Courtesy Concordia Sentinel, Ferriday, Louisiana Three years after the arson attack, a Klan Frank Morris, fourth from left, outside his shoe repair shop in Ferriday, Louisiana. FBI has are still on your trail,” he stated. never solved case of his death when rightists set fire to his shop in 1964. “There have been no federal indict- leader told the FBI that local Klansmen ments since Mr. Gonzales’s announce- may have carried it out, accusing Morris mation from you but they won’t tell you white woman. Two men accused as the ment, which heralded the Civil Rights– of flirting with white women. anything. It’s hard to know what they’re killers were acquitted. The bill autho- Era Cold Case Initiative,” the New York At the time, Deacons for Defense was doing. The public and the families de- rized spending $13.5 million for each of Times reported August 23. “Very little active in Louisiana organizing armed serve a revealing answer.” the next 10 years to investigate unsolved of the millions of dollars approved by self-defense to beat back Klan attacks in In the fall of 2008, President Bush racial killings before 1970. No money Congress to finance the initiative has Black neighborhoods. Former Deacons signed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil was allocated in fiscal year 2009. This materialized.” No FBI field agents are members have been helpful in unearth- Rights Crime Act into law. Till was a year the Justice Department received currently assigned full-time to pursue ing facts about the Klan’s actions, noted Black teenager from Chicago who was $1.6 million. The FBI received an $8 any of the cases. Nelson. beaten and killed in Mississippi in Au- million increase for its civil rights divi- For several decades relatives of those Nelson said, “The FBI wants infor- gust 1955 for allegedly whistling at a sion, part of it for cold cases. killed by the Klan have been fighting for the government to indict and con- vict those guilty of these crimes. A few September protest to back Black farmers have had success. In some 20 cases the Continued from front page as Pigford II, will provide funds to Binion spoke at Alabama A&M’s government prosecuted the rightists and discrimination, pure and simple. Not some of the thousands of Black farm- main campus near Huntsville August won convictions. even the Congressional Black Caucus ers wrongly denied loans and access 28, and in Uniontown and Centreville, But many families are still waiting for has helped us. This action will be a to other farm programs by the USDA. Alabama, several days later. More justice. “Everybody put me on the back wake-up call for everyone.” The 2010 Pigford II agreement was than 100 farmers and others attended burner for years and years,” said Henry In late August Binion initiated ef- won by Black farmers’ decade-long a meeting in Natchez, Mississippi, Allen, 65, whose father Louis Allen, a forts to bring farmers from Alabama, fight to include thousands who had September 2, and Binion appeared on civil rights worker, was killed in front Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, and else- been excluded from the 1999 Pigford a radio show in Meridian the follow- of his house in Liberty, Mississippi, in where to Washington, D.C., to de- v. Glickman class-action settlement ing day. He is planning to visit other 1964. “Here’s the people you can con- mand Senate action on funds prom- because they missed the filing dead- farming areas in Alabama, Georgia, tact, here’s their phone number, here’s ised by President Barack Obama last line or for other reasons. and Mississippi to build the action. their address,” he told the Times. “I don’t February. The funding was passed by In the last few weeks, Binion has “People will leave their local areas have the authority to go knock on their the U.S. House of Representatives in spoken to farmers living on the bor- on September 20,” Binion said. “The door, but you do—and it still doesn’t get May and has since remained stalled in der of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkan- first day in Washington, September 21, done.” the Senate, which has refused passage sas, and to others in Houston and Dal- will be for prayer. Then on September Stanley Nelson, editor of the Concor- seven times. las. On August 20 he spoke in Mobile, 22 we will be meeting with USDA of- dia Sentinel, a weekly newspaper pub- The February settlement, known Alabama. ficials and members of the Senate’s Agricultural Committee and others in the Senate. On September 23, at noon, Iowa egg firm known for unsanitary conditions there will be a rally of farmers and BY CHUCK GUERRA panies in Iowa, resulting in the recall of environmental laws in 2000, but that supporters on the National Mall by the AND REBECCA WILLIAMSON of 550 million eggs. The contaminated didn’t stop him from expanding his op- USDA Building.” CLARION, Iowa—At least 1,470 eggs came from Wright County Egg erations. He simply set up new facilities On August 24 some 300 Black farm- people have been sickened across the Company, owned by livestock mag- acting through intermediaries and then ers from Louisiana and Mississippi United States by a salmonella outbreak nate Austin DeCoster, and Hillandale assumed control after the required per- gathered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, linked to eggs produced by two com- Farms, which