May Day around the world - pages 3-5,14

FEATURE:

SATURDAY, MAY 6,1995 VOL.9, NO.48 Fighting for jobs, a living wage

Jobs bill introduced page 4

Victory in Europe s 50 years later pages 5,14-15

Cinco de Mayo vive! pages 6,22

'Deadly Corn' films reviewed page 21

Safeway worker Gaif Zacarias and her son Travis, age 4, during last month's strike in California. 2 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6.1995 May Day salute in die 'class \

. We, ourselves workers and unioii members, would return our nation to the "good old days" of salute our sisters and brothers in Decatur, Illinois no unions,low wages and no benefits, no to elect now engaged in life-and-death struggles with ed officials who side with capital against labor. three of the world's largest multinational corpo We honor these shock troops of the working rations. Seldom have the class lines been drawn class - auto workers on strike against CaterpiDar; more sharply, seldom have the stakes been high rubber workers on strike against Bridgestone/- er; seldom has the battle been waged with more Firestone, paper workers locked out by A.E. Sta- determination. ley - and are mindful of our responsibility as We,like our sisters and brothers in the heart of well. We pledge our best efforts to guarantee that the Illinois "Class War Zone," say no to scabs and the struggles in Decatur - as well as those of tmion busting, no to arrogant corporations who workers everywhere - will end in victory.

Jeny Acosta, Utility Workers, more, Md• Kevin Doyle, Local Joseph Henderson, USWA Chicago, II • Loimie Nelson, Howard Silverbetg, Jobs with Downey, CA • Wendell 1199, N.E., Hartford, CT• Larry SOAR, Baltimore, MD SEIU Local 6,Ret, Seattle, WA• , Baltimore, MD • Roz Addington, USWA Local 1299, Dunn, URW Local 895, Water- Lois O'Connor, AFSCME Local Sims, AFSCME, Ret., Detroit, MI • Mark Almbeig, bury,CT Jeff Imag, JwJ, Tucson, AZ • 478, Hamden, CT • Kimo Youngstown, OH • Ernest TNG, Chicago, XL • Ryan Mike Jerome, TWU Local 100, Obrero, Honolulu, HI • Smith, IBEW Local 3, Jersey Amptmeyer, Gary, IN • Ken George Edwards, SOAR 20-15, New York, NY• Dorothy John Michael Olzanski, USWA Lo City, N]• Reed Smith, New Applehans, Chicago, IL• Mark , PA• AI Ellis, Clrica- son, UE Local 299, Hamden,CT cal 1010, Gary,IN Haven, CT • Ted Smolarek, Aueri^ach,Seattle, WA go, IL• Pal Ellis, Chicago, IL• •Raymond Kaczocha, Gary,IN USWA Local 3745, Ret., Cliica- Beatrice Ellison, Rockaway, NY •Paul S. Kaczocha, USWA Lo Frank Panzarella, ILGWU, go, I] • Diana Sowry, Jim Baldiidge, Baltimore, MD• • Bemice Epstein, Milwaukee, cal 6787, Gary, IN • Wallace New Haven, CT • Ella Pap- OAP5E/AFSCME, Ohio• Rose Margaret Baldridge, Baltimore, WI• Herman Epstein, Milwau Kaufman, Painters Local 863, pademos, NEA, Ret, Granite Sparer, Orange County, CA • MD• Michael Bayer, Gary, IN kee, WI Cleveland, OH • Dave Kay, City, IL * John Pappademos, Peggy Spaulding, Denver, CO • Les Bayless, Baltimore, MD• Rhode Island •John Kichenka, AFT, Ret., Granite City, IL • • Spense Spaulding, Denver, Pamela Bayless, Baltimore, MD Edie Fishman, NEA, Highland Santa Monica, CA• Ellen Kom- Sharon Pederson, St Loub, MO CO• Mary Stembach, AFT Lo • Cert Berger, AFT Local 1, Park, NJ • George Fishman, feld, Glendale, CA • Lena Ko- • Margaret Phillips, Coalition cal 4200, New Haven,CT • Cur Ret., Chicago, IL• Joe Bemick, AFT, Ret, Higliland Park, NJ • mfeld, ILGWU, Ret., Glendale, Against Capital Punishment, St. tis Strong, USWA Staff, Ret., Homeless Coalition, Tucson, Joelle Fishman, New Haven, CA •Elmer Kistler, Carpenters Loub, MO• Louise Parry, AF Gary, IN • Paul Stucky, Aims, AZ • Blair Bertaccini, Pres., CT • Andrew Foglia, East Local 131, Seattle, WA • Herb SCME Local 1488, Seattle, WA• lA • Eve Swan, AFT Local 1, Centra] Labor CouncO, Water- Brunswick, NJ • Paul Fortier, Kiansdorf, Newspaper Guild, Will Parry, AFT Local 1950, Ret., Chicago,IL bury, CT • Pamela Blauman, Local 1199, N.E., Waterbury, CT Chicago,IL Seattle, WA • Clark Peters, Lo UFCW Local 1001, Seattle, WA •Joel Fredericson, Vice Chair, cal 1199 N.E., Hartford, CT • Harold Tamkin, Burbank, CA• • Donald Bishop • Linda Track Division, TWU Local 100, LaborVbion, St. Louis, MO • Jess Petrich, SUP, Ret., Seattle, Rita Tamkin, IBT, Ret., Bur- Bohlke,JwJ, Tucson, AZ• John New York, NY Wym Lang, AFT, NEA, Ret, WA • Keith Phelps, RWDSU bank, CA • Joan Place Thom Bowman, UAW Local 2320, Wilmington, DE • Jim Lange, Local 1064, Detroit, Ml son, Beulah, CO • Carol Thur- Chicago, n. • Bruce Bostick, Fred Cabouiy, WFTU, Bronx, USWA Local 1011, Chicago, IL man, Atlanta, GA • Lorenzo USWA Local 1104, Lorain,OH • NY • Robin Gaboury, Iron • Hans Lilledahl, MEBA, New Mary Reigelman, Tucson, AZ• Torrez, SOAR 39, Tucson, AZ• Eric Brock, Shreveport, LA • Workers, Whittier, AK • John York, NY • Yvoime Logan, Robert Reinhold, St. Loub, MO Rob Traber, AFT, Bridgeport, Mark Brodine, Seattle, WA • Gallo, Vice Pres., AFSCME Lo WILPF, St Loub, MO • Frank • Donald Rilter, Butte, MT • CT • Carolyn Trowbridge, Alice Bush, Pres., SEIU Local cal 3360, Cleveland, OH• Judy Lumpkin, Wbc. Save Our Jobs, Mike Robbin, AAUP, Pitts Homeless Coalition, Tucson, AZ 1199 Indiana/Iowa,Gary, IN Gallo, Women Speak Out for Chicago, n burgh,PA • Art Rodriguez, Co •David Trujillo, Pol. Dir., SEIU Peace and Justice, Cleveland, ordinator, Labor Coalition for So. Calif., Los i^ngeles,CA Cathleen Campo, Chicago, IL• OH • Lauren Garlovsky, Tuc Arch Macnair, IBEW Local Public Works Jobs, Los Angeles, Rebecca Cartes, Tucson, AZ • son, AZ • Pearl Granat, Local 11/SEIU 660,Los Angeles, CA• CA • Marina Rodriguez, SEIU, Steve Valencia, IBEW Local Richard Castro, SEIU Local 660, 1199, N.E., Hartford, CT• John Norman Markowitz, AAUP, Los Angeles, CA • Joe Rody, 266, Tucson, AZ • Phillip H. Los Angeles, CA• Jane Caugh- Oilman, Milwaukee, WI• Mike New Brunswick, NJ • Kelly Machinist, Milwaukee, WI • Van Gelder, 1AM, Ret., Balti lan, AF5CME Local 1488, Ret., Giocondo, AFSCME Local 3506, McConnell, LA Unemployed & Judy Rosen, AFSCME, Ret., more, MD • Christina R. Seattle, WA • Jose Chacon, Chicago, IL • James Gleason, Homeless Council, Los Angeles, Tucson, AZ• Tiney Ross, SEIU Vasquez, ILGWU Local 44, Los SEIU, Los Angeles, CA • Max Carpenters Local 210, Brook- CA • Larry McGurty, NEA, Local 1199 Indiana/Iowa, Gary, Angeles, CA • John Vidmar, Chavez, DBA, lAM Lodge 94, field, CT• Warren Gould, Pres., Ret., Chicago, IL • Mariel Ma- IN • Norman Roth, UAW Local CWA,Ret., Clilcago, IL• Shelly Los Angleles, CA • Lance Co Central Labor Council, New cievic, SEIU, Los Angeles, CA• 6, Ret., Oak Park, IL• Roy Ry- Vidmar,Chicago, IL hen, AFT Local 1, Chicago, IL• Haven, CT• Jake Green, NMU, Bill Mackovich, Chicago, IL • dell, NMU Ret., New York, NY Lorenzo Crowell, SEIU Local Ret., Baltimore, MD • James Scott Marshall, Chicago, IL • Helja Wamsley, East Point, 1199 Indiana/Iowa, Gary, IN • Griffin, Homelss Coalition, Fred Mason, Vice Pres., SEIU R. Sam Salmon, Qiicago, IL • MI, • , seaetary, Grace Cummings, Loc^ 1199 Tucson, AZ • Arnold Gudex, Dist. 1199, Baltimore, MD • Al Samter, USWA Local 1014, Labor Commission, CPUSA • N. E., Waterbury, CT • Todd Natl Farmer's Union, Milwau George Meyers, chair, Labor Ret., Gary, IN •John W. Stan Donald N. Wheeler, Bain- bridge Island, WA • Joyce Curl, Tucson, AZ kee, WI • Bill Gudex, Nafl Comrrussion, CPUSA, Balti ford, San Antonio, TX • Roy Fanner's Union, Milwaukee, WI more, MD• Jon Miles, Tucson, Savage, SEIU Local 6, Seattle, Wheeler, AFT Local 340, Balti more, MD • Morgan Wheeler, Bill Davis, SSEU Local 371, AZ • Laura Moore, St. Loub, WA • Martin Sawma, Niagra IBEW Local 24, Baltimore, MD New York, NY • Susan Davis, , USWA SOAR, Natl. MO • Alter Jean Moss, Gary, FaUs, NY • David Schmitz, • Susan Wheeler, AFT Local NEA, St. Louis, MO • William Chair CPUSA • Joe Hancock, IN • Laura Moye, HERE Local UFCWA Local 1001, Seattle, 340, Baltimore, MD • Tina "Red" Davis, IBT, Ret., St. UFCW Local 770, Los Angeles, 217, New Haven, CT • Lew WA • Mary Ann Schroeder, Wheeler, Chair, Jobs Not Jails, Louis, MO • Earnest Dean, CA • Lee Hancock, AFT Local Moye, UAW Local 110, St UFCWA Local 81, Seattle, WA• 1521, Los Angeles, CA • Pat Louis, MO • Bonnie Mmone, John Shafer, UE, Ret. Milwau Baltimore, MD• Denise Wine- UAW Local 110, St. Louis, MO• brenner, Newspaper Guild, Sue DeGracia, Actors Equity, Hancock, AFSCME Council 36, AFSCME Local 562, Thomaston, kee, WI • Mary Shafer, UE, Chicago, IL • Jim Daugherty, Ret., Los Angeles, CA• Robert CT • Ros^lio Munoz, E. Los Ret., Milwaukee, WI • Emii Pittsburgh, PA • Roberta Wood, IBEW Local 9, Chicago, Utilities Union, Ret., Los. Ange Harrell, USWA Local 1011, Angeles, OA, Shaw, Rio Rancho, NM • Rose IL • Tim Yeager, UAW Local les, CA • Armeta Dixon, Exec. Gary, IN • Bob Hasse, Iron Hellen Nelson,ILWU auxiliary, Shaw, Rio Randro, NM • Bob Sec'y., SEIU Dist 1199, Balti Worker, Milwaukee, WI • Seattle, ^A • Ken Nelson, Sheehan, Tucson, AZ • 2320, Chicago,_IL People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 3 Did bombers get arms from army bases?

By Tim Wheeler been linked to the Michigan chief of public affairs at Fort Ri Wichita, Nichols told the FBI That same year, agents of Militia, a right-wing extremist ley told New York Newsday, "I that he had held "numerous con the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco The FBI continues its search paramilitary group based in can tell you right now that there versations with McVeigh on how and Firearms (BATF) arrested for suspects in connection with Decker. Michigan. are no missing Army stocks or to make bombs." Nichols and two Green Beret soldiers at the lerrorist bombing of the fed Federal investigators were explosive components." Never McVeigh were in business to Fort Bragg who had stolen 21 eral building in Oklahoma City checking the munitions invento theless, possible links between gether selling Army surplus blocks of C-4 explosive, 32 April 19 which has killed 142 ry at Fort Riley, Kansas, to see if the armed militias and active equipment at gun shows around TNT charges, and 13 Claymore people as of press time, with any TNT was missing. Traces of duty military personnel, the country. Judge Monti Belot anti-personnel mines. Fort many more still missing. On TNT were found in McVeigh's weapons and high explosives are replied incredulously, "Anti-tank Bragg's commanders admitted Tuesday they arrested two men car. With the rank of sergeant, a subject of probes by the federal rockets?" they had also recovered 13,991 but later released them. Already McVeigh had served with the Isl investigators and the media. There is a long history of Ku rounds of amniunitlcn and hun in custody are Timothy McVeigh Mechanized Infantry Division Mark Koemke, formerly a Klux Klan and other white dreds of pounds of high explo and two brothers. Terry and based at Fort Riley. leader of the Michigan Militia supremacist groups obtaining sives stolen from the base mu James Nichols, all of whom have Capt. John Kiser, deputy told ABC's Sam Donaldson that missiles and high explosives nitions depot. the militias have ready access to from military bases. Sen. John The Senate convened hear U.S. military bases across the Glenn (D-Ohio) recently re ings on the theft of military country. CBS' "60 Minutes" in leased a report by the Govern weapons. Shawn Helmer, an am terviewed. anonymously, two ac ment Accounting Office on a munition sergeant at Fort Lewis, tive duty Special Forces soldiers military-wide effort to control Washington, testified that he who publish a newsletter entitled weapons inventory. "You can't loaded a pickup with five M-72 "Resistance Underground" guarantee that TNT and blasting • imti-tank rocket launchers and which is recruiting active duty caps are immune to thieves," other weapons and drove them to Special Forces soldiers to the Glenn said. Florida where he planned to sell militia movement. In 1985, members of the them to some of Lt. Col. Oliver When federal agents raided North Carolina-based White Pa North's "soldiers of fortune." He Terry Nichd's home in Hering- triot Party -(WPP) were sued by was arrested by BATF agents. ton, Kan. they found 33 the Southern Poverty Law Center Common Cause Magazine firearms, non-electronic blasting for.their reign of paramilitary ter did an extensive expose of the caps, a 60 millimeter anti-tank ror and intimidation against trafficking in arms stolen from rocket, four 55-gallon plastic African Americans in North Car Fort Bragg. "Some of the muni drums and right-wing extremist olina. During the trial, Robert tions were going to be buried for literature on the FBI siege of the Norman Jones testified that he future use," Linda Hunt report D'AMATO LIDDY Branch Davidian compound near sold $50,000 worth of weapons ed. "Other munitions were used Waco, Texas two years ago in stolen from Fort Bragg, N.C. to for the weapons training. The Sen. Affonse O'Amato (R-N.V.) and Gordon Llddy are shown In these file which several federal agents and the WPP. It included 13 LAW purpose of that training ... was to photos, t-iddy (s the Watergate burglar and ultra-right-wing talk-radio host many Davidian cultists died. anti-tank missiles, rifles, ammuni create a paramilitary guerrilla who has advised listeners to shoot at the head of federal agents. But this unit for later use in creating a didn't keep D'Amato from planning to honor him at a gala Republican According to an affidavit tion, CS riot gas, TNT,C-4 plastic fundraiser, until recent publicity caused O'Amato to cancel. read during his arraignment in explosives and Claymore mines. white Southland." Sunshine and songs greet May Day in NY

John Bachtell, chair of the New York Other speakers included Gloria Supporters of tiie People's Weekly By Hy Clymer. district of the Communist Party, said the Friedman, a retired city worker, Sonja World distributed more than 3,000 copies NEW YORK - Cheers and applause cuts in education, and social services for Ostrum of Peace Action who called for of the paper and 22 people Joined the greeted Esther Moroze when she wel the poor are a New York version of Newt cutting the military budget in order to CPUSA or YCL. The rally ended with a comed the crowd at New York's May Gingrich's Contract on America. The provide money for rebuilding the na spirited rendition of The International led Day rally. "Welcome to May Day," she mad budget bombers attack welfare for tion's infrastructure, and AdanjSsus Qua- by People's Weekly World Editor Tim said, "the day of international workers' women and children and would have us vez, New York coordinator of the Young Wheeler and , political ac solidarity, bom right here in the USA!" forget the tax breaks and giveaways to Communist League. tion director of the Communist Party. The annual event brought union, stu the corporations and the rich dent, community and senior activists to - they are the real 'welfare the city's historic Union Square to cele cheats,"' he charged. brate the 109th anniversary of the May 1, Bachtell said the city 1886 strikes that marked a renewed budget could not be bal struggle for the eight-hour day. anced by "caving,into Stan Joel Fredericson, vice chair of the dard & Poor's or Moody's Track Division of Transport Workers Industrials. "Once there had Union Local 100. compared Mayor been a tax on stock market Rudolph Giuliani's attack on the city's transactions. They repealed poor with the Nazi death camps of World it in 1980," he said, adding War II. "Yes, Hitler's solution was more that a three-tentiis of 1 per gruesome," he said, "but the mayor's cent tax on the sale of boast that cuts in welfare will 'encour stocks and bonds "would age' people to leave the city is cut of the wipe out the city and state same cloth. These cuts will kill people." deficit overnight." Fredericson, who represents the Bill Davis, a social 2,000 men and women who maintain worker in the men's TB unit more the than 800 miles of track in the of Bellevue Hospital, said city's subway system, said the proposed New York is suffering an cuts in funding for mass transit will mean "epidemic of TB. Scientists an increase in fares and "pose tlie threat say TB is caused by a bacil of an alarming increase in accidents, de lus but the real cause is lays for strap hangers and unsafe work poverty." Davis said. "We ing conditions for track workers. If these once had TB on the ropes HyClymei cuts are allowed to stand, there will be but now it's making a come Cultural Hannohy. teenagers from the Henry Street.Settlement, perform street theatre on May Day in New biood on the tracks," he \varned. _ back," he told tlie Wprid. York City. [ 4 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 Martinez public jobs bill to be introduced

