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PDF Print Version AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · F RANCE 1.00 EURO · NEW ZEALAND $1.50 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE Sankara’s revolutionary legacy discussed at NY forum — PAGE 6 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 83/NO. 20 MAY 20, 2019 Latest fighting Uber, Lyft drivers strike Demand US shows need for across US for pay, dignity hands off recognition of Venezuela Israel, Palestine THBY SGAE LINSKY and Cuba! A new tenuous cease-fire agreement BY TERRY EVANS between the Israeli government and “The Socialist Workers Party urg- Gaza-based Hamas and Palestinian es working people and youth to join in speaking out against Washing Islamic Jihad does nothing to elimi- - nate the unending cycle of violence by ton’s threats against Venezuela and groups in the Gaza Strip committed Cuba,” said John Studer, a member to the destruction of Israel and Israel’s of the SWP Political Committee and editor of the Militant, capitalist rulers. The repeated mili - at a special tary battles there are a deadly obstacle Militant Labor Forum here May 4. It to uniting working people, whatever was organized as a call to action to mobilize opposition to the U.S. rul their religion or nationality, to ad- - ers’ intervention. vance their interests against the capi- talist governments and ruling classes Studer urged forum participants to on both sides of the border. initiate and build protests demanding At the heart of the repeated fighting an immediate and unconditional halt to the U.S. government’s violations is the refusal of Hamas, the reaction- Militant/Edwin Fruit ary Islamist group that runs the Gaza Uber, Lyft strikers rally in Seattle May 8. App, taxi drivers need one union to fight bosses. of Venezuelan sovereignty and its In New York, some Yellow Cab and limousine drivers joined Uber, Lyft workers at protest. Strip, and Islamic Jihad to recognize threats against Cuba. The forum was the existence of Israel. And the refus entitled, “US hands off Venezuela! - BY JENNY KING driver Steve Gregg told the press at the al of the Israeli government to agree US hands off Cuba!” NEW YORK — Uber, Lyft and San Francisco protest. “To show drivers to the formation of an independent In the course of discussions with other app-based drivers joined strikes we can make a difference.” Palestinian state, a contiguous, sover friends, neighbors, coworkers and in - and protests in at least 10 U.S. cities In New York more than 200 drivers eign homeland that includes Gaza and unions, churches and other organiza- and some abroad May 8 to demand bet- gathered outside Uber offices in Long the West Bank. tions, Washington’s lie that it speaks ter and more “transparent” pay, dignity Island City for a morning protest spon The May 6 truce ended two days - Continued on page 7 and an end to retaliatory deactivations. sored by the Independent Drivers Guild Continued on page 2 “I’m here to get the word out,” Lyft and an afternoon one by the Taxi Work- ers Alliance, where they were joined Moves by U by Yellow Cab and limousine drivers. K gov’t One of 3 Florida prison bans on “Uber deactivated me permanently after working for them for six years,” to scuttle leaving ‘Militant’ overturned, two to go said one driver who declined to give his name. “No one would tell me why.” EU deepens crisis, Next week’s Militant will carry broader coverage. angers workers ATHANBY JON SILBERMAN LONDON — “Angry!” was how ‘Working people Rosina Jones described her reaction to yet another postponement by the British government of the break from have nothing to the European Union that workers had gain from the voted for. Prime Minister Theresa Woodfox shines light on prison abuse, solitary confinement May had just secured agreement at an Albert Woodfox, one of the Angola 3, on speaking tour after nearly 44 years in solitary being “thrown in the box [solitary] be- EU summit to delay the deadline for others. He studied law to be better able to fight and help others. “Other cause the guards said I wasn’t eating my prisoners would sneak us law books lunch fast enough.” into our cells.” Guards believe “they can do whatever Woodfox said there were two they want, beat you, even kill you and US rulers’ wars’ leaving the EU until Oct. 31. battles they undertook while in soli- nothing will happen to them,” Woodfox tary that he was most proud of. One said, because they think no one knows was a hunger strike to stop the inhu- or cares. “Until that changes, the abuse will continue. There needs to be over- Jones, her daughter Trudi and mane way meals were shoved under prisoners’ cell doors, as if they were sight and accountability.” RRYBY T E EVANS animals. The unity and determina - His book and tour are helping tion of the