Naciones indígenas de Oklahoma 12 COVID-19 y la economía 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 62, No. 47 Nov. 19, 2020 $1 Evo Morales returns Bolivians eject coup regime By John Catalinotto their homes or beating them. The general leading the national army, Nov. 16—​Evo Morales—​president instead of defending the elected govern- of Bolivia from 2006-19 before a U.S.- ment, virtually ordered Morales to resign, backed right-wing coup forced the first which he did. Morales and García Linera Indigenous president to leave both his left from Chimoré airport for Mexico, office and his country—​returned in tri- then went to Buenos Aires, Argentina. umph Nov. 9, as the workers and farmers At the time the Organization of of Bolivia dealt a blow to imperialist dom- American States, and of course all agen- ination of their country and the continent. cies of U.S. imperialism and U.S. cor- On Nov. 8, the day before Morales porate media, backed ousting Morales. returned, newly elected President Most charged the MAS with voting fraud Luis Arce and Vice President David and mismanagement of the government, Choquehuanca of the Movement Toward without evidence. Socialism (MAS) were inaugurated. Now in office, the MAS candidates had won the Movement reverses coup long-delayed Oct. 18 election by a land- Police and soldiers carried out two slide—​receiving 55% of the votes com- massacres of mostly Indigenous people pared to 29% for the center-right Carlos Bolivian masses welcome back former President Evo Morales and former Vice President demonstrating in the towns of Sacaba Mesa and 14% for the neo-fascist Luis Álvaro García Linea, Chimoré airport, Nov. 9. and Senkata in the week after last year’s Fernando Camacho. coup, killing 11 people in each town and In the past year, the mass movement right-wing parties used armed gangs—​ than Morales nevertheless won. Marching wounding many more. Despite this and of Indigenous peoples, workers and peas- the equivalent of fascist thugs—​with the from their base in the eastern part of other repression, the popular movement ants was able to retake the government tacit and sometimes open support of the Bolivia, the fascists attacked MAS officials continued defending itself and rebuilding and drive out the right wing. They did police to challenge a much closer election and political leaders, sometimes burning Continued on page 10 this even though the rightists had a near monopoly of arms and had control of the Bolivian state—​the army and police—​ plus their own armed paramilitaries. (See Jan. 18 editorial in Workers World—​ Pandemic surges, economy sputters workers.org/2020/01/45843/) It’s really quite sickening. medical bills for insurance companies to cover, more workers Hundreds of thousands of support- The bourgeoisie calculates profit and loss with callous disre- calling out sick, more deaths—and​ potentially more mass anger. ers greeted Morales and former Vice gard for the masses suffering from both the soaring COVID case- Why does the Dow Jones or the S&P rise and fall? Stock fluc- President Álvaro García Linera as their load and a collapsed job market. Now, many tuations basically reflect optimism or pes- motorcade wound through some 700 who became unemployed in the spring are simism on the part of the 1% about their miles over three days, starting at the running out of their 26 weeks of unemploy- future bottom line—​i.e., their ability to Argentine border. On Nov. 11, the caravan ment benefits. There were nearly 1 million maximize the exploitation of labor. If there reached Chimoré airport in the heart of new applications for unemployment insur- is a successful vaccine that will eventually the Chapare region, where Morales once editorial ance in the second week of November. help get workers back to producing what organized coca growers. But the stock market went up and down like a roller coaster Marxists call “surplus value,” the portion of sales revenue above At just about the geographic center of last week, as hopeful news about Pfizer’s COVID‑19 vaccine was and beyond the cost of labor power, they will reap profits. But Bolivia, the airport had been on a U.S. followed by reports of surging viral infections. right now, workers can’t produce wealth if they are sick, dead military base until 2006. The Morales On the one hand, the shareholders could not contain their or have to be quarantined so they don’t bring the virus into the government expelled the U.S. forces from orgiastic excitement over Big Pharma making big money on workplace. this base. millions and millions of vaccinations. But their enthusiasm was Republicans and Democrats have failed to put forth a badly A year ago the Bolivian oligarchy and deflated as they counted the costs of more COVID cases: more Continued on page 10

Storms, hurricanes devastate Indigenous communities 3

2020 Elections Kaepernick: ‘Free Mumia!’ 5 Stop The vote & class solidarity 5 Amazon Im/migrant movement lessons 9 censorship Editorial: A first step 10 2 A Palestinian view 11

Virus in prisons: COVID profits 3 6-8 Pennsylvania to Montana Activist Arroyo speaks out Free Them All protest 3 Disciplinary terror in Texas A survivor on self-defense Another death in Cleveland jail Sue Davis, ¡presente! 4 Page 2 Nov. 19, 2020 workers.org Amazon is censoring We need your help to distribute this book! this week

“Capitalism on a Ventilator” is a new anthology com- ◆ In the U.S. paring the effective Chinese response to COVID‑19 to the Amazon censors ‘Capitalism on a Ventilator’ . . 2 disastrous response in the U.S. This book pushes back Capitalists profit off pandemic ...... 3 against the racist anti-China campaign in U.S. media. However, Amazon is currently censoring the book’s dis- Bay Area: ‘Close the camps, abolish ICE!’ . . . .3 tribution. We need your support to get the book out and to Remembering Sue Davis ...... 4 fight back against censorship! Vote and multinational working class solidarity . 5 Make a tax-deductible $25 contribution to oppose Kaepernick joins the call to ‘Free Mumia!’ . . . .5 Amazon and you’ll be sent a free copy. The book’s table of contents and list of authors, along with four chapters and COVID death sentence for Montana prisoners . .6 a donation button, are available at wp.me/p4Yme1-404. PA prisons: Breeding ground for pandemic . . . 6 The U.S. establishment continues its growing hostility Ramsey Prison terrorizes Texas incarcerated . . 6 toward China, with an accompanying surge in anti-Asian Bryant Arroyo on prison COVID protocols . . . 7 racism. The effort to place this challenging book on a cor- porate website has turned into a struggle against censor- A survivor speaks: ‘I had to defend myself’ . . . 7 ship. Amazon, the world’s largest online bookseller, claims Yet another death in Cleveland jail ...... 8 ease of placement and lack of censorship—​but failed to Election lessons from im/migrant movement . . 9 deliver. Instead, the company sent a notice censoring this book ◆ Around the world and its up-to-date information about COVID-19: “Amazon Bolivians eject coup regime, Evo Morales returns 1 reserves the right to determine what content we offer according to our content guidelines. Your book does not Storms endanger Indigenous peoples, workers . . .3 comply with our guidelines. As a result, we are not offering A Palestinian comments on the U.S. election . .11 your book for sale.” The notice claimed Amazon refers people only to “offi- ◆ Editorial cial sources for advice” on the COVID-19 virus. But the Pandemic surges, economy sputters ...... 1 corporation has accepted books with wild pandemic con- Stop #45-- a first step ...... 10 spiracy theories—that the virus is exaggerated, a hoax or contained the virus because its free medical care and human-made, and that masks and quarantines are useless. planned economic system are science based and intensely ◆ Noticias en Español Readers are urged to break the ban on “Capitalism on cooperative. By every statistic, countries building socialism a Ventilator” by sharing the link widely on social media, have done far better in combating the virus: Cuba, China, Naciones indígenas de Oklahoma ganan fallo . .12 along with your short reviews. Maintain pressure against Laos, Vietnam and North Korea, to name a few. COVID-19 y la economía ...... 12 Amazon banning books with a left perspective by tweeting We hope you read “Capitalism on a Ventilator” and the Washington Post @JeffBezos. explore the reasons why China and other countries build- “Capitalism on a Ventilator” was written by people ing socialism are doing better in this pandemic than the around the world, edited by a U.S. activist and a Chinese capitalist world. Please share the preview chapters: wp.me/ activist, and answers a question working people worldwide p4Yme1-404. And your tax-deductible $25 (or more) con- are asking: Why has China done so much better in contain- tribution to this campaign against censorship will qualify ing COVID-19 and saving lives? you for a free copy! Evidence and available data provide a very different Make a tax free donation directly at: tinyurl.com/ answer from that given by the corporate media. China y6pleh23. Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. Join us in the fight New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 for socialism! E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist and trans people are gunned down by cops and bigots on Vol. 62, No. 47 • Nov. 19, 2020 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a mul- a regular basis. Closing date: Nov. 18, 2020 tinational, multigenerational and multigendered organiza- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out Editor: Deirdre Griswold tion that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to build a decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, Martha Grevatt, Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Monica Moorehead, Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational Web Editors: ABear, Harvey Markowitz, Janet Mayes ever-greater profits. working class. It is time to point the blame at—​and chal- Prisoners Page Editors: Mirinda Crissman, Ted Kelly Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and repres- lenge—the​ capitalist system. sion, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ2S+ WWP fights for socialism because the working class Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Mirinda oppression and mistreatment of people with disabili- produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Crissman, Sasha Mazumder, Scott Williams ties. It means joblessness, increasing homelessness and remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, impoverishment and lack of hope for the future. No social talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially S. Hedgecoke problems can be solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guaran- Contributing Editors: LeiLani Dowell, G. Dunkel, The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one tee basic human needs. K. Durkin, Sara Flounders, Teresa Gutierrez, Joshua has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Hanks, Makasi Motema, Gloria Rubac education or anything else—​unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Mundo Obero: Teresa Gutierrez, Carlos Vargas seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Copyright © 2020 Workers World. Verbatim copying make it to college. Black, Brown and Indigenous youth branch near you. ☐ and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. If you are interested in joining Workers World Party contact: 212.627.2994 Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published monthly by WW Publishers, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., National Office Boston Dallas Portland, Ore. New York, NY 10011. Phone: 212.627.2994. Subscrip- 147 W. 24th St., 2nd floor 284 Amory St. [email protected] [email protected] tions: One year: $36; institutions: $50. Letters to the New York, NY 10011 Boston, MA 02130 Durham, N.C. Salt Lake City 212.627.2994 617.522.6626 editor may be condensed and edited. Articles can be 804 Old Fayetteville St. 801.750.0248 [email protected] [email protected] freely reprinted, with credit to Workers World, 147 Durham, NC 27701 [email protected] W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Back issues Atlanta Buffalo, N.Y. 919.322.9 970 San Antonio and individual articles are available on microfilm and/ PO Box 18123 335 Richmond Ave. [email protected] [email protected] or photocopy from NA Publishing, Inc, P.O. 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[email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org Nov. 19, 2020 Page 3 Bay Area protest demands ‘Close the camps, abolish ICE!’ By Judy Greenspan the action did not stray from that theme. im/migrants in the U.S. San Francisco The protest was organized by the Free Rosa Carranza, a TPS (Temporary Them All Coalition, which includes the Protective Status) holder and activist with Nov. 14—​If today’s demonstration is Committee to Close the Camps and Free the National TPS Coalition, expressed her any indication, the Bay Area immigrant Our Children, DSA chapters San Francisco concern for the hundreds of im/migrant rights movement holds both Republican and East Bay, Party for Socialism and children who have been stolen from their and Democratic Parties responsible for Liberation, No Justice Under Capitalism families. She laid the blame for this policy WW PHOTO: JUDY GREENSPAN inhumane U.S. detention camps and and Workers World Party. on the Obama administration which built The Free Them All Coalition marches in San deportations and won’t stop until all At the Union Square, speaker after the cages and on Trump who is now using Francisco, Nov. 14. camps are closed and ICE (Immigration speaker lambasted both the Trump them. “Both administrations are guilty,” and Customs Enforcement) is abolished. administration and President-elect Biden she said. Bayview newspaper, expressed the sol- Chanting “Joe Biden heed our call, for anti-im/migrant policies such as the Speakers called out serious human idarity of the prisoners’ rights struggle now’s the time to free them all,” several kidnapping of migrant children and rights abuses in U.S. prisons and jails and with the fight for justice for im/migrants. hundred people marched from Union their placement in cages as well as the demanded that the criminal injustice sys- At the Federal Building, demonstrators Square through the Tenderloin to the San forced sterilizations of migrant women tem “Free Them All.” The march stopped sprayed stenciled words on the street and Francisco Federal Building. in a Georgia detention center. All agreed at a halfway house run by GEO Group, sidewalk demanding an end to the camps, The protest was organized before the that the immigration system was broken a major private company managing ICE cages and inhumane conditions of im/ elections under the call: “No Matter Who before Trump was elected president and detention centers. Malik Washington, a migrants. The coalition has vowed to con- Wins—​Close the Camps and Abolish that militant action was needed by the current resident of the Tenderloin half- tinue its efforts to both close the camps ICE,” and despite the election results entire progressive movement to support way house and the new editor of the SF and abolish ICE. ☐