By Les Bayless those roads, parks, courthouses, and legislative initiatives planned porting public works jobs. at the statue of AFL founder post offices and schools are crum by jobs and social justice activists: • In New Jersey, the Coalition Samuel Gompers calling for soli WASHINGTON — Rep. bling and decaying. And yet, • "Stop the Contract - Jobs to Combat Racism and Other Preju darity with workers in the Matthew Martinez (D-Calif.) will some of our communities contin and Services, not Cuts" rallies are dices and the NAACP met with Maquiladora plants in Mexico. It introduce a massive jobs bill ue to have the highest unemploy set for May 6 in New York, San new Rep. Frank Pallone, presenting was officially endorsed by the Monday that would put millions ment rate since the 1930s." Francisco and 38 other cities. The him with hundreds of sipatures in state AFL-CIO. Participants later of Americans to work in jobs re The fail! would allocate an im San Francisco Board of Supervi support of the Martinez bill. marched to the Mexican Con pairing the nation's infrastructure, mediate $25 billion for emergency sors and the Baltimore City Coun Activists in San Antonio, sulate to make their demands according to supporters of the and short term projects, and an ad cil have endorsed the rallies. Texas organized a May Day rally known. legislation. ditional $225 billion ($45 billion • A coalition initiated by the "This bill is my answer to the per year) for Labor Department Jedi Women of Salt Lake City, Republican Contract with Ameri grants to subsidize wages of new Utah will hold Mother's Day ral Disabled in Pennsylvania ca," Martinez said recently. "The ly employed workers in jobs re lies against the Republican Con Republicans keep saying that they building public facilities. tract in at least 70 cities. protest lack of funding want Americans to get off welfare Title ni of the legislation • The Chicago Coalition for and get a job. But nothing in their provides strong affirmative action the Homeless and the Coalition to much-touted Contract would cre guidelines and provisions which Defend Immigrant Rights will ate even one job." protect "prevailing wage" stan sponsor a Mother's Day March Legislation passed by the dards for construction workers. Against the Contract on May 13. House and awaiting Senate action On June 17, Jobs with Justice and would gut welfare and children's Bringing pressure other organizations will sponsor a nutrition programs and replace A spokesperson for the Labor March for Jobs and Justice in them with non-entitlement "block Coalition for Public Works Jobs downtown Chicago. Rally orga grants" to the states. Congression in Los Angeles, which conceived nizers expect between 5,000 and al auditors estimate the cuts the legislation, said that a late 10,000 people to participate. would total $60 billion in 1996 flurry of calls across the country • In Baltimore, the Jobs not and would be even deeper in the produced three new sponsors for Jails Coalition in Baltimore will years to follow. GOP legislators the bill last week, bringing to 16 hold a rally May 6 at the O'Don- are alsd primed to attack affirma the total number of co-sponsors. neil Heights housing project, with tive action programs meant to The legislation has received one of the key demands being the remedy workplace discrimination. endorsements from the Los Ange demand to double the minimum Nfcutinez's Job Creation and les City Council as well as the wage. Coalition leaders report Infrastructure Act of 1995 would California Federation of Labor. that they've gathered 3,000 signa assist state and local governments Additional endorsements have tures on petitions calling for pub by providing funds for the repair come from the Coalition of Black lic works jobs. and reclamation of buildings, Trade Unionists and the L.A. • Washington State Jobs with parks, schools and hospitals. In School Board. Justice has organized five sepa addition, funds could be used to A second jobs bill, the Living rate rallies demanding Jobs and improve services to senior citi Wage, Jobs for All Act, intro opposing cuts. Organized phone zens, the disabled and those need duced by Rep. Ron Dellums CD- calls to the office of Rep. Jim Mc- A group of disabled people block the entrance to the Governor's ing literacy training. The five- Calif.) with backing from the Dermott convinced him to be Reception Room at the Penn. State Capitol Building In Harrlsburg, Congressional Black Caucus, come a co-sponsor of the Mar May 2. They demanded to meet with Gov. Tom Ridge and protested year program would authorize a for funding for the disabled so that they may live on their own In tinez bill. total of $250 billion in spending. calls for reducing the work week stead of In an Institution. to 35 hours and reducing unem • In Connecticut, Communist Not since New Deal ployment to 3 percent through en Party activists are circulating In, a statement accompanying forcement of the Full Employ postcards calling on President introduction of the legislation, ment and Balanced Growth Act Clinton to defend affirmative ac Martinez said, "Not since the tion. Activists in Waterbury and Mobilizations May Day days of Franklin Roosevelt... has New Haven are preparing resolu diis country undertaken an effort In a series of interviews tions in support of the Martinez to rebuild and expand the nation's across the country, the World has bill. Over 5,000 sipatures have demonstrations infrastructure. Sixty ye^s later. learned of a wide array of rallies been collected on petitions sup- Workers mark May Day in the Philippines unite workers everywhere

15 By Jim Genova i Tens of millions of workers in every country joined in marches, parades and protests to celebrate May Day this year. From Moscow to New York, Manila to Mexico City. Seoul to Havana and Warsaw to Pretoria, workers demanded shorter workweeks,jobs, peace and an end to the global corporate offen sive which has destroyed millions of working people's lives. It was one of the most militant May Days in recent years as anger over the growing global economic crisis turned to .orga I nized protest. In Mexico City, hundreds of thousand.s of people turned out to protest the Zedillo government's austerity budget and sell-out to the U.S. in the peso bail out scheme. The official trade unions had canceled the annual march be cause they "didn't want to cause the government any embarrass ment" and have the march turn into a massive anti-government protest. But the workers turned out anyhow and vented their frus tration by hurling bricks at the presidential palace. In Russia, three million marched against the anti-Communist counterrevolutionary Yeltsin government. They cairied portraits of Soviet founder V.I. Lenin and giant Soviet flags, and demand ed a return of socialism and the Soviet Union.

Members of a militant labor federation march In downtown Manila, May 1, to c<)lmmemorat0 May Day. Continued on page 5 Several other large rallies were held throughout the country. People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 5 WWII veteran met Soviets at Elbe River

By Tim Wheeler fought all the way from the Normandy beachhead. Oilman, a machinegunner, was John Oilman, a decorated combat vet wounded and evacuated to Britain to recu eran of World War n will never forget that perate. He received two Purple Hearts. The day in April 1945 when- bis unit reached the 23 year-old 01, of Jewish background, was Elbe River near the German town of Dessau a fervent anti-fascist and was determined to and linked up with the Soviet Anny, clos return to his unit. He did. ing the pincer on Nazi Germany. In the German village of Windhagan, "For the first time in ray life, I met his unit stumbled on a nest of Nazi tanks. Russian troops face to face," Oilman told He opened fire on one tank with his 30 cal the Worid. "We tossed grenades into the iber machine gun hitting auxiliary fuel river: Fish stunned by the explosions float tanks which exploded. The tank crew was ed to the top and we rounded them up. We forced to flee. He received the Distin had a big fish feast with vodka and lots of guished Service Cross for gallantry in ac toasts." tion. In another battle. Oilman knocked out Oilman's outfit, the 39th Infantry Regi a Nazi 88 MM anti-aircraft gun with his ment of the U.S. Army's 9th Division had machine gun for which he received the Sil ver Star. The linkup with the Soviets at the Elbe was an event that changed Oilman's life forever. "I realized that our choice was co existence or no existence," he told me in an interview ten years ago. "We had crushed Nazism together and I decided then and there that we had to work together for peace Fred Ellis for Ids Dally Worker and disarmament." U.S. and Soviet soldiers meet in victory In Berlin 50 years ago. Oilman was one of many veterans of the Elbe linkup who worked to end the A lifelong Communist, Oilman sees the de also the younger generation, the labor Cold War and to reestablish the spirit of feat of socialism as a "temporary" setback. movement, poor and oppressed people. We anti-fascist unity that won the victory over "I see Russians marching under the can win. We can defeat the onslaught fascism. He and a Polish-American cab hammer and sickle banners on May Day," against the people led by Newt Gingrich driver from Chicago, Joe Polowsky, cam he told me in a phone interview from his and his Contract on America." paigned for regular reunions of the U.S. and home in Milwaukee. And during the victory Oilman said he often grieves for the Soviet troops who linked up April 25, 1945 parades in Red Square. May 8-10 the Soviet plight of the Soviet war veterans who sacri at the Elbe River town of Torgau. Oilman war veterans will also be marching under ficed so much. The Soviet Union lost more chuckled and said, "In fact, our linkup was the hammer and sickle banners that symbol than 20 million people in the war. three days earlier at Dessau." ized the defeat of Hitler. "Capitalism has meant one thing for Today, Oilman's views on the meaning In both the United States and in Russia, Russia - robbery! Now the Russian people of that victory are unchanged even though he said, "the 50th anniversary of the defeat want socialism back! I have faith that it's the Soviet Union has collap.sed. The Soviet of Hitler fascism can be a kickoff for pro going to be reversed. Capitalism never gave the people anything but exploitation, pover Wotwtte photo people made the supreme sacrifice in saving gressive forces - veterans, the elderly, ev John Gltman atTorgau In 198S. humanity from fascist enslavement, he said. eryone who participated in the war. But ty and war." May Day holiday celebrated Some 20th anniversary thoughts on Vietnam around the world ^ ^ Twas at a college in Atchison, Kans.. and a teacher spoke Continuedfrom page 4 I to me afterwards. He told me he was a vet- Demonstrations also took Aeran. an officer and a career military man. He said the one place throughout the former So thing he learned, and now passes on to his students, is that it is viet republics and former social very important to question authority. If he had questioned back ist countries of Europe reflect then, he said, and made moral decisions on the basis of his ques ing the sharpening class struggle tioning, he would have acted much differently than he did. as the transnational corporations "In a way. that is the lesson I learned, too, because that's and emerging domestic capital when I began to question the whole theology of a supposedly just ists cry to destroy the remnants war. I had presumed that a country that went to war had a good of the socialist system. Workers reason for doing so. As I began to question that war, I came to the clashed with police in Berlin conclusion that it was very wrong. and Warsaw when the govern "It should teach us that violence doesn't solve problems. We ment tried to restrict the felt we had a problem in Vietnam and we tried to solve it through protests. violence. We've done that consistently ever since ... in Grenada, in New York held its largest Central America, Panama, tlie Persian Gulf. And in every case it May Day demonstration in recent was wrong, and it did not ultimately solve the problem." years. The theme was the fight- back against the iliree-liered at Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Archdiocese ofDetroit tack on working people from the federal, state and city govern "[The Vietnam War cxperiencej is relevant in showing the ments. Speakers called for a tax .shift in the balance of power that has taken place in (he world, that it's no longer a time when the western nations can just run on speculative transactions on roughshod over the rest of the world. [Iraq and Desert Storm] Wall Street and for a federally- show that we haven't learned the lesson for sure. But at least it has funded job creation program to WonO photo made us give a second thought before we sent Americiui troops put people back to work. John Bachtell, chair of the New York district of the Communist Party, ad anywhere. In China the government an dresses the annual May Day rally in Union Square in New York City. nounced that the country will "(A change of policy towajd Cuba] is long, long overdue. The fact that we could make friends with a nation that we were at war now have a five day workweek. Previously, workers had labored celebration of the ANC and also held in Greece, Vietnam. witl), and yet wc are still isolating and abusing Cuba, with which we've never been at war, really reflects on the poor judgment of sbi days a week with alternate South African Communist Party North and South Korea, Japan, the leaders of this country." Saturdays off. which marked the one-year an the Philippines, Nicaragua, Haiti. niversary of the electoral defeat Italy. Israel. Portugal. France. In South Africa, supporters Supen'isor Terence Haitinan. San Francisco Board ofSupervisors of the right-wing Inkaiha Free-, of . Libya and many ^er countries dom Party attacked a May Day Large demonstrations were. (See page 14for pnotosi. I 6 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 Celebrating Cinco de Mayo . Spirit of the first Cinco de Mayo lives on

By Adanjesus Quavez ple's issues of today. This year, thus an issue around which Spanish in the schoolyard was marked a turning point for Mexi among the sharpest issues for peo alliances can be built among subject to corporal punishment. can independence struggles. With This weekend. Cinco de ple of Mexican and other Latino broad sectors of the U.S. people. Latino workers, whether or in five years the French troops Mayo will be celebrated in cities origin in the United States is the Another challenge which can not they are immigrants, are also were forced to withdraw and throughout Mexico and the Unit struggle for full economic and be turned back by a united strug subject to the same assaults by Maximilian was executed. Soli ed States. The holiday commemo civil rights for all immigrants, gle is the across-the-board attack employers on their rights as work darity of the French working rates the Mexican army's defeat against the ultra-right drive to on affirmative action, starting ers, including attacks on their class, who mounted a mass protest of invading French imperialist impose racist anti-immigrant mea with moves to place a proposition right to belong to a union and bar in their own country at the same forces in the Mexican city of sures like California's Prop. 187. on the California ballot in 1996 to gain collectively. time French imperialism faced Fuebla May 5. 1862. The anti-immigrant challenge destroy even the weak measures Mexican workers and their armed struggle in Mexico, played During the five years of occu raised by the right-wing Republi which have sought to redress cen allies are also under fierce attack a big part in the French defeat. pation, "Viva el cinco de Mayo" can forces now controlling the turies of discrimination against from U.S. imperialism through T^e spirit of the first Cinco became a rallying cry for the peo Congress is part of their overall Mexican Americans and other implementation of NAFTA and de Mayo carries over to today's ple in support of the popularly- effort through the Contract on Latinos, African Americans, other imposition of the destructive U.S. broad struggles of working peo elected Benito Juarez, a Zapotec America, to destroy the concept of minorities and women. "bailout" which forced the Mexi ple, whether Brown, Black or Indian. Juarez went on to become government responsibility for the Also under heavy attack are can government to cut its budget white. The message is clear: with the most popular and progressive poor. Under the so-called Personal bilingual education programs. and yield all revenues from for a united and determined struggle, president of Mexico. Responsibility Act which would Those who would destroy bilin eign oil sales. the working people of our coun From its origins in a people's gut the system of welfare entitle gual education are introducing Though the victory of Cinco try, and our allies in Mexico and victory, the holiday has come to ments. all benefits would be laws and resolutions into legisla de Mayo 1862 was reversed when other countries, can turn back the be not only a joyous day of cele stripped from immigrants - even tures, school boards and city French Emperor Napoleon IH lat current wave of attacks and build bration, but also a time to mobi fully documented residents. The councils, in an effort to return to er captured the city and was a country with equal economic, lize for struggles around the peo fighlback for immigrant rights is the days when a child speaking "crowned King" of Mexico, it social and political rights for all.

Cinco de Mayo 1995: Latino workers fight for economic, poiiticai and social equality

Leal, also in the vanguard of the By Marilyn Bechtei and they also have the concern to send money back to their families and to sur parade, spearheaded the Board of Super SAN FRANCISCO - Near the head vive here." visors' unanimous decision to name one of Sunday's gala Cinco de Mayo parade In addition, Miyar said, the passage of the city's principal streets for labor and through San Francisco's Mission district of Prop. 187 has meant a lot more dis civil rights leader . She said were workers from the city's Day Labor crimination. She said even documented the continuing dissension in some quarters Program, marching proudly with giant residents are refused job applications or about the name change shows that "peo mockups of their hammers and shovels. required to produce specific documents ple's understanding is a lot less these Their prominent place in this festive even though 187 cannot now be enforced days." parade-dedicated to children and the because of court challenges. Not only do Occupying a leading place among future dramatized the courage and deter Latinos, African Americans and Asian organizations in the Mexican American mination with which large numbers of Americans often get the lowest paid jobs, and Latino communities striving to over Mexican and other Latino workers con said San Francisco Supervisor Susan Leal, come the twin challenges of economic cri h. front many difficulties. but "the fact that it is now 'okay' not to be sis and racial/national oppression is the "It's a daily struggle";for these work 'politically correct' - that somehow it is Labor Council for Latin American ers, most of whom are recent immigrants, acceptable for people to express all kinds Advancement (LCLAA), which brings program director Marta Elena Miyar told of outrage and hate ... really hits at peo together many thousands of mainly Latino the World. "Many of them are homeless. ple's self-rcspect." workers under the auspices of the AFL- Mariiy/i Bechiel CIO. Right, Marta Elena Miyar, director, San Fran In a telephone interview, LCLAA cisco Day Laborer Program, with friends. National President Ralph Jimenez said the forces that pushed Prop. 187 through in following mass swearing-in ceremonies California are trying the same thing in like those in Los Angeles where up to other states including Texas and Florida. 1.500 people are sworn in at once. But, Jimenez emphasized, "the prob LCLAA works to meet the needs of lem in California is not immigrants" but long-time residents as well as new rather that "California has an eroding arrivals, said San Francisco chapter presi industrial base, and until that is addressed, dent Frank Martin del Campo. "We the state is going to continue to have eco believe that initially we have to address nomic problems. Blaming immigrants, as the needs of the most exploited of our has been done in the U.S. for the last two peoples," he said, "but we cannot over centuries, isn't going to solve it." He look the need to build unity between the added that studies have shown immigrants newly arrived immigrants and the Latinos actually contribute significantly more to who have been here for a long time." tax revenues than they receive back in Martin also said LCLAA is starting a services. campaign "to address the issues of women Jimenez said LCLAA is fully com and thereby draw more Latinas into our mitted to the suuggle to uphold affirma organization and enable them to take lead tive action-. Affirmative action and equal ership roles in our organization." opportunity employment have "created a International issues are also impor lot of jobs for a lot of people," lie said, tant, he said, noting that the San Francisco bettering the situation of white men and chapter emphasizes solidarity with Mexi women as well as people of color. can workers and with the Zapatista move Jimenez listed voter participation as a ment in Chiapas, and with the U.S.-Cuba Marilyn B^tel top nationwide priority. Efforts include a Labor Exchange, is co-sponsoring a May Marchers celebrate Cinco de Mayo In San Francisco last week. stepped up program to register hundreds Day visit to Cuba. People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 Labor Solidarity Militant tactics can win strikes, lockouts

