DECEMBER 28, 1979 50 CENTS VOLUME 43/NUMBER 50

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

Banner on occupied U.S. Embassy. Millions of Iranians dentify y w th strugg es o etnamese, ans, and Nicaraguans against exploitation and domination by Washington. For firsthand reports from 'Militant' editor Cindy Jaquith in Tehran, see pages 5-9.

Exclusive reports from Tehran: ·Workers committees spread throughout country ·Iranian soldier appeals to American G.l.s • SAVAK killer admits ClA complicity Sleet In Our Opinion VOLUME 43/NUMBER 50 DECEMBER 28, 1979 CLOSING NEWS DATE-DEC. 19

That is why students in the embassy and Carter shifts shah to Panama, millions of other Iranians insist on a trial or international tribunal in which some of the embassy personnel might figure as defendants escalates war threats against Iran or witnesses. (At the same time, they stress The following statement was issued bloody criminal. The demand for the extradi­ that the hostages will be released when the December 19 by Socialist Workers Party tion of the shah to Iran is gaining support. shah is returned, regardless of the outcome of presidential candidate Andrew Pulley. Carter hopes moving the shah will make the the hearings). American people stop thinking about and They want to expose the crimes of the shah, Carter is again trying to escalate the conflict discussing the mass murderer and his record. and the U.S. government's role in imposing with Iran. This maneuver is also an insult to the his tyranny on Iran-organizing and supply­ He has threatened a naval blockade or other Panamanian people. They have no more desire ing his murderers and torturers, and seeking war measures if Iran puts any of the diplo­ than us to have the shah's presence imposed to crush the revolt against his rule. matic personnel still in the U.S. Embassy in on them. This was a blatant exercise of Wash­ They want to expose the covert operations Tehran on trial as spies. He has warned that ington's political, economic, and military dom­ that the Carter administration has been carry­ military action may be taken if Iran tries to ination of Panama, a domination against ing out against Iran since the shah fell. hold a public tribunal on the crimes committed which Panamanians have protested for de­ They especially want American working against it by the U.S. government. cades. people to know the facts. The Iranians believe These threats show that Carter doesn't give I Wl:lS inspired by televisipn news reports of that if we know the truth about what the U.S. a damn about what happens to the hostages in the protests that are taking place in Panama government has been up to in Iran, we won't the embassy. His first concern is to find some against giving the shah asylum. I think work­ stand for any more of it-and they are right. way to strike at the Iranian revolution. ing people throughout the Americas have good That is why Carter is so desperate to prevent The way to get the hostages home is to grant reason to demand that Carter and Panaman­ any such exposure. He even goes to the point the just demand of millions of Iranians that ian President Royo return the shah to Iran. of threatening a naval blockade if the Iranians the shah be sent back to Iran for trial. The The media present the demand for the return follow through with a . tribunal, which the of the shah as though it were motivated solely administration claims would be an affront to This is the Militant's last issue of the year. After by the Iranians' desire for revenge. Well, they U.S. honor. the holiday break, our next issue will be dated have good reason to want justice. But the issue The only ones who need fear a tribunal are January 18. goes deeper than the simple justice of return­ those who have bloody hands from their ing a murderer to be tried for his crimes. complicity with the shah's crimes. shah is a butcher and torturer who was re­ Washington's continued patronage of the American working people have no reason to sponsible for tens of thousands of deaths. shah convinced many Iranians that Carter is help Carter suppress the truth. The students The transfer of the shah from San Antonio plotting to return him to the throne. There is a did us a service by releasing documents from to Panama settled nothing. It merely shifted basis for such suspicions. the embassy showing some of Washington's the royal butcher from one haven to another Iranians remember how the CIA engineered lying and plotting, including the sending of within Washington's empire. a coup to return the shah to power in 1953, the agents into Iran under faked passports. The students occupying the embassy called last time he was driven out of the country by It is in our interest to find out everything the this shift a transparent effort to fool the popular opposition. They know that Carter Iranians can uncover about U.S. operations in American people into thinking that the issue stood by the shah last year as thousands of Iran-whether that comes out in trials, inter­ of the shah had been defused. That hit the nail peaceful protesters were being gunned down in national tribunals, or any other form. on the head. the streets. Carter retreated mo~entarily from the plan They know that the shah has not abdicated But much more about the complicity of to give the tyrant asylum in the United States. his throne and still claims to be Iran's legiti­ successive administrations in the crimes of the Documents the students found in the U.S. mate ruler. They know that the Carter admin­ shah is hidden in the United States-in the Embassy proved that this plan was set in istration and the U.S. media spread the lie Iran files of the CIA, FBI, Pentagon, State motion long beforehand, and show that the that the shah was a "modernizer" who was Department, and National Security Council. shah's illness was used as the pretext to bring overthrown by backward religious fanatics. Instead of threatening Iran, Carter should him here. And they know that Washington is still trying make these files public. More and more American working people to break the back of their revolution. Open the files-let us know the truth! realize that Carter is threatening war and The Iranian people are determined to pre­ Hands off Iran! endangering the hostages in order to defend a vent this. Send back the shah!

Militant Highlights This Week The Militant Editor: STEVE CLARK Associate Editors: CINDY JAQUITH ANDY ROSE Business Manager: PETER SEIDMAN Editorial Staff: Nancy Cole. Fred Feldman, Jim 4 Carter blackmails Nicaragua Garrison, Suzanne Haig, Osborne Hart, Gus Horowitz, Diane Jacobs, Janice Lynn, August 10 USWA leaders: all out for ERA Nimtz. Harry Ring, Dick Roberts, Priscilla 11 Militant sales roundup Campaigning for socialism in '80 Schenk, Stu Singer, Arnold Weissberg. Published weekly by the Militant 12 Socialists spur antiwar actions Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers candidate for (ISSN 0026-3885), 14 Charles Lane, 13 YSA fights Carter war threats president, discusses results of first months of New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: 14 Interview with Andrew Pulley campaign and sees good prospects for next year. Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Busi­ 16 Haitian Refugees expose brutality Pages 14-15. ness Office, ( 212) 929-3486. 17 Auto workers victims of Chrysler Correspondence concerning sub­ 18 Conference marks Trotsky centenary scriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant 4 Sol/darlfy With Nicaragua Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, 10 January 13 Countdown New York, N.Y. 10014. 24 In Brlaf Second-class postage paid at New 25 The Great Society York, N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $20.00 Capitalism Fouls Things up a year, outside U.S. $25.00. By first­ 26 Our Revolutionary Heritage class mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: Letters $50.00. Write for airmail rates to all 27 Learning About Socialism other countries. If You Like This Paper ... For subscnptions airfreighted to London and Sectarians split from then posted to Britain and Ireland £3.00 for ten issues, £6.00 for s1x months (twenty-four issues). Fourth International £11.00 for one year (forty-eight issues). Posted Failing to appreciate depth of revolution from London to Continental Europe: £4.50 for ten issues, £10.00 for six months, £15.00 for one in Nicaragua and turning backs on year. Send checks or international money order FSLN leadership, two sectarian groups (payable to Intercontinental Press account) to walked out of Trotskyist organization on Intercontinental Press (The Militant), P.O. Box 50, London N1 2XP, England. eve of World Congress. Pages 19-23. Signed articles by contributors do not neces­ sarily represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 S.F. unionists urge Nicaragua support SAN FRANCISCO-Trade union Workers Federation] and the ATC [Ru­ the needs of her people after the years meeting "a good start in solidarity by leaders from the Bay Area, speaking to ral Workers Association]. After almost of exploitation under Somoza and the labor with Nicaragua." Mackler read more than 200 people here December 8, fifty years under the Somoza dynasty death and economic destruction he left messages of support from unionists called for labor solidarity with the of suppression and exploitation, a time behind. who could not attend the rally, includ­ people of Nicaragua. when to talk union was to risk one's Frank Arnold, of Machinists Local ing officials of the International Long­ The meeting, sponsored by the labor life, the workers emerged from this 1101 and a delegate to the Santa Clara shoremen's and Warehousemen's brigade of Casa Nicaragua, was part dark age as soldiers in the front ranks Central Labor Council, called on Union and the Coalition of Black of the group's efforts to organize recon­ in the struggle to liberate their coun­ unions to donate· funds and materials Trade Unionists. struction aid for Nicaragua. try, and now, with the same courage to aid in the reconstruction of Nicara­ Others on the program were Father Jack Weintraub, president of Team­ and class solidarity, they are once gua, and urged that union delegations Cuchulain Moriarty, who read a pas­ sters Local 85, told the audience, which more in the front ranks in the struggle visit that country to see for themselves toral letter by Nicaraguan bishops in included unionists from various indus­ for reconstruction." why help is so badly needed. support of the policies of the revolu­ tries, "the enemies that the Nicara­ L6pez called for a massive aid pro­ He also called on the AFL-CIO to tionary government; Catarino Garza guan workers face are the same ones gram "without conditions that infringe dissociate from the American Institute and Miriam Zamora of Casa Nicara­ that Teamsters and other workers face on their sovereignty." Aid, he said, will for Free Labor Development, an orga­ gua; and Venceremos, a group of Chi­ here: the multinationals, holding cor­ benefit "those who suffered the most­ nization closely connected with the lean musician-refugees, who provided porations, and the banks. Our common the poor workers and peasants of Nica­ CIA, and which is currently interfering entertainment. · interest is that we're fighting a com­ ragua." in Nicaragua. - mon enemy." Aura Lila Beteta, consul-general for Jeff Mackler, of the Hayward Uni­ The meeting closed by singing the "The development of a government Nicaragua in San Francisco, explained fied Teachers Association, called the FSLN anthem and Solidarity Forever. in Nicaragua favorable to the trade unions," he said, "can only help us in our struggle of all the working class against the employers." Walter Johnson, president of Retail Clerks Local 1100, called the organiza­ tion of the Sandinista trade unions after the fall of Somoza "a refreshing change in the trade union movement," towards which U.S. labor "should take a protective attitude." The organization of the Nicaraguan union movement after the fall of Som­ oza was explained in a message ad­ dressed to the meeting by Robert L6pez, an international representative of the United Auto Workers, who re­ cently returned from Nicaragua. "Workers in Nicaragua," L6pez said, Militant/Susan Muysenberg "are building a strong and democratic San Francisco union leaders calling for aid to Nicaragua are, left to right, Walter Johnson, Retail Clerks Local 1100; Jack Wein- labor movement: the CST [Sandinista traub, Teamsters Local 85; Jeff Mackler, Hayward Unified Teachers Association; and Frank Arnold, Machinists Local1101. FSLN youth ask aid: 'no strings attached' The following is an open letter never interested those who directed United States for this. We blame those itary training. from the July 19 Sandinista Youth U.S. politics. who direct the policies and control the We Nicaraguan youth, who have of Nicaragua, dated November 8, When our people began to step up media, telling the people of the United shed our blood over the length and 1979-'Year of the Liberation of our struggle and the dictatorship be­ States to look for communism wher­ breadth of our free homeland, demand Nicaragua.' gan to demonstrate its harshness and ever there is a struggle for liberty and that the government of the United brutality, there was no lack of voices in to see democracy where the cruelest, States fully respect the right of the After long years of struggle, Nicara­ Congress to defend the intensified most brutal, and genocidal repression Nicaraguan people to choose the path guan youth have won the right to genocide as necessary to protect liberty exists. that we will follow. We demand an end speak out and to be carefully listened and democracy. We are glad to see that the United to the campaign of lies and distortions to by the peoples of the world. On this The United States says that it de­ States is concerned about Human about our revolution, which has been occasion we direct our voices to the fends democracy, but considers the Rights. But we are disappointed that the most generous in the history of President, the Congress, and the youth best defenders of liberty and demo­ they lose sight of the fact that those humanity. of the United States. cracy to be the Somozas and Pinochets genocidal armies and those criminal Our co~ntry is small in territory and The Nicaraguan people have a long of the world. officials have been trained and organ­ population, but it is gigantic in dignity history of oppression and of struggle How else can it be explained that, ized by the United States; they do not and in determination to be free. against it. We have never submitted to directly or indirectly, democracy has even mention the fact that refined We don't have schools, or hospitals, any tyrant. been wiped out or military regimes torture methods like electric shock or even homes. The energy of all the When the U.S. rulers in the mid- have been installed in the majority of were introduced into our countries by youth and of the entire Nicaraguan 1930s installed what came to be the the countries of Latin America? CIA instructors from. the United people is concentrated today on recon­ most infamous dictatorship in the If the United States says it defends States. structing .our homeland in peace and Americas, and the rulers in years to liberty and self-determination for all More than 7,200 officers of Latin liberty. We demand of the United come gave their total support and peoples, how can it be explained that American armies have been trained by States the support that we need. material backing to the Somoza re­ almost all the countries of Latin Amer­ the United States. In just four years But that support must be impartial, gime, they were thinking neither of the ica have been invaded by U.S. troops? the United States gave Chile, Argen­ with no strings atta..ched, because, as well-being nor the freedom of the Nica­ U.S. troops invaded Nicaragua three tina, Brazil, and Uruguay-four of the our Commander Tomas B_Qrge has raguan people. Rather, they sought to different times, and the end result of most brutal and repressive regimes in said, "We would prefer dying of hunger assure their political and economic the last of these invasions was the the Americas-more than $1.1 billion to accepting even the smallest condi­ domination and control over this small founding of the Somoza dictatorship in arms and war equipment, and in tion." nation in the center of the Americas. and the National Guard. one single year these four countries FREE HOMELAND OR DEA'fH! The price Nicaraguans had to pay We don't blame the people of the received $500 million in aid for mil- JULY 19.SANDINISTA YOUTH

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFER_~

Please send a gift subscription to: Send the Pathfinder gift indicated to: For every four-month (or longer) gift subscription you order, we'll send you (or your friend) a free gift Name Name from Pathfinder Press. Your choice: Fidel Castro at Address ------Address the UN, the complete text of the Cuban leader's October 12 speech to the General Assembly, or City ---- State __ Zip ------City ---- State __ Zip ____ The Nicaraguan Revolution, featuring an interview Card to read from Card to read from with Sandinista leader Jaime Wheelock, speeches Enclosed is: 0 Castro at the UN by Daniel Ortega and Fidel Castro, the Statute on 0 $5 for 4 months 0 $12 for 6 months 0 Nicaraguan Revolution the Rights of Nicaraguans, and much more. 0 $20 for 1 year 0 $2.50 for 10 weeks (no gift) Just fill out the coupon at right and sent It to: Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, New York Also enclosed is $__ as a donation to the 10014. Militant's prisoners fund. (Good through December 25, 1979)

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 3 Carter uses aid plan to blackmail Nicaragua By Gus Horowitz Material damage caused by Somoza that owed its existence to Washington. we expect Nicaragua to be borrowing On December 11 the House Foreign in his desperate attempt to. hold . onto Of the $75 mi.11 wn,. on1 y $5 mi.11 wn. again soon." Affairs Committee approved a $75 power .was at least $500 mllhon. . consists of grants. Fully $70 million And the Nicaraguans, knowing that million aid package for Nicaragua. . Foreign debts am?unted to $1.5 bil" are loans that must be paid back. And they do have to borrow, have had to Before it is adopted, the bill has to be hon, mostly to pnvate ba:r~ks, con- the money Nicaragua receives has to promise that they will honor all the big approved by the House of Representa­ tracted on hard terms. One-third of the be used to buy products from U.S. debts-all except arms debts-that tives as a whole (where a vote is debt was. ~ue by. the end of 1979. . companies (who won't neglect the op- Somoza ran up before he ran off. "This expected sometime next year) and by In addition, Nicaragua lost an estl- portunity to make a tidy profit on their is a good sign," was the comment of a the Senate. mat~d $2 bil~ion in capital flight a~d sales, of course). leading U.S. banker at the Mexico City On December 14 a delegation from outnght lootmg by Somoza and his . talks. the government of Nicaragua opened cohorts. The dictator left behind a . Some 60 percent of the a~?· ~oreover, mere $3.5 million in the national IS ~ be f':lnnel~d to the pnvat~ sec- The only concession the profiteering talks in Mexico City with representa­ banks are willing to discuss is to tives of ninety private foreign banks to treasury-not much more than one tor, that. Is, .to msure help for NICara- dollar per capita! gua:'l capitalists. . . refinance Nicaragua's huge debts­ discuss refinancing of $490 million in that is, to change the payment sche­ outstanding debts inherited from the Some 35,000 people were killed and Fmally, t~o addit~ons were. tacked 100,000 wounded in the civil war. Infla- onto the bll}.

Literacy drive described in Albany Dr. Alejandro Bendana, political adviser to Nicaragua's U.N. mission, spoke to more than 125 people in Albany, New York, November 30 on the topic, "Nicaragua: A Nation Rebuilds." Bendaiia said that the most important basis for democracy is educa­ tion, and that the Sandinistas are giving top priority to a campaign to wipe out illiteracy. Volunteer teachers will go throughout the country, living with those they instruct. Thus, teachers and students will be able to learn from each other. · Mark Chalkley and Scott Sommers, who covered the meeting for the Militant, report that the enthusiastic audience, which included many was Hector Marroquin, the Young Socialist Alliance leader who is Latinos, contributed more than $350 for •Nicaragua reconstruction. The fighting for political asylum. Marroquin called for unconditional aid to meeting was organized by the Nicaragua Solidarity Committee at the the Nicaraguan people. State University of New York at Albany. FSLN farm labor policies hailed FSLN leader Wheelock speaks In Madison Ray Santiago, secretary-treasurer of the Farm Labor Organizing Nicaragua's Minister of Agrar­ Committee, told a Nicaragua solidarity meeting at the University of ian Reform, Jaime Wheelock Toledo on December 10 that he welcomed the attention that the FSLN-led (right), addressed an enthusiastic government in Nicaragua is paying to the needs of farmworkers. They meeting of 150 people in Madison, form a big proportion of the population of that country. Tom Nowell, Wisconsin, on December 12. He assistant regional director of AFSCME Ohio Council 8, also sponsored said that the governing institutions the meeting and slideshow, along with the Black Student Union, MEChA, being set up in Nicaragua will and the YSA at the university. Twenty-five people attended, reports our guarantee the participation of the correspondent Lynn Edmiston. mass organizatons that arose in the course of the revolution and 'We need the same kind of revolution' have had a mushrooming growth since then. "We need the same kind of revolution in my country," said a Guatema­ The organized masses, he said, · lan student, who was so interested in a slide show on Nicaragua that he "have given the impulse and came to two of the four showings that were held in Denver, December 7-9. strength to all the measures taken The slide shows were presented by Fred Halstead, who was in Nicara­ by the government." The aim in gua last Septembet and is now on tour for the Socialist Workers Party Nicaragua is to build "an active presidential campaign. Halstead stressed the SWP's strong stand in favor democracy, a democracy in which of reconstruction aid for Nicaragua. the people participate on a daily A young Nicaraguan who supported the overthrow of Somoza came basis, a democracy that puts the forward after one slide show to help field questions on the revolution. He government within reach of the was familiar with the places shown on the screen, and had looked for people and makes it respond to friends among the militia and demonstrators. their needs." Silvia Zapata reports that as a result of the interest generated in the slide shows, about fifty people signed up to work on Nicaragua solidarity Carter aid package 'far too little' activities. Manuel Valle, Nicaraguan Consul in Los Angeles, told 100 people at a Nicaragua solidarity meeting in San Diego November 29 that the Carter Solidarity activity gains in Switzerland administration's proposal to ask Congress for $75 million "is far too La Breche, the Swiss Trotskyist fortnightly, reports in its November 24 little." issue that Nicaragua solidarity committees now exist in twelve cities in "When you consider all of the millions the United States provided Switzerland, encompass hundreds of activists, and carry out a variety of Anastasio Somoza after the 1972 earthquake-money used to prop up that activities. dictatorship-and when you consider that the country is now destroyed, Posters, T-shirts, records, and tapes are being sold to raise funds for then you can see that the aid is far from adequate," he explained. reconstruction. Medicine and medical equipment is also being collected. Valle also said, according to Militant correspondent Mic Vernier, that In Basel, more than $5,000 has already been raised. the Nicaraguan people would not give up their sovereignty in exchange National coordination is being established, with the goal of raising for aid. $25,000 to help set up a textile cooperative for women workers in EstelL Speaking along with Valle at the San Diego State University meeting Compiled by Gus Horowitz

4 Iran workers organize in battle to free country from exploitation By Cindy Jaquith A financial affairs committee has TEHRAN-Less than a year after been set up-including shora members the February insurrection that ended and other workers. It controls the the shah's dictatorship, a new wave of books, and ov~rsees contracts and revolutionary struggle-at a qualita- ~ales .. ~he committee has stopped pay- tively higher level of anticapitalist mg dividends to the shareholders. consciousness and working-class or- The shora is also organizing the ganization-is sweeping Iran. workers to combat contrived shortages At the center of this upsurge is the of ra~ materials ~nd p~rts. The most struggle against Washington's politi- pressmg shortage IS so~mm c~rbona~e cal and economic sabotage of the revo- to make the glass. It IS available m lution, symbolized by the Carter ad- Iran, but the businesses producing it ministration's alliance with the shah. are withholding it from this factory In order to defend the revolution and and selling it at higher prices on the advance it, the workers are taking black market. bolder and bolder measures to free The shora has visited foreign embas- their country from imperialist exploita- sies, including those of the Soviet tion, to end capitalist profiteering, and Union and Romania, to try to buy to reconstruct the nation on the basis more sodium carbonate. of working people's needs. Lack of molds for making the bottles This process in turn is inspiring -is another problem. The workers have oppressed nationalities-like the Azer- built their own molds in the machine baijanis-the urban poor, farmers, shop. They have also begun building a women, and others to voice their de- new furnace themselves, since the Ger- _ mands with increased confidence. man technicians who used to do this The hundreds of banners decorating are gone. The Iranian government the occupied U.S. Embassy here-in- May 1979 march. Fall of shah's hated dictatorship unleashed new wave of refused to give the factory a loan for a scribed with solidarity messages from working-class mobilizations. furnace. factories, villages, army bases, and The shora has also organized sales other places-give only a hint of the of the bottles at the plant gate, elimi- mood among the masses. To get a The shora presently has thirteen or corrupt managers and technicians. nat' mg d'Is t n'b u t ors. better look at what is happening here members, twelve of whom are produc- • The hiring of 300 additional Th e work ers h ave proven t h ey can and why Carter chose this time to tion workers. One is an office worker. workers. run the plant much better without the attack the revolution, we can take the The shora holds general assemblies of • Increased housing allowances, o ld b osses. p ro d uctwn· h as d ou bl e d . example of Shisheh V a Gaz factory in the 1,250 employees at Shisheh Va Gaz free work clothes, and a bus service to Ab ou t 700 ,000 b o ttl es are t urne d ou t Tehran. once a month. It also publishes a and from the plant. each day now. This is especially impor- Shisheh V a Gaz manufactures glass factory newspaper. • Abolition of the old cafeteria sys- tant because Shisheh V a Gaz is the bottles and other glass objects. The Most of the capitalists who held tern, with separate menus for the only bottle factory in Iran that hasn't workers there were solidly behind the shares in the company have fled the bosses, office staff, and production closed down. struggle to overthrow the shah, recog- coun t ry. F1ve. b usmessmen· SI·t on th e workers. Now there's one menu for I ncrease d pro d uc t'wn 1s· 1mpor· t an t t o nizing that only by ousting this U.S.- b oard o f d1rec. t ors, b u t th ey are not all-a full-course meal costs ten cents. th e work ers m· 1·1g ht of c arter• sat t emp t backed tyrant could they begin to a II owe d t o rna k e po1 ICY. WI'th ou t a s h o r a • Regular health examinations. t o orgamze· an m· t ernat' wna 1 economic· overcome the legacy of poverty and delegate present. In reality the shora • A library for the workers. blockade of Iran. misery that grips Iran. and the workers it represents control These steps reflect only one side of The workers at Shisheh V a Gaz have Immediately after the revolution, the the factory. the changes at Shisheh Va Gaz. They participated in the big demonstrations workers arrested the known SAV AK Some of the measures the shora has were accomplished by the workers' use here for the return of the shah. The collaborators in the plant as well as taken are the following: of the shora to take over control of shora has organized arms training. some of the corrupt bosses. They • An across-the-board raise, more production and distribution at the The workers have built themselves a turned them over to the new govern- than doubling workers' take-home pay. plant, including financial manage- mosque for religious services and polit- ment. The lowest-paid workers now get about ment. This has proven increasingly ical meetings. They elected a factory committee, or $600 a month, including benefits. crucial as the capitalists have made Leaders of the shora are frustrated, shora, to organize the plant and meet • A drastic lowering of executive successive efforts to sabotage what the however, by their inability to solve the most pressing needs of the workers. salaries and the firing of nonessential workers are doing. Continued on next page