Alaska and the Caribbean Storms increase dangers for Indigenous peoples, workers

By Paddy Colligan and G. Dunkel bridges and abutments, the sani- and process these large mammals, which tary situation is not good. in turn provides enough food to support Nov. 16 —The storms battering the north The Honduran government the communities through much of the and northwest coast of Alaska and the hur- estimates that over a billion dol- year. ricanes rampaging through the Caribbean lars will be needed—money it But the climate in the Arctic is rapidly and southeastern North America may or doesn’t have—to recover. The changing, even more quickly than else- may not be produced by human-gener- U.S. Agency for International where. The temperature is generally esti- ated global warming. Scientists differ on Development has donated mated to be increasing at two or three this question. $100,000. (Guardian, Nov. 3) times the rate of the temperate zones. But scientists and people trying to sur- In spring 2020, temperatures in Storms in the Arctic vive these storms do agree that they are People in Honduras deluged after 2020 hurricanes. Siberia hit the record high of 100 degrees becoming more intense and more danger- When one of these writers first Fahrenheit. Massive fires followed, burn- ous, particularly to the Indigenous peo- of Technology. “It’s a forecaster’s night- went to work in the Arctic a dozen years ing vast areas of forest and peat land and ple and workers living in their paths, who mare,” Dr. Emanuel told the New York ago, the Arctic Ocean in July could have releasing enormous quantities of CO2 often do not have the money to move out Times Nov. 3. Hurricanes going from been mistaken for a large lake. No waves and methane, potent greenhouse gases. of the way or weatherproof their homes. Category 1 to Category 4 in 24 hours are lapped the beach, and the waters were (tinyurl.com/yxsp44ut) The heat events, How close are we to the tipping point especially dangerous. calm as far as you could see. On the hori- along with record low multiyear sea-ice when human intervention can no longer Hurricane Eta hit Nicaragua Nov. 3 zon was a line of something that looked cover this year coming after several years interrupt the climatic feedback loops and as a Category 4, before slamming into like the opposite shore but was actually of ice at historic minimums, indicate sub- when global climate change cannot be Honduras and Guatemala. Some 120 the edge of the ice. The height of waves stantial warming across the region. The reversed, halted or even slowed? people died and 113 are still missing, with in the Beaufort Sea, the eastern part of trend is ominous. 210,000 evacuated from their homes. the Arctic Ocean, could not even be mea- Due to the rapid loss of the protective ice Hurricanes in the Caribbean Communities living along the Caribbean sured then because ice covered most of it cover of the ocean and the late formation There have been 30 named storms as of coast, particularly the Indigenous Miskito all summer. of the annual shore-fast ice, Arctic coastal Nov. 15 in the current season, surpassing and Garifuna peoples, have been devas- At least 2,000 years ago, peoples settled communities have become vulnerable to the record 28 major storms in 2005. tated by mudslides, floods (Eta dropped on the Arctic coast on both sides of the increasingly violent autumn storms that The character of the 2020 hurricanes over 25 inches of rain) and high winds. Bering Strait to be near the seals, fish, wal- lash the coastal strips along which these has also changed. The winds are more Some of the missing are feared to be rus and whales on which they depended. communities are built. Now each fall, huge intense; gusts last longer, and the speed entombed in the mud. Once they began hunting the huge bow- waves, fierce winds and storm surges tear is higher. This means winds now destroy A new storm, Hurricane Iota, is threat- head whales, their communities were able away ever larger sections of coast, flood- more roofs, topple more trees and power ening to come ashore in the very same to support several hundred people. Whale ing and knocking down homes, roads, and pylons and damage more houses and other area of Central America as a monster hunting requires enough people to hunt other vital village infrastructure. buildings. Since warm air carries more Category 4. Some 30 communities, many very old, moisture, the 2020 hurricanes dropped The pandemic, in addition are facing relocating due to changing cli- more rain. to the threat of Hurricane Iota, mate, moving inland to be farther from the The hurricanes also moved significantly is making recovery very diffi- coast—and farther from their livelihood A home in slower, and, surprisingly, some grew in cult. The Red Cross is handing Nome, Alaska, and cultural ways of life. And now this cli- intensity over 24 hours, increasing their out hand sanitizer and masks, underwater after mate catastrophe is taking place within a wind speed by as much as 70 miles per but with hundreds of thou- 2020 melting of pandemic that is hitting Native communi- hour, according to Kerry Emanuel, a mete- sands of people crowding into ice covering on ties four to five times harder then non-Na- orologist at the Massachusetts Institute mass shelters and living under sea and shore. tive Alaskans. ☐ Capitalists profit off pandemic By Deirdre Griswold 251,525 deaths have already occurred, jobs. Others were trying to work from announced quarterly profits of $3.62 bil- and there is now a surge of new cases. home in order to get by. Deaths were lion, or twice what the firm had earned in Many countries around the world This shocking number is only expected rising in more than 20 states, and the the same quarter in 2019. have successfully contained the coro- to grow as cold weather sets in. number of people living in poverty had If this were a society based on serving navirus. Most notable is Clearly, the U.S. cap- jumped by about 6 million. the people, rather than boosting the prof- China, the most populous italist government has But there has been one bright spot. its of a few, wouldn’t all that money be nation and the place where done practically nothing Guess where? You got it—Wall Street. spent on helping the sick and the dying the virus first appeared. to protect the popula- The investment bank Morgan Stanley while finding a cure for this terrible As of Nov. 15, China tion from this lethal new has announced that, in the three months disease? reported a total of 4,634 disease. from July to September, it reaped $2.7 It’s just another reason, on top of so deaths from COVID‑19 With mass sickness and billion in profits—a rise of 25% com- many others, why we need revolutionary and only 13 new cases. quarantine has come a drastic downturn pared to a year earlier. change in this country. ☐ (worldometers.info/coronavirus) in the U.S. economy. As of mid-October, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley’s Here in the United States, however, almost 21.5 million workers had lost their principal rival, was doing even better. It Page 4 Nov. 19, 2020 workers.org Remembering Sue Davis: Comrade, fighter, writer (1942-2020) By Kathy Durkin sisters!” the women inside yelled out the rights. Its slogan, unique in that period, windows “Power to the people!” read: “Free, safe legal abortions! No forced Workers World Party lost a dynamic, Sue was instrumental in this mobili- sterilization! Raising healthy children: The dedicated comrade on Sept. 26 when Sue zation. One way she contributed was to choice must be ours!” This was always the Davis died, a month after suffering a major research the march route taken on March pro-working class, anti-racist viewpoint stroke. A member of the party since 1967, 8, 1908, by 15,000 immigrant garment espoused by YAWF and WWP on repro- Sue had early on been a militant activist workers demanding higher pay and an ductive rights, explained in a brochure on the streets with Youth Against War and end to sweatshops and child labor. That entitled, “Abortion and Class Society.” Fascism, the party’s youth group, protest- demonstration had been an impetus for Composed by Sue and this writer, it was ing the U.S. war against Vietnam and sup- women socialists in Europe to establish updated frequently as the struggle devel- porting the Black Panther Party against International Women’s Day in 1910. oped into a multi-issue movement, speak- government repression. She was also a YAWF Women reclaimed the militant, ing to the needs of all women. staunch fighter for women’s, workers’ and socialist character of this special day by fol- Representing YAWF Women, Sue WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN LGBTQ2S+ rights. lowing the route taken in 1908, while high- became very active in the Committee to Sue Davis and WWP members participated Sue was an opponent of capitalism, the lighting the struggles of the most oppressed End Sterilization Abuse, founded in the in the Women’s March on Jan. 18, in New root cause of oppression, war and poverty, women in the first such protest in the U.S. early 1970s by Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trias. York City’s Foley Square. and advocated for socialism for 53 years, in decades. The organization, which included the alongside her comrades. A fighter for workers’ rights, Sue American Indian Movement and the Third Larry Holmes, WWP’s First Secretary, attempted to unionize staff at publishing World Women’s Alliance, campaigned who attempted to rape her in a prison in says of her that “Comrade Sue was so company McGraw-Hill. In April 1970, she against the rampant coercive sterilization of Beaufort, N.C., in 1975. She was tried for remarkable and formidable that she could was fired by the bosses, who opposed not women in Puerto Rico and of Black, Latinx, murder and faced life in jail or execution, have chosen any path for her life and suc- only her pro-worker activism, but her work- Indigenous and poor women in the U.S. but a national campaign won her acquittal ceeded. But she chose to be a revolutionary place organizing against the Vietnam War The group successfully won regulations and release. socialist fighter, and dedicated her entire and support for the Black Panther Party. barring this racist practice and mandating life to the struggle of the workers and the The group Women in Publishing and other informed consent, first in New York City in Support Workers World newspaper! oppressed. She was a model for anyone, workers in the industry picketed the com- 1975-77 and then federally in 1979. Sue’s dedication to WW newspaper went regardless of their generation, who makes pany’s building, calling for Sue’s rehiring Anne Teicher, Sue’s friend and col- back to the 1970s, when the staff worked the hard decisions to give their life to the and denouncing this political repression. laborator, told WW that they both were (pre-computer) at the office until the wee struggle for socialist revolution.” In 1987, Sue joined the National Writers members of the Steering Committee of the hours of the morning, went home, slept Union and played a leadership role for Committee for Abortion Rights and Against for a few hours, and then went to their day No U.S. war in Vietnam! the last 20 years centered on dealing with Sterilization Abuse, formed in 1977 to jobs. For over four decades, Sue wrote, After joining YAWF, Sue, along with grievances and contracts. She also men- oppose the Hyde Amendment and the bar- proofread and copyedited, using her pro- other members, participated in “Stop the tored NWU volunteers on how to work ring of Medicaid funding for abortions. The fessional expertise for the working-class Draft Week” marches in December 1967 on behalf of the members. She strongly group was active through the 1980s. weekly. She covered labor activism in her in downtown New York City. Wearing a urged the NWU to take a significant role In the late 1980s, Sue and Anne wrote a biweekly column in WW newspaper, On the helmet, she participated in many protests in supporting political prisoner Mumia pamphlet on sterilization abuse. Sue also Picket Line. against Washington’s war in Vietnam in the Abu-Jamal. The union’s wonderful tribute edited a CARASA book, which was reis- Monica Moorehead, a WW managing late 1960s and early 1970s, chanting “Big to Sue appears on the NWU website and sued as “Women Under Attack: Victories, editor and coordinator of the International firms get rich, GIs die.” was emailed to its members (tinyurl.com/ Backlash and the Fight for Reproductive Working Women's Day Coalition in NYC, Sue reached out to women’s groups yy3vw8sy). Freedom.” said: “Sue Davis was an indispensable and helped mobilize for the historic wom- “Sue was a tireless advocate, organizing member of our editorial staff, a brilliant Reproductive justice now! en-led march of Oct. 12, 1969, on Fort Dix demonstrations, writing newsletter articles copy editor who paid so much attention to in New Jersey, supporting anti-war GIs in YAWF Women and WWP participated and tabling on the streets,” explained Anne. both political and grammatical detail. Her the stockade there. YAWF organizer Laurie in the mass movement demanding legal Sue also self-published her novel, “Love articles on labor and women's issues helped Fierstein was a coordinator of that bold abortion since its beginning. The right means Second Chances”—a moving exam- to raise the sensitivity and political level of action. That year, Sue was added as a tech- was finally won from the Supreme Court ination of abortion within a family. In her our readers. nical editor on The Bond, newspaper of the in 1973. Sue made fighting for reproduc- words, “Ultimately the book shows that “Sue helped to found our IWWDC in the American Servicemen’s Union. tive justice—and writing about it in WW women must have access to all options to early 2000s, when she would speak at our For decades, Sue made major contribu- newspaper and other publications—a spe- enable them to own their own lives.” rallies and forums on reproductive justice tions in the movement for women’s rights, cial focus for decades. In addition to her Sue was also active with YAWF Women which she spent many decades of her life especially for reproductive justice, by her activism and writing, Sue was involved in in protests initiated by the Joanne Little defending and fighting for. She was always