By Hy Clymer goals: common termination dates for con company that makes earth-moving equip tracts, trade union solidarity at home and ment priced at a half-million dollars a copy? Willie Sutton once said he robbed abroad, contract language tillowing work Again some lessons from the past banks because "that's where the money ers to respect the picket lines of other where, for instance, the boycott of grapes The days are is." Strikes and lockouts are a lot like that: unions, general work stoppages, labor law and Stevens products became boycotts of in order to win you have to hit 'em where reform, the outlawing of scabs as perma Safeway and other stores that continued to long gone - if the money is. But the question is, "how?" nent replacements and amalgamation of buy scab grapes and hotels that used How. when employers are ready, will unions into federations similar to the Met Stevens-made sheets. They did other they ever existed ing and able to replace strikers with scabs? al Workers Federation in Germany in or things, too - they took the fight to the How, when employers are able to shift der to bring more weight to the bargaining suites and succeeded in forcing directors - when the production damn near any place in the table. But what about today? of these outfits off the boards of financial world in order to fill orders? How, when Although the record is sketchy, unions institutions holding union pension funds. battle could be the law prohibits secondary boycotts? have developed campaigns that succeeded In a somewhat different vein, there How, when employers say "take it or leave in forcing even the most recalcitrant em were the campaigns lhat forced corpora it" under threat of moving elsewhere? ployer to recognize that the cost of fight tions, cities and universities to sever ties won by slugging How - how can you hit "em in the pocket ing unions was greater than reaching a set with the apartheid regime in South Africa. book with all of that against you? tlement. All are worth study; each has Or what about the coordinated,occupation it out on the There are no easy answers but an lessons with universal application. of offices of the National Labor Relations swers must be found because, like it or There was the consumer boycott that Board across the nation a couple of years picket line. not, the old ways don't cut it anymore. helped the Farm Workers union crack ago or the "upside the head" approach to The days are long gone - if they ever ex through with Califomia grape growers in Newt Gingrich by our friends in Atlanta isted - when the battle could be won by the early '70s. There was the boycott of and Washington? processing plant and, in general, raised slugging it out on the picket line. And they Farah pants and the "Don't sleep with J.P. Nor would the list be complete with hell. They made the difference during the certainly can't be won in situations where Stevens" campaigns, both led by the out mention of the 70-member delegation strike of transit workers in pickets, their number limited by court or Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Work from the Illinois Class War Zone who when pickets stood on the tracks and der. can only shout and point their middle ers, that resulted in major organizing vic brought their call for solidarity to the stopped commuter trains. finger as scabs race through factory gates. tories. There was the Ravenswood cam February meeting of the AFL-CIO Execu There has been a revival of these tac Sure, strike preparation, solidarity, de paign that saw the Steei Workers Union tive Council. Several common threads run tics as more and more unionists have come termination. militancy and a fighting spirit track down corporate executives to their through all of these campaigns: rank and to understand the need for change. The are - and have always been - absolute pre hideouts in Europe and convince users of file participation in mass, militant activity; challenge is to develop more and better requisites for wining battles in the never- aluminum not to buy what scabs produced civil disobedience where called for and a mass campaigns. ending war between capital and labor. But at Ravenswood Aluminum. And now constant "in your face" strategy - and The challenge, as others have said, is they are not enough. Neither are "Do not there's the campaign meant to force A.E. leaders who were willing to lead the to create a movement with enough heat so patronize" and "Lhifair to organized labor" Staley back to the bargaining table. troops into battle. that when the CEO goes to bed at night his lists or motions of support by unions and True, these campaigns, with the excep These tactics - and this strategy - last thought is of "that damn union" and central labor bodies, ^though they, too. tion of Ravenswood, targeted consumer made the difference during the Pittston when he wakes up in the morning his first have their place in these struggles. products for which there were readily avail strike when coal miners and their families thought is of "that damn union." When And yes, there are longer-ranged able substitutes. But how do you get at a .sat down on highways, occupied a coal you think about it, there's no other way. Illinois teachers pack capital Working in the aftermath of terror to save retirement, health funds

Education Association and the faces a zero balance on June 30 By John Pappademos Illinois Federation of Teachers or if no legislation is enacted to re SPRINGFIELD, III. - About ganized over 50 busloads and plenish it. Gov. Jim Edgar's bud 3.CX)0 retired teachers and others many carloads of retired and ac get for 1996 made no appropria concerned aboui the looming tive teachers for Retired Tbachers tion for the fund. bankruptcy of their health insur Lobby Day, called to address the "Unless a new funding plan is ance fund, heeding a call to ac funding crisis faced by the Teach enacted during this session of tlie tion from a coalition of teacher ers Retirement System ,(TRS) Illinois General Assembly more groups, took their case directly Health Insurance Reserve Fund. than 32,000 retirees covered by the to lilinois state legislators on The TRS fund, through TRS health insurance plan will be April 25. which the state had promised to forced to assume the full cost of The Illinois Retired Teachers cover 75 percent of health care the program," said Roman Miller, Association (IRTA), the Illinois premiums for retired teachers. president of the 34,000 member IRTA. Miller said that meant qua drupling the cost of medical care 'SPECIAL OFFER for retired teachers. Many Illinois teacher re tirees earned no Social Security Free Trial Sub to Workers on Strike credits during their years of leaching in the public schools Follow the battle of workers across the nation in and thus are not eligible for the paper that's on your side, the People's Week Medicare. Teacher retirees, most ly World with a free 2-month trial subscription. of whose pensions are less than $2,000 per month - one-fourth receive less than $1,000 - face NAME. increases from $90 to $347 per month if the health insurance ADDRESS APT. NO._ program becomes insolvent. Key factors in the crisis include the CITY/STATE/ZIP state's undeifunding of TRS, the increased numbers of retirees, Workers and equipment share the same crowded block-long area UNION/LOCAL rising health care costs and the elimination by mtiny school dis In front of the destroyed Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building In Okla Send fo: Trial Sub,"Long View Publishing Co. tricts of their ov^ retiree health homa City, May 1. 235 W. 23 Street, View York, NY 10011. insurance programs. 8 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 U The Ecoiiomy 111

Pittsburgh unionists say Rescue in Oklahoma City: The shift over, the job continues 'Damn the Contract!'

By Denise Winebrenner Pl'i l SBURGH - From picket lines and soup lines, those who lay their heads on pil One sick, injured lows and those who lie down under the bridges spanning this city's three rivers, or dead worker is workers from the front lines of the economic crisis condemned the Contract on America in one too many. hearings held here April 28. Over 30 speakers testified before mem bers of the western Pennsylvania congres -Rod Mushnok sional delegation and representatives from United Mine Workers the offices of Sens. Arlen Spector and Rick Santorum. They demanded congressional ac tion to defend the working class. Oiganized by the Citizen's Budget Campaign, a local trary cosVbenefit analysis to prove that saving coalition dedicated to slashing the military lives and limbs and health is worth the price." budget to save lives of "Rust Bow!" resi Mushnok said if the Gingrich agenda is dents, the hearing was the first to directly enacted, ventilation standard,s, which prevent confront the region's congressmen. explosions in the mines, will be snuffed out. Noting that April 28 marked Worker's The Contract would halt efforts to eliminate Memorial Day, Rod Muslinok, Pennsylvania Black Lung disease. Mushnok said legisla legislative director for the United Mine tion is pending that would merge OSHA and Workers of America (UMWA), brought the MSHA and destroy the National Institute of dramatic impact of the 1969 Federal Mine Occupational Safety and Health. "Tiie Health and Safety Act(MSHA) to the atten UMWA firmly believes that one sick, injured tion of the legislators. In the 25 years prior to or dead worker is one too many." enactment of the bill, over 12,000 coal min UMWA District 5 President Jim Smith ers died in the mines. By comparison, in the said that "in that first 100 days everybody 25 years since the act's passage 2,763 coal was going around thinking that something miners died on the job. dramatic had happened. But in that first 100 The UMWA called for the strengthening days not one bill passed that would create of both MSHA and OSHA."Under the ban one job with decent wages, that would raise ner of regulatory reform, the House of the standard of living of American workers, Representatives has placed, and the Senate is that improved access to health care, that considering, new hurdles in the path of new would reduce the trade deficit, that would AP A weary member of Task Force 3 of the San Mateo, Calif, rescue organization trudges health and safety standards," Mushnok said. improve the educational oppominities," he from the work site after finishing his overnight shift at the federal building In Oklahoma "Under legislation passed by the House, both said angrily. "That tells you what that 100 City May i. After 11 days, rescuers continued to hold out a alim hope of finding more OSHA aid MSHA will have to conduct arbi- days has done." aurvlvora, although officials admit "It would take a miracle."

presence" of U.S. armed forces around the globe." By Victor Perlo President Clinton gives complete sup House Majority Leader Dick Armey port to this plan. Cutting through his dou fR-Texas) sponsors a scheme to further The flat tax ble speak, he voices the determination of shift taxation from rich to poor. He pro the "sole superpower" to promote capital poses a single flat rate on individuals and ism everywhere and attack any country he 15 percent on business, instead of the pre swindle defines as "bad," with any weapon - in sent corporate income tax. cluding those with nuclear warheads. Robert Eisner, professor emeritus of Pf'ople The Center for Defense Information economics at Northwestern University, Bf'loi't' Prolils (CDI), while providing valuable informa calculates that to be really "revenue neu tion on the Pentagon's budget, implicitly tral" the fiat tax would have to be 23 per accepts the strategic goals of the military cent(Wall Street Journal, 4/11). The catch on consumption; while capitalists can save That's where huge economies can be brass, asking only, "Can we do it is that the tax would be levied only on much of their income for investment or made. smarter?"- with one force for a major re wage and salary income.Interest, divi speculation. Present plans, however, call for higher gional conflict and one lighter "interven dends, rent, business profits would be ex The Communist Party proposes strong spending in 1999 than in 1986, including a tion force," allowing for some tirne to empt.. measures - slashing all income taxes on 47 percent rise in the procurement budget elapse between major wars (CDI Defense Eisner calculates that it would in incomes up to $50,000 and raising the over a five-year period. Add to that that Monitor, No. 3, 1995). For this "more eco crease taxeS over the present income tax or peak rate on high incomes to 90 percent; the fact die U.S. is promoting military ma nomical" version of an aggressive imperi those with incomes up to $100,000; reduce raising the corporate tax rate to a flat 50 terial exports and that it is by far the alist strategy, the CDI would cut the 1996 taxes for chose with higher incomes - re percent, while closing all the loopholes of world's largest exporter of arms. That's military budget by only $12 billion, with ducing the tax on those with annual in the rich and their corporations. why Lockheed, Martin, McDonnell somewhat wider cuts to follow, comes over $200,000 to 12.7 percent. The Republicans - and most Douglas. Northrop Grumman and other Acceptance of Pentagon strategic Armey claims tliat the tax on business Democrats - in addition to reactionary tax war profiteers are raking it in, and their top goals and arguing against them only on would catch the money now yield the divi plans, propose slashing spending for wel executives are getting double digit mil technical grounds is really capitulation to dends and interest. On the contrary, it fare, social and cultural programs, housing lions in salaries, bonuses and stock op the big military spenders and the certainty would leave more money for dividends and infrastructure. That is going on right tions; and their stocks reaching new highs of more wars. The Communist Party pro and interest because it would not be a tax now at all levels of government and on the slock market. gram - of cutting military spending by at on profits, it would be set up as a tax on Congress to apt to make it much worse. The overall Pentagon plan calls for least one-half, abolishing the CIA and re consumption - either a direct sales tax or Meanwhile, the capitalist parties trtat sustaining military forces capable of fight lated agencies, closing foreign bases, de value added tax. That's the most regres the military budget as a sacred cow,/al ing two nearly simultaneous major region stroying weapons of mass destruction and pledging "no first use" of nuclear weapons sive kind of tax, falling mainly on work though its nominal purpose - to meet;' the al conflicts, and "continuing the Cold War ers, who have to spend their entire income "threat" from the USSR - no longer exists. pattern of almost continuous 'forward - is the way to go. I I. I I.I I -I 1", »T- People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6.1995 ACROSS THE COUNTRY

San Franciscans celebrate life of Cesar Chavez

N. California Bureau his death. Among other labor as a result of the attacks on immi attend school, she warned. bodies represented in the march grants by Gov. Pete Wilson, Newt Speaking with tlie SAN FRANCISCO - Color were the Machinists, Teamsters, Gingrich and others. "Cdsar World, Huerta urged people ful flags and banners filled C6sar International Longshoremen's Chdvez always told us that if we to join the campaign by the Chdvez Street here April 24 as and Warehousemen's Union, keep struggling, we will win," Farmworkers and other to iiundreds of members and sup Communications Workers of Huerta said. flood the mailboxes of Cal- porters of the United Farm Work America, Service Employees In Huerta expressed great con ifomia senators Dianne Fe- ers celebrated the life of the ternational Union and the Labor cern over provisions in the Con instein and Barbara Boxer UFW founder and civil rights Council for Latin American Ad tract on America that would de with postcards demanding leader by marching across town vancement. prive documented immigrants of defeat of the measure, She on the street recently named for Addressing the crowd at La access to more than 60 social also called for messages to him. Raza Park, Dolores Huerta, co- benefit programs, including President Clinton demand The" march and festive rally founder and first vice president of MediCal and other health pro ing he veto the bill if it at La Raza Park were among the UFW, said it is vital to "bring grams and the WIC nutrition pro passes the Senate. many commemorations of justice to all workers of San Fran gram for women and children. If The proposed bill Chdvez' life throughout the coun cisco." She stressed the special the bill passes the Senate, people would deprive documented try on the second anniversary of problems facing Latino workers will have to be citizens even to immigrants of more than 60 programs, including MediCal and other medical assistance, the WIC nutri tion program for women and children, and public education. Meanwhile, in Califor nia, undocumented immi grants' access to public benefiLs and'services is al ready under severe attack following passage of Prop. 187 last November. But many unions have pledged that their members will never carry out the measure even if it survives court challenges which currently

bar implementation. Marilyn Bathlal "Your ability to UFW leader Delores Huerta Is hugged by a change Army Street to supporter. Cdsar Chdvez Street is an example of non-violent change," struggles to secure contracts for said Fr. Bill O'Donnell, pastor of large numbers of mushroom, Berkeley's St. Joseph the Worker grape and other farm workers Church. But "symbols have to be whose employers strongly resist rooted in reality, and reality for signing contracts although the

Marilyn Bechtel the Farmworkers is a contract," workers have voted for the Members and friends of the United Farm Workers celebrate the life of Cdsar Chdvez, April 24 In San Francisco. he said, referring to ongoing union. NYC women fired for Atomic City baiks at speaking Spanish peace statue

tenance organization for Medicaid recipi LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — came up with the idea, hopes the globe can Special to the World ents, where Santana worked as a market Standing on a grassy median at the edge also be used as a traveling monument for NEW YORK - Two Latino women ing representative. of town, Ginger Welch can look past the peace. So do students. in New York have filed employment dis Both women filed charges with the plateau and see the snowcapped moun "We want people to know this is still crimination cases charging they were fired federal Equal Employment Opportuni tains that isolate the birthplace of the an innocent idea," said Dana Kaplan. 14. from their Jobs for speaking Spanish. ties Commission, which has regulations atomic bomb. "We're not trying to malign anybody or. incriminate anybody." One of the women, Iraida Calderon. outlawing English-only rules in most Welch said the median, which serves 31, a Puerto Rican, had worked as a sec workplace situations. They are being as a gateway to the Atomic City 30 miles The scenic town of 12,000 tucked retary for three years for Damon House represented by lawyers from the Puerto northwest of Santa Fe, would have been a away in the Jemez Mountains still strug of New York, a Brooklyn-based residen Rican Legal Defense and Education perfect setting for a peace statue suggested gles with its legacy as a key contributor to the Atomic Age and it remains a focal tial drug rehabilitation program that has a Fund. five years ago by Albuquerque elementary large number of Latino clients. Calderon "It is an outrage to think that workers school pupils. Instead, the idea generated point for protests against nuclear weapons. said she was terminated in September, today are hired because of their ability to controversy and hard feelings and the shortly after being informed that she speak Spanish, yet are fired for convers County Council this year rejected it. Councilor Morey PongraU, a space could no longer speak Spanish with her ing with a co-worker in the same lan "A lot of people opposed to it may scientist at Los Alamos National Labora tory since 1975, believes the statue would co-workers or while interviewing people guage," said Juan A. Figueroa, president have felt that somehow this was being stigmatize the city and that the money requesting social-service benefits. and general counsel of the fund. placed here as a punishment," said Welch, "I was speaking Spanish with the Santana, who had worked at Health- a councilor. could be better sf>ent. first for only five months, said at a news The statue, a bronze globe, found a "Money spent on a statue detracts secretary and our supervisor saw us and from money spent on the true injustices of told us, 'If you keep speaking Spanish, conference yesterday, "If ray bilingual home anyway, at the Albuquerque Muse the world," Pongratz said. Welch dis you may not get your raise,"' Calderon skills are an asset to Healthfirst in secur um. It will be dedicated in August — the ing business, then how can they justify SOtli anniversary of the atomic bombing of agrees. said. "Those children ... were making a The other woman, Joanne Santana, firing me for speaking Spanish?" Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan. An esti "This is a clear attack on the Latino mated $45,000 was donated for the globe, very definite statement about wanting 22. a Dominican immigrant, says she peace," she said. "And where better to do was terminated in February after being community," Figueroa said, "and we will wWch i.s now being cast. fight this discriminatory practice in the 1 Caroline Gassner, the Arroyo Del Oso this than at the place where the nuclear written up by a supervisor who had age was bom?" warned her not to speak Spanish with her employment all the way to the Supreme lementary School teacher whose students co-workers -at Healthfirsf, -a- health-main' •Court if necessary." 10 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6. 1995 ACROSS THE COUNTRY How NM passed a resolution against Prop. 187

