AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 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 and Cuba! by seth galinsky by terry evans A new tenuous cease-fire agreement “The Socialist Workers Party urg- between the Israeli government and es working people and youth to join Gaza-based Hamas and Palestinian in speaking out against Washing- Islamic Jihad does nothing to elimi- ton’s threats against Venezuela and nate the unending cycle of violence by Cuba,” said John Studer, a member groups in the Gaza Strip committed of the SWP Political Committee and to the destruction of Israel and Israel’s editor of the Militant, at a special capitalist rulers. The repeated mili- Militant Labor Forum here May 4. It tary battles there are a deadly obstacle was organized as a call to action to to uniting working people, whatever mobilize opposition to the U.S. rul- their religion or nationality, to ad- ers’ intervention. vance their interests against the capi- Studer urged forum participants to talist governments and ruling classes initiate and build protests demanding on both sides of the border. an immediate and unconditional halt At the heart of the repeated fighting to the U.S. government’s violations is the refusal of Hamas, the reaction- Militant/Edwin Fruit of Venezuelan sovereignty and its Uber, Lyft strikers rally in Seattle May 8. App, taxi drivers need one union to fight bosses. ary Islamist group that runs the Gaza In New York, some Yellow Cab and limousine drivers joined Uber, Lyft workers at protest. threats against Cuba. The forum was Strip, and Islamic Jihad to recognize entitled, “US hands off Venezuela! the existence of Israel. And the refus- by JENNY KING driver Steve Gregg told the press at the US hands off Cuba!” al of the Israeli government to agree NEW YORK — Uber, Lyft and San Francisco protest. “To show drivers In the course of discussions with to the formation of an independent other app-based drivers joined strikes we can make a difference.” friends, neighbors, coworkers and in Palestinian state, a contiguous, sover- and protests in at least 10 U.S. cities In New York more than 200 drivers unions, churches and other organiza- eign homeland that includes Gaza and and some abroad May 8 to demand bet- gathered outside Uber offices in Long tions, Washington’s lie that it speaks the West Bank. ter and more “transparent” pay, dignity Island City for a morning protest spon- Continued on page 7 The May 6 truce ended two days 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 UK gov’t by Yellow Cab and limousine drivers. One of 3 Florida prison bans on “Uber deactivated me permanently to scuttle leaving after working for them for six years,” said one driver who declined to give his ‘Militant’ overturned, two to go name. “No one would tell me why.” EU deepens crisis, Next week’s Militant will carry broader coverage. angers workers BY jonathan silberman LONDON — “Angry!” was how Rosina Jones described her reaction ‘Working people to yet another postponement by the British government of the break from have nothing to the European Union that workers had voted for. Prime Minister Theresa gain from the May had just secured agreement at an woodfox shines light on prison abuse, solitary confinement EU summit to delay the deadline for Albert Woodfox, one of the Angola 3, on speaking tour after nearly 44 years in solitary - others. He studied law to be better being “thrown in the box [solitary] be able to fight and help others. “Other cause the guards said I wasn’t eating my leaving the EU until Oct. 31. prisoners would sneak us law books lunch fast enough.” Guards believe “they can do whatever US rulers’ wars’ into our cells.” Woodfox said there were two they want, beat you, even kill you and battles they undertook while in soli- nothing will happen to them,” Woodfox Jones, her daughter Trudi and tary that he was most proud of. One said, because they think no one knows or cares. “Until that changes, the abuse was a hunger strike to stop the inhu- - by Terry Evans mane way meals were shoved under will continue. There needs to be over prisoners’ cell doors, as if they were sight and accountability.” grandson Duane were speaking with animals. The unity and determina - His book and tour are helping tion of the strikers forced prison au- spread the word. “U.S. troops wouldn’t help people thorities to cut slots in the doors for Above, New Orleans Innocence Project passing the food trays. Lanie Fleischer and Seth Galinsky Communist League member Anne The second was a fight against contributed to this article. humiliating strip searches. in Venezuela,” temp worker Patricia Militant/Seth Galinsky At the meeting in Brooklyn and Militant is appealing Florida prison ban on the next day at the Fortune Soci- Continued on page 9 From left, Ismael Nazario, who was thrown in solitary as a teenager at Rikers Island prison; Hear Albert Woodfox ety in Long Island City, Woodfox Albert Woodfox; and David Rothenberg, founder of the Fortune Society, speaking March 28. Mon., April 15 riot in the prison. King was victimized was asked his opinion on a bill before two issues of paper, including issue at left Flores told socialist campaigner Dean by willie CoTTon Yale Univ., New Haven, Conn. in a separate frame-up after a fellow the New York Senate that would limit NEW YORK — Albert Woodfox solitary confinement to 15 consecu- Wed., April 17, 5 p.m. - prisoner was stabbed to death on his spent nearly 44 years in solitary con tive days. Rabinowitz Bldg., Room A17, finement in a 6-by-9 foot cell in Loui - cellblock. Together they became known Princeton Univ., New Jersey with article on tour of Albert Woodfox, who as the Angola 3. They never stopped or- “Try it for one day,” he told those at Hazlewood when he showed her the siana’s notorious Angola prison. He and the Fortune Society, “and see what you Thurs., May 2, 6 p.m. fellow prisoners Herman Wallace and ganizing and fighting. King was released in 2001. Wal- think.” He is campaigning for the total Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan Robert King came into the sights of au- elimination of solitary confinement. Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. spent nearly 44 years in solitary confine- thorities there after organizing a chapter lace died in October 2013, three days after his release. Several former prisoners spoke from . call to action in the Militant — “US Sat., May 4, 5 p.m of the Black Panther Party and joining the floor about their experiences in New To confront their conditions, “we Bay Area Book Festival, with fellow prisoners to fight against the - York state lockup. “They treat us like ment. Above, New Orleans Public Library brutal conditions they faced. turned toward society, not away,” Wood Berkeley, Calif. fox said. “I became a voracious reader. animals,” one said to general agreement. He won his freedom in 2016 and is - Another, who was recently released For more info: groveatlantic.com Inside Mao, Malcolm X, Ho Chi Minh, Mar Hands Off Venezuela! US Hands Off - now on a national speaking tour pro after 23 years behind bars, described moting his just released book Solitary: tin [Luther King Jr.], Gandhi,” among meeting to hear Woodfox, March 20. Unbroken by Four Decades in Solitary Confinement. My Story of Transforma - Cuba!” They met when he knocked on tion and Hope. He is campaigning for Outcry hits attempt to gut Florida voting rights victory Thousands demand licenses, an end to solitary confinement. (See ad ing people, while disproportionately Neil Volz, treasurer of the Florida by SeTh GAlinSky Rights Restoration Coalition, told the this page.) Working people and other supporters falling on those who are Black. - The tour and book expose the abusive The governor and some of his allies rally they are fighting for “full imple by seth ofga democratic rightsl arei standingn ups to ky mentation” of the amendment and more. unconstitutional ban on two other is- Flores’ door in Blue Island, Illinois, conditions that exist in prisons across the in the Florida Assembly and Senate are attempts to undermine a popular victory - “There’s a huge challenge trying to amnesty at May Day rallies 4 country. And just as importantly, they pushing for a new law that would pre for the voting rights of ex-prisoners in re-enter society and it involves trying to highlight the example set by Woodfox Florida. Amendment 4 to the state Con- vent ex-prisoners from regaining the and others who stand up to those abuses right to vote unless they have paid off get a job, get a license and the ability to One of stitution,three which passed by 64.6Florida percent prisonbe hired by somebody,”of- he said, noting sues — even before the Militant had May 4. and express solidarity with others who every penny of outstanding court costs last November, restores these rights to they would fight against the discrimina- assert their humanity. The tour is orga- - and other financial obligations, includ - more than a million people released af - tion former prisoners face re-establish- nized by his publisher, Grove Atlantic. ter serving time on felony convictions. ing restitution judgments and civil pen At a meeting of over 150 people at alties. They also want to change the def- ing their lives on the outside. ficials’ bansNewly elected against Republican Gov. the MilitantVolz saidhas they would also be cam- been given the opportunity to appeal. “The U.S. military is an imperialist the Brooklyn Public Library March 27 Ron DeSantis, who won with less inition of murder to include attempted Political censorship by Facebook paigning to change some of Florida’s he explained how the prison system is than 50 percent of the vote, an- murder and to rewrite the definition of designed to “break a man’s spirit.” The sexual offenses to include prostitution. laws that make felonies out of acts that nounced after the election that the in most states are prosecuted as misde- authorities in Angola used racial seg- - This would prevent tens of thousands been overturned.legislature needed to pass The“imple statewidemeanors. Lit In Texas theft- of under $1,500 The Militant is filing appeals to army that goes into other countries to regation as the most effective way to - from being able to vote. - menting language.” He hoped to re - is a misdemeanor, not a felony. “In