activism and her writing. Sue was instru- defending women’s clinics to protect work- Defense Committee, which the Norfolk, expanding her political understanding mental in initiating the Women’s Caucus ers and clients from the vile right-wingers Va., branch of WWP helped to found, along where gender oppression was concerned. of YAWF in 1969 and co-edited Battle Acts, attacking them. with the Prisoners Solidarity Committee. The working class movement has truly lost the organization’s magazine, published A YAWF Women’s banner was carried Little, who is African American, defended a precious revolutionary whose spirit can from 1970 to 1974. to every demonstration on reproductive herself against a white deputy sheriff never, ever be duplicated and I have lost a This publication covered news and dear friend and comrade.” struggles of working-class women, espe- Because of her firm commitment to the cially low-income and Black, Latinx, Asian newspaper, Sue single-handedly initiated and Indigenous, immigrants and those and carried out the WW Supporter Program with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, for 43 years, sending out a monthly letter, prisoners, youth and seniors. Articles sup- which included a personalized hand-writ- ported the Black Panther Party and other ten note to each donor. That’s about 35,000 liberation movements at home and abroad. letters! She cultivated friendships and reg- The magazine’s international features ularly kept in touch with many supporters . expressed solidarity with the women of Sue’s work raised funds that helped to Vietnam, under siege from Washington’s publish and mail out the publication. She bombs, and the women of South Africa was elated when supporters donated. Sue resisting racist apartheid. Articles sided Sue Davis (in helmet) and Deirdre Sue Davis speaks at a June 27, 1970 protest was so dedicated to WW newspaper that with our sisters in socialist Cuba sub- Griswold (right) at a 1968 demonstration after publisher McGraw-Hill fired her for she prioritized donating as generously as jected to a U.S. blockade, and hailed against the Vietnam War in New York City. pro-union and political organizing. she could every month to publish it—like Puerto Rican independence fighters, such clockwork. as Lolita Lebron. (Read back issues at Sue had friends from many milieus, tinyurl.com/y37k2dp2) even going back to her high school and col- YAWF Women promoted the need lege days, who had vastly different politi- for struggle and solidarity with the most cal viewpoints and philosophies. Yet she oppressed women, shown in its ban- maintained her anti-racist, pro-worker and ner “Sisters: Unite and Fight!” that was pro-socialist perspective. Sue led a full life, carried in demonstrations around the contributing to many struggles, diligently country. working on WW newspaper, advocating for NWU members and demonstrating—all International Women’s Day: 1970 while enjoying New York’s cultural events On March 7, 1970, the YAWF Women’s and treasuring her family, friends and Caucus organized a 1,000-strong march comrades. for International Women’s Day to the Sue Davis, Presente! notorious Women’s House of Detention in NYC’s Greenwich Village, in solidarity Political and personal comments by with oppressed women imprisoned inside. Sue Davis (center) and Stephanie Hedgecoke on an International Working WW PHOTO Sue’s comrades and friends are posted at As the demonstrators chanted “Free our Women’s Day panel, March 12, 2017. workers.org/2020/11/52183/ workers.org Nov. 19, 2020 Page 5 The white vote for Trump Is multinational working class solidarity possible? By Nathaniel Chase action, has not seriously challenged white supremacy. This holds back the power of Why did nearly 73 million people vote the rank and file, based at the point of for Trump, given his disastrous pandemic production, to push back against racism. response and the economic collapse? However, last summer numerous unions The answer, simply put, is racism. In a issued a statement calling for workers’ country built on white supremacy, from action against racism. (laborforblacklives. slavery and genocide to mass incarceration org) This is a major positive development. and imperialist war, it should come as no Now the call to action must advance to surprise that a substantial portion of the actual action. population would back a candidate openly espousing white supremacist views. Need for anti-racist revolutionary Trump’s voters were overwhelmingly consciousness white. They cut across class lines, coming Examining the material and ideological from the ruling class, the petty-bourgeoi- basis for white workers’ racism explains sie and the working class. Trump was the the strength of Trump’s support, and also near unanimous choice among the police, raises questions of revolutionary strategy: Border Patrol and so forth. Can white workers develop revolutionary There were exceptions. Among all vot- consciousness, or are they hopelessly rac- ers, including white voters, the majority ist and reactionary? Does the white aspect of the LGBTQ2S+ vote went to the Biden/ In the 2019 Buffalo Pride Parade, the Anti-Capitalist Leftist Solidarity WW PHOTO: WWP-BUFFALO of their identity inevitably dominate the Harris ticket, for example. (NBC, Oct. 1) Bloc contingent, including Workers World Party, marched to fight racism. worker aspect? Again, let’s look to this But even among white union members, a summer's rebellions. significant number backed Trump. exploited as workers, with surplus value careful, the newspapers will have you hat- Oppressed nations within the U.S. It is easy to see why a sector of the ruling extracted from their labor by the rul- ing the people who are being oppressed, have risen up countless times against the class would support Trump. Same for the ing class, though to a lesser degree than and loving the people who are doing the police. But one aspect distinguishes the cops, and for the petty-bourgeoisie, his- from oppressed workers. This means a oppressing.” 2020 rebellions from all earlier ones: the torically the base for far-right movements. commitment to white supremacy actu- participation of millions of white youth, Why so many white workers supported ally facilitates their own exploitation by Struggle breaks through following the leadership of the oppressed. Trump, given his openly anti-working class limiting the possibility of a united strug- ruling class propaganda This radical development is the result program, is a more complex question. gle—​crucially, with oppressed workers The ideological arena is not completely of the decline of U.S. imperialism. The in the leading role—​against the ruling under ruling class control. The struggle of crumbs with which the ruling class buys Material basis for racist ideology class. So there is a contradiction between working and oppressed people can have off white workers are procured from the Support for white supremacy among two aspects of their identity: the “white” enormous influence. Consider this sum- labor of super-exploited oppressed work- white workers is not a new phenomenon aspect aligning them with the white rul- mer's rebellions following the racist police ers, both inside the U.S. and around the in the U.S. This support has two primary ing class, and the “worker” aspect aligning lynching of George Floyd. A Pew Research world. As the crisis of an unsustainable sources: one material and one ideological. them with workers of color. Center study found that 67 percent of capitalist system deepens, it is increas- Materially, white workers are in a con- In addition to the material contradic- U.S. adults supported the Black Lives ingly unable to provide those crumbs. tradictory position in relation to the cap- tion, there is the ideological factor. As Karl Matter movement this past June. But, by This produces two contradictory italist, imperialist, white supremacist Marx put it: “The ideas of the ruling class September, support had dropped to 55 responses among white workers. Some, system. On one hand, white workers on are in every epoch the ruling ideas.” This percent. In June a surprising 37 percent of anxious over their loss of privilege com- average enjoy a substantially higher stan- has never been more true than in the age of white Republicans supported BLM, but in pared to oppressed workers, gravitate dard of living, greater democratic rights, 24-hour news, consumer culture and social September less than half that, only 16 per- to racist, anti-migrant fascist positions. more positive cultural representation, media. We live inside the most expansive cent. (tinyurl.com/y42xf7mm) Others, seeing a future more similar to and a generally higher status than Black, propaganda machine ever devised, one that This leads to the peculiar conclusion that of oppressed workers, move towards Brown, Indigenous and Asian workers. indoctrinates us with the ideas of the ruling that millions of white workers, even solidarity with the most oppressed. The ruling class buys off white workers class. The ruling class uses this machine to Republicans who cast ballots for arch The decline of U.S. imperialism creates with crumbs, the biggest crumbs going to ensure a majority of white workers identify white supremacist Trump, had voiced greater reaction, and at the same time, a cisgendered, non-disabled white men. more as white than as workers. support for an anti-racist movement just greater materialist basis of solidarity. On the other hand, they are still As Malcolm X put it: “If you're not months before. What could account for such an enormous contradiction? The Dare to struggle, dare to win! anti-racist struggle! Again, the ideological struggle is key. It In June the rebellions were at their is the duty of revolutionaries, in particu- Kaepernick joins the call to ‘Free Mumia!’ height, but by September they had tapered lar white revolutionaries, to sharpen bur- off amidst growing attacks against them, geoning anti-racist class consciousness By Betsey Piette emanating from both Republicans and among white workers. Without the inter- Philadelphia Democrats. At their peak, the rebellions vention of organized revolutionaries, the affected the consciousness of millions of ideological apparatus of the ruling class A virtual press con- people in the U.S. Imagine if the organi- will always prevent the development of ference on the critical zation of working and oppressed people revolutionary, anti-racist working class juncture in the fight to had been sufficient to sustain and expand solidarity, regardless of the strength of free political prisoner the rebellions indefinitely! its material basis. Revolutionaries must Mumia Abu-Jamal was build class unity on the basis of total com- held here Nov. 16. A Democrats pose no threat mitment to the struggle against racism special highlight was a to white supremacy and recognition of the leadership of the seven-minute message WW PHOTO: BETSEY PIETTE WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE The other ruling class party, the most oppressed sectors of our class. Colin Kaepernick addresses Angela Davis says ‘Free Mumia’ from Colin Kaepernick, Democrats, has abandoned almost all Oppressed nations may, understand- video press conference for to Nov. 16 video press expressing his support. Mumia on Nov. 16. conference. pretense of defending the interests of ably, reject organizing with white work- Kaepernick sacrificed working people. This strengthens white ers entirely and choose a separate path. his stellar athletic career supremacy by giving more space for The choice to carry out their struggle as in 2016 when he began to take a knee in Angela Davis, also commented on the fight the most reactionary ideas to prosper. they see fit must be defended on the basis protest against police terror during the to abolish the carceral state. The event Make no mistake: Biden also is a white of self-determination. Defending, not playing of the U.S. national anthem at was chaired by Johanna Fernandez. Go to supremacist. Biden’s list of racist policies opposing, the right of oppressed nations National Football League games. tinyurl.com/y4dr42eo to see the complete includes the 1994 Crime Bill, destroying to self-determination builds unity. Kaepernick called on the current move- 2.5-hour video. welfare in 1996, organizing imperialist An honest assessment of the conscious- ment against racist policing to join in the Washington, a Philadelphia journalist coups in Honduras and Libya, and back- ness of white workers can be demoraliz- work to bring Mumia Abu-Jamal home: who has covered Abu-Jamal’s case from ing millions of deportations while vice ing, to put it lightly. But we would do well “If the Black Lives Matter movement is the beginning, described the “obscene president under Barack Obama. to look to this past summer for a hint of to mean anything, then Mumia’s life and judicial, prosecutorial, and police miscon- If the Democratic Party pays lip service what is possible. And we should remem- legacy must also matter. Mumia still duct that has marked this case” as “blue to progressive ideas, it is a disingenuous ber that countries as vast and riven with fights for our human rights. We must suit, black robe corruption that masquer- maneuver to capture and defang people’s contradictions among the people as the continue to fight for his right to be home.” ades as justice not only in Pennsylvania movements. The post-election hostility Russian Empire and feudal China were Kaepernick’s statement concluded a but across the U.S.” mobilized against social democrats like able to build revolutionary unity and distinguished panel who addressed the Long-time activist Angela Davis stated: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie overthrow their oppressing classes. history and status of Abu-Jamal’s case. The “Mumia’s case exemplifies the length to Sanders makes this clear. So let us march forward, equipped with speakers, including Pam Africa of MOVE, which the state will go to silence the crit- The leadership of organized labor, by revolutionary optimism to face the chal- Prof. Linn Washington Jr., Kwame Ajamu, ics of police power. It is time to accelerate tying itself to the Democratic Party and lenges before us. ☐ Prof. Greg Gonsalves, Dwayne Betts and the campaign to bring Mumia home!” ☐ rejecting independent working class Page 6 Nov. 19, 2020 workers.org