The follnwina is cm iiHervUnv sentative Patsy Trujillo of Santa get the message out to every high by Emit Shavi- with Ysauiv Bernai Fe and State Senator' Tom Be- school in the city. Hundreds of in Enriquez and Eduardo Herndndez navidez from Albuquerque. formational packets were sent out Chdvez. coordinators of the NM. to interested groups throughout Coalition Against Proposition 187. Q. What was the response to the city. your lobbying efforts? We spoke to groups through out Albuquerque, and as a result, Q How did you gel the New A. We found tiiat legislators nearly 1,000 people marched in Mexico Legislature to pass a joint saw an anti-187 resolution as be Albuquerque on Feb. 5. As the resolution against Prop. 187? ing a step forward for several rea resolution was about to be intro sons. New Mexico prides itself on duced in Santa Fe. on short no A. Our coalition got started in being multi-cultural and anything tice. clo.se to 80 people made a fi the last weeks of November 1994. that goes counter to this idea nal effort in rallying and lobby The passage of Prop. 187 in Cali might hurt the tourist industry. ing. On March 18. as the legisla fornia began to affect the lives of The legislators also felt that a ture was about to close, the reso Mexicanos tliroughout Arizona Prop. 187 in New Mexico could lution passed both houses by a and New Mexico. Reports were be the cau.se of ethnic tensions. large margin. coming in of indiscriminate ha They wanted to make a statement rassment of people by INS agents to the rest of the country. Q.What about follow-up? and of discrimination against Mexicanos in towns just north of Q. What were some of the high A. We are getting calls from the border. lights of the campaign? and speaking to immigration and We first spoke with State human rights groups throughout Senate leader Manny Aragon, Emil S^w A. We found a strong response the country. For more infonnation Antl-187 activists Ysaura Bemal Enriquez and Eduardo Herndndez Chavez. who. while being in full support among high school and college call us at (505)2.56-1523. of legislative action, advised us to students. In preparation for a rally lobby the rest of the legislature to in February, both University of obtain support. We found imme New Mexico and high school stu diate support from State Repre dents took it upon themselves to Poor children must wait for

Oklahoma children pitch in new chicken pox vaccine after bomb killings JERSEY CITY. N.J. - Chil dren whose parents can afford it will be among the first to receive r the country's first-ever chicken pox vaccine, which was shipped out yesterday. But poorer children whose parents can't afford to pay a pri vate physician for the shot are go ing to have to wait- perhaps until early next year. And some health profession als who run free health clinics are - y k ■ r ■ asking why. "It should be made / ". J > V available to everybody at the same time," said Carolyn Kowal- ski, a senior nurse with Jersey City's Division of Health's free Immunization Clinic. Varivax, the vaccine manu factured by Merck & Co., is rec Katrlna Aidrln, S, of Turlock, Calif., would probably have preferred to wait ommended for children ages 1 for her booster shot. Stanislaus County public health nurse BenI Stevens and older and adults who have administers the life-saving medication while Connie Aidrln, the child's never had chicken pox. Most dos mother, watches. es of the injectable vaccine are being sent to private physicians, who should receive it in the next are charging up to $80 for some pox is most dangerous to in month or so. immunizations, not including fants, adults and people with But free, slate-funded health the visit. weakened immune systems. clinics and immunization pro "Most of the people(we see) "In the ideal situation, it grams probably won't receive it have two or three children," she would be wonderful, naturally, if until Dumber or January, said said. "We get a lot of people in we had it available," said Judy State Department Health here who really can't afford it." Flynn, director of Bayonne Hos spokeswoman Amajida MacDon- Four million Americans, pital's Family Health Center, ald. These programs purchase the mostly children, get chicken which gives ffee immunizations. vaccine in bulk with federal mon pox each year. In the vast ma She said clients are already ask ey and at a lower price, MacDon- jority of cases, children devel ing when it will be available. ald siud. The federal government op irritating, itchy bumps and Too many children aren't is slowed becau.se it must first get miss about a week of school. even being immunized for other bids on the vaccine, although But the disease can be deadly, diseases, Kowalski said. President Merck is the only manufacturer. killing up to 100 people annu Clinton's pledge to immunize all Private physicians pay S39 ally and hospitalizing 9,300. children has run into many bu AP reaucratic snags. "It'.s still not re Children and a teacher from the Head Start program In Spencer, for each dose of the vaccine, Complications range from en Okla., look through the fence surrounding the command center near Bradley said, but Kowalski said cephalitis to the so-called ally in effect," she said. the bombed-out federal building In Oklahoma City May 1. The group that (iVice won't include the "flesh-eating bacteria," which donated 80 gallons of water to supply the children affected by the doctor visit, and that some par can enter the body through Excerpted from the Jersey right-wing terrorist attack. ents l^ave told her that doctors chicken pox lesions. Chicken Journal, Hudson County, NJ. People's Weekly World Saturday. May 6,1995 11

Feature Section

ht i'tirly April. I vishcd ihc Clci.\s War Zone in Illinois where ilioiisaiuls of workers are .Kiandin.i; up It) three powerful transnalioiial eorparaiioiis: 1.^.000 itienihers of the United Aiiio Worker.K are on .■nrike attainsr US.-owiied Caterpillar since June, thou sands of nienihers of the United Rnhher Workers on strike ai;ainsl Japanese-owned Bridyeslonell'ire- stone since July and 750 workers locked out hy the British-owned Tale it Lyie. PLC since June I99.T While there I eisited picket lines, .spent time in the "war room" of the Staley Canipaisn for Jn.stire and talked to union leaders and rank and Jlle nieni hers. I hope that the .stories on this atid thefollowing payes succeed in cuitveyiny the determination, mili tancy. solidarity and creativity of these workers. - Hy CTyiner

'Cooperation' scam led to union-busting

DECATUR - Paul Easly has worked for Briclgestone/Firestone (B/F) for more than 28 years. He and some 4,000 members of the United Rubber Workers (URW) in five slates have been on strike against the Japanese-ovraed muitinationai lire company since July 12. "This strike will not be over for tliree generations," he said, shielding his face from the heat of the fire barrel. "ITl tell my kids and they'll tell their kids." Easly is particularly bitter because he "fell for this labor/management cooperation. I even be came a leader of a Process Improvement Team." Roger Walker is one of the some 1,200 members of URW Local 713 who fought it all the way. "I knew the title 'as sociate' didn't mean anything. We were still workers and they were still the compa ny," he said. Walker was one of those who marched World photo by Hy Clymer the 45 miles from Decatur to Springfield Members of United Rubber Workers Local 713 picket Bridgeslone/Flrestone plant In Decatur, Illinois. last November. "We went there to demand that Gov. Jim Edgar and the state legisla jail. He saw this as his last chance and de largest tire maker. lion, reducing paid holidays from 11 to sev ture do something about often illegal ac cided to make a stand," the younger Walk When industry contracts expired in en, 12-hour shifts and a non-stop produc tion schedule. tions of B/F and the city's removal of pick er said proudly. 1994, B/F attempted to weld an industry et shacks along the state highway fronting In the past the union and the industry wide united front to take on the UR'W. Gordon, the youngish vice president of Local 713, was particularly forceful in re the B/F plant. have engaged in! "pattern bargaining" - When that failed B/F decided to go it alone When Edgar refused to see them, 300 breaking through with one company and rather than settle on terms negotiated with jecting B/F demands for a new seniority clause. "It would allow 'company sucks' to workers and their families from B/F, Cater then using that settlement as a pattern with Goodyear Tire and Rubber. pillar and A.E. Staley Co. sat down in the the others. Although Firestone was never "B/F submitted a list of demands that be promoted over equally-qualified senior Capitol Building. Before the group left, 31 easy to deal with, negotiations became we just couldn't accept," Randy Gordon workers," he said. Nor was B/F's bad faith bargaining of them, including Walker, his wife and fa more difficult when Firestone became said as he ticked off what he sees as tlie five limited to demanding unacceptable conces ther, Charles, were arrested. Bridgestone/Firestone in 1988 and, in one worst; increased co-payment on insurance, sions. "They didn't even present their de "My father said he had never been in fell swoop, became the world's second "buying" the fourth and fifth week of vaca- mands in a face-to-face bargaining meeting - they faxed them to us," Gordon said. Lat er. B/F rejected Labor Secretary Robert Reich's request for a meeting, a position Solidarity, support maintains Cat morale reversed only after intervention by a group of U.S. senators. AURORA. I), - "Don't let anyone tell with video equipment and listening de When Cat threatened to pemianently Leonard Smith builds tires - one every, you that balmy spring weather comes to vices. monitor the hundred or so union replace strikers witii scabs in the spring of members who suind several hundred feet 1992, UAW members returned to work three minutes - working with steam pres-' this part of Illinois in April, because it sures in excess of 75 pounds per square doesn't," Mike Minalga, a picket at the away from the gate lending moral support with the clear understanding that Cat to the pickets and their voices to the would resume good faith negotiations. inch and temperatures above 350 degrees Caterpillar gate in Aurora, said as he blew Fahrenheit. "When we were doing the on his hands. "That's why we keep the shouts of "Scab!" And standing along side There followed a year-long "work to rule" them, a contingent from the Chicago chap campaign, refusal to work overtime and work we had a scrap rate of about 1 per kitchen open, so people can have a hot cent," he said. Then pointing to an 18- drink and a'sweet.'" ter of the Coalition of Labor Union Wom several work stoppages. en who regularly make the hour-long More than 100 strikers were suspend wheeler filled to overflowing with scrap Coffee, tea and donuts are available tires destined for the incinerator, lie said. 24 hours a day at the kitchen in the rear of drive to join the picket line. ed or discharged and more unfair labor practices were filed with the National La "Sixty percent of the tires made by scabs the hail at Auto Workers Local 145, less Minalga, married and the father of two children, is one of the .some 13,500 bor Relations Board, bringing the total to are scrap." than a block from the plant gate where A recent Wall Street Journal article pickets, their number limited by^court in auto workers who have been on strike ^49. Minalga, voicing the sentiment of against Cat since June 21. The fight with most of his fellow pickets, said the NLRB said B/F's union-busting is costing $10 junction to six per shift, wave signs, point million a month. A bargaining session with fingen and shout at the scabs racing Cat began in the fall of 1991 when UAW administrative law judge had been "judgin" members in Cat plants .scattered from for two years and he's still judgin.'" B/F was scheduled for May 3. "We can through the gate. only hope that we can settle this mess," York, Pa. to Denver, Colo, refused to ac A city cop sits across the street and Continued on page 19 Gordon said. inside the gate "rent-a-cops." equipped cept a substandard contract. People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995

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Lamb is a "dispatcher," responsible for coor now 50 and a Vietnam vet who served four The people dinating trips by the local's road warriors, the 50 years in the Marine Corps. Griffin, the son and or more union members who have crisscrossed grandson of Illinois coal miners, is presently on the country and the Atlantic in a campaign the Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly execu fighting for aimed at hitting Staley where its money is. tive board. Each time he hung up the phone The day we talked. Lamb was desperately Griffin would smile and say in a loud voice, trying to find a replacement for a road warrior "Ain't this fiin?!" you in who had become ill in Wichita, Kansas. "He'll go. I'll rent him a car. He can make the trip in Griffin learned early in life "which class of eight hours," he said, heaving a sigh of relief. people" he belonged to. "Among my clear Illinois' That problem solved. Lamb turned to the est cliildhood memories is the sound of the dis next, booking a trip to Seattle for Mike Griffin, aster whistle at the Peabody mine," he said. Class War "We'd go to the mine and wait for news of whose father, whose husband, whose son had been killed. The families of miners - my class Zone of people - would stand outside in the snow and cold while families of mcmagement people were sitting inside where it was warm and dry. 4 That was a dear lesson," he said bitterly, By Hy Cljoner adding that the experience helped him "under stand what the labor movement is all about." For Griffin die Staley struggle is a simple IF DEtATUR IS THE CENTER OF the "Illinois matter of "us" against "diem" - workers every Cleiss War Zone" where workers are engaged in where against transnational corporations like life-or-death struggles with Caterpillar, Bridge- Tate & Lyle. "They're out to break the unions, stone/Firestone and the A.E. Staley Company, pure and simple," said Griffin, who earned tlren the office of the Staley Campaign for $14.30 an hour as a mill wright when the lock Justice can be called a "war room." out began. "Although the specifics may differ Red pins dot maps showing locations of from company to company, the intent is the support committees and trips made by Staley same - more production from less workers "road warriors." A half-dozen desks crowd working longer hours for less money. It's as the hall and homemade shelves, filled with T- simple as that." shirts, jackets and literature, line one wall. photo; Jerry Fargusson Griffin scoffed at company claims of "glob Phones ring constantly and the counter on the al competition. T&L has wiped out its competi copy machine registers 464,000. tion by buying up 17 competitors. In every in Ethel Fargusson commands the computer stance they moved to attack existing wages equipment in a tiny office at the rear. "We have The intent is the and working conditions, forcing strikes if they the best union data base except at AFL-CIO same - more thought it necessary," he said. "Their philoso headquarters," she says, proudly. phy seems to be that it's better to take on the production from union head-to-head than to nibble a little here Staley, a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle PLC of less workers ... and a little there over time." London, locked out the 750 members of Paper Workers Local 7837 on June 27,1993. longer hours for And that's what happened at Staley when "They had replacements standing by," ex less money. It's as the contract expired Sept. 30, 1992: Hie ecutive board member Gary Lamb said. "At company terminated payroll deduction of 3:30 a.m. we were escorted out of the plant. simple as that." union dues. When the local voted overwhelm When the next shift reported for work the ingly to reject its "last, best and final offer," the gates were locked." Mike Griffin company began to impose its terms. In Mardi, Long before the lockout, Staley workers Staley imposed what the union describes as were forced to develop manuals explaining their "the most dreadful aspect of its proposal - jobs. Outsiders came to observe how jobs were mandatory 12-hour rotational work-shifts." done, a dear indication to Lamb that "things A campaign of harassment followed and, were going to get rough when the contract ex on June 15, 1993, the day shift conducted a pired. When the time caine, they just took over mass safety meeting, effectively shutting down our.stationsuand iold u&ta lea.vfc" operations. When workers refused to sign indi- People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 13 vidual contracts agreeing to the compan/s terms - a demand later withdrawn - the gates photo: Hy Clymer were locked 10 days later and Staley an nounced that workers' health insurance would be terminated. "No matter what your personal Lorell Patterson, whose motto has always situation is, if you work for a been "fight tlie bastards," is one of the some living you're part of the work 60 African American members of Local 7837. A ing class and these battles are single parent, she hired in tlrree-and-a-half years before the lockout. She drives a school bus in or your battles. It's the same der to make ends meet. "Ifs $6.95 an hour for 22 fight." hours a week," she said. "But, with the $60 Aveek from the union ifs enough to get by." As Patterson sees it, the Staley fight and the Lorr.elt Patterson other strikes in Decatur are more than a strug gle between individual companies and their 1 workers."No matter what your personal situa tion is, if you work for a living you're part of tlie working class and these brattles are your families." He did say, however, that the Relations Board has ruled that work-to-rule battles," she said. "Look what they're doing at Campaign for Justice netted more than $30,000 campaigns are a legal, concerted activity and, Cat and Firestone. Ifs the same fight." in the firet two months of 1995. as such, are 'protected' activity. So we worked Each worker in the wet-miHing industry cre But foreclosures weren't Williams' first con tluough the union and, at other times, through ates more than a half million dollars in added cern. "Our number one priority was raising the v.'ord of mouth. As anybody who works in a value annually. Nearly half of T&L profits are money to guarantee prescription drugs for fami factory knows, tlnere are ways of doing things." sweated ftom the hides of workers in Staley's lies who needed tliem. Remember - the compa U.S. plants. "These companies didn't make all ny cut off our medical insurance right after they The weekend before going to Decatur I asked that money off of 'dumb workers,"' Patterson locked us out," he said, as he showed me the list George Becker, president of the Steel said, "and they didn't mjike it by being ruce to of families who had been helped during the 22- Workers Union, what it takes to win a strike people, either." month lockout. these days. After thinking a moment he sum marized it in a few words,"We've got to build a Barry Williams heads the Adopt-A-Family Art Dhermy has become an expert at "dig movement witli enough heat so that when the Committee of the Campaign for Justice. In ging up the dirt" on Staley. Griffin de boss goes to bed at rught his last thought is that capacity he has the main responsibility for scribes him as a "thorn in tire side" of Decatur about 'that damn union' and when he wakes providing financial and other assistance to fam city officials who have a long record of pro- up in the morning his first thought is 'another ilies of Local 7837 members. He also logs the company support, including unleashing day of hell from that damn union.'" checks sent to the Campaign and money col Decatur police and allowing them to beat and The crew in the war room of the A.E. lected by road warriors. gas demonstrators before tire Staley plant last Staley Campaign for Justice may not have suc Williams declined to divulge numbers, say June. ceeded yet, but they sure are trying. And they ing only, "We've saved the homes of several Staley is one of the several companies oper are sure that, with the help of others, they will ating in Decatur's Enterprise Zone, an area surely win. where employers, after promising to create jobs, are given tax abatements for up to 20 years. According to Dhermy,"Massive property value write-downs and enterprise zone tax abate ments granted to A.E. Staley Company are im "Massive property poverishing local schools, community colleges, value write-downs parks and other public services." Dhermy says Staley's write-downs and abatements cost local and abatements are governments s more than a half million dollars impoverishing local in 1993. Dhermy's analysis also found that employ schools, colleges, ment at Staley had declined by nearly 50 per parks and other cent since 1993, despite tax breaks that were supposed to reward job creation. "Staley uses services." 25 percent of all water used in the city while paying only about 13 percent of the total bill." But most of all, Dhermy delights in telling Art Dhermy about Uie "work-to-rule" campaign in the months prior to the lockout. "I feel that 1 got even a little bit for what they did to my aunt photo: Jerry Pergusson who was bayoneted by a national guardsman during a coal strike years ago," he said, his voice hardening. Dhermy said most of the workers had been in the plant for 20 years or so and the supervi sors ordy tliree or four. "When they told us to do "When the time came, something we'd question them - not whether or they just took over our not the order was right, but whether or not they were sure it was right," he said, liis words com stations and told us to ing fium between smiling lips. leave." "Once they were sure that they were sure and sure that we were sure that they were sure, we'd ask them to put it in writing so that every one could be sure that everyone else was sure. Gary Lamb Then we'd follow the written order to the letter. It didn't take long before these guys were so confused they didn't knqw wliich end was up. The best way to put it i# tlrat we let their igno rance come out through our work," he said. photo: Joiry Fargusmn When asked how tjie campaign was orga nized, Dliermy said, "The National Labor 14 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995