At U.S. Embassy: solidarity with Vietnam & Cuba TEHRAN-You can tell we are American support." The woman goes behind the table that it has had a big impact on the approaching the U.S. Embassy as "Carter's human rights, asylum into a tent and returns with a new American people. we drive along Ayatollah Taleghani for the shah-people's human rights, set of embassy files the students Identification with the Vietnamese Avenue as the walls are increasingly trial for the shah." have just released. She gives me is strong here-Iranians hope to set covered with banners, posters, and "CIA, Pentagon, Uncle Sam­ these and copies of all the students' the same kind of example. spray-painted slogans. Vietnam wounded you, Iran will statements to the media. Such demonstrations take place As we get to the corner of the bury you." We walk further down the street to constantly. Often they number in embassy compound, a giant banner "The only way to cut off all the look at the banners that workers, the thousands, especially when a hangs from a pole, depicting U.S. imperialistic dependence is by revo­ soldiers, peasants, and students whole factory empties out to march imperialism as an octopus with its lutionary action." have hung from the walls and trees down to the embassy. tentacles reaching out all over the The students are anxious to let the to show solidarity with the fight The demonstrators are almost en­ world. American people know they are against U.S. imperialism. tirely working class, urban poor, or We hear chants of "death to the fighting the U.S. war machine, not The banner from the workers at peasants. Virtually all the women­ shah" and tapes playing Persian U.S. citizens. Thus another big sign the Mazda auto plant declares: "Oc­ and there are many of them-wear and Turkish music. reads: "Our enemy is the Americans' cupation of the spy den is one of the the chador (veil) or a scarf covering It is almost impossible to drive government, not their nation." workers' demands." their heads. further. The street is half filled with The students' shora, or council, There is also an oil workers' Before leaving, we take a look at bookstalls, food stands, and demon­ operates a table at the gate where banner, and one from the peasants the literature tables and displays. strators. you can pick up the latest state­ of the village of Roudak. Among the groups selling books are Every square inch of the buildings ments they have made, speeches by Soldiers have draped a banner on radical and conservative Islamic and walls is covered now with Ayatollah Khomeini, and copies of a wall. It says "We, soldiers of organizations, Hezb-e Kargaran-e banners supporting the students the secret U.S. Embassy files they Mehrabad air base, declare our total Sosialist (Socialist Workers Party), who are occupying the embassy. have discovered. They sell a book of support for the revolutionary action Tudeh (Communist) Party, Mujahe­ We get out and walk around. The the files translated into Persian for of the students following the Imam's deen, and Fedayeen. There are pos­ gate to the embassy is barricaded off about twenty cents. During the five line, and are ready to sacrifice our ters up showing pictures of the mar­ and guarded by about ten young minutes I was standing at the table last drop of blood for the cause." tyrs who died in the revolution. armed men. After I show my press five copies of the book were sold. We return to the embassy gate Many people are also crowded card, they invite me to go through because there is a demonstration around a display of photographs of the barricade to take pictures. Through a translator I introduce going on. On the left about 100 men national liberation struggles around Looking through the gate, you can myself to a woman who is running are chanting, "The U.S. is empty." the world. The last section of this see several huge signs in English the table and show her a Militant. Fifty high school women on the display is labeled "victories." It She looks at the front-page story on that the students have hung from right return with ~'Vietnam 1s shows scenes from the civil war in embassy buildings so the American growing U.S. opposition to Carter's proof." Nicaragua, the victorious Sandinis­ people can understand why they war threats. This is a popular chant in all the tas taking power, and then the Cu­ demand return of the shah. The "I am very pleased to meet you," demonstrations here. The Iranian ban revolution, with a big picture of signs read: she says, shaking my hand. "As the people believe the victory of the a smiling Fidel Castro surrounded "60,000 killed, 100,000 injured only Imam has said we are not against Vietnamese revolution was a his­ by Rebel Army soldiers. in the last year of shah's rule and the American people." toric defeat for U.S. imperialism and -C.J.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 5 thrust of these struggles that impelled bassy, revolutionary workers, and oth­ U.S. imperialism this fall to take in the ers involved in the upsurge often call ... Iran workers shah and intensify its campaign themselves "followers of the Imam's Continued from preceding page working-class neighborhoods, which against the Iranian revolution. line." They believe their actions are some of the general social problems the were taken over by conservative reli­ The U.S. big-business media report consistent with the concept of the workers face. gious authorities after the February virtually nothing about what the Islamic Repl,lblic. Inflation is rampant. While the insurrection, are experiencing a revi­ workers here are doing or saying. They As the class struggle intensifies and shora has set up a food cooperative val. Revolutionary-minded workers are consciously trying to hide the fact the workers go through further expe­ inside the factory, selling products at and youth are joining these commit­ that the initiatives for the anti­ riences in their attempts to reconstruct cheaper prices, this doesn't answe.r all tees, especially for military training. imperialist and anticapitalist mea­ Iran, the leadership will be tested the workers' needs. sures are coming from the workers, again and again-and the workers will Housing is in a major crisis in Teh­ Meetings at mosques farmers, students, and oppressed na­ create new layers of leaders from their ran because the landlords are holding The neighborhood organizing cen­ tionalities-not from the capitalist gov­ own ranks. back empty apartments, fearing take­ ters in Isfahan, as in every other city, ernment. Lacking a mass party of their own overs of their buildings by homeless are the mosques. At the Chardah Mas­ Faced with these intiatives, Kho­ that could unite the struggles against people. soon Mosque, the workers go to meet­ meini responded by taking some anti­ imperialism, against capitalist sabo­ Health care is another crisis. The ings every night after work. Generally imperialist steps that have increased tage, and for the rights of oppressed meager social security system here there is a political talk by a mullah the confidence of the masses to strug­ nationalities, the workers today are offers little protection for a worker who about U.S. imperialism, discussion, gle. aggressively seeking new political gets seriously ill or has an accident. and prayers. ideas and leadership. Shisheh Va Gaz's ability to stay In Isfahan there is also a city-wide open is itself in jeopardy, because of body called the Coordinating Commit­ Role of Khomeini Socialists in Iran the hoarding of raw materials and the tee of the Cities and Villages, headed Thus Khomeini forced out Prime Many workers are attracted to the refusal of the Ministry of Labor to aid by an Islamic judge, Ayatollah Omid. Minister Mehdi Bazargan, Foreign program of struggle offered by the the factory, which has not been nation­ The committee is supporting peasants Minister Ibrahim Yazdi, and others Iranian revolutionaries in the Hezb-e alized. who have seized land and workers from office, although they remain in Kargaran-e Sosialist (HKS-Socialist Shora leaders believe the only solu­ fighting for control of their factories. the Islamic Revolutionary Council. Workers Party). tion to this is to nationalize all of The committee has had run-ins with The working masses had lost all Socialist workers in the factories Iranian industry and place it under landlords, factory owners, and conser­ confidence in these officials because here are explaining to co-workers that control of the shoras, as well as estab­ vative Islamic officials in the city. they had failed to take the economic they must be the best soldiers in the lishing a government monopoly of The developments in cities like Teh­ and social measures expected of them. anti-imperialist struggles today. They foreign trade. An Islamic government, ran and Isfahan were accelerated by The workers grew to identify these point to how the Cuban and Nicara­ they say, means abolition of the capi­ the Carter administration's move to figures as representatives of the bosses guan revolutions have dealt with sim­ talist profit system. bring the shah to the United States in and the imperialists. ilar problems. October. The religious hierarchy in Iran is Workers supporting the HKS argue Development of shoras But the working-class upsurge had viewed differently. Because he has that to defeat the imperialist threat, While the Shisheh V a Gaz workers been unleashed nine months before, supported the struggle to bring back the government should carry out its have driven further ahead than workers when the dictatorship was overthrown the shah for trial, Khomeini today has announced plan to "build an army of in many other factories, the sho-ra and the system of SAV AK terror in the the greatest authority in the country as 20 million" by arming the masses. system exists in the majority of plants labor movement was destroyed. It was an anti-imperialist leader. Military training of civilians should be in the country. The shoras are uneven clearly the growing anticapitalist Students occupying the U.S. Em- continued and expanded, under the in their development but they are all control of the factory shoras, army coming under similar pressure from shoras, and neighborhood defense the workers to push the revolution committees. forward. This mobilization of the masses is Shoras have been legalized in the the best guarantee of a revolutionary recently adopted constitution. They foreign policy, the socialist workers also exist on many campuses, high say. schools, and army bases. The workers and farmers should be Military and economic threats from supported in their efforts to end the the U.S. government, combined with destruction of the economy by the capitalist resistance to the initiatives capitalists and big landlords. of the workers, has led the shoras to Businesses hoarding needed goods, begin discussions of uniting in com­ and those that have shut down, must mon activities. be expropriated and placed under the In the industrial city of Isfahan, for control of the shoras. Factories owned example, the shora at the N akh Tab by the imperialists should be national­ textile plant is planning a joint meet­ ized, as a self-defense measure against ing with workers at the plant next Carter's blockade. The government door. The two factories will also join should establish a monopoly of foreign forces for a demonstration demanding trade. the return of the shah. As one young To mobilize the country behind these Nakh Tab worker explained, "In our steps, the workers need full access to fight with the shah, we had no idea the facts of the impact of the U.S. what was going on in the next factory. blockade and internal capitalist sabo­ But now we can unite our forces." Mil it tage of the economy. The anti-imperialist mobilization in January 1979 demonstration In Tehran. Iranian workers, who played decisive role In To unite all of Iran's nationalities Isfahan has gone far beyond the facto­ toppling shah, have forced the ouster of government figures seen as conciliatory behind this anti-imperialist program, nes. Defense committees m the toward capitalism and Imperialism. the demands of oppressed nationali­ ties-the Kurds, Azerbaijanis, and others-for full national rights must be met. Ending the shah's legacy of dis­ crimination against these nationalities Iran soldier appeals to U.S. Gls in local decision-making power, lan­ TEHRAN-"We ask our brother base, the rank and file soldiers schools, factories, and villages." guage, and culture is the best way to soldiers in the United States, before discuss the fight against U.S. impe­ The need to mobilize against solidify the working class and peasan­ you board the planes and boats to rialism constantly. Carter's war threats has pushed try in the anti-imperialist struggle. fight us in Iran, think about the "Iranian soldiers think that even the question of democratic rights to Massive land reform is needed to people you will be shooting at. We if the American people live better the fore once again in the army. organize agriculture to meet the needs are human beings, just like you." than us, they know what happened The sergeant said that on his of Iran's 34 million people. Steps al­ A young Iranian army sergeant in Vietnam. After Vietnam, we base there is an elected council, or ready taken by small farmers to take made this appeal in an interview know that American people shora. But many soldiers feel the over the land of the big capitalists here December 14. changed their thinking because shora does not give enough repre­ should be supported and extended. "We have no intention of aggres­ they had 50,000 killed in that war. sentation to the rank and file. For The severe lack of housing in cities sion against the United States," he "The American people are not example, the infantrymen have no like Tehran can be resolved by first told me. "The fight we are waging the same as Carter or Kennedy. We delegate. "They also want the opening up the thousands of houses against the U.S. government is don't think there is any difference shora to hold meetings more often, and apartments left vacant by counter­ because it leads the capitalist and between Kennedy and Carter. They and to allow them to express their revolutionaries who have fled the coun­ imperialist governments of the are both capitalists." ideas of what should be done," he try. A crash program to build new world. We have nothing against The sergeant explained that the explained. housing would help solve the pressing the American people." top officers on the base do not like Another issue is the right to elect problem of unemployment in the cities. The sergeant said he believes the these discussions. They argue that officers. "We have not been allowed Women, who are entering the anti­ root of war is profits. "For the it is dangerous to challenge impe­ to do that," the sergeant said, "so imperialist battles by the millions, capitalists, human lives mean no­ rialism. "They say what will many of our officers are from the must have full equality. Deepen the thing. The only thing they know happen is that Iran will be invaded shah's regime. We do not believe mobilizations of these fighters, the about is dollars. and our country will be divided up they can be revolutionary com­ HKS urges. ''We know American soldiers are between the United States and Rus­ manders." The workers are now developing the sons of workers and farmers, sia. Returning to the subject of Amer­ instruments of their own-shoras-that not of businessmen. We value the "But the sergeants and soldiers ican Gis, he added, "We know that can take the lead in carrying out these lives of these soldiers a great deal think we should go out and American soldiers do not have measures, the socialists explain. Uni­ because we consider them to be just teach the workers and farmers how democratic rights in their army." ting the factory shoras in their com­ like us. to use arms. For example, I want to The sergeant concluded the in­ mon struggles, and seeking to ally "If they are sent here, who will teach my wife, father, and brother terview with another appeal: "We them with shoras in the army, in the benefit? Which class? Not the how to shoot, but I don't have a think the soldiers in the U.S. rural areas, and in the working-class workers-the U.S. capitalists." gun. I think the government should should unite with us and help wipe neighborhoods, is the next step to forging the revolutionary leadership The sergeant said that on his organize classes in the mosques, out war around the world."-C.J. that can carry this new upsurge for­ ward.

6 SA VAK killer admits CIA 1S complicity By Cindy Jaquith victims described to us the living hell TEHRAN-Facing dozens of inter­ they had experienced. national journalists, as well as some of Iran's Foreign Press Director his victims, one of the highest-ranking Abolghassem Sadegh introduced us to SAV AK agents under the shah said his brother Ahmad and his sister-in­ December 12: "The CIA was com­ law Homa. They told how their son pletely aware of what was going on [in Nasser was tortured and executed in SAV AK] because they set up the sys­ 1971 by SAV AK. His crime was to tem and provided the training." have refused to kiss the shah's hand Hassan Sanna, who served in the when he was awarded an athletic shah's hated secret police for twenty­ medal at Tehran University. three years, was speaking here at Evin Not satisfied with murdering one prison where he is incarcerated. Cap­ son, SAV AK decided to make an exam­ tured in hiding only two months ago, ple of the Sadegh family to other Sanna served directly under Parviz oppositionists. Two of their other sons Saabeti, the SAVAK chief of "subver­ were jailed, one released only when sive" control. masses stormed the prison during the Saabati-who personally partici­ February 1979 revolution here. pated in torturing anti-shah activists­ Another son went into hiding for four is one of the most hated criminals in years in fear for his life. Their daugh­ Iran today. He is believed· to have fled ter was arrested when she was only the country. fourteen and imprisoned for two years. International journalists were in­ Ahmad Sadegh made a moving ap­ vited by Iran's Ministry of National peal to us as the session ended. Point­ Guidance to question Sanna and other ing to the SAVAK agent's confession, prisoners at Evin on their role under he said, "This is why Imam [Kho­ the shah. Our visit to Evin was part of meini] says today that the United a series of tours organized by the States was involved in everything government to explain why the Iran­ SAVAK torture device was used to pull out victim's fingernails here.... ian people demand the return of the "As a human being, I ask the repor­ shah. ters here who have heard these agents in addition to Sanna, other impri­ The head of CIA operations for Iran Palestinian groups in Lebanon. . . . take back to your people what the soned SAV AK agents, the deputy di­ at the time of the shah's downfall was Sanna presented the facts of what he U.S. and Israel have done to this rector of the notorious Qasr prison, a man who called himself William and other SAV AK agents did in a cold, nation. Tell them the truth so the and Dr. Sheikholeslomzadeh, minister Booth. His office was right in the U.S. matter-of-fact tone of voice. But his world will know." of health under the shah, were brought Embassy. Sanna said he went to the before us. Relatives of those slain by embassy to meet with Booth. SAV AK, some torture victims, and The SAV AK chief also provided dozens of young soldiers joined us to details of the agency's relations with hear what the criminals had to say. other foreign intelligence networks: Militant reporter is news SAYAK's Sanna told us that agents • Israel. The Israeli secret police, The following is a translation reporter during the tour, Miss Ja­ of the shah's secret police were regu­ Mossad, collaborated with SAV AK in of an article that appeared in quith said, "Our paper supports the larly flown to the United States for a disruption program aimed at discred­ the December 13 issue of 'Ette­ revolution." training in torture by the CIA. He said iting Islamic groups opposed to the la'at,' one of the most widely She said that she came to Iran he participated in one of these sessione shah. To present these groups as fanat­ circulated dailies in Tehran. It for the first time during the up­ which took place "at an apparent CIA ics, SAV AK agents did such things as was written by a reporter for surge of the [February] revolution. installation four hours' flying time bum down liquor stores. the Iranian government's Pars Miss Jaquith added: "The Ameri­ from Washington, D.C." He did not • Britain. "We gave British intelli­ news agency. The article ap­ can mass media reflects the events disclose the city. gence information on the Arab coun­ peared on the back page under in Iran in a very unreal way. They Some of SAVAK's most hated tor­ tries. . . . in return they gave us infor­ the headline 'The Movement to try to present the Iranian people as ture instruments were also developed mation on Iranian students in Block U.S. Military Interven­ illogical, irrational, and as reli­ in the U.S., Sanna stated. Britain." Students identified as anti­ tion in Iran.' gious fanatics." The hideous Apollo chair, in which shah had their passports revoked or In the United States many people the torture victim sits with a special stolen. Those returning to Iran were An American journalist is trying are religious. A lot is written in the helmet on her or his head, was built by arrested on the spot. to bring together U.S. groups that U.S. press about religion, but only one of the shah's technicians trained • Iraq. SAV AK obtained an agree­ support the Iranian revolution to about the types of religions that in the United States. The person is ment with Iraqi intelligence to spy on build a movement that can block exist in the United States. There whipped with wire cable and their visitors to Ayatollah Khomeini when U.S. military intervention in Iran. are not many Muslims in the Uni­ screams are magnified in volume he lived in exile there. Eventually Miss Cindy Jaquith, a reporter ted States and the American people through the helmet to their ears. SAV AK got the Iraqi government to for the American paper, the Mili­ do not have correct information on The CIA also functioned inside Iran, expel Khomeini. A joint Iran-Iraq tant, was among journalists who Islam. Sanna said. "It spied on anti-shah agreement was also made on crushing were touring the Komiteh, the The headquarters of the Militant activists, it determined where they the Kurdish liberation struggle. former Savak jail; and Evin prison. is in New York City and its circula­ were living, and turned the addresses • Egypt. SAVAK gave Egypt intel­ In a conversation with a Pars tion is 20,000 across the country. over to SAV AK for arrest." ligence reports on the activities on Secret documents show U.S. goals in Iran By Cindy Jaquith regime in Israel is forced more and relati.onship of trust and confidence estab- IV. Maintenance of Iran's balanced poe- TEHRAN-Students occupying the more to depend on tyrannies such as lished with the shah. . . . ture in regional affairs. U.S. Embassy here have been releas- the shah's and apartheid South Africa II. An enhanced U.S.-Iranian relationship -Encourage the continuation of Iran's ing secret documents from the files. for support. in non-military fields. balanced approach to Arab-Israeli affairs Printed up in book format by the Iran was also projected as a "re- -Encourage the continuation of a relia- and its support for our Middle East peace · l 1' , . . ble petroleum supply for the United States negotiations. students, the documents have been g1.0na po Iceman, mamtaming "sta- and its closest allies and the adoption of a -Encourage maintenance of a positive available to the world press for some bility" in the face of increasing unrest moderate pricing policy. Explain U.S. Iranian relationship with Israel, including weeks. But the U.S. big-business press b~ the workers and farmers of the energy policies and programs, and the need an oil supply link. has printed only a few words from Mideast. of the world economy for oil at bearable -Maintain Iran's opposition to Pakis- them. They want to keep the truth Finall~, the document gets around to prices. tan's reprocessing. about the embassy's role in Iran secret human nghts. The document notes the -Facilitate an increase of the United -Supporting Iran's cooperation with from American working people. "image" problem the shah's dung~ons States' share of the market in Iran and be Saudi Arabia, Oman, and other Arab penin- . . . may create, and urges an oh-so-gentle prepared to use the weight of the ambassa- sula states on Persian Gulf security, keep- Last week the Mtlltant pnnted docu- campaign to get him to clean up his dor's office in support at a minimum, of ing informed on relevant security develop- ments showing that the U.S. govern- act. nondiscriminatory access by American ments in Iraq and Iran's other regional ment had long planned to admit the A big part of the daily grind at the firms to business opportunities in Iran. . . . neighbors. shah to this country, for reasons that embassy was devoted to hunting up -Pursue with Dr. Etemad and his Atomic -Encourage a continuation of responsi- had nothing to do with health. opportunities for U.S. corporations to Energy Organization associates formula- hie Iranian cooperation with Afghanistan, The following document shows that make profits off Iran. This included tion of final text of U.S.-Iranian nuclear Pakistan, and India in both political and S 1 · d 1 n b cooperation agreement which meets Presi- economic spheres. U. · po. hicy h aime h h at c ose co a ora- trying to penetrate the nuclear market den t' s nonpro 1heratwn-., · ob' jecbves. · -Encourage Iran1'an support of our pn'n- tion Wlt t e s a · in Iran. And it also meant trying to -Maintain U.S. intelligence-gathering cipal policies in Africa. One goal was to keep up a warm keep down the price U.S. oil companies privileges in Iran, and continue to provide V. Improvement in Iran's human rights working relationship with the shah's had to pay for Iranian petroleum. This quid pro quo Jiason support in response to performance. murderous secret police, the SAVAK. meant that the oil giants could make a these privileges. Carefully weigh any prop- -Review with the shah and other respon­ The document reveals that the U.S. lot more as they gouged American osals for additional privileges to insure they sible officials, on appropriate occasions, U.S. government allowed SAV AK to oper- consumers. do not endanger existing assets .... human rights policies, focusing on improve· ate in the United States, where it spied The document, called "Goals and -Work with GOI [Government of Iran] ment in human rights (which is attainable) on anti-shah Iranian students and Objectives in Iran," was written in Ministry of Education to improve proce- as opposed to pushing for changes in the disrupted anti-shah activities. January 1977 by U.S. Ambassador dures in the evaluation and processing of political system (which may smack of for­ W'll' S ll' H th 1 Iranians seeking an education in the eign interference and be counterproductive), The document also reveals U.S. de- 1 1am u Ivan. ere are e goa s: u.s .... noting the impact an unfavorable Iranian termination to maintain strong links I. A sustained political/economic relation- Ill. Carefully coordinated military rela- public image on this issue might have on between the shah and Israel. Increas- ship built upon trust, confidence, and mu- tionship including military supplies and Iran's international posture in the U.S. and · ingly isolated in the world, the racist tual respect-maintain and reinforce the pro.grams. _elsewhere.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 7 ~~arks discussion among Persians 1.2 million march in Tabriz for minority • By Amineh Sahand government was clearly trying to allay .· ··••·• .•• •.... > ...... · .... · •• <( r .. .. TEHRAN, December 7-Perhaps the criticism from the Azerbaijanis in re- . ·· · · .. .. . largest demonstration ever held in gard to previous censorship. Tabriz took place December 13. Organ- Demands raised at the Tabriz protest izers estimated that 1.2 million people were: turned out for the action, which ex- 1. Cancellation of the vote for the pressed the demands of the Turkish- constitution. The Azerbaijanis object speaking Azerbaijani people, Iran's to the fact that there are no. provisions largest national minority. recognizing the rights of Iran's various Tabriz itself has a population of nationalities, and to the designation of about 1 million, but massive contin- an individual leader with supreme gents turned out from surrounding power. areas. 2. Recognize Shariat-Madari as the In addition to workers and peasants, leader of the Shi'ites around the world. many soldiers were visible in the At the end of the rally, a speaker led march. people in the chant, "Khomeini is our The main chant of the participants leader, Shariat-Madari is our religious was: "We are your soldiers, Shariat- leader," explicitly indicating their sup­ Madari." port for Khomeini's anti-imperialist Ayatollah Shariat-Madari, a native course. of Azerbaijan, has become a symbol 3. Release the prisoners arrested dur­ for the national aspirations of the ing earlier protests. In this regard, the Azerbaijani people and for their desire governor-general of Azerbaijan, who to choose their own Turkish-speaking had earlier taken a hard line against leaders. the protests, announced December 15 Although the government's first re- that sixty people would be freed. He sponse to the outbreak of the struggle said ten were awaiting trial, and it has Tabrlz demonstrators: 'We reject all slanders against our in Azerbaijan was to say that it was subsequently been reported that dividing Iran in the face of U.S. impe- charges are going to be brought rialist threats, there has been a against them. extradition of the shah. Madari's house. They said that marked change in the tone of official 4. Pasdaran (the Iranian national The real sentiment of the Azerbai­ Shariat-Madari would be invited . to statements over the past few days. army) sent into Azerbaijan to inter- jani people was indicated again De­ have an observer present at the inves­ Such statements are now likely to vene against the demonstrations cember 17 when 10,000 people demon­ tigation. begin by paying tribute to the Azerbai- should be removed. strated in Tabriz against the decision Developments in Azerbaijan have jani people and to their role in the 5. Government officials appointed in of the Panamanian regime to grant the helped spark a widespread discussion struggle against the monarchy. At- Azerbaijan must be approved by shah asylum. The demonstration was among Iranian workers. Persian tacks focus on Shariat-Madari for his Shariat-Madari. called by students in Tabriz who have workers want unity in the face of conciliatory attitude during the strug- 6. The final demand took the form of taken over the U.S. consulate there continuing U.S. threats. Although gle against the shah and for his silence a slogan-"We reject all the slanders and renamed it Palestine Consulate. there is much confusion about what is in regard to the current confrontation against our struggle." The main In another move to meet the de­ happening, many are beginning to with imperialism. charge that has been made is that the mands raised by the Azerbaijani think about the demands of the Azer­ By broadcasting the December 13 Azerbaijanis who took to the streets masses, Pasdaran in Qum have ar­ baijanis and to discuss them. demonstration on national television~ did not support the struggle against rested a person they said was responsi­ This process is especially evident in including segments in Turkish-the U.S. domination of Iran and for the ble for killing a guard· at Shariat- Isfahan, where Azerbaijanis make up a sizable proportion of the workers in the construction, steel, and oil indus­ tries. When the protests in Tabriz began, Azerbaijani workers fanned out in the factories to explain to their fellow workers what the struggle was about. Word of socialist paper spreads fast. Many Pasdaran from Isfahan had TEHRAN-The first issue had a earlier been sent to fight against the press run of 8,000 copies. The se­ Kurdish people demanding autonomy. cond issue, 15,000. The third, Pasdaran units in Kurdistan suffered 25,000. heavy casualties. They were told that That's how fast the demand has the Kurds were counterrevolutionaries, grown here for Kargar (Worker), but after seeing the reality of the mass the newspaper reflecting the views struggle there, many Pasdaran of the Iranian Socialist Workers changed their minds. Party (HKS). Right now, Iranian television is After three months of not pub­ showing material on the negotiations lishing, Kargar received a tempor­ between the government and Kurdish ary legalization permit from the leaders. Darius Faruhar, the govern­ government in mid-November. The ment's chief negotiator, was shown first issue of 8,000 quickly appeared addressing a meeting of Kurds and on the stands. admitting that all their demands are It was a special 100-page paper, just. Faruhar asked for patience, say­ printed as a pamphlet. On the front ing that there were many demands on cover· was a picture of the Sandin­ the government and it could not meet ista army in Nicaragua. Inside, in them all at once. addition to articles on Iran, were Sheik Ezzeddin Hosseini, a central page after page of news and analy­ leader of the Kurdish struggle, ex­ sis of advances being made by Socialists selling 'Kargar' earlier this year. Now that It Is again legal, plained the desire of the Kurds for workers and farmers in Nicaragua. is rapidly growing. autonomy within Iran, saying that Although it cost one dollar, it "Kurds are Iranians and Muslims, and became very popular. It led one oil separation is not in their best inter­ worker in Abadan, for example, to to buy Kargar and then sat down The issue was also snapped up in ests." write to the Kargar office asking to compare the two. Tabriz, scene of big mobilizations He said that he hoped for a peaceful how he could join the HKS. A separate article in Kargar ex­ for Azerbaijani national rights. solution of the dispute through negoti­ The second issue, 16 pages, sold plained the need in Iran for a Tabriz newsstands doubled their ations, but warned that "we are ready thousands of copies at the U.S. constitution that utilizes and or­ orders for the next issue. to fight for our rights." Embassy here alone. The front ganizes the power of the working Finally, Hosseini expressed his hope The Kargar office received a let­ cover featured both the Iranians' masses to combat imperialism and that the negotiations would proceed ter from Tabriz that is typical of fight against U.S. imperialism and capitalism, as the Nicaraguan con­ quickly so that "we can fight the real the response the paper has gotten. the Nicaraguan revolution. Kargar stitution does. The article said that enemy, America." "I myself am a worker," the letter salespeople set up a table at the the draft proposed by the Iranian Persian workers know that even began. "After our revolution I embassy and sold up to 200 copies government fails to do this. more than in the case of the Kurds, joined a party, but after a while I of the paper in an hour. Workers should register their oppo­ any attempt to try to suppress the What made this issue especially sition to this draft. discovered that it was not con­ legitimate aspirations of the Azerbai­ cerned with my demands. . . . I attractive was that it reprinted in Sales were good not only at the jani workers by force of arms would would like to find out more about full the Nicaraguan Bill of Rights. embassy. There were brisk sales in really divide Iran, and would be your party. Please write me. I will Sales were taking place just at the south Tehran neighborhoods, doomed. As many as 15 million of pay for the postage." time that the referendum was held where the working class and urban Iran's 38 million people are Azerbai­ here on the Iranian constitution. poor are concentrated. And at the The third issue of Kargar now on jani, and Azerbaijanis compose 40 Word spread quickly that the one-million strong demonstration the stands has a picture of the percent of the Iranian army. Kargar table had copies of the November 30 here, celebrating the giant demonstration in Tehran No­ On tile other hand, respect for the Nicaraguan constitution. Many religious holiday of Ashura and vember 30 and an article on Azer­ national rights of the Azerbaijani peo­ people with copies of the Iranian protesting U.S. imperialism, 500 baijan on the front cover. ple and support for their autonomy constitution in their hands came up Kargars were sold. -C.J. within Iran would establish a solid basis for unity in the fight against imperialism. 8 Lives changed by revolution Women gatment wotkets ress demands By Cindy Jaquith ~JJ~~$J one of his last prayer messages he TEHRAN-When word came over "'. A supported the right of workers to form the radio November 4 that students J shoras, at a time when many of the had occupied the U.S. Embassy, the capitalists were complaining bitterly women at the garment factory where about these committees. Amineh Arab works turned on the red Taleghani's message gave fresh im­ lights on their sewing machines. The petus to the workers' desire for shoras foreman didn't like this but the women that would defend their rights. At didn't care. Amineh's plant, the women demanded After that they put a sign out in the right to elect a new shora. The boss front of the factory declaring: "we finally gave in. In the elections, the support the students following the production workers won a majority of Imam's line." the representatives. Some of those elected were women. Defense of the Iranian revolution But right after that, a government from U.S. attack is vital to these gar­ official came and addressed the ment workers. They have won impor­ workers on the question of shoras. A tant gains at their factory since the new election was held. This time, white shah's brutal regime was overthrown collar workers and management got last February. the majority of seats. Their plant produces government The shora has nine members. Its uniforms. It employs fewer than 250 meetings are closed, but every fifteen workers, mostly women. days it reports to the workers. In the last six months, the workers Amineh says some of the shora have won a doubling of their wages. representatives work hard to meet the They now make about $180 a month. women's demands. For example, after It's still not much, but it makes a big the embassy takeover, these represen­ difference. Defense of revolution from U.S. attack is vital to Iranian women tatives got the shora to put out a They've also gotten management to statement supporting the anti­ provide free milk in the morning imperialist .struggle. (lunch was already provided). And pointed by the government, and in­ the boss was taking from us," Amineh Most of the workers in the plant are they now have a nursery in the plant cluded government officials, the explained. young women. Amineh is twenty-one. for infants up to two years old. The women did not feel part of the shora At one point the workers struck for Some of the women are divorced and women had demanded day care for all and didn't try to work through it. the forty hour week. They still haven't are working because they need the children, but management would only Soon a struggle developed in the won it. But they have forced manage­ money to support their families. Some agree to the nursery. plant for a forty hour week and no ment to give them a record of hours are teenagers who are working to help Amineh explained to the Militant work on Thursdays. (Friday is the worked with their pay slips. support their families and to save how workers in her plant have made religious holiday in Iran, and Thurs­ In the course of these fights, Amineh money for when they get married. these gains and what struggles remain day is like Saturday in the U.S.). went on, "the women learned who were The part they played in making the to be won. The women also wanted their pay our friends and who were our enemies revolution and now in defending it has Shortly after the insurrection, a fac­ slips to indicate how many hours they on the shora." given them confidence they have never tory committee, or shora, was set up in had worked and what the deductions In September, Ayatollah Taleghani, had before. Their lives have changed the plant. But because it was ap- were, "so we would know how much a religious leader in Tehran, died. In in a way that cannot be reversed. Kirkland's petitioners: the re in for a surprise By Stu Singer ions that are the reality of the thinking affairs either. Our union, National AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland of American working people concern­ Alliance of Postal and Federal Em­ has announced a petition drive in ing Iran. ployees, took a position against apar- · support of the U.S. government's anti­ For example, if Kirkland sends one theid in South Africa. And the govern­ Iran hysteria. of his petitioners to the plant in Pitts­ ment was not happy." "We want to flood the Iranian Em­ burgh organized by United Steel­ Few things make the government bassy with these petitions, demonstrat­ workers Local 1531, they will run up less happy than the unions getting ing the united support of American against union vice-president Ellis Jef­ involved in political questions on their workers and their families for the U.S. ferson. own. Organized opposition by the government's position that this gross Jefferson addressed a "Speak out on unions can quickly affect the ability of violation of international law be ended Iran-Why die for the shah?" meeting the government to carry out its war immediately," Kirkland wrote to all sponsored by the Pittsburgh Militant policy. AFL-CIO affiliates. Labor Forum on December 7. Even the right-wing moves of some Last month three unions initiated "The reason they moved the shah unions have a built-in danger. It can their own war moves against Iran. The from the New York hospital to the San Militant/Stu Singer give workers the idea that it is proper ELLIS JEFFERSON: 'Shah was only one East and West Coast dock workers and Antonio air base is the shah was for them to take positions and act on the Transport Workers Union at afraid he couldn't get the army, tanks, In Mideast to sell oil to Israel and South their views of big political issues. Peti- Africa.' Kennedy Airport in New York an­ and planes he needed to defend himself tions circulated by union leaders in nounced their refusal to load cargoes into the hospital. So they put the shah support of the war moves against Iran for Iran. where the weapons are," he told the can stimulate discussions that are At the AFL-CIO convention in No­ meeting of sixty people. NAACP. He has very strong feelings likely to turn in the opposite direction. vember, George Meany spoke about "The shah was the only person in about Iran and international questions Just before the speak-out on Iran, I Iran while anointing Kirkland his the Mideast who would sell oil to Israel in general: was in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, successor. Addressing Carter, his and South Africa. He helped America "Most Blacks feel the Iranian people northwest of Pittsburgh on the Ohio commander-in-chief, who spoke at the dominate the Third World. Even Mex­ are our friends. Carter is heading for River. Ambridge is the site of the large convention, Meany said: "Every step ico denied him a visa. But Carter saw another Vietnam there. American Bridge plant which U.S. you've taken in this matter deserves bringing the shah here as a rallying "I don't think the average American Steel is threatening to close after the the full support of the American people point." is for holding the shah here. The shah workers voted to reject a wage freeze. and has the full approval of the union is not worth going to war for. It was Friday afternoon and a good movement as represented in this hotel 'Oil and opium interests' "Every time they get in trouble, their part of day shift seemed to be crowded this afternoon." Since opinions on Iran are widely plan is 'get sick.' Nixon got phlebitis, into a bar on the edge of town. We Meany was wise to limit his state­ differing among workers, I asked J ef­ the shah gets cancer. talked mostly about the threatened ment of approval to those union offi­ ferson for examples of what he says to "I'd like to see the shah in South plant closings, but then the discussion cials present, although it is unlikely people in discussing it. Africa. That's where he belongs." turned to Iran. even they all give Carter their "full "Kissinger and Rockefeller have oil Kindle is the leader of work around Steve Finney, who works in the approval." and opium interests in Iran-they're South Africa for the Pittsburgh warehouse, said: "Send the shah back. not concerned with the people. One NAACP. He talked about a situation He robbed the people. Before he came Austerity thing they are going to do is raise gas several years ago where his bosses at here he played on U.S. sympathy. The fact is that not a single union is prices," he responded. the post office called him in to tell him They should hang him. He robbed the offering Carter what he really wants "Maybe Carter feels like his popular­ not to get involved in protests concern­ people." from them in this war drive: austerity. ity is slipping. He thinks it will be like ing apartheid and colonialism in His buddy, Brown, was drinking The AFL-CIO convention talked a John Wayne movie. But he is going Africa. right next to him: "No. Let him stay about the need to do something about to find out war is not so practical. "They don't ask us about politics. here. In fact, I want to put him up at ii.sing unemployment and inflation. No "All Black people who are politically They tell us Blacks not to dabble in my place. Him and his $16 billion." one advocated the higher gas prices inclined say to send the shah back to foreign affairs. That's why they fired This turned the discussion around. Carter will establish, blaming Iran. Iran," according to Jefferson. "Iran is Andrew Young. But we pay for the If Lane Kirkland's petitioners ever There were no statements calling for not a pure white country. They're foreign policy they carry out. get to Ambridge, they will meet a the "patriotic sacrifices" that Carter people of color. Discrirnination against "Ask every kid between seventeen number of union members who are all needs for the war drive. any race of people is wrong. And what and twenty-four, the ones who are willing to put the shah up at their If and when Kirkland sends out his Carter is doing is discriminating going to fight the war. Ask them what homes. As long as he brings his mo­ petitioners to workplaces around the against Iran." our foreign policy should be. ney. It may be a new way to help country, they will run into the intense Charles Kindle is a postal worker in "The government doesn't want the communities threatened with plant debates, discussions, and shifting opin- Pittsburgh and a local leader of the unions getting involved in foreign closings. THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 9 USWA leaders urge: All out for ERA march By Kathy Rettig the offensive, and show that the labor PITTSBURGH-"Our union is an movement has power and clout in this instrument of social change. It's our country! We can prove that by being in rightful place to be involved in the Richmond on January 13!" ERA fight in Virginia," Frank Mont, John Richards, Pittsburgh Metro United Steelworkers Civil Rights De­ Area Postal Workers president, told the partment director, told more than 100 enthusiastic audience, "We'll be there unionists and women's rights activists in force. We will have our buses. We who rallied here December 11. will have our caravans. We will have The meeting was one of a number of our placards and signs. ·we will have actions held around the country to our people, and we will let the Virginia mobilize support for the January 13 legislature know that we will not settle march on Richmond, Virginia, for for one vote short of ratification like ratification of the Equal Rights last time. We are going to get the next Amendment, sponsored by Labor for ERA vote in the state of Virginia!" Equal Rights Now (LERN). In Pittsburgh, the postal workers have been instrumental in building Bringing greetings from USW A excitement and activity around the President Lloyd McBride and all the January 13 march. They have donated USW A international officers, Mont an office to use to coordinate publicity told the rally, "Anywhere there is a and transportation for January 13, struggle for justice to eradicate the printed 5,000 leaflets, and sent out wrongs, to remove the imbalances put press releases for the Pittsburgh rally. in the face of anyone, it is the rightful place of everyone in the labor move­ The USW A printed an additional ment to join in." 2,000 leaflets, which were widely dis­ tributed at plant gates and mine por­ The rally was sponsored by the tals. Allegheny County Labor Council and Leon Lynch, USWA vice-president of human affairs, at Pittsburgh news conference Other speakers at the rally included the United Steelworkers of America for January 13 ERA march: 'The United Steelworkers Is thoroughly committed to Rosemary Trump, president of Service and endorsed by a broad range of bringing change to VIrginia.' Employees International Union Local unions and the Southwestern Pennsyl­ 585, and Marion Washington, staff vania Council of the National Organi­ longer-discriminated-against group in "That is why we say that discrimina­ representative for United Electrical zation for Women. It called for a united American society." tion is big business for Big Business," Workers District 6. Greetings were read effort oflabor, women's, and civil rights He declared that "on Sunday, Janu­ Gordon said. from Addie Wyatt, executive vice­ groups to win ratification of the ERA ary 13, 1980, the Virginia labor Flo Gaskill, Pennsylvania NOW La­ president of the Coalition of Labor and to defeat their common enemies, movement-assisted by sister and bor Task Force chair and a member of Union Women; USWA Local1397; and the corporations and "right to work for brother unionists from here in the the Pennsylvania Social Services USW A Local 8888. less" forces. Pittsburgh area and elsewhere-is go­ Union, gave greetings from National The rally cheered when greetings The Pittsburgh rally and an earlier ing to demon'strate in the city of Rich­ NOW Labor Task Force chair Sarah sent by Local 8888 President Ed Cop­ news conference received wide cover­ mond in support of ERA ratification. Nelson. "Forces of labor," she said, pedge were read: "Tonight, on behalf age on local TV and radio and in both And we want it ratified now!" "have championed every major break­ of all 16,000 members of Local 8888 of major newspapers. Jerry Gordon, co-coordinator of through for working people in this the United Steelworkers of America, let At the news conference, Leon Lynch, LERN and assistant director of Region country. Only when we are united can me say that we will do everything in USW A vice-president of human af­ 4 of the United Food and Commercial we fight for better wages, benefits, and our power to get the ERA passed, and fairs, linked ERA ratification to the Workers Union, told the rally audience working conditions." on January 13 we are pleased that we union's fight for recognition at the that the fight for the ERA is an eco- Gordon, listing plant shutdowns, will lead that march in Richmond." Newport News shipyard. The United nomic one. unemployment, runaway inflation, Jerry Gordon ended his remarks to Steelworkers, he said, "is thoroughly "It is a fight of the needy against the speedups, and takeaways at the bar­ the rally declaring, "All across the committed to bringing change to Vir­ greedy," Gordon said. "What's at stake gaining table as but a few examples, country there is a growing fervor, a ginia." is profits and a lot of them." Gordon said the labor movement has been rising energy level, an increasing en­ Lynch noted that "the forces that are estimated that the superprofits the taking "a hell of a beating over the last thusiasm and spirit that is developing out to destroy unionism as a force for corporations get by paying women few years." in the camp of the fighters for ratifica­ good in America are the very ones only fifty-nine cents for every dollar· "Isn't it about time," Gordon said, tion. And there is also a growing which want to prevent women from earned by men is over $60 billion a "that we stand up and be counted, put determination that this fight is going taking their rightful place as a no- year. a halt to these attacks upon us, go on _to be won!" Md. rally builds caravan By Joey Rothenberg "We in Virginia are asking for your BALTIMORE-One hundred people support in our march and rally Janu­ gathered here December 9 for a "Labor ary 13 in Richmond." speak-out for the ERA" sponsored by She also explained how Local 8888 the Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO began its campaign for ERA follow­ Council at Steelworkers Hall. ing the August conference sponsored Thomas Bradley, council president, by Labor for Equal Rights Now in his welcoming remarks told the (LERN). Unionists went to labor lead­ enthusiastic crowd, "I hope that we ers, social and professional groups, have a caravan leaving Patapsco and candidates' meetings to receive Dallas walk-a-thon raises $900 Avenue [January 13] that is twice as support. They sought and received big as the caravan that left in support extensive media coverage and they A walk-a-thon sponsored by Dallas NOW on December 16 to raise funds of the mine workers a few years ago. distributed thousands .of leaflets at for transportation to Richmond for the January 13 march raised $900. On "That caravan was six and one-half shipyard gates, shopping centers, and December 7 a press conference to publicize the Virginia march was miles long, so we've got a lot of work campuses. attended by representatives from NOW, International Union of Electrical ahead of us. But I think that it can be The meeting also heard from Jerry Workers, Communication Workers of America, and others. done. I think that it has to be done." Gordon, LERN co-coordinator. The caravan Bradley referred to is The spirit at Steelworkers Hall was Bay Area labor salutes ERA on January 11 being organized by the labor council kept high by three young people lead­ Militant correspondent Ruth Cheney writes from Oakland that momen­ to bring ERA supporters to Richmond, ing the crowd in singing labor songs. tum for the January 11 rally is growing. The rally is sponsored by the Virginia, on January 13. There will They ended with Solidarity Forever, San Francisco and East Bay chapters of the National Organization for also be a mini-rally that morning to during which the crowd spontaneously Women and the Coalition of Labor Union Women. It will be held at the send off the caravan. rose to its feet. Building Service Employees Local 87 Hall-Auditorium, 240 Golden Gate Large quantities of leaflets publiciz­ Bradley continued, "I don't think Avenue, San Francisco, at 7:30p.m. ing the labor march were available for Three Central Labor Councils in the area-San Francisco, Alameda, that we can find any real pride in our the speak-out participants to take back and Santa Clara-have endorsed. John F. Crowley, secretary-treasurer of country until every single citizen in to their local unions, organizations, the San Francisco Labor Council, will be one of the speakers. this country who wants a job can have and campuses. Also distributed were one; until every single person in this hundreds of raffle tickets to be sold to The event has been called in solidarity with the January 13 Richmond country who wants a decent education raise money for ERA activities. ERA march. Petitions printed up by the Bay Area Coalition are being can have one; until every single citizen Members of Local 8888 sold a good circulated in work places and on tables in communities by NOW activists. in this country who has a medical number of ERA sweatshirts. Over 1,000 signatures for the ERA have been collected in only one week. problem can be treated without fear of Members of the Women's Advisory The petitions will be sent along with a delegation to the Virginia march losing their homes; and until every Committees of USW A locals 2609 and to show California support for the ERA drive there. single American is treated equally." 2610 distributed hard-hat stickers For more information call (415) 398-6312. Keynote speaker Paula Axsom, ERA which read: "USWA for ERA-Labor chairperson of United Steelworkers March, Richmond, Va., Jan. 13." The San Diego solidarity rally on January 13 Local 8888 in Newport News, Virginia, two committees had printed 5,000 A labor rally for the ERA will be held in San Diego January 13 at the said, "Local 8888 broke a barrier when stickers as part of a campaign to International Association of Machinists Hall, 5150 Kearny Mesa Road at they won their union recognition battle publicize the ERA in the mills. 1 p.m. Representatives from Social Service Employees International in a right-to-work state. And that will Word of January 13 got out beyond Union Local 535, Communications Workers of America Local11509, lAM be an inspiration to break down Steelworkers Hall, as the program was Local 1125, NOW and Poway Federation of Teachers will be among the another barrier-because Virginia is covered by both local · TV and the speakers. Compiled by Suzanne Haig an unratified state. Morning Sun.