Flor- threat to working class 4 control the prisoners and to keep in Coral Nichol, 40, told a state Sen strict the effect of the amendment. ida the threshold is $300,” Volz said. mates divided. To combat that, the three The amendment states that voting ate committee March 25 that she owes began to organize interracial basketball $190,000 in restitution after serving four “At first the governor was saying that erature Reviewrights for those convicted Committee of felonies reversednobody should register until the state both bans. pave the way for U.S. bosses to exploit and football games and to talk to fellow shall be restored “after they complete all years in prison and 10 on probation for prisoners regardless of skin color, to ad- grand theft. Under her court-approved passed a new law,” Cecile Scoon, first terms of their sentence including parole vice president of the Florida League of vance solidarity. “We were making a or probation,” except for those “convict- restitution plan, she pays $100 a month. difference,” he said. If the Senate plan is signed into law, she Women Voters, one of the groups that ed of murder or sexual offenses.” backed the amendment, told the Mili- The March 25 issue had been im- and oppress, not for freedom and de- Prison officials saw this as a threat. Before the amendment passed, re- won’t be eligible to vote for 190 years. New Florida law restricts They framed up Woodfox and Wallace Some opponents of the proposed tant by phone March 30. Some former gaining the right to vote was at the whim prisoners were worried that if they reg- for the 1972 killing of a guard during a of the governor. For all restrictions called the Republican- sponsored plan a “poll tax,” a refer- istered and were found ineligible they but a small number might be prosecuted for voting fraud. pounded because Florida officials ob- mocracy as the government claims,” ence to the days before the overthrow of ex-prisoners this But the outcry was so strong the gov- ex-felons voting rights victory 7 - of Jim Crow segregation when Blacks fight fla.meant they were per prisonernor had to back down. Thousands Further reading manently denied the and poor Caucasian workers were The Cuban Five, blocked from voting by a tax levied have filed to regain their voting rights. right to vote. - Scoon was at the March 12 rally. Shejected to the front-page article, “Pro- Hazlewood said, agreeing with Flores. imprisoned more Most working peo- on anyone who wanted to cast a bal - lot. Poll taxes were banned with pas- said it’s “my great pleasure” to meet for than a decade on ple, whatever their mer prisoners, inspired by the victory, - sage of the 24th Amendment to the frame-up charges in skin color or national “who say, ‘I’m going to stand up for my- - U.S. Constitution in 1964. banthe U.S.,of explain why ity, ‘militant’backed the amend self.’ It’s our goal for people who havetests Continue in Fight Against Police “Working people here have nothing to –On the picket line, p. 5– ment because they After an outcry, the bill’s sponsors the “justice system” have made changes to ease some of the been oppressed to get their own voices.” know there is nothing At least 11 other states have laws on and jails are used “just” about the so- most egregious proposed restrictions. by the U.S. rulers to None of the bills have come to a vote the books as restrictive as Florida had — See editorialcalled criminal justice page 9 before the amendment was passed.Killing of Stephon Clark.” That ar- gain from Washington’s wars in Af- before the Assembly or the Senate yet. Special: “enable a powerful system. Many have There are fights being waged for refer - $7 or done time themselves, Canada: Deadly rail disaster minority to control enda and changes in a number of them, $5 with whether “guilty” or Protesters rally at state Capitol subscription a vast majority Several hundred people, many former including in Iowa and Kentucky. In only who are poor and not, or have friends one state, Vermont, do those convictedticle reported about the Sacramento ghanistan and Syria, nor its threats or relatives who have. prisoners, rallied by the state Capitol in dispossessed.” Tallahassee March 12 to defend Amend- of felony charges retain their right to Most are well aware vote even while behind bars. product of bosses’ drive for profits the ban Seeof distributors the p. 8 that Militantit affects all work- ment 4. ’s March 25 District Attorney’s decision not to against Venezuela and Cuba.” issue and says it will deliver it Theto Militant the April 15, 2019 charge7 the cop who shot Clark eight “And look at the way veterans are School workers in Carolinas rally paper’s 53 subscribers in 25 Florida times, all but one from the back. treated when they return from ser- for pay raise, better conditions prisons. But the committee upheld the Continued on page 9 Continued on page 3 Recognize Israel, Palestine state Continued from front page and Gaza, Tel Aviv evacuated some of rocket and missile barrages that 8,000 Israeli settlers and returned left four dead in Israel and 25 dead in Gaza to Palestinian rule. The Israeli Gaza, mostly civilians, in the heavi- government retained control over est fighting since 2014. Hamas and the territory’s airspace, ports and Islamic Jihad, both of which receive border crossings. funds from the counterrevolutionary In March 2006 Hamas won con- regime in Tehran, fired 690 rockets trol of the Gaza government and be- from Gaza into Israel, of which just gan stepping up armed provocations 240 were intercepted by Israel’s anti- against Israel. In June 2007 Hamas missile defense. The Israeli armed defeated militias allied with the Fa- forces hit 320 targets in Gaza. tah-led Palestinian Authority, which This latest bloodshed comes on rules the West Bank, in bloody street top of similar exchanges of fire over fighting. the last year, as well as Hamas-led As Hamas extended its rule and re- provocative actions on the border actionary course, Israeli authorities with Israel met by deadly fire from closed the border, prohibiting thou- Israeli army troops. Numerous sands of Gaza residents, who had cease-fires and agreements saying previously worked in Israel, from Cement factory in Ashkelon, southern Israel, struck by missiles May 5. Three Israelis were that Hamas would rein in provoca- entering the country. The Israeli rul- killed in the attack, including a Bedouin worker at the factory. Deadly barrage launched tive attacks on Israel and that the ers imposed strict restrictions on ag- by Tehran-backed Hamas and Islamic Jihad and brutal retaliation from Tel Aviv highlight necessity of immediate talks to recognize both Israel and an independent Palestinian state. Israeli government would ease its ricultural products that used to cross economic embargo on the territory freely to be sold in Israel and set lim- The working-class road forward solidarity of workers and toiling have repeatedly come apart. its on fishing. In face of the latest round of fight- farmers across the Middle East — This had a devastating impact ing, the Socialist Workers Party state- be they Palestinian, Jewish, Arab, An endless cycle on workers in Gaza. Today 80% of ment “For Recognition of a Palestin- Kurdish, Turkish, Persian or other- During the latest fighting both sides Gaza’s 1.9 million people are depen- ian State and of Israel” is more useful wise, and whatever their religious were careful to avoid actions that dent on United Nations and other than ever in pointing a way forward. or other beliefs — as well as work- could escalate into an all-out war, as international aid. Unemployment is It points to the “political necessity for ing people in the United States and happened in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014. above 50%. the Israeli and Arab governments and around the world.” Several thousand Gaza residents and Hamas leaders defend targeting ci- leaderships of Palestinian organiza- It concludes, “We are for whatever some 100 Israelis were killed in the vilians, homes and factories in Israel. tions to begin immediate talks to rec- helps working people organize and course of those wars. This makes future combat with Israel ognize both Israel and an independent act together to advance our demands The fighting began May 3 when inevitable and closes down political Palestinian state.” and struggles against the capitalist snipers in Gaza from Islamic Jihad space there for working people to de- “Negotiations to reach such an governments and ruling classes that wounded two Israeli soldiers and the bate the road forward. agreement must recognize the right exploit and oppress us.” Israeli government retaliated. Hamas seeks to use Israel’s retali- of Jews everywhere to take refuge “We are for whatever renews our The Israeli government ruled the ation, and the ensuing Palestinian in Israel in face of the global rise class solidarity and self-confidence, Gaza Strip for 38 years, after cap- misery, to appeal to capitalist rulers of Jew-hatred and anti-Semitic vio- advancing us along a revolutionary turing it, along with the West Bank abroad to ostracize Israel. lence, as well as the unconditional course toward a united struggle for and the Golan Heights, in the 1967 Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad presents right of the dispossessed Palestinian workers power.” war. In September 2005, under the itself as even more aggressive than people to a contiguous, sovereign impact of the five-year-long uprising Hamas in calling for the destruction homeland or territory.” by Palestinians in the West Bank of Israel. It points to the history of imperi- For recognition of alist domination and capitalist ex- ploitation in the region, including a Palestinian state “ruthless colonial and national op- and of Israel pression across the Arab and Mus- • For repeal of U.S. lim countries, as well as the geno- Jerusalem Embassy Act cidal crimes of the Holocaust, the murderous pogroms preceding it • For workers’ solidarity across Eastern and Central Europe in Israel, Palestine, the ‘Militant’ says ‘No worker has to die on job!’ and Russia, and the enduring real- world over Under the lash of com- ity of Jew-hatred in today’s crisis- Socialist Workers ridden capitalist world.” Party statement petition, bosses from con- The Socialist Workers Party state- struction to agribusiness are ment explains that the starting point at www.themilitant.com pushing for workers to work has to be “the class interests and longer, harder under increas- ingly dangerous conditions. $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. The ‘Militant’ campaigns The Militant Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For Vol. 83/No. 20 one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to for using union power to win above address. Militant/Brian Williams Closing news date: May 8, 2019 workers control over produc- April 25 New York memorial for 16 con- Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 tion and safety on the job. struction workers killed on the job last year. Editor: John Studer to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Terry treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Evans, Seth Galinsky, Emma Johnson, Mar- United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year tín Koppel, Jacob Perasso, Brian Williams. by check or international money order made out to CL London, 5 Norman Road SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Published weekly except for one week in January, one week in June, one week in (first floor), Seven Sisters, London, N15 July, one week in September. 