INTERNATIONAL Right wing revises history Camp survivor on V-E Day anniversary wins right to speak

By William Pomeroy the (West) German authorities in endeavoring to oblit at celebrations erate.the anti-fascist role of the German Communists LONDON — The celebration of the 50th anniver as well the socialist system they built in East Ger By Klaus Steiniger sary of V-E Day, the victory in Europe of the Allied many. forces over fascist Germany, has been distorted and In April a celebration was held in Buchenwald of BERLIN — After a public outcry, the President of the misrepresented since the collapse of the Soviet Union the liberation of that concentration camp in April 1945. College for Technical and Economic Sciences in Berlin- and other socialist states. In Germany a flood of false The advancing U.S. army entered Buchenwald, but pri Karlshorst, Professor Knigge, reversed an earlier decision claims about the Nazi surrender on May 8, 1945 and or to their arrival a revolt of the prisoners stormed the which barred one of the most outstanding anti-fascist resis about what brought it about has arisen in recent years. watchtowers and,guarded points and liberated the tance fighters of Europe from speaking on campus on the Most ominous is the trend of a debate that ha.s camp. It was led by a lightly-knit Communist organiza occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation from grown in Germany, emanating from its western re tion among the prisoners which had gained control Hitler's bloody dictatorship. gions. It is a debate over the nature and aspects of the over the camp's inner administration. Emil Carlebach, first vice president of the International rise of Hitler and Nazism. Promoted by right-wing his The Buchenwald uprising has been well-known as Committee of Former Prisoners in the Camp of Concentra torians and groups, its intention is to absolve Germany one of many examples of resistance organized by the tion of Buchenwald - a Communist - wanted to deliver a of guilt and to minimize its defeat. German Communists. speech in the Berlin suburb of Karlshorst, where Hitler's One such effort is a positioning of the events of the At the ceremony, attended by 1,000 former prison generals signed the unconditional surrender document in 1930s and 1940s in a very lengthy historical context in ers and some U.S. veterans of the liberation, a Jewish May 1945. which the Nazi period appears as brief, coupling this Communist former prisoner. Emil Carlebach, delivered The college is leasing rooms to a variety of appliers on with an equating of Hitler with Stalin. a powerful speech in which he said, "The people who strictly commercial conditions, also to the Parly of Demo The main attempt from the right is to attack the of made Buchenwald possible are still respected leaders cratic Socialism (PDS). In the case of Carlebach, his Party, ficial Allied view that May 8, 1945 marked the libera of German industry. They sit on economic advisory the German Communist Party, submitted the contract draft it tion of Germany from Nazism. Early in April a state councils of parties which claim to be democr.itic. They had received from the college administration two weeks ment and petition signed by many right-wing and ex don't raise their hands in the Hitler salute anymore, but ahead of time. But tlie president of the institution declared, tremist figures was published in the Frankfurter Allge- only to grab cash from their blood-soaked dividends. without any further explanation, that an event with Emil nieine Zeitung asserting that on May 8 Germany was And what of the officers and gentlemen who bombed Carlebach on the campus would be undesirable. Carlebach not just liberated but de.stroyed, and calling for May 8 villages and towns? They built up the new Wehrmacht spent more than eight years in Nazi death camps. to be a day of mourning over the division of Germany and now they draw their pensions and wear with pride The German Communist Party publicized the decision that followed and the expulsion of millions of Germans their Hitler medals." and led a mass protest against this decision. The institution from eastern Europe. The 50lh anniversary of the victory over fascism was forced to reverse the decision and Carlebach will speak This drive to negate the significance of a 50lh an is but a milestone in the continuing struggle to liberate on the anniversary of the liberation of Germany from Hitler niversary celebration is paralleled by the behavior of the world from all forms of aggression and oppression. fascism.

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APb'iOIQS May Day 1995 was celebrated by millions of people the world over. On every continent and In every country workers f marched and protested against the global economic crisis which has ravaged working people's lives. Clockwise, from top left: hundreds of thousands of Mexican workers protest against government austerity, despite cancellation of official May Day ceremonies; Vietnamese celebrate the unification of their country; Cubans march for the revolution; lens of thou sands march In Moscow; students and workers protest In South Kor'eh; lens of fhbusaiids celebrated In Grfeede'..'''• '.'i People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6,1995 15 INTERNATIONAL

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% World file phalos » AP Images of the war against fascism, clockwise from upper left: Allied soldiers and concentration camp survivors greet each other at Dachau In 1945; A So viet soldier hoists the Red Flag over the Reichstag building in Berlin on May 8, 1945; two women work ers In the U.S. raise their fists for victory; Holocaust survivors and relatives remember at ceremonies in London earlier this week; victorious Soviet troops down captured standards of the Nazi army before the Kremlin in Moscow on May 9,1945.

50th Anniversary of victory Israel: V-E Day over fascism, militarism a national holiday

The following is a statement sliadow over the world. A deci the trade unions and other NGOs issued by the World Federation sive contribution to the victory to find a reliable basis to advance By Hans Lebrecht Gozansky stated. of Trade Unions(WFTU) on the was made by the armed forces of this social agenda - as against the Thi.s anniversary has timely occasion of the 50th anniversary the Soviet Union and those of the agenda of the extreme right of fo TEL-AVIV — A motion pre significance because of the not yet ofV-E Day(May 8,1945). Allies, fighting along a broad menting social disruption sented to the Knesset by the ended struggle against revived front extending from the atlantic through racism and xenophobia. Democratic Hadash Front for fascism, racism and xenophobia, a The WFTU joins the work Ocean to the Pacific. Tliis should mean, above all, Peace and Equality to celebrate struggle which lies in the heart of ing people and trade unions and The WFTU pays homage to earnest efforts to rebuilt the anti the 50tli anniversary in Israel as a all democratic minded people, she all democratic forces in the world the heroism and sacrifices of the fascist democratic unity which paid work-free national holiday said. in commemorating the 50th an millions who rallied under the laid the basis for victory 50 years was unanimously adopted by Is Besides the memory for the niversary of the end of the Sec flag of anti-fascist democratic ago, in order to win the victory rael's parliament. many millions of victims of Nazi ond World War and the victory unity, made the victory over fas over poverty and destitution and The motion was presented by barbarism, the memory of the over fascism and militarism. cism and militarism possible, and uphold the human rights of all the Communist Member of Knes heroic resistance against fascism The Second World War, created the conditions for peace the citizens of our planet Peo set (MK) Tamar Gozansky, also in Germany itself, and especially with all the horrors it caused, was by establishing the United Na ple's participation in develop on behalf of Hadash MKs Hashem for the fighters against Nazi Ger the most destructive global con tions. ment, the true essence of democ Mahameed and Saiah Salim. Dur many in the ranks of the allied flagration in the history of hu- The victory for democracy racy. should become a fact of ing the debate on the motion, a armies, the Partisans, the Ghetto ■ mankind. Directly affecting brought by the anti-fascist peo life. delegation of the Association of fighters, the underground forces eighty percent of the world's ple's unity directly contributed to The WFTU believes that the Anti-fascists and Victims of in the countries occupied by Nazi population, tlus war resulted in the liquidation of colonialism and great lessons of the past half-cen Nazism in Israel was present. hordes, should be honored as well. the loss of over 50 million lives, the successes of the struggles for tury are that unity and coopera "The year 1995 is marked by MK Gozansky reminded the with another 35 million wounded national liberation and social tion in the world trade movement the 50lh anniversary of the great audience that the Nazi command or maimed for life. That tragedy, progress. can stimulate its role in promot victory over Nazi Germany, the when they invaded the Soviet which Hitler and his big business On the eve of the 21st centu ing the much-needed action for ^efeat of German fascism and Union was: "Communists and backers brought to the world, ry, it is abundantly clear that the social progress and the well-be Japanese imperial militarism, of Jews step forward." For the Nazis, should never be allowed to be re agenda for the next centuiy is es ing of workers and peoples. It is the liberation of the peoples of the inhuman thesis of a German- peated. sentially a social agenda. There in this spirit that the \VTTU in Europe and the world from the Aryan master race and the aim to Thanks to the tireless efforts an be no end to the present crisis tends to commemorate the 50th danger of fascist enslavement — a annihilate "Untermenschen" of and huge sacrifices made by peo and instability without dealing anniversary of the ^ictory over victory that opened the way to a "lesser races," the Jews. Roma ples and the working class withiif seriously with the accumulation fascism and militarism, welcom democratic development and na and Sinii Gypsies, Slavs and oth the resistance movement, civi of the social problems. There ing the many initiatives already tional liberation of many peoples ers. was directly opposed to the lization was saved and fascism fore, a lot of jointly organized ac- undertaken by its Inember orga from colonialist oppression," humanist Communist ideology. .tivHy. should, be .undertaken by,' nizations.'.'' ' ' preventedj-from-fiasting .its, daik,. // ■ / i-.i ! • .1 *' ' . » V * • V y* « •• » 4 ♦ ♦ 16 People's Weekly World Saturday. Mav 6. 1995

EDITORIALS

Foxes and hen houses This sordid mess should be remembered when contrast with House Speaker Newt Gingrich's The Justice Department has decided not to considering proposals for more FBI infiltration to "Contract on America," which was hatched in prosecute Qubilah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm combat terrorism. Many FBI infiltrators have smoke-filled rooms on Capitol Hill with the advice X, on charges of conspiracy to murder Louis turned out to be agent provocateurs in the mold of and consent of the rich and well connected. Farrakhan. Resting on the testimony of a profes Michael Fitzpatrick - incorrigible liars who at Gingrich's "Contract" is a noose around the necks sional FBI stoolpigeon, Michael K. Fitzpatrick, tlois tempt to instigate violence as part of the rai's ef of the American people. The Burton and Helms bill case was a stinking can of worms. forts to discredit the movements of the people and is a noose around the necks of the Cuban people. Fitzpatrick had been Shabazz's high school to sow chaos and divisions in the movement's Tliose who seek to cut school lunches and classmate and he played on widespread suspi ranks. That is the history of the FBI's COINTEL- Medicare for the elderly at home would cut trade cions that Farrakhan had a role in the assassina PRO which remains on the books today. that delivers dried milk, medical supplies, fuel and tion of her father to lure her into the murder The rai's main target is progressive organiza other necessities to the Cuban people. scheme. The Justice Department admits that tions that reject terrorism on principle. It would be How dare the U.S. dictate the trade policies of Fitzpatrick was paid $45,000 for his services as an folly, indeed, to rely on FBI infiltrators as a line of other sovereign nations! The 30-year-plus U.S. informer against Shabazz. defense against terrorism. blockade of Cuba has brought shame and growing Fitzpatrick's record as an FBI spy reached back isolation for the U.S. Cuba's trade is flourishing decades. He was recruited by the FBI after being and even some U.S. corporate executives are be implicated in a 1970 bombing in New York City Helms vs. the people ginning to grumble that the U.S. is "missing the for which he served no prison time. He infiltrated On May 3, the Cuban people opened a nation trade boat" because of this senseless policy of eco an anti-apartheid committee in Albany, New York, wide discussions on a bill introduced into the U.S. nomic and political blockade. where he advocated blowing up public utilities. Congress by Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and Next week Helms, chair of the Senate Foreign Vera Michelson, chair of the committee, was Representative Dan Burton (R-Ind.). It calls for Relations Committee, will open hearings on his arrested on the basis of Fitzpatrick's lies that she U.S. retaliation against other nations which trade bfil. CaU your Senators at (202) 224-3121. TeU had firearms stored in her home. The committee with Cuba. It also calls for the repatriation to U.S. them,"End the Embargo! Cuba trade would bring won a $47,000 civil lawsuit against the city for the citizens of all assets nationalized at the time of the jobs and peace to our hemisphere! Stop the ag FBI frameup. Fitzpatrick infiltrated a Maoist youth Cuban revolution in 1959. gression against Cuba and it's elected govern group and practiced paramilitary warfare in the This discussion in every Cuban town and ment. NO to the Contact on America! NO to the woods of upstate New York. workplace is democracy in action. It stands in stark Contract on Cuba!"

LETTERS Reading PWW is a joy really enjoy true equality and justice, racial tions of the First Amendment right to free parable article, "Luminous with Age, the harmony and full human rights. I truly enjoy the People's Weekly speech. seasons of Meridel Le Sueur." And it really World. You are exactly right, there is no New Mexico now has a classic exam takes the genius of a writer like Tim Ishmale Williams, other newspaper like the PWW. I do enjoy ple of a SLAPP suit instigated by Joab/NU- Wheeler to display the vast beauty of Founder & director of Homeless reading each article and I also attempt to MEX of El Peso, Texas against the South Meridel Le Sueur in the somewhat limited Citizens of the U.S.A. c/o Garrett Station, read the Spanish, 1 am especially looking West Organizing Project because of its op confines of two pages. But he has done ex 5007 W. Ninth Street, Wilmington, DE forward to more reports from Mike position to the corporation's history of pol actly that, while simultaneously bringing us 19801 -Tel: 302-655-6694 Davidow on the return of socialism to the luting and exploitation of Mexican border all up to dale on just where Meridel is at Russian Republic, and IJiofK to read of so minority communities. now. We intend to save many copies of his PEOPLE'S WEEKLY cialist programs in East Germany as well As a 74-year-old student of history and wonderful article. It is a priceless treasure as the rest of Germany. If God wills it. I a life-long advocate of citizen participation and resource. hope to (soon) be listed as a member of the in government, I am alamed that citizens Wnld Communist Party USA. concerned about the environment and eco Harold Heller People's Weekly Woild (USP51«146920) nomic justice are harassed in an attempt to Mill Valley, Calif. is puBllshed weekly on Saluiday leicept last weok of DecemOer) by John W.Hardwick deny them their legal rights to free speech. Long View PuBlisfiing Co.. Inc. Alexandria, Va. 235 W23rcl51. N-V-C-10011 Theresa Davidson Phone (212) 924-2523 Socialism the road to harmony Fax; (212) 645-5436 Santa Fe, NM E-mail; [email protected] Americans' roots are from every na ISSN 1078-0091 Don't siap SLAPP Sent congress a message Regional otilces: tion on the earth. Many of our people 1406 18th Ave.. Saatile 96122 Included in the Republican Contract I want you.to know how much I appre came with progressive, revolutionary and (206) 329-4042 1206 fruitvale Ave., Oakland 94601 Section 9 of "the Right to Common Sense ciate your article "Stand Up For Cuba." I socialist ideals. (510) 436-0477 (phone/lax] Capitalism and its drive to plunder the 1251 S, SL Andrews, 2n

/fcC'

Oklahoma bombing is more than 'extremism'

By Tim Wheeler

A poet once said April is the cruelest month. This year to Those who seek to obscure the lessons of My Lai and hateful rhetoric of House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his look at the dogwoods blooming you wouldn't think Oklahoma City talk of violence of both the "left" and "Contract on America." And they remember white so, but the dead and injured in the Oklahoma City bomb "right." lapsed into this knee-jerk red supremacist and union-baiter Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) blast April 19 prove it to be so. This attack changed the baiting in an editorial that tried to make the comparison v.'hen, a few months ago; he warned President Clinton not country forever. It was a turning point that has forced us to with the early 1970s Greenwich Village bomb blast that visit North Carolina - a barely veiled incitement to assassi look within our borders for the sources of violence and ha killed a group of "Weathermen." nation. The white supremacist paramilitary weirdos who tred in our country. Hogwash! Anyone who remembers those years knows play at war in the Michigan woods are small-frys, aided The fact that Arabs or Muslims were immediately tar that the source of any violence in the peace and civil rights and abetted by Gingrich, Helms and their right-wing corpo geted as suspects proves just how determined some people movements was provocateurs planted by the FBI as part of rate cronies. are to scapegoat "foreigners" while clinging to delusions their infamous COINTELPRO and "Operation Chaos" It is extremist violence to force five million children that the U.S. is the "last best hope of mankind." What a dirty tricks. The leadership of both these great movements off welfare. It is extremist violence when police in Decatur, shock that the prime suspect turned out to be a blond, were entirely consistent in advocating and practicing non Dl, at the behest of union-busting corporations attack crew-cut, much-decorated veteran of the Persian Gulf War. violent resistance to war and racism. workers with pepper gas as they sit on the ground protest Now it turns out that federal investigators are probing My family participated in scores of anti-war marches ing A.E. Staley's lockout. It is extremist violence to con whether TNT used in the bomb was taken from the and rallies during those years. I remember one - it must duct a war of racist conquest in Southeast Asia and in so weapons depot at Fort Riley, Kansas, headquarters of the have been about 1970 because our daughter Susan was still many other areas around the globe. U.S. Army's First Division, dubbed the "Big Red One." an infant. I was on assignment for the World, covering the But the source of this violence is not "left and right." The monstrous crime was committed amid a national speakers at the front of the rally on the west side of the It is from the pro-corporate, anti-worker, racist and anti- debate on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Capitol. My wife Joyce and the children were sitting Semitic right wing in our country. The actual perpetrators U.S. pullout from Saigon. Former Defen.se Secretary with friends on the grass. listening to speeches and of violence - the "extremists" - take their ideological, Robert McNamara tearfully admits that the U.S. was folksingers. and in many cases financial, lead from the corporate "wrong, terribly wrong" to wage the Vietnam War. His Suddenly, without warning, the police lobbed tear gas suites and the halls of Congress. Indeed, the left stands in book admits that he and other top officials knew, early grenades into the midst of this huge, peaceful crowd. A fundamental opposition to everything the right wing is on, that the war was "unwinnable," Yet the U.S. govern cloud of choking tear gas engulfed the people. Joyce cov about. ment, under both Democratic and Republican administra ered die baby's face with a blanket and raced up Capitol McNamara has been reviled by the New York Times for tions, went on bombing, machine-gunning and napalming Hill. A friend grabbed my other two kids and her own two his belated confession. President Lyndon Johnson and Sec for nine more years - 58,135 dead GIs, 150,000 GIs children and raced behind her. The attack was completely retary of State Dean Rusk went to their graves with their wounded, and an estimated three million Vietnamese unprovoked and brought home to me that 's lips sealed - which gratified the Times, still obsessed with dead and wounded. "enemies list" included not only the children he was na covering up the imperialist origins of that war. We will be Remember Lt. William Galley who commanded the palming in Vietnam but my own children as well. closer to cleansing our nation of violence when those who platoon on a search and destroy mission to the village of There will be a strenuous effort by the media and other supported the war in Vietnam, as well as the war against the My Lai? Later, photos showed a mass grave filled with the reactionary forces to limit responsibility for the monstrous working class and people at home, admit that tliey. too. are bodies of unarmed women, children and men executed on bombing in Oklahoma to crazed extremists - the "lone as "terribly wrong." Galley's orders. The camage in My Lai is little different sassin" syndrome. That will be the coverup. But the people from the camage in Oklahoma City. are drawing deeper lessons. They blame the incendiary. Tim Wheeler is editor of the People's Weekly World.