Pennsylvania prisons Breeding grounds for coronavirus By Betsey Piette deaths of incarcerated people. At least lockdown policies have been kept in place Philadelphia 442 prisoners and 244 staff have tested for over seven months now, amounting to positive. According to the Department of mass torture for the over 46,000 incar- When the coronavirus first became a Corrections, when staff have requested cerated workers. global pandemic in the spring of 2020, testing, more than half are positive for the The DOC is also limiting testing for are passing out power of attorney and there were widespread demands, met property release forms in anticipation with promises from state officials, to of more deaths. The 943 men in Chester release particularly vulnerable incarcer- are only tested if they have a fever, even ated workers. Some states and municipal- when many are experiencing other classic ities did release people, but never in the COVID-19 symptoms. numbers the situation warranted. The crisis is not limited to state pris- Instead of broad releases, prison offi- ons. A recent court filing by U.S. attor- cials in Pennsylvania instituted draconian neys reported 80 prisoners and eight staff lockdowns where prisoners daily spent tested positive at the Federal Detention 23 hours in cells and were given only 45 Center in Philadelphia. At the Federal minutes per day to shower, make phone Corrections Institution at Fort Dix, in calls or get fresh air. In person visits were nearby New Jersey, 150 men out of 220 stopped, and access to libraries, commis- in one unit tested positive. saries and other programs were strictly As far as numbers in county jails, Claire curtailed. Exercise and hot meals ended. Shubik-Richards, executive director of While until recently, only 160 cases the Pennsylvania Prison Society said: of COVID-19 were reported among the “We don’t know, because our county gov- incarcerated workers, these restrictive ernments aren’t telling us, and that is measures never applied to the guards and Protesters in Philadelphia call for prisoners to be released due to WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE astounding.” (Philly.com, Nov. 12) prison staff, who appear to be the ones COVID-19 surge, April. The consistent refusal by prison offi- bringing COVID-19 into the prisons. cials to release at-risk incarcerated work- Fast forward six months, and pris- coronavirus. Testing of staff is not manda- incarcerated workers to those facil- ers, and to even provide basic PPE and ons, including those in Pennsylvania, are tory. (Philly.com, Nov. 12) ities with larger outbreaks. In State other preventative items, amounts to the facing a deadly full-blown resurgence of Rather than release more people or Correctional Institution Chester just out- cruel and unusual punishment expressly COVID-19 among those incarcerated as make staff testing mandatory, PADOC side Philadelphia, as of Nov. 10, half of forbidden by the Eighth Amendment to well as staff. The result has been outbreaks officials have responded by moving pris- prisoners’ test results and 90% of staff the U.S. Constitution. It is turning every of COVID-19 in 21 of the 23 state prisons. oners who test positive to other prisons tests were positive. Incarcerated workers sentence into a death sentence with no As of Nov. 12, there have been 17 reported or isolation units within a prison. The there are reporting that prison officials chance of appeal. ☐ Montana issues COVID death sentence to prisoners By Johnnie Lewis and those with underlying infections and deaths among incarcerated people. While health conditions. The Indigenous people comprise 6% of the state’s popula- Montana State Prison state’s Supreme Court tion, overall they make up 22% of those in prisons and reported Nov. 6 that Robert unanimously denied 26% of jail populations. (tinyurl.com/y94mkgdn) While Gonzalez, 70, died Oct. 24 of the claim. (tinyurl.com/ the state’s Black population is 1%, 3% of prisoners are COVID and that “underlying y4yj7kt8) Black and are incarcerated at 5.7 times the rate of whites. health conditions contributed COVID-19 deaths and The Latinx population is 3% and makes up 5% of prison- to his death.” MSP reported infections are increasing in ers. (prisonpolicy.org/profiles) another prisoner Jeffory Alan Montana prisons. Of some The MSP warden has said that unless people in the Lafield died of COVID the same 3,600 prisoners that the prison show COVID symptoms, none of the 1,400 inside day. (tinyurl.com/y4ay7e5f) Montana Department of are tested. No PPE is distributed. No social distancing According to NBC Montana, Corrections listed in the protocols are in place. All prisoners are locked down this prisoner, also in his 70s, state system at the end of 23.5 hours per day. All are assumed positive for the had underlying conditions. 2019, percentages of infec- coronavirus. (Nov. 2) tions have been reported COVID among guards and staff in all Montana prisons Age, in itself, is an underlying variously, from 12% of the and jails is rampant. (tinyurl.com/y3lwtgns) National condition. At 17.6%, Montana PHOTO: SARA DIGGINS population at MSP to 43% Guard military police and battlefield medical units—​ ranks No. 1 in U.S. states for its In October, Montana families turned out in Missoula to at privately run CoreCivic’s some veterans of U.S. wars on Iraq and Afghanistan—​ percentage of older (55+) pris- support incarcerated people. Crossroads in Shelby have been deployed to 17 prisons and jails across the oners. (tinyurl.com/y52wjkph) (tinyurl.com/yyh2bwur). state, ostensibly to assist prison staff with distribu- Additionally, according to 2015 Bureau of Justice sta- Numbers are also rising in the women’s prison in Billings; tion of meals and mail, laundry and inmate counts. tistics, 32% of people in prisons and 40% in local and Indigenous women make up a disproportionate 34% of the (tinyurl.com/yxnz3g7l) county jails are disabled, making them more susceptible state’s female prison population. (tinyurl.com/y94mkgdn) But the pandemic death threat and repressive prison to COVID. (tinyurl.com/yydu9df7) The numbers issued by state reports may also hide COVID conditions raise the possibility that military forces have In April, Disability Rights Montana and ACLU sought deaths inside overall death statistics. been brought in to put down any possible uprising by the release of all prisoners with disabilities, older people The state reports no racial/ethnic statistics for COVID incarcerated people. ☐ Ramsey Prison terrorizes Texas incarcerated By Gloria Rubac three disciplinary write-ups per shift. An it was too late for lunch; and right now unless done during certain hours. We’ve email ordering the quotas was found by it’s after 8:00 at night, and they are still always worn our shorts and T-shirts in “We’re already stressed out because of a prisoner and smuggled out and sent to feeding dinner. I haven’t eaten in over 24 the day room, but now if we don’t have the virus. We’ve all had it, and now there Workers World, as well as the Houston hours! I’m going to refuse to go to work on the prison uniform, we’re written up,” are new threats that it’s returning. On Chronicle and other publications. It was tomorrow, even if I get written up. It’s not a prisoner reported. “This is for the audit, top of that, there’s a new warden who is widely reported, resulting in the Texas worth it to be so hungry,” he reported. to show that the prison management is known as ‘the clean-up warden,’ who is Department of Criminal Justice changing The Ramsey Unit is expecting a PREA strict on enforcing rules.” preparing for audits and trying to make a policy to expressly prohibit disciplinary (Prison Rape Elimination Act) audit According to other reports from pris- the prison look good so it can get more quotas. in November and a security audit in oners, “Rules are not being followed by funding. And once again, Lieutenant But now there is reportedly a new, December according to prisoners. staff. A lieutenant is supposed to be on Lopez is having guards write up a disci- unwritten verbal order from Lieutenant “Stress is at an all-time high, and false each cell block at least two times a day. plinary case every shift, even if they have Joe M. Lopez for a write-up every shift, cases over ridiculous charges—​like hav- This never happens. Guards are supposed to make it up.” So wrote a prisoner at the leading to fabricated infractions. ing a clothesline up to dry our clothes or to walk each cell block every 15 minutes—​ Ramsey Prison Unit south of Houston. On a phone call the evening of Nov. 12, not wearing a mask, which are only spo- also rarely happens.” A quota system was imposed at the a prisoner told this reporter he’s starving. radically given out—​it’s crazy. We try to The stress of no visits, no recreation Ramsey Unit two years ago through a “I got up at 3:00 a.m. to go to my prison keep our clothes clean, washing them and time, no craft shop time, of hunger if you written order that all guards issue at least job. When I got off around 11:00 a.m., hanging them up to dry. Now it’s illegal Continued on page 8 workers.org Nov. 19, 2020 Page 7 A survivor speaks: ‘I had to defend myself’ I first met Wendy Howard when I joined the No calls to police. The non-prosecution of this person, and for six weeks. I have to take a shot every week for rheu- Justice Under Capitalism Coalition in spring 2020. him not being held accountable, ended up empowering matoid arthritis; they denied me medication, and I She attended many of its demonstrations demanding him. And so things got worse. ended up with permanent joint damage. mass release of prisoners due to the COVID epidemic. When the unfortu- ‘Brought us to have a connection Later I found out Wendy was facing felony murder nate situation occurred and a deep respect’ charges for killing her physically and sexually abusive in which I had to defend spouse. Howard, a mother of seven, was also defending myself, I called the police I also met other ladies that were in her daughters against her ex-partner, who was a sex- seeking their assistance there with similar charges as mine. ual predator. Wendy is a strong, heroic woman, now and help and ended up When I first went in, I was not as close working tirelessly for survivors of domestic violence. being the one taken to to the ladies as I could have been. But Her trial is scheduled for March 29, 2021. She could be jail. I truly believed in then I realized that a lot of the ladies facing 50 years inside one of California’s women’s dun- the justice system up to a in there were in there for things that geons. The Prisoners Solidarity Committee of Workers point that I was impacted really they didn’t have control over, World Party supports Wendy Howard and joins the by it. such as [spouse/partner] abuse, early demand that the Kern County District Attorney drop the At that point, when I childhood abuse — some with stories charges now. Self defense is a right!—​Judy Greenspan went in there, I quickly as bad as mine, if not worse. This is a slightly edited version of a talk given at the learned exactly the tac- That brought us to have a connec- webinar “Women and Oppressed Genders: Survival tics that they use, even tion and a deep respect for each other WW PHOTO: JUDY GREENSPAN and Resistance” hosted by WWP’s Prisoners Solidarity in the county jail. And and helping one another while we Wendy Howard with daughters Bailey (left) Committee on Sept. 24. I wasn’t even convicted were there. and Miranda (right) in front of the office of of anything, I was only I found a lot of discrepancies in the the Kern County District Attorney. By Wendy Howard charged with something. way that the system works. There’s Some of the things that one lady in particular that has charges I'm facing charges of first degree murder, which will they do in even the jails are harmful. I had just experi- that are very similar to mine. She’s been through two come with a 50-to-life sentence if I am convicted. And enced a traumatic attack, and they did not give me any mistrials. And they’re now trying her for the third time. this was after years of abuse, restraining orders, ineffec- kind of medical evaluation or attention, specifically a They have refused to give her bail reduction. And she tive policing, with very little to any help in those phone mental evaluation. They also denied me my medication Continued on page 8