4ND, England. Republic of Ireland and Continental NEW READERS NAME Business Manager: Valerie Johnson Europe: Send £85 for one year by check or The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. 37th international money order made out to CL q.$5 for 12 issues ADDRESS Street, 13th floor, New York, NY 10018. London at above address. Telephone: (212) 244-4899 France: Send 100 euros for one year to Fax: (212) 244-4947 Diffusion du Militant, BP 10130, 75723 RENEWAL CITY STATE ZIP E-mail: [email protected] Paris Cedex 15. Website: www.themilitant.com New Zealand and the Pacific Islands: q.$10 for 12 weeks PHONE e-mail Correspondence concerning subscriptions Send NZ$55 for one year to P.O. Box or changes of address should be addressed 13857, Auckland 1643, New Zealand. to the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION floor, New York, NY 10018. Australia: Send A$70 for one year to Suite 22, q.$20 for 6 months 10 Bridge St., Granville NSW 2142, Australia. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. Clip and mail to the militant, Submissions to the Militant may be pub- q.$35 for 1 year 306 W. 37th st., 13th Floor new york, ny 10018. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to lished in the newspaper in print and digital Or subscribe online at: the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor, www.themilitant.com format. By submitting, authors represent New York, NY 10018. that their submissions are original and consent to publication in this manner. 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia, A$10 • United Kingdom, £3 • SUBSCRIPTIONS: United States: For Canada, Can$7 • Caribbean and Latin America, US$10 • Continental Europe, £10 • one year send $35 to above address. Signed articles by contributors do not France, 8 euros • New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, NZ$7 • All other areas, US$16 necessarily represent the Militant’s views. (Send payment to addresses listed in business information box) Latin America, Caribbean: For one year send These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant May 20, 2019 ‘Nothing for us in US wars’ Continued from front page Blacks in the U.S. got into ongoing de- vice,” Flores said. Hazlewood invited bate about the outcome of the Civil War her to join a picket line May 6 at the Fed- with others who defended the position of eral Building in downtown Chicago to the slave owners,” Calero told the Mili- protest the U.S. rulers’ war threats. tant. “Once deployed they put this aside “I’ll try to make it,” she said, signing to work to ensure their common surviv- up for a subscription to the paper. al in combat.” Socialist Workers Party candidates A few days later, Ed mailed in $5 for across the country explain why the crisis a subscription to the Militant. and cutthroat competition built into the workings of the capitalist system will in- Militant Fighting Fund evitably mean more wars until working The Militant Fighting Fund total people can unite to overturn the dicta- now stands at $56,985 sent in. Over torship of capital that confronts us and the past week some $13,000 has been take power into our own hands. collected, with a further $3,482 in the The SWP, alongside sister Commu- mail. To be on course we should have nist Leagues in Canada, Australia, New raised $65,550. Further contributions Zealand and the U.K., is on a seven- this week can help put the paper in a week drive to expand the readership of strong position to make the $115,000 the Militant and revolutionary books and goal by May 28. win contributions to the $115,000 Mili- The call to action in last week’s is- tant Fighting Fund. The drive is aimed sue urging pickets and other events to at meeting people who get attracted to oppose Washington’s attacks on the the party’s program and ongoing politi- sovereignty of Venezuela and Cuba cal work together. has been well received and a number “Our party opposed the U.S. rulers’ of protests have been organized. You entry into the Second World War,” So- can help fund the Militant — a voice of cialist Workers Party member Róger uncompromising opposition to Wash- Calero said when he spoke with a ington’s wars — by making a contri- World War II veteran named Ed at his bution online at www.themilitant.com. home in Mineola, New York, April The Militant’s only source of funds is 28. The party explains that the slaugh- its working-class readership. ter was above all a fight between the Donkinna Hightower, a skycap dominant imperialist powers for the at the Atlanta airport, told socialist redivision of the colonial world and its campaigner Janice Lynn that in the Militant photos: Top, Rachele Fruit; bottom, Dan Fein plunder. The rulers used working-class 16 years he had worked at the airport Top, Donkinna Hightower, a skycap at Atlanta airport, speaks with SWP member Janice youth as cannon fodder to defend their for different companies his wages and Lynn as she went door to door with Militant and revolutionary books in Jonesboro, Georgia. interests, Calero said. benefits had steadily declined. Lynn Bottom, Dean Hazlewood with Patricia Flores May 4 in Blue Island, Illinois. Hazlewood Ed, a veteran of the Normandy in- spoke to him at his home in a trailer agreed with Flores when she said, “U.S. troops wouldn’t help people in Venezuela.” vasion and the Pacific war, said he had park in Jonesboro, Georgia. written a small book about his experi- Lynn described the recent 11-day ences as a worker and a sailor on a U.S. strike by some 31,000 Stop & Shop Campaign with the Navy ship and gave a copy of it to Cale- workers in New England against the Socialist Workers Party candidates! ro, who said he would read it and call bosses’ moves to cut monthly pension him back for further discussion. payments, increase workers’ costs for California New Jersey “In his book, Ed describes how he and health care and stop overtime pay for Dennis Richter, Los Angeles City Council Lea Sherman, State Assembly Laura Garza, Los Angeles School Board Candace Wagner, State Assembly other sailors who supported the rights of Sunday work. Joel Britton, Mayor of San Francisco New York “We need to depend on Seth Galinsky, New York City Public Advocate ourselves and to build a Florida Anthony Dutrow, Miami City Commission Samantha Hamlin, Mayor of Troy Campaign to expand reach of movement independent of Lawrence Quinn, Troy City Council the capitalists’ two parties,” Kentucky Pennsylvania ‘Militant,’ books, fund Lynn said. Amy Husk, Governor Osborne Hart, Mayor of Philadelphia April 6 - May 28 (week four) “The politicians of both Samir Hazboun, Lieutenant Governor John Staggs, Philadelphia City Council Democratic and Republi- Malcolm Jarrett, Pittsburgh City Council Sub Subs Books Books Fund Minnesota can parties are corrupt,” David Rosenfeld, St. Paul City Council Texas Country quota sold quota sold quota Received Alyson Kennedy, Mayor of Dallas UNITED STATES Hightower said. Socialist campaigners hear com- Nebraska Washington Albany 65 30 65 40 $5,600 $2,680 Joe Swanson, Mayor of Lincoln Henry Clay Dennison, Seattle City Council Atlanta 70 42 70 52 $9,750 $4,460 ments like this often as they See directory on page 8 to contact party campaign office nearest you. Chicago 85 58 110 80 $11,400 $6,644 campaign in cities, towns Dallas 40 20 40 19 $2,500 $655 and rural areas. Millions Lincoln 14 9 16 12 $250 $197 are convinced that the U.S. Los Angeles 85 49 185 155 $10,800 $2,660 government is immoral Below: $7 each, $5 with subscription. Normally $10. Louisville 50 19 50 13 $2,800 $2,656 and the bosses’ twin par- Miami 25 8 25 10 $3,500 $1,500 ties are self-serving. A road N. New Jersey 40 28 50 56 $3,500 $1,835 forward to end the source New York 80 40 80 82 $14,000 $5,903 of these problems — the Oakland 70 50 70 74 $13,000 $9,029 rule of the capitalist class Philadelphia 25 12 25 15 $3,000 $650 and the crisis for workers Pittsburgh 15 4 15 0 $1,200 $300 their system of exploitation Seattle 70 39 95 80 $10,000 $5,683 breeds — is what they can Twin Cities 35 17 35 23 $4,750 $2,460 find in the books by revolu- Washington 40 23 40 38 $5,000 $2,702 tionary leaders and the Mil- Other $1,200 $1,200 itant that SWP members Total U.S. 809 448 971 749 102250 51214 have to offer. “I’d like to find out more Prisoners 25 22 0 0 0 $0 about your party,” Hight- UNITED KINGDOM ower told Lynn as he sub- London 50 31 90 86 $2,500 $950 scribed to the Militant. At left: $15, $10 New! Manchester 35 21 45 36 $1,300 $161 The SWP urges others to $5 Total U.K. 85 52 135 122 $3,800 $1,111 join the party’s campaigns with subscription. CANADA 70 33 80 58 $8,200 $2,585 and to fight for the steps Normally $20. along that course that are NEW ZEALAND 20 9 20 8 $3,400 $1,765 possible today. To join the See distributors on page 8 AUSTRALIA 25 20 35 30 $500 $310 party campaigning, or to For full catalog visit: get books or a subscription, pathfinderpress.com Total 1,034 584 1,241 967 $118,150 $56,985 contact the party branch SHOULD BE 1,050 600 1,050 600 $115,000 $65,550 near you listed on page 8.

