workers.org Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! JULY 13, 2006 VOL. 48, NO. 27 50¢ After casting their ballots

•Volviéndose rico con seguridad •Embajador Mexico’s poor vote venezolano a Detroit 12 with their feet REFUSE ILLEGAL Protest right-wing attempt WAR Rallies support to steal election Watada 3 By Teresa Gutierrez The Washington Post reports that a team of lawyers has been gathered, and that it may take months before the results are BULLETIN: As of 9 p.m. EDT on July 5, a recount of the bal- known. But one thing is known. And that is that Mexico is once lots in the Mexican presidential election shows the leftist can- again in the throes of making history. didate, López Obrador, ahead of his opponent by 2 percentage Mexico is at a crossroads, and the presidential election merely MILITARY points, with almost 90 percent of the votes counted. The follow- reflects the tumultuous contradictions that are impacting the ing article was written earlier in the day, when the corporate beleaguered Mexican masses. TRIBUNALS media were claiming victory for Felipe Calderón. The principal question is not so much who won the 2006 elec- They're illegal. What As we go to press, the outcome of Mexico’s July 2 presidential tions—as important as that is—but rather: Which way is Mexico about Guantanamo? 3 election is still unknown. going? How will the dire social conditions of the people of Mexico For now, it is a close tie between Felipe Calderón, candidate be resolved? What role will the left now play in helping to resolve of the right-wing, pro-U.S. National Action Party (PAN)—and these conditions? Andres Manuel López Obrador, candidate of the progressive Will Mexico’s sovereignty continue to be undermined by the Party of Democratic Revolution (PRD). Obrador is commonly United States? referred to as AMLO in Mexico. Can it stand with those leaders on the rise in Latin America VOTING Preliminary results reportedly showed an edge for the PAN, who are also heads of state and whose policies and political per- with 36.38 percent of the vote to Calderón for López Obrador’s suasion toward the left of the political spectrum have rocked RIGHTS 35.34 percent. imperialism to its core? Or will Mexico continue to be held firmly ON HOLD López Obrador has called for a recount, as there are indica- under Washington’s thumb, resulting in an oppressive, neocolo- tions of voter fraud. The PRD has compiled a list of election law nialist and imperialist domination in the 21st century? As discrimination violations and irregularities—including 3 million missing ballots. And most important: What is the underlying sentiment of the flourishes 5 After he made the charge, election officials admitted that “up to Mexican masses? Which way will they go? 3 million votes had not been tallied in the preliminary results.” Will the millions of displaced peasants, brutalized workers, (New York Times, July 5) Continued on page 11 THE COUP Interview with Anti-war activists begin ‘Troops Home Fast’ Boots Riley 6

EAST TIMOR Imperialists force out Alkatiri 9

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EMAIL Cindy Sheehan, Dick Gregory, Daniel commitment to fund a massive coming to D.C. and Crawford or by ADDRESS Ellsberg, former Army Reserves Col. Ann reconstruction effort with funds going to organizing local actions in their own Wright and members of Code Pink, Veter- Iraqi, not U.S., contractors. communities. The Troops Out Now PHONE ans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against The fasters will stay in front of the Coalition is organizing fast activities in the War rallied in Washington, D.C., on White House every day until Aug. 14, New York City and elsewhere. For details CITY/STATE/ZIP July 3 to kick off the Troops Home Fast. when they move the hunger strike to see troopshomefast.org and WORKERS WORLD NEWSPAPER The fasters are demanding the Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas. troopsoutnow.org. 55 W. 17 St. NY, NY 10011 212-627-2994 www.workers.org withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, no Organizers are asking activists across permanent bases in that country, and a the country to join in the fast either by — Story and photo Dustin Langley Page 2 JULY 13, 2006 www.workers.org ‘Michigan is pro-choice— In the U.S. let’s keep it that way!’ ‘Michigan is pro-choice—let’s keep it that way!’ . . . . . 2 High court rebukes Bush on tribunals ...... 3 By Kris Hamel Military resisters get civilian support ...... 3 Detroit ILWU convention denies voice to Black coalition. . . . . 4 On the picket line ...... 4 What do these groups have in com- Will Voting Rights Act be renewed?...... 5 mon: African-American workers at Protest says ‘Free all U.S. political prisoners!’...... 5 reproductive services clinics, unionists Interview with Boots Riley of The Coup...... 6 and labor leaders, Green Party activists, 40 years ago in Chicago, Puerto Ricans rebel...... 6 and organizers against war and injus- Boston communities win HIV emergency funding . . . . 6 tice? Lavender & red, part 68...... 7 In downtown Detroit on June 30, these and other pro-choice advocates ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ ...... 10 came together for a rally in support of reproductive choices for all women. The Around the world demonstrators were mostly young peo- Mexico’s poor vote with their feet ...... 1 ple of many nationalities, with African- James Connolly: Irish socialist and liberation fighter. . 8 American, Latin@, Arab and Asian com- Forum hails Irish freedom struggle ...... 8 munities represented. Israel tries to wipe out elected Palestinians ...... 9 Many workers leaving downtown East Timor: Forced resignation of premier ...... 9 Detroit for the holiday weekend honked their car horns in solidarity as they saw Editorials the Detroit Action Network For Who is the aggressor? ...... 10 Reproductive Rights (DANFORR) ban- An amazing feat ...... 10 ner and the many signs and placards demanding reproductive freedom. Noticias En Español Planned Parenthood organizer Katey Volviéndose rico con seguridad...... 12 Aquilina, who spoke at the rally, passed Embajador venezolano a Detroit...... 12 out pink placards reading, “Stand up for women in South Dakota.” The slogan refers to a new law in that state that would outlaw all abortions except to save a woman’s life. South Dakota pro-choice forces recently succeeded in getting a ref- Workers World erendum on the ballot in the Nov. 7 statewide elections on WW PHOTO: CHERYL LABASH Debbie Johnson, speaking on bullhorn, urges support 55 West 17 Street the validity of the law. Activists there are campaigning vig- for South Dakota women. New York, N.Y. 10011 orously to defeat what is called “Referred Law 6.” Phone: (212) 627-2994 DANFORR organizer Kris Hamel chaired the rally, Fax: (212) 675-7869 declaring, “We are here to take a stand for choice. We are to area women as an excellent provider of a full range of E-mail: [email protected] here in solidarity with the women of South Dakota. And we reproductive services, including abortion. Jackson reiter- Web: www.workers.org are here to say in no uncertain terms that Michigan is a pro- ated how important it is for pro-choice people to take a Vol. 48, No. 27 • July 13, 2006 choice state and we are determined to keep it that way!” stand during these times. Closing date: July 5, 2006 Metro-Detroit Coalition of Labor Union Women Shalece Daniels, administrator of the Women’s President Millie Hall sent a statement to the rally saying, Advisory Center and Sharpe Clinic, fired up the crowd: Editor: Deirdre Griswold “At our CLUW founding conference our slogan was ‘We “South Dakota is a wakeup call! It’s time to organize, time Technical Editor: Lal Roohk are not here to swap recipes.’ We are here to take a stand to take action so this type of law doesn’t go anywhere else. Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, and we mean business. I want you to know that we are on We are on the offensive here today, not the defensive. We Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson the same path—and seeking the same mission. We stand are pro-active and we must encourage everyone we can West Coast Editor: John Parker by you in this endeavor as you bring awareness to a battle to stand up for choice.” we have been waging a long time.” Katey Aquilina of Planned Parenthood got the audience Contributing Editors: Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, DANFORR leader Debbie Johnson, a long-time organ- chanting: “If it is to be, then it is up to me!” Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, Berta izer against all types of injustice, captivated the listeners Wendy Richardson, a clinic escort organizer, urged Joubert-Ceci, Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, with her intensely personal yet highly political comments. involvement at women’s clinics: “Every day women are Minnie Bruce Pratt “Our rights are being aggressively challenged by a war- harassed and intimidated because they make a choice and Technical Staff: Shelley Ettinger, mongering baby-killer of Iraqi babies and children, a pres- try to access legal medical services. Clinics all over the Maggie Vascassenno ident who wages war directly and indirectly around the country are subjected to this treatment, including the ones Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, world while he oversees an aggressive attack on women’s here in our backyard. When escorts are there, the anti- Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Carlos Vargas right to choose. We will not let him succeed! choice protesters are less aggressive and the women Internet: Janet Mayes “We must let our voices be heard in the cities and towns appreciate the support as they make their choices.” and states from sea to shining sea as a constant and vocal Marisol Ybarra, a leader of the Wayne State University Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator challenge to those who would deny women the right of chapter of Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, urged Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published choice. We must raise our voices even louder for those who young people and students to continue to take a stand for weekly except the first week of January by WW are challenged by poverty and unemployment and could choice. Publishers, 55 W. 17 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone: not be here today, whose needs must also be vigorously Funds were collected to send to the South Dakota (212) 627-2994. Subscriptions: One year: $25; foreign protected and defended.” Campaign for Healthy Families and 25 new members of and institutions: $35. Letters to the editor may be Sylvia Innwood, co-chair of the Women’s Caucus of DANFORR were signed up at the rally. The next general condensed and edited. Articles can be freely Green Party USA and Detroit Greens leader, spoke at the membership meeting of DANFORR is July 13 at 6:30 p.m., reprinted, with credit to Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., rally, as did Kimberly Jackson, outreach director of the at 5920 Second Ave. in Detroit. Call 313-378-2369 or con- New York, NY 10011. Back issues and individual arti- Summit Medical Center in Detroit. Summit is well-known tact [email protected] for more information. cles are available on microfilm and/or photocopy from University Microfilms International, 300 Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. A searchable archive JOIN US. 