COVID-19 protocols Recipe for disaster in Pennsylvania prisons By Bryant Arroyo tier at a time on one-hour intervals, which brought back to Frackville. creates a situation that deprives us of our Staff are wearing MP95 masks. Guards Incarcerated workers across full time. Even when people can congre- are being given mandatory overtime Pennsylvania are demanding that gate on the block, are they able to prac- because of staff shortages, as there are Department of Corrections Secretary tice safe social distancing? Not at all. You those allegedly quarantining for 14 days. I John Wetzel reverse his disastrous deci- can’t stay six feet apart. don’t know if they even retest [the guards] sion to begin mass transfers of prisoners Prisoners are taking extraordinary after that. at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. measures to stay safe. We’re taking our An additional 28 or so inmates just came The following commentary is from jail- showers. We’re provided with extra clean- in from [SCI] Dallas. One of them tested house organizer and environmental- ing utensils to keep the hygiene to the positive for the antibodies; in other words, ist Bryant Arroyo, confined at State highest standard. And that’s proven by he’s been exposed to COVID-19. Then they Correctional Institution Frackville, the track record of what we’ve been doing re-tested him, and he came back negative. falsely convicted of a crime. for the last seven to eight months, which So we’re dealing with that, too. has been working. Protocol noncompliance is the major The DOC policy contradicts Wetzel’s But all that is changing as Wetzel’s pan- thread that goes through everything supposed responsibility of care, custody demic transfers makes it impossible for I’m explaining to you and revealing to and control. People are feeling anxiety. Bryant Arroyo (left) with Joe Piette of WWP prisoners to protect themselves from the you while I’m here. Presently and again, We can’t tell what it’s gonna be from one Prisoners Solidarity Committee. virus. Secretary Wetzel is the person behind it. day to the next because of these unpre- Making matters worse, incarcerated It’s a recipe for disaster. dictable decisions that are detrimental to in line and bring meals back to their cells. workers like John Ludovici have raised our very lives. The meals are cold by the time they receive the alarm on a systematic violation of This is part of an ongoing series of arti- It exacerbates mental health. It has them. Meals for those in the Behavioral their rights as mental health patients. He cles based on conversations of Workers staff in the middle. They can’t say any- Modification Units and other restricted says his two staff psychologists work in the World reporters with Bryant Arroyo. thing because they’re employed here. But housing units are delivered in “hot carts” to same office as his unit manager. the top officials making these decisions keep them warm. But there aren’t enough The presence of someone who is place them in harm’s way, as well as us. for general population. It’s not even winter, not a patient’s health care pro- Concerned staff tell us that their boss, and the meals are already stone cold by the vider—​let alone someone who Wetzel, “would rather have a dangerous time prisoners receive them. is their jailer—​during sessions plan in place than no plan.” Wetzel has not Isolation anxiety is a flagrant violation of privacy only backpedaled on policies that seemed rights enshrined in the Health to be working to protect people, he is now We need sunshine, exercise and, most Insurance Portability and putting staff and inmates in a more vulner- importantly, social interaction. We are Accountability Act. Ludovici has able position. But he’s not here. He’s in an locked into our cells 23 hours a day. The filed a complaint to the board of office. [Staff] are on the ground. The fish mass mental health crisis that’s exploding licensure that certified his staff rots from the head down. in prisons, after [people are] being confined psychologists. He also filed an These are not emergency transfers. like this for over eight months, is isolation administrative grievance against There are Plan B sites that can be used anxiety. It creates panic, rage, loss of con- his unit manager, despite being in the event of natural disaster, but these trol and complete mental breakdown. We pressured by her not to do so. are not being utilized. Instead, prison- need at least two hours [out of our cells]. Protocol noncompliance ers are being transferred from COVID-19 Straight. No intervals. Or three hours, one hotspots into other facilities. period during the day and one at night. There are both male and What if one of them gets it from an The tension of solitary confinement is female staff who are sincerely inmate transferred from a particular causing fights to break out during the few and genuinely concerned hotspot, and that officer takes it home? hours imprisoned workers aren’t locked about not only contracting Then what do you have? You’re creating in. Like a chemical reaction, the end [COVID‑19], but taking it home one outbreak on top of another, instead result of isolation anxiety is you react and to their family members. Wetzel of coming up with a true solution and pro- combust. It’s like we’re starved dogs get- is opening up the floodgates tecting us at all costs. ting let out of a cage. All you want to do into a facility where we have had Subsequent to this policy change, SCI is eat, nourish yourself and feel normal. basically zero cases. Pine Grove announced it will be transfer- And Secretary Wetzel has put the entire There are 256 inmates ring all of its adult prisoners and converting Pennsylvania DOC in direct defiance of [who] fill up the dormitories, to an exclusively youth detention facility. the protocols set out by the Centers for which are open without cell The DOC intends to do this mass transfer Disease Control. doors. Ninety-eight men who ARTWORK BY BIANCA DIAZ at the height of the new spike in cases. There are a hundred people on the were transferred to Camp Hill From an inside / outside art exhibition "Picturing a Meals are usually delivered during lock- block. Each tier is about 50 people. They during recent renovations in world without prisons," curated by Project NIA and downs, but now prisoners are made to wait are unlocked on a staggered schedule, one this housing unit are now being Free Write Jail Arts & Literacy Program in 2013. Page 8 Nov. 19, 2020 workers.org Yet another death in Cleveland jail By Martha Grevatt Beatings by guards—​not by other Cleveland incarcerated people—​have led to mul- tiple lawsuits. The same week that On Nov. 9 Shone Trawick became Trawick’s death was reported, Jasper the third person to die in Cleveland’s Muldrow Jr. sued the county over the Cuyahoga County Jail this year and the 2018 traumatic beating of his mentally 12th jail death since June 2018. Trawick ill son, Jasper Muldrow III. The jail offi- is the first casualty to be blamed on vio- cer, Charles Enoch, who instigated the What drew media national attention to the county jail, lence by another prisoner. Those in assault, was recently sentenced to a year however, was not the deplorable conditions. It was the nearby cells reportedly screamed for probation with no jail time. Four other widely-hailed decision to shrink the jail population to help on hearing the assault. guards who joined Enoch in attacking limit COVID-19 spread. But many prisoners were then Preventable deaths were previously Muldrow have not been charged. transferred to state prisons that were COVID hotspots. attributed to overdose, suicide and The jail’s scandalous conditions Now the county jail population, previously subjected inadequate medical care. Lea Rayshon and high rate of deaths led to the for- to massive overcrowding that intensified spread of the Daye, a 28-year-old Black trans woman, mation of the Coalition to Stop the virus, is again nearing capacity. died last August in her cell. Michael Inhumanity at the Cuyahoga County It is possible that jail authorities will use Trawick’s Wormick died in July. Both were home- Jail in December 2018. Regular protests tragic death to impose collective punishment—​such as WW PHOTO: MARTHA GREVATT less at the time of their arrest. have taken place outside the downtown lockdowns and harsher restrictions—​on all 1,500 peo- Demonstrator outside the Daye had written a letter, found in jail for almost two years. The Coalition ple now housed at the county jail. Cuyahoga County Jail, May 29. her cell by her mother, intended to joined LGBTQ+ and homeless advo- Everything happening at the Cuyahoga County Jail is Since the protest, three more expose human right violations includ- cates in a joint online press confer- another argument for prison abolition and another rea- people have died in the jail. ing inedible and inadequate food and ence (covered by Workers World) after son to “free them all.” ☐ substandard medical care. Daye’s death. Ramsey Prison terrorizes Texas incarcerated Continued from page 6 prisoners and all Texas prisoners would be stressed to the max: have no money for commissary food and now • At least 231 people have died from COVID in Texas false disciplinary cases is pushing prisoners to the correctional facilities. This includes staff, jail and prison brink. Those who are coming up for parole know deaths; they’d better keep quiet. Those whose family live • Of prisoners who died, 58% were eligible for parole near Houston don’t want to be sent to a prison 500 at time of their death; or 600 miles away. Prisoners who file grievances • Twenty-one prisoners died with less than 2 years or just complain have been immediately shipped left on their sentences; out to another prison. For this reason, no prisoner • 21 people had served 90% or more of their sentence names are used in this article. at time of death; On a phone call Nov. 16, the problem with feed- • 73% of people who died from COVID in prison ing prisoners was again described: “We had break- didn’t have a life sentence; fast at 3:00 a.m. but lunch was 12 hours later, from • 80% of people who died in local jails from COVID about 3:00 p.m. until 4:30. Then dinner was just were not convicted of a crime; an hour and a half later. This craziness is just more • Nine who died in prisons from COVID were stress.” approved for parole but were not yet released; Ramsey Unit: over a century of abuse Just like in this 1970s Houston Chronicle photo, Texas prisoners • Incarcerated Texans are dying from COVID-19 at a still pick cotton with armed guards on horseback overseeing them. rate 35% higher than the rest of the U.S. prison popula- The Ramsey Unit opened in 1908 and was a Prisoners earn $0.00 an hour. tion; and huge property consisting of five former planta- • No hand sanitizer is allowed because the TDCJ says tions. It has had a long and sordid history of rac- classes or other programs they’re required to finish before it could be used to drink or to start fires. ism, violence, brutality and deaths. This continues today. leaving lockup—programs​ that prisoners claim have been These statistics represent actual crimes against real As in all Texas prisons, the guards wear grey and blue delayed during the pandemic. people—​incarcerated workers. In a real peoples’ court, uniforms, the colors of the Confederate army. Last week the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the the whole prison and jail systems would be found guilty Texas Governor Greg Abbott has largely ignored the pan- University of Texas released a report, “COVID and and shut down for their murders and total disregard for demic inside the Texas prison system. The Texas Observer Corrections: A Profile of COVID Deaths in Custody in humanity. reported May 13 that about 77,000 people were eligible Texas,” which read as an indictment of the prisons and But that is our job. As the chant says: “What do we want? for parole. Another 15,000 people have been approved for jails in the state. Justice! And if we don’t get it? Gonna shut shit down!” ☐ release and are waiting for counseling, substance abuse These facts from the report explain why Ramsey

A survivor speaks: ‘I had to defend myself’