The Militant May 20, 2019 3 Thousands demand licenses, amnesty at May Day rallies by JANET POST licenses to immigrants without “prop- Tens of thousands of workers in small er papers,” those that do drive run the towns, large cities and rural areas across risk the cops will turn them over to im- the U.S. took to the streets for Interna- migration authorities. tional Workers Day May 1 as the capi- In Elkhart, Indiana, 70 people rallied talist bosses and their government bear in the parking lot of Cueramaro Super- down on workers’ living and working market and marched downtown chant- conditions — immigrant and native- ing “Licensia, si! Promesas, no!” (Li- born. The main focus of many of the censes, yes. Promises, no.) There were protests was the rights of undocumented 900 documented stops by cops of driv- workers, and that they have access to a ers without licenses in Elkhart County driver’s license. in 2018 and 361 people, mostly Hispan- “Immigrant workers need driver’s ic, were arrested and jailed. licenses for the same reason as ev- Marchers talked to the Militant about eryone else,” factory worker Santos a victory there last year preventing the Ramos told the Militant at a May Day building of an immigration detention rally of 4,000 in Madison, Wisconsin, center. “A detention center didn’t open Militant/Dan Fein “Immigrant workers need driver’s licenses, like everyone else,” Santos Ramos told Militant at “to get to work and to do the shop- last year because people in the town of May Day protest of 4,000 in Madison, Wisconsin. Demand is in interest of entire working class. ping. Demonstrations like today will Elkhart did not want to see people incar- help win them.” The immigrant rights cerated,” said Jesus Huizar, a 25-year- sure that this promise is carried out,” against government austerity measures organization Cosecha sponsored this old factory worker participating in his he said. and called for the speedup of hurricane protest and many of the other rallies. first May Day demonstration. “Really, Construction workers, domestic recovery efforts — to Manila, Philip- In Wisconsin, immigrants had been it’s not a ‘detention,’ it’s incarceration, workers and day laborers, many origi- pines, where workers demanded a raise able to get driver’s licenses regardless another prison.” nally from Central America, were in the minimum wage, protests were of their legal status until 2007, when a In Detroit, 250 workers, majority La- among the 40 protesters in Mineola, organized worldwide. In Seoul, South law requiring a Social Security number tino, assembled downtown to march to New York, who marched to Hemp- Korea, workers demanded equal pay for to get a license went into effect. “I want southwest Detroit behind a banner say- stead for an evening forum. Speakers temporary workers; in Dhaka, Bangla- to be able to drive without fear. Some- ing “El grito por licencias” (the cry for called on state legislators to pass a bill desh, demands included reinstatement times the police stop us just for being driver’s licenses.) By the time the march providing driver’s license for all. The of fired workers and paid maternity Hispanic, even if there’s no infraction,” arrived in Clark Park, there were more protest also demanded legal residence leave for garment workers. Thousands said Gonzalo Hernández, a Mexican- than 800 people. for all undocumented workers. Spon- of protesters marched to the national born restaurant worker who came to the sors included the National Day La- palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, to demand protest from Milwaukee. “And I’m also ‘We are here, we will not leave’ borer Organizing Network and Work- higher wages. here because we need amnesty.” At an event sponsored by Immigrant place Project. Riot police attacked workers’ march- Dignity in Athens, Georgia, 60 people Similar actions took place across es in Turkey, Italy, Russia and in France, Uniting the whole working class marched and rallied, chanting “Aqui es- the country. where the yellow vests have been pro- “Amnesty now!” for the 11 million tamos, no nos vamos.” (We are here, we There were also International Work- testing for months. undocumented workers in the U.S. — will not leave.) ers Day rallies in North and South Caro- a demand in the interests of all work- Organizer Beto Hernandez told lina attended by thousands of teachers Laura Anderson and Naomi Craine ing people — is a necessary step to- marchers that on April 13, the Clark and other school workers demanding from Chicago; Rachele Fruit from At- ward uniting the whole working class. County government there promised to their state governments provide more lanta; Robert Kissinger from Detroit; “It’s in the interests of working people stop arresting undocumented workers money for schools. Martín Koppel from New York; and Ron to fight for amnesty for all undocu- who are unable to get driver’s licenses. From San Juan, Puerto Rico — Richards from Puerto Rico contributed mented immigrants in the U.S.,” said “We will continue to organize to make where some 2,000 people marched to this article. a campaign flyer distributed by Seth Galinsky, Socialist Workers Party can- didate for New York City public advo- cate. He joined a May 1 rally in Perth Political censorship by Facebook threat to working class Amboy, New Jersey. by Roy Landersen users by letting the social media op- In December 2015, it was only re- “The capitalists depend on this pool In the latest moves by liberals eration be used by fake websites that vealed 10 months later, debate erupted of superexploited workers to better and the middle-class left to curb supposedly cost Hillary Clinton the inside Facebook as liberal supporters compete against their rivals around free speech in the name of “political 2016 election. of the Clinton campaign tried to have the world,” Galinsky said. “They try correctness,” Facebook bosses an- All capitalist media make side posts by her rival, Donald Trump, to pit us against each other, to bring nounced May 2 they are permanently profits by selling their subscribers’ deleted as “hate speech.” Zuckerberg down the wages and working condi- banning “dangerous individuals and information to greedy advertisers said no, it was too big a step to block a tions of all.” organizations” from their social me- while all social media sites addition- presidential candidate’s posts. The Perth Amboy demonstration of dia sites, including Instagram. This ally use their algorithms to help tar- Such social media restrictions 250 included construction, restaurant came after mounting pressure de- get users, pushing them endlessly to are part of what’s happening in cur- and factory workers and small-busi- manding greater censorship of inter- buy, buy, buy. rent bourgeois politics — to bring in ness owners. In New Jersey the maxi- net platforms, as capitalist publishers Zuckerberg faces relentless pres- laws, not against criminal actions, but mum fine for driving without a license and editors do for the rulers in other sure by groups who don’t consider against ideas labeled as “hate speech.” is $500. But as in other states that deny bourgeois media. him sufficiently “politically correct.” This mirrors the widespread cam- While Facebook claimed their cen- Groups like Color of Change say he paign by middle-class liberals and sorship isn’t political, those targeted has too much power, and the fact that radicals to demand colleges, high were all on the political right, rang- he controls 57% of the votes on the schools and other academic institu- militant ing from Alex Jones, a talk show host board “is a threat to the civil rights of tions ban speakers whose ideas they who peddles conspiracy hoaxes on its Black users and to the financial in- don’t like. Or to use their own thug- labor his website Infowars; to Louis Farra- terests of its shareholders.” gish methods to shout down, or physi- khan, the head of the Nation of Islam, cally shut down, any ideas they feel forums known for his anti-Semitic diatribes; Censorship is their answer are “offensive.” ill inois and numerous others. Zuckerberg and Facebook’s other Facebook’s censorship today meets Chicago Previously, on April 18, the posts of owners said May 2 they would target with approval and cries for more from The Mideast and the Jewish Question: a series of British ultranationalist or- all persons and groups that their algo- the left. But steps like these always Acting on the Communist Program To- day. U.S. Imperialism Did Lose the Cold ganizations and leaders were blocked. rithmic software pinpoints as promot- end up being used against the work- War. Speaker: Steve Clark, Socialist Work- Facebook banned any “praise, sup- ing or engaging in “violence and hate, ing class and the communist move- ers Party National Committee. Sat., May 18. port and representation” of anything regardless of ideology.” ment. Dinners, 6:30 p.m.; program 7:30 p.m. 1858 The rulers are only too happy to W. Cermak Rd., 2nd floor. (312) 455-0111. it deem to be “white supremacism.” This puts them squarely in the camp Mark Zuckerberg, both chairman of the Democratic Party “resistance” to shut down the space working people Nwe York and CEO of Facebook with a reported the presidency of Donald Trump. All need for political discussions as we New York net worth of over $70 billion, and a these forces believe the central problem fight to find an independent working- Why Uber, Lyft, Taxi and Other Drivers liberal himself, says he’s devoting is the “deplorable” working class who class political road forward. Only in Need One Union for All Drivers. Speaker: 2019 to “making progress on the ma- either voted for Trump or simply refused this way can we advance along the Peter Thierjung, Socialist Workers Party. Sun., May 19, 5 p.m. Donation: $5. 307 W. jor social issues.” He’s trying to re- to vote for Clinton. They’re all for what- road of building a mighty proletarian 36th St., 13th floor. Tel: (646) 434-8117. cover from two years of criticism for ever can be done to restrict their right to movement capable of transforming violating the privacy of Facebook’s vote and other political rights. society — and ourselves.

4 The Militant May 20, 2019 Canada: Deadly rail disaster is result of bosses’ drive for profits by JANET POST the 13 grain cars left on the tracks and On April 28 the Teamsters Canada tested their brakes in conditions similar Rail Conference commemorated Work- to those the night of the disaster. “The ers Memorial Day by honoring eight rail air brake system on these cars would not workers who had been killed on the job provide adequate braking effectiveness in Canada since November 2017. The to ensure the safe operation of a loaded day is an annual remembrance by labor unit grain train,” safety board officials organizations in North America and be- reported. yond of workers who have been killed or They urged government regulators injured at work. to review the rules covering air brake Three rail workers — Canadian Pa- maintenance and inspections, especially cific engineer Andrew Dockrell, con- for railroads like Canadian Pacific that ductor Dylan Paradis and trainee Daniel operate over mountainous terrain. “A Waldenberger-Bulmer — were killed properly functioning air brake system Feb. 4 when their train rolled down one is of the utmost importance in mountain of the steepest grades in North Amer- territory,” the safety board wrote. ica without adequate air brakes, in the After the derailment, the Canadian Rocky Mountains in British Columbia transportation minister ordered hand- Rail bosses’ shoddy inspection and maintenance was responsible for air brakes failing on near the Alberta boundary. The train brakes be applied on trains stopped on Canadian Pacific train that derailed in British Columbia Feb. 4, killing three rail workers. had three engines pulling 112 loaded steep mountain slopes, a measure sup- grain hoppers, weighing over 11,000 ported by the rail union. But Canadian deadly danger to both rail workers low rail workers in 1960 — to use union tons. It was over 5,500 feet long. Pacific and the Canadian National Rail- and those who live in communities power and fight for workers control,” Joe This slope has been the site of nu- way are appealing the ruling, which along the tracks. Swanson, who worked on the railroad merous runaway trains and derailments would slow down train operations and At least 24 rail workers died on the for 31 years and is the Socialist Workers over the last century, including one just cut into their profits. job across North America in 2018. Party candidate for mayor of Lincoln, a month before this