10 ~P-_ecial subscri~tion drive Militant counters Carter's lie on Iran By Peter Seidman - member of the International Associa­ and Stu Singer tion of Machinists. Washington's war drive against Iran Cooper reports that there seems to is fueling a deep-going discussion have been a shift in people's thinking among working people. in the past week. "I had a big argu­ Members of the Socialist Workers ment about Iran with one worker two Party and Young Socialist Alliance are weeks ago," Cooper said. right in the middle of this debate. "But last week he came back and Last week, the socialists launched a told me he'd changed his mind, espe­ special campaign to sell subscriptions cially about the shah. 'What do we to the Militant and Perspectiva Mun­ want to defend him for?' he asked. 'We dial. are the ones who will have to go to This campaign is a central part of war.''' the SWP and YSA's efforts to organize Cooper explains that there's still a opposition to the government's flood of lot of confusion around the hostages. racist, pro-war propaganda. "After the media carried a proposal for Socialists want as many of the peo­ people to wear white armbands last ple they work with as possible to week to show support for Carter, a become regular readers of the Militant majority of people in my department and PM. wore the armbands. But it only lasted We especially want workers to read two days. They dropped it because they the on-the-scene dispatches from Iran distrust Carter too much." by Militant Associate Editor Cindy The stakes are very high in this Jaquith. She is reporting the news political tug of war. Washington is about Iran that is almost totally fighting for a free hand to launch blacked out of the big-business media: military attacks on a deepening revolu­ how workers are organizing to defend Militant tion in a strategic country. The govern­ their country, to take control of their Matllde Zimmermann, SWP candidate for U.S. vice-president, finds that selling ment keeps up a constant barrage of factories, and build a new society 'Perspective Mundlal,' the Spanish-language socialist biweekly, Is easier than ever. lies aimed at cutting off the educa­ responsive to their needs. tional discussion now underway. She is reporting the exposures of But subscription sales are a good CIA complicity with the shah's torture days around the Christmas holidays. like. The sailor who wanted to go to answer. That's what Michael Collins, a and murder squads-another story not But as soon as socialists return to war against Iran was against the war hostler on the Burlington Northern "fit to print" in major newspapers. work, they will make subscription in Vietnam. Railroad in Denver, has discovered. The facts al)out the revolutionary sales a top priority. He began to see the. connection. Some half-dozen people at his work­ upsurge in Iran offer the clearest proof All indications are that the Militant Later he said he wanted to picket the place have had subscriptions to the that Carter's threats have nothing to and PM will find a receptive audience headquarters with signs saying "No Militant for awhile. do with the hostages that he sheds so among workers beginning to question More Vietnams." When discussions take place at Col­ many crocodile tears over. Washing­ Carter's stand on Iran. Other sailors told Dave that the lins' job-site, these workers join in to ton's real aim-on behalf of the giant commander at the Norfolk Naval Oper­ defend his positions against U.S. war "The biggest response is when we corporations it serves-is to crush the ations Base has issued a direct order threats. compare Iran to Vietnam," Dave Zilly gains of the Iranian workers and that sailors were forbidden to discuss Our special Iran subscription cam­ farmers and reimpose the shah or reports. Since the Iranian crisis began, their views of the Iranian situation. paign will swell the ranks of these some other dictator who will cooperate Zilly and a few other SWP members Doug Cooper, the SWP candidate for antiwar forces in the American labor with imperialist exploitation. have been selling an average of thirty­ governor of North Carolina, is a movement. Why not join us? These are the kinds of facts that our five Militants a week at the shipyard subscription drive can bring into the where they work in Norfolk, Virginia. debate that is raging back and forth in Zilly gave the example of one sailor the plants. assigned to fire watch on a Navy ship Our seven-week campaign will end he was working on. The sailor said he January 31. So far, twenty-seven SWP wanted to picket Navy headquarters in branches have taken goals totaling 625 Norfolk to demand U.S. military action subscriptions. to free the hostages. Right now activity is slowing and This provoked a big discussion. Zilly Single Copy Sales Sub. Total Sales % many workers are off the job for a few talked about Vietnam, what it was City Mil PM Total Pts. Goal Sold % Ind. Dallas 1618 566 2184 1635 2700 3819 141.4 12.2 Salt Lake City 1583 103 1686 650 1800 2336 129.7 5.6 Kansas City 1982 111 2093 980 2400 3073 128.0 9.0 Atlanta - 1764 24 1788 450 1750 2238 127.8 9.1 Portland 1328 13 1341 1010 2000 2351 117.5 6.6 New Orleans 1098 62 1160 685 1600 1845 115.3 24.4 Fall sales drive results Iron Range 1130 0 1130 940 1900 2070 108.9 25.2 By Harvey McArthur gory, we came quite close to making Birmingham 2105 0 2105 470 2400 2575 107.2 14.4 The accompanying scoreboard our goal of doubling industrial sales Seattle 2253 79 2332 810 3000 3142 104.7 13.8 shows the final results of this fall's over last spring's 9.2 percent. Detroit 2~65 55 3020 1655 4500 4675 103.8 32.8 fourteen-week circulation drive for the Spurred on by interest and actions San Diego 1596 361 1957 710 2600 2667 102.5 22.7 Militant and Perspectiva Mundial. around defense of the revolution in Washington, D.C. 1707 746 2453 620 . 3000 3073 102.4 5.1 Members of the Socialist Workers Nicaragua, single-copy sales of PM Gary 1365 94 1459 550 2000 2009 100.4 18.7 Party and Young Socialist Alliance in doubled from last spring. They aver­ Boston 1967 138 2105 1160 3300 3265 98.9 7.3 more than forty-four cities participated aged 707 copies each week during the Pittsburgh 2580 6 2586 1405 4200 3991 95.0 24.2 in the drive. In addition, a team of fall drive. Morgantown 1541 0 1541 350 2000 1891 94.5 14.6 socialists spent eight weeks traveling Twenty-eight cities took weekly PM Twin Cities 2086 23 2109 1590 4000 3699 92.4 10.2 through the Piedmont area of North sales goals. PM accounted for more Denver 1293 224 1517 735 2500 2252 90.0 10.1 Carolina and the coal fields of West than 25 percent of weekly average St. Louis 1339 6 1345 535 2100 1880 89.5 18.5 Virginia selling papers and subscrip­ sales in Washington D.C., San Fran­ Cincinnati 1084 2 1086 300 1600 1386 86.6 15.6 tions. cisco, New York City, San Jose, Dallas, Oakland/Berkeley 1661 321 1982 1240 3750 3222 85.9 6.7 Overall. we sold single copies and and Houston. Indianapolis 1066 0 1066 380 1700 1446 85.0 11.9 subscriptions totaling 116,268 points. Single-copy sales on campus aver­ Louisville 1501 3 1504 775 2700 2279 84.4 23.6 Subscription points were credited on aged 589 a week. Los Angeles 3004 1006 4010 1260 6250 5270 84.3 18.5 Newark 1977 341 2318 1560 4700 3878 82.5 10.4 the basis of ten points for each ten­ Subscription sales were the weakest Chicago 2980 477 3457 875 5400 4332 80.2 28.8 week subscription; fifteen points for part of the fall drive. We sold some Tacoma 1615 20 1635 370 2500 2005 80.2 17.1 each four-month subscription; twenty 2,688 subscriptions totalling 35,685 Piedmont 1083 0 1083 110 1500 1193 79.5 17.3 points for each six-month subscription; points. This was only 59.5 percent of Albany 1010 59 1069 620 2200 1689 76.7 19.7 and thirty points for each one-year our goal. Albuquerque 1614 381 1995 360 3100 2355 75.9 7.9 subscription Again, however, these subscription Phoenix 1264 479 1743 670 3200 2413 75.4 20.1 Despite the fact that the drive was sales were strong among industrial San Antonio 711 132 843 435 1700 1278 75.1 36.8 extended two weeks, the total was only workers. Of our new subscribers, 579, Milwaukee 1205 107 1312 640 2600 1952 75.0 10.3 78 percent of our national goal of or 21 percent, identified themselves as Cleveland 837 159 996 75 1500 1071 71.4 22.3 150,000. We continued to make signifi­ members of trade unions. This came San Francisco 1795 699 2494 345 4000 2839 70.9 7.6 cant progress, however, with industrial very near our goal of 25 percent. New York City 4885 1891 6776 3060 14000 9836 70.2 8.4 Philadelphia ' sales and in boosting the circulation of Of these readers, 163 said they were 1879 349 2228 755 4600 2983 64.8 16.1 Tidewater 1139 0 1139 640 3000 1779 59.3 30.9 PM. steelworkers; 122, auto workers; 58, rail Baltimore 1139 2 1141 475 2800 1616 57.7 25.8 Sales at plantgates and on-the-job in workers; 49, electrical workers; and 37, Miami 993 287 1280 320 2800 1600 57.1 5.3 industry averaged 902 a week. This machinists. Sixty-six others identified San Jose 928 325 1253 45 2500 1298 51.9 9.7 was an increase of 28 percent over last themselves as members of various Toledo 828 27 855 115 2400 970 40.4 31.9 spring's drive. other unions. Houston 585 203 788 415 3300 1203 36.4 21.3 On-the-job sales alone increased by We sold 300 PM subscriptions. Of Ann Arbor 158 18 176 10 186 .0 32 percent. these new readers, thirty-seven, or 12.3 Miscellaneous 443 0 443 2895 3338 29.1 Altogether, industrial sales were 15.5 percent, identified themselves as trade TOTALS 70,684 9,899 80,583 35,685 150,000 116,268 77.5 15.6 percent of the total. Given that several unionists. major industrial sales cities didn't Of our new subscribers this fall, 440 % ind. indicates percentage reported of total sold at plant gates and to coworkers on the job. report their weekly results in this cate- identified themselves as students.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 11 Socialists sp_ur antiwar actions Seattle events aim fire at Iran h steria By Mary Kellogg SEATTLE-"It was clearly one of the highlights of my fall campaign 350 students tour." That's how Matilde Zimmermann, Socialist Workers Party vice­ at h.s. debate presidential candidate, described a· De­ By Mike Maloney cember 12 news conference here on the SEATTLE-If you were wonder­ University of Washington campus. It ing whether or not those who was called to hail the December 11 would have to fight in a war court victory against President Car­ against Iran-that is, young ter's order to deport and investigate people-are opposed to it, no more Iranian students. convincing evidence could be of­ The SWP, along with the National fered than the reaction by 350 of Emergency Civil Liberties Committee, them to a panel discussion held at had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Timberline High School in Lacey, Iranian students. Washington. [On December 14, the Washington The December 13 panel consisted D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the of Jim Levitt, Socialist Workers injunction against Carter until the Party candidate for U.S. Senate, government's appeal is heard by a Republican Secretary of State three-judge panel. That hearing is Bruce Chapman, and Democratic scheduled for December 20.] state legislator Del Bausche. In addition to Zimmermann, speak­ The students' answer was loud ers included Said Nik-Kah, an Iranian and clear-unanimous sentiment student and supporter of the Iranian against a war in Iran and the Socialist Workers Party; Abbas Alami, draft. Even the Democrat and the representative of the Committee to November 28 march at University of Washington Militant/Rita Lee Republican, under pressure from Defend the Legal Rights of Iranian the audience, had to say they were Students; Baba Tunde Aina, Nigerian against a war and the draft "at student and chair of the Commission What was particularly significant of Rights out the window with his this time." of International Students; Dan Smith was the large number of students who deportation order, the immediate vic­ Jim Levitt got the most enthusi­ of the National Lawyers Guild; Al­ were present-approximately 100, sev­ tims were Iranian students themselves. astic response for stating unequivo­ phonso Simiano, a Chicano student; eral dozen of whom were Iranians. But this order also sought to intimi­ cal opposition to a war with Iran Sami Aoude, Organization of Arab In his opening remarks, Said Nik­ date others in this country who would and the draft. Students; and Professor Sheikholes­ Kah, who chaired the conference, said, speak out against the shah or protest At the end of the meeting six lami, an Iranian professor of political "This decision proves that a big major­ any U.S. moves against Iran. So when students said they were interested science. ity of the people don't want a war, this ruling was overturned, anyone in joining the Young Socialist Al­ Four local television stations, six another Vietnam." who ever demonstrated against the liance. radio stations, and all of the major Zimmermann spoke next saying, war in Vietnam, or against racist print media in the area attended. "When President Carter threw the Bill discrimination, or discrimination against women, or any striker who ever walked a picket line, also won an Jim Levitt launched his campaign for important victory." U.S. Senate from Washington on the Hailing the injunction, other speak­ Socialist Workers Party ticket. He said Denver Iranian to stand trial ers stressed how Carter's order was an he was running "to explain why the began at a local campus where By Sue Adley attack on everyone's constitutional U.S. government created the crisis in -DENVER-Afshin Shariati has there are a number of students rights. Iran." from the Middle East. They found been ordered to stand trial for The news conference followed a ser­ Levitt, a tool and die worker at the second degree murder because he no one, says the defense, but ies of activities here protesting Carter's Boeing Company here and a member defended his home against anti­ "warmed up" by smashing some war moves. On November 28, a march of the International Association of Iranian attackers. lights. of 300 demanding "No more Viet­ Machinists Local 751, has been active The charge stems from a tragedy They then went to a nearby nams" and "Deport the shah, not the in organizing the protests against Car­ in which a Denver youth lost his apartment complex, where they students" followed a broadly spon­ ter's war drive. life-one of the results of the hyste­ spotted Shariati's name on a mail­ sored news conference at the Univer­ Eighty people attended a socialist ria campaign led by the govern­ box. Counting in cadence, three of sity of Washington. campaign rally to hear both Levitt and ment and the news media against the youths smashed windows of his On November 29, 250 people at­ Zimmermann on December 9. Support­ Iran and Iranians. apartment. The two broken win­ tended a speakout on "What is happen­ ers contributed more than $4,000. On November 10 a former high dows and a damaged screen door ing in Iran?" A featured speaker was Along with Levitt's campaign, the school baseball coach invited about were submitted as evidence. Gerry Foley, staff writer for Interconti­ Seattle and Tacoma branches of the a dozen high school students to his Shariati thought a bomb was nental Press/ lnprecor and an observer SWP have stepped up sales of the home. He then launched into a exploding according to his attor­ of events in Iran earlier this year. Militant to get out the truth about the venomous, inflammatory, and ra­ ney, and fired in an attempt to The next day Foley spoke to an Iranian crisis. cist diatribe against Iranians, ac­ prevent the bomber from escaping. audience of ninety-five in Tacoma, During Zimmermann's visit, cam­ cording to testimony reported in One youth was killed and two were Washington. paign 'Supporters carried out plantgate the Denver Post. The students were injured. Also on November 30, 100 picketed a sales at Boeing and Tacoma Boat and drinking. Shariati was released on a Seattle hotel where Vice-president Wal­ reported a good response from workers. The students set out from the ex­ $25,000 bail bond. His trial is ex­ ter Mondale was speaking. They pro­ Second-shift supporters at Boeing coach's home armed with baseball pected to be held some time in tested .American aggression against organized a get-together for Zimmer­ bats looking for Iranians. They January. Iran, as well as nuclear power. mann and five of their co-workers at­ At a news conference November 29, tended.