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Box 130322, (585) 436-6458 Washington, DC 20037, (212) 627-2994; (716) 566-1115 Houston, TX 77219 [email protected] [email protected] Fax (212) 675-7869 [email protected] (713) 861-5965 [email protected] [email protected] www.workers.org JULY 13, 2006 Page 3 While Reps & Dems keep war going High court rebukes Bush on tribunals By Greg Butterfield and those who dare to speak up are rav- sified information.” Those charged have 40” real cases among the Guantanamo aged by a “quick response force.” no right to confront their accusers, or even detainees. (French Press Agency) On June 29, in a five to three decision, McConnell, speaking on NBC’s “Meet to be present during much of their trials. There is much speculation that Bush the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the the Press” July 2, warned that invoking (Associated Press, July 3) will take this opportunity to shut down the Bush administration’s use of military tri- Article 3 “means that American service- “We conclude that the military commis- widely known and despised Guantanamo bunals to decide the fate of detainees held men potentially could be accused of war sion convened to try Hamdan lacks power operation, leaving new prisoners to get as “enemy combatants” at the Guanta- crimes,” while Graham, on “Fox News Sun- to proceed because its structure and pro- flushed through the network of secret CIA- namo Bay naval base in Cuba. day,” said “Congress can rein [the court’s cedures violate both the [Uniform Code of operated torture camps spread across Eas- Chief Justice John Roberts, a recent decision] in, and I think we should.” Military Justice] and the Geneva Conven- tern Europe and other parts of the world. Bush appointee, abstained, since he had The White House says all that’s needed tions,” said the court majority’s opinion. What the June 29 Supreme Court rul- ruled for the government side in an earlier to comply with the court ruling is for Bush had claimed the right to set up ing shows above all is that powerful forces detainee case. Congress to pass a law rubber-stamping military tribunals under an emergency law among the big U.S. capitalists feel the Many big-business media outlets Bush’s plan. passed by Congress shortly after the Sept. Bush gang has overstepped its legitimate hailed the “landmark” decision for restor- So-called moderate Republican sena- 11, 2001, attacks. In ruling that this law boundaries as “executive committee of the ing the rule of law, and opponents of war tors like John McCain and Arlen Specter, doesn’t give the president a blank check to ruling class,” as Karl Marx and Frederick and repression were honestly heartened along with leading Democrats, have called do whatever he wishes, the court’s deci- Engels so eloquently described it. by the ruling. But its true impact remains for adjustments that would give the tribu- sion also opens the door to legal challenges More and more, ruling-class pundits to be seen. nal process the cover of capitalist legality, of other measures, such as domestic wire- are saying that Bush’s adventurism has The Supreme Court’s decision in while denying that detainees have the tapping and spying on financial transac- weakened U.S. imperialism’s global posi- “Hamdan v. Rumsfeld” does not mean rights of prisoners of war. tions. (Los Angeles Times, June 30) tion and needs to be brought under control. prisoners at Guantanamo or other U.S. Democratic Sen. Jack Reed told Fox Congress had attempted to nullify At the same time, however, there is no torture camps will be freed. Nor does it News, “[The detainees] are entitled to a Hamdan’s case by passing the Detainee real opposition to the war in Iraq or the guarantee them trials under the U.S. legal process that will establish their guilt, their Treatment Act last Dec. 30. According to “war on terror” from the capitalist politi- system. The decision doesn’t directly culpability, their connections to Al Qaeda.” Marjorie Cohn, president-elect of the cal machines. The real opposition comes address the status of “enemy combatants” Tellingly, his “process” leaves out the National Lawyers Guild, the DTA strips fed- from the grassroots. Bush still gets his way who haven’t been charged with crimes— part that might establish their innocence. eral courts of jurisdiction to hear habeas on the Pentagon budget (including a as the vast majority have not. And of course it doesn’t allow any ques- corpus petitions filed by Guantanamo unanimous vote in the Senate), extension Still, the decision was welcomed as an tioning of U.S. imperialism’s right to detainees. But the Supreme Court major- of the Patriot Act and his major appoint- important step forward by lawyers and decide the fate of people kidnapped ity ruled that the DTA could not be applied ments, including to the Supreme Court. advocates for the detainees. Michael halfway around the world. retroactively to Hamdan or others whose The Democrats are not appealing to the Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Senate hearings on complying with the cases were already pending. masses to change direction. Their leaders Rights, which represents nearly half the court ruling are expected to begin July 11. Hamdan is one of only 10 of the 759 back the war drive, as their support of the Guantanamo detainees, said, “There is no Of paramount concern for each capital- men and boys detained at Guantanamo $517-billion military budget proves. Any way for President Bush to continue hiding ist party is how to exploit the court’s deci- since January 2002 who have actually disputes with Bush are over specific poli- behind a purported lack of judicial guid- sion to its own advantage in November’s been charged with a crime. U.S. officials cies or represent their scrambling for ance to avoid addressing the illegal and elections. now claim that between 40 and 80 political advantage. immoral prison in Guantanamo Bay.” Guantanamo detainees are considered eli- In tandem with the Republicans’ elec- Ratner called on Bush to “try our clients Hamdan v. Rumsfeld gible for war-crimes trials. tion-year push to resell the “war on terror” in lawful U.S. courts or release them.” Salid Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni man Currently about 460 prisoners are held to the skeptical working class and other captured in Afghanistan in 2001, is at Guantanamo. The rest have been sectors, there is an effort to clean up the What’s really in the decision? accused by the United States of being returned to their home countries or sent image of the war machine—for example, While there has been much speculation Osama Bin Laden’s personal driver and a to third countries. by prosecuting a handful of U.S. soldiers about the possible repercussions of the “war criminal.” He is only the second for rape and murder of Iraqis—while court’s decision, the ruling boils down to detainee to have his case come before the Struggle will decide keeping the war and the war crimes it just two points: high court since the “war on terror” was The Supreme Court’s decision did not inevitably generates going full-steam. First, Bush can’t unilaterally set up mil- declared almost five years ago. directly address the future of the Guanta- How broadly or narrowly the Supreme itary tribunals. He must get congressional Hamdan’s case challenged the Bush namo detention facility. But in recent Court’s ruling is interpreted, what hap- authorization first. administration’s authority to establish months, under growing international pens to the detainees at Guantanamo and Second, the tribunals, or whatever form military tribunals without congressional pressure to close the prison, Bush has elsewhere—all this ultimately rests on the is finally decided on, must accord with the authorization. It also challenged the pro- hinged its future on the court’s ruling in ability of the worldwide anti-imperialist Geneva Conventions and some recog- ceedings of his case, which began in 2004, the Hamdan case. movement to mobilize popular discontent nized body of law, like the Uniform Code as violating the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Now the State Department is trying to into powerful actions that challenge the of Military Justice. military law, and the Geneva Conventions quickly negotiate the repatriation of as dominance of the war profiteers and their This means, in effect, that detainees on the treatment of prisoners of war. many as 300 more of the remaining political stooges. must be accorded the rights of prisoners The tribunals favored by Bush are com- detainees to their home countries. The anti-war movement in the United of war when brought to trial. posed of a few military judges. They can Belgian Sen. Anne-Marie Lizi, who led States has a special obligation to redouble Both