deadly crash. Carman Allen Lowe, 46, a union rail Nebraska, told the Militant. The crew had just relieved an earlier Bosses attack safety conditions worker for 25 years, was killed at the “We should fight for no trains over 50 crew when the train, which had been With longer and heavier trains, CSX Wauhatchie Rail Yard in Chat- cars in length, with four-person crews, parked on the grade with its air brakes smaller crews, cuts in train and track tanooga, Tennessee, April 13 when he including two engineers in the locomo- on for almost three hours, started to maintenance, schedules that dictate was struck by a locomotive. His death tive and two workers on a caboose or roll. The workers were unable to get the constant fatigue, and refusal by bosses is being investigated. engine in the rear. The increase in crew train under control and it derailed on a to implement union-supported safety “We need to educate, organize, and size and increase in trains will provide curve ahead of a bridge over the Kick- measures, rail workers are put in in- mobilize the union, to explain that there much needed jobs for thousands in hard- ing Horse River. The crew in the lead creasingly dangerous conditions as is no solution for a safe workplace ex- hit working-class communities across locomotive was killed when the engine bosses seek to maximize their profits. cept what I was taught on the job by fel- North America,” he said. hit the ground and went into the river With layoffs and speedup over the last in sub-zero temperatures. Only 13 cars couple of years, 3,000 engineers and and the tail-end locomotive remained conductors now do the work previ- School workers in Carolinas rally on the tracks. Investigators from the ously done by 4,300 workers at Cana- Canadian Transportation Safety Board dian Pacific. The bosses are pushing to indicated April 19 that it was shoddy in- cut crews down to one, and some even for pay raise, better conditions spection and maintenance by rail bosses to none, run by remote control opera- BY SAM MANUEL popularly known to her students and that was responsible. tion from miles away. The Teamsters RALEIGH, N.C. — Thousands of parents, told the Militant. A school The safety board investigators report- says the training for new engineers has public school teachers and their sup- bus driver, her workday begins at 5:30 ed the previous crew had parked the train been cut in half to just three months. porters — among them school bus a.m. and doesn’t end until all her 75 to after it began to speed up and applying Canadian Pacific bosses, for their drivers, cafeteria workers, teach- 80 students have been safely dropped the brakes didn’t control it. They put the part, crowed that April was a record- ers’ aides, students and parents — off, sometimes as late as 6 p.m. locomotive into emergency, stopping it setting month, hauling 2.64 million marched here May 1 for the second Because of low pay and long hours, on the 2.2% grade and left the air brakes metric tons of grain and grain products. year in a row to demand increased several school districts across the applied. But the brakes slowly lost their And, they had the nerve to brag, it was funding for schools. Thousands more state face a shortage of bus drivers. grip on the train. the best April in their history, with train marched and rallied the same day in “The teachers deserve more money The relief crew was only on the train length averaging 7,576 feet and train Columbia, South Carolina. and we need more funding in gener- for 10 minutes when it started to roll. weight 9,356 tons. “We came with three busloads from al,” she said. “The buses need better The Transportation Safety Board took These longer, heavier trains are a Gilford County,” Miss J, as she is maintenance, the children need after- school programs — and that’s why I am here. They should be the priority.” 25, 50, and 75 years ago “We were able to come because school bus drivers took the day off,” and they had to close the schools, said Kathryn Jackson, a teacher’s aide in Alamance-Burlington school district. “Teachers’ aides play an important May 23, 1994 May 23, 1969 May 20, 1944 part in the classrooms. In some there DES MOINES, Iowa — In an im- Three sailors from the USS Boston Sixty-five merchant and naval sea- are too many students for the teach- portant victory for abortion rights, held a press conference May 9 to re- men lost their lives last week in the ers and that’s where we come in.” a Polk County jury took less than an port on the condition of the cruiser, sudden and tragic breakup of the Lib- Pointing to the rally, she said, “Just hour on April 26 to acquit Dr. Herbert which is scheduled to leave Boston erty ship S.S. John Straub while in as we’re together in the classroom, we Remer of assault charges. David Shed- Navy Yard soon for service in coast Alaska waters. This latest breakup have to be together in this fight.” lock, a local leader of the right-wing bombardment of Vietnam. follows by a few weeks a similar ac- Unlike in West Virginia last year, antiabortion outfit Operation Rescue, The sailors maintain that the ship is cident on the S.S. Joseph Gaines in where teachers and other school work- had falsely claimed that Remer at- unfit to go to sea without causing un- which ten merchant seamen gave up ers coupled rallies in the state Capitol tacked him on September 4. necessary danger to the crew. The Bos- their lives. These two cases are only with strike action that won broad sup- Remer, a doctor who provides abor- ton was built early in World War II, and the latest in a number of such acci- port and forced gains from reluctant tion services in central Iowa, was ar- most of its equipment has not been re- dents which have taken place since state governments, organizers of this rested and charged with “assault causing placed since. The most serious problems the Liberty ships were first launched. march made lobbying state legislators injury” for defending himself against are a cracked rudder, an emergency die- A public hearing revealed that de- and getting out the vote the central Shedlock. The doctor was attempting sel generator that leaks carbon monox- fective plates were furnished by the theme of the action. to photograph Operation Rescue picket- ide, and fuel tanks which leak fuel. Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation, ers outside his clinic when Shedlock hit The case of the Boston points out an that the ship design was faulty and him on the wrist with a sign. Remer then aspect of the war that is sometimes for- the production methods questionable. Subscribe, struck Shedlock back in self-defense. gotten: the complete disregard for the Despite these revelations, the inves- contribute to the Remer’s victory was aided by a series lives of even their own men shown by tigation was quietly dropped. Since of actions organized to protest his arrest the military brass and the U.S. govern- then one Liberty ship after another has ‘Militant’ online at and to mobilize support for safe, legal, ment while they continue their criminal cracked open, with a number of them themilitant.com and accessible abortion. invasion of Vietnam. completely coming apart.

The Militant May 20, 2019 5 Sankara’s revolutionary legacy Demand US hands off Venezuela! US hands off Cuba! discussed at New York forum Continued from front page posed with a naval on behalf of “the Venezuelan people” blockade, which would Example of 1983-87 Burkina Faso Revolution can be refuted. Many will be won to be the equivalent of an joining actions aimed at staying the act of war,” Studer said. hands of the U.S. rulers. “At the moment these by brian williams led helped create conditions for wom- On May 5, just days after the April are threats, but we have NEW YORK — “No matter where en to advance the fight for their rights.” 30 U.S.-backed coup attempt in Ven- a responsibility to mobi- we live, Europe, Africa, even here in Peter Thierjung, a member of the So- ezuela by pro-imperialist opposition lize opposition to them the United States, we have the same cialist Workers Party, said the African figure Juan Guaidó failed, Secretary becoming actions by common enemy — the imperialist continent is in turmoil, from Algeria, of State Mike Pompeo reiterated that Washington.” system,” said Arouna Saniwidi, who where millions in the streets forced the Washington had “a set of options that Washington has al- chaired a panel sponsored by and held president to resign, to Ethiopia, Sudan, would involve use of U.S. military” in ready imposed a se- at the People’s Forum here May 5. The and beyond. It’s a different continent Venezuela. Washington seeks ways to ries of new sanctions topic was “Thomas Sankara’s Revo- than at Sankara’s time, he said, “but use the deepening political and social against the Cuban Rev- lutionary Legacy.” Sankara was the the fundamental problems remain.” crisis facing working people there to olution, he said, and, for leader of the 1983-87 revolution in the An example, Thierjung said, is oust the government of President Nico- the first time, invoked West African country of Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso itself, where in 2014 lás Maduro and impose a regime more Title III of the Helms- a former French colony. massive protests succeeded in ousting pliant to the interests of the U.S. rulers. Burton Act, which al- Militant photos: Above, Naomi Craine; inset, Mary Martin “Sankara was fighting for our dig- its ruler, Blaise Compaore. In 1987, But U.S. military intervention is op- lows for U.S. individu- nity, for our people to be able to de- he organized the coup that destroyed Protests demand “U.S. hands off Venezuela! posed even by many in Venezuela who als and corporations to Hands off Cuba!” Above, picket at Federal Build- cide our future” amid the destruction the revolutionary government led by do not support Maduro, Studer noted. sue companies world- ing in Chicago, organized by Chicago Cuba Coali- wrought by colonialism, said Saniwidi, Thomas Sankara and assassinated He pointed to President Donald wide that make use of tion, ALBA Solidarity, May 6. Inset, Henry Denni- a leader in New York of the Burkinabe him. Today Compaore is gone, “the Trump’s threat to impose a “full and properties nationalized son, Socialist Workers Party candidate for Seattle organization Le Balai Citoyen. “San- face has changed, but not the regime.” City Council, speaks to 30 people at protest at complete embargo” of Cuba, which in the revolution. Henry Jackson Federal Building, Seattle, May 7. kara said we don’t need the help of the Sankara’s political leadership re- Militant/Mike Shur would be an escalation of the U.S. Top, panel on revolutionary political legacy of Thomas Sankara at People’s Forum May 5 in New York. colonialists, who give us $1 today to mains an example not just in Africa but rulers’ decadeslong efforts — carried Rulers’ extension of assaults at home the U.S. was launched in 1919, in- Today Washington demands the Cu- pick up $2 tomorrow.” in the U.S., where there is also turmoil At podium, Manolo de los Santos, executive director of People’s Forum, welcomed everyone. From left, Arouna Saniwidi, leader of Burkinabe organization Le Balai Citoyen; Peter Thierjung, Socialist Workers out by both Democratic and Republi- “Washington’s threat to the sover- spired by the Bolshevik Revolution in ban government withdraw the 20,000 Some 65 people attended, includ- due to unrelenting attacks on work- Party; and Asha Samad-Matias, professor at City College of New York. Bottom, audience at the meeting. can administrations — to overturn the eignty of these two Latin American Russia led by V.I. Lenin, and the Bol- Cubans currently in Venezuela. It false- ing Burkinabe living in New York, ing people. These include assaults on socialist revolution made by Cuba’s nations is an extension of the assaults shevik Party’s fight for a revolution- ly claims the internationalist volunteers students, Uber drivers, members of workers — including immigrants from sian] revolution of October 1917,” to vance their own ambitions or advance workers and farmers. U.S. bosses are carrying out against ary working-class program against there — who are overwhelmingly medi- workers organizations, and some Burkina Faso, Mali, Bangladesh, East- more recent revolutions in Cuba, Gre- self-serving political schemes. “A full embargo could only be im- the wages, working conditions and the degeneration and betrayal of the cal personnel, teachers, and sports and hearing about Sankara for the first ern Europe, and elsewhere, as well as nada, and elsewhere. The revolution is only worthwhile political rights of working people at old Socialist International. art instructors — are all soldiers. time. Volunteers translated the meet- U.S.