Shut your mouth. Newt ^you're driving me nuts

By Bernard Livingston

After weeks of hearing pundits pontifi -7-7-^ ply: only if you think capitalism is sane. cate on Newt Gingrich's "Contract," World cartoon By Cobia Howard Speaking of nuts, Newt Gingrich in I decided to turn my radio off for the dura sists that people-helping government pro tion. What finally did me in was some Newt speaks: grams (not the military, mind you) must be economist warning that raising taxes cut down to size. If he's so intent on cut would drive Merrill Lynch out of New ting things down to size, let him start with York City. his buddy Ross Perot's $3.5 billion, and a "Good! And take Paine Webber and few others like him. all the other stock hustlers along with Then there's all this talk, especially you!" I shouted. "People need stock ex by Gingrich, about closing the budget gap. changes to build things like bees need Who is Newt Gingrich to close a budget them to construct a honeycomb! I mean, gap? He can hardly close that huge gap in did God need Goldman Sachs to issue his face known as his mouth for more than stocks in order to produce the manna a second. which saved the Israelites in their flight In addition, there's the business of re from Pharaoh?" ducing taxes you hear so much about in "Are you nuts?" I could hear Alan the "Contract." Reducing taxes? Don't Greenspan reply "down at the Federal Re they know that there are 35 million Ameri serve. Greenspan is the wizard who raises cans who have no taxes to reduce? That's interest rates to keep the economy down. because they live under the poverty level This capitalist insanity, in a time of hunger create the technology that raised astronaut socialism, with society setting aside a cer and don't have enough income to tax. and unemployment, keeps farmers from Neil Armstrong all the way to the moon?" tain amount of the social profit for rein But there are also five to ten million raising more crops to fe^ hungry people To which I'd respond, "Did the vestment in equipment and technology - people in our country who live far enough and businesses from putting them to work. USSR need Merrill Lynch in order to and dispense with junk bonds, hostile above the poverty level to even surpass the Such is the "magic" of the free market. raise Yuri Gagarin into orbit in the takeovers, derivaiives and other brilliant luxury level, including Gingrich with his But his psychotic program does raise world's pioneer space flight? Did it need inventions of the capitalist system. Then, $4.5 million book advance. So yes, let's something: profits - profits for those hus Goldman Sachs to produce the military instead of getting killed while crossing cut things - starting with the incomes of tlers who raise such hell shouting buy/sell that destroyed Hitler? Did it need a stock through raffic anxiously scanning the luxury-level people. And let's do it in a orders at the commodity exchange. And exchange to build back from the War's newspaper for the final Wall Street prices, way that will make Newt squirm: raise that, I guess, is why Greenspan doesn't devastation, while maintaining full em people can relax and have fun watching their taxes! think his program is insane. "Without ployment. free health care, free education [the ball game. Bernard Livingston lives in New York. slocks and bonds," he would say. "how and child care? / "Are you nuts?" I could hear Green would corporations have raised capital to Capital can be raised, as it is under span saying again. To which I would re 16 People's Weekly World Saturday. May 6.1995

WWII and the home front - a story of us and them

By Pat Barile "I've got a pian, Joe. I've got a plan - I've go! thinking about the process of reconstruc itself as an important ideological, political monopolies. In response, they opened up a a plan for every fighting man. You fight for me tion and building a better America after and organizational arm of the working class full-scale anti-Communist offensive - at and I'll fight for you and we'll all work together the war. It was a vision of America mov and people's movement did not sit well home against the Communist Party USA, when the fighting is through." ing forward based on a new "Economic with General Motors, General Electric, coupled with the anti-Soviet offensive Bill of Rights" as well as the "Four Free Ford, DuPont and the rest of the war profi abroad. To kick off the anti-Communist This is the 50th anniversary of the end of doms" - freedom from fear, from want, teers. U.S. finance capital and industrial hysteria, the U.S: Chamber of Commerce World War U - the war against fascism. from repression, from war. monopolies were openly sympathetic to published and distributed 15 million copies With all the ink spilled and videotape used Led by the CIO, labor imposed upon it Hitler's ideas. To the working class the CIO of a pamphlet spreading the Big Lie that to mark ilie anniversary, it's a sure t»t there self a no-strike pledge and a wage freeze meant a fighting union; to the bosses it the CIO was under the control of the Com will be hardly a word uttered in the corpo for the duration of the war. Workers labored stood for "Communist-inspired organiza munists, and that the country was about to rate media to discuss the war from the per long hours on every conceivable kind of tion." And while the working class had its be "sold out" to the Soviet Union. This of spective of class. Yet, a true understanding job, putting out the implements of war. post-war plans, so did the bosses. fensive was a lever used successfully to is impossible without it. Food and fuel rationing, housing shortages Labor emerged from the war very split the CIO, giving rise to McCarthyism The ditty which opens this article is a and a host of other discomforts and sacri strong. While the war bailed out the capi and the Cold War. stanza from a song of that period entitled, fices were endured. talist system by pulling it out of the Great The CIO and working class took many "Qtizen CIO." It typified the will, spirit The most important sacrifice of all was Depression, it also brought the working hard blows during those years, aided by the and political maturity of the masses. the 13 million men and women who left class and people's movements closer to betrayal of then-CIO President Phil Murray The CIO (Congress of Industrial Orga home and family, took gun in hand and gether. It profited the bosses, but it also and other leaders who capitulated. The nization) was the militant, fighting, pro went to war. All had a vision of a new and united the people. working class is paying dearly for it to this gressive arm of the working class. Its pres better America without the capitalist de In 1946 the CIO unions - particularly day. At the same time, the return to the ide ence and involvement in the war effort pression that ushered in the War. the United Steel Workers, the United Auto ology, organization and spirit of the CIO in made the vital difference in the war mobi A hallmark of the CIO was also its on Workers and the United Electrical, Radio the labor movement today — seen most lization and America's contribution to the going fight for equality in hiring and on the and Machine Workers-- conducted a wave clearly in trade union forms such as Jobs victorious outcome of the anti-Hitler, anti shop floor for African Americans, women of strikes for wage and other gains to begin with Justice and the Industrial Union De fascist w^ of annihilation. That's what the and everyone seeking work. It set up fair making up for the 45 percent loss in buying partment - bodes well for the future. record shows. practices committees whose task was to power from the wartime wage-freeze. "Citizen CIO" demonstrated not only lead struggles for equal opportunity. "Jim The strikes were militant, united and Pat Barile,fonner CIO union leader, is the indomitable and fighting optimism of Crow Must Go!" was the battle cry. victorious. So was the second round of a member ofthe Communist Party the people, it also showed far-sighted The success of the CTO in establishing strikes in 1947. These event.s shook up the USA's labor commission.

Class consciousness makes a 'World' of difference

Bv Kevin Hornbuckle As an elected fighter for the working munist Party on the rise." class, many compliments come my lOASSA^ ARE- Tt^eYPftlNTINq ^ Taken aback, I quickly answered that way for the political stances 1 take. But TUis IS Terrible/ matta? MOl?e LIES ABOUT as? the World is for fighting injustice, not caus none compare in quality to some of the re /, ing it. "That story is about how the Com sponses I get when distributing the People's munist Party is growing fast. It's not a Weekly World. Some recent examples tell warning. It's a proud announcement." the story. "That's good it's growing. Oh yeah! The woman sitting on the bus stop You're Kevin Hornbuckle the city coun bench looked sad. "Copy of the People's cilor. I didn't recognize you. Sure I'll take a Weekly World today?" I asked in a cheerful paper. I've read this before." tone. "1 don't know." she responded as she He took out a dollar and handed it to looked up from the dirty sidewalk that had me. "This is for me and the woman over held her empty gaze for a long time. there you gave one to." (Ti^EV •?£ TfitKTlMG TU€ TRUTH^ Capitalist society is alienating and "What's it about?" ^ I handed her a copy to look over and alienated. So it is the duty of Communists the headline answered her question: "Cen and other partisans of the working class to sus Bureau reports - rich get richer, poor speak to the people and for the people's is get poorer." She read it aloud. sues. For elected officials there is always "That's the truth. I'm from Louisiana. too pressure to do just tlie opposite. The door to Moved here five weeks ago because uefrM3r*K» the Downtown Athletic Club is always open where you can rub elbows with the someone said there were jobs. Me and my businessmen who run the town. Racquel- son are staying in a shelter. There are no jobs. My son is 7 years old and we're ball, weight lifting, deal making. But if you're a homeless person you homeless." What's the right thing to say In a situa get your exercise by carrying everything tion like this? The kindness and human strength in the from Louisiana is doing now. you own on your back. And if you're a Communist city woman's manner made me want to utter, "Damn capital Another day at the bus stop, I'd just broken a short councilor, you get your exercise — physical and intellectu ists; they steal people's lives from them." run of rejections by giving a copy of the paper to a al - by bringing the tools of class struggle to the people. "A job should be a human right," I said as plainly as woman who'd never read one before. "You'll probably That's the People's Weekly World. I could. The woman agreed and asked me how much the see me down here again," I told her. "I'll ask you how I think back to the person who, nine years ago, paper costs. "For you it's free today." you liked it." gave me my first copy of this paper. Does he know that "No," she protested, "It says here 50 cents, so I'm Moving on, I approached a fellow a few benches for me it has made all the difference in the world? gonna give it to you. People need to know how bad down. "Would you like a copy of the People's Weekly Maybe. The sure thing is that the raising of class con poverty is. I'll pass this one around at the shelter." World?" sciousness carries from one person to the next just as A tear came to my eye in observation of the basic hu "Well, lemme see one." As he studied the cover, I sure as truth, despite the efforts of the capitalist system man dignity that can and will form the foundation of rev waited patiently, wondering what his obvious curiosity to bury it, will win out. olutionary fights for social justice. With an extra dose of suggested about his political Ideas. motivation, I continued distributing this people's paper in After a minute hef looked up and asked, "Is this Kevin Hornbuckle is a city councilor in Eugene, downtown Eugene, Oregon. I wonder how the woman some kind of right-wing propaganda? It says here Com- Oregon.

X People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6. 1995 19

Cat strikers maintain morale ••••WHAT'S ON^^^^WHAT'S ON NEW YORK. NY: Condoued From page 11 and shelves with filled T-shirts. One of the the most Sun., May 7- 2:30 to 4:30 p.m."Meet Our Press: Writ popular - the one I bought - says, "This is Caterpil ers and Editors of the People's Weekly World." You The present strike began when Cat refused to lar. America starts outside the fence." "Honest to deal with its illegal discharges and unfair labor prac God, that's what a Cat supervisor told us in a bar are cordially invited to meet Tim Wheeler, PWWeditor; tices, and abruptly walked out of a negotiating meet gaining meeting, the arrogant SOB," a striker said. Jose Palacios, Nuestro Mundo editor; Jim Geneva, inter ing. The walls are plastered with announcements and national affairs editor; and Rich Giovanoni, sports colum The Local 145 strike kitchen in the rear of the news clippings, while a special board, adorned with nist. Tm Wheeler will report on his recent visit to eastern union hall does more than provided "coffee and." copies of buttons produced during the strike, hangs Germany and on the 50th anniversary of the defeat of Bea Ward, the spouse of a Cat striker, and Pat Thor- on the wall next to the kitchen. One of them,"It has fascism. Goddard-Riverside Community Center, pen. herself a machine operator at Cat with 21 years to be a war zone - They have the guns," alludes to 593 Columbus Ave.(at 88th St.) Light refreshments and seniority, oversee a crew of volunteers who provide the Cat foreman who was caught attempting to carry surprise entertainment. Admission free. moais for the hundred or so union members pulling a gun into the plant Sponsored by: The West Side Friends of the People's picket duty everyday. "We feed them well," Rick Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer Weekly World. Gall (212) 924-2523 for info. Olesen said, as he diced a large onion. "And our of earth moving equipment, with factories scattered chili is the best there is. Why don't you ask for the around the globe. Its largest tractor, the 770 horse BOSTON. MA: recipe?" power D-11, weighs in at 250,000 pounds and sells A well-stocked clothes rack, a literature table for a million bucks a pop. Sun., May 7-6 p.m. "A May Day Dinner Celebra tion" at the Claddagh Restaurant, 113 Dartmouth St. Things fall apart... and everywhere Special Guest; Sam Webb, Secretary, National Labor TTte ceremony of innocence is drowned." Work with an agent Commission of the Communist Party USA. $20 per person ($15 for unemployed) -W. B. Yeats who's on your side. Sponsored by and payable to: Friends of the PWW, POETRY FOR A RME OF CRISIS NORMA J.F. HARRISON 550 Massachusetts, 2nd floor Cambridge, MA 02139. Progressive poets of the Bay Area Summit Bay real estates sales. are invited to read. Discussion following. (510)526-3968 Wed., May 10, 7-8 p.m. S. Berkeley Branch Library End Corporate Welfare Russell St. and M. L. King, Jr. Way Remembering Nathan Hoffman Tax the Rich Presented by the Elizabeth Gurley Fiynn (Beii

Shawns New Mexico Gertrude (Trudy) Lennon In Memoiy of Southwest Gateway ★ ★ '95 Teacher Union leader MAXBRODSKY Family Tours WWII vetercin and fighter against fascism ★ National Committee member, (All profits donated to A fighter for social justice the People's Weekly World) Communist Party USA ★ Principled fighter ★ $64 per day, for two people for democracy, socialism and equality Beloved comrade $57 per day, for one person Includes: Airport pick up and drop off. We miss you. from a friend in Illinois Private room with bath. New Jersey District, CPUSA Full breakfast & lunch. Supper variable. We drive you to all the places you wish to see. Ad Rates for the People's Weekly World - Bookings now available for DEADLINE; All ad listings musi be received 10 days before de May, June, July, September & October sired publication date. Payment must accompany typed or hand printed copy. No ads taken over the phone BOOKINGS ARE FILLfNG UP. Honoring the memory WHAT'S ON:$1 per line(5 words a line). $4 minimum per item. GREETINGS. CONDOLENCES. MEMORIAMS: $10/col. inch. GET YOUR RESERVATIONS IN NOW! of Max. size: 2 cols, x 3 inches. No pictures. All Reservations 30 days in advance CLASSIFIED: $I/Iinc (5 words a line). $4 minimum per day. Retired Army DISPLAY ADS: Camera ready: Col. is 2 inches wide. $15/inch. Q Call or Fax (505)892-3480 ) (20% extra for makeup: allow 2 weeks. HALF PAGE(maximum size): $370, Brigadier Generai Mail to: World Ad Depi., 235 West 23rd Si.. New York. NY,10011 Please enter my subscription Hugh B. Hester to the People's Weekly World A man of great courage Annual: and passionate humanity. & ISunlst individual -$20 ^1^ league unemployed, students, seniors-$10 Friend of the former Soviet Union Institutions, organizations - $50 Working together for a better USA and all the former socialist countries. Canada -$25 (in U.S. currency drawn on a Friend of socialist Cuba. If you're a student or a yoimg worker, the U.S. bank branch or Int'i Postal Money Order) Young Communist League is the organization Trial Subscription: for you. Otherwise, the Communist Party, USA, Unwavering activist for world peace 2-months {new subscribers only)- $1 is where you belong. Both organizations are and social justice for the whole world. where the action is. NAME I would like more information on the CPUSAO 'h® YCIQ Shortly before his death, I want to join the CPUSAC] the YCLQ ADDRESS Hester made this plea: NAME. CITY APT. NO. _ "The Berlin Wall must not be torn down. ADDRESS It must remain as a symbol of the horror STATE ZIP and brutal humanity offascism.'" CITY/STATE/ZIP.