gets feed and hens from mits were approved. for a meeting hosted by the National Wright County Egg. Conditions in the hen houses and feed Black Farmers Association (NBFA). At the center of the scandal is De- mills on his farms, as with many others “When you lose your land, you lose Cointelpro: Coster, who owns both hog and egg-pro- around the country, were not subject your heritage,” NBFA president John The FBI’s secret ducing facilities in Iowa as well as egg to food safety inspection under exist- Boyd told the farmers. “We may have war on political farms in Maine and Ohio. DeCoster’s ing Federal Department of Agriculture lost our land, but we’re not going to freedom operations have had run-ins with sever- regulations. lose this fight.” The Black Farmers and Agricultur- by Nelson Blackstock al state government agencies over fail- Most workers in the local egg indus- ure to comply with environmental and try are immigrants from Mexico. A alists Association (BFAA) and Land Describes the de- food safety regulations. Wright County woman employed at one of DeCoster’s Loss Fund is hosting the 1st Black cades-long covert Egg also has a reputation among work- packing plants for 10 years, who de- FarmAide Action October 22–23 in counterintelligence Tillery, North Carolina. Two days of program—code- ing people in the area for bad conditions clined to be identified by name, said named Cointel- and low wages. she works “from 6:00 in the morning educational and cultural activities are p r o — d i r e c t e d Salmonella poisoning can be deadly, to 10:00 at night.” She packs about two planned to increase awareness “of the against socialists although no deaths have yet been re- cartloads per hour, making $4.25 for continued decline of Black farmers and $15 and activists in the ported in connection with the outbreak. each cartload. There are no bathrooms Black land ownership, the deterioration Black and anti– Salmonella in eggs can be prevented with running water, she said, only a of Black land worth, and heirs being Vietnam War movements. The through a combination of proper sanita- “filthy” portable latrine far away. deprived of their inheritance via gov- operations revealed in the doc- tion and rodent-control measures at hen Antonio Pérez told the Militant he has ernment policies, heir property laws, uments cited in this book pro- houses and feed mills. friends who work at Wright County Egg and other egregious means,” according vide an unprecedented look at Wright County Egg is a large op- plants. “They say the company doesn’t to the BFAA Web site. For more infor- the methods used by the FBI, eration, with nine plants spread around provide gloves, face masks, or anything mation visit www.bfaa-us.com. CIA, military intelligence, and other U.S. police agencies. Wright County, Iowa. The plants pro- to cover your clothes,” he said, not even For more information on the Sep- duce 1.4 billion eggs a year. for those who have direct contact with tember 21–23 protest, contact Robert Available from distributors The Iowa state government classi- the animals. Pérez works at a plant that Binion at (205) 280-2634 (home) or listed on page 10 fied DeCoster as a “habitual violator” processes liquefied eggs. (205) 299-1873 (cell). or pathfinderpress.com

8 The Militant September 20, 2010 Malcolm X is relevant for fighters today Studying speeches arms militants to rebut those who seek to dilute his message

Printed below is an excerpt from evant” today. Not that Malcolm wasn’t a Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and the great leader, the purveyors of such no- Road to Workers Power, a book by Jack tions will say. Not that his traits as an Barnes, national secretary of the Social- individual don’t remain praiseworthy. ist Workers Party, recently published by But he was operating “way back” in Pathfinder Press. The excerpt is from the 1960s, under different social and the chapter titled “Malcolm X: Revolu- political conditions. So the political tionary Leader of the Working Class,” conclusions Malcolm began drawing, a presentation by Barnes to a meeting especially during the last few months of in Atlanta in March 1987. Subheadings his life, have little relevance to today’s are by the Militant. Copyright © 2009 world. Time marches on. by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by per- No matter how veiled or prettified, mission. that’s a fairly common view of Mal- colm’s significance more than two de- by jack barnes cades after his assassination. The face of Malcolm X is seen Others narrow in on the fact that worldwide today. It can be found ev- Malcolm was a wonderful speaker. But erywhere. . . . that, too, ends up being a way to devalue But those of us who continue learn- the significance of Malcolm’s political ing from Malcolm’s political example, legacy, to diminish the strategic course and organize to keep it alive in word and he had thought out and was organizing deed, have a responsibility to recognize to implement. Because what Malcolm that with each passing anniversary, we spoke about were political ideas with are one year further away from Mal- practical implications, carefully rea- colm’s living presence in politics and soned ideas based on decades of expe- the class struggle. Malcolm’s message, rience in struggle by the oppressed and like that of other martyrs of the work- exploited