points are setbacks for the Bush block the accused and their civilian an inspection team of the Organization for its efforts to bring the troops home now regime, which asserts that it has the right lawyers from ever learning of the evidence Security and Cooperation in Europe, and free the victims of Pentagon repres- to act without any regard for international brought against them by labeling it “clas- reported July 1 that there are “only 30 to sion everywhere. or U.S. law in its conduct of the “war on terror.” Bush has vehemently denied that the Military resisters detainees, and specifically those accused of being supporters of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, are prisoners of war and asserted get civilian support that they therefore have no rights. Immediately after the Supreme Court By John Catalinotto Watada had announced June 7 that he ruling, congressional Republicans and would refuse orders to go to Iraq because Democrats started plotting ways to help The first commissioned officer to refuse the war there violates international and Bush circumvent the court’s decision. orders to take part in the occupation of domestic law. He is currently restricted to Plans are afoot to craft new laws to legally Iraq was thanked by over a thousand peo- the large U.S. Army base in Fort Lewis, ratify the military tribunals. ple at 30 different sites around the United Wash. Leading Republicans Sen. Mitch McCon- States on June 27. First Lt. Ehren “I feel that we have been lied to and nell and Sen. Lindsey Graham attacked the Watada’s June 22 refusal to deploy to Iraq betrayed by this administration,” Watada court ruling for invoking Article 3 of the has inspired a wave of support from anti- told the media in a telephone interview Geneva Conventions, which prohibits war forces, who are reaching out to dissi- from Fort Lewis. “It is the duty, the obli- “humiliating and degrading treatment” dent U.S. troops. gation of every soldier, and specifically the and bars violence, including murder, The demonstrations increased contact officers, to evaluate the legality, the truth mutilation and torture. WW PHOTO: JOHN CATALINOTTO between the civilian anti-war movement behind every order—including the order Supporters of Lt. Ehren Watada march Of course, this list reads like a menu of and the troops. More groups are offering to go to war.” in New York on June 27. the offerings at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib support to GI resisters. In polls, over 70 Reuters reported June 29 that five GIs prison in Iraq, and other U.S.-run facili- percent of U.S. troops in Iraq have said are now being investigated for the pre- sacres of Iraqi civilians, it is easy to under- ties, which were recently condemned by the they want to get out. The question remains meditated rape of an Iraqi woman, her stand the lieutenant’s revulsion. United Nations Commission on Torture. whether Watada’s heroic example of indi- murder and that of three other members As of now, the Pentagon has only inves- So desperate are conditions at Guanta- vidual refusal can help awaken an impulse of her family. Considering that every day tigated blatant criminal actions by rank- namo that three prisoners committed sui- toward mass resistance within the occupa- there is news about U.S. troops suspected and-file soldiers and marines. No one has cide in June. Hunger strikers are force-fed tion army. of war crimes like rape, murder and mas- Continued to page 4 Page 4 JULY 13, 2006 www.workers.org ON THE PICKETLINE ILWU convention denies By Sue Davis Nurses charge collusion voice to Black coalition holds down wages By Clarence Thomas nize that discrimination does exist. but also early on in Southern Cali- Class-action lawsuits were filed June 20 ILWU Local 10, the local of the leg- fornia—agreed with the International against national hospital corporations in four The International Longshore and endary 20th-century labor leader Harry policies supporting the civil rights cities—Chicago, Memphis, San Antonio and Warehouse Union (ILWU) held its Bridges and William “Bill” Chester, the movement and affirmative action pro- Albany, N.Y—charging that they illegally 33rd International Convention May first African American to serve as an grams, and contributed generously to colluded to hold down nurses’ wages. 13-20, 2006, in Vancouver, Canada. international officer, had submitted a early ILWU support for sit-in demon- The Nurse Alliance of the Service Employees The International Convention has the resolution calling for the AALC to have strations and marches for equality in union, which has more than 84,000 members in authority to adopt resolutions and a “voice but no vote” at the convention the Southern United States beginning 23 states, helped expose the wage issues that led statements of policy on political, eco- and Longshore Caucus. The resolution in 1955. Yet an unofficial color line held to the lawsuits. Last March the Nurse Alliance, in nomic and other issues, and amend the didn’t make it out of the Constitution fast in these locals, despite constant connection with the Institute for Women’s Policy constitution. The highest governing Committee at the convention and was efforts by the International leadership Research, issued a white paper citing low pay, body of the entire ILWU is the Inter- rejected a week later at the Longshore and other longshore locals, notably short staffing and mandatory overtime as condi- national Convention, made up of Caucus. The intent of the resolution Local 10 in San Francisco.” tions that have caused nurses to leave the bed- delegates elected by direct rank- was to provide the AALC with the The rejection of Local 10’s resolution side. In 2004, more than 500,000 nurses chose and-file vote in each local or same status as the ILWU Pen- to recognize the AALC to have a “voice to work outside the profession, despite an antici- affiliate of the union. GUEST sioners and Women Auxili- but no vote” was a betrayal to African pated need of more than 1 million nurses by 2014. During the conven- GUEST aries with “voice but no Americans and other progressive The report showed how raising nurse salaries will tion, a very important Commentary vote.” Passing the reso- ILWU members, past and present, who help draw more nurses back to the profession. resolution regarding the lution would not have cost have been in the forefront contributing Case in point: Some 660 registered nurses at a African American Longshore the union any money at all. to the progressive history of the union. hospital in Englewood, N.J., went on strike June Coalition (AALC) was put for- The roots of segregation and If Harry Bridges, Bill Chester, Paul 30 after talks on pensions, staffing levels and safety ward by ILWU Local 10. The AALC, white supremacy in the Longshore Robeson or Dr. King were alive today, measures broke down. Less than a month after a a rank-and-file organization, has been Division are very deep. It is in the Port this writer is certain that they would 72-hour lockout, the nurses set up picket lines recognized by the international union of San Francisco where the world- support the AALC having a voice in the when the hospital rescinded its offer of arbitration. for its contributions to remedy racism renowned progressive and workers’ ILWU. This doesn’t take much conjec- within the ILWU since March 1992. solidarity history [of the union] was ture based upon their commitment to However, the resolution recognizing established, not in the Pacific the struggle to end racism and their Childcare workers AALC was defeated at the Convention Northwest, where problems regarding fight for social justice. These warriors and the Longshore Caucus. racism, sexism and all forms of dis- for peace and justice took an uncom- want a union This paper is written to discuss how crimination are pervasive today. promising position regarding democ- If the New York State Assembly fulfills its rejecting the resolution is absolutely “The ILWU Story: Six Decades of racy for all and not just for the privi- promise to call a special session and override ironic when reviewing the progressive Militant Unions,” a book that provides leged few. the governor’s veto, 52,000 home childcare history of the ILWU. It must also be the history of the union from its origins Clarence Thomas is past secretary providers, who care for the children of welfare noted that international unions such as to the present, describes in detail the -treasurer of ILWU Local 10, national recipients and other low-income parents, will the International Brotherhood of internal contradictions of racism co-chair of the Million Worker March win the right to organize and bargain collectively Teamsters, the Service Employees within the ILWU. “The ILWU Story” Movement, and a member of the for pay and benefits. As of now, the “independent International Union, United Auto explains how, during the civil rights African American Longshore Coali- contractors,” who are overwhelmingly poor Workers and the American Federation movement, “there were longshore tion and Coalition of Black Trade women of color, have no health care, paid of State, County and Municipal Employ- locals that steadfastly refused to inte- Unionists. E-mail comments in care vacation, sick days, pensions or other benefits. ees, to name a few, recognize the for- grate their membership. As an indica- of the writer to [email protected]. The workers’ wages are currently paid out of mation of Black Caucuses within their tion of the paradoxes of prejudice, To read more about this develop- state and federal funds. But those who support the respective unions because they recog- these locals—mainly in the Northwest, ment, go to workers.org. childcare workers, including the United Federation of Teachers and various anti-poverty groups, say that if education is a priority, the workers must be paid more than the poverty-level wages of $15,000 to $19,000 a year they now earn. Military resisters get civilian support Though New York Gov. George Pataki claimed unionizing the workers would jeopardize several Continued from page 3 Carolyn Ho; his father, Robert hundred million dollars