strikers forced prison au- spread the word. grandson Duane were speaking with thorities to cut slots in the doors for passing the food trays. Lanie Fleischer and Seth Galinsky Above, New Orleans Innocence Project “U.S. troops wouldn’t help people The second was a fight against contributed to this article. humiliating strip searches. Militant/Seth Galinsky At the meeting in Brooklyn and Militant Communist League member Anne From left, Ismael Nazario, who was thrown in solitary as a teenager at Rikers Island prison; - is appealing Florida prison ban on in Venezuela,” temp worker Patricia the next day at the Fortune Soci Albert Woodfox; and David Rothenberg, founder of the Fortune Society, speaking March 28. ety in Long Island City, Woodfox Hear Albert Woodfox Mon., April 15 BY WILLIE COTTON riot in the prison. King was victimized was asked his opinion on a bill before Yale Univ., New Haven, Conn. two issues of paper, including issue at left Continued on page 9 NEW YORK — Albert Woodfox in a separate frame-up after a fellow the New York Senate that would limit Flores told socialist campaigner Dean spent nearly 44 years in solitary con- prisoner was stabbed to death on his solitary confinement to 15 consecu- Wed., April 17, 5 p.m. finement in a 6-by-9 foot cell in Loui - cellblock. Together they became known tive days. Rabinowitz Bldg., Room A17, siana’s notorious Angola prison. He and as the Angola 3. They never stopped or- “Try it for one day,” he told those at Princeton Univ., New Jersey with article on tour of Albert Woodfox, who the Fortune Society, “and see what you fellow prisoners Herman Wallace and ganizing and fighting. Thurs., May 2, 6 p.m. Hazlewood when he showed her the Robert King came into the sights of au- King was released in 2001. Wal- think.” He is campaigning for the total Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan thorities there after organizing a chapter lace died in October 2013, three days elimination of solitary confinement. Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. spent nearly 44 years in solitary confine of the Black Panther Party and joining after his release. Several former prisoners spoke from - Sat., May 4, 5 p.m. with fellow prisoners to fight against the To confront their conditions, “we the floor about their experiences in New Bay Area Book Festival, call to action in the Militant brutal conditions they faced. turned toward society, not away,” Wood- York state lockup. “They treat us like Berkeley, Calif. ment. Above, New Orleans Public Library — “US He won his freedom in 2016 and is fox said. “I became a voracious reader. animals,” one said to general agreement. now on a national speaking tour pro- Mao, Malcolm X, Ho Chi Minh, Mar- Another, who was recently released For more info: groveatlantic.com moting his just released book Solitary: tin [Luther King Jr.], Gandhi,” among after 23 years behind bars, described Hands Off Venezuela! US Hands Off Unbroken by Four Decades in Solitary meeting to hear Woodfox, March 20. Inside Confinement. My Story of Transforma - tion and Hope. He is campaigning for Outcry hits attempt to gut Florida voting rights victory an end to solitary confinement. (See ad BY SETH GALINSKY ing people, while disproportionately Neil Volz, treasurer of the Florida Cuba!” They met when he knocked on this page.) falling on those who are Black. Rights Restoration Coalition, told the The tour and book expose the abusive Working people and other supporters THBY SGAE of democratic rights are standing up to The governor and some of his allies rally they are fighting for “full imple - Thousands demand licenses, conditions that exist in prisons across the LINSKY attempts to undermine a popular victory in the Florida Assembly and Senate are mentation” of the amendment and more. unconstitutional ban on two other is country. And just as importantly, they for the voting rights of ex-prisoners in pushing for a new law that would pre- “There’s a huge challenge trying to - Flores’ door in Blue Island, Illinois, highlight the example set by Woodfox - vent ex-prisoners from regaining the re-enter society and it involves trying to and others who stand up to those abuses Florida. Amendment 4 to the state Con One of stitution,three which passed by 64.6Florida percent right to vote unless theyprison have paid off get a job, getof a license and the ability to amnesty at May Day rallies and express solidarity with others who last November, restores these rights to every penny of outstanding court costs be hired by somebody,”- he said, noting sues — even before the 4 assert their humanity. The tour is orga- - Militant - and other financial obligations, includ - they would fight against the discrimina had more than a million people released af May 4.
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