not only in the United States ing classes, and of all great revolution- but in revolutions the world over. Militant ary leaders, becomes blurred. Different Jack Barnes, then national chairman of the Young Socialist Alliance, at March 5, 1965, memorial meeting for Malcolm X in New York City. people give it a different political mean- Malcolm spoke the truth clearly ing, a different class content. Many try Malcolm was an effective speaker. To to wake you up to the facts, to the truth, more so—were it possible—after his to tame it, to make it compatible with be in the same room with him, to hear including about yourself. In that, he was break with the Nation in early 1964. this or that illusory scheme to reform him from a podium, had a powerful like other outstanding revolutionary There’s an additional distortion that capitalism, to make imperialism “more impact. He worked at speaking clearly, leaders—from Karl Marx, V.I. Lenin, some since Malcolm’s death have used peaceful,” to support one or another because he knew it was important to and Leon Trotsky, to Patrice Lumumba, to blunt the impact of his revolution- bourgeois politician in the Democratic explain ideas. He knew it was not easy Che Guevara, Maurice Bishop, and Fi- ary political message. They imply that or Republican parties. But Malcolm to dissect and clarify oppressive social del Castro. during the final months of Malcolm’s never ceased denouncing such notions. relations that are papered over and ob- Above all, however, what Malcolm life, he was converging with other With Malcolm no longer among us to fuscated by the rulers. But Malcolm was said must be available in writing. Be- prominent figures who made sig- speak and act for himself, and with the never a “show-off” speaker. He had a cause that political record needs to be nificant contributions to the fight for direct impact of his political activity re- quiet but powerful voice. He didn’t fash- read, reread, thought about, and stud- Black rights, including some who even ceding further into the past, those who ion himself a revolutionary “preacher.” ied. It needs to be accessible, so it can gave their lives in the course of that wish to distort his revolutionary course He spoke the “King’s English,” not be checked against various latter-day struggle, but who acted on the convic- have an easier time. Malcolm’s message street talk. He didn’t lace his words with “memories” or “interpretations.” That’s tion that U.S. capitalist society, its gov- seems to dissolve into an image, a sim- rhymes, alliteration, or political dogger- why it’s important that so many of his ernment, and its twin political parties ple commodity for sale. el, in order to get around difficulties or speeches and interviews, especially could be pressured into advancing the As that happens, what gets lost— deflect attention from inconsistencies. from late 1963 to his death in February interests of the oppressed. The main sometimes intentionally—is the modern Malcolm spoke like he was having 1965, are in print in hundreds of pages example, of course, is the “Malcolm- revolutionary leader whose concrete po- a conversation with you—an insistent of books and pamphlets. Pathfinder Martin” theme we hear so much about litical legacy is needed more than ever conversation, but a conversation. He Press, which publishes several of these these days—from sentimental popular each time working people begin fight- was the opposite of a demagogue. He collections, has announced plans to re- songs to drawings and wall hangings, ing. The idea, often unspoken, begins appealed to the mind, to the determina- lease in coming months another book by from the mass media to academic re- to be spread that while Malcolm was tion, and to the selflessness of those he Malcolm, containing previously unpub- search, writings by former revolution- a “prophet” in his times, what he said was addressing, not to your preconcep- lished speeches. aries, and so on. and what he did have become less “rel- tions, emotions, or prejudices. He tried Malcolm certainly was ready to show Study Malcolm’s speeches respect and appreciation to anyone who Coming out of our discussion tonight, devoted their life to the fight against I hope many of us will go back and read racism and for Black equality. He was Special offer Malcolm’s last speeches and interviews, ready for united action to advance com- perhaps some of us for the first time. Be- mon demands on the powers-that-be in Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and cause while it’s great to listen to tapes the fight for Black liberation, colonial of Malcolm’s talks, reading and study- freedom, and other goals. But Malcolm the Road to Workers Power by Jack Barnes ing what he had to say is part of the irre- was also always ready to expose and “This is a book about the dictatorship of placeable work of absorbing and prepar- rebut not only the lies but the political dead ends offered by these same indi- capital and the road to the dictatorship ing to act on the lessons of revolutionary struggle from past centuries. viduals. He punctured the pretensions of the proletariat. A book about the last Malcolm was not the wild, violent ha- of misleaders whose overall outlook, century and a half of class struggle in the temonger that millions have been taught strategy, or tactics politically disarmed United