By Osborne Hart For several weeks, Militant corres­ Student Deportation sponsored a fo­ While preparations were being made pondent Seth Galinsky reports, heated rum on "Iran: Another Vietnam?" to whisk the shah to an island off the discussions on Iran had broken out on December 14. Two hundred and fifty Panama coast, demonstrations contin­ the main campus thoroughfare involv­ people attended. ued against the deposed monarch and ing hundreds, if not thousands, of stu­ The Minneapolis Armed Forces Iran against U.S. military intervention in dents. Recruitment Center was the December Iran. At the December 6 speakout, there 15 target for 175 people opposing U.S. More than 1,000 students attended were a variety of viewpoints. A small military intervention in Iran and the an open·air speakout on "The Truth group started a chant of "Free the teach-ins, deportation of Iranian students. About Iran" at Arizona State Univer­ hostages," which was countered with a sity in Tempe December 6. louder chant of "Send back the shah." Organizers of the demonstration, the Sponsored by the Young Socialist After the forum, hundreds of stu­ Iranian Defense Coalition, issued a protests Alliance, the forum speakers included: dents stayed around to discuss Iran. press statement that read in part: Behzad V ahedi, Iranian Student Orga­ In Los Angeles, more than 800 "President Carter would have us be­ nization; Louis Rhodes, director, Ariz­ people-including many lranians­ lieve that the Vietnam era is over and occur ona American Civil Liberties Union; gathered for the "Human Rights Tribu­ that there is· now a national consensus Derrique Powell, president, Black Stu­ nal: A Teach-in on U.S. Involvement in on the propriety of U.S. military inter- dent Union; and Dan Fein, Socialist Iran" December 8. vention overseas. We say no." Workers Party. The event was sponsored by a host One bystander, interviewed by a across ACLU Director Rhodes denounced of organizations including the N a­ local television station, said, "I support the deportation of Iranian students, tiona! Lawyers Guild, Iranian Stu­ what these people are doing. I just saying, "We should not let the crisis dents Association-National Union, turned eighteen and I don't want to go nation with Iran become a pretext for taking Social Services Union Local 535, Com­ to war for the shah." away democratic rights." munist Party, and Venceremos Bri­ Other activities protesting U.S. mil­ Cobey McCarthy, a Vietnam war gade. itary moves against Iran were reported veteran, declared, "We do not want The Boston Committee Against in Dallas, Baltimore, Philadelphia, another Vietnam." U.S. Intervention in Iran and Iranian and Kansas City, Missouri.

12 Sedwick on TV, radio YSA plans fight against Carter war threats By Margaret Kelley sentiment is strong. "They do not want LOUISVILLE-The nineteenth na­ to participate in another Vietnam hor­ tional convention of the Young Social­ ror story," he reports. A common re­ ist Alliance will meet here December sponse is, "Sure, a lot of those people 29..January 1. want us to go to war, but they'll be the In town to build support for the ones sitting at home watching it on gathering and to talk to young people TV." about attending was YSA National Sedwick's visit to Louisville was the Chairperson Cathy Sedwick. last stop on her national tour in sup­ At a December 10 news conference, port of the 1980 Socialist Workers Sedwick told reporters that one of the presidential campaign. She has been most urgent discussions at the YSA talking to young people at plant gates, convention will be around building a in high schools, and on college cam­ campaign to counter Carter's war puses about the inspiring revolution­ moves against Iran. ary developments around the world. Sedwick's remarks were aired by two Last summer Sedwick toured Cuba TV and two radio stations, and picked with the Socialist Workers Party's 1980 up in the Louisville Times. She also vice-presidential candidate Matilde gave an extensive interview to Louis­ Zimmermann to report back to young ville's Black community newspaper, people here on the gains of the Cuban the Louisville Defender. revolution. "Enough young people died in Viet­ In September, she visited Nicaragua, nam defending the profits of American where she met with and interviewed corporations," Sedwick said. "We can­ young revolutionaries of the Sandi­ Militant/Lou Howort not allow this government to drag us nista National Liberation Front. YSA has been In forefront of demonstrations protesting U.S. threats against Iranian into another war. The shah must be "You see Nicaragua and the over­ revolution. sent back! No U.S. military interven­ throw of Somoza. You see Iran and the tion into Iran!" overthrow of the shah. And you know try. Forty-seven percent of YSA discuss the emergency campaign to The YSA has been in the forefront of that big changes are taking place," members are now working industrial stop Carter's war moves against Iran; demonstrations, picket lines, teach-ins, Sedwick tells the young people she jobs. The greatest number are in the the Nicaragua solidarity drive; the and rallies across the country demand­ meets. "People are understanding that United Steelworkers, followed by the 1980 socialist election campaign; ing "U.S. hands off Iran." there is nothing more powerful than United Auto Workers union. women's liberation and the struggle While in Louisville, Sedwick was one the organized power of working people On the morning of December 30 a for ratification of the Equal Rights of the participants in a University of around the world." ' series of workshops will be held where Amendment; high school work; the Louisville speak-out, "Say No to War The YSA convention will discuss antinuclear movement; and more. Against Iran." members of various unions can ex­ and vote on a major solidarity cam­ change information about their expe­ To be a part of this exciting conven­ YSA leader Tom Swetland, a produc­ paign of aid for Nicaragua. This war­ riences in political activity on the job tion, clip the coupon below or tele­ tion worker at General Electric Ap­ torn country is in desperate need of and in their unions. phone us in Louisville at (502) 587-8418 pliance Park here, was one of those material aid to build a new Nicaragua or at the YSA National Office at (212) who has been circulating an antiwar where education, health care, and Other workshops the next day will 989-7570. petition among his co-workers (see other social needs are put first. box). An exciting feature of the YSA con­ Swetland says that among young vention will be a report and slide show workers, especially Blacks, antiwar by SWP leader Pedro Camejo, who has Workers sign anti-shah petition spent several months in Nicaragua Members of the Louisville Iran in defense of the deposed shah reporting for Perspectiva Mundial and Young Socialist Alliance is unjustified. Intercontinental Press/ Inprecor. helped to circulate the follow­ Should we fight a war over an Another highlight will be the De­ ing petition among their co­ internationally known tyrant? cember 30 presidential campaign rally workers at Louisville's General It was wrong for the CIA to for the Socialist Workers candidates: Electric plant. Signed by fifty­ impose the shah on the Iranian Andrew Pulley for president and Ma­ three young workers in the people in the first place. It was tilde Zimmermann for vice-president. plant, it has been submitted to wrong for the U.S. government to Both candidates will attend the en­ several Louisville newspapers. cover up and condone the shah's tire convention and are looking for­ The text follows: repressive regime. ward to talking informally with their The shah should never have been supporters. allowed into this country. Dear Editor, Socialist youth leaders from around It would be wrong to go to war the world will also be present for the As workers we realize we are the over a dictator who has earned the convention. first to fight and die in any war. hatred of millions throughout the This will be the YSA's first national '<~ Presently there is a very real world. i convention since it decided earlier this threat of war between the U.S. and The way to solve this crisis is to Militant/Arnold Weissberg year to center its activities among the Iran. Any military action against send back the shah. CATHY SEDWICK radicalizing young workers in indus-

19th National Convention of the Young Socialist Alliance Come to Louisville December 29-January 1 Hands Off Iran! Galt House Socialist Workers Campaign Rally Hear: Andrew Pulley, SWP candidate for president Matllde Zimmermann, SWP candidate for vice-president Hector Marroqu,n, YSA leader fighting for political asylum

Sunday, December 30 8:30p.m. Galt House, Archibald Room (Fourth St. at River) Louisville, Kentucky

Name 0 I want to join the YSA Address ------­ 0 Send me more information City ------on the YSA convention State ___ Zip _____ 0 I want to subscribe to Phone ------the 'Young Socialist' ($2 for one year)

Clip and mail to YSA National Office, P.O. Box 471 Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 13 e need a person wb By Suzanne Haig Hall," the report began. Joseph DeCerbo from Armco agreed pipe mill at the point, came to the rally BALTIMORE-There are "two Along with Pulley on the platform with Pulley that the "Democrats and because "I am fed up and want Americas," Andrew Pulley told a so­ Sunday were Glova Scott, a young Republicans say they're for working changes." cialist campaign rally at Steelworkers people but they really are not." worker from Sparrows Point and "The line of presidents is getting Hall here December 16. Dave Busch, a young worker on the member of the Young Socialist Al­ worse," he said. One is the America of Rockefeller liance; Professor Jesse McDade from labor gang in the primary mill at and the . other billionaires, who own Morgan State University, who ans­ Sparrows Point, said: "Andrew Pulley "We need a person who speaks for and rule the country. The other, of wered the government lies on Iran; and had more to say about the issues than workers, a voice from the people, not working people struggling to survive, Octavia Roberts. Roberts is chair of any other candidate. I don't like the just one person speaking on how caught between unemployment and the Equal Rights Committee of the others and I don't believe in voting for things should be-not a capitalist­ inflation. Metropolitan Labor Council and a the best of the worst." imperialist who makes money off The Socialist Workers Party presi­ founder of United Steelworkers Local Joe Lee, a young Black worker in the workers. dential candidate hit on two major 2610's Women's Advisory Committee. themes: the class divisions in America, She spoke on the January 13 ERA and the war drive against Iran, in march in Richmond, Virginia, and which workers will be called on to abortion rights. sacrifice so the Rockefellers can con­ After the rally, she discussed these tinue to exploit the peoples and resour­ issues further with the Militant. ces of the Middle East. "The unions today," she said, "are These themes hit home in this becoming involved with social issues. working-class city. Women are helping in this process by Already nearly half of the 6,000 taking the lead in fighting for their workers at the big General Motors rights and the rights of all the plant have been laid off. members." Steelworkers have been hit with She .said that building for the Virgi­ layoffs since September. At the Bethle­ nia march has helped build the union hem Steel Sparrows Point plant of by getting new people involved and so 18,000 workers, rumor is that many excited that they have started to come more will be laid off soon. to union meetings for the first time. This is big business's Christmas Roberts's most forceful opinion was present to American workers and Bal­ reserved for the issue of abortion. timore workers are feeling it. "This is a personal issue with me," That's why Pulley's call to "get the she said. "I had several illegal abor­ millionaires out of the White House" tions and two of my friends died from struck a responsive chord. them. And that's why steelworkers came "When abortion was illegal, an indi­ from both Sparrows Point and Armco, vidual used to go around the neighbor­ a specialty steel plant of 1,200 workers, hood and everyone knew she was to hear the socialist candidate. giving abortions with knitting needles on kitchen tables. Media coverage "Women must have the right to safe, Some 4,000 leaflets had been passed legal abortions. No one else should out to workers at the two plants. decide what we do with our bodies." Media coverage had also been exten­ sive. The local CBS-TV affiliate Discussion perioel showed a film clip of Pulley campaign­ After the rally of seventy-five, which ing on a Baltimore street corner. was made even more lively by a ques­ "Steelworker from Gary running for tion and answer period, people dis­ Andrew Pulley campaigns at Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point plant and addresses rally U.S. president to speak at Steelworker cussed Pulley's talk. Sandier, and Jessie McDade. Andrtnlv Pulley:'a good t . By Suzanne Haig parties of big business always mean Pulley says, because a big Teamster conferences and other media appearan­ Faced with layoffs, inflation, the more hardship for working people. organizing drive has been under way ces are organized ahead of time. energy crisis, and the threat of war, workers know it and they don't like there. "Workers are most excited by the working people today are angry, suspi­ it. Pulley explained that the Greensboro campaign and take it more seriously if "Socialists don't sound out of touch massacre of anti-Klan protesters last they heard about it on the news the cious of the government and big busi­ or utopian when we present radical ness, and looking for solutions. month was an attempt to crush the night before." solutions. We sound realistic. deepening labor struggles there and Pulley believes that the press cover­ This makes campaigning for social­ "Take Iran and the oil crisis. When ism quite a bit different from a few the loosening of the -bonds of racism. age of the socialist campaign this year you explain that the same greedy, "The employers, the Klan and the is more extensive than in 1972- years ago. thieving bunch of oil companies are That's the assessment of Andrew government are working together to expecially for so early in the cam­ behind the ex-shah of Iran, want to Pulley, Socialist Workers Party candi­ try to intimidate Black and white paign. send you and me over there to be date for president of the United States. workers." He suggests that areas contact radio killed, and in the meantime force us to and TV talk shows far in advance of Pulley was the party's nominee for pay two dollars a gallon for gas, vice-president in 1972. North Carolina ballot drive his tour to insure coverage. workers understand. That's why so During a brief New York stopover in Pulley said that the Socialist many agree with us about sending the Workers Party is going to launch a Involving workers the course of his campaign tour, Pulley shah back and nationalizing the oil talked with the Militant about his petition drive in North Carolina next Along with plant-gate rallies, Pulley companies." year to get the SWP candidates on the has attended a number of successful impressions from the first four months It's the same with nuclear power, ballot there for the first time ever. dinners and cocktail meetings held at of campaigning. Pulley explains. "Just a few years ago "The type of campaign we're doing "This is one way we can show that campaign supporters' homes. When people thought nuclear power was a working people will not back down," people are working long hours­ today we couldn't do when I ran in good idea-cheap energy, jobs, etc. 1972," he said. "For one thing, the he said. sometimes six days a week-a relaxed "Three Mile Island threw that right Plant-gate rallies are an important atmosphere for political discussion is meetings we had then were almost all out the window. Now no one wants a on the campuses." part of Pulley's campaigning. They are very attractive to them. plant built next to them." a way of talking to a very large Some areas are experimenting with Today the receptivity to a socialist Another political change Pulley noti­ number of workers. new ways to involve campaign sup­ candidate is broader, and Pulley ces is the greater understanding of the "The time is short, of course, as porters. In Tarrytown, New York, for spends much of his time at plant gates, need for solidarity between Black and people rush to get to work or to get example, socialists working at the mine entrances, and railroad yards white workers. Pulley tells of a discus­ home. Sometimes workers just take General Motors plant are organizing a talking with workers. sion he had with several white workers literature, wish you luck, buy a Mili­ campaign committee with several of A small but growing number of in Greensboro, North Carolina. tant. . But that's very important," Pul­ their co-workers. They have sold forty workers see Pulley's campaign as their "We discussed the role of racism in ley stresses. "They won't forget. They copies of Pulley's pamphlet, How I campaign and socialism as their poli­ keeping wages down and the lie that will read the material and discuss it, Became a Socialist, and have involved tics. white workers will gain if Black especially if there are socialist workers co-workers in selling the Militant. workers are paid less or are kept out of in the plant to talk with about it." They organized a brunch to hear 'We sound realistic' certain industries. Socialists can bring their co-workers Cathy Sedwick, a leader of the Young "Talking about socialism is much "The fact that discrimination doesn't to the campaign tables and introduce Socialist Alliance, report on her trip to easier now," Pulley explains. "The benefit whites, I pointed out, is shown them to the candidates, Pulley sug­ Cuba. They are now planning a meet­ whole system is a mess from oil and by the fact that wages in North Carol­ gests. ing for Pulley in January. unemployment to the danger of war. ina are the lowest in the country­ Pulley notes that in addition to pass­ Pulley thinks this is possible in other Working people want answers to fun­ lower than Mississippi. Racism is a ing out free campaign material, it's areas. The main thing is to let people damental questions because it's clear huge block to organizing unions there, good to sell the Militant and especially help in whatever way they can. that the problems facing us now are which are needed to win better wages introductory subscriptions. "Workers who decide to support our fundamental. and working conditions." Plant-gate meetings, according to campaign want to help publicize it. "The solutions presented by the two This was even easier to explain, Pulley, are most successful when news They see it as their own. They have a 14 l speaks for workers' "We'll never become millionaires and Lee would like to see Pulley on TV about the Democrats and Republicans. evidence at the Baltimore rally, was 1ly swindlers get into politics. What more. "I know there is a lot of people "There's no difference in the two par­ also shown when Pulley campaigned a >es on up there is beyond our imagi­ out there who think like me and want ties and there's no point in being a couple of days before at Fruit Growers ltion because we've been conditioned change, but they've got to hear Pulley liberal. They are operated by big busi­ Express. At this northern Virginia think a certain way about politi­ like I did." ness." plant, 600-700 workers build and repair Several people came from the Mary­ refrigerated rail cars. ans." This was the first socialist rally for land Art Institute. One was Ako During the lunch break on pay day, Asked when he began to have these Esther Y aker, who heard about it at a Y amro. Y amro had joined the Black workers are in a rush to cash their •inions, Lee said, "I've been feeling meeting of the National Organization Panther Party in the late 1960s in checks and grab a sandwich in the is way for a long time. You socialists for Women. "I felt instinctively that Baltimore when he was "fresh out of one-half hour alloted. Nevertheless, six e saying what I've been feeling. A this is where I should be." ovement such as this with guidance the Marine Corps and Vietnam," he young workers spent their break time ill go a long way." She liked what Pulley had to say told the Militant. "I was frustrated talking politics with Pulley. The issues with what I saw and began to learn ranged from the ex-shah of Iran to the about revolution. need for workers in this country to "Tonight is a continuation of this for form a labor party, from railway safety me. I see Pulley as an alternative for to nationalizing the oil companies. president. I don't think my vote for One of the workers said afterwards, him is a vote wasted. Voting, like "I would like a couple of hours to talk participating in this rally, is a step with Pulley because I really like what toward my freedom, change through­ he had to say." out the world, and change right here in That's what the 1980 Socialist Baltimore." Workers presidential campaign is all John Robertson came to the rally about: talking serious politics with directly from work at the point, so he workers who are beginning to see missed the speeches. But Robertson, themselves as part of the "other Amer­ who was involved in the civil rights ica" and want to fight back and do struggles at the plant in the late 1950s something about it. and early 1960s, had some strong And Pulley has an answer for that: opinions on politics today. "We need "Join the Socialist Workers Party." change and I believe the young people can change things. WASHINGTON, D.C.-Seventy "We workers need a better distribu­ people attended ·a Socialist Workers tion of money-on the job and in campaign rally here December 14 .. society. At work some, like Blacks, They included rail workers, com­ make less than others. In society, one munication workers, and an Iran­ guy is shifting $200,000 to $2 million a ian family. day around to make more money while Greetings were presented by Lisa we are working at a deficit-working Garcia of the Bloc of Salvadorans forty hours but unable to make ends in D.C. in Solidarity with the Popu­ meet." lar Revolutionary Bloc, and Vince Benson, president of Brotherhood 'We're the ones who produce' of Railway and Airline Clerks Lo­ How will change occur? "By doing cal 1906 and vice-president of the nothing," Robertson says. "Workers D.C. Coalition of Black Trade Un­ should shut it down. We are the ones ionists. who produce, not the owners. They do Benson praised the efforts of the pothing. Their hands are soft." Socialist Workers Party "in cham­ Steelworkers Hall. Other speakers (seated, from left) are 0 The new openness of working people pioning the cause of building a to socialist ideas, which was much in labor party." to ake in getting the word out to others ested in socialism. Cuba. places for young workers to find out ren if only in a small way." "These individuals may not decide That's why Pulley plans to go to more about socialism and how to fight Socialist campaign rallies and fo­ yet to join the SWP," Pulley explains, Cuba in January along with other U.S. for it," Pulley said. tms are larger now than in past "but they will be active alongside us on socialists-"to find out~firsthand how And on January 13 Pulley and Zim­ ~ars, according to Pulley. In many the job and in the union around the big they've been able to solve many of the mermann will join thousands of union­ .aces the new supporters attending issues of the day. They'll learn more problems they had, and we still have." ists and other women's rights sup­ 1tnumber the SWP members. about us. Joining a revolutionary But before he visits revolutionary porters in Richmond, Virginia, for the "Sometimes we expect certain party is new to workers. It takes time." Cuba, Pulley has a couple of other labor-sponsored march for ratification orkers to come but they don't. Then priorities. After four long months on of the Equal Rights Amendment. her people we never thought would Confidence the campaign trail he's anxious to The fact that this demonstration­ ! interested show up-or people in the "One of the main problems in win­ spend the holidays with his wife which hadn't even been called when ant we don't know. They saw a ning workers to socialist ideas and to Jeanne and their baby daughter, Ais­ the Pulley-Zimmermann campaign aflet and decided to check us out. joining our party is not that they don't linn. was launched in August-has mush­ 1.at's why it's important to do a lot of agree with us on many of the big Then both Pulley and his vice­ roomed into the biggest labor action afleting at the plant." issues. The problem is that working presidential running-mate, Matilde for women's rights in U.S. history is, people don't see how positive change­ Zimmermann, will be in Louisville, in Pulley's view, a sign of the chang­ ttracts leading activists whether in the unions or in society-is Kentucky, for the Young Socialist Al­ irtg times. Pulley notes another difference: the going to happen. They· don't yet see liance convention, December 29- Good times to be campaigning for tmpaign attracts more leading acti­ themselves as the force that's going to January 1. "This will be one of the best socialism. sts from unions, women's, and civil make it happen. They think someone ghts groups. At his Pittsburgh rally, else is going to do it. Le head of the civil rights committee "They don't yet have the confidence om a United Steelworkers local came, that they are the leaders, that they are Help fund socialist campaign ; did a leader of the NAACP. At the going to have to fight to run the unions The year 1980 promises to be one Enclosed is my contribution of ewark rally, the president of the Ne­ themselves. That they are going to where big business and its govern­ $ __ to the Socialist Workers ark Teachers Association brought have to build a labor party. That they ment will continue to tighten the Campaign. eetings. So did a NOW leader. In are going to lead the working class in noose around our necks: higher Name 1icago an activist in the women's building a society based on human prices, more unemployment, the Address ------mmittee of USWA Local 65 attended. needs and human rights. threat of war. City State Pulley has found that a question and "We can help convince working peo­ But as 1979 showed, working Zip Phone Lswer format for forums and even ple of their power through our cam­ people are less and less willing to U nion/School/Org. llies is often best. "Workers who paign and through our activity on the sit back and take it. They are Make checks payable to Socialist me to these meetings have some big job, in the union, in the battles for angry and looking for ways to fight Workers Presidential Campaign .estions they would like to have social change. In the process many back. Committee, 14 Charles Lane, New tswered. Answering these questions workers will decide to join the party York, N.Y. 10014. whatever format necessary should that is leading this fight against big The socialist campaign speaks our number-one priority. You can't business and its government. This is directly to the needs of working A copy of our report is filed with the ver everyone's questions in informal beginning to happen already." people. Help us make our $80,000 Federal Election Commission and is scussions after a meeting. And peo­ for '80 fund drive. We have now available for purchase from the Federal e learn from the questions of others­ reached the $63,272 mark. Election Commission, Washington, Example of Cuba D.C. makes for an exciting evening." Pulley believes it is important to We need your financial help to A federal court ruling allows us not to Derhaps the biggest success of the point to the example of a country get out working-class politics to disclose the names of contributors in 80 Socialist Workers campaign so where the workers have kicked out the working people. Send your contri­ order to protect their First Amendment : is bringing to campaign events a capitalists and are running society in bution with the coupon today. rights. mber of industrial workers inter- their own interests. That example is