-born workers — who are among What marked Sankara above all, if it contributes to improving people’s home,” Studer said. Those parties adapted to their own There is unanimity among the U.S. ing into French. the 100,000 taxi, Uber, Lyft and other Thierjung said, was his confidence lives and control over their destiny, Sankara forum “Every fight working people here capitalist classes and supported the ruling class on policy towards Ven- Manolo de los Santos, executive drivers in New York City. In their com- in the capacities of ordinary people Sankara said. Above all, revolutionar- carry out against U.S. imperialism’s slaughter of millions in the rulers’ inter- ezuela and Cuba, Mary-Alice Waters, Continued from page 6 director of the People’s Forum, wel- petition for profits, he said, these com- to transform themselves and all of ies are those who are loyal to the in- violation of the sovereignty of other ests in the first imperialist World War. a leader of the SWP, told the meeting. understood the course of the revolu- comed everyone. We’re here to talk panies pit drivers against each other. society in the course of a revolution- terests of working people — the most countries is a step towards us acting The SWP “stands for the immediate “Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tion and that it had to be carried out by about Sankara’s “relevancy for the 21st ary struggle. self-sacrificing and determined in ad- independently of the bosses and their and unhampered right of self-deter- and Bernie Sanders don’t want to touch Sankara an example for the U.S. a convinced people, not a conquered century,” he said. “Sankara was a revo- In a country where more than 80 vancing those interests. political parties. It points to the rulers mination” for all the “territories, colo- this question. But among working peo- people,” she said. lutionary, a communist, who provides “Just think about what could be percent of the population are peas- Thierjung said that Sankara was as the source of the problems we face nies, and dependencies of the U.S. and ple broad support can be won for oppos- “This is an important lesson here in an example for Africa and beyond.” done if these workers came together ants, Sankara led the revolutionary adamant that the revolution could and strengthens working-class unity. for the withdrawal of all troops from ing Washington’s intervention.” the U.S. where the decisive struggle De los Santos encouraged people to in one union that fought for all driv- government to implement a land re- not be imposed on the masses. “The “No war or other intervention by the them,” Studer said, quoting the SWP’s One participant asked Studer about will be fought,” said Waters. Not until stop by a Pathfinder books table at the ers,” Thierjung said. “That would be form and organized farmers to boost democratic and popular revolution U.S. imperialists has ever advanced 1938 Declaration of Principles. the impact of the widespread shortages U.S. imperialism is defeated by a revo- event. “It’s an honor to collaborate” like Sankara’s course under condi- Burkina Faso’s food self-sufficiency. needs a convinced people, not a con- the interests of working people any- A couple of meeting participants of medicine and food in Venezuela. lutionary struggle of working people with those who promote Pathfinder tions here in New York City.” It launched a vaccination campaign quered people — a convinced people, where. Not in Syria, Iraq, Afghani- had just returned from joining hun- Working people there need the time “will any of us, anywhere in the world, books by Sankara, Malcolm X, and As a young man Sankara was sent to combat measles, yellow fever and not a submissive people passively en- stan, Korea, Vietnam, not anywhere,” dreds of thousands of working people and space free of imperialist interven- have a secure future going forward.” Cuban revolutionaries, he said. for military training to Madagascar, meningitis that reached 2.5 million during their fate,” Sankara said in a he added. celebrating International Workers Day tion “to build the leadership they re- In response to comments from the Panelist Asha Samad-Matias, a pro- where a 1972 uprising toppled an children within a matter of weeks, 1987 speech. He pointed out that the SWP’s op- at demonstrations in Havana and other quire to advance their struggles, under floor about current U.S. government fessor at City College of New York, de- unpopular regime. That experience, something the World Health Organiza- He was determined to build a new position to U.S. imperialist interven- Cuban cities, May 1. They said that the difficult conditions confronting intervention in Venezuela, Thierjung scribed meeting Sankara when he ad- Thierjung said, had a deep impact on tion said was impossible. political party to help guarantee the tion in the colonial and semicolonial many Cubans at these actions took the them,” he explained. Fighting to keep urged everyone to speak out against dressed the United Nations and spoke Sankara. He met students there who Construction projects were future of the revolution, Thierjung world is rooted in the continuity of the opportunity to voice their opposition to Washington off the backs of the people Washington’s attacks on Venezuelan at City College in October 1984. “He had been part of the 1968 prerevolu- launched to build irrigation dams, said. It wouldn’t be a vote catching, communist movement dating back Trump’s recent steps to tighten Wash- of Venezuela “is the solidarity we offer national sovereignty and its threats was a young leader they could not buy tionary upsurge in France. He was in- dig wells for drinking water, and electoral machine, but an organiza- 100 years. The Communist Party in ington’s punishing embargo of Cuba. to fellow working people there.” off. A leader who could just sit and talk troduced to the writings of Karl Marx build schools and housing. Workers tion of vanguard fighters proving their against Cuba. “There should be pick- to anyone,” she said. and V.I. Lenin. were mobilized to build roads and a capacities in practice to advance the ets, teach-ins and other actions de- The book Women’s Liberation and Sankara did not reject Marxism as railway tying together toilers from revolution — those who were win- manding U.S. hands off Venezuela. the African Freedom Struggle con- a set of “European ideas,” alien to the one end of the country to the other. ning the confidence of ordinary peo- U.S. hands off Cuba!” he said. New Florida law restricts ex-felons voting rights victory taining Sankara’s March 1987 Inter- freedom struggle in Africa, but saw All this was done by the solidarity ple in struggle. After the program, many took up de B Y CINDY JAQUITH tion, adopted by referendum, restored sentences by the cops and prosecu- national Women’s Day speech is “re- them as necessary to forging a road and voluntary labor of the Burkinabe That remains the task today in los Santos’ suggestion to visit the book MIAMI — In a blow to the rights voting rights to more than 1 million tors to accept a plea “bargain.” When markable,” Samad said. “Sankara said forward. “We wish to be the heirs of all people, Thierjung said. Africa, in the U.S., and worldwide, table. Nineteen books were sold includ- of working people, the Florida leg- people who have completed their sen- they emerge from prison they face women have to demand, and mobilize the world’s revolutions,” he said, from “The most important thing for us,” Thierjung said. He encouraged ev- ing six Thomas Sankara Speaks and islature adopted a bill May 3 that tences, probation and parole. pervasive job discrimination, mak- with others, to get their needs. The the American and French revolutions Sankara said in a 1985 interview, “is eryone to read and study Sankara’s four other Pathfinder titles by Sankara. would undermine the victory won last The new bill that’s headed to the ing it more difficult to pay off fees, democratic and popular revolution he of the late 1700s, to “the great [Rus- the transformation of people’s atti- speeches, to learn the lessons of the The program can be watched on November when over 64% voted to desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis seeks to fines, or restitution. tudes… Never again will the wealth 1983-87 revolution. YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/ grant most ex-felons the right to vote. restrict those rights. It says ex-felons “This bill is just another way the of our country belong to a minority. During the discussion, one partici- watch?v=pXmpcc0JMhw. Amendment 4 to the state constitu- must first pay off all court costs and capitalist rulers are attempting to cur- Further Reading from Pathfinder It belongs to the majority, a majority pant said he hoped to see “more San- restitution unless they can find a judge tail the political rights of the work- that speaks its mind.” Ending “the karas in my lifetime,” and to be able to willing to waive these payments. Fel- ing class,” Anthony Dutrow, Socialist myth of getting rich through a dog- prevent them from being assassinated. Now available ons wouldn’t be able to vote even if Workers Party candidate for Miami Books by Thomas Sankara eat-dog struggle” is central to the rev- Mary-Alice Waters, a Socialist they have a court-ordered agreement City Commission, told the press May Thomas Sankara Speaks olution’s goals, he said in a speech on Workers Party leader, said there is nev- Tribunes of the People to pay off their debt month by month. 6. “They hate the fact that the work- The Burkina Faso Revolution, its fourth anniversary. er any guarantee revolutionary leaders “That’s not what the people voted ers of this state voted last November 1983-1987 won’t be killed. “How many times and the Trade Unions for,” Patrick Penn, who had been im- to reject the dehumanization of our In English and French. $24 Sankara’s final political fight did they try to kill Fidel Castro in the prisoned for 15 years on robbery and sisters and brothers caught up in the In the last months of his life, Thi- mountains during the revolutionary A tribune of the people uses every burglary charges, told the New York so-called capitalist criminal ‘justice’ We Are Heirs of the World’s erjung said, Sankara began “a public Times. “Basically, they’re telling you, system. We support the right of all Revolutions struggle in Cuba, to say nothing of the manifestation of capitalist oppression In English, French, Spanish, Farsi. $10 political fight to keep the revolution on 600 times the CIA tried to assassinate to explain why it’s workers and our ‘If you have money, you can vote. If present and former felons to vote. track” in face of forces in the National him after the 1959 victory?” she said. allies who can and will — in the you don’t have money, you can’t.’” “The capitalist rulers increasingly Women’s Liberation and the Council of the Revolution seeking to The key lesson, Waters said, is that Desmond Meade, president of the fear that working people are fed up course of struggles by the unions and African Freedom Struggle reverse its course. “He knew this could “you have to be building the party be- Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, with the carnage the crisis of their In English, French, Spanish, Farsi. $8 beyond — lay the foundations for cost him his life. He was not naïve.” forehand,” to win the cadres needed says hundreds of thousands of ex-felons capitalist system is inflicting on us, a world based not on violence and Also recommended: The revolution faced counterrevolu- to lead fellow working people when who’ve served their time will be denied and will begin to fight back,” he said. tionary pressures of both French and revolutionary openings occur. San- competition but on solidarity among the franchise if DeSantis signs the bill. “They are looking to restrict our right Capitalism and the Transformation of Africa U.S. imperialism. They stoked divi- kara was working “to build a political working people worldwide. by Mary-Alice Waters and Martín Koppel Over 90 percent of those who go to to vote and find other ways to weak- In English, Spanish, Farsi. $10 sions within the leadership and ranks, party, to bring together the forces that $8 prison never have a trial. Instead they en our political rights. We join in the www.pathfinderpress.com some of whom were seeking to ad- Continued on page 7 www.pathfinderpress.com are pressured by threats of draconian fight to overturn this bill.”