States—from the Civil War and he was by the bourgeois media, both the oppressed, taught us to rely on the Radical Reconstruction to today—and the during his lifetime and since. Those promises and “good will” of any sec- unimpeachable evidence it offers that work- of you old enough to have been politi- tion of the exploiters and their political ers who are Black will comprise a dispro- cally active during the late 1950s or in parties, and left us defenseless in face of portionately weighty part of the ranks and the 1960s can recall how Malcolm was racist terror, police violence, or other im- leadership of the mass social movement that portrayed by the daily newspapers, by perialist horrors. Concretely, it’s simply will make a proletarian revolution. . . .” magazines like the Saturday Evening false that Malcolm during his last year Post, and by national television net- was converging politically with Martin works. Their aim was to get people to Luther King—with King’s bourgeois Available for only $15 stop listening to him, and, eventually, pacifism, his social-democratic ideas, or for $10 with Militant that false image helped set him up to be his commitment to the reformability of subscription from one of the killed. But their caricature of Malcolm capitalism, his support for the imperial- distributors listed on page 10. was false and misleading when he was a ist Democratic Party and various of its leader of the Nation of Islam, and even politicians. PathfinderPress.com The Militant September 20, 2010 9 Malcolm X: internationalize struggle against racism Below is an excerpt from By Any dependence he has a voice; in that voice Means Necessary by Malcolm X, one there is strength. And when you and I of Pathfinder’s Books of the Month for link our struggle up with his struggle, September. Through these speeches so that his struggle backs our struggle, from the last year of his life, Malcolm you’ll find that this man over here will takes his place as one of the outstand- pay a little more attention. You can sit on ing revolutionary leaders of the work- his doorstep all day long nonviolently; ing class. Malcolm sought, as he put it, he’ll pay you some attention, but not the to “internationalize” the fight against kind you want. . . . racism. He solidarized with the African Never let anybody tell you and me the freedom struggle and championed the odds are against us—I don’t even want revolutionary victories of the Chinese to hear that. Those who think the odds and Cuban people. The piece below is are against you, forget it. The odds are from his speech to a rally held by the Or- not against you. The odds are against ganization of Afro-American Unity, Nov. you only when you’re scared. The only 29, 1964, in New York City. Copyright © things that makes odds against you is a 1970 by Betty Shabazz and Pathfinder scared mind. When you get all of that Press. Reprinted by permission. fright off of you, there’s no such thing as odds against you. Because when a man Robert Parent knows that when he starts playing with Malcolm X talking to reporters at Kennedy International Airport in New York City upon his return from Africa, Nov. 24, 1964. In background are Malcolm’s wife and children. you, he’s got to kill you, that man is not Books of going to play with you. But if he knows has the same things they have, and will likeness go, they will be respected. when he’s playing with you that you’re the month use it faster than they will. But as long as Africa is not respected, going to back up and be nonviolent and It was not until China became inde- it doesn’t make any difference if you’re peaceful and respectable and respon- by malcolm x pendent and strong that Chinese people a doctor or lawyer—why, they’ll bounce sible, why, you and me will never come You waste your time involving your- all over the world became respected. your head like a knot on a log, no matter out of his claws. self in any kind of organization that is They never became respected by sitting- where you go. Can I prove it? Yes. While Let him know that you’re peaceful, let not directly connected with our broth- in, begging-in, praying-in, kneeling-in, I was in Africa, this young Negro edu- him know that you’re respectful and you ers and sisters on the African continent. or crawling-in. They became respected cator in Georgia—he wasn’t ragged, he respect him, and that you’re law-abid- Can I prove it? Yes. There was a time in only when China as a nation became wasn’t uncouth, he wasn’t uncivilized; ing, and that you want to be a good citi- this country when they used to use the independent and strong. And then they he was an educator, he was as uppity zen, and all those right-thinking things. expression about Chinese, “He doesn’t had something behind them, they had and dicty as they were—and they still But let him know at the same time that have a Chinaman’s chance.” Remem- someone behind them. Once China be- shot him. Why? Because he had noth- you’re ready to do to him what he’s been ber when they used to say that about the came independent and strong and feared, ing behind him. His education couldn’t trying to do to you. And then you’ll al- Chinese? You don’t hear them saying then wherever you saw a Chinaman, he save him, his degrees couldn’t save him, ways have peace. You’ll always have it. that nowadays. Because the Chinaman was independent, he