in federal grant money, brought official charges against the Watada; and his stepmother, Rosa officials in Illinois, where 49,000 such workers high officers and politicians who sys- Watada. unionized earlier this year, say that’s not so. (New tematically lied to justify the illegal In Tacoma, the United Metho- York Times, June 28) Home childcare providers in invasion and occupation of Iraq. dist Church has declared itself a Oregon and Washington state are also unionized. Some of the June 27 demonstrations sanctuary for soldiers not wanting The bottom line: Some of the poorest, most also expressed solidarity with Spc. to go to war. According to Gerry oppressed women workers in the United States Suzanne Swift, another Fort Lewis sol- Condon, a Vietnam-era military are actually subsidizing the state and federal gov- dier. Swift, after spending a year in Iraq, resister who was visiting the Ft. ernment. Instead, they should receive a living went absent rather than deploy again Lewis area, the church “will pro- wage, a stipend for educational and other needed on June 12. She said she had faced sex- vide counseling there, plus other materials and the respect they deserve. ual harassment from sergeants com- resources that sound like it will be manding her unit in Iraq and was for- kind of a ‘coffee house’”—the name ced into a sexual relationship with a ser- for gathering places that peace UM janitors get union— geant who could order her into battle. activists set up for GIs in towns Another military resister, Sgt. Kevin near military bases during the war finally! Benderman, is in the prison in Ft. Lewis against Vietnam. After a hard-fought nine-week strike for union serving a 15-month sentence for his In Charlotte, N.C., some 25 peo- representation, which included a hunger strike, refusal to deploy to Iraq last year. There ple got together that same day, janitors at the University of Miami joined the are regular vigils outside the base in sol- reports David Dixon. Organizers Lt. Ehren Watada Service Workers union on June 15. The American idarity with Benderman. had shown the film “Sir! No Sir!”—the Arbitration Association certified the card check suppressed story of the GI resistance were veterans, mostly from the process for employees of UM’s cleaning contrac- From Ft. Lewis movement opposing the Vietnam War Vietnam era.” tor, the Unicco Service Company, and Unicco did to New York City —at the public library in downtown In New York, college-age demon- not contest it. Workers World spoke to participants Charlotte. “Ahmad Daniels, a Black strators argued with young soldiers “We are invisible no more,” said Maritza Paz, in some of the 30-plus demonstrations. Vietnam-era military resister who is outside the Army Recruiting Office on a UM janitor and member of the bargaining “Rallies and vigils were held in Seattle, mentioned in the film, gave an intro- Chambers Street. U.S. strategists talk committee. “It is an incredible feeling to finally Tacoma and Olympia, Wash., building duction and facilitated a discussion about a struggle for “hearts and minds” have a voice and the strength to improve our up to the June 27 action, which brought afterwards. Daniels [known then as with regard to Iraqis. It is also going on lives. This is a victory for all Florida workers 250 people to demonstrate and rally George Daniels—JC] spent two and within the U.S. Armed Forces. who want to stand up for a better life.” outside the gate of Ft. Lewis,” said Jim half years in prison for refusing to The protests around the country The Service Employees union is continuing its McMahan. “People in many automo- deploy to Vietnam while in the appeared to be supported by a broad drive to unionize thousands of security guards, biles honked their horns in support for Marines,” said Dixon. sector of the anti-war movement. Calls janitors, housekeepers, valets and front-desk the demonstration on a freeway over- “There was a rally in San Francisco for the actions came from Not In Our workers who keep South Florida’s universities, pass on the six-lane highway and pro- at Justin Herman Plaza,” Joan Name and the Campus Antiwar Net- malls and condominiums clean, safe and running. testers spilled over right to the gates of Marquardt reported, “with about 100- work and got a lot of support from anti- For example, on June 15 janitors at Nova Univer- the fort.” 200 people. The big banner read, war veterans’ groups like Vets for sity announced that they have collected cards Speakers at the Ft. Lewis rally ‘Thank you Lt. Ehren Watada—Refuse Peace. For more information on the from about 70 percent of the work force, who earn included Ehren Watada’s mother, illegal war.’ Several of the speakers protests, see www.thankyoult.org. as little as $7 an hour with no health insurance. www.workers.org JULY 13, 2006 Page 5

Will Voting Rights Act be renewed? Congress stalls as elections approach By LeiLani Dowell changes to voting regulations, to ensure (BlackAmericaWeb.com). to vote. (aaldef.org) that they are not discriminatory. In Georgia, a bill was initially approved A press release on the report states, With the 2008 presidential election on Further, it authorizes federal election in 2005 by the DOJ before being over- “In every election AALDEF has observed the horizon and massive Black voter dis- observers to monitor elections. Later turned by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of since 1988, Asian American voters have enfranchisement in the 2000 and 2004 additions to the act require states that Appeals. It would have required those reported incidents of racist behavior.” elections still echoing, the House of have a certain percentage of citizens with without state-issued photo identification It also notes, “The lingering effects of Representatives on June 21 tabled a vote limited English proficiency to provide to purchase a special five-year identifica- disparate access to education, jobs, health to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act language assistance and ballots in lan- tion card, for $20, to vote. (washington- care, and other social services further (VRA), considered one of the most suc- guages other than English. post.com) marginalize Asian American communi- cessful pieces of civil rights legislation. Unless they are renewed, the provi- Several organizations have also recently ties from the political process.” The VRA was adopted in 1965, follow- sions on pre-clearance, language assis- completed studies showing that discrimi- In a move to further marginalize immi- ing a string of violent and institutionally tance, and federal monitors and poll nation—not just in the South, but through- grant communities, a smaller group 0f sanctioned attacks on Black people strug- watchers will expire next summer out the U.S.—does indeed still exist. The representatives is grumbling that provid- gling for their right to vote and their sup- (BlackAmericaWeb.com). Asian American Legal Defense and Edu- ing ballots in languages other than English porters, including the 1964 murder of The New York Times called the stalling cation Fund (AALDEF) testified before the is unnecessary. Clay Robinson of the Freedom Riders James Chaney, Andrew of the bill a “rebellion,” after House and Senate Judiciary Committee and submitted Houston Chronicle remarks, “If only they Goodman and Michael Schwerner in Senate leaders of both parties had gath- their report, entitled “Asian Americans and were so concerned about improving the Philadelphia, Miss. (See Workers World, ered earlier last month “in a rare biparti- the Voting Rights Act: The Case for public education opportunities for the Jan. 20, 2005.) san moment to celebrate its imminent Reauthorization” on June 13. U.S.-born descendants of immigrants.” On March 7, 1965, a group marching approval.” Southern Republicans, led by The report, “a comprehensive analysis The Waco Tribune-Herald calls English- from Selma, Ala., to the Alabama State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia, are of data from multilingual voter surveys only ballots “a literacy test of a different Capitol in Montgomery for the right to complaining that the pre-clearance pro- and poll monitoring results that date back stripe.” It should also be noted that disen- vote was brutally attacked by local and vision is discriminatory to the nine states to 1988,” describes how, as recently as franchisement of undocumented immi- state police. The massive struggle of it affects—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 2004, poll workers at one site in Boston grants—who work, participate and con- activists on the ground coupled with pub- Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South formed two separate lines—one for whites tribute to U.S. society —is still completely lic outrage over these attacks forced Carolina, Texas and Virginia. and one for people of color. legal. Congress to pass the act. Yet a look at recent elections shows the Almost 71 percent of the poll sites As disenfranchisement of people of The VRA eliminated what were then need for more enforcement, not less. AALDEF monitored in New York did not color seems to increase with each elec- commonplace barriers to voting in many In 2004, the DOJ found the need to have the required number of assigned tion, the stalling of a vote on the Voting states, including literacy tests and poll monitor primary elections in Louisiana, Chinese and/or Korean interpreters; and Rights Act is yet another slap to the face taxes. It requires nine states with a his- Mississippi and Texas (www.usdoj.gov). large numbers of voters in New York, of people of color. A movement like the tory of discrimination to receive “pre- In Mississippi, more than 100 voting New Jersey and Massachusetts reported one that forced its passage in 1965 is clearance” by the U.S. Department of changes have been objected to by the DOJ that they were improperly told by poll needed to ensure the civil rights of all. Justice (DOJ) before making substantial since the last time the law was extended. workers that they needed identification Email: [email protected] At Liberty Bell Protest says ‘Free all U.S. political prisoners!’