Continued from page 7 and overcharged plea bargain. She didn’t take it, and now her public defender isn’t really fighting for her. has been in pretrial detention, not guilty of anything, And because of COVID and the courts being closed, I have this kind of survivor’s guilt, I guess I would her family’s not there to hold him accountable either. say, because I was given bail reduction in my hear- It’s a really eye opening experience to be in the system ing. I am now out on a and impacted, especially at $500,000 bail, while she My passion now is to try to bring that my age. Having once believed is still being held on a $1.5 to light and bring people to realize in the justice system—​and million bail. It’s kind of not just believed in it, but I made me pretty angry to that the people that are inside are actually was in criminal law see those discrepancies really people who have suffered. And and was on the eligibility list and to see how they treat maybe there’s a different way that to become a law enforcement people in there. Because we can look at what healing and officer and was also married to the only real difference a sergeant. that I can see between her restoration to community might really So it was quite the eye case and my case is the look like in the future. That’s my goal. opener. Definitely a rude color of our skin and how awakening, when I found we’re perceived in that regard. myself in this system and saw how things really worked. ‘An eye-opening experience to be in the system’ Thank you for your time and for listening to my story. So as soon as I got out on bail, I decided that it was time to hit the ground running and try to make as many Some actions you can take to support Wendy changes as I possibly could until I was put in that trial Howard: Contact Kern County District Attorney room and tried. Which was another whole thing, the Cynthia Zimmer and Deputy Attorney Courtney Lewis whole plea bargain thing [before the trial]. They really to demand justice for Wendy: Email: czimmer@ do try to intimidate people into taking those pleas, kernda.org and [email protected]. Call: (661) 868- including things such as one of my friends still there 2340. BCC: [email protected] so Wendy was told that she would never see her kids again if she can use emails in court. Sign and share the petition: didn’t take this plea bargain. It was an unreasonable facebook.com/groups/JusticeForWendyHoward. workers.org Nov. 19, 2020 Page 9 From the Immigration Movement, for the Left Election 2020 lessons By Teresa Gutierrez San Antonio We have an opportunity to push

These slightly edited remarks were like hell right now and win some given on a Workers World Party Nov. 12 webinar, “What Now?” concessions from the ruling class,

The huge voter turnout from the Latinx because capitalism is at a dead and the im/migrant rights movement for the 2020 presidential election must be end. And it can go either fascist, put into the context of developments on immigration since 2006. or it could go to where they have Under a Democratic administration, a horrific war against immigrants began, to give us some more concessions. one that was intensified by Trump. I am talking about the Latinx and im/migrant We've got to organize that! Teresa Gutierrez WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN movement, but want to make it clear that I do not want to imply that all im/ migrants are Latinx. reprieve, you need a respite, you need a that she may not run again because the path for citizenship and amnesty for the In fact, they are Central and South break, you need to breathe. Democrats are blaming the "Defund the undocumented. We'll see where that goes. Asian, African, Haitian, etc. But the bulk The im/migrant rights movement, Police" slogan as a reason why some of of migrants are Latinx because they come in particular—because of Trump and them did not win. The women of color Deep organizing from south of the U.S. border, so I'm put- because a Democrat like Obama deported are calling [the Democrats] out on this The main point I want to make about ting it within that context. more than any other U.S. president ever publicly. the im/migrant rights movement is how Also, the Latinx vote is not a mono- in history—they needed a reprieve. They I've been getting on some calls with we have to really deepen our organizing, lithic vote. There's a Latinx vote, but not needed to get the boot of Trump off their the National Nurses United, the nurses’ as Marcello was saying earlier, among the a Latinx voter. It is very, very complex. neck, and they were able to do this. union, a fighting organization. A Black working class. Many Cuban Americans are beholden to This is a very complex and wonder- Lives Matter activist from Missouri, Cori This is what has saved the im/migrant anti-communism, and they will vote in ful development that we can be hopeful Bush, was on one of these calls—she rights movement. This is what has a certain way. Puerto Ricans tend to be about, because even though it is within had been on the ground during the Mike resulted in fewer deaths and deporta- more progressive and revolutionary and the context of a bourgeois election, this Brown struggle and rebellion. She's a tions. We have so much to learn, not just will vote or not vote a certain way and so sector of the working class was not pas- nurse—and this sister just got elected from the Black Lives Matter movement, forth. So it's not one vote. sive, but active. And because they're not to Congress! And she is now part of the but from the im/migrant rights move- But I want to specifically talk about the duped by the Democratic Party, we can “Squad.” ment as well. im/migrant rights movement and what be hopeful. But we are not naive about The day-to-day work of orga- happened with the vote. the role of the Democratic nizing means building a base, The reports I've heard are that some Fight for concessions now Party. We know that winning the trust and under- millions of im/migrant rights advo- This is a moment to fight for con- they will try to put a standing of the masses, cates and Latinx voted in this election. cessions. This is a moment when the brake on the strug- and for the move- There was massive organizing, there was oppressed and the working class can gle. We know that ment of immigrants a mobilization of three million work- make gains and win concessions. For with the next rights it has meant ers. There were 800,000 calls made by example, here in San Antonio there police murder, moving as a bloc. VotoLatino. My phone, my email were is a housing project with a long his- they're going to This is the kind of really burning up before the election. tory of struggle and a symbol for the say “Chill.” We deep organizing that Every im/migrant rights organization community. know that they we have to do if we're that I've ever worked with in New York At the end of December, it stands to can go to war at going to influence any or Wisconsin or Arizona—everybody was face many evictions when the morato- any time. We know of those 70 million that reaching out. rium ends. Many of the supporters are that they're going voted for Trump. And if connected to organizations that mobi- to go against the we're going to win back Defeat of Trump—‘buoyed, not duped’ lized for Biden. They should count on Venezuelan revolution- people from the Democratic We've got to understand that the defeat his administration to give some conces- ary government. We know Party, we've got to get on the of Trump for the im/migrant rights move- sions because it will be an embarrass- they're not going to find hous- ground. And we've got to sustain. ment is a step forward. That movement ment for Biden to be inaugurated with ing for the victims of the hurricanes, and The elections determine who governs, is buoyed by this defeat of Trumpism. all the evictions, with all the deaths from so forth and so on. not who rules. It’s still the Wall Streeters They're buoyed, but they're not duped. I COVID. We have an opportunity to push like and the Bill Gates types, they're the ones want to make that clear. This is a sophis- So we've got to push hard to get some hell right now and win some concessions who are really ruling, right? ticated, experienced movement. As many concessions from this government. from the ruling class, because capitalism So how are we going to get to rule? How activists have said, they mobilized not to I'm very excited by the struggle that's is at a dead end. And it can go either fas- are we going to defund the police or abol- pick a savior, but to pick a target. going on within the Democratic Party cist, or it could go to where they have to ish ICE? How are we going to get there? We talk of a class war, do we not? And because for once it’s out in the open. give us some more concessions. We've We're only going to get there if we do the in a war, you've got to assess the strength And we have to credit women of color for got to organize that! deep organizing that especially the young of your soldiers, of your class. We're in bringing that struggle out into the open. comrades are talking about. I really feel a class war—and in a war, you need a AOC—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—said Abolish ICE! like that's the task of revolutionaries. As for freeing the thousands of peo- The lessons from the im/migrant ple who are still in ICE detention, I think rights movement are to deepen ourselves that's why this im/migrant rights move- among the working class, to elevate con- ment was so active in this period. They sciousness, to win the victories of defund- felt like Trump, who wants to be a fascist ing the police, but also get to the point and openly represents a fascist move- where we abolish ICE and abolish the ment, was like a dog whistle to the right police altogether. We have to do that. wing, an armed right wing. And that means abolishing capital- Now I think that the im/migrant rights ism, because as long as capitalism exists, movement is very much going to chal- the threat of fascism is real. That's why lenge the Biden administration and the the victory of defeating Trump was so Democratic Party about ICE detention. important. Because it was a pushing back They're going to mobilize, they're going of white supremacy, and an element in to expect some victories. this country that would very much wel- Already Biden has supposedly agreed come fascism. To push it back at this publicly that he will stop building “the moment, that's no small thing. wall.” I don't think that's a major victory This is the moment for the workers myself—Trump wasn't even able to build and the oppressed to win things. And do the wall that he talked about. But Biden deep organizing. This is the lesson of the has said that the DACA (Deferred Action im/migrant rights movement for us right for Childhood Arrivals) youth will get full now. ☐ Many DACA children (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are adults now, fighting to relief. He has said that he will look for a keep their families together in the U.S. One such Dreamer, so-called after a Congressional act meant to protect them from deportation, demonstrates in Washington, D.C., in 2018. Page 10 Nov. 19, 2020 workers.org editorials Stop #45—​a first step Although the Democratic Party presidential process, itself flipped Georgia, Pennsylvania candidates soundly defeated the Republicans and Michigan. This determined the election. Pandemic surges, by some 6 million votes overall, as well as with To allow #45 and his cultish followers to a majority of the undemocratic and bizarre overturn that effort would be a blow to the economy sputters Electoral College, #45 refuses to concede, rights of all oppressed peoples. That reason continuing as if he and Mike Pence had won alone is enough to make it required to join this Continued from page 1 the International Monetary Fund’s a second term. struggle. There are plenty of others. World Economic Outlook report! Meanwhile, he appointed his own toadies Remember that on Nov. 7, millions of peo- needed second stimulus bill, such Why the discrepancy? While there to be Pentagon executives, replacing those he ple cheered all day in the streets after the as the HEROES Act passed by the is a capitalist class in China, with appointed earlier. These earlier appointees corporate media announced #45’s defeat. House but not the Senate. some of its members very wealthy were equally pro-imperialist officials, bellig- To excise the fascist tumor apparent in the Meanwhile, records are being compared to the Chinese masses, erent toward foreign rivals and enemies of D.C. demonstration, these millions should broken every day for new infections. China has a workers’ state whose ori- U.S. imperialism. They were just more likely be called back into the streets—​with masks, As with any crisis under capitalism entation is fundamentally socialist. to disobey his orders. social distance and a will to win. dependent on racism, Black, Latinx This means that human needs take Reactionary Republican senators continue They, and not some deal brokered by CEOs and Indigenous communities suffer precedence over profit. to back the lame-duck president’s tweets that or centrist politicians, must assure that the disproportionately. Socialism is exactly what workers he will remain in office. legal democratic succession carrying out their all over the world—​and this coun- On Nov. 14, a more significant event legal vote occurs. A good day could be when the It doesn’t have to be this way try is no exception—​need. With a occurred. Some thousands of pro-Trump dem- Electoral College meets, Dec. 11, or on Jan. 20. Even with the prospects of a socialized health care system, work- onstrators, including some of the country’s It might appear that a majority of the bil- COVID‑19 vaccine, it’s hard for ers would no longer be at the mercy most vile venomous vermin from the Proud lionaire ruling class, happy with the trillions of the masses of working class and of the for-profit medical industrial Boys and the KKK, held a super-spreader gath- dollars in tax breaks and the free access to fed- oppressed people to see light at the complex. There would be no Big ering in Washington, D.C., to shout their fervor eral and Indigenous lands that #45 handed the end of the tunnel. Pharma bosses, who see only dol- for the election loser’s second term. corporations, now back a more normal pro-cap- And a cure for the pandemic will lar signs in a much-needed COVID Because Workers World knows in our italist Biden/Harris administration. not cure capitalism of its own built-in vaccine and treatment drugs. There bones that the leadership of both big capitalist First of all, their backing is no guarantee of sickness—a​ drive to maximize indi- would be laws to guarantee that parties serves the U.S. imperialist ruling class, victory. Struggles are decided by active forces. vidual profits by driving down labor everyone’s basic economic needs readers might mistakenly assume we’re neu- More important, an independent mobiliza- costs and thus beating out competi- would be met. tral in their conflict leading up to the Jan. 20 tion of workers and the oppressed is central to tors. This has, since the early 1800s, That won’t come about overnight, inauguration. Far from it. Although neither of stopping the Trump gang from overriding the caused cyclical economic down- of course. In the meantime, socialists those parties represents U.S. workers, their votes of tens of millions of people. Then, assum- turns—​crises of overproduction—​ need to be in the vanguard of pushing conflict and a possible “coup” by #45 affect ing the working-class mobilization wins, it is in that are doubly devastating in the demands that address the survival the working class. a better position for the necessary next step. current period of generalized capital- needs of the working class. These Workers World addresses our comments to That next step is to bring the battle to the ist decline. A lot of the jobs recently include good-paying jobs for those those long in the Marxist and Leninist move- Biden/Harris administration, assuming they lost will not come back. able to work and comparable income ment, as well as anyone active in the move- take office, as well as to the Republicans. From As COVID deaths in the U.S. for anyone unable; free health care ment for workers’ rights and the rights of all the Democrats we can expect an imperialist approach 250,000, and cases top 11 for everyone; and safe working con- people facing oppression under capitalism. and warlike foreign policy—which​ has always million, China in contrast has had ditions including PPE, hazard pay been bipartisan. We can expect bad compro- How the battle is fought fewer than 90,000 cases and below and no retaliation against workers mises with the Republicans, a friendly atti- 5,000 deaths. Progress on a vaccine is who become ill, have to be quaran- The working class of the U.S. has a stake tude toward the police and a wish to stay in further along than in the U.S. tined or refuse to work unsafely. in the outcome of the succession struggle. the good graces of the ruling class. Moreover, China’s economy has As the struggle grows, so will the Even more, we have a stake in how the battle Only independent actions of the working not only reopened and recovered, it is realization of this basic class truth: A is fought. class can challenge the rulers and their gov- the only major economy projected to system that cannot meet these basic Regarding who is the next president, we start ernment, whichever party is in office. These grow in 2020. This is not just China demands is a system that belongs in from this fact: The intervention of Black peo- can start by defeating Trump. ☐ boasting. The prediction comes from the trash can of history! ☐ ple, mostly led by Black women, in the election