was strong, he was his profession couldn’t save him. No, Learn a lesson from history, learn a les- has more chance now than they do. And feared and he was respected. because he didn’t have anything behind son from history. what makes the cheese so binding is he It’s the same way with you and me. him. The government wasn’t behind I must say this once before we close. They can pass every kind of bill imag- him. But had Africa been a strong, in- I don’t want you to think that I’m com- inable in Washington, D.C., and you dependent entity that was respected and ing back here to rabble-rouse, or to get SeptemberBooks and I will never be respected, because recognized by every other power on this somebody excited. I don’t think you of the Month we have nothing behind us. The law is earth, then the brother, who reflected all have to excite our people; the man al- not behind us. Washington, D.C., is not the characteristics of an African, wheth- ready has excited us. And I don’t want PATHFINDER behind us. Nor are the Congress, the er he liked it or not, would have been you to think that I’m ready for some un-

READERS CLUB 25% Senate, and the President behind us. respected by even the Klan and other intelligent action, or some irresponsible discount SPECIALS We haven’t got anything in this coun- people down there who are supposed action, or for just any old thing just to try behind you and me. You and I have to be so ignorant and don’t respect the be doing something. No. I hope that all By Any Means Necessary to get our people behind us, our people rights of our people. of us can sit down with a cool head and by Malcolm X In 11 speeches and interviews, in our own motherland and fatherland. So I say that we must have a strong a clear mind and analyze the situation, Malcolm X presents a revolu- Just as a strong China has produced a Africa, and one of my reasons for going in the back room, anywhere, analyze the tionary perspective, taking up respected Chinaman, a strong Africa to Africa was because I know this. You situation; and after we give the proper women’s rights, U.S. intervention will produce a respected black man waste your time in this country, in any analysis of what we’re confronted by, in the Congo, capitalism and anywhere that black man goes on this kind of strategy that you use, if you’re then let us be bold enough to take what- socialism, and more. $16. Special price: $12 earth. It’s only with a strong Africa, not in direct contact with your brother ever steps that analysis says must be tak- an independent Africa and a respected on the African continent who has his en. Once we get it, then let’s do it, and Teamster Rebellion Africa that wherever those of African independence. He has problems, but he we’ll be able to get some kind of result by Farrell Dobbs origin or African heritage or African still has his independence, and in that in- in this freedom struggle. $19. Special price: $14.25 The Working Class and the Transformation of Learning if you like this paper, look us up The Fraud of Education Reform Where to find distributors of the Mili- MINNESOTA: Minneapolis: 1311 1/2 under Capitalism CANADA tant, New International, and a full dis- E. Lake St. Zip: 55407. Tel: (612) 729-1205. QUEBEC: Montreal: 7107 St. Denis by Jack Barnes play of Pathfinder books. E-mail: [email protected] $3. Special price: $2.25 #204 H2S 2S5. Tel: (514) 272-5840. E-mail: [email protected] UNITED STATES NEW YORK: Manhattan: 306 W. 37th Nothing Can Stop the Course St., 10th Floor. Zip: 10018. Tel: (212) 629- of History CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 4025 S. 6649. E-mail: [email protected] FRANCE by Fidel Castro Western Ave. Zip: 90062. Tel: (323) 295- Paris: P.O. 175, 23 rue Lecourbe. Among the topics discussed by 2600. E-mail: [email protected] San PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 188 Postal code: 75015. Tel: (01) 40-10-28-37. 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Mailing SCOTLAND: Edinburgh: Second Order online at www.pathfinderpress.com Bennington St., 2nd Floor, East Bos- address: P.O. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. Floor, 105 Hanover St. Postal code: Offer good until september 30, 2010 ton. Zip: 02128. Tel: (617) 569-9169. Tel: (02) 9718 9698. E-mail: cl_australia@ EH2 1DJ. Tel: 0131-226-2756. E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] optusnet.com.au [email protected] 10 The Militant September 20, 2010 Editorial Gay marriage law Continued from front page ning by a slim 52 percent margin. It reads, “Only Oppose antigay discrimination marriage between a man and a woman is valid or Federal Judge Vaughn Walker’s overturning of vidual working-class families—especially under the recognized in California.” Two couples challenged California Proposition 8, which bans marriage by two depression conditions of today—the burden of feed- Proposition 8 because it violates their rights by people of the same sex, strikes a blow against bigotry ing, clothing, and caring for the young, old, and infirm barring them from marrying. and unequal treatment. Denying gay couples the right rather than these being a social responsibility. “For me this decision means equal protection un- to marry has also been a way to deny many access to As vital as it is to maintaining the social relations der the law. It means equal opportunity to marry