By Betsey Piette of killing a Philadelphia police officer. In Pennsylvania. intensification of repression against the Philadelphia 1982 Judge Albert Sabo rushed through Several children of the MOVE 9 Puerto Rican independence movement Abu-Jamal’s trial proceedings and addressed the rally on the case of these that began last September with the FBI Raising the question, “How can there be encouraged jurors to speed up their deci- innocent men and women who begin their assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Rios at freedom when there are U.S. political pris- sions so they could all “enjoy their Fourth 28th year of incarceration this August. his home in Puerto Rico. oners?” around 75 people rallied across of July weekend.” The Black journalist has Police carried out a massive assault on Speakers also talked about the struggle from the Liberty Bell at Sixth and Market always maintained his innocence and is their headquarters in Philadelphia in 1978, to free the Cuban Five, who are in U.S. streets here on July 1. being held in a state prison, SCI Greene, arresting the nine. Seven years later, the prisons serving four life sentences and 75 As demonstrators distributed literature in Waynesburg, Pa. police and FBI burned down a whole city years, collectively. Last year, a federal to the thousands of tourists who were in The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals block in the Black community after drop- appeals court in Atlanta ordered a new the area for the city’s week-long Indepen- last year agreed to consider three counts ping a bomb on another MOVE house. trial for the five, who had been monitor- dence Day celebrations, speakers, signs raised in Abu-Jamal’s appeal: allegations Russell Maroon Shoatz is another ing terrorist groups in Miami when they and banners raised the cases of many that there was racial bias in jury selection, political prisoner now serving his 34th were arrested on conspiracy charges. imprisoned political activists, including that the prosecutor gave an improper year in the control unit of SCI Greene. They were convicted in 2001 by a U.S. fed- Mumia Abu-Jamal, the MOVE 9, Leonard summation and that a judge in a previous While a member of the Philadelphia chap- eral court in Miami, a place where the Peltier, the Cuban Five and Puerto Rican appeal was biased. ter of the Black Panther Party, Shoatz was appellate judges agree the five Cubans political prisoner Antonio Camacho However, the recent naming of a street arrested and tried for the murder of a could not receive a fair trial. Negrón, who was recently moved to a fed- after Abu-Jamal in the Paris suburb of St. police officer. He received two life sen- Despite the ruling by the appeals court, eral prison in Philadelphia. Denis has led the right-wing here to intro- tences after an unfair trial in which he Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, A young man visiting from Greece duce a new round of legislation on the lacked adequate legal representation. Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González stopped to get information and ended up local, state and federal levels pushing for Demonstrators marched to the nearby and René González remain in prison. joining the rally. Other people passing by the reinstatement of his death sentence. Federal Detention Center where Puerto A highlight of the demonstration was stopped to ask for more information on This June 26 also marked 31 years since Rican political prisoner Antonio Cam- the response of prisoners in the Federal cases they were hearing about for the first the shoot-out on the Pine Ridge reserva- acho Negrón is being held. Negrón, one of Detention Center. They gathered two time. tion in South Dakota that led to the rail- the Macheteros, who completed his sen- each in all the many tall, narrow windows July 1 is very significant to the case of roading of American Indian Movement tence for the famous Wells Fargo bank in the facility facing the demonstrators. Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been impris- leader Leonard Peltier. Peltier is currently robbery in Hartford in 1985, was recently Many tapped on their windows and raised oned for nearly a quarter century, accused being held in Lewisburg Penitentiary in re-incarcerated by the FBI, part of an fists in solidarity.

WW PHOTOS: LAL ROOHK There were banners for Leonard Peltier, the Cuba 5 and Mumia Abu-Jamal in the march to the federal prison, in Philadelphia, where Antonio Camacho Negrón is held. Page 6 JULY 13, 2006 www.workers.org Interview with Boots Riley

of Hurricane Katrina would have been diffe- rent from youth in the Black communities “The stores make money off of very low wages not in the area? The next time you see two women running out the Gap BR: If artists were really representing With arms full of clothes still strapped to the rack where they are from, then the response Once they jump in the car, hit the gas and scat Larry Hales: Many people think of would have been different, perhaps. A lot Oakland as synonymous with militancy of artists from the South do talk about If you have to say something, just stand and clap ... because of its history. Would that be fair the reality of life in the area. You have to “This goes to all them hard-working women to say, and what’s Oakland like now? if you come from there, because it’s what Who risk jail-time just to make them a living Boots Riley: There are many contradic- you know. Artists have to be relevant, though. It’s not necessarily about being We know there’d probably be no one in prison tions in Oakland, like other cities. It’s not synonymous with militancy, people are more militant but about being observant If rights to food, clothes and shelter were given.” struggling to get by, that’s why there and really reporting conditions. But it’s These lyrics are from the song “I Love was slated to needs to be a new struggle for basic really the record companies. Artists are Boosters” on the rap group The Coup’s perform and needs. We need to fight for reforms as just trying to make a living, but the latest release, “Pick a Bigger Weapon.” meet up with activists from the Common part of the revolutionary struggle, but record labels control the release of the Boosters are those who make a living by Ground Collective, he was willing to talk bring a class analysis. Right now, in Oak- material. Artists want to make a living liberating clothes and other items and and be interviewed. He and The Coup are land, there are no militant organizations and the industry controls by determining selling them at discounted prices, instead now on the Pick a Bigger Weapon tour, in at the forefront, like the rest of the coun- what’s popular. A lot of people point to of at the hugely inflated prices charged by conjunction with notyoursoldier.org. try. In the 1930s and 1940s the basic other areas where there was a movement retail stores. The song is homage to peo- Boots Riley is a communist and was an needs were part of the struggle and the that dictated culture, but there is a lack ple who live a tenuous life and their part activist before becoming a rapper. He Communist Party was one of the organi- of a defined movement. When there is a in poor and oppressed communities. hails from Oakland, Calif. In the song “5 zations out in front. The CP did change, strong movement, culture will follow and The song and the entire full-length Million Ways to Kill a CEO,” he says of the though, especially in the 1950s and the struggle will be emboldened. release by the rap group are in a line of city: “I’m from the land where the 1960s when red-baiting was at its height. LH: I know you’re tired, so I don’t want radical/revolutionary music that The Panthers grew/ You know the city and the LH: What part do you believe culture to keep you long. Coup has continued to release since 1993. avenue/ If you the boss we’ll be smabbin plays in revolution? BR: Yeah, and I’m losing my voice. That year they released their first CD: through, and we’ll be grabbin you/ To say, BR: Culture is expression, how we com- LH: I have two final questions. Were you “Kill My Landlord.” ‘Whassup with the ra-venue?’” municate and get across ideas. It fills the inspired by the recent immigrant rights Larry Hales of WW interviewed a very Boots became active with the Progres- soil and gets people ready. demonstrations? And what artists do you hoarse, but game, Boots Riley, lead rap- sive Labor Party in Oakland at 15 years think epitomize certain eras of the strug- per in the group. Though Boots had a con- old. He remembers being red-baited by LH: Before the rebellions in L.A. in 1992, gle? cert the previous night in Atlanta, and was teachers in high school and being outspo- hip hop was at a different point, and its headed towards New Orleans where he ken then. tone and militancy seemed to mirror the BR: A lot of people were surprised by the righteous anger in the Black community, immigrant rights demonstrations and especially among youth, and especially in inspired. I think Paul Robeson, Gil Scott- South Central Los Angeles, with songs Heron, Public Enemy and Bob Dylan 40 years ago in Chicago like “Fuck the Police.” Do you think if hip epitomize certain eras. hop was at a different point, the response For more information about Puerto Ricans rebel after the criminal neglect in the wake of The Coup, go to thecoupmusic.net. against police violence BOSTON . By Eric Struch earners were established in Chicago, many Chicago were joined by their spouses and families. Communities win By the 1960s, the Puerto Rican commu- June 12 marked the 40th anniversary of nity was centered in West Town and Hum- what is commonly referred to here as the boldt Park on the Northwest Side and in HIV emergency aid “Division Street Riots.” The “riots” were Lincoln Park on the North Side. There actually an uprising of the nationally were also many Puerto Ricans in By Workers World Boston bureau tion to have greater collective impact,” oppressed Puerto Rican community in Lawndale on the city’s West Side. Gentri- said Rev. Hobbs. Humboldt Park/West Town. fication in Lincoln Park in the late 1960s It has taken a struggle to obtain every Mia Campbell of the Women’s People rose up in response to intolera- displaced that community, forcing people penny of resources to fight HIV/AIDS. As Fightback Network spoke for many at the ble conditions in the barrio, particularly to move to the west. always, those most affected lead the way. press conference: “We are 25 years into the brutal treatment of Puerto Rican youth The events of June 12 through 14, 1966, So it was that a grassroots struggle this epidemic. Our people are dying day at the hands of the notoriously racist constituted the first major Puerto Rican waged by Boston’s Healing Our Land by day. We have yet to identify. I sat on Chicago Police Department (CPD). urban rebellion. The uprising happened at organization claimed a victory on June 29 the President’s National Advisory The uprising showed the beginning of precisely the point when the Chicago Police when the Boston City Council allocated a Committee on AIDS and we know what nationalist consciousness in the Puerto Department began taking “precautionary new $100,000 line item for HIV/AIDS in needs to be done but politics stops it from Rican community in Chicago, and in measures” to head off potential rebellions the city’s budget to serve Boston’s commu- being done. I want to see this go beyond Humboldt Park/West Town in particular. of the type that had already occurred in nities of color. This followed a declaration declaring a state of emergency on paper. Today, with the Puerto Rican community Harlem, Watts and Philadelphia by the of a state of emergency over a year ago. The NAACP a few years ago said the threatened with displacement from yet Black masses. (Workers World, March 30, 2005) ‘house is on fire.’ What are you going to another neighborhood by wealthy white The uprising began on June 12, the The campaign for this resolution was do, stay there and watch the house burn? professionals and their $500,000 condos, day after the very first Día de San Juan led by community activist Rev. Franklyn Hopefully my daughter won’t be coming the remembrance of the 40th anniversary parade to be held downtown. A cop Hobbs of Healing Our Land, with support up here 25 years from now and we are still of the uprising could not be timelier. named Thomas Munyon chased 20- from many Black churches, especially the declaring a state of emergency.” The Puerto Rican Cultural Center, year-old Arcelis Cruz and a friend of his Greater Love Tabernacle Church. Addi- Gerry Scoppettuolo spoke for the under the leadership of its executive direc- through an alley near Damen and tional support came from the Boston International Action Center and the tor, Jose Lopez, and other community Division streets. Munyon drew his AIDS Consortium, Multicultural AIDS Stonewall Warriors/IAC: “The govern- organizations have led a drive to stop gen- weapon and fired, hitting Cruz in the leg. Coalition, Veterans’ Benefit Clearing- ment is spending $440 billion on the trification in Humboldt Park and to keep This was witnessed by a group of people house, Project U-Turn and the Interna- Iraq/Afghanistan wars and we don’t have the community Puerto Rican. at the corner, who attempted to come to tional Action Center. enough money in Massachusetts to buy The Puerto Rican community in Cruz’s aid. When the rest of Munyon’s Boston joined Baltimore, New York, $18 HIV rapid-test kits. We could be find- Chicago has a history that stretches back squad showed up, they beat the crowd Houston, Alameda County in California ing dozens of new cases every day on more than 70 years. The first Puerto Rican with their nightsticks and even let attack and Alabama as one of the few areas to Dudley Street. The disproportionate migration to Chicago was in the 1930s and dogs loose on the people. This savage declare such a state of emergency. impact of HIV on people of color has been it was not from the Caribbean island but attack by the cops enraged the growing “This is a rallying call for us to come caused by the historic disproportionate from New York City. Only a small number crowd, which began to fight back. together and to work together in a coali- targeting of resources.” of people joined this migration. The first This uprising against police brutality large wave of migration to Chicago came lasted three days and three nights. White- Poison DUst Radioactive DU Weapons in Iraq in the late 1940s. owned businesses in the Puerto Rican Veterans, anti-war organizers, environmentalists and health care providers Starting in 1946, many were recruited community were targeted as symbols of will find this wake-up call to today's GIs invaluable. Today more than 1/3 by Castle Barton Associates to be low- racism and national oppression. of all 1991 Gulf War vets are on VA Disability Benefits. Meanwhile U.S. use wage, non-union foundry workers and To read more about the rebellion, of radioactive DU weapons has increased six-fold from 1991 to Gulf War II! domestic workers. As soon as the wage go to workers.org. Scientists expose the Pentagon cover-up! Order at www.Leftbooks. com www.workers.org JULY 13, 2006 Page 7 Stonewall 1969: Fighting in the streets

By Leslie Feinberg was. That night the closet was set on fire LAVENDER& RED focuses on the relationship both symbolically and literally.” over more than a century between the liberation of 68 Stonewall participant Martin Boyce Cop Pine said: “We’re inside and the oppressed sexualities, genders and sexes, and the communist recalled, “All of a sudden the whole street fires are coming in and we’re putting them movement. You can read the entire, ongoing Workers World now had had it, and windows started out—all the time we’re dodging the bricks newspaper series by Leslie Feinberg online at cracking and people attacked cars and that they were throwing in—and then they www.workers.org. moved cars back and forth, but let the crashed with this parking meter.” Pine straight people out, who were in terror, actually said he debated shooting at peo- Stop and get a subscription while you're there! really, but nobody hurt them, ever. It’s ple in the crowd, but wasn’t sure it would amazing how controlled the rage was, even stop them. Based on eyewitness accounts that ager lost two fingers. Four cops reportedly though it was so hard.” When a hand came through the splin- night, historian Martin Duberman summa- beat up a young trans person until she bled The police trapped inside the Stonewall tered plywood that was covering one of the rized the TPF assault. “Wearing helmets from her ears, nose and mouth. Sylvia Inn couldn’t call for backup. Top cop Sey- windows and sprayed lighter fluid and with visors, carrying assorted weapons, Rivera, though not injured, said she had mour Pine, who led the raid on the ignited it with a match, Pine later said, he including billy clubs and tear gas, its two so much of other people’s blood splashed Stonewall, later said: “Every time we tried aimed his gun and was ready to shoot. dozen members all seemed massively pro- on her during the fray that she later went to use the [police portable] radio to call for At that moment, however, fire truck portioned. They were a formidable sight to the piers to change into fresh clothing. assistance, a message came back, ‘Dis- sirens screamed down Christopher Street. as, linked arm in arm, they came up Chris- Yet the crowd still resisted, any way they regard that call.’ Somebody else appar- Police cars from more than one precinct topher Street in a wedge formation that could, even faced with such organized ently had our frequency in the crowd, and began screeching up from all directions. resembled (by design) a Roman legion. In police violence. so we couldn’t get a message through. The their path, the rioters slowly retreated, When the TPF grabbed and began phone lines apparently were cut, because Crowd wouldn’t disperse but—contrary to police expectations—did severely beating up one youth, described we couldn’t use the phone.” Dave Van Ronk, who had been taken as not break and run.” (“Stonewall”) as a feminine male, angry members of the Bob Kohler saw people carefully pour- a hostage-prisoner by police holed up in The crowd slowly backed up to avoid crowd rushed forward and rescued the ing liquid, apparently gasoline, into empty the Stonewall, explained that as cops took being clubbed, and then suddenly dis- person. soda pop bottles. him outside in handcuffs, “From what I solved as individuals raced around the Someone smashed a concrete block on Pine later described how anxious he and saw, that mob was not cowed. It would block, regrouped behind the TPF squad a parked police car—with cops inside of it. the other cops were as these homemade have taken something to get them to dis- and threw debris at the troopers. Again Another person hit a member of the police firebombs started landing in the bar. perse. They were loaded for bear.” and again the TPF broke up the crowd only brass sitting inside his vehicle with a bag “There were bottles that came in exploded Pine said: “Fights erupted with the to find people defiantly appearing behind of soggy garbage. with some kind of flame, and we were able transvestites who wouldn’t go into the them, taunting them and hurling bricks As two cops chased about 100 people to put those out with the fire hose that we patrol wagon. Some [transgenders] who and bottles. The angry crowd set fire to down Waverly Place, the crowd suddenly had. We were very worried because we hadn’t even been in the Stonewall came trash cans and broke windows. realized they outnumbered the police 50 didn’t know how long we could put these over and started a fight with our guys.” Bob Kohler recalled that the street to one—and lit off after the two officers, Molotov cocktails out, because they were Eyewitness Marle Becker concurred. youths “were constantly getting over on who panicked and fled. gasoline and all we had was water. They “All I could see about who was fighting was the TPF. The TPF would chase somebody That night, police arrested and booked didn’t have the kind of fire extinguishers that it was the transvestites and they were this way, then the kids would start some- 13 people, seven of them workers from the that would put out a fuel fire.” (David fighting furiously.” thing behind them so that attention would Stonewall Inn. They faced charges ranging Carter, “Stonewall”) Two bus loads of Tactical Patrol Force be taken, and then the TPF would come from harassment to resisting arrest to dis- The fire extinguisher quickly emptied. riot squads, trained to brutally break up [the other] way, and then more kids would orderly conduct. “Liberate the bar!” the crowd roared as anti-Vietnam War protests, arrived on the start something behind them. So the TPF Near dawn, the streets seemed quiet. youth battered open the barricaded door scene. were constantly off guard. It was keeping Kohler remembered: “We were sitting to the Stonewall Inn with an uprooted Participant John O’Brien observed that them on the run constantly.” across the street [from the Stonewall] at parking meter. “when they tried to clear the streets is Others, who did not directly take part in the park, and you would see smoldering Edmund White wrote: “The door is bro- when people resented it, ‘cause it came the fighting, kept pace alongside the action. [garbage] baskets and the street was bro- ken down, and the kids, as though work- down to: ‘Whose streets are these? They Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt explained: “I ken glass. The Stonewall window was ing to a prior plan, systematically dump are our streets.’” He described an addi- myself was more part of like a mob that smashed, and there were cops all standing refuse from waste cans onto the wall, tional layer of resistance: Many people— was waving in and out like the ocean. I was around like storm troopers. You’d look a squirt it with lighter fluid, and ignite it. gay and nongay—pretended that they just part of a mob that had a kind of deep iden- block away and you could see trash cans Huge flashes of flame and billows of couldn’t move out of the way of police tity and was acting as one force.” still smoldering.” smoke.” because it was too crowded. “A lot of them The police took a terrible toll on anyone It wasn’t just the trash cans that were Morty Manford witnessed: “People took knew that they were interfering with the they could get their hands on—particularly still smoldering. The rebellion was not a garbage can, one of those wire mesh cops,” he said. those who were male-bodied and femi- over. Not by a long shot. cans, and set it on fire and threw the burn- Efforts to block the narrow, one-way nine. Many were badly bashed and blood- Next: ‘Liberate Christopher Street!’ ing garbage into the premises. The area street to impede police included overturn- ied. One person required 10 stitches in the Email: [email protected] that was set afire is where the coat room ing a car in front of the Stonewall. knee after being clubbed. Another teen-

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JAMES CONNOLLY:. Irish socialist and liberation fighter This is the second part of a talk by Workers’ Republic. Larkin saved the union. During these bat- class alone can raze it to the ground.” Bryan G. Pfeifer, a contributing editor The Rising failed for three major tles the workers’ learned many lessons for of Workers World, to the May 13-14 reasons. 1916 and beyond. Connolly’s legacy: WWP conference on Preparing for First, there was no Leninist-type party. Connolly’s tireless efforts to overcome The unfinished revolution(s) the Rebirth of the Global Struggle Second, a large segment of British sectarianism and other divisions created Ireland today, like many countries, is for Socialism, held in New York. workers and their leaders and encouraged by British and Irish capi- still oppressed by imperialism, even It has been edited for publication. PART 2 failed to engage in revolution- talists to keep wages low and working con- though the latest form of the Republican ary defeatism. In other words, ditions horrendous proved fruitful. By the armed struggle brought Britain to its James Connolly was an ardent anti- they failed to grasp that the Rising was in time of the Rising, many workers and their knees. This imperialist country is now imperialist and thoroughgoing interna- their best interests and that their British allies had already realized their common playing a junior partner role to U.S. impe- tionalist. Connolly opposed the Boer War capitalist, imperialist bosses were the same working class interests. They regarded rialism in Ireland, although this is fluid. waged by the British in Southern Africa in ones subjugating the Irish masses. religion as a private matter, but one that U.S.-based corporations control the the late 1890s and all imperialist wars, But, most importantly, the delay and had been used by their class enemies to vast majority of finance capital in Ireland. invasions and colonialism in any form. equivocation on the part of Irish Volunteer divide them. These transnational corporations rely on In 1909 he wrote in The Harp, leader and president Eoin MacNeill dealt The participation of women in the a high-tech, highly educated and relatively Connolly’s Irish newspaper in the U.S., a severe blow to the Rising. Because Rising was most starkly represented in the low-cost work force. Furthermore, by “The universe is about tired of this British Connolly and other revolutionaries were Easter Proclamation declaring equal being in Ireland, U.S. corporations—with Empire and I, for one, hope that the aware of his anti-labor orientation, his rights for all, men and women. Some his- the U.S. repressive state apparatus as a natives of India will, ere long, drive it from opposition to staging the rising during the torians of the Rising claim that of about partner—can move commodities into the their shores into the sea.” war, and his middle-class origins, Mac- 1,600 participating in the Rising, over 200 European Union more easily. From the outbreak of World War I in Neill was not initially informed that the were women, many armed and holding The Pentagon uses airbases in Ireland, August 1914, Connolly, as acting general Rising was to take place on Easter Sunday. key military posts. particularly Shannon airport, for stopovers secretary of the Transport and General Nonetheless, MacNeill learned of the Connolly throughout his life was well en route to Iraq and also, some claim, for Workers Union and of the Irish Socialist original Rising date and published notices known for supporting feminism and for extraordinary renditions. The U.S. fully Republican Party (ISRP), led anti-con- in newspapers and sent messengers his stellar actions in regard to the woman pays for British troops and weapons in the scription campaigns mobilizing poor throughout Ireland rescinding the order question. In this he has been hailed by occupied six counties under the guise of workers, farmers and peasants in Ireland for Volunteers to participate in the Rising. many Irish Republican women, including NATO. This is similar to the U.S. funding to fight against the British Empire on their This sowed much confusion between the Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Mairead Farrell Israel to subjugate the Palestinians. own soil instead of joining the British mostly nationalist-oriented Volunteers and Constance Markievicz, with whom he Alexander Haig, former U.S. secretary imperialist army. and the Citizen Army. But since the Citizen fought side by side in 1916. When some of state and ex officio commander of the Connolly came to the same position as Army’s position was to not hold back men involved in the Rising stated they NATO forces from 1974 to 1979, was care- V.I. Lenin: turn the imperialist war into a under any circumstances, they set out on wouldn’t fight with women, Connolly ful to remind the imperialists periodically civil war. Armed with this ideology, Monday to establish an Irish Workers’ replied that the struggle would go forward that if Ireland became socialist, it would Connolly, his union and the ISRP mobi- Republic. The precious day’s delay with the women, then. be the Cuba of Europe, particularly lized Irish workers, farmers and peasants allowed the British and Irish capitalists to In his pamphlet, “The Re-Conquest of because of its key nearby trade routes and to take advantage of Britain’s overreach learn of the Rising, regroup and defeat it. Ireland,” first published in 1915, Connolly geopolitical position. and inter-imperialist rivalries during the Lessons of the Rising include mobiliz- wrote in the chapter, “Woman,” “The As Connolly declared in his time, the war. He advocated that the working class ing workers for armed liberation. The worker is the slave of capitalist society. main obstacle in the path of an Irish social- and its allies should train their weapons— Citizen Army was formed for self-defense The woman worker is a slave of that slave.” ist republic is British and U.S. imperialism. and use them if necessary—on their real in response to the bosses and their goons’ Added Connolly, “In its march towards The Irish masses in Ireland and in other enemy, the British colonialists, and any violence against workers and allies during freedom, the working class of Ireland imperialist-controlled countries interna- others including Irish capitalists intent on the 1913 Transport and General Workers must cheer on the efforts of those women, tionally are waiting for more upsurges like exploiting and crushing the Irish masses’ strike. The bosses eventually locked out who, feeling on their souls and bodies the the anti-war movement, the multinational quest for a workers’ republic. the workers, almost starving them and fetters of the ages, have arisen to strike immigrant rights upsurge, the civil rights Connolly simultaneously advocated their loved ones. Only a strategic retreat them off. Whosoever carries the outworks movement around Katrina/Rita, the revolutionary defeatism for the workers in organized and led by Connolly and James of the citadel of oppression, the working LGBT movement and labor upsurges like Britain and other oppressor nations such UNITE HERE’s Hotel Workers Rising as the U.S., France and Germany. Con- struggle in the U.S. nolly’s position was that the British work- Forum hails Irish freedom struggle The Irish masses, the Iraqis and all col- ers shouldn’t kill fellow workers to further onized peoples need a boost of unity and enrich their own ruling class. They should solidarity, particularly from the working instead use every means available to defeat class in the U.S. their own ruling class in solidarity with the Permanent socialist revolution interna- anti-colonial struggles in the oppressed tionally, particularly in the U.S., is still the nations while respecting the self-determi- goal of revolutionaries in the Connolly tra- nation of oppressed nationalities. dition today and must be won for the sake Here Connolly was reflecting and carry- of all humanity, specifically the working ing on the long-standing tradition of the class and oppressed. Irish masses’ internationalism and their As Connolly wrote in his pamphlet historic role as one of the largest oppres- “Socialism and Nationalism,” “Let us … sed people’s diasporas, with a deep-rooted organize for a full, free and happy life for hatred for colonialism in any form. all or for none.” Many examples of this abound, but Ed Childs, Jan Cannavan and Catherine notable were the émigrés in the 1800s Donaghy contributed to this report. from Ireland who were conscripted into the U.S. Army. Many joined the St. Reference works for this series include: Patrick’s Brigade, dropped their U.S. uni- “Ireland and the Irish Question: A forms and joined Mexicans fighting Collection of