6 The Militant May 20, 2019 The Militant May 20, 2019 7 ‘Proletarians have a world to win. Workers of all countries unite!’ The selection this week for Books of All property relations in the past the Month is The Communist Mani- have continually been subject to his- festo in its Spanish edition. Written by torical change consequent upon the Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, this change in historical conditions. political pamphlet boldly announced The French Revolution, for example, to the world the founding of an inter- abolished feudal property in favor of national communist workers move- bourgeois property. ment just before revolutions broke The distinguishing feature of com- out across Europe in 1848. In these munism is not the abolition of proper- excerpts, they explain the relation- ty generally, but the abolition of bour- ship of communists to the working- geois property. But modern bourgeois class movement and its history. In his private property is the final and most introduction to the new Pathfinder complete expression of the system of title, Tribunes of the People and the producing and appropriating prod- Trade Unions, Jack Barnes, national ucts, that is based on class antago- secretary of the Socialist Workers nisms, on the exploitation of the many Party, draws on two of the central by the few. … points in the piece below. Copyright © 1992 by Pathfinder Press. Reprint- The communists fight for the at- ed by permission. tainment of the immediate aims, for Ye. Sapiro the enforcement of the momentary Painting shows Karl Marx, left, and Frederick Engels, center, reviewing Neue Rheinische interests of the working class; but in Books of Zeitung, the newspaper they edited during 1848 revolution in Germany, after it was printed. the movement of the present, they also bent strata of official society being countries, they point out and bring to represent and take care of the future of sprung into the air. the front the common interests of the that movement. … the month Though not in substance, yet in form, entire proletariat, independently of all The communists turn their atten- the struggle of the proletariat with the nationality. (2) In the various stages of tion chiefly to Germany, because that by Karl Marx bourgeoisie is at first a national struggle. development which the struggle of the country is on the eve of a bourgeois and Frederick Engels The proletariat of each country must, of working class against the bourgeoisie revolution that is bound to be carried All previous historical movements course, first of all settle matters with its has to pass through, they always and out under more advanced conditions were movements of minorities, or in own bourgeoisie. … everywhere represent the interests of of European civilization, and with the interest of minorities. The pro- The essential condition for the ex- the movement as a whole. a much more developed proletariat, letarian movement is the self-con- istence and for the sway of the bour- The communists, therefore, are on than that of England was in the seven- scious, independent movement of the geois class, is the formation and aug- the one hand, practically, the most teenth and of France in the eighteenth immense majority, in the interests of mentation of capital; the condition for advanced and resolute section of the century, and because the bourgeois the immense majority. The proletari- capital is wage labor. Wage labor rests working-class parties of every coun- revolution in Germany will be but the at, the lowest stratum of our present exclusively on competition between try, that section which pushes forward prelude to an immediately following society, cannot stir, cannot raise itself the laborers. The advance of indus- all others; on the other hand, theoreti- proletarian revolution. up, without the whole superincum- try, whose involuntary promoter is cally, they have over the great mass of In short, the communists every- the bourgeoisie, replaces the isolation the proletariat the advantage of clearly where support every revolutionary of the laborers, due to competition, by understanding the line of march, the movement against the existing social Books their revolutionary combination, due conditions, and the ultimate general and political order of things. May to association. The development of results of the proletarian movement. In all these movements they bring of the Month modern industry, therefore, cuts from The immediate aim of the commu- to the front, as the leading question in under its feet the very foundation on nists is the same as that of all the other each, the property question, no mat- PATHFINDER which the bourgeoisie produces and proletarian parties: formation of the ter what its degree of development at READERS CLUB 25% appropriates products. What the bour- proletariat into a class, overthrow of discount the time. SPECIALS geoisie, therefore, produces, above all, the bourgeois supremacy, conquest of Finally, they labor everywhere for El Manifiesto is its own gravediggers. Its fall and the political power by the proletariat. victory of the proletariat are equally The theoretical conclusions of the the union and agreement of the demo- Comunista cratic parties of all countries. The Communist Manifesto inevitable. … communists are in no way based on The historic program of the first [Communists] have no interests sep- ideas or principles that have been in- The communists disdain to conceal international communist workers arate and apart from those of the prole- vented, or discovered, by this or that their views and aims. They openly de- organization by its founding clare that their ends can be attained leaders. tariat as a whole. would-be universal reformer. by Karl Marx and They do not set up any sectarian prin- They merely express, in general only by the forcible overthrow of all Frederick Engels ciples of their own, by which to shape terms, actual relations springing from existing social conditions. Let the rul- $5. Special price: $3.75 and mold the proletarian movement. an existing class struggle, from a his- ing classes tremble at a communistic Che Guevara: Economics and The communists are distinguished torical movement going on under our revolution. The proletarians have noth- Politics in the Transition to from the other working-class parties very eyes. The abolition of existing ing to lose but their chains. They have Socialism by this only: (1) In the national strug- property relations is not at all a distinc- a world to win. by Carlos Tablada gles of the proletarians of the different tive feature of communism. Workingmen of all countries, unite! $21. Special price: $15.75 How Far We Slaves Have Come! South Africa and Cuba in Today’s World if you like this paper, look us up by Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro Where to find distributors of the NEBRASKA: Lincoln: P.O. Box 6811. AUSTRALIA $10. Special price: $7.50 Militant, New International, and a full Zip: 68506. Tel: (402) 217-4906. Email: Sydney: Suite 22, 10 Bridge St., display of Pathfinder books. [email protected] Granville, NSW 2142. Tel: (02) 8677 0108. The Long View of History Email: [email protected] by George Novack UNITED STATES NEW JERSEY: P.O. Box 308. Union Provides the scientific and historical CALIFORNIA: Oakland: 675 City. Zip: 07087. Tel: (551) 257-5753. CANADA materialist foundations of why Hegenberger Road, Suite 250. Zip: 94621. [email protected] QUEBEC: Montreal: 7107 St. Denis Tel: (510) 686-1351. Email: swpoak revolutionary change is fundamental NEW YORK: New York: 306 W. 37th St., #204 H2S 2S5. Tel: (514) 272-5840. Email: @sbcglobal.net Los Angeles: 2826 S. to social and cultural progress. 13th Floor. Zip: 10018. Tel: (646) 434-8117. [email protected] $7. Special price: $5.25 Vermont. Suite 1. Zip: 90007. Tel: (323) 643-4968. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Albany: P.O. Box 8304. Zip: 12208. Tel: (518) 810- FRANCE My Life FLORIDA: Miami: P.O. Box 380641 1586. Email: [email protected] Paris: BP 10130, 75723 Paris Cedex 15. An Attempt at an Autobiography Zip: 33238. Tel: (305) 420-5928. Email: Email: [email protected] by Leon Trotsky [email protected] PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 2824 $35. Special price: $26.25 GEORGIA: Atlanta: 777 Cleveland Cottman Ave., Suite 16. Zip: 19149. Tel: (215) NEW ZEALAND Ave. SW Suite 103. Zip: 30315. Tel: (678) 708-1270. Email: [email protected] Auckland: 188a Onehunga Mall, An Introduction to Marxist 528-7828. Email: [email protected] Onehunga. Postal address: P.O. Box 13857, Economic Theory TEXAS: Dallas: P.O. Box 210524 Zip: Auckland 1643. Tel: (09) 636-3231. Email: ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1858 W. Cermak by Ernest Mandel 75211. Tel: (469) 513-1051. Email: dallasswp@ [email protected] Road, 2nd floor. Zip: 60608. Tel: (312) 455- $11. Special price: $8.25 gmail.com 0111. Email: [email protected] UNITED KINGDOM Join Pathfinder Readers Club WASHINGTON, D.C.: 7603 KENTUCKY: Louisville: P.O. Box Georgia Ave. NW, Suite 300. Zip: ENGLAND: London: 5 Norman Road for $10 and receive 21434. Zip: 40221. Tel: (502) 208-9171. 20012. Tel: (202) 536-5080. Email: (first floor). Seven Sisters. Post code: N15 discounts all year long Email: [email protected] [email protected] 4ND. Tel: Tel: 020-3538 8900. Email: Order online at MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 1821 [email protected] Manchester: Unit www.pathfinderpress.com University Ave. W Suite S-106A. Zip: WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier 9, Progress Centre, Charlton Place. Post Offer good until May 31 55104. Tel: (651) 340-5586. Email: Ave. South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) 323- code: M12 6HS. Tel: (0161) 258-2569. [email protected] 1755. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