the health insurance, pensions, and other benefits obtain- for stable capitalist rule, the family is disintegrating. person that I love,” said Sandra Stier, one of the four able through marriage—although such benefits should That didn’t start with gay marriage, as supporters of plaintiffs. be available to all, regardless of marital status. Proposition 8 contend. While the legalization of same- The ruling is the first in a federal court to declare Both sides of the case presented their arguments in sex marriage further undermines the traditional fam- that a state law banning same-sex marriage is illegal terms of supporting the institutions of marriage and ily concept, the institution began to disintegrate with on constitutional grounds. Walker cited the due pro- family as a force for “social stability.” But this ap- the rise of industrial capitalism and the drawing of cess clause of the 14th Amendment—no state shall proach does not serve the interests of the exploited and women into the labor force as a more exploitable layer “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, with- oppressed; workers do not have an interest in helping of workers. out due process of law”—and the amendment’s equal preserve the stability of capitalist rule. We do have a Women now comprise about 47 percent of workers protection clause—which says no state shall “deny to stake in getting rid of laws that allow the state to inter- in the United States. Achieving greater economic in- any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection fere in people’s personal lives. dependence has raised women’s self-confidence and of the laws.” The family rose alongside the development of class their ability to walk away from marriages or relation- Despite the ruling, gay couples are still being society as an economic institution designed to perpet- ships they do not want to continue. The “biological” blocked from marrying in California by decision of a uate social systems in which those who owned prop- family—the man and woman who conceived a child three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the erty exploited the labor of those who did not. or children together and continue living together—is Ninth Circuit. No same-sex marriages can take place Women, equals with men in pre-class society, be- less and less the norm. In 2007 more than 39 percent during the appeal of this decision, the judges ruled. came the private property of men and economically of births were to unmarried women. Walker said his decision in the case was affected dependent on them. The marriage contract arose as a The workings of capitalism itself are tearing apart by changes in U.S. marriage laws over the past cen- property arrangement. the family institution at the same time that the ruling tury and a half. These are connected to the struggles The family system today continues to be a pillar class attempts to foist greater social and economic of African Americans and women for equal treatment. of class rule, institutionalizing social inequality. Un- burdens on the family unit. African slaves, Walker noted, were considered some- der capitalism, the working-class family functions as As this proceeds, who is the capitalist government one’s property and thus had no legal right to marry. a social mechanism that reproduces human beings to say who one can or cannot marry? No to discrimi- Many U.S. states had laws barring people of two dif- who can create surplus value for the propertied rich. nation against gays and lesbians! No to government ferent races from marrying. These were finally ruled To the degree possible, the capitalists foist upon indi- intrusion into our private lives! unconstitutional in 1967. “Marriage between a man and a woman was tradi- tionally organized based on presumptions of a division of labor along gender lines,” Walker wrote in his de- cision. “Women were seen as suited to raise children Public workers strike in South Africa and men were seen as suited to provide for the fam- Continued from front page more than 280 wounded in Maputo, the capital, over ily.” No-fault divorce has further broken down these mands for an 8.6 percent pay raise and a doubling two days. distinctions, Walker said. of the monthly housing allowance to 1,000 rand During the course of the public workers strike in At the trial the defenders of Proposition 8 argued (US$137). The government had offered a 7 percent South Africa, other unionists have also walked out. that the state has an interest in promoting marriages raise and an R700 (US$96) allowance, saying this On August 30 water workers organized by the South that can lead to the birth of children and that these would be imposed unilaterally after three weeks if African Municipal Workers Union began strike ac- children will have a more “stable” life if raised by their the unions did not accept it. tion, demanding a sliding scale wage raise of up to biological parents. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Co- 13.5 percent. The same day tire and rubber workers Witnesses called by the plaintiffs argued that there satu), with more than 2 million members, organized walked out after wage negotiations with the employers is no evidence that having two parents of the same sex support for the striking unionists. Nurses and health broke down. The workers are demanding a minimum is harmful to children. workers blockaded hospitals and teacher walkouts es- wage of R20 an hour (US$2.73) and wage raises of at Witnesses for both sides argued that the state has sentially brought public education to a halt. least 10 percent. an interest in strengthening the family and marriage. The strikers defied a court order that “essential The National Union of Metalworkers of South The main witness in favor of Proposition 8, David staff,” including doctors, nurses, and teachers, return Africa, which organizes 70,000 workers at gas sta- Blankenhorn, founder of the Institute for American to work. They faced provocative actions by the cops, tions and car component manufacturers, struck Sep- Values, said that making gay marriage legal would including attempts to prevent unionists from dem- tember 1, calling for a 15 percent wage raise. Some weaken marriage as an institution, increase the num- onstrating, and in some cases firing rubber bullets 8,000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers bers of unmarried people living together, and raise the on crowds and arresting demonstrators. Some 2,800 struck Northam Platinum September 6 after rejecting divorce rate. troops have been deployed to hospitals nationwide. the company’s offer for an 8 percent wage raise. The One of the witnesses for the plaintiffs, marriage Unable to halt the work stoppage through acts of in- miners are demanding a 15 percent increase. historian Nancy Cott, argued that same-sex marriage timidation, two weeks into the strike the government Over the past year South African bosses have elimi- would provide “another resource for stability and so- upped its offer to a 7.5 percent wage increase and an nated 1 million jobs. The official unemployment rate cial order.” She said that in place of men being the R800 housing allowance. But it was not enough to is around 25 percent. main providers, couples now “join in an economic meet the strikers’ demands. partnership and support one another and any depen- Two of South Africa’s biggest public unions—the Rifts within coalition gov’t dents.” She argued that gay marriage was a good thing National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union In 2008, ANC leader Jacob Zuma was elected presi- in part because it meant assigning more individuals and the South African Democratic Teachers Union, dent with the support of Cosatu and the South African “to care for one another,” thus helping to limit “the each with about 250,000 members—rejected the offer. Communist Party. The three groups have functioned public’s liability to care for the vulnerable.” The 9,200-member South African Democratic Nurses as part of the governing coalition. Cott’s line of argument echoes support for the anti- Union also voted down the proposal. The public workers strike has led to deep rifts working-class course of the ruling class, which in the within this tripartite alliance. Zuma has blasted Co- name of “family values” is cutting social services Rising food prices satu, saying the disruption of “essential services” by while seeking to put the blame on single mothers and The striking workers are insisting on higher wages workers is “foreign” to the culture of the ANC and working people for the capitalist economic crisis. because of rapidly rising costs of living, especially the alliance. “Even during the campaigns against the food prices. According to the government inflation is apartheid government we did not prevent nurses from Education for Socialists running 4.2 percent. But food costs are actually rising going to work,” he stated. An ANC statement charged Communist Continuity and the much more, said Sizwe Pamla of the National Educa- the unions with “acts of assault, intimidation and plain Fight for Women’s Liberation tion, Health and Allied Workers Union. thuggery.” Documents of the Socialist Workers Party 1971–86 “Look at Mozambique—we are sitting on a potential In an August 22 statement the South African Com- time bomb,” he told the Financial Times. “Too many munist Party, echoing the ANC’s position, urged I: Women’s Liberation and the Line of March of the Working Class workers are living from hand to mouth; the costs for unions to “take the lead in condemning acts of grave II: Women, Leadership, and the Proletarian Norms of the Communist Movement poor people are skyrocketing.” indiscipline which are, in effect . . . counter-revolution- III: Abortion Rights, the ERA, and the Rebirth of a Feminist Movement Strikes and other protests erupted in Mozambique ary and anti-people.” in early September because of rising food and fuel Cosatu has accused ANC leaders of pursuing “a prices. The government there had announced a 30 caviar lifestyle” while expecting workers to scrimp. percent rise in bread prices, 10 percent in the cost of Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi said the ruling al- both water and electricity, and the third increase in liance was now “dysfunctional.” He told reporters two months for gasoline. The average worker in Mo- August 26 that the trade union federation would no zambique is paid about $37 a month. With cops riot- longer “give the ANC a blank check” in next year’s ing against protesters, seven people were killed and local government elections. $12 each or $30 for all three  Available from PathfinderPress.com

The Militant September 20, 2010 11