Evo Morales returns Bolivians eject coup regime

Continued from page 1 Much of its already weak popular support demand for an audit of the vote, started vanishing soon after the coup. and the military ignored the call” its strength. By last spring and summer, During the past year, the coup parties to stop it by force. The rightists the people fought the coup regime and pillaged a declining economy and fought must have looked so weak that all held strikes in August to fix the election each other over the spoils. the international observers val- date for Oct. 18. According to a report by Argentine idated the voting and the count. Throughout the year, the coup govern- anti-imperialist journalist Marco Teruggi, This included the OAS, which a ment barred Morales and García Linera who accompanied Morales’ caravan to year earlier had played a key role from returning to Bolivia. The MAS nom- Chimoré airport, the Bolivian rightists in ousting Morales. inated Arce and Choquehuanca, who ran remain divided in three parts: Áñez and Last year the U.S. government with Morales’ political blessing and won. others in the coup government who fear became one of the first to recognize Besides winning the top posts, the MAS being charged with political or other the “interim” regime in November, won 21 of the 36 seats in the Senate and crimes for their role and have retreated after what was clearly an illegal 75 of the 130 seats in the Chamber of to their strongholds; Carlos Mesa and grab for power. Washington’s ear- Deputies. A majority of representatives his allies, who have taken on the role of lier role in executing the coup was in both houses are women. legal opposition; and Camacho, based in obvious. The de facto (coup) government led by Santa Cruz in the East, who is plotting the Following Bolivia’s Oct. 18 elec- the “interim” president, Jeanine Áñez, next coup. (See Teruggi’s Nov. 13 article tion, U.S. Secretary of State Mike was not only repressive, and ferociously at workers.org) Pompeo called Arce on Nov. 4 and The Bolivian people celebrate the return of former corrupt, but incompetent in managing The Camacho forces held a demon- congratulated him for his victory. President Evo Morales at the Chimoré airport in the Chapare region, Nov. 9. the Bolivian economy amidst a pandemic. stration in the capital on the eve of the Since as of Nov. 15, Pompeo still inauguration, trying to supported Donald Trump’s illegal stop it. The MAS had attempt to remain in office for a second who carried out crimes against the people. to defend its own cere- term, his concession in Bolivia indicates Up till now, the overwhelming electoral mony. Fascist elements how low the U.S. considers the chances of victory has prevented reactionaries in the bombed a MAS office in the Bolivian rightists. Bolivian army from intervening against the capital, La Paz, only the workers and oppressed communities. days earlier. What next? Yet the threat remains. The police and As Teruggi wrote, As the experience of the 2002 failed many military officers still have their ties “Requests to Jeanine coup attempt in Venezuela against Hugo to the oligarchy. Áñez to suspend the Chávez showed, when a mass movement Under those conditions, any steps the inauguration went reverses a reactionary coup, it can open a Bolivian popular movements take to cre- unanswered; the road to advance the revolution. The coup ate their own defensive forces deserve People march in 2019 with the wiphala, the Indigenous flag, in Supreme Court of makers exposed themselves. There is wide- support from the anti-imperialist move- Cochabamba, Bolivia, in opposition to the right-wing coup. Justice refused the spread desire to purge or prosecute those ment inside the U.S. ☐ workers.org Nov. 19, 2020 Page 11 A Palestinian comments on the U.S. election

By Susan Abulhawa public office for self-enrichment, and his another previously high-functioning Arab mismanagement of the pandemic, shady and African nation? As results of the U.S. presidential elec- businesses, and tax avoidance are shock- tion started coming in last week, the ing to people in the U.S. and the world. Generational destruction and reaction across the country, at least on But the truth is that the only thing that pain inflicted on Global South the left, was incredulity. They could not truly separates him from past presidents It is true that Trump winning almost fathom that the race could be so close is that he turned the ethos of suprem- half of the votes points to the already well- after four years of Donald Trump, whose acy, racism and division inward, whereas known sentiment that Black America has administration—​they all agreed—​had his predecessors—​in all their polish, at been talking about for decades—​that this been aberrant and evil. times eloquence, win- country is racist as hell. They are right that his overt racism, ning smiles and even But what does the sheer incitement to violence, and explicit tempers—​unleashed Trump is no shock, incredulity and misogyny have been more pronounced them on the defense- outrage of many of the than that of previous U.S. presidents, less of the world. different from his “other half” who are who’ve tended to mask their impulses for Tell me, how is predecessors. He anti-Trump say about Susan Abulhawa all the above with social spit shine. It is Trump saying “Stand the U.S.? also without question that Trump lacks back and stand by” has just not masked It says they have know to do when they need to increase minimal compassion for others. more egregious than never seen—​or even their popularity. But is he really so different than his President Bill Clinton his cruel instincts. bothered trying to And with a country so divided now, it is predecessors? More brutal? More racist? carpet bombing Iraq’s see—the​ ongoing inef- almost certain Biden will take that route. More egomaniacal? I do not think so. water infrastructure to distract from fable generational destruction and pain He has already hinted that Iran needs to Donald Trump has been the most hon- his domestic sex scandal with Monica the U.S. has inflicted on the Global South be put in its place, and as the U.S. seems est expression of the United States we’ve Lewinsky? and, in particular, Arab nations who have to do Israel’s bidding in most things, it ever seen in a president. For those of us Or more egregious than U.S. done nothing to the U.S., but who lie in may well become the latest target of U.S. who’ve watched or felt the sheer barbarity Ambassador to the U.N. Madeleine indescribable tatters and anguish as a imperialism. of the U.S. war and surveillance industry Albright declaring that 500,000 dead result of the U.S. war industry. around the world, this is clear. Iraqi children as a result of U.S. sanc- To this half of the United States, I say: This slightly edited article originally Of course, the horror and outrage U.S. tions are “worth it” (presumably worth You are wrong, Trump is not an aberra- appeared in Al Jazeera on Nov. 12 as citizens feel against the Trump admin- the destruction of an ancient civilization tion. He is the truest face of this coun- “Donald Trump is the truest face of istration have been justified. The sep- to get its oil and ensure Israeli hegemony try, all of it, save for the minority who the United States.” Susan Abulhawa aration and caging of families seeking in the region)? have a sense of history and global human is a Palestinian writer and the author refuge at the border under his watch, his Or more egregious than Secretary solidarity. of the international bestselling novel, denigration of women, his promotion of of State Hillary Clinton quipping, “We To this half of the U.S. now celebrating “Mornings in Jenin” (Bloomsbury, white supremacy and emboldening of came, we saw, he died,” about the grue- Biden’s victory, I ask: What will you do 2010) and her most recent “Against the racist paramilitary militias, his in-your- some murder of Libyan leader Muammar when he launches a new war? Because he Loveless World” (Simon and Schuster, face nepotism, conflicts of interest, use of Gaddafi and the utter decimation of yet will. That is the only thing U.S. presidents 2020).

Marxism, Reparations & What Road to Socialism? A new Workers World anthology, confronting the burning questions and key the Black Freedom Struggle contradictions during this deadly pandemic and global capitalist meltdown.

Edited by Monica Moorehead Topics: COVID‑19 and the deepening crisis of capitalism ◆ Reform or revolution? ◆ The state and building for revolution ◆ The centrality of fighting racism ◆ The working class An anthology of writings from will make history ◆ Fighting all forms of oppression: gender, sexuality, disability, and Workers World newspaper. age ◆ Socialism or death: Socialist countries lead the way to the future ◆ What is socialism? Available at major online booksellers. Download free ebook or PDF formats. Also available in paperback. Free PDF at workers.org/books Visit workers.org/books to get your copy.

Cómo COVID-19 revela las desigualdades en la economía de EE.UU.