8 The Militant May 20, 2019 Editorial Prison bans ‘Militant’ Continued from front page Fight Fla. prison censorship of ‘Militant’ For all three issues, prison officials claimed that ar- ticles in the paper could encourage “physical violence Prisons in the United States are a brutal microcosm “I could have let the prison culture consume me,” or group disruption” or otherwise present a “threat of capitalist society as a whole — with its ruthless ex- Woodfox said in an April 25 phone interview with the to the security, good order, or discipline” of the cor- ploitation of our labor, restrictions on our rights and Militant. “Instead, I was determined to be a better hu- rectional system. armed cops and solitary confinement. These are all in- man being. To fight with strength and determination The Militant is asking supporters of free speech, tended to undermine the confidence and sense of self- for a better cause.” freedom of the press and the political rights of inmates worth of working people who end up there. The prisoners who have filed appeals against the to send letters to the Literature Review Committee “In the United States imprisonment is a way of bans on the Militant, and those who have written us to urging them to overturn all the impoundments. dehumanizing a human being,” explains Ramón La- make sure we know they have done so, are like Wood- The April 15 issue was censored because of a fea- bañino, one of five Cuban revolutionaries who were fox. They’re acting to defend the rights and dignity of ture article on Albert Woodfox, who spent nearly 44 imprisoned in the U.S. for some 15 years on frame-up all workers behind bars. years in solitary confinement on frame-up charges in charges. “You’re up against a system.” The Militant does all it can to combat that dehuman- the notorious Angola, Louisiana, penitentiary. Wood- All the talk about prisoners “paying their debt” to ization. That’s why the officials censor us. fox is on a speaking tour, introducing his new book society, or claims that prisons are aimed at “rehabilita- Prisoners are fellow workers behind bars and we Solitary: Unbroken by Four Decades in Solitary Con- tion” is a lie — to cover up their real purpose: to put bring to them the world. We defend the constitutional finement and campaigning against prison abuse. working people in our place. They truly wish no one right of the Militant to have subscribers in prison, and Several prisoners wrote the Militant to make sure would ever be able to know the conditions they impose prisoners’ right to read material of their own choosing, the paper knew about the bans. “They think it’s OK to on human beings in prison. to think — and act — for themselves. beat and mistreat us,” one prisoner wrote, “but it’s not It’s why over 90% of those in prison got there by Tens of millions of working people in the U.S. have OK for us to read about it.” being pressured to sign “plea bargains” instead of ex- been imprisoned or know people who have been. They The Militant May 7 filed its appeal against the ban ercising their constitutional right to a trial by a jury of know the savagery of the U.S. “justice” system. on the April 15 issue and is preparing its challenge to their peers. It’s why the state government in Florida We have successfully overturned many of the jail- the censorship of the April 29 issue. is trying to undermine the victory won by working ers’ attempts to censor the Militant across the country, Benjamin Stevenson from the American Civil Lib- people in their vote to amend the state constitution to and backed efforts by other publications to do like- erties Union in Florida sent a letter May 6 calling on restore voting rights to ex-felons. wise. Doing so takes the solidarity and support of all Florida officials to overturn the ban. And it’s what’s behind Florida prison authorities all those who defend the democratic and political rights of too frequent attempts to ban issues of the Militant. workers behind bars. Ban ‘violates the First Amendment’ The ban on the issue with an article on the tour It’s in the interests of the whole working class! In his appeal of the ban of the April 15 issue, the of Albert Woodfox, who spent nearly 44 years in You can help. Get your co-workers to sign a letter to Militant’s attorney, David Goldstein, notes that Wood- solitary confinement, is a good example. Absolutely Florida officials calling them to reverse the bans. Get fox and his new book have received wide coverage in nothing about his new book Solitary, his tour, or his statements from your union, church group, commu- “prominent mainstream media,” including the New call to end abusive conditions behind bars is a call to nity organization, tenant association and others who York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Na- violence. To the contrary. can be won to this fight. tional Geographic Television and Time magazine. The ban on the paper “violates the First Amend- ment,” Goldstein said, adding that the Department of Corrections cannot “ban the Militant because some UK moves to scuttle EU break angers workers officials disagree with the viewpoints expressed in these articles.” He adds that “nothing in the article so Continued from front page with the Liberal Democrats and sections of the Labour much as hints at any current prisoner taking any action Howie on their doorstep in Llandeilo in rural South Party, promotes a “Peoples Vote,” a new referendum whatsoever that could rationally be deemed as violent Wales. “They should have left the day after the ref- to force working people to keep voting on Brexit until or presenting a threat to prison security, good order, erendum vote three years ago,” Trudi said. “What’s they vote to remain in. discipline, or the safety of any person in any manner.” there to discuss? I wonder if Brexit will ever happen.” “The Conservative, Labour, Brexit and other parties It’s not clear what article in the April 29 paper per- Working people in Llandeilo have been hit by the all advance what they consider best for ‘Britain’ — by turbed prison officials. The reason given for the im- same crisis of capitalism coming down on millions which they mean the British capitalist class,” Andrés poundment only refers to “Pages 1, 5,” not any specific across the U.K. Many see breaking out of the EU as Mendoza, Communist League candidate for the East article, saying the pages “Displicts[sic] protest contin- one step toward easing their burden. of England constituency in the European parliamen- ue in fight,” and on page 9, “racism.” “It’s the same in Tumble where I live,” said driver tary elections, said May 4. “The CL program starts The front page includes articles on protests in Su- Michael Jones as he was picking up workers at the and finishes with what’s in the interest of the work- dan, the debate over abortion rights in Texas, a strike Dunbia meat plant in nearby Cross Hands. “My father ing class in the U.K. and internationally. We stand for by 31,000 workers at Stop & Shop in New England, worked for Corus, the steel manufacturer. The steel in- ‘Out Now!’ from the EU bloc as a way to focus and the Cuban Revolution and the fight against racism, the dustry has been devastated. Gone are the wages, con- strengthen the struggles of the working classes against demand for amnesty for immigrants and an article on ditions and pension packages he got. People are work- the British bosses, their state and parties. The proper- a successful fight against a Washington state ban on ing at minimum wage. Most of the workers are from tied rulers in the U.K. are workers’ central adversary.” prisoners getting used books. Poland. Credit to them for looking for work. I’ve noth- The Militant has been getting to readers behind bars ing against them — it’s the conditions I’m against.” Crisis fuels centrifugal forces in U.K. for decades and currently has 131 readers in 69 prisons Anger among working people led to an electoral Continued support for getting out of the EU among in 22 states. The number is growing, as 22 prisoners drubbing for both the Conservative and Labour par- working people is fueling pressure in Scotland for a have subscribed during the paper’s efforts to boost its ties in local elections across England May 2. second independence referendum. The Brexit vote in readership this spring. The Conservatives lost 1,300 council seats. With Scotland saw a two-thirds majority in favor of remain- The Militant offers lower-price or complimentary a hemorrhaging of the party’s former working-class ing in the EU. Scottish National Party leader Nicola subscriptions to those in prison who request them. support, the Labour Party lost 80 seats. Sturgeon has spoken in support of a new Scottish “We are fighting not just for the rights of the Mili- These losses deepen the government crisis, with independence vote if the U.K. quits the EU. But this tant,” the socialist newsweekly’s editor John Studer daily calls for May’s resignation. would require the agreement of the government in said May 7. “But for the rights of all those in prison to The Conservative Party, and to a lesser degree La- London. Separation was defeated in 2014 by 55-45%. read material of their choosing, to broaden their hori- bour, face continuing humiliation in elections for the Theresa May and Ireland Prime Minister Leo zons, to think for themselves, to be part of the discus- European parliament that’s now set for May 23. Varadkar took advantage of the April 18 killing in sions and activities of the working class worldwide. The two largest rulers’ parties are in negotiations Derry of journalist Lyra McKee by the “New IRA” “We need the help of our readers and all those over Brexit. Leaders of both favor staying in the EU to announce talks. London and Dublin seek to avoid who stand against the attempts by prison authorities and are engaged in talks over “Brexit-in-name-only” a “hard border” between North and South. This is to break the spirit of our brothers and sisters behind — formally leaving the EU while maintaining mem- what would happen if the U.K. — which includes bars,” Studer said. bership in most of its trade and other relationships — a the North — formally left the EU, while the South deal they hope could win a parliamentary vote. remains a member. The ongoing political crisis is spawning new par- They hope to reconstitute the “devolved” Northern Join fight against prison ties. Nigel Farage, formerly the leader of the UK Inde- Ireland government, which was formed in 1999 after censorship! pendence Party, left it because of the more right-wing, London transferred control over local affairs to it. This Get out the word: Print and distribute Militant anti-Muslim axis of its new leader, Gerard Batten. government hasn’t met for two years due to sharp fric- articles on this fight. Farage is now leader of the recently launched Brexit tions between the two central parties there, Sinn Fein Get support statements from co-workers, Party. He is seeking to win frustrated former Labour and the Democratic Unionist Party. unions, churches and defenders of political and Conservative voters and his party is now expected Britain’s rulers are determined to maintain a Unit- rights. Email to: Dean Peterson, Literature Re- to get the biggest vote May 23. ed Kingdom, a vestige of their previous dominance, view Committee, [email protected] On the flip side of the debate is Change UK, a party to offset their declining world role. The threat to the ida.com. Send copy to [email protected] launched by the so-called Independent Group, a new Union from Ireland’s growing economic interconnec- Send checks to the Militant, 306 W. 37th St., 13th formation of resigned Members of Parliament from tion, North and South, and with rival EU capitalist in- floor, New York, NY 10018, for “Prisoners Rights both Labour and the Conservatives. It says it is “the terests feeds these governments’ refusal to cut London Fight.” Or contribute online at themilitant.com center ground of British politics.” Change UK, along any slack over Brexit. The Militant May 20, 2019 9