PHONE( ). TELEPHONE Man check or money order payable to Long View Pub Lydia st Karhu Please mail to either CPUSA or YCL,235 W.23 St., NY, NY 1(X)1L lishing Co.. 235 W.23 St., New York, NY 10011. t 1 _ Teleplione CPUSA (212)989-4994 -YCL (212) 741-2016 Plettsewiite-^rtnlemaHonal rates and postage.— 20 People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6, 1995 People's Culture My coming ofage: Conscience vs. betrayal in Vietnam era

By Les Bayless 1 finished high school in 1965 Washington Correspondent and entered junior college that fall. I wasn't CTazy about school but it beat working for a living and going Reading Robert McNamara's to school meant I could live at book, "In Retrospect: The home and avoid adult responsibili Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam," ties. got nie thinking about the war and But not every young man had what I was doing at the dme. I such luxuries, especially in 1965, think 1964 is as good a place to which saw a dramatic change in start as any. U.S. involvement in the war in Despite living to the tipe old Viemam: By tiren thousands of age of 91, I don't think Grandma combat troops supplemented the Hill ever got over seeing my pic 16,000 "American advisors" al ture on the front page of the ready there and a draft was reinsti- Charleston Gazette with a caption tuled because there were not something like. "Nitro boy anested enough volunteers to fight. in White House sit-in." By 1967, over 400,000 U.S. In a small West Virginia town, troops were in Vietnam. U.S. pilots that was news - comparable to the were flying 200 "sorties" a day time Lew Burdette, the famous over North Vietnam, bombing with Milwaukee pitcher, got into trouble an indiscriminate fury. and they changed Lew Burdette On October 21, 1967, some Avenue back to First Avenue. I 50,000 demonstrators converged guess we - Lew and I - brought in on Washington to protest the war. famy to Nitro, 10 miles down-river Following a rally at the Lincoln WorU tile photo fiom Charleston. Memorial, they marched to the Anti-war protesters surround the Pentagon In 1967. I was arrested during a Stu Pentagon, the headquarters of the dent Nonviolent Coordinating military brass and the office of Committee (SNCC) protest of the Robert McNamara. I got there Shortly after midnight the at correctly so - U.S. officials, in the tunnel" - McNamara was murder of Whitney Young, Jr., in about 10 p.m. tack came. Soldiers moved into cluding McNamara, cited the forced to admit that the war was Alabama. We had marched to the By the lime I arrived - I had the crowd, knocking people back "domino theory" as justification far from over. White House, carrying a symbolic told Dad I wanted the car for a date with rifle butts as marshals moved for U.S, involvement. We were That year I got my first draft coffin, donated by a local funeral - 20,000 protesters had formed a in and made mass arrests. Blood told the "loss" of Vietnam would notice. I had decided to go and be home. line completely circling the giant ied protesters, many seriously in have far-reaching "geopolitical come a medic. But it was not to When we set the coffm down, building, where they faced thou jured, were carried away. The line consequences" and be a moral and be. I failed the damn physical. By the police cordoned off the area sands of bayonet-equipped troops. moved back as the troops estab political victory for the Soviet the time my case was to be re and pushed us back about 20 feet. Participants sang songs and im lished a new "beach head." Union and China. We were told viewed six months later I had What led to me getting arrested promptu speakers implored the I escaped unharmed. Order that Vietnam, a poor rural country changed my mind. Hell no, I was the way the cops treated Lester troops to join the protest had been restored - but at a price. with no air force or navy, was of would not gol McKinrley, the march organizer. "The war is not your responsi Standing there, watching from "strategic importance" to U.S in I don't know why I did it, After escorting us to the White bility. Don't listen to your com close range as people were merci terests. even to this day. But I think it had House they arrested Lester for "lit manders who'll turn you against us lessly beaten, left an impression As McNamara now admits, something to do with taking a tering." and send you off to die. We're on that a lifetime has not erased. I he later concluded the "theory" stand. Leaving the country or 1 broke through the police cor your side," speakers explained. suspect that thousands feel the was wrong - but refused to go seeking another deferment didn't don and sat down in front, of the The speeches had an effect. same way. public. Many of us in the peace seem fair. Guys I knew had to go. coffin. It was my first protest Cheers rose from the crowd. Ru For my generation, Vietnam movement knew it was both They were getting shot at and dy march and everybody back home mors spread that several paratroop was a coming of age. It crystal wrong and immoral — only we did ing. If I didn't believe in the war, just knew that I was headed for ers had laid down tbeir rifles and lized our economic, political and not keep silent. I was one of those why should I get a break? Most of ffouble. I was 17, an age few of us come over to the side of the social criticisms of a system that and thai difference changed my them didn't believe in it, either. know "what we want to be." Sev demonstrators. Around midnight made war abroad while ignoring life forever. In January, 1969 I refused in duction. That morning we passed enteen is the age when the young press cameras were told to move human needs at home. The right wing smeared the struggle for identity. Mine was out of the area. A hash fell as the Vietnam was a small country antiwar movement, saying it was out leaflets in front of the induc shaped by the events of that year crowd sensed the the violence that forming the eastem boundary of controlled by "communists." We tion center. 1 never took Uiat sec ond physical. Two weeks later the and what was to follow. was to come. Indochina which was colonized by were duped, they said, by strate the French in the late 19th Centu gists in Moscow or "Red China." FBI arrested me and I wound up ry. Ho Chi Minh. the "George Anyone who knew anything at the old D.C. jail. After return Washington" of Vietnam, began a about Indochina knew that was a ing late to my cell one evening, 1 liberation struggle to free the lie. For a generation steeped in was jumped by six guards, worked country from French rule in the World War n movies, being lied over and spent a week in solitary 1920s. to was quite a revelation. The confinement with no light and a After the Japanese surrender dominant political ideology of the dietary supplement instead of sol in 1945, Ho declared Vietnam an period was anticommunism. Was id food. independent country. The war of that a lie, too? I was released shortly, after liberation continued and, in 1954, Since we were being called that on "personal recognizance," following French defeat at Dienbi- "Reds," maybe wc were and it promising not to commit any oth enphu, a settlement partitioned wa.sn't so bad after all. Most of er crimes until my trial. I lied. Vietnam, with elections to unify all. we were "against" what the After leaving the Jolmson ad- m- - tlie country set for 1956. Ostensi government was "for." mimsiration, McNamara went on to other things. So did 1.1 was ar - bly a sovereign country. South In 1988 I dropped out of Vietnam asked for U.S. military school, about the time the "Viet rested on May 21, 1969, for de and economic aid to stave off total Cong" (the South Vietnamese lib stroying 15,000 selective .service collapse and the election was nev eration army) launched the Tet files. I was sentenced to nine er held. Fighting resumed in 1956, Offensive against major .southern years in federal prison for destruc Althoqgh much of the world cities. After years of telling the tion of government property and viewed th^ government of South public that there was "progress" - conspiracy and was released in World photo .yiptnam ap f pupppl regime - and • ,^al iliqi:p,wqs.;,'ljglit,ttl the en^.of May, 1973. ipi.rt M, 5,v.»,»r v,-* ♦ > 1 ^ Bayless covers a story for the World. ■, i i. .1' 'oJ.vi'i I'.'in '.'u. .i.'j'.i ' // People's Weekly World Saturday, May 6. 1995 21 eople's Culture A common, corporate enemy in the "Class War Zone99

"Deadly Com" 28 minutes "Struggle in the Heartland" 18 minutes Videos produced by Rose Feurer, LaborVision

World file photo Police spray "pepper ga&" on peaceful locked-out union members whose backs are turned.

told the audience. It appears in By Tim Wheeler 7.700 copies of "Deadly Com" the Staley plant "to provide prod place." Moments later, he is ar and "Struggle in the Heartland" ucts to Staley in case of a strike or rested. So is Larry Solomon, pres "Struggle in the Heartland" in ST LOUIS, MO.- Friends of have been distributed - mostly lockout." ident of United Auto Workers Lo slow motion while folk singer the People's Weekly World pre copied and recopied by rank and ADM Chief Executive cal 751, representing the striking Anne Feeney sings, "There's a sented one of three Hershel Walk file workers and local unions Dwayne O. Andreas, who lives in Cat workers, and Dave Watts, war on the workers!" er Peace & Justice Awards to across the country. Decatur, is "the biggest contribu president of Local 837 at Staley. LaborVision, a twice-monthly They started shooting "Dead tor of so-called 'soft' money to Three weeks later, June 25, The war escalates program on cable TV's public ac ly Cora" while the Staley work both the Republican and Demo workers staged another sit-down cess channel here that eloquently ers. members of Local 837 Allied cratic parties," the video states. blocking the big hopper trucks L./ess than a month later, tells labor's "untold story." Industrial Workers (now the When the Watergate burglars that deliver corn to the Staley Japanese-owned Bridgestone-Fire The award was presented United Paper Workers Interna were caught inside Demoaatic plant. Without warning, the po stone provoked a nationwide April 22 to LaborVision founder tional Union), were engaged in a Party headquarters in 1972, their lice, in black SWAT uniforms strike, including a walkout of and producer Rose Feurer during "work-to-rule" protest against pockets were stuffed with cash pulled out pepper gas canisters workers at its Decatur plant the fifth anriuaJ breakfast named hazardous conditions in the plant later traced to Andreas. and sprayed the workers point Again, strikebreakers were for the late Hershel Walker, a which makes com sweeteners, Another strand of the web is blank in the face as they sat on brought in, bringing to three the la leader of the Communist Party syrup and starch. State Farm Insurance of Bloom- the roadway. The video shows bor struggles in the "Illinois Class and a beloved fighter for equality The growing anger came to a ington, Minn., which owns a big workers rolling on the ground in War Zone." and peace. Other recipients in head when James Beals died share of both Caterpillar and Tate agony from the burning pepper in cluded the Rev. Ronald Packnett, while cleaning a reactor vessel. & Lyle. It proves that all the strik their eyes,face, and lungs. To purchase these videos, write: chair of the Black Leadership Deadly propylene oxide gushed ing and locked-out workers in De ""The police had three camer LaborVision, P.O. Box 63234, Roundtable in St. Louis, and into the reactor from the iieighbor- catur - Staley, Caterpillar and amen video-taping the incident St. Louis, MO.63163. Enclose William "Red" Davis, a leader of ing reactor which was stfll in op now the Bridgestone-Firestone and we were able to obtain that a $10 check or money orderfor the Communist Party USA. eration suffocating Beals. Previ rubber workers - face a common footage proving this attack was "Deadly Corn,"$8for enemy with interlocking corporate completely unprovoked," Feurer LaborVision produced a ously, both reactors were shut "Struggle in the Heartland." video based on interviews with down for cleaning. directorates, billions in assets and Red Davis titled "Reflections of a But when British-owned Tate a shared agenda of unionbusting Lifetime in Labor" about his leg & Lyle bought the plant, a cam and profiteering. Fund drive continues endary exploits as an organizer of paign of cost-cutting and speedup Mississippi riverboat workers for was launched with rotating 12 Documenting police the National Maritime Union. hour shifts and cutbacks in wages, violence They also produced two gripping benefits, and safety practices. Tate UQ May Day is the spark that mobilizes our readers to celebrate videos about the two-year struggle & Lyle also owns Domino Sugar, Otruggle in the Heartland" heroes of the working class. The Herschel Walker May Day of 750 workers at A.E. Staley's which is the target of a nationwide contains footage of a June 4, 1994 Breakfast in St. Louis April 22 focuses on one such hero - "Red" com sweetener refinery in De- boycott in solidarity with the now march by 5,000 trade unionists in Davis. For years Davis distributed the People's Weekly World, catur, Illinois. The videos are ti locked-out Staley workers. solidarity with both the Staley and helped build circulation and raised money to keep it going. tled "Deadly Com" and "Struggle the Caterpillar strikers. It culmi This year, he went all out and upped his contribution to in the Heartland." Making the connection nates in a sitdown protest block $1,000. In his usual modest way, the check arrived unheralded. ing Staley's plant gate. Jack Bui at the World, where we know how much this means to the Labor of love T.he video traces the "powerful Spiegel, a veteran Shoe Worker $400,000 Fund Drive, a cheer went up. web of corporate alliances" that organizer in Chicago, tells Davis joins nearly two dozen who have contributed $500 or Feurer told the crowd that the the Staley workers are battling. LaborVision, that if he is arrested more. Charles Gibadlo heads the list with a $2,000 contribution. 30 people connected with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), it will be his 28lh time, reaching To these friends, and to everyone who has contributed, we give LaborVision are unpaid volun a neighbor down the road, is an back to the unemployed struggles our heartfelt thanks. teers, active trade unionists with agribusiness giant with $8.5 bil of the 1930s and protests against To date, readers have contributed $66,000 - a substantial sum, no previous filmmaking experi lion in assets, presumably a corn the Vietnam War during the but. at .six weeks into the drive, below the $100,000 mark which ence. They use the cable compa sweetener competitor. But the 1970.S. would put us on schedule. Let's nurture the May Day .spark ny's public access studio cameras video reveals that ADM, through "Only workers understand tlu-ough the entire month and use it to bring us quickly to 25 per and Siting equipment to produce a London subsidiary, actually the struggles or other workers," cent of our goal. owns a controlling interest in Tate Spiegel said. Labor, he said, must the superbly filmed and edited Audrey West, program. & Lyle. The video shows ADM's '•'start becoming militant. Without At last count, Feurer said, 20 inch pipeline from its plant to struggle we're going to get no Reopla's'Weekly World''. .'Satufday, May,6,'.1095 *.22 Celebrando Cinco de Mayo 1995 En lucha contra crisis y discriminacion

Por Marilyn Bechtel esfuerzos de la Junta de Supervi- "creado muchos trabajos para sus necesidades a los residenles de campana "para aiender los proble sores para darle el nombre del mucha gente", dijo, mejorando la larga data, asi como a los recien mas de la mujer y asf atraer mds A la cabeza del desfile por el dirigente laboral y de derechos situacidn de hombres y mujeres llegados. dijo el presidente del latinas a nuestra organizacidn ha- Cinco de Mayo por el Distrito Cdsar Chdvez a una de las princi- tanto blancos como de color. capftulo de San Francisco Martin bilitdndolas a que asuman posi- Misidn de San Francisco iiabian pales vi'as anerias de la ciudad. Jimdnez menciond la partici- del Campo. "Nosotros creemos ciones de direccidn en nuestra or- trabajadores del Programa Laboral Ocupa un papel prominente pacidn de los votantes como una que inicialmente lenemos que ganizacidn", de la Ciudaci. marchando orgui- entre las organizaciones en las co- prioridad a nivel nacional. Los es atender las necesidades de la gente Los asuntos internacionales losamente coo gigantescas figuras munidades latinas enirascadas en fuerzos incluyen un programa mds explotada", dijo. "Pero no son tambidn de importancia, dijo de martillos y palas. Su promi- la lucha para superar el doble far- acelerado para inscribir a cen- podemos pasar por alto la necesi- del Campo, anotando que el capf nente iugar en esta fesUva jomada do de la crisis econdmica y la tenares en actos de juramentar dad de construir la unidad entre tulo de San Francisco que dirige dedicada a los ninos y al futuro, opresidn racial y nacional. el Con- bandera. La de Los Angeles, por los inmigrantes recidn llegados y enfaliza la solidaridad con los dramalizo el coraje y la determi- cejo Laboral para el Avance Lali- ejemplo, son importantes porque a los latinos que han estado aquf por trabajadores mexicanos y con el nacidn con que grandes niimeros noamericano (LCLAA, siglas del veces hasta 1.500 personas juran largo tiempo". movimiento Zapatista en Chia latinos, en su mayor pane mexi- ingids), que reune a varios miles bandera en una solo di'a. Del Campo dijo tambidn que pas, asf como ei auspicio de visi- canos en esta regidn confronian de trabajadores latinos bajo los LCLAA trabaja por asistir en la LCLAA estd comenzando una tasaCuba. muchas dificultades. auspicios de la AFL-CIO. "Es una lucha diaria" para es- En una entrevista telefdni- tos trabajadores. la mayorta de los ca, el presidente nacional de cuales son inmigrantes reciente- LCLAA Ralph Jimdnez dijo que menie llegados, dijo al Mundo la las fuerzas que promovieron la directora del programa Marta Ele Proposicidn 187 en California na Miyar. "Muchos de ellos no est^ intentado hacer lo mismo tienen casa. y tambidn se preocu- en otros estados incluidos en pan por mandar dinero a sus fa- Texas y Eorida. milias y por sobrevivir aquf. Pero, enfatizd Jimdnez, "el Ademds, dijo Miyar. la problema en California no son aprobacidn de la Proposicidn 187 los inmigrantes" sino mds bien ha significado mucha mds discrira- "California tiene una base in inacidn. Dijo que incluso a los res- dustrial en erosidn, y hasta que identes documentados se les ha eso no sea atendido, el estado va negado solicitudes de trabajo o se a condnuar teniendo problemas les ha exigido que presenten docu- econdmicos. Culpar a los inmi mentos especificos a pesar de que grantes, como se ha hecho en la Proposicidn 187 no puede ser Estados Unidos en los dos ulti- en/orzada aun debido a los retos mos siglos, no va a resolverlo". que confronta en ia corte. Agregd el dirigente que hay No solamente los latinos, los estudios que han demostrado afroamericanos y los asidtico- que los inmigrantes antes con- americanos tienen en la mayorfa tribuyen en grande con mds in- de veces ios trabajos peor pagados, gresos por concepto de im- dijo la Supervisora de San Francis puestos que los que ellos co Susan Leal, sino "que el hecho reciben en servicios. de que es 'conecto' ahora no ser Jimdnez dijo que la 'ptilfticamente correcto" - que de LCLAA estd comprometida alguna manera es aceptable que la por complete a la lucha para gente exprase toda ciase de odio". preservar la accidn afirmativa. Foto Marilyn Seclilel Leal, tambidn a la vanguardia La accidn afirmativa y la opor- Aspecto del desfile por el Cinco de Mayo a lo largo de la Avenlda Cdsar Chdvez, bautlzada en honor al llder de los del desfile, fue la que dirigid los tunidad igual de emoleo han derechos civltes fenecldo en 1993. / Viva el espiritu del Cinco de Mayo!