writings by Karl Marx & against the U.S. These actions resonate WW PHOTO: LIZ GREEN Frederick Engels”; “Irish Republican today. Irish and Mexican immigrants A forum on Irish revolutionary history entitled “The 1916 Rebellion, James Connolly Women in America: Lecture Tours, 1916- and the 1981 Hunger Strikers” drew a full house of multinational participants to the could be seen hoisting each other’s home- 1925” by Joanne Mooney Eichacker; Boston Workers World Party office on June 24. land flags in the glorious upsurge of the “James Connolly: A Full Life” by Donal A moving documentary video depicted the barbaric British military occupation in Nevin; “James Connolly and the United immigrant rights struggle. Ireland’s occupied six northern counties and the mass resistance in many forms. The In the current period, one of numerous States: The Road to the 1916 Irish video also shows unity and solidarity actions between the Irish national liberation Rebellion” by Carl and Ann Barton Reeve; examples is the U.S. accusing and arrest- movement and others, particularly various Native tribes during the U.S. siege of “James Larkin: Lion of the Fold,” ed. ing Irish revolutionaries for allegedly mil- Wounded Knee in the 1970s. Donal Nevin; “No Ordinary Women: Irish itarily supporting the FARC in Colombia. Speakers emphasized the Irish masses’ resistance to English colonialism since the Female Activists in the Revolutionary 12th century, James Connolly’s legacy and role in history, Irish Republican women and Years 1900-1923” by Sinead McCoole; 1916: ‘The Rising’ the movement for socialism there. The relationships of Black people living in the United States to both Irish Americans and the Irish masses in the occupied six counties “Portrait of a Rebel Father” by Nora Connolly and his comrades steadfastly Connolly O’Brien; “Prison Writings” by refused to allow the Rising to become a sparked a discussion about self-determination and the national question. There was also discussion about the ongoing immigrant rights struggle and the U.S. war on Iraq. Bobby Sands; “Socialism Made Easy,” battle for political freedom alone. The Featured speakers shown here are, seated, traditional Irish artist Padraig Dolan, “Socialism and Nationalism” and “Labor Easter Proclamation from the Provisional Bryan G. Pfeifer of WWP, Clemencia Lee of the Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day in Irish History” by James Connolly; Government of the Irish Republic—the Committee and Maureen Skehan of WWP; standing, Catherine Donaghy of the Western “The Life and Times of James Connolly” Poblacht na hÉireann—to the people of Mass International Action Center/Troops Out Now coalition, longtime Irish Republican by Desmond C. Greaves and Ireland clearly stated the fight was for both Movement activist Jan Cannavan and Ed Childs of WWP. www.marxists.org. political and economic freedom: an Irish —Workers World Boston bureau www.workers.org JULY 13, 2006 Page 9 ‘Democratic’ Israel tries to wipe out elected Palestinians By Deirdre Griswold resent them. To be precise, they have kid- napped 64 Palestinian governmental min- Every self-righteous excuse for the U.S. isters and politicians since Israel began its bankrolling of Israel’s endless aggressions assault on Gaza. Israeli planes also against the Arab and Muslim people was bombed the home of Palestinian Prime shredded this week—and not for the first Minister Ismael Haniyeh. time. All this is supposed to be in retaliation Think of the claim that Israel represents for the capture of one Israeli soldier. But the only true “democracy” in the Middle in the weeks before that happened, the East. Yet here were Israeli tanks and Israeli military had killed more than 30 planes attacking the Palestinian Authority Palestinian civilians, including three chil- in Gaza, sending missiles into the office of dren and a pregnant woman. the prime minister (fortunately, he wasn’t There is speculation that Israel was try- there) and arresting most of the top gov- ing to provoke a response in order to ernment officials. derail an agreement just concluded Yes, elected officials. The Palestinian between the two major Palestinian par- people went to the polls in January and ties, Hamas and Fatah, that could move chose the party they wanted to represent forward negotiations for a peace settle- them. Nobody disputed the results of the ment with Israel. Certainly, the Israeli election, which Hamas won. Wasn’t that a people want peace, too—but their govern- New York protest June 30 hits Israel's assault on Gaza. WW PHOTO: DEIRDRE GRISWOLD triumph for democracy? Especially since ment is doing everything it can to keep the people voted for the party that prom- such a thing from happening. ucts don’t go to the U.S. people—they go animosity because of Israel’s aggressions. ised to fight hardest to defend their Even inside Israel, the government’s to the big corporations that find ways to What the U.S. government is doing to national identity and regain the lands that assault is being heavily criticized. Com- pay practically nothing in taxes. So war or the Palestinians is not only cynical, vicious Israel took from them. That was a difficult mentator Gideon Levy of the newspaper peace, it’s a win-win situation for the and reprehensible, but it is illegal, too. thing to do, since they knew Israel, with Ha’aretz wrote, “A state that takes such super-rich. Under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act of the U.S. behind it, would find a way to steps is no longer distinguishable from a Instead of rescuing Jewish people from 1976, military hardware sold by the United strike back. terror organization.” Nazi-occupied Europe during the Holo- States can only be used for defensive pur- And it has. Its tanks swept into Gaza on Who really keeps this horrible war and caust, Washington’s Machiavellian policy poses or to maintain internal security. June 28. Its fighter planes have been occupation going? The answer is not just was to instead wait until after the war and Nevertheless, Israel has used U.S.-sup- pounding away at power plants, the water Tel Aviv but the U.S. government, which then throw them into Palestine, where plied F-16 fighter jets, “Apache” and Cobra supply and other essential elements of the has built Israel into a military fortress to they were told by the Zionist political attack helicopters, 15mm howitzers, M-16 infrastructure, leading to a major human- protect imperialist interests in the Middle movement that no one lived there any- automatic rifles, M50 machine guns and itarian crisis. Some 750,000 people in East, especially the overweening lust of way. The growth of this racist, settler many other weapons and ammunition to Gaza now have no electricity and no run- U.S. big business for the fabulous profits state, which fought several wars with attack Palestinian towns and cities. ning water—during the hottest part of the to be made from oil. neighboring countries to expand its terri- There is growing sentiment inside the year. It is a wonder that they survive. The U.S. government spends $3 billion tory and treats the indigenous Palestin- U.S., expressed especially in progressive One thing is sure. After such a horren- a year on this small country—which comes ians as less than human, has only youth culture, to support the Palestinian dous experience, they will hate not only to more than $8.5 million each day. Of inflamed the whole area. cause and stop the bankrolling of Israel. Israel but the U.S. for the rest of their lives. course, that money comes from U.S. tax- Throughout the Middle East, where for It’s an issue that should be taken up in Israel’s commandos have gone after the payers. On the other hand, the profits from centuries Jews and Muslims lived amica- every union, every community organiza- very people the Palestinians elected to rep- selling military equipment and oil prod- bly side by side, there is now the deepest tion, every school. EAST TIMOR. Forced resignation of premier sparks protest

By John Catalinotto invaded East Timor in 1975 with the improved the share the Timorese were to the Timor Gap. Most of the oil is in approval of President Gerald Ford’s get from expected oil revenues, and he also Timorese waters between the small coun- Some 2,000 Australian “peacekeeping” administration in the United States. negotiated arrangements with Cuba to try and Australia. The Australian govern- troops—who are looking more like occu- During Indonesia’s brutal occupation of send 600 Timorese to that island to be ment, which is closely aligned with U.S. pation troops every day—made a tacit the small country, which lasted until 1999, trained as doctors. For these actions he imperialism and has sent troops to Iraq alliance with opponents of the majority approximately one-third of the popula- has become a target of vicious attacks in and Afghanistan, has obviously targeted Fretilin government in East Timor to tion—some 200,000 people—were killed. the Australian big-business media. the more independent elements in the force Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to Fretilin won 55 of the 88 seats in Instead of rounding up the rebellious Timorese government, like Alkatiri. resign on June 26. Parliament in the most recent election soldiers and gangs who were burning After a violent outburst by elements Alkatiri only agreed to resign when and became the leading party in the gov- homes in Dili and turning the Timorese expelled from the East Timor army in the faced with the threatened resignation of ernment. into refugees in their own country, the spring, President Gusmao invited security President Xanana Gusmao, and to prevent Commenting on its leader’s resignation, Australian forces held meetings with the forces from Australia, Portugal, Malaysia further violence in East Timor. He a June 26 Fretilin news release said, “We leader of the rebellion, a Maj. Alfredo and New Zealand to enter East Timor. described the events in East Timor during did not expect that the elected leader of a Alves Reinado. This officer had received Australia was there within days, and there the last few months as “a coup.” party with an overwhelming mandate training in Canberra, Australia, just a few are now approximately 2,700 foreign mil- After Alkatiri resigned, anti-Fretilin ele- could be forced to stand down in this way months earlier. itary and police forces in East Timor, ments reopened violent attacks in the cap- in a democracy.” The government in Washington, D.C., mostly under Australian command. ital city, Dili. The right-wing Australian Of the leading Timorese political fig- also considers Alkatiri an enemy