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 15 Refugee suit exposes brutality in Haiti By Andrea Baron The U.S. government, arguing that require the immediate arrest and im­ Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti. MIAMI-While Carter proclaims it a the Haitians are fleeing economic prisonment of any Haitian who is Many of the Haitians spoke movingly "principle" to give asylum to the mass­ hardship "only," tries to deport them. returned after unsuccessfully seeking of the torture and imprisonment await­ murderer ex-shah of Iran, Washington political asylum. ing refugees forced to return to Haiti. The brutal treatment they face has extends no such compassion to the been brought to light by testimony in a A second witness who had worked in thousands of Haitian refugees who class-action lawsuit seeking to block Haitian defense headquarters testified arrive here every year seeking political the deportation of 4,000 Haitians. that he had seen an order for a group asylum. Hearings began here November 23. of returnees from the U.S. to be sent to Picket:'asylum The Haitians are fleeing the bloody Fort-Dimanche prison. The prisoners dictatorship of "President-for-life" The court heard testimony from a were later executed without a trial. Jean Claude Duvalier. Many are so Haitian who had served five years in for Haitians' Dade County officials estimate that MIAMI-More than 100 people desperate they take to the sea in small, Duvalier's secret police. He reported between 10,000 and 19,000 Haitian demanding political asylum for dangerously overcrowded boats. that standing orders from the dictator refugees live in the Miami area. Since Haitian refugees and an end to the first big group of refugees arrived U.S. support to Duvalier picketed seven years ago, the U.S. has granted the November 28 opening session asylum to only 58 of the 5, 795 who of a Conference on the Caribbean. requested it. The picket was organized by the A lawyer for the refugees said the Coalition for Human Rights for ····· .. conditions under which deportation Haitian Refugees and Konbit Li­ proceedings are conducted are "hor­ bete, a Haitian group. It protested rendous." the visit of officials of the bloody Often as many as fifty hearings a regime of "Baby Doc" Duvalier to day are scheduled, seven days a week. this State Department-sponsored There were also no stenographic re­ conference. cords of the hearings, and statements The picket continued for more made in Creole were not carefully than an hour, with lively chants of translated. "Hey, hey USA, stop supporting Meanwhile, 300 Haitians came to a Duvalier," "Political asylum now," December 4 hearing held by the Presi­ and "Somoza's gone, Duvalier's dent's Select Commission on Immigra­ next." -A.B. tion and Refugee Policy, chaired by Jnurnal & <6uibt "Dedicated to the cause of the people--- no good cause shall lack a champion and evil shaH not thrive unopposed" USPS 277-560

Vol. LXXX No. 49 Norfolk, Virginia Friday December 7, 1979 2 Sections 20 Pages Price 25 Cents Socialist Worker Seeks To Unseat Paul Trible

By Kirt Campbell Worker• Party for two-and-a-baU blacks," Grant retnrn the Bhab the government harbors the greatest to whip up against Iranian students. yean. This is her first attempt at staled. "I will aloo immediately and criminal since Hitler? Any American '•The real issue in the Iran crisis is NORFOLK-Sharon Grant, a rtHming for a public office. campaign for the all the boetages blood spilled in Iran will be on war or peace. Only the organized, member of the Socialist Workers Grant noted that her party mainly total shutdown of will be freed," abe Car~er'• banda, and those of his maMive opposition of the American Party announced recently her in· represents the interests of working the deadly nuclear said. colleagues who seek to drag America people can stop the war drive being tentions of challell~Jio« Paul Trible for people in this country, the people, 88 power industry, "President Ca· into another Vietnam. hatched in Washington. We must be his First Congressional District seat, abe calls it, "work their butts off for a which bleeds rler could care "I salute Rev. Jesse JackBOn, Rev. prepared to march in our millions in the 1980 elections. · living and still can't save enough taxpayers with less about their Joseph Lowery, Muhammad Ali and again, as we did to stop the war in A staunch liberal, the 26-year old money to send their child to college. ri.oing coets and safety. He the American wives in Iran who have VietNam."' female staled in a recent interview "We don't rai.oe the i.oaues that the threalenB catut· received the baled said what must be done to thwart the that her bid for Trible's seat is a majority of workintz people aren't rophe with unwe dictator fully government's war preparations. Send serious one and that she and other already diotwbed about; i.oaues 10ch plants and wule knowing in ad· the Bhab back." members of her party represent the as unemployment, the strengthening methods," abe vance that the If that'o not enough Grant stated working people of this country. Grant of unions, anti-war, and inflation." added. obab '• criminal that the recent law calling for all noted that Trible represents big Grant'• two biggest i.oaues are the Along with presence would Iranian otudents to report to their busin- and falls in line with the Equal Rights Amendment and the those ieauea, provoke a masaive nearest immigration office to prove remainder of those "bowgooioie closing of all nuclear plants. She will Grant said abe is Iranian response. whether or not they are in this country politicians." march along with ..u.er union very Btrong "Carter now legally is a "witch-bunt." A native of Brooklyn, New York, members January 13 in Richmond for minded about Btalea that 110- "I oppose the racist witcb·bunt Gr- earned a bachelor of science a demonstration called by the Labor sending the Bhah called national againot Iranian students in the U niled degree in criminal justice from John for Equal Rights Now. back to Iran. honor ia more States, and I condemn the lynch-mob J. Collqe in Manhattan, and has "The ERA does for women what "Million• of Americana know the important than the aecurity of the type atmoopbere that politicians like been an active member of the Socialist the civil right~ movement did for 10lution to the Iran situation crisis; hostages. But what honor exists while State Senator Harry Byrd are trying ~------~------~ NEWPORT NEWS, Va.-The announcement of Sharon Grant's campaign for U.S. Congress on the Socialist Workers Party ticket drew wide news media attention here. Her statements denouncing Carter's war drive against Iran were featured by local radio stations and thtt 'Dally Press' and 'Times Herald.' The most prominent coverage came In the 'Journal & Guide,' a Black weekly with a circulation of nearly 50,000 In the Tidewater area. Grant, twenty-six, Is a plpefltter at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Newport News Steelworker leader dies By Jon Hillson to the designers and to the members of Local Lee was not a radical. Soft spoken, gentle­ NEWPORT NEWS, Va.-Lee Johnson, the 8888, the big USW A local of shipyard production manly in demeanor, he was a traditional union president of United Steelworkers Local 8417, and maintenance workers. president in some ways. His character, however, which represents marine designers at Newport Johnson never entertained the notion of giving was exceptional. He was open-minded and will­ News Shipyard, died on November 29 after a in to Tenneco. He believed the union's fight was ing to discuss new ideas. nearly decade-long battle with Hodgkins Disease. based on principle, a battle for dignity and The last time I saw Lee was in mid-September He was 38 years old. justice. at a union meeting. He had just come from Johnson was elected president of the Designers I met Lee Johnson early this year, on the first negotiations with the shipyard. His entire body Association of Newport News in April 1976. He day I came to cover the union recognition strike trembled with pain. Yet he was optimistic and he was subsequently elected president of the newly by Local 8888. told me he thought progress was finally being The first impression I got of Lee never chartered Local8417 after the design department made. voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the changed. He was an honest, decent, self­ USWA in February 1977. sacrificing man. He did not see his position as a Those negotiations are now shelved. Tenneco forced the designers back to work and is now Tenneco, the oil-rich owner of the shipyard, way to grab headlines or to promote himself. He aiding scabs in an effort to decertify the union. immediately began a union-busting drive, pro­ was completely dedicated to the cause of union -Local 8417 will face an uphill battle if such an voking a walkout in April 1977. organization and the benefits it brings to work­ ing people. election is ordered. For the next two and a half years, Johnson led Lee readily cooperated with the Militant. He the designers in a bitter strike against the ship­ Tenneco did not kill Lee Johnson. But the viewed it as an ally of the Steelworkers. "You tell labor-haters on Washington Avenue make his yard. the truth," was a compliment he often paid the untimely death even more bitter. They deprive Johnson's fight against Hodgkins Disease was paper. He protested the company-organized at­ complicated by a serious hip injury. Scabs scat­ the men and women he led of their basic rights, tack on Militant salespeople at a U.S. Steel coal and the most deserving tribute to Lee: the union tered marbles on his doorstep, causing a damag­ mine in Birmingham and the later victimization contract he spent his last ounce of strength ing fall. He was forced to use a cane to walk. of Alabama women miners, including socialist fighting for. But the pain did not keep Johnson from walk­ workers. Winning that contract is the memorial that ing the picket lines or fulfilling his union obliga­ He believed in and acted on the motto of labor every Steelworker here wants for Lee Johnson, a tions. His steadfast example was an inspiration solidarity, "an injury to one is an injury to all." union leader who never surrendered.

,16 Auto workers victims of Chrysler bailout plan By Osborne Hart \1 big one, in how the auto industry is Last month, United Auto Workers \1 \/ ~ l( '\ run. It will win that say not on the officials agreed to a contract with \'. \\ ·' \ ~ . • corporate board but based solely on the Chrysler Corporation that offered sub- \'. \ ll \ ~ (,. • degree that its members are mobilized stantial wage and benefit concessions \ \" S in defense of their rights. from the union. • \\1 t)\\ \\E. :\ ' It was blackmail. And once you start \\\\ f £ '' Nationalization giving in to blackmail, the extortion- 'J ...· u u ~'".'~c.. L- p r.' The so-called equality of sacrifice at ist's demands have no end. Chrysler means further attacks on all That's the painful lesson Chrysler workers' living standards and a workers are learning as even more weaker union movement. sacrifices are demanded of them to As the economic crisis deepens other "save" the company. such schemes are being employed. The auto workers are being whip­ Steelworkers are being forced into sawed by Congress. The Senate Bank­ contract give-backs, while the industry ing Committee approved a $1.25 bil­ shuts down plants across the country lion government loan guarantee for and eliminates thousands of jobs. Chrysler November 29. A few weeks The bankruptcies of the Milwaukee earlier, the House Banking Committee Road, Rock Island, and other rail lines passed a Carter administration plan have been used to attack the wages, with a $1.5 billion loan. jobs, and safety of rail workers. The Senate bill demands reopening Municipal bailout schemes in cities the UAW contract and imposing a like Cleveland and New York City three-year wage freeze. A recent have wiped out thousands of jobs amendment to the House proposal among public employees. requires the union to double its conces­ It's not the fault of steelworkers nor sions to Chrysler. rail workers, nor auto workers that Already, the new contract had companies in their industries are col­ handed over $403 million to Chrysler lapsing. in the form of deferred pension pay­ It's not the fault of the workers that ments, curtailed benefits, less time off, Chrysler can't make it. The Chrysler and postponement of cost-of-living crisis is due to the workings of the payments and wage increases. capitalist system and the economic To top it off, UAW President Doug­ crisis that arises from the drive for las Fraser offered an $850 million Mili izabeth Ziers Chrysler workers demonstrate against closing of Hamtramck plant. After unionists profits. loan from the union's pension fund. So why should Chrysler workers pay Marc Stepp, UAW vice-president and accepted wage and benefit cuts, company rewarded them by shutting plant six months early. for capitalist mistakes and misman­ the union's Chrysler department head, agement? said of the contract, "If the govern­ Auto workers have no interest in ment and the bankers come through saving Chrysler Corporation as such. contract. But it was Alfred Kahn, If the blackmail against Chrysler the way we did, it will give Chrysler a A job, decent income, health and known as Carter's chief "inflation workers succeeds, the entire labor clear opportunity to survive." retirement security, and the production fighter," who acted as point man in movement will be opened to more of a safe and efficient transportation attacking the meager terms of the pact. takeback demands from big business. No guarantees for workers system are the concerns of auto Soon after it was signed he called the Whether the contract concessions On the board workers. contract "outrageous" and in violation and government loan guarantees will There's an added negative feature to of the 7 percent wage guideline. He There is only •one solution to the assure Chrysler's survival remains to the Chrysler scheme: Fraser will be threatened cancellation of plans for Chrysler crisis that will benefit the be seen. This much is certain: the seated on the board of directors. federal loans to Chrysler. workers and the majority of the Ameri­ bailout plans don't guarantee any­ The UAW president declares he will can people: thing for the UAW members. Kahn later reneged and stated the represent workers and "fight like hell Nationalization. Layoffs will continue. To date some loan would not require the UAW to to see that the decisions that Chrysler The government should take 116,000 are laid off throughout the renegotiate its contract with Chrysler. Corporation makes wind up helping, Chrysler's plant and other operations auto industry, including .50,000 at But the Senate quickly picked up the rather than hurting, the workers." away from the private owners and Chrysler. Plant shutdowns will con­ ball from him. With this hard cop/soft That's an empty promise. place them under public ownership. tinue. Speedup and forced overtime cop charade, the Carter administration The purpose of corporate boards is to Chrysler should be managed through a will increase in the plants left open. can give workers the impression it is represent the owners' interests. And publicly elected board, with all records The notion that sacrifices by the backing the UAW, while it shifts the the owners' interests lie in profits, not and decisions completely open to the workers would save jobs was further subject of debate to how much more workers' well being. public. exposed when Chrysler announced auto workers will have to sacrifice. Putting Fraser on the board is a that it will close the Hamtramck That's exactly what has happened. trap. The idea is twofold: have the Workers' control (Dodge Main) assembly plant January union take responsibility for Chrysler's Workers should control the work 4, throwing more than 2,500 workers Fraser gives in predicament; and convince workers place through democratically elected into the street. At contract time, After first denying that the wage that somehow they have a stake in union committees. workers had been told that the plant agreement in the new contract would management decisions. Within the plant, workers would run would remain open until next July. be renegotiated, Fraser now says its a What about Fraser's vote? What the production process and eliminate Chrysler officials now say that they possi hili ty. about his say in decisions? the need for foremen and bosses. To will need an "emergency loan" in early "In negotiations, I learned long ago Fraser's vote will be one out of combat unemployment and eliminate January to avoid bankruptcy. Pre­ never to say 'never'," Fraser said. eighteen. As for affecting decisions? layoffs, the union could institute a viously, a February date was the dead­ Stepp stated the UAW has "no Any moves that the board doesn't shorter.work week with no reduction in line. Chrysler is looking to the UAW as plans" to reopen the contract, but at want Fraser in on they will simply pay. Workers should control every one of the sources for the loan. the same time says the union will do exclude him from. aspect of the auto industry including Concessions the union made guaran­ "whatever is forced on us." Even Fraser says that in matters jobs, production, and design. tee only the profits for the company, The talk of reopening the contract to involving collective bargaining he will The general economic crisis that loan repayments to the banks ... and give even more concessions to Chrysler exclude himself. Chrysler is a victim of is not getting more demands on workers. That's the not only weakens Chrsyler workers' Regardless of how Fraser votes on better. On the contrary, it is getting law of corporate blackmail. position. It also makes auto workers any decision, ensuring profits is what worse. at Ford and General Motors more he will participate in. Government subsidies to prop up the Carter's charade vulnerable. What's to stop the govern­ Fraser's role on the board can only crumbling Chrysler corporate structure The official stance of the Carter ment and those corporations from de­ make it easier for Chrysler to squeeze will only further victimize the workers. administration is to oppose the Senate manding that the UAW renegotiate more concessions from the UAW. Nationalization can protect their inter­ demand for reopening the Chrysler their contracts? The UAW should have a say, and a ests. L.l. rail workers hit by Carter strikebreaking By Linda Slodki cent retroactive for 1979 and 6.5 per­ public has been "warned" that· the 'hold the line' on wages. NEW YORK-President Carter's ef­ cent for 1980. strikers' "unreasonable" demands "Instead of trying to break the forts to break the Long Island Rail Both Republican Sen. Jacob J avits would cause either a fare hike or a tax strike, the federal government should Road strike by issuing a sixty-day and Democratic Gov. Hugh Carey were Increase. provide free public transportation. It back-to-work order were condemned by quick to call for federal intervention to Nieto answered this charge by not­ could easily be financed out of the $140 Victor Nieto, Socialist Workers Party break the strike, which had solid sup­ ing that management's wage offer was billion war budget. candidate for U.S. Senate from New port from rail workers. only about half the rate of inflation. "All working people have a stake in York. Carter did his part by ordering the "If the fares are hiked," Nieto said, "it the struggle of LIRR workers. Nieto, a member of Brotherhood of 1,400 striking United Transportation won't be because of the rail workers. It "The unanimous strikebreaking re­ Railway and Airline Clerks Lodge 173, Union members and other striking will be because the Metropolitan sponse of the Democrats and Republi­ said he supports the strikers' demands, unions back to work for sixty days. Transportation Authority puts the in­ cans shows that when the chips are including a no-layoff clause, no reduc­ Carter's order sets up a phony "im­ terests of its bondholders ahead of the down there are no 'friends of labor' in tion in train crew sizes, improved partial" board to recommend a settle­ interests of the people who use the the two bosses' parties. Labor needs its safety measures, and improved pen­ ment. , Long Island. own party, a party that could help sion benefits. The big-business press and the LlRR "The MT A has its eye on upcoming organize support for strikes like this LIRR management has made a com­ have gone on a campaign to turn negotiations with New York City sub­ one and represent the interests of pletely inadequate wage offer-7 per- commuters against the strikers. The way and bus workers and wants to working people every day."

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 17 Conference marks Trotsky centenar By George Saunders MEXICO CITY -A three-day confer­ ence was held here November 5-7 to commemorate the hundredth anniver­ sary of the birth of Leon Trotsky. Organized by a committee headed by V <>Pvolod Volkof, grandson of Trotsky, the conference featured speakers from Europe, the United States, and Mexico, including individuals who had worked with Trotsky, authorities on his life and writings, and present-day Trotskyist activists. It was fitting that such a centennial was held in Mexico, the only country that would grant refuge to the exiled Bolshevik leader and the country where he lived from January 1937 until his death in August 1940. The conference consisted of a series of talks at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM), one of the largest universities in the world and a central cultural influence in the country. A concluding rally was held in a theatre in the city. Extensive media coverage Perspective Mundial/ Anibal Yanez Media coverage was extensive. The Five hundred came to rally closing conference. Banner of Mexican Trotskyists reads 'Trotsky continues to be with us in the leading liberal daily, Uno mas uno, battles of the world revolution.' carried articles and interviews daily, and several television channels also Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in younger revolutionaries who constitute important task-the building of mass covered the events. A crew from the recent years.* the indispensable force for carrying revolutionary workers parties and British Broadcasting Company was Among the other speakers and com­ that struggle forward. A large banner their unification in the Fourth Interna­ present and interviewed leading partic­ mentators were Tamara Deutscher, on one wall expressed the spirit of the tional, the World Party of Socialist ipants. (BBC is preparing a documen­ collaborator with her late husband occasion: "Trotsky Continues to Be Revolution. Trotsky devoted the final tary on Trotsky to be shown later this Isaac Deutscher on the three-volume With Us in the Battles of the World years of his life to promoting this year.) biography of Trotsky; Michel Pablo, a Revolution." objective. Many young radicals attended the former secretary of the Fourth Interna­ The gathering was made colorful From Iran to Nicaragua, from South talks to find out more about Trotsky, tional; Raymond Molinier, a leader of and lively by the red banners carried Korea to Bolivia, the upsurge of the whom they had heard of as a signifi­ the French Trotskyists in the 1930s; by many young members of the au­ revolutionary masses shows the urgent cant figure in Mexico's political history Jean Van Heijenoort, a former secre­ dience. They were held aloft and need for such parties to provide the of the 1930s. I was told that a number tary to Trotsky; and Luis Villoro, Anto­ waved before and after each of the necessary leadership, Rivas said. This of student members of the Mexican nio Delhumeau, and Adolfo Gilly. speakers. mass upsurge also justifies Trotsky's Communist Party were present and A leading "Eurocommunist" intellec­ Songs of the Russian revolution and optimism about the prospects for abol­ found the talks highly informative on tual of the French CP, Jean Ellein­ civil war were played at the opening of ishing capitalism everywhere in the subjects their leaders do not discuss. stein, who had been scheduled to par­ the commemoration and at intervals world. The Stalinist attacks on Trotsky in ticipate, did not in fact arrive. during the evening: At this point, and at several others, the 1930s and the struggles against young members of the audience broke those attacks were detailed by George Trotsky and literature Red Army chief into chants expressing revolutionary Novack a leader of the U.S. Socialist A roundtable on Trotsky and litera­ Mexican journalist Francisco Zende­ sentiments. Worker~ Party and former secretary of ture November 6 treated a special jas, one of the sponsors of the confer­ Carlos Martinez de la Torre, speak­ the American Committee for the De­ aspect of Trotsky's contribution to ence chaired the meeting. He noted ing for the Political Committee of the fense of Leon Trotsky. Novack re­ Marxism-his rich understanding of that by an accident of history Trot­ PRT, explained that when Trotsky viewed the obstacles and difficulties cultural questions. sky's birth falls on the same date as the began his fight against Stalinism encountered in the effort to form the Mexican literary scholar Luis Mario Bolshevik revolution-November 7. many thought it was hopeless, but the Dewey Commission-the commission Schneider spoke on Trotsky's relations Part of the purpose of the centennial, correctness of that struggle has been of inquiry into the charges against with the surrealist Andre Breton. The he pointed out, was to recall the truth, confirmed by history. Trotsky in the Moscow Trials-and the poet Eduardo Lizalde explained that, still denied by Stalinist falsification, of He stressed that it is the duty of all ultimate success of that commission's as a young supporter of the Commu­ Trotsky's role as organizer of the insur­ revolutionaries to support the Nicara­ efforts. nist Party, he himself had believed the rection that established Soviet power guan revolution. The best homage we The conference also heard talks by slanders against Trotsky and felt it and as head of the Red Army from can pay to Trotsky, he reminded his Pierre Broue, research director of the was vital now to set the record 1918 to 1925. listeners, is to fight actively within the Leon Trotsky Institute in France, re­ straight. The meeting was opened by the world revolutionary process while ei­ viewing Trotsky's analysis of Stalin­ Veronica V olkof, a young poet and reading of messages from two of Trot­ plaining Trotsky's ideas, which are ism and his views on the revolution­ critic whose work has won acclaim, sky's collaborators in the 1930s-Pierre more vital and pertinent than ever. ary party and international; and by and the artist and muralist Vlady gave N a ville, now a noted French sociolo­ this reporter discussing Trotsky and tributes to Trotsky. gist, and Pierre Frank, now a leader of Mexican asylum revolutionary internationalism and the Marguerite Bonnet, president of the the Fourth International. The final speaker was V sevolod Vol­ interest shown in Trotskyism in the Leon Trotsky Institute, summarized Pierre Broue was the first speaker. kof, president of the organizing com­ Trotsky's views on the role of the All over the world, he pointed out, mittee for the centenary. He as well as artist. And Jose Luis Gonzalez, a meetings large and small would be other speakers paid tribute to Mexico Puerto Rican novelist, discussed the commemorating Trotsky's centenary, for having given asylum to Trotsky writer's place in the coming socialist but there would be few meetings for when no other country in the world revolution in Latin America, in light of Stalin (also born in 1879). That in itself would do so. President Lazaro Carde­ the negative experience in the USSR. constitutes a judgment of history. nas, in 1936, had saved the life of the The conference concluded with a Pelai Pages-Blanch of the University great revolutionary at a time when all spirited rally November 7 attended by of Barcelona spoke about the relations the Old Bolsheviks were being extermi­ about 500 persons, including many old between Trotsky and Andres Nin, nated and Stalin was doing everything militants and sympathizers of the leader of the Spanish centrist organi­ in his power to lay hands on Trotsky Trotskyist movement from a number of zation POUM (Workers Party of Marx­ as well. countries. ist-Unification) in the 1930s. He noted Describing Trotsky, Volkof made In part the rally embodied a dialogue that both men had fallen victim to clear that while on political matters he between the generation that had expe­ Moscow's murd-er machine, the one in had to be sharp and firm, within the rienced decades of political and ideo­ Spain, the other in Mexico. family he was very warm, and he logical struggle against capitalism and Also speaking were Michel Pablo treated all the comrades and guards Stalinism, and the generation of and Raymond Molinier. Pablo des­ living at his house as members of the cribed Trotsky's disdain for any hint of family. making a cult around himself. Molinier The role of Trotsky's companion, *Despite the Kremlin bureaucracy's use of recounted from his own experience Natalia Sedova, should not be over­ the resources of the Soviet state to maintain Trotsky's attitude toward revolution­ looked, Volkof emphasized. She was a Stalin's lies about Trotsky, Soviet citizens ary youth. person of unparalleled honor and loy­ are inquiring more and more into the facts alty, Trotsky's firmest supporter in the about the Bolshevik leader. Evidence of Fourth International darkest days. such interest, especially in this centennial Cristina Rivas of the Revolutionary year, is that a group of Soviet tourists The meeting ended with the whole recently visited the Leon Trotsky Museum Workers Party (PRT, the Mexican sec­ audience rising to its feet and, with in Mexico City, something that has not tion of the Fourth International) raised fists, singing the battlesong of happened before. The leaders of the tourist stressed that no commemoration of the world working class, the lnterna· Leon Trotsky in Mexico shortly before group remained in their vehicles, while the Trotsky should go by without reference tionale. his assassination. rank and file trooped into the museum. to what Trotsky considered the most From Intercontinental Press/lnprecor