Continúa de la página 12 el nuevo coronavi- segundo trimestre (abril, mayo, junio). Se rus desde finales de redujo un 9,5%, unos 450.000 millones que dependen de las propinas o de marzo”. Con o sin de dólares. Este fue el mayor descenso la comisión de ventas. pago por riesgo, dadas porcentual desde 1875. Esto siguió a un Los trabajadores peor pagados, las altas tasas de descenso en el primer trimestre. con pocos o ningún ahorro de emer- desempleo actuales, Incluso después de que el PIB de gencia, ahora se enfrentan al mayor los trabajadores están EE.UU. creciera un 7% en el tercer trime- desempleo. El número de empleos dispuestos a aceptar stre, ayudado por el paquete de estímulo para los trabajadores que ganaban los trabajos. de marzo, la economía de EE.UU. ha menos de $14 por hora ha bajado Los grandes jefes disminuido un 3,5% desde principios de un 20% desde enero. El número de -que saben lo deses- enero. trabajos que pagan entre 14 y 20 perados que están Compare esto con la tasa de crec- dólares por hora ha disminuido casi los trabajadores por imiento de China del 1,9% según el Banco tanto como el 16%, mientras que el poner comida en la Mundial. China, que ha tenido 4.746 número de trabajos para los traba- mesa para sus famil- muertes de 91.921 casos de COVID-19 jadores que ganan 32 dólares o más ias y mantener un según la Organización Mundial de la por hora ha aumentado en un 2%. Los trabajadores de un supermercado de Brattleboro, Vermont, techo sobre sus cabe- Salud, (OMS) ha logrado controlar la salieron el 29 de junio para protestar por la cancelación por parte (Encuesta sobre la población actual) zas- se amontonan en pandemia allá. de la empresa de la bonificación por peligrosidad relacionada con la el trabajo, recortan las China ha mostrado una respuesta orde- Los jefes se hacen más ricos, pandemia de COVID. horas y obligan a los nada, científica y altamente organizada los trabajadores se enferman sigue funcionando a plena capacidad son trabajadores a tratar con clientes sin más- a escala nacional. El gobierno de China Mientras que los trabajadores sufren las tiendas de comestibles, incluyendo caras que no tienen en cuenta el distan- sigue planeando poner fin a la pobreza bajo el azote del desempleo y se ven obliga- la tienda Whole Foods, propiedad de ciamiento social. Algunos trabajadores antes de 2021 a pesar de la pandemia. dos a aceptar trabajos peligrosos y mal Amazon. Aunque sus propietarios están están tan disgustados con su tratamiento Tiene previsto llegar a una sociedad mod- pagados para sobrevivir, los ricos se hacen obteniendo miles de millones de benefi- que renuncian a mitad de turno. Pero eradamente próspera para todos en 2030 cada vez más ricos. Los ingresos del tercer cios, los trabajadores de las tiendas de otros están tan desesperados que vienen y alcanzar una economía desarrollada y trimestre de Google ascendieron a 46.020 comestibles siguen enfrentándose a ries- a trabajar aun enfermos. socialista en 2050. millones de dólares, frente a los 37.990 gos mortales todos los días, a pesar de Lo que está claro es que los traba- millones del trimestre anterior. Amazon que los jefes les han cortado su paga de Las estadísticas de EE.UU. jadores estadounidenses necesitan un informó que los ingresos del tercer trimes- “bonificación por peligrosidad”. comparadas con las de China nuevo enfoque para controlar esta pan- tre fiscal de 2020 aumentaron un 37% con Según el Washington Post (12 de El Departamento de Comercio informó demia y su impacto económico. China respecto a los de 2019, hasta alcanzar los agosto), “Al menos 130 trabajadores de que la producción de bienes y servi- podría proveer un buen ejemplo de lo que 96.100 millones de dólares. supermercados de EE.UU. han muerto, cios de los Estados Unidos, el Producto se necesita. ☐ Un área de venta al por menor que y más de 8.200 han dado positivo por Interno Bruto, cayó por el precipicio en el Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 62 Núm. 47 19 de noviembre 2020 $1 La wiphala, un símbolo de comunidades andinas reconocido en la Constitución boliviana y un emblema que para muchos representa a miembros ‘Racismo y autodeterminación’ del Partido de Movimiento al Socialismo. Naciones indígenas de Oklahoma ganan fallo de Corte Suprema Por Gloria Rubac que no demasiado. “Es una guerra para conservadores, el Consejo de Asuntos nosotros”, dijo. “Hay algunas victorias, Públicos de Oklahoma, ha llevado a toda Una decisión sorprendentemente pro- pero la guerra continúa”. (New York la delegación del Congreso de Oklahoma. gresista de la Corte Suprema encontró que Times, 6 de julio) (tinyurl.com/y5oofhvk) más de un tercio de Oklahoma todavía se “No se puede firmar un tratado con una denomina como “nación indígena” según ‘Todavía estamos aquí’ nación tribal, que lo firme el presidente, la ley federal para la tribu Muscogee La Comisión para la Protección de la que lo ratifique el Senado de EE.UU. dic- Creek y otras tribus de Oklahoma. Soberanía de la Nación Cherokee emitió iendo que es su reserva, y luego quitárselo El tribunal dictaminó el 9 de julio en el Los límites tribales de los territorios un comunicado de prensa con varios pun- porque en 2020 el estado de Oklahoma caso McGirt v. Oklahoma que, según trat- indígenas en 1889. ¡Oklahoma es y siempre tos de preocupación después de McGirt. piensa que es una realidad inconveniente ados que datan de hace dos siglos, gran ha sido un territorio indígena! Uno de ellos es que el Jefe Principal para ellos”, dijo Nagle. parte del este de Oklahoma es territorio se comprometa con los miembros del “Los intereses privados no nativos han indígena. Eso significa que la ley tribal y la tribus nativas en otros casos, se unió a los Congreso, que pueden estar contemp- estado tratando de eliminar, desestabi- ley federal se aplican allí en casos penales jueces más liberales del tribunal en este lando la legislación, y se oponga a cual- lizar, exterminar las naciones tribales. que involucran a ciudadanos nativos, no fallo. En opinión de la mayoría, escribió quier legislación que desestabilice las Los intereses corporativos han estado la ley estatal de Oklahoma. Los tratados que “el Congreso le había concedido a reservas tribales. tratando de eliminarnos desde que los están reconocidos en la Constitución de Creek una reserva y que Estados Unidos La Nación Cherokee, con más de Estados Unidos existen. Ahora todos los Estados Unidos como “la ley del país”. necesitaba cumplir sus promesas. 380.000 ciudadanos, es el gobierno feder- han fallado. Nosotros seguimos aquí. Hasta el fallo de la Corte Suprema, la “Hoy nos preguntan si la tierra que almente reconocido del pueblo cherokee. Y este esfuerzo también va a fracasar. mayoría de los delitos graves en el este de estos tratados prometieron sigue siendo Tahlequah, Oklahoma, es la capital de la . . . Petróleo y gas ven la decisión de la Oklahoma, incluidos los casos que invo- una reserva indígena a efectos de la ley Nación Cherokee. Con 11.000 empleados Corte Suprema en McGirt como una gran lucran a ciudadanos tribales, habían sido penal federal”, escribió Gorsuch. “Debido y una variedad de empresas tribales que amenaza. Quieren caracterizarlo como procesados en tribunales estatales por fis- a que el Congreso no ha dicho lo contrario, van desde contratos aeroespaciales y de una amenaza a la seguridad pública, cales de distrito. La decisión de la corte mantenemos la palabra del gobierno.” defensa hasta lugares de entretenimiento, cuando en realidad no lo es. dependía de la cuestión de si la reserva El presidente del Tribunal Supremo la Nación Cherokee es uno de los mayores Y como notarás si lees esa carta, dicen, Muscogee/Creek continuó existiendo John G. Roberts Jr. advirtió en una opin- empleadores en el noreste de Oklahoma, bueno, hay todos estos problemas creados después de que Oklahoma se convirtió en ión disidente que la decisión del tribu- según Indian Country Today. por la decisión de la Corte Suprema en estado en 1907. nal causaría estragos y confusión en el Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee) habló McGirt. La decisión de la Corte Suprema Esta decisión se aplica a las cinco sistema de justicia penal de Oklahoma. en una transmisión de radio de ICT para en McGirt no crea ni un solo problema. naciones del este de Oklahoma: las Y en un lenguaje alarmista, el senador explicar por qué el esfuerzo actual para “De hecho, un problema gigante que naciones Muscogee o Creek, Cherokee, Ted Cruz de la vecina Texas tuiteó que la desestablecer las naciones tribales va se ha aclarado es que Oklahoma estaba Choctaw, Chickasaw y Seminole. Estas Corte Suprema “acaba de regalar la mitad a fracasar. Como ciudadana y abogada ejerciendo ilegalmente la jurisdicción Cinco Tribus fueron expulsadas de sus de Oklahoma, que nunca tuvo, por más de cien años... tierras ancestrales en el sureste en el literalmente. Que Oklahoma no tenía esa autoridad, y Sendero de las Lágrimas en la década de Manhattan es el sin embargo la estaba ejerciendo. Mucha 1830 por el gobierno de Estados Unidos. siguiente”. gente como estos petroleros y gasistas Hoy, medio millón de ciudadanos trib- Causar estra- se han referido a estas lagunas jurisdic- ales viven en docenas de condados de gos y genocidio cionales de seguridad pública. Eso tam- Oklahoma que cubren más tierra que el en las naciones bién es una pista falsa. No hay lagunas estado de Carolina del Sur. indígenas ha jurisdiccionales. Hace doscientos años, todo Oklahoma, resultado en “El simple hecho de la cuestión es excepto la península, era territorio indio. decisiones rac- que Oklahoma mantiene la mayoría de Este territorio incluía las tierras de ori- istas desde la su jurisdicción. Todavía tiene jurisdic- gen existentes de varias naciones indí- educación a la ción sobre los crímenes cometidos por genas, incluidos los Apache, Arapaho, vivienda y el uso no indios. Los únicos crímenes sobre los Comanche, Kiowa, Osage y Wichita. de la tierra indí- que no tiene jurisdicción son los cometi- El periodico The New York Times gena - esto es lo dos por indios, contra indios, en tierras escribió el 9 de julio: “La decisión de 5 que el gobierno En 1880, delegados indígenas de 34 tribus frente al Consejo Creek tribales, en la reserva”. a 4, potencialmente una de las victo- de EE.UU. y los House, Territorio Indio. En un año en el que se han cambiado rias legales más importantes para los estados individ- los nombres y logotipos racistas de los nativos americanos en décadas, podría uales han hecho a los pueblos indígenas cherokee, Nagle y Sarah Deer (Mvskoke) equipos deportivos, cuando la Corte tener implicaciones de gran alcance desde que las primeras colonias fueron presentaron un informe amicus cur- Suprema falló en contra del oleoducto para las personas que viven en lo que colonizadas por Inglaterra. iae en nombre del Centro Nacional de de acceso a Dakota, cuando se han der- el tribunal afirmó que era un país indí- Madonna Thunder Hawk, organizadora Recursos para Mujeres Indígenas, la ribado o desfigurado estatuas racistas, el gena. Las tierras incluyen gran parte de del Proyecto de Leyes del Pueblo Lakota, Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles fallo de McGirt en julio es un paso más en Tulsa, la segunda ciudad más grande de dijo que la decisión del tribunal y un reci- y otras organizaciones para analizar las el progreso de los pueblos que han estado Oklahoma”. ente fallo federal que ordenó el cierre del implicaciones de género de la decisión. luchando contra los invasores colonia- El juez Neil M. Gorsuch, que anterior- oleoducto de acceso a Dakota del Norte Ella habló en el aire para desafiar las les desde que se descubrió a Colón en mente se había puesto del lado de las habían sido motivo de celebración. Sólo preocupaciones que un grupo de expertos 1492. ☐

Cómo COVID-19 revela las desigualdades en la economía de EE.UU.

Por G. Dunkel realmente es que más trabajadores arries- - y esas tasas omiten a los trabajadores negras y latinas se concentran en trabajos garán sus vidas al verse obligados a volver subempleados y desmotivados. de servicios y de venta al por menor y se La administración de Trump ha admit- a trabajar para poder sobrevivir, y el gobi- Si miras las tasas de desempleo de los han visto especialmente afectadas. Bajo ido que no tiene ningún plan controlar al erno no hará nada para ayudarlos. Los trabajadores de color, como se informa las presiones del comercio electrónico y virus COVID-19. El jefe de personal de la trabajadores que se enfrentan al mayor en la Encuesta de Población Actual, las la pandemia, cerca de un millón de tra- Casa Blanca, Mark Meadows, dijo a CNN desafío son los que empezaron con los desigualdades saltan a la vista: 7,2% bajadores del comercio minorista han el 25 de octubre que “No vamos a con- salarios más bajos y los que se enfrentan para los trabajadores blancos, los traba- perdido sus empleos, que en un principio trolar la pandemia. Vamos a controlar el a la opresión sistémica. Eso es lo que rev- jadores Latinx 11,2%, los trabajadores estaban mal pagados. Incluso cuando los hecho de que tenemos vacunas, terapias elan las estadísticas. negros 13,2% - casi el doble de la tasa de restaurantes y las tiendas están abiertas, y otras áreas de mitigación”. Los trabajadores en los EE.UU. han los trabajadores blancos. Para todas las los clientes se mantienen alejados por Esta es una estrategia muy arriesgada, enfrentado tasas de desempleo tan altas mujeres, la tasa de desempleo es más alta miedo a ser infectados. Esto crea dificul- dado que las vacunas y la terapéutica aún como el 14,9% en 2020. En septiembre que para los hombres. tades adicionales para los trabajadores no existen. Lo que Meadows está diciendo era de 8,9% para todos los trabajadores Un gran porcentaje de las mujeres Continúa en la página 11