con el sistema de derechos de asistencia social, todos los Los trabajadores mexicanos y sus aliados estdn tam- Por .Adanjesus Quavez beneficios serian eliminados para ios inmigrantes-aun para bidn bajo fiero ataque por parte del imperialismo Este fin dc semana se conmemora el Cinco de Mayo los que tienen sus documentos. La lucha por los derechos norteamcricano por medio de la implementacidn de! en Mdxico y en ciudades de Estados Unidos habitadas de los inmigrantes es por lo tanto un asunto alrededor del Tratado de Libre Comercio y la imposicidn de los de por gnmdes ndmeros de mexicanos. La fecha conmemora cual se deben constniir alianzas con iunplios sectores del structives "prdsiamos" que han forzado al gobiemo rnexi- la derroia del ejdrcito mexicano a las fuerzas invasoras pueblo de Estados Unidos. cano a recortar su presupuesto y ccder las gtmancias por imperialisias franceses en la ciudad de Puebla. el 5 de Otro desaffo que puede ser derrotado por una lucha la venia de petrdleo al exterior. mayo de 1862. unida e.s el alaque contra la accidn afirmativa, que Aunque la victoria del Cinco de Mayo se tomd en Desde sus origenes, la fecha ha sido no solo un dfa comienza con los intentos de entrar una propuesui en la revds cuando el Emperador Napole6n III capturd despitds pleno de alegre celebracion, sino tambi^n un momento papeleta de California en 1996 para destruir las ddbiles cinco ciudades y fue coroiiado como "Rey de Mdxico",esio piira movilizar las luchas en lodo el pais sobre los proble medidas que han bu.scado revestir siglos de discriini- marcd un punto tie viraje para las luchas de independencia mas de hoy. Este ano. entre los temas mds agudo.s para el nacidn contra las comunidades latinas, afroiimericanas y de Mdxico. En cinco aftos las tropas francesas fueron puebio mexicano y otros grupos latinos que viven en Esta de ouas nacionalidades y culturas. fotzadas a retirarse y Maxiiniliuno fue ejecutado. La soli-, dos Unidos es la lucha por sus plenos derechos civiles y Bajo fuerte embestida se encuentran ahora los pro- daridad de la clase crabajadora francesa. que moiitd una' econdmicos, contra la campana impuesta por las medidas gramas de educacidn bilingUe. Los que quieren destruir proiesta mtisiva en su propio pafs,jugd un papel imponante racistas medidas aniiinmigrantes como la Proposicidn 187 la educacidn bilingiie se encuentran fabricando leyes y en laderrotaaFrancia. El e.spfritu del primer Cinco de Mayo nos trae hoy a de California. resoluciones en legislaluras, juntas escoiares en un es El desafio aniiinmgrante trafdo por las fuerzas de la fuerzo por retoniar a los dfas en que un nine que liablara las amptias luchas de la ciasc trabajadora, negra, blanca espatlol en el patio escolar era objeto de casligo corporal. 0 de otro color. El mensaje es claro; con ima lucha unida derecha republicana que hoy contrclan el Congreso es y decidida, la clase trabajadora dc este pafs. y niicstros pane de todo el esfuerzo del "Conu-ato con E.stad6s Lo.s trabajadores latinos, scan o no inmigrante.s. estdn Unidos". para destruir e! concepto de la responsabilidad sujetos hoy a ios mismos ataques sobre sus derechos como aliados en Mdxico y otros pafses, podremos poner en re- del gobiemo hacia ios sectores pobres de la socicdad. Bajo trabajadores por parte de los patronos, incluido su derecho tirada la ola dc ataques y construir un pafs con igualdad econdmica,.social y derechos polftlcos para todos. la liamada Acta de Responsabilidad Personal, que acabarfa a pertenecer a un .sindicato y a la negociacidn colectiva. 23_!'.'.People's. Weekly World'' Saturday, May 6,1995 Propuesta de Helms: El colmo de la arrogancia

La siguiente es iina verxidn adapata- nuesiros problemas de hoy que siguen da del discurso de Ricardo Alarcdn. grandes, que siguen siendo complejos, Presidente de la Asamblea Nacional de que siguen siendo diffciles, pero si los Cuba, durante la conmemoracidn del 34 comparamos con los que tenfamos hace aniversario de la derrola de la invasidn dos aSos, 0 hace un aho. o hace seis de Ptaya Girdn, patrocinada par el gob- meses, hay que reconoccr que estamos ierno de Estados Unidos. Alarcdn se en- poco a poco, trabajosamente, dificultosa- contraba en Nueva York encahezando la mente saliendo de la crisis, marchando delegacidn cuhana a la reunidn de asun- hacia arriba, podemos decirlo sin ufa- tos de inmigracidn entre Cuba y EE.UU. namos excesivamente, sin ningun triun- falismo que terminamos un ano 94 que, Estamos conmemorando este no en todos los aspeclos de la economfa aniversario de la primera ac- del pafs, ni siquiera en todos los aspectos cidn militar del imperialismo imporiantes. porque desgraciadamente lo que termind en la derrota en este conti- que se refiere a la produccidn azucarera nente. del fracaso de la invasidn a Cuba el pafs esid en una crisis que no podrd su- en mementos en que alguna gente pianea perar este ano pero confiamos que otra invasidn a Cuba .... comenzard a remontarla a partir de la Yo no s6 cudntas personas en Esta prdxima zafra, la zafra del prdximo afio. dos Unidos ban tenido la oportunidad de Si consideran que tienen que castigar leer ese documento propuesta del a los que comercian con Cuba, la razdn es Senador Jesse Helms, destinada a re- muy sencilla. Es que a pesar de todas las forzar el bloqueo a Cuba], Para los que lo presiones que contra ellos han hecho has hayan hecho, habrdn visto que ahora, ta ahora hay gente que sigue comerciando quitdndose todos los tapujos, quitandose con Cuba. Si consideran que tienen que toda la hipocresi'a que durante mucho castigar a los que estdn dispuestos a in- tiempo mucha gente desde aca ha usado vertir asocidndose con el estado cubano para atacar a la revolucidn cubana, ahora en nuestro pafs, sencillamente tienen que dicen claramente lo que todos los revolu- castigarlo mds porque hasta ahora no han

cionarios cubanos .sabiamos desde el logrado impedir que haya gente en este Folo AP principio, lo que todos los patriotas mundo dispuesta a hacerlo. Miles de cubanos conmemoraron en DIa Internacional de los Trabajadores con su tradlclonal cubanos conociamos desde siempre; es concenlracldn en la Plaza de la Revolucidn. Slmllares manlfestadclones tendrdn lugar por toda Cuba prdximamente en protesta contra en endureclmlento del bloqueo de Estados Unidos con algo muy sencUIo: que frente a nuestro Pero la propuesta de ley no se tra la Isia caribeha. pueblo, frente a su revolucidn que resiste, queda ahf. Dice de modo muy que se mantiene, que se desarrolla pese a claro para que lo pueda enten- La ley Helms dice nada mSs y nada a pelearlo alia. todos los problemas hay una sola aliema- der todo el que la lea. que ese el bloqueo menos, que a partir de ahora, cuando se Bueno en nuestra sociedad que se tiva: O salvamos nuestra revolucidn o reforzado, iniensificado continuarfa hasta hable de ciudadanos de Estados Unidos supone que es menos democrdtica, yo Cuba regresaria irremisiblemente al pasa- que lograra derrotar a la revolucidn, y cuyas propiedades hay que devolver, no quiero anunciarles que a partir del 3 de do. Pero durante mucho tiempo han esta- una vez que la revolucidn hubiera sido se tratar^ solamente de aquellos que eran mayo, nosotros si vamos a discutir esta do gastando millones y millones de Uquidada, el bloqueo continuarfa, no lo ciudadanos norteamericanos al triunfo de ley fdbrica por fSbrica, provincia por ddlares diciendo que los que ellos buscan van a levanta, segiin esa ley no lo levan- la revolucidn en Cuba, sino tambidn hay provincia, escuela por escuela, palmo a en Cuba es hacer algunos cambios, que tan'an ni despuds que se acabara la rev que incluir dentro de esa categon'a a to palmo de nuestra tierra. Nosou-os esto no sea asf sino asd, o que esto no sea olucidn. Seguirfa el bloqueo incluso de- dos aquellos que hoy son ciudadanos de creemos en la democracia, y la democra de esta,forma sino de esta otra. Y ahora spuds que la revolucidn hubiera sido der- Estados Unidos pero que no lo eran cuan cia es la autoridad del pueblo, el ejercicio en un pfoyecto de ley que ha sido presen- rotada y que viniera to que ellos llaman do fueron nacionalizadas sus propiedades del poder por el pueblo. Que hagan ellos tado oficialmente al senado y la cdmara el perfodo de transicidn. Ese perfodo de en Cuba. Cualquier cubano que tenga su- eso. Que lleven ese proyecto de ley a los de representantes de este pals, en bianco transicidn serfa bajo el bloqueo, ese ficiente edad puede tener en su mente de trabajadores, a la gente humilde. En reali- y negro, en letra imprenta, para que todo perfodo de uansicidn deberfa conducir a inmediato un monidn de nombres de ciu dad pudieron hacerlo antes con unos el mundo pueda saberlo, ahf se dice clara la que llaman el gobiemo democrdtico en dadanos norteamericanos de hoy que no cuantos proyectos que han ido pasando mente que el bloqueo serd' reforzado; que Cuba. Y ustedes se preguntardn, (,bueno lo eran cuando se escaparon con Batista uno detrds de otro por el Congreso para para reforzarlo van a perseguir a todas las ya en ese momento se acabd el bloqueo? en su avidn el Iro de enero, que no lo quitarles el aimuerzo escolar, la asisten- empresas, a todos los pafses, a todas las Segiin la ley Helms, tampoco se acaba el eran cuando se fugaron de nuestro pafs cia social, para quitarles una serie de ben- instituciones en todo el mundo que man- bloqueo en ese momento. ^Cuindo se ter- llevdndose millones de ddlares que le ro- eficios sociales que se los van arrebatan- tengan o pretendan mantener vfnculos minarfa el bloqueo segiin ellos, segiin ese baron al tesoro piiblico, y a partir de ahf a do a un pueblo con el cual nadie cuenta. econdmicos y comerciales con Cuba. Es proyecto, segiin eso que estdn proponien- todos los que se fueron yendo. i,Pero que decir van a tratar de hacer el bloqueo to- do los legisladores de este pafs para que quiere decir esto? Esto quiere decir nada En primer lugar tienen que davfa mds intenso. todavi'a mucho mds los conviertan en una ley obligatoria para m^s y nada menos que lo que le ofrece la acabar con la revolucidn. Y en fuerte. el gobiemo norteamericano? Segdn ellos, contrarrevolucidn aJ pueblo cubano, ya el supuesto caso que iograran Lo primero que habfa que pregun- el dfa que el presidente de Estados sin hipocresfa, ya sin ambages, dicho algiin dfa-yo estoy convencido que no lo tarse es por qud cinco anos despuds de Unidos certifique al Congreso que se ha claramente en un proyecto de ley, es muy van a lograr pero imaginemos que ocurri- haber desaparecido el campo socialLsta, restaurado en Cuba la democracia. sencillo, no solo acabar con la revolu era eso-no solamente serfa pelear con por qud tres anos despuds de haber Restaurar en cidn. sino devolverle a cada uno de esos nuestras fuerzas armadas, con nuestras aprobado la llamada ley TorriceUi que Cuba la democracia, segiin la ley, no indivlduos que robaron que malversaron, milicias, con nuestro partido, con los rev- fortalecid el bloqueo, lo hizo mds duro, serfa solamente restablecer lo que ellos que explotaron, que oprimieron a nuestro olucionarids, sino que despuds van a ten hizo que cesaran los vfnculos econdmicos llaman la economfa de mercado, no serfa pueblo las propiedades que la revolucidn er que ir a arrancarles a cada cubano su entre Cuba y todas las empresa norteam- solamente reintroducir en nuestro pafs en su accidn justlciera puso en manos del casa, su finca, su hospital, su escuela. Y ericanas radicadas fuera de Estados toda esa farsa, toda esa hipocresi'a, toda pueblo. este pueblo que ya aprendid unas cuantas Unidos, por qud tienen que seguii apre- esa corrupcidn que en el mundo occiden cosas, va a defender todo eso en aiguhos lugares serd con machetes, en otros serd tando todavi'a. tal llaman democracia representativa, eso Imaginar que eso pueda realmente no bastarfa, porque eso tendrfa que haber realizarse requiere mucha mds con palos, en otros serd con las ufias. La respuesta es muy sencilla. sido introducido, segiin la ley, en perfodo imaginacidn que la que tuvieron pero no debe quedar la duda de que real Porque hasta ahora han fra- de transicidn. El presidente de Estados los que pretendieron invadir a Cuba hace mente aquello que dijo Maceo hace mu casado, porque hasta ahora a Unidos tendrfa que certificar al Congreso 34 anos, qu,e se imaginaban que los iban cho tiempo, se !e convertin'a en una reali- pesar de Cuba hoy no cuenta con ningdn que las propiedades, los bienes de los na- a recibircon aplausos. Porque imaginarse dad: El que intente apoderarse de Cuba solo recogerd el polvo de su suelo anega- aliado, con ningdn pafs que le dd respaldo cionaies norteamericanos que fucron na- que una pueda ser capaz de privar de sus financiero. a pesar de que se nos cayeron cionalizados por Cuba al principio de la casas de su-s escuelas, de sus hospitales, do en sangre, si no perece en la lucha. todos los mercados, a pesar de que se nos revolucidn habrfan sido devueltos a .s^us de sus cfrculos sociales o infantiles a 11 Y yo dirfa con todo el respeto para el Titdn de Bronce que el que intente hacer cred una siiuacidn que, habria que ver si antiguos propietarios. / millones de cubanos tiene que estar re- lo perecerd cn la Lucha, perecerd en el algdn otro pafs hubiera sido capaz de re- Pero ademds, la ley Helms modifica matadamente loco. Y por supuesto eso no polvo y en la sangre, pero no se apoder- sistir, lo cierto es que estamos ahf, ex- el concepto de qud cosa es o era un propi- se logra con votos en el Congreso. eso istiendo, y que por mucho que les duela, etario norteamericano. hay que ir a buscarlos alU, eso hay que ir ard de Cuba. People's Weekly World Saturday,' May 6,1995 24 ■ ' CUBA Habia Ricardo Alarcon Pagina 23 SEMANA DEL6 DE MAYO DE 1995 Proye

Por Les Bayless $60,000 millones solo en 1996. Los re mente $25,000 millones para proyectos ua el contralo republicano esian en mar- publicanos tambien se dirigen a atacar de emergencia a corto plazo y unos cha. El Representante Matthew Martinez los programas de accifin afihnativa crea- $225,000 millones adicionales en subsid En Nueva York, San Francisco y introduciri un proyecto de ley por traba- do para remcdiar la discriminacion en el ies para el Departamento de Trabajo para oiras 38 ciudades la Campana Nacional jos en el Congreso que pondri'a a mil- cenlTO de trabajo. sueldos de los nuevos trabajadores em- del Pueblo organizara las actividades. La lones de irabajadores en Estados Unidos El proyecto de Martinez, conocido pleados en sectores publicos. portavoz para la campana dijo que las a trabajar en la reparacion de la decaida con el cddigo de H.R.-1405, asistiria a El Titulo III de la legislacidn provee principales demandas de las acciones infraestructura. de acuerdo a los que los gobiemos estatales y locales fuertes guias de accidn afirmativa y pro- serdn las de "Parar el conualo" y "Traba respaldan la pleza legisiativa. proveydndoles fondos para la reparacion visiones que protegen los salarios que jos, servicios, no recortes". "Esta propuesia es mi respuesta al de edificios, parques. escuelas y hospi- actualmente prevalecen para los traba La Junta de Supervisores de San republicano 'Contralo con Eslados tales. Adem^s los fondos podrian uti- jadores de la construccidn. Francisco y el Concejo Municipal de Unidos", dijo Martinez recientemente. lizarse para mejorar los servicios a los Un portavoz de la Coalicidn Laboral Baltimore han dado su endoso a las man "Los republicanos manlienen diciendo ancianos, los incapacitados y los que por Obras Pilblicas en Los Angeles, que ifestaciones. que ellos quieren que los estadounidens- necesitan alfabetizacion. El programa concibid la legislacidn, dijo que un gran Entre otras ciudades que se movi- es se salgan del bienestar social y consi- autorizaria el gasto de S250.000 millones numero de llamadas en todo el pais ha lizaran estdn, San Antonio, Texas; Salt gan un trabajo. Pero nada en el tan can- para su funcionamiento. producido tres nuevos co auspiciadores Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Baltimore. tado contrato, crearia un solo trabajo. Martinez dijo que, "Desde los dias de la propuesta en la ultima semana. Tambien en los estados de Connecticut, Las propuestas republicanas que de Franklyn Delano Roosevelt este pais Hasta el 3 de mayo, las fuentes decian Nueva Jersey y Washington, se pro- ban sido aprobadas en la Cimara de no ha tornado un esfuerzo para recon- que habian ya 16 coaupiciadores de la duciran acciones en apoyo a la legis Representantes y aguardan la accidn del struir y expandir la infraestructura de la legislacidn. lacidn de Martinez. Senodo acabarian con los programas de nacidn. Sesenta anos depuds esos La coalicidn ha recibido respaldos del Algunas de las iniciativas populates bien estar social y de estampillas de ali- caminos, parques, cortes, oficinas de Concejo Municipal de Los Angeles y de la para hacer patente el apoyo a la legi mentos y reemplazan'an esos privilegios correo y escuelas se estin derrumbando Federacidn Laboral de California. lacidn incluyen audiencias- en varic con "bloques de subenciones" a los es y decayendo. Y asi, algunas de nuestras En una serie de enlrevistas con ac- cuerpos gubemamentales de ciudades tados. comunidades continuan teniendo el mdl tivistas en todo el pais, el Mundo conocid pueblos, y campafias de cartas y postale Los auditore.s congresionaJes han es- alto indice de desempleo desde 1930. que una cantidad de manifestaciones e masivamente firmadas a set enviadas timado que los recortes lienen un total de El proyecto asignaria inmediata- iniciativas legislativas por trabajos y con- los miembros del Congreso.

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