18 Fail test of Nicaraguan revolution Sectarians split from Fourth International By Barry Sheppard The Fifth World Congress since reunification of the Fourth Interna- tional, World Party of the Socialist Revolution, was held in Belgium the week of November 17-25. Delegates representing sections and sympathiz­ ing organizations in forty-eight coun­ tries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean, and North and South America were present. A sizable leadership delegation from the American Socialist Workers Party (SWP) participated in the congress discussions and registered a consulta­ tive vote. The SWP is barred from membership in the Fourth International by reac­ tionary legislation in the U.S. Never­ theless, the SWP remains in political solidarity with the Fourth Interna­ tional and does what it can to help politically advance the development of the world Trotskyist movement. The congress was held in the midst of the deepening crisis of imperialism and of the intensification of the inter­ national class struggle exemplified by the unfolding revolutions in Iran and Nicaragua. Of special note was the presence of delegates from the Iranian Socialist • • Militant/Fred Murphy Nicaraguan electrical workers show the1r support for Sandimsta trade union, one of the many being organized after forty-five Workers Party. It was an expression of the geographical extension of the for­ years of Somoza's tyranny. Sectarians falsely portray the FSLN as opposed to the organization and mobilization of the workers. ces of the Fourth International since its last World Congress in 1974, as well inist Trotskyist Tendency (L TT)­ nate themselves to the Sandinist leader­ based on a Marxist program and Leni­ formed an alliance with another group ship, is revisionism. It leads to supporting nist organizational norms. as its deepening roots among the toil­ the repression of Trotskyism. It leads the ers who are more and more prone to outside the international called the To understand the issues involved in Organizing Committee for the Recon­ leadership of the SWP to approve the poli­ the split more clearly, it is necessary to revolutionary action. cies of Castro, who preaches peaceful coex­ struction of the Fourth International briefly review the history of the Bol­ (OCRFI). istence ... which is synonymous with the Solidarity campaign Holy Counterrevolutionary Alliance. . . . shevik Faction and the Leninist Trot­ The congress hailed the overthrow of On October 29 the three groups an­ This leads to measures whose goal is the skyist Tendency, as well as the Organ­ the imperialist-backed regime of the nounced the formation of a "parity liquidation of those tendencies and factions izing Committee for the Reconstruction butcher Somoza by the Nicaraguan committee" to organize the fight inside the United Secretariat [of the Fourth of the Fourth International. people led by the Sandinista National against the Fourth International, International] that do not accept this pol­ Liberation Front (FSLN). The Fourth which they claim has embarked on a icy. [Informations Ouurieres, November 17- The Bolshevik Faction 24. Ellipses in original.) International pledged to make its cen­ liquidationist course, abandoned the The Bolshevik Faction is an interna­ tral international campaign helping to "terrain of Trotskyism," and gone over tional grouping whose main strength build the worldwide solidarity move­ to "revisionism." Sectarian blindness is in Latin America. Its central leader ment for aid to Nicaragua and for The picture of Nicaragua as a coun­ is N ahuel Moreno of the Argentine defense of the revolution against impe­ The test of Nicaragua try ruled through repression of the Socialist Workers Party (PST). rialist aggression. The major political issue that pro­ toiling masses and brutal victimiza­ The Argentine party has for many In order to prepare for the major voked the split is the revolution in tion, even torture, of revolutionary years been the strongest Trotskyist class battles to come, the congress Nicaragua. fighters, is a complete and utter falsifi­ organization in Latin America, with a voted to make a radical turn-to place Revolutions not only mark abrupt cation. continuity that goes back to the late in industrial jobs a large majority of breaks with the past, they are acid To claim to launch a "solidarity" 1940s. Its recent evolution can only be the members of the sections of the tests for revolutionists everywhere. campaign with the Nicaraguan revolu­ understood in light of the deepgoing international in every country. The Nicaraguan revolution rapidly tion on this theme only reveals the political differences in the Fourth In­ It adopted resolutions on the world divided forces throughout the world sectarian and factional blindness, with ternational during the last decade. deadly right-wing consequences, that political situation, on the specific tasks claiming to be Trotskyist and revolu­ At the 1969 World Congress of the motivates the "parity committee." in carrying out this turn and building tionary Marxist into two irreconcilable Fourth International, a majority voted the Fourth International in Europe camps: those who have embraced the This is made even clearer by the for a line projecting rural guerrilla and in Latin America, on Nicaragua, Nicaraguan revolution as their own refusal of the groups supporting the warfare on a continental scale as a and on the struggle for women's libera­ and recognize the revolutionary quali­ "parity committee" to join the interna­ strategy in Latin America for an ex­ tion. ties and achievements of the Sandinis­ tional solidarity campaign with Nica­ tended period. A minority, supported It discussed the situation in Indo­ tas, versus those who, in sectarian ragua. Their spurious contention is by the American SWP, strongly op­ china and decided on an international fashion, see the Sandinistas (and the that giving aid to the Nicaraguan posed this line. campaign to defend Hanoi and Pnom­ Castroist current in general) as a coun­ government is only aiding a "bour­ The Argentine section had already penh against the intensified attacks by terrevolutionary obstacle barring the geois" government, and that the impe­ been split by this political difference, imperialism. It discussed the relation­ advance of the Nicaraguan workers rialist countries will use any aid they with the two groups known by the ship of workers democracy and social­ and peasants. give to attempt to block the progress of names of their newspapers­ ist revolution. The first public act of the "parity the revolution. Combatiente (Fighter) and Verdad An International Executive Commit­ committee" definitively established By this twisted logic, they come out (Truth). tee was elected to lead the work of the what was driving them. Those who against demanding that aid be sent to The Verdad group, led by Moreno, Fourth International until the next split from the Fourth International did Nicaragua! supported the minority position at the World Congress. so in order to free their hands to pursue While a sectarian reaction to the 1969 congress. The Combatiente group The delegates who participated in a criminal course of giving aid and forward march of the Nicaraguan revo­ supported the majority position, and the congress were elected from each comfort to the international campaign lution brought together the forces now went on to organize the Argentine national section after extensive demo­ of imperialism and capitalist reaction calling themselves the "parity commit­ Revolutionary Army of the People cratic debate and discussion, including against the Nicaraguan revolution. tee," that was not their only mutual (ERP), led by Roberto Santucho, which an international written discussion. On November 13, the three organiza­ attraction. They share a common aver­ became famous for its spectacular ac­ They represented the various points of tions of the "parity committee" held a sion for the decision of the World tions by small armed groups in the view in the international on the mat­ public meeting in Paris. The theme of Congress to continue and deepen the cities. ters under consideration. this meeting was to denounce the proletarian ori mtation of the Fourth The Combatiente group left the Despite the months of discussion Sandinista National Liberation Front International oy radically reorienting Fourth International in 1973. In spite and debate, on the very eve of the for allegedly carrying out systematic the membership of the international of the courage of its leaders and world gathering two minority factions repression of the workers and peasants and transforming its composition members, its guerrilla strategy led it to that had been part of the Fourth Inter­ in Nicaragua, and to attack the Fourth through sending the overwhelming increased isolation from the Argen­ tine masses. national for some time decided' to split International and the American So­ majority of its members into basic from the international rather than cialist Workers Party as being com­ industry. The military relentlessly hunted participate in the congress and try to plicit with the repressive acts sup­ In addition, both the Bolshevik Fac­ down and brutally murdered the ERP win a majority of delegates to their posedly organized by the FSLN. tion and the OCRFI have long histo­ cadres, including Santucho himself in 1976. views. Together they led approxi­ At this meeting, OCRFI representa­ ries of organizational practices diamet­ mately 25 to 30 percent of the interna­ tive Stephane Just, who is emerging as rically opposed to the norms of The Verdad group took the opposite tional. the major spokesperson for the "parity democratic centralism-nationally and road of working to build a party, along The two groupings-known as the committee," said: internationally. the lines of the Leninist strategy. In the early 1970s, massive struggles Bolshevik Faction (BF) and the Len- It is clear that supporting the Govern­ In practice they reject the fight to simultaneously build proletarian par­ against the dictatorship erupted in Barry Sheppard is National Organi­ ment of National Reconstruction (in Nicara· gua), approving of the repression of the ties firmly. rooted in the living class Argentina, including seml-msurrec­ zation Secretary of the Socialist Simon Bolivar Brigade, demanding that struggle of their own countries and a tionary struggles in Cordoba and other Workers Party. everyone in the workers movement subordi- mass revolutionary international Continued on next page

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 19 The rationale for this was Moreno's The United Secretariat repeatedly taken against the leadership of the ... sectarians conception that if only the PRT could urged the leaders of the Bolshevik Bolshevik Faction by the World Con­ Continued from preceding page find enough money, sell enough pa­ Faction to participate in the work of gress unless they agreed to change cities. As a result, the military decided pers, etc., it could grow to "10,000 the bureau and the international cen­ their course. to allow the return of bourgeois popu­ members" within a year. No attempt ter. But they neither participated in Moreno's latest scheme of coming to list figure Juan Peron, and to hold was made to build stable party units this process nor did they prepare their the World Congress with the prestige among the industrial workers. elections. own resolutions on the political points of the Nicaraguan revolution and the The Verdad group was able to inter· to be decided on by the congress. FSLN behind him was in shambles. vene effectively in this new situation. Tactics dictated from afar In order to explain what had hap­ Through taking advantage of the open­ Second, Moreno himself, from afar or S_im6n Bolivar Brigade pened, Moreno abruptly reversed his ings created by the elections and the during short visits to Portugal, laid Then, in the summer of 1979, Moreno political line 180 degrees. combativity of the working class, they down the tactics for building the PRT, launched another "spectacular" get­ From opportunistically pretending to built the PST and gained an important even to the smallest details. rich-quick campaign. The Simon Bo­ be the FSLN, he switched to charging hearing and new members from Members of the PRT who resisted livar Brigade was formed in Colombia, that the FSLN had deported the lead­ among the workers. such methods were told that while in ostensibly to go to Nicaragua and fight ers of the Simon Bolivar Brigade as general it was wrong for leaders of one with the Sandinista National Libera­ part of its counterrevolutionary drive Debate in international section to try to run another section, tion Front against Somoza. But the to consolidate a bourgeois government The debate in the international Moreno was the "Lenin of our time," entire operation was simply a cynical and rebuild capitalism in Nicaragua. begun in 1969 proved to be long and and was qualified to decide tactics for attempt to exploit the Nicaraguan rev­ This set the stage politically for the deep. The majority and minority cur­ all countries, above all, in revolutions. olution. bloc between the Bolshevik Faction, rents crystallized into two factions by During the four years between his In their own internal bulletins, the the L TT, and OCRFI. break with the LTF and his split from ranks of the Bolshevik Faction were 1973, called the International Majority The Leninist Trotskyist Tendency (IMT) and the Leninist Trot­ the international, the same kind of told that the formation of the Simon skyist Faction (LTF) respectively. destructive splitting operation was car­ Bolivar Brigade would be "a big politi­ Tendency As the strongest organization in ried out in several other countries, cal success for the leadership of the The Leninist Trotskyist Tendency Latin America that refused to go along including Colombia, Peru and Pa­ BF, legitimatizing it as a real leader­ had its main forces in the French with the guerrilla line, the PST was the nama. ship alternative for the Fl." section of the Fourth International, the main target of the majority faction. The Bolshevik Faction became more From the beginning, Moreno orga­ Revolutionary Communist League Despite the fact that the Comba­ and more openly contemptuous of the nized the Simon Bolivar Brigade to (LCR), where it had some 350 to 400 tiente group had broken with Trotsky­ Fourth International and its demo- advance his factional interests vis-a- supporters. ism, at the 1974 World Congress the The central leaders of the LTT had majority refused to recognize the PST joined the LTF in 1976. as the Argentine section. Nor did it When the leadership of the Interna­ reverse the 1969 line on guerrilla war­ tional Majority Tendency reversed fare, despite the growing doubts of their former line on Latin America, many IMT supporters. As a result, the and both factions voted to dissolve, faction struggle within the interna· there was resistance to this within tiona! deepened. both formations. Following the 1974 World Congress, In the LTF, a group of comrades Moreno decided that the course charted opposed the dissolution outright. This by the LTF of fighting within the group included the leaders of what international to reverse and rescind would become the LTT. The LTT the guerrilla line was insufficient. viewed the dissolution of the factions But the majority of the LTF, includ­ as a political capitulation by the ma­ ing most of its Latin American sup­ jority of the LTF, especially the leaders porters, rejected his proposal to form a of the American SWP, to the former "public faction" which would have IMT. been a separate international organi­ They wanted to cling to the factions zation, in reality, with its own structur­ even though the political basis on ing, finances and discipline, contrary which they had been formed no longer to all the norms of democratic central­ existed. This sectarian stance towards ism and the program of the Fourth the former IMT prefigured the subse­ International. quent evolution of the LTT. The dissolution of the factions had Break from LTF important positive results in reknitting In 1975 Moreno decided to break the international after the long faction with the L TF and implement his own struggle. Not the least of these results preferred course. Cuba shortly after Castro-led movement toppled Batista. Workers and peasants was the preparation by the majority of The first step in this process was a demonstrate support for measures of new government. Predecessors of OCRFI, who the United Secretariat of the four main drive to take over the Mexican Social­ turned away from Cuban revolution, are repeating same error over Nicaragua. resolutions adopted by the World Con­ ist League (LS), a sympathizing orga­ gress. nization of the Fourth International. These resolutions reflected important In order to accomplish this, he had to cratic norms. The "Lenin of our time" vis the Fourth International, and not areas of agreement. Not all differences get rid of a majority of the leaders of · became more and more the object of a to aid the Nicaraguan workers and were overcome. Some new differences the LS, who supported the LTF and cult. peasants. The object was to enhance emerged, cutting across previous fac­ rejected Moreno's line. Moreno's prestige. It represented a tion lines. Some subjects remain open Through a campaign of personal Get-rich-quick scheme qualitative new stage in the degenera­ for further discussion. But the major vilification, he tried to isolate, demoral­ According to Bolshevik Faction doc­ tion of the Bolshevik Faction. achievement represented by these doc­ ize, and destroy a whole group of uments, some get-rich-quick scheme The Simon Bolivar Brigade covered uments is undeniable. (The documents cadres, and purge the membership of was always on the verge of success, in itself with the flag of the FSLN even of the 1979 World Congress will be the LS. ·Spain or elsewhere. The Bolshevik though it was not org~nized in collabo­ available shortly in a special supple­ This campaign was organized by Faction was going to achieve some ration with the FSLN. It raised money ment to Intercontinental Press/ lnpre­ leaders of the Argentine PST, whom spectacular breakthrough somewhere, in the name of the FSLN, which the cor.) Moreno had sent to Mexico to "aid" the which would then "prove" to the rest of FSLN never saw. As a unit, it entered The leaders of the LTT, however, LS. The result was a split, with Moreno the international the superiority of Nicaragua from Costa Rica only after maintained their stance, charging that "capturing" a section of the organiza­ Moreno's methods and the necessity of the fall of Somoza. these resolutions covered up what they tion. him becoming the central leader of the Once in Nicaragua, the brigade, still considered to be the key "differences." As a result of this operation, the LTF Fourth International. fraudulently claiming the authority of expelled from its ranks the PST leaders As the Bolshevik Faction degener­ the FSLN, tried to set up unions under Cuban revolution responsible for such gross violations of ated into such a personal cult, Moreno its control, and even tried to take over Their sterile sectarianism began to the organizational principles of Trot­ was compelled to launch increasingly the town of Bluefields on the Atlantic be reflected more and more in their skyism. violent public attacks on other leaders Coast. overall political positions, especially in Within a few months, a similar oper­ of the international. Ernest Mandel In spite of the fact that the brigade their assessment of the Cuban revolu­ ation was carried out in Portugal. In was singled out, as was the leadership presented itself as a military unit of tion and the role of the Castro leader­ the unfolding revolution there, Argen­ of the French LCR. the FSLN, and remained armed, it ship. tine comrades were sent to help the refused to place itself under FSLN Since the American SWP recently Another special target became the Portuguese Revolutionary Workers military command. conducted a lengthy internal discus­ leaders of the American Socialist Party (PRT). After attempting, unsuccessfully, to sion on Cuba and rejected any concept Workers Party, especially since But when some of the original lead­ negotiate with the leaders of the Simon that the Castro leadership is Stalinist Moreno had previously claimed to ers of the PRT disagreed with More­ Bolivar Brigade, who were almost all or a political revolution is necessary in stand in the tradition of James P. no's views and organizational me­ non-Nicaraguans, in August 1979, only Cuba, thus reaffirming what has been Cannon and other pioneer leaders of thods, Moreno again organized a a few weeks after the fall of Somoza, the long-standing Trotskyist position the SWP. violent campaign of personal charges the FSLN command decided to deport on Cuba, the LTT began to center more against those involved, and had them At the end of 1976 the majority them from the country. of its fire on the SWP. expelled. faction reassessed its line on guerrilla This chronic sectarianism on the Two aspects of the Portuguese opera­ warfare in Latin America and adopted Criminal adventure part of the L TT leaders broke out into tion were to more and more mark a self-critical balance sheet. Among The criminal, sectarian adventure of a virulent disease with the Sandinista Moreno's subsequent course. other points, the IMT stated it had the Simon Bolivar Brigade disgraced triumph in Nicaragua. They knew the The Portuguese PRT was a relatively been wrong to refuse to recognize the Trotskyism in Nicaragua and interna­ Sandinistas would have to betray the small group, largely composed of high· PST as the Argentine section in 1974, tionally, although it was done behind revolution, because they were strongly school-age youth inspired by the revo­ and indicated that this should be cor­ the backs and against the policy of the influenced by the Castro leadership. lution. Moreno played on their spirit of rected at the coming World Congress. Fourth International. When the majority in the Fourth self-sacrifice and enthusiasm, demand­ The Leninist Trotskyist Faction and In September the United Secretariat International took a different course, ing not only unquestioning agreement the International Majority Tendency of the Fourth International publicly hailed the revolution, greeted the San­ with every twist and turn, but also a were dissolved and the leadership of called the Bolshevik Faction to order dinistas as fellow revolutionists, level of hyperactivity, including a fran­ the international worked together to for this flagrant and damaging viola­ sought to reach out to them, and joined tic search for funds, that finally demor­ prepare major political resolutions for tion of its discipline, and recommended the international solidarity effort with alized many of them. the 1979 World Congress. that further disciplinary action be the revolution, the LTT went into a

20 paroxysm of factional fever. They of the political turn decided on by the charged the majority in general and majority of the delegates at the 1979 the SWP in particular with having World Congress. betrayed Trotskyism. Another major rallying point for the The OCRFI LTT was opposition to the central In 1963, a ten-year split in the world organizational conclusion flowing Trotskyist movement was healed. Cer­ from the facts and analysis explained tain sections of the movement rejected in the world political resolution. the reunification, however, including This projected the necessity for our the current led by Juan Posadas in movement on a world scale to imme­ Latin America; Michel Pablo and his diately send the cadres recruited in the followers internationally; a grouping previous period into basic industry, as in Britain around Gerry Healy; and the a precondition for our movement to French organization whose principal survive as a politically viable force in spokesman was Pierre Lambert. the workers movement during the pe­ One of the factors which brought the riod ahead. two sides together in the reunification It is the only way to take advantage was a common political attitude to­ of the new openings that are now wards the Cuban revolution. before us to overcome the historically Healy and Lambert, however, denied imposed isolation of Trotskyism from that a socialist revolution had occurred the mainstream of our class. in Cuba at all. They charged that the The L TT rejected the necessity of majority of world Trotskyism had making this kind of wrenching turn, a abandoned its principles by supporting forced march to change the composi­ the revolutionary anti-imperialist ac­ SWP vice-presidential candidate Matllde Zimmermann talks socialism with striking tion of our forces in order to be able to tions of the Castro leadership team. wokrers In Duluth, Minnesota. Sectarians reject turn to Industrial working class by lead the working class in the battles They refused to chart a course of SWP and Fourth International. that are on the agenda. trying to link up with this revolution­ ary current that was bypassing Stalin­ sions between them should be a fusion and winning its leadership to revolu­ Comfortable isolation ism to the left. But that was part and (which the OCRFI said it would con­ tionary Marxism, the OCRFI formed The LTT reflected a tendency in our parcel of our defense of the first suc­ sider a "reconstruction" of the Fourth the "parity committee" with the BF ranks which became comfortable with cessful socialist revolution in the International). and LTT, and helped organize the split the isolation of revolutionary Marxism Americas. It was the only possible Both sides agreed to hold a series of of the latter two groups from the inter­ after the triumph of Stalinism in the road to building a mass revolutionary informal leadership discussions based national. 1930s and during the long years follow­ international. on the documents prepared for the They have now called for an open ing World War II. For the remainder of the 1960s, upcoming World Congress. These dis­ conference of the world Trotskyist Far from viewing our isolation as an Healy's "International Committee," cussions proceeded to the point where movement to discuss Nicaragua. They evil we had to endure-but one we were supported by the French International­ on many of the major questions of have coyly announced that they hold always seeking to break out of-this ist Communist Organization (OCI), world politics, there were broad areas open the door for participation by the tendency attracted people who prefer headed by Lambert, attempted to build of agreement. Fourth International-from which to comment from the sidelines rather a counter organization to the Fourth An important exception remained they have just split in order to avoid than immerse themselves in the class International. Cuba. Stephane Just, one of the lead­ taking part in a world congress that struggle itself. This is one of the roots In the early 1970s, as Healy's course ers of the OCI, had written an article would discuss Nicaragua! of their pious sectarianism, as they are in Britain became more and more that at least belatedly recognized capi­ content to sit above the fray, "criticiz­ sectarian and opportunist, Lambert's talism had been overthrown in Cuba Some undemocratic practices ing" all. organization broke with Healy. and a workers state established. The abrupt turn away from a fusion The Bolshevik Faction, too, opposed The Lambert group, following the But at the same time he equated perspective with the Fourth Interna­ the projected turn to send the majority split with Healy, formed the Organiz­ Castroism with Stalinism and called tional will mean cutting short another of our leaders and members into the ing Committee for the Reconstruction for a "political revolution" to over­ process that had begun in the OCI, factories, but for different reasons. of the Fourth International, with affil­ throw the Castro leadership. This posi­ that of beginning to correct undemo­ The Argentine PST has always had iates in a number of countries. The tion is diametrically opposed to that of cratic aspects of their own internal an important base in the workers most important group in the OCRFI is the Fourth International. functioning. An element of this came movement. For many years it was the the French OCI. They began to take a When the mass upsurge in Nicara­ to light, earlier this year when the OCI most proletarian section of the interna­ less sectarian stance toward the gua toppled Somoza, the OCI's reac­ expelled one of its central leaders, tional, in terms of composition, and Fourth International. tion was an unfortunate repetition of Charles Berg. regularly sent cadres recruited from their response twenty years ago to the Berg was in charge of liason with the student movement into the facto­ Discussion with OCRFI Cuban revolution. OCI units outside of Paris ("the provin­ ries and mills to take advantage of In 1973, the OCRFI approached the ces," as they say in Paris). The OCI political openings. This was always Fourth International for discussions, Turned fire on FSLN has the undemocratic practice of ap­ one of its strengths. stating that the debate inside the Instead of recognizing the achieve­ pointing local leaderships from Paris, But supporting the turn in the inter­ Fourth International involved the ment of the Sandinistas in leading the not allowing each unit to elect its own national would have run counter to the questions they felt were not clarified in masses in the insurrection that over­ leadership. factional interests of the BF, as one of the 1963 reunification. threw Somoza, and correctly assessing Berg headed the commission that its claims has been that it alone repre­ Unfortunately, the factional situa­ the steps they have taken since to made the appointments. He was sents the proletarian current in the tion in the Fourth International at the advance the interests of the Nicara­ charged with falsifying the member­ intern a tional. time blocked a positive response to this guan workers and peasants, the OCI ship figures of these "provincial" units Moreover, in recent years, in organi­ initiative and valuable time was lost. leaders have turned their fire against in order to enhance his own prestige zations dominated by the Bolshevik By 1976, however, this began to be the FSLN, charging it with being the and influence at an OCI congress, and Faction, it has become increasingly turned around. There were more con­ main counterrevolutionary force in the with having diverted rather large sums common to send members into indus­ tacts and exchanges between the country. of party funds for his own use and to try as a form of punishment for dis­ Fourth International and the OCRFI. The sectarian position taken by the further the work of his commission. agreeing with Moreno's line-not as a Then in 1978, at a public meeting in main forces in the OCRFI towards the The Berg affair initiated a discus­ party-building activity. Paris celebrating the fortieth anniver­ Castro leadership and the Nicaraguan sion in the OCI concerning democratic Moreno's concept of "bolshevizing" sary of the founding of the Fourth revolution prepared the way for their norms. Obviously, something was or "proletarianizing" those guilty of International, spokespeople for both political bloc with the Bolshevik Fac­ wrong if an individual like Berg could petty-bourgeois origins is the opposite sides stated that the goal of discus- tion and the LTT. have gotten away with such corrupt Leaders of the OCRFI, including measures for any considerable time. Just, had also expressed opposition to Wasn't the absence of rank-and-file the proposed turn to industry projected control the source of the problem? by the Fourth International majority. The leaders of the OCI knew that a Their party-building activity up to fusion with the Fourth International now has generally included work to would necessarily entail a modification build union. fractions, but not mainly of their organizational practices to industrial union fractions, and not ensure party democracy. through orienting party members and Unfortunately, the turn away from leaders themselves to become part of the Fourth International will probably the industrial working class. mean a hardening up of these practices Their concentration in non­ by the OCI, which will be encouraged industrial jobs and unions such as by their renewed sectarianism. teachers, is another variant of trying to build proletarian parties from out­ Split or expulsion? side the major sections of the working Following their exit from the Fourth class. International, the LTT and BF have Under the impact of Nicaragua and charged that they were in fact expelled the increasingly weighty role of the by decisions taken by the United Se­ Castro leadership in anti-imperialist cretariat. struggles around the world, the OCRFI The decisions referred to were mo­ abruptly reversed its course toward tions by the United Secretariat at a fusion. While there were signs of some meeting in early October. They con­ internal resistance to the new course in cerned the functioning of supporters of the OCRFI, a majority opted to work the Fourth International in Nicaragua. toward splitting the Fourth Interna­ A small grouping in Nicaragua tional instead of fusing with it. called the Revolutionary Marxist On the basis of the charge that the League (LMR) generally supports the Fourth International had abandoned views of the Bolshevik Faction. SWP convention, August 1979, discussed and voted on major International ques­ the "terrain of Trotskyism" in respond­ Another tiny group in Nicaragua was tions. Sectarians claimed falsely that their views were not heard, then walked out of ing to the Nicaraguan revolution and organized by the Socialist Workers International on eve of World Congress. charting a course toward influencing Continued on next page

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 21 Fourth lnt'l World Congress condemns split On the eve of the Fifth World present their case before the delegates The origins of the split go back revolution. The Sim6n Bolivar Brigade Congress Since Reunification of assembled here from more than forty Lefore the Nicaraguan revolution. For was set up behind the backs of the the Fourth International (Elev­ countries in the highest body of the some years the Bolshevik Faction has elected leadership of the Fourth Inter­ enth World Congress), two group­ Fourth International, revealing their been functioning as a more open public national by the Bolshevik Faction with ings, the 'Bolshevik Faction' (BF) contempt for the majority of the cadres faction, without regard to the decisions the express purpose of chaniing the and the 'Leninist Trotskyist Tend­ of our movement and their rejection of or norms of the Fourth International. relationship of forces in the Fourth ency' (LTT), split from the Fourth its democratic discussions and deci­ Increasingly, it set itself up as a paral­ International so that the BF would International. The World Congress sions. lel formation to the Fourth Interna­ take over its leadership. The brigade adopted the following statement The BF and the LTT had full rights tional, organizing splits of our forces masqueraded as a military unit of the on the split on November 17, 1979. to present their views on Nicaragua in country after country, setting up FSLN, fraudulently raised money us­ and every other point on the agenda of their own international apparatus and ing the name of the FSLN, and deliber­ The Fourth International has suf­ this World Congress. A section of the financial system in competition with ately confused trade-union organiza­ fered a split which represents a serious L TT which rejected the split course has those of the International, and moving tions and groups of workers in blow to our movement. Given the gen­ in fact done so. The leaderships of the their comrades from country to country Nicaragua who thought they did re­ eral rise of the revolutionary struggle BF and L TT both make the same without regard to the interests of the present the FSLN. This completely on a world scale in the framework of excuse that there hasn't been enough sections involved and not under the unprincipled behavior in the course of the combined crises of imperialism and time since the overthrow of Somoza control of or even in consultation with a living revolution represented a carry­ the ruling bureaucratic castes in the four months ago to begin the discus­ the regular bodies of the International. ing over of their factional and sectar· degenerated or deformed workers sion on Nicaragua at this World Con­ Before the Nicaraguan events, they ian methods within the Fourth Inter­ states, and the decision of this World gress. On the contrary, a revolutionary were warned that this World Congress national to the Latin American labor Congress to implement a radical turn organization such as the Fourth Inter­ would take the necessary measures to movement and Nicaraguan revolution to the industrial working class to national has the duty to react rapidly put a halt to this public factional as a whole. The operations · of the deepen our proletarian orientation, we to events of such importance as the operation. This method of functioning Sim6n Bolivar Brigade were a real are convinced of the capacity of our Nicaraguan revolution. This discus­ reached a criminal culmination in the crime against the Nicaraguan revolu­ movement to rapidly overcome the sion, which the BF and LTT have now operations of the "Sim6n Bolivar Bri­ tion and against the Fourth Interna· quantitative and political effects of the unilaterally cut themselves off from, gade" in Nicaragua (see statement by tional. split. All the necessary steps will be will continue in the Fourth Interna­ the United Secretariat of the Fourth At its first meeting following the taken by the International and its tional as the revolution unfolds, in the International on the Sim6n Bolivar overthrow of Somoza, the United Se­ sections to accomplish this. framework of a massive international Brigade in the October 22, 1979, issue cretariat of the Fourth International The leaderships of the "Bolshevik campaign of solidarity in the face of of Intercontinental Press! lnprecor, called the Bolshevik Faction to order Faction" and the "Leninist Trotskyist imperialist hatred for the Nicaraguan p. 1033). for the Sim6n Bolivar Brigade. The Tendency" have publicly attempted to revolution. United Secretariat warned the Bol-­ justify their split by charging that the The right of the LTT and BF to Simon Bolivar Brigade shevik Faction to cease its activities as majority of the forces of the Fourth present their views inside the Interna· Right from the beginning, the BF a public faction in Central America. International have "abandoned tional was not and is not challenged. conceived of the brigade in this fac­ Since they knew that this World Con­ Trotskyism" by their defense of the Their split was not politically justified tional manner, and not from the point gress would demand that the Bol­ Nicaraguan revolution and that this and was therefore unprincipled. of view of the needs of the Nicaraguan shevik Faction put an end to all viola- World Congress has nof been demo­ cratically prepared. The facts speak otherwise. The charge that the majority of the Fourth International is "liquidating" Trotskyism by its revolutionary re­ sponse to the Nicaraguan revolution, by its analysis of the present stage of the Nicaraguan revolution, and by its fraternal attitude to the fighters of the FSLN who led the revolutionary over­ throw of the imperialist-backed Som­ oza dictatorship, is absurd. Any other stance would amount to sectarian ab­ stentionism in face of the living revolu­ tion. Democratic World Congress The World Congress has been pre­ pared in a fully democratic way. The BF and the LTT have enjoyed full rights to present their views in the written discussion and in the sections, along guidelines agreed to by the BF and LTT themselves. The lie to their argument is given by the fact that the More than 100,000 Nicaraguans turned out November 7 to show support for the revolution and the FSLN leadership. The Bol­ BF and LTT split right on the eve of shevik Faction-led Slm6n Bolivar Brigade masqueraded as a military unit of the FSLN, raised money fraudulently, and the World Congress, refusing even to promoted policies contrary to FSLN. After the brigade was discredited, Bolshevik Faction began attacking FSLN . . positions. the Fourth International into industry Lenin against the Stalinist degenera­ Both the LTT and the BF had full are not unrelated questions. Both have tion. With the victory of the Cuban ... sectarians rights to present their views on all to do with how to build proletarian revolution, a leadership emerged that Continued from preceding page questions, in the long discussion parties and a mass revolutionary inter­ could best be described as revolution­ Organization (OST) of Costa Rica, within the international that preceeded national in the concrete situation be­ ists of action. In spite of their theoreti­ whose leaders support the LTT. the World Congress and at the World fore us. cal and programmatic weakness, they Neither of these two groups had ever Congress itself. The turn is a necessary tactical step bypassed Stalinism and Social Demo­ been recognized by the Fourth Interna­ which the Fourth International can cracy in struggle. tional, which has no section in Nicara­ Contempt for membership now take--and therefore must take. There is a chance that the Sandinis­ gua. However, they each projected the Their split right on the eve of the Once it is done, our organization will tas are going to successfully follow the line of the BF and LTT respectively, congress indicated their contempt for be rooted in the decisive sectors of the same road as the Cubans. Their ac­ and falsely used the name of the the membership of the sections of the working class, which is the "normal" tions so- far are all to their credit. Fourth International. international and for their democratic place for us to be to build Leninist We will see other such forces emerge, The United Secretariat decided that decisions. In practice they abandoned parties. including some who will not measure the Bolshevik Faction had to withdraw one of the most basic elements of It will not in and of itself solve any up to the historic tasks of the proletar­ its Simon Bolivar Brigade and cease Trotskyism, the need to build a revolu­ political problems, but will correct an iat, like the left wing of the Algerian and desist from all other undisciplined tionary Marxist international. abnormal situation. fighters who overthrew French rule in operations in Nicaragua. The charge that they were "expelled" It is one thing to be forced into the early 1960s. In view of the need for the real views does not square with the facts or with isolation by circumstances beyond our But if the Fourth International is not of the Fourth International to be made their refusal to attend the World Con­ control. It is another to choose isola­ to be a sect, and if a mass revolution­ known in Nicaragua, the United Se­ gress. tion when these circumstances no ary international is ever to be rebuilt, cretariat also decided that all support­ It is also contradicted by their own longer exist. That is a surefire formula we must constantly strive to find our ers of the Fourth International in explanation for the split-the need for for a sectarian and petty-bourgeois way to such revolutionists of action in Nicaragua should function in collabo­ a "parity committee" to organize to existence that will mean the death of the advanced capitalist countries as ration with the United Secretariat on combat the political positions of the any revolutionary organization. well as the semicolonial world. the basis of its line. Fourth International. In the past decade, Trotskyist forces Driven by frenzied opposition to the These decisions in no way amounted They can't have it both ways­ on a world scale broke out of their course taken by the majority of the to expulsions. The LTT and BF-with either they left the Fourth Interna­ political isolation to a certain extent International, unable to come up with the advice of the OCRFI-decided to tional in order to fight against it, or through their leadership role in the cogent alternatives, the LTT ana BF seize upon these decisions as a justifi­ they were unjustly driven out and youth radicalization. This also brought left the Fourth International. In doing cation for their split. really want to remain part of the inter­ them valuable cadres. Now the oppor· so, they have begun to move away They turned their backs on the national. tunity and task is to build on those from the living forces of proletarian Fourth International and walked gains to physically place our organiza­ revolution and to abandon the con· away. They did not even come to the Turn to industry & Nicaragua tions in the industrial working class struction of parties capable of leading World Congress to challenge the Uni­ Responding to the unfolding revolu­ where we belong. the struggle of the toiling masses ted Secretariat decisions they opposed, tion in Nicaragua and sending the For years, the forces of the Fourth against the exploiters on a world scale let alone to present their own political majority of the leaders and members of International defended the program of to victory.

22 tiona of the statutes and norms of the discussions. Recently, the OCRFI re­ The OCRFI, the LTT, and the BF integrity of the Fourth International Fourth International and cease its cognized the Fourth International and have issued an appeal to set up a as a world party, as an organization functioning as a public faction, the its sections as revolutionary organiza­ "parity commission for the reorganiza­ based on democratic centralism as it is leaders of the BF decided to split. tions and agreed to discuss with us on tion (reconstruction) of the Fourth applied on an international level, the The criminal adventure of the Sim6n the basis of the documents prepared International." This is an operation Fifth World Congress Since Reunifica­ Bolivar Brigade was bound to end in for the World Congress, with the goal designed to further split and attack the tion (Eleventh World Congress) reaf­ disaster, and it did. At that point, the of sounding out the possibilities of Fourth International. Its content is firms and defends the programmatic Bolshevik Faction leadership switched fusion with the Fourth International. liquidationism of the Fourth Interna­ and organizational integrity of revolu­ its public line from attempting to cover When the differences within the tional and world Trotskyism as an tionary Marxism, of Trotskyism. themselves with the prestige of the Fourth International appeared on Ni­ organization. They have called for an The Fourth International calls on FSLN to public attack on the FSLN as caragua, with a temporary conver­ "open conference" of those seeking the the OCRFI, the Bolshevik Faction, and the instrument of consolidation of a gence between the positions of the destruction of the Fourth Interna­ the Leninist Trotskyist Tendency to bourgeois state in Nicaragua. This set Bolshevik Faction and those of the tional. This "open conference" itself reverse their course. The World Con­ the stage for their bloc with the Len­ LTT and OCRFI, a majority of the will be nothing more than a talking gress affirms that the Argentine Par­ inist Trotskyist Tendency and the Or­ OCRFI reacted with their old sectarian shop with its only common denomina­ tido Socialista de los Trabajadores, the gamzmg Committee for the Recon­ reflexes. They de facto excluded a tor being opposition to building the largest grouping supporting the Bol­ struction of the Fourth Internatiohal delegation from the United Secretariat shevik Faction, should become the of the Fourth International from the Fourth International as a world party. (OCRFI). It is clear that the OCRFI, the BF, and Argentine section of the Fourth Inter­ Both the L TT and the OCRFI discussions at their international con­ national. We maintain our general ference, to which they had originally the LTT do not agree on the major reacted in a sectarian fashion to the ·issues of the class struggle today, and orientation on the question of prin­ Nicaraguan revolution. There is a par­ invited the United Secretariat. In addi­ cipled fusions and regroupments. We tion, they decided to invite to that that they are opposed to majority rule, allel here with the Algerian and Cu­ that is, democratic centralism. Their reiterate the basic concept that the ban revolutions. In both of those cases, conference the LTT and BF, that is, to building of mass revolutionary support the open break with the Fourth plan will come to nothing, just as the the majority of the Trotskyist forces on OCRFI itself failed to build an alterna­ workers parties and a mass revolution­ a world scale demonstrated their abil­ International by the LTT and BF. The ary workers International cannot suc­ OCRFI once again began to attack the tive to the Fourth International along ity to correctly relate to the living these lines. It will result only in the ceed solely by individual recruitment revolution and to the revolutionary Fourth International and its sections to the existing nuclei alone, which are and sympathizing organizations in its demoralization and destruction of fighters who came to the fore in the hundreds of valuable cadres. the Fourth International and its sec­ revolutionary process itself, while at publications, including an especially tions, but will of necessity include the same time defending and applying slanderous attack on the American By these actions, the OCRFI, the BF, fusions with other organizations either the Trotskyist program in these revolu­ Socialist Workers Party as "revision­ and the LTT have turned their back on already existing or which will appear tions. But both times, there appeared ist" and as having betrayed the cause building the Fourth International as in the course of the revolutionary sectarian tendencies within the Trot­ struggle itself. It reaffirms its convic­ skyist movement who turned their tion that the way in which the Fourth backs on the living revolution. Leaders 'By reaffirming and defending the International and its sections respond of the OCRFI, only recently, twenty to openings for fusions is and will be years after the event, have come to the integrity of the Fourth Interna­ an important test of their revolution­ realization that a workers state had ary capacities. been established in Cuba! From the tional as a world party, we also Under the impact of the present fact that these revolutions were led by split, we will not reverse our course of revolutionists who did not have the full reaffirm and defend the program­ seeking the reunification of Trotskyist Leninist program, these sectarians forces, begun in 1963. We are ready to deduced that the correct stance was to matic and organizational integrity discuss with the current represented by denounce them at all times as betray­ Lutte Ouvriere along the lines pursued ers, irrespective of what they were of revolutionary Marxism, of by the United Secretariat in the last concretely doing in the context of the few years. In the case of the OCRFI, mobilization and organization of the Trotskyism.' this would have to be preceded by a masses, the scope of the anti­ reversal of their present course and an imperialist and anticapitalist mea­ affirmation that the Fourth Interna­ sures taken, etc. of revolutionary Marxism. an organization, today. The need to tional and all its sections are revolu­ What this reversal by the OCRFI simultaneously build national tionary organizations, and that the Disastrous consequences amounts to is a shortsighted policy of working-class revolutionary parties purpose of such discussions is to unify Such a sectarian stance can lead to seeking supposed temporary factional and the World Party of Socialist Revo­ with them in their totality; and by disastrous consequences, deeply dis­ advantage. To do this, they turned lution is a fundamental programmatic action in accordance with this stance. crediting Trotskyism in the eyes of the their backs on the objective need of tenet of Marxism. This is the epoch of Independently of any preconditions, masses engaged in the revolutionary pursuing a course of exploring the imperialism, an epoch of growing in­ we will take whatever initiatives might process. To a certain extent, this has possibilities of a principled unification ternationalization of the productive help bring us closer to our goal while happened in Nicaragua. In addition to with the Fourth International, which forces and of the class struggle, an defending the integrity of our organi­ the positions taken by the BF, the would represent a major contribution epoch of world revolution and counter­ zation and its strict organizational positions of the Costa Rican Socialist toward solving the crisis of revolution­ revolution. Any attempt on whatever boundaries. We will advise our na­ Workers Organization (OST), whose ary leadership in the coming class basis to build national revolutionary tional sections to do the same. leaders are members of the LTT, and of battles in a number of key countries. parties without at the same time work­ The Fourth International will not the Liga Marxista Revolucionaria The unprincipled and irresponsible ing to build a revolutionary Interna­ budge one inch from its principled (LMR) in Nicaragua, are a case in character of that decision is under­ tional will lead its practitioners to position that any such discussion can point. The newspaper of the OST, for scored by the OCRFI' s own analysis of grave errors in the class struggle, not have only the goal of the strengthen­ example, presents the monetary mea­ the world situation and the necessity only on an international level but in ing of the Fourth International as a sures taken by the Nicaraguan govern­ of overcoming the crisis of proletarian their own countries. world party based on democratic cen­ ment as an anti-working-class mea­ leadership. By reaffirming and defending the tralism. sure. The LMR has tried to paint the false picture that Nicaragua today is a hotbed of repression against the work­ 1-year subscription- to 'Intercontinental Press/lnprecor' ing class. This same theme was at the ~~ Witha center of a meeting jointly organized by the OCRFI, the BF, and the LTT in 1979 World Congress of the Paris on November 1.'3. These forces rejected organizing an international \!~ Fourth International= Documents & Reports solidarity and aid campaign with Ni­ caragua against imperialism on the Major documents and reports from tion on women's liberation in the false grounds that this will only aid a the 1979 World Congress of the history of the international Marx­ "bourgeois" government in Nicaragua. Fourth International have been col­ ist movement Organizing meetings like that of lected in a special supplement to the • Majority and minority viewpoints November 13 can only give aid and international newsweekly 'I nterconti­ on Indochina, Nicaragua, and comfort to the international campaign nental Press/lnprecor.' This 20Q-page socialist democracy and dictator­ of imperialism and capitalist reaction supplement will be published in a ship of the proletariat against the Nicaraguan revolution, large-size book format. • A report on international youth. As a special offer to new subscrib­ presenting as tyrants those who have The World Congress is the highest overthrown the bloody tyranny sup­ ers, 'Intercontinental Press/ I nprecor' body of the Fourth International, an will send this Important book of World ported by imperialism for forty-five organization of revolutionists from years. Any criticisms revolutionists Congress Documents free with the some fifty countries in Europe, Asia, purchase of a one-year subscription. make, including on any violation of Africa, Oceania, and North and South workers democracy, must be in a differ­ With a six-month subscription, the America. While the U.S. Socialist book is $2.50. Regular price ·is $4.95. ent framework-that of unconditional Workers Party is barred by reaction­ solidarity with the revolution, defense ary federal legislation from member­ 0 Enclosed is $30 for a one-year subscription. of the revolution against imperialism, ship in the Fourth International, it is in Send me my FREE copy of the World Congress Documents. which will attempt to drown it in blood political solidarity with the interna­ 0 Enclosed is $15 for a six-month subscrip­ as it advances, and with a fraternal tional. attitude toward the Nicaraguan revolu­ tion, plus $2.50 for the World Congress Among the documents from the Documents. tionaries. 0 Enclosed is $4.95 for the World Congress recent World Congress are: Documents. Reversal by OCRFI • The world political resolution, Under the impact of the Nicaraguan plus reports on the international Name ______revolution, the OCRFI reversed its line situation by Ernest Mandel and toward reunification with the Fourth the turn to industry by Jack Address ------International. Some years ago, the Barnes. City ____ State __ Zip ___ OCRFI, which represents forces which • Resolutions on Europe and Latin Clip and mail to Intercontinental Press/lnpre­ had refused to join the reunification of America. cor, Post Office Box 116, Varick Street Station, the Fourth International in 1963, ap­ • The first comprehensive resolu- New York, N.Y. 10014. proached the Fourth International for

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 ~3 In Brief

WHY 11 PEOPLE DIED crowd as "barbaric" and don't get seats in front of the eleven deaths. response. They set up a panel AT THE WHO CONCERT "animal-like." stage simply jam up the aisles. "In general," a police report to "investigate" the matter. But that vicious theme had But for the promoters those conceded, "the crowd was or­ Who is included on the panel? Weeks later, people in Cincin­ to be dropped, correspondent 4,000 extra tickets mean an derly and not a problem." The promoters and coliseum nati were still asking why. John Olmsted reports, as the extra $40,000 profit. Fire and "The problem," it added, owners! When eleven people were killed facts began to come out. police officials go along. "lies in such a large crowd In 1976, a panel was also set in the crush trying to enter the First of all, the concert was But $40,000 extra profits attempting to gain entrance up to probe the coliseum prob­ Who concert there December 3, heavily oversold. The River­ didn't satisfy the promoters. through too few doors." lem. Proposals to end open the media tried to put the front Coliseum has a legal The coliseum has 106 doors. It will be a difficult crime to seating and overselling were blame on the victims. capacity of about 18,300. But But the promoters hired only cover up. The following night, squelched. The same people They claimed the deaths when the arena is set up for a enough ticket-takers to cover friends of those killed marched were on that panel. were caused by excessive drink­ rock concert, 4,000 of the seats four doors. Even with thou­ on the coliseum. They placed Would that Xavier professor ing and drugs in the waiting are behind the stage, where sands of people jammed out­ the blame squarely on the con­ consider it "barbaric" -and crowd. A Xavier University you can't see. side, they refused to open more. cert promoters and coliseum "animal-like" to let eleven peo­ psychology professor-who So they sell "open seating." The huge surge into the few owners. ple be killed for profit? wasn't there-described the That means 4,000 or more who open doors resulted in the City officials had a different THE MILITANT GETS AROUND The Militant's arguments in Gov't assassination plot charged in Peltier case favor of shipping back the By Della Rossa Peltier was initially sent,· Standing Deer states that On July 20, convinced his shah are getting around. LOS ANGELES-Leonard enced to prison for "aiding he was approached by pri- life was in immediate dan- Our stand was featured in Peltier, a leading American and abetting" in the death son officials to observe Pelt- ger, Peltier tried to escape. the December 6 issue of the Indian Movement activist, is of two FBI agents who ier. Two others, Bobby Garcia Louisville Courier, a major on trial here for escaping started a shootout at the He apparently did not and Dallas Thundershield, Black weekly. from federal prison. Pine Ridge Reservation in agree. Even though he had a went with him. Thunder- Across the top of the front Peltier's defense is that he 1975. Peltier, it is agreed, severe medical problem he shield died with guards' page it printed, with credit, tried to escape because the killed no one. was put in the hole. bullets in his back. Dick Roberts's article on the government was plotting to After conviction, he was Two months later, he Peltier and Garcia made it decision of the U.S. govern­ have him murdered in pri- says, he was offered his out, but were recaptured. ment and the oil interests to son. sent to a top-security prison release if he would help set Peltier and Garcia are at Marion, Illinois. bring the shah to this country, The judge has joined with up Peltier with a rigged es- now being tried along with plus the article by Ernest the prosecutor to block evi- There he met inmate Ro- cape plan in which Peltier Roque Duenas, who al- Harsch on how the CIA in­ dence on this from getting to bert Standing Deer (Robert would be killed. legedly helped them plan the stalled the shah in power in the jury. Wilson). Standing Deer agreed, escape. 1953. was released from the hole, Presiding Judge Lawrence An entire inside page of the and told Peltier what was in Lydick agreed to permit tes­ Courier is devoted to the Mili­ store for him. timony by Standing Deer, tant's reproduction of the con­ Peltier soon after was but denied the defense the gressional testimony of Iran­ reassigned to another prison right to bring in other in­ ian poet Reza Baraheni on and from there to Lompoc, a mate witnesses who would torture under the shah. minimum-security prison, in confirm the story of the And the Reader, a campus California. planned assassination. paper at Southwest State Uni­ Soon after, another pri­ Standing Deer began his versity in Minnesota, argued soner was transferred in-a testimony by explaining editorially in its November 30 man who Standing Deer had that he first met the defend­ issue that the United States earlier warned might be ant, "after the government should deport the shah, not Peltier's assassin. hired me to kill Leonard Iranian students. Peltier conveyed his fears · Peltier." ln support of its stand, it American Indian Movement leader Dennis Banks (left) joins to the Lompoc warden, but The judge gavelled him offers facts which it credits to prayer vigil for Leonard Peltier nothing was done. down. the Militant and Intercontinen­ tal Pressilnprecor. ' 20ZOFF 1eI ----boolcs---- -topes (buy 4-get I Freel-

Books Tapes

l. Revolution in Cuba Radical 26. Twenty Years of the 36. Feminism and Women's 42. l:hina-Vietnam Conflict by Herbert L. Matthews, by Ray Ginger, $3.15 Cuban Revolution Biology and the Class Struggle by Jack Barnes, $5.60 by Evelyn Rel'd, $•->.60 by Gus Horowitz. $5.60 $4.75 13. Gn•at Labor Uprising 2. Cuba for Beginners of 1~77 27. Policies of the Cuban 37. History of the Family 4:~. EastPrn Eut·opean by. RIUS, $2.7fl by Philip S. Foner, $4.35 Leadership and Marriage Revolution by Joseph Hansen, $ii.60 by Evelyn Reed, $5.60 threl' talks by Fred 3. Dynamics of the Cuban 14. We Almost Lost Detroit Feldman. $1 :!.01 I Revolution by John Fuller, $1.80 28. Socialist Strategy for 38. Role of Women's by Joseph Hansen, $4.75 the Labor Movement Libemtion in thP 44. Hole of the Intellectual 15. First Ten Years of three talks by Frank Lovell, Socialist Revolution in thl' Revolutionary American Communism 4. Put•rto Rico: l<'reedom $12.00 by Mary-Alice WatPrs. Pat·ty and Power in the by James P. Cannon, $4.35 $;i.60 by ,Joseph Hans1•n. $.->.60 29. Minneapolis Strikes and Caribbean 16. History of American by Gordon K. Lewis, $6.3G the Revolutionary 3B. Marcus Garvey 45. Theory of Permam•nt Trotskyism Party* Movement Revolution Teamstt~r by James P. Cannon, $:l.!Jfi 5. Rebellion four talks by FarrPII Dobbs, by Tony Thomas. $i1.60 two talks by .Josl'ph by Farrell Dobbs, $3.55 Hansen, $!!.60 17. Socialism on Trial $16.00 40. Makolm X: The Man and by James P. Cannon, $2.7fi 6. Teamster Power 30. Marxism and His Ideas 46. Sm·ialism: Utopian and by l<'arrell Dobbs, $3.95 18. Problems of Everyday Existentialism by George Breitman, $.'i.60 Scientifk 7. Teamster Politics Life by George Novack, $•->.60 41. Upsurge in Southern four talks b.v 12. Eugene V. Debs: The six talks by Harry Ring. Bonus tape select1on: ·--· _ Making of an American 2:3. W.E.B- DuBois Speaks $1!J.20 Enclosed 1s my check or money order for $ ______(Include $.75 (1890-1919) postage for one: $ 25 for each add1t1onal 1tem.) All prices reflect 20'if: discount. by W.E.B. Du Bois, $4.75 34. Fourth International After World War II Charge to: _ Visa _ Master Charge (InterBank No ______) 24. W.E.B. DuBois Speaks by Leslie Evans, $5.60 Name ------(1920-1936) by W.E.H. Du Bois, $4.75 35. Trotskyism and Address _____ American Stalinism 25. Marxist Economic two talks by Harry Ring, C1ty/State1Z1p Theory $!).60 Send books or tapes to a fnend with a Pathfinder greetmg card Enclose by Ernest Mandel, $6.00 the name and address and indicate items to be sent on a separate p;ece of paper

24 .. Compiled by Harry Ring The Great Society Harry Ring Rally backs Ohio farm unionists

To whom?-"The model that Cuba Watch that red-nosed reindeer­ offers others is, in my judgement, British merchants are complaining that unattractive."-A State Department offi­ the Soviet Union has flooded the market cial addressing a meeting of Caribbean with cut-rate xmas cards and may take as nations. much as ten percent of the gross.

A modern religion-"Western cul­ Final solution-Regarding the rhu­ ture" could never abide "medieval" Mos­ barb between smokers and non-smokers farm union rally lem religion, right? Meanwhile, Rev. Ed­ that led the captain of that D.C.-New York TOLEDO-Chanting The strikers were the ward Schillebeeck, a Catholic theologian, flight to declare an insurrection and land "Huelga! Huelga!" (strike! target of Ku Klux Klan ter­ is being grilled by a Vatican panel for _ in Maryland. We're surprised that the strike!) and "Boycott Lib­ ror as well as the violence of possible heresy on such issues as the Tobacco Institute, with its customary PR by's, Boycott Campbell's!" the authorities. There is evi­ immaculate conception, the resurrection logic, didn't suggest that if everyone 200 members and supporters dence of collaboration be­ of Christ and-biggest heresy of all-the ·smoked, we wouldn't have such problems. of the· Farm Labor Organiz­ tween the cops and Klan. infallibility of the pope. ing Committee marched FLOC is now conducting a Pure brass dep't-Texaco, who the Progress report-After seven years through downtown Toledo boycott of Libby's and December 8. government says has racked up millions deliberation, the California court system Campbell's products. The in illegal overcharges, is suing three off­ upheld a state regulation which barred The protesters, who came big canneries, not the indi­ from Ohio, Michigan, and shore drilling companies, claiming price beating and other physical abuse of autis­ vidual farmers, control the tic and schizophrenic children. The ruling Indiana, rallied at the fed­ industry and set prices. rigging and antitrust violations. eral courthouse to protest came in the case of a children's home violations of FLOC's right A good number of union­ Gives it body-If you're into Perrier which held such beatings to be "aversive to organize. ists participated in the water, not to worry. True, French authori­ therapy." Migrant workers struck FLOC support action, in­ ties did order destruction of all water the tomato fields in north­ cluding members of several bottled at Perrier's spring near Fontaine­ Shopping tip-Torneau of New York, west Ohio last fall in a bat­ United Auto Workers locals, bleau because of dangerous levels of mi­ Bal Harbor, and Geneva, is offering a 14- tle for union contracts. and some Teamsters. crobes and chemicals in the water. But, a karat, self-winding calendar watch for Perrier official assures, this is but one of $3,200. Which is quite modest, considering their four springs, and it only supplied that the accompanying watchband is UFW WINS SECOND four vegetable growers. The French supermarkets and hospitals. $6,500. LETTUCE CONTRACT only previous lettuce contract was won several months ago The United Farm Workers from Sun Harvest, the nation's won a contract with Admiral top lettuce producer. Packing, a major lettuce The Admiral agreement, a grower. The contract, tenta­ union spokesperson said, in­ Capitalism Fouls Things Up tively agreed to in mid­ cludes the same money provi­ December, was the first break sions as the one at Sun Harv­ in the ranks of California Im­ est. It stipulates that the perial Valley growers in an starting wage will go from the eleven-month, bitterly fought Radiation in the backyard present $3.50 to $5.71 an hour first one, and a hundred to the second, at strike. over the three-year life of the This week's column was written by which health officials answered ques­ Since the strike began last contract, plus cost-of-living, Pat Mayberry. January, contracts have been medical, and pension m­ tions. won from twenty-two of thirty- creases. ALBANY, N.Y.-During her recent Health Department officials "told me campaign tour stop here, Matilde Zimmer­ not to let my kids out to play in the grass mann, Socialist Workers Party candidate and not to eat the vegetation," one resi­ for vice-president, talked to Albany resi­ dent told Zimmermann. "I'm a hunter. I Burbank strikers stand solid dents who live near National Lead Indus­ hunt up in the back there [by the plant]. By Janis Ball mented that if Boeing deliv­ tries. I've seen rabbits with cancer and every­ LOS ANGELES-In De­ ers all their scheduled 727s NL Industries uses uranium tailings in thing else. When I shoot them, I just cember, 465 workers at the this year, they will be deliv­ the manufacture of ballas for airplanes. throw them away. They have tumors on Menasco Company, a Colt ering them without landing Centered in a working-class residential the sides of their heads and elsewhere." Industry subsidiary, were gear. neighborhood, NL has been the center of a Most local residents don't believe into their seventh month on The pickets at the plant month-long raging controversy. they're getting the truth about contamina­ strike. They have stood fast have been surveilled, ha­ Residents had noticed smoke billowing tion from the NL plant. One told Zimmer­ against company strike­ rassed, beaten, and arrested. from NL's stacks. State health officials mann, "We feel we're being deceived. I breaking and brutality by Company rent-a-cops follow checked and found radiation levels on the don't trust the health officials." Burbank city cops. them with TV cameras and "Do you think NL should pay for medi­ The workers rejected a city cops are always on street behind the plant 100 times higher than in the rest of the city. cal tests and treatment?" Zimmermann contract offer that wpuld hand. At least two strikers asked. have given them less than a have been hospitalized after Officials discovered several defects in NL's filtration system, as well as unsafe "Yes, I do," he said. "It's not our fault." 7 percent wage increase and being run down by scabs Zimmermann asked what he thought a cut in their cost-of-living speeding across the picket working conditions in the plant. Five workers had to be transferred to other should be done. payments. line. "I think there should be an investiga­ The Menasco workers are departments when their lungs were found They are members of Lo­ tion. We have reports that guys work a cal 758 of the International part of the same lAM dis­ to be contaminated with radioactive mate­ whole week without protective material­ Association of -Machinists. trict as the 13,500 workers at rial. Many of the strikers are Lockheed Aircraft, where I But New York State has decided it will they haven't been washed or screened. women. The women are work. not recommend closing the plant while it's They [the company] don't care. I'm not in playing a leading role on the Lockheed workers and being fixed up, perhaps because NL In­ favor of big business. I just don't want picket line. other Los Angeles-area unio­ dustries claims it will cost $1 million. The them to hurt people. They just care about Menasco manufactures nists have responded to calls company's owners have stalled on mak­ making the money and that's it." the landing gear for Boeing for support by Menasco ing the necessary repairs despite a year of George Smith, a thirty-two-year-old con­ 727s. Since the strike, some workers. Recently nearly 500 record-breaking profits. struction worker, talked about trying to explain the hazards of the plant to the NL gear has been made by workers turned out for a Area residents have held two meetings workers. Admitting that they were afraid scabs but had to be rejected Menasco plant-gate march to get at the truth about radioactive for their jobs, Smith said, "It's easier for by Boeing as defective. A and rally in support of these contamination. Fifty people came to the union representative com- determined strikers. them to get another job than it is for my kids to find a new father!" Smith has three young children and his wife has cancer. One woman told us that she had lived in the neighborhood for fifty years. "I can't just pick up and move. I'm the owner, not the tenant. The people down­ stairs are moving because of this but I can't do that." Her husband died of cancer last year. The people in the neighborhoods sur­ rounding NL Industries are scared and confused. They want facts and answers. Many of them are sick. They don't know whether their illnesses are related to the contamination from the plant. They are afraid of their spiralling medical costs. i As one resident told us, "What's more Los Angeles union solidarity rally with Menasco strikers important-our lives, our families, or their George Smith speaking with Zimmermann profits?"

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 25 Our Revolutionary Heritage Letters

Miners & union democracy Balto. rent bill debate The United Mine Workers conven­ out of Washington, D.C., and into the In a letter in the December tained no provisions for rent tion this month in Denver falls on the coalfields. When it passed overwhelm­ 21 Militant, Gerry Gaeng roll-back or real rent control. sixth anniversary of a landmark ingly, deldgates jumped up and down and and Laila Atallah accuse It merely covered up the event in the union's history. Coal cheered. the Socialist Workers Party responsibility of the Demo­ miner delegates met in Pittsburgh Delegates also voted that only working of siding with the landlords cratic party-which controls December 3-14, 1973, for the first miners may run and vote for local presi­ by refusing to urge a vote for Baltimore politics-for the convention since Arnold Miller and dent, vice-president, and mine and safety the recent Baltimore "rent current crisis in housing and control" initiative. They as­ rents. How can this be called the Miners for Democracy slate committeeman. A maximum age limit of sert that the initiative was a "a rare opportunity" for ousted the corrupt dictatorship of 64 was set for candidates in local and "significant repudiation by workers "to vote their class W.A. 'Tony' Boyle. The delegates took district elections. our city's working people of interests"? big steps toward putting the union One 28-year-old delegate told The Mili­ Democratic party capitalist It simply isn't true, as under the control of the ranks. Below tant, "The older miner is not going to be politics." Gaeng and Atallah assert, are excerpts from Cindy Jaquith's with us forever, so it's going to be left up Significantly, they don't that "the entire political es­ to the younger miner. How important he report from the December 28, 1973, dispute the Militant's con­ tablishment including the 'Militant.' views his role is going to decide what kind clusion that the measure Democratic party liberals" of union we have 20 years from now." itself, even if upheld by the opposed the measure. Parren UMW A delegates approved new con­ The delegates looked at all the porpo­ courts, won't control rents. Mitchell, the nationally tract demands that include a cost-of-living sals with a critical eye and were not Rather, they focus on the prominent Democratic Con­ escalator clause, a 30-hour week with no afraid to raise objections. On the final day claim by many of the mea­ gressman from Baltimore reduction in wages, and sick pay, which of the convention, ignoring the appeals of sure's "radical" proponents and a leader of the Congres­ the miners never received before. They are Miller, the delegates rejected a new grie­ that it was a "truly indepen­ sional Black Caucus, sup­ also demanding a tripling of the royalties vance procedure that had been negotiated dent attack on the self-styled ported the bill. So did other paid by coal operators into the Welfare with the coal operators. "The restrictions I 'progressive' business and Democratic elected officials. and Retirement Fund, so that retired read here are on the mine worker, not on political establishments of As class-conscious politi­ miners can get $500 monthly pensions. management," complained one speaker. this city." cal activists, we ought to The final contract will be ratified by the In his closing remarks to the conven­ explain the responsibility of But that is exactly what it the capitalist parties for the membership, a new right won at the tion, Miller asked delegates to express wasn't. The campaign convention. The old contract runs out their sentiment about striking to win their crisis working people face. around the measure was not We ought to find ways to Nov. 12, 1974. If necessary, the miners are new contract. He was met with' resound­ in any sense a step in the prepared to strike to get what they want. ing applause. Richard Cicci, a delegate popularize the idea that the direction of working-class way forward is through pol­ In his opening address to the conven­ from Local 1190 in Pennsylvania, re­ political action independent tion, UMW A President Arnold Miller flected the militant mood of many miners: itical action by the labor of the capitalist parties and movement and its allies in­ warned that the coal companies will now "If we go on strike, Nixon might try and capitalist politics. dependent of the Democratic try to exploit the energy crisis "as an label coal miners as damaging and hurt­ Just the opposite. It was and Republican parties. The excuse to take additional short-cuts with ing the security of the nation. We feel this aimed at convincing work­ Baltimore "rent control" in­ our safety." is wrong because our demands have been ing people that progress in itiative did nothing to adc In their new contract, the miners will be so long waited for. I don't think we'll the electoral arena can be vance that perspective. fighting for the union's right to withdraw accept any legislation ordering us back to made within the framework Yvonne Hayes men from mines that are unsafe and to work." of capitalist party politics. Baltimore Socialist Workers make the company pay workers for time As an editorial in the conservative The measure itself con- Party lost. In addition, the delegates approved Pittsburgh Press warned Dec. 11, " ... having safety committeemen in every there should be no misreading the mood of mine, to be elected by the union. the tough-sounding miners and their new A drive to organize unorganized miners, leaders, who now are turning to issues beginning in Brookside, Ky., also won the other than cleaning up their ranks." The convention's support. most serious of those "other issues" is the Conventions under the Boyle regime threat of a six-month strike if the coal were notorious for intimidation of dissi­ operators refuse to yield on the UMW A dent deletates and lack of debate. As one demands. delegate here told the Militant, "We were The miners are in an excellent bargain­ generally just called out of order and had ing position. The oil monopolies that own to sit down before we had a chance to many coal companies want to increase present our views. I've n'ever been to one production of coal, but the can't do it where we had access to the floor like we without the miners. In the estimate of the have at this one." Christian Science Monitor, ". . . there is The discussion at this convention pro­ every sign that the nation's miners are ceeded in a democratic manner, with ready to strike the industry unless they opposing views expressed from the floor. get large contract gains." Delegates frequently overruled the chair The Monitor also noted another aspect and they rejected reports that did not meet of the UMW A convention that surely their approval. alarms the coal bosses and Nixon too: The majority of delegates were working " ...the mine union's top officers ... miners, and a large number had never appear less a threat to coal peace in 1974 been to a UMWA convention before, in­ than its members, who have been given cluding Miller himself. A significant heady new powers in Mr. Miller's 'demo­ number of the men were in their twenties cratizatioiJ.' of the union." and thirties. The capitalists have plenty of reason to Many steps were taken at the conven­ fear the logic of the democratic rights the Coal for Xmas let Idi Amin in this country." tion to increase the voice of the rank and delegates consolidated at this convention. I work for Consolidation The other added, "Yeah. And file in the UMW A. One proposal that The miners are now determined to carry Coal Company, subsidiary of if they did, they'd send him received particular enthusiasm was a that fight into the arena of contract nego­ Continental Oil. Consol is back." motion to move the UMWA headquarters tiations. either number one or number A.L. two in the coal industry New York, New York depending on whether you go by miners employed or tons mined. Our party is your party For Christmas this year the Workers oppose war company distributed a printed While campaigning at the box with their slogans and Granite City Steel plant near THE MILITANT is the voice of 0 I want to join the SWP. logos all over it to each St. Louis recently, I was able to talk to thirty or so workers the Socialist Workers Party. 0 Send me __ copies of Prospects employee. In the boxes were for Socialism in America at $2.95 three little rolls of ribbon and about the crisis in Iran. I introduced myself, saying IF YOU AGREE with what each. Enclosed$.__ _ three bows for packages. 0 Please send me more information. Several employees remarked I'm Martha Pettit, an auto you've read, you should join that it is typical of Consol, worker, and I'm Socialist us in fighting for a world Name which doesn't even like to hand Workers Party candidate for without war, racism, or Address out shovels at the supply U.S. Senate. I said that it was house, to give us the wrappings my opinion that we should not exploitation-a socialist City --~------and leave out the present. go to war over the shah and world. State ------Zip _____ N.M. that instead we should send Morgantown, West Virginia the shah back to Iran. Telephone ------­ I asked each worker what he JOIN THE SWP. Fill out this SWP, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. thought. Two didn't know. coupon and mail it today. 10014 Shah & ldi Amin Three said the shah should not On the subway the other be sent back. And the rest­ morning I was sitting next to they all agreed with me. two young Black men who Some acted a bit sheepish, as were talking about Iran and if they thought they might be JOIN THE SWP the shah. alone in thinking the shah One said, "I bet they'd never should be sent back. But one

26~ Learning About Socialism younger worker, after I made my proposal, said, "That Why Marxists back Iran's workers sounds like a winner!" In Iran today two big social forces are clashing. On one product of a certain level of development of the produtive Another said, "Yeah, I'd be side are the Iranian capitalists, big landholders, and their forces and capacities of human beings. In fact, he showed the first one they'd probably allies in Washington. From President Carter to the shah to that capitalism was an advance for humanity. send off to fight. No way!" former Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan, these people tell us But Marx also showed that capitalism was becoming An older worker remarked to that they are devoted to capitalist "democracy," "secular outmoded because of the rapidly growing productive capac­ me, "I don't think they should government," and "modernization." ity of big industry. The contradiction between the social and have allowed him in in the first Ranged in the other camp are the workers and peasants of cooperative nature of modern production and private owner­ place." Iran. Most of them say today that they are fighting for an ship would cause deepening crises. Martha Pettit Kansas City, Missouri "Islamic Revolution" and establishing an "Islamic Repub­ The growth of capitalism created a new progressive class, lic." Their central leaders come from the Islamic religious the working class. The workers were obliged by their class hierarchy. interests to move toward eliminating private ownership of Which side should working people in this country sup­ industry, establishing a democratically planned economy, Students oppose war port? and building a socialist society. The Militant deserves credit One approach might be to compare the proclaimed ideolo­ The utopians saw the struggle between the workers and for providing a welcome and gies of the two sides and decide which is most "progres­ the capitalists as a diversion from their schemes for setting much-needed voice throughout sive." Since capitalist democracy and secular government things right. But Marx responded that all recorded history the "Iran crisis"-not only in historically represented advances over theocratic regimes, had been a history of class sturggles, and that capitalism news analysis and background one might then support Carter and the shah! could only be abolished through the struggle of the workers on the shah and U.S. Obviously, something is wrong with this method. for their interests. imperialism in Iran, but also in It is not enough to look at the ideology proclaimed by a Marx and Engels called this view the materialist concep­ reporting the growing movement in order to gauge its significance. The progres­ tion of history. It is useful in penetrating beneath the opposition to U.S. foreign sive or reactionary character of a struggle is determined by ideology proclaimed by different forces in combat, which is policy among Americans. In Rhode Island we had a what classes are in combat, and by what class interests are often misleading, to the class issues at stake. teach-in scheduled for being fought for under the ideological covering. In the introduction to Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, November 18 at Brown Socialism: Utopian and Scientific by Frederick Engels Engels explained how capitalists used religious ideology in University. It was cancelled by (Pathfinder, $.95) is a pamphlet that explains this approach. the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to mobilize support University President Howard Written in the 1870s as part of a longer work, it is one of the for a progressive struggle against feudalism. It was not Swearer because the subject most popular Marxist writings. Protestant mysticism that was progressive, of course, but was considered "too volatile." Engels explained that socialism evolved out of the growth the political and economic demands that were put forward This violation of freedom of of industry and the deepening conflict between employers in its name. speech did not go unchallenged and workers. The working class-even though it is the most progressive by Brown students and pro­ At the beginning of the 1800s, when the working class social force in the world-often comes into battle under Iranian activists, however. Not was small and industry was in its infancy, the first socialist outmoded beliefs like religion. This is true even though its just one, but two events on Iran thinkers emerged. Robert Owen in Great Britain and Cha­ historic interests lead it toward rejecting all such ideologies have been held successfully rles Fourier and Henri Saint-Simon in France brilliantly in favor of materialism. since then. dissected the evils of capitalism-above all the concentra­ In Iran, under banners proclaiming faith in Islam, The first one was an tion of wealth in the hands of a few while the majority lived workers fight for independence from imperialism, land to the informal discussion on in misery. 1 tiller, workers' control of production, the end of capitalist November 29 attended by But they viewed capitalism as a needless tragedy. They exploitation, the rights of oppressed nationalities, and a seventy-five overwhelmingly thought that if everyone could be made to see reason and wide range of progressive goals. Their struggle is making pro-Iranian Brown students. A accept proposals for humanely reorganizing society, all possible a socialist revolution in Iran. forum on Iran sponsored by the would be well. Fourier and Owen advocated forming experi­ The capitalists in Washington and Iran, on the other Third World Coalition at mental colonies which would prove to the world that their hand, use slogans about "secular government" and "moder­ Brown December 4 was proposals worked. nization" to conceal their reactionary goals. They want to attended by about 400 people. But the rulers showed no interest in voluntarily giving up crush the working people, restrict their democratic rights, Despite media attempts to their wealth. Nor did working people flock into these and stabilize imperialist domination and capitalist exploi­ portray the audience as "perfect" communities. Unable to pose a realistic alterna­ tation. Despite talk about democracy, they really seek to "divided evenly," the crowd tive to capitalism, the colonies were ground down by the return to a regime like that of the shah. was again overwhelmingly pro­ capitalist society around them. Iranian, applauding repeatedly Revolutionary Marxists, who know that the class struggle at statements by the speakers The growth of industrial production and the working of the workers and their allies against the exploiters is the that the shah should be tried class, and the expansion of scientific knowledge in all fields, only road to liberation, have no trouble choosing sides. and that harassment of laid the basis for a leap forward in socialist thinking. This Regardless of the ideological wrapping of the struggle, we Iranians must stop. was accomplished by Karl Marx, with the help of Engels. stand with our class against the employing class in the It's important that those of Unlike early socialists, Marx did not view capitalism as battle for progress and a better life for all. us in the U.S. who support the an avoidable evil. He recognized that it was an inevitable -Fred Feldman Iranian revolution know about each others' existence, our size and our strength. We certainly can't depend on CBS or the New York Times to tell us. The Militant has been unsurpassed in getting out the If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up truth that, contrary to Carter Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books and pamphlets administration claims, the American people do not "speak ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 1609 5th Ave. MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst YSA, c/o M. Casey, 13002 Kinsman Rd. Zip: 44120. Tel: (216) 991- with one voice" on Iran. There N. Tel: (205) 328-9403. Send mail to P.O. Box 42 McClellan. Zip: 01002. Tel: (413) 537-6537. 5030. Oberlin: YSA, c/o Gale Connor, OCMR Box is another voice and it's getting 3382-A. Zip: 35205. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th 679. Zip: 44074. Tel: (216) 775-5382. Toledo: ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. McDowell. Floor. Zip: 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: (419) louder. 536-D383. Zip: 85006. Tel: (602) 255-0450. MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA, Room 4120, Michigan Annette Gagne CALIFORNIA: Berkeley: SWP, YSA, 3264 Adeline Union, U. of M. Zip: 48109. Detroit SWP, YSA, OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW Everett. Central Falls, Rhode Island St. Zip: 94703. Tel: (415) ~53-7156. Loe Angelee: 6404 Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875- Zip: 97209. Tel: (503) 222-7225. SWP, YSA, 2211 N. Broadway. Zip: 90031. Tel: 5322. PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State (213) 225-3126. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 1467 Fruit­ College. Zip: 16444. Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, vale Ave. Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-1210. San MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 1287, Virginia, Minn. Zip: 55792. Tel: (218) 5811 N. Broad St. Zip: 19141. Tel: (215) 927-4747 Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel: or 927-4748. Pltllburgh: SWP, YSA, 1210 E. (714) 234-4630. San Franclaco: SWP, YSA, 3284 749-6327. Twin Cltlea: SWP, YSA, 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) 644-6325. Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) 488-7000. Stele 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 824-1992. San Jose: College: YSA, c/o Jack Craypo, 606 S. Allen St. SWP, YSA, 201 N. 9th St. Zip: 95112. Tel: (408) MISSOURI: Kanaaa City: SWP, YSA, 4715A Troost. Zip: 16801. Tel: (814) 234-6655. 998-4007. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. Sl Loula: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA. 126 W. 12th Ave. YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 63130. Tel: (314) TEXAS: Auatln: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 Berkman Zip: 80204. Tel: (303) 534-8954. 725-1570. Dr. Zip: 78752. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 5442 E. Grand. Zip: 75223. Tel: (214) 826-4711. Houlton: SWP, FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 8171 NE 2nd Ave. Zip: NEW JERSEY: N-arll:: SWP, YSA, 11-A Central YSA, 806 Elgin St. #1. Zip: 77006. Tel: (713) 524- 33138. Tel: (305) 756-8358. Ave. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. 8761. San Antonio: SWP, YSA, 112 Fredericks­ GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 Peachtree St. NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, 1417 Central burg Rd. Zip: 78207. Tel: (512) 735-3141. NE. Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 872-7229. Ave. NE. Zip: 87106. Tel: (505) 842-0954. ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 284 lllini NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): SWP, YSA. UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 677 S. 7th East, Union, Urbana. Zip: 61801. Chicago: SWP, YSA. 103 Central Ave. Zip: 12206. Tel: (518) 463-0072. 2nd Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel: (801) 355-1124. The letters column is an 434 S. Wabash, Room 700. Zip: 60605. Tel: (312) New York, Brooklyn: SWP, 841 Classon Ave. Zip: VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (N-porl N-1): SWP, open forum for all view­ 939-0737. 11238. Tel: (212) 783-2135. New York, Lower YSA, 111 28th St. Zip: 23607. Tel: (804) 380-0133. INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Student Activities Manhattan: SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA. 3106 Mt. Pleasant points on subjects of gen­ Desk, Indiana University. Zip: 47401. Indianapolis: Zip: 10003. Tel: (212) 260-6400. New York, Upper St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7699. eral interest to our readers. SWP, YSA, 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. Tel: (317) Manhattan: SWP, YSA, 564 W. 181 St., 2nd Floor. WASHINGTON: Olympia: YSA, c/o Lynne Welton, Please keep your letters 283-6147. Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. Zip: Send mail to P.O. Box 438, Washington Bridge 1304 Madrona Beach Rd. Zip: 98502. Tel: (20,6) 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Sta. Zip: 10033. Tel: (212) 928-1676. N- Yorlc 866-7332. Seattle: SWP, YSA, 4868 Rainier Ave., brief. Where necessary they KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 131 W. Main City-wide SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. S. Zip: 98118. Tel: (206) 723-5330. Tacoma: SWP, will be abridged. Please in­ #102. Zip: 40202. Tel: (502) 587-8418. Zip: 10003. Tel: (212) 533-2902. YSA, 1306 S. K St. Zip: 98405. Tel: (206) 627-0432. dicate if you prefer that LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 3319 S. NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, YSA, P.O. WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 957 S. Carrollton Ave. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486-8048. Box 2486, Winston-Salem. Zip: 27102. University Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. your initials be used rather MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA. 2913 Green­ OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 970 E. McMillan. Zip: WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 3901 N. 27th than your full name. mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. 45206. Tel: (513) 751-2636. Cleveland: SWP, YSA, St. Zip: 53216. Tel: (414) 445-2076.

THE MILITANT/DECEMBER 28, 1979 27 THE MILITANT Anti-Klan march set for reensboro, N. 'We refuse to be silenced by KKK terror' By Nelson Blackstock ATLANTA-A call for a February 2 march against Ku Klux Klan violence was announced by Dr.,Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Rev. Lu­ cius Walter, Jr., executive director of the Interreligious Foundation for Com­ munity Organization, at a December 15 news conference here. The call for the march, to be held in Greensboro, North Carolina, was u­ nanimously adopted amidst a standing ovation at the close of a two-day Na­ tional Conference on New Strategies to Counter the Ku Klux Klan, sponsored by SCLC and IFCO. "We call on labor unions, churches, civil rights organizations, political groups, and others to come to Greens­ Leaders of anti-Klan conference In Atlanta that Issued call for February 2 march. From left, Anne Braden, Southern Organizing boro," Lowery told the media. Committee for Economic and Racial Justice; Lucius Walker, Jr.; Rev. Joseph Lowery. Attending the meeting were some 255 people from a variety of churches, civil rights organizations, and radical If this situation is not altered by a bama, last June to protest an armed their churches were broken into and political groups. There were also trade show of mass public outrage, it will be KKK assault on a peaceful demonstra­ vandalized. unionists and students present. interpreted as the green light for other tion in support of Tommy Lee Hines a During the course of the gathering All were looking for a way to re­ would-be murderers. few days earlier. Hines, a retarded different estimates arose on the rela­ spond to the Greensboro Massacre­ In opening remarks, Rev. Lucius Black man, faces a life in prison on tive strength of the Klan among white the brutal murder of five members of Walker pointed out that some have trumped-up rape charges. workers, and the potential threat of a the Communist Workers Party by Ku down-played the significance of the rising fascist movement. Kluxers and Nazis in Greensboro on killings because the victims were com­ Broadly sponsored In one workshop, for example, a November 3. munists. Cosponsoring the Atlanta conference participant objected to a slogan "The The urgent need for a public re­ Answering this, he cited the famous were a broad spectrum of religious and shah of Iran is in the Ku Klux Klan," sponse to the killings prompted an statement of Pastor Martin Niemoller: civil rights groups. They included the on the grounds that it would make unusual degree of cooperation among "In Germany they came for the com­ National Council of Churches/Divi­ white workers like the shah. conference participants, many of munists and I didn't speak up because sion of Church and Society, Presbyter­ Socialist Workers Party members whom hold sharply differing political I wasn't a communist. Then they ian Church, and the Southern Re­ from several southern states put for­ views. came for the Jews and I didn't speak gional Council, National Baptist ward a different evaluation in the "This nation has not yet shown up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they Convention of America-Social Justice union workshop. outrage equal to the acts of murder, came for the trade unionists. Then Commission, National Conference of intimidation, and attempts to deny our they came for the Catholics and I Black Lawyers, National Alliance Attitudes of white workers basic. humanity perpetrated by the didn't speak up because I was a Pro­ Against Racist and Political Repres­ SWP southeastern field organizer Klan," said the call for the February 2 testant. Then they came for me, but by sion, among others. Tom Leonard reported that socialists march. "We refuse to be silenced by that time no one was left to speak up." In addition to calling the march, the in industries across the South had KKK terror, government repression, The February 2 date was picked to conference also set u.p a "network" to found only a handful of workers who and those who would tell us to close coincide with the twentieth anniver­ coordinate and exchange information were attracted to Klan-type ideas. our eyes hoping that the terror will go sary of the birth of the civil rights sit­ on anti-Klan activities. "While most are not politically active," away." in movement, which began in Greens­ Workshops discussed unions and the he said, "they do not favor the right Underscoring the need for action is boro on February 1, 1960. Klan, legal strategies for combating wing." the fact that charges against some of Plans for the conference were under the KKK, anti-Klan research, and Evidence of this attitude can be seen those responsible for the massacre way before the Greensboro killings. building anti-Klan coalitions. in the warm reception by North Caro­ have been sharply reduced. Some are The idea for the gathering came out of The gathering heard reports from lina workers-Black and white-to the now out on bail, and all may soon be an August SCLC Anti-Klan Confer­ anti-Klan organizers in Dallas, Greens­ current Teamster organizing drive. back on the streets. Several of those ence in Norfolk, Virginia. boro, and Decatur. Most of those in the workshop had taking part in the killings have never That meeting was a follow-up to an Kwesi Williams of the Dallas Coali­ apparently not heard this view, and been arrested. SCLC march of 3,000 in Decatur, Ala- tion for Human Dignity described how they seemed to give it careful consider­ a broad coalition of groups came to­ ation. gether to protest a Klan march in the The Klan is a thoroughly antilabor city this November. They were able to outfit, the workshop agreed, and the out-mobilize the Klan, making the unions can be won to struggle against racist march impossible. it. "Dallas is now known as the place The coalition-building workshop dis­ Ben Chavis where they had the shortest Klan cussed how to answer red-baiting ob­ A victory for civil rights was march in history," Williams said. jections to participation of open social­ registered with the release of Rev. Robert Smith of Greensboro told how ists or communists. The workshop Benjamin Chavis from prison. plans for a November 18 march in agreed with SWf' leader Maceo Dixon's The last of the famed Wilming­ answer to the killings had been explanation that the movement should ton Ten to gain freedom, Chavis aborted by a government-organized follow a policy of nonexclusion­ served nearly four years of a thirty­ red-baiting campaign. Government of­ welcoming all who oppose the Klan, four-year term on trumped-up arson ficials showed secret-police dossiers on while rejecting red-baiting as a tactic charges. march organizers to several local min­ inspired by the government to divert His December 14 release was the isters, causing them to back out of the the movement from its goals. fruit of international protest. The march. After the conference, in response to ten had been railroaded to prison Meanwhile, representatives of the questions from the news media, Rever­ for their antiracist activity in Justice Department's community medi­ end Lowery firmly defended the partic­ North Carolina. ation division visited high schools, ipation of communists and socialists. Chavis accepted parole but warning students to stay away from A socialist literature display did a throughout insisted that all ten the march because of potential danger. brisk business. More than fifty bought should be officially exonerated. Rev. Lucius Walker reported that the Militant, which featured an article On release, Chavis declared, underhanded attacks on anti-Klan ac­ on the fight against the Klan. "We're going to march again and tivists in Greensboro had continued Many were also attracted to a table we're going to keep on struggling right up to the eve of the conference. publicizing a Labor for Equal Rights until freedom is realized." Ministers were forced to cancel plans Now march in Richmond, Virginia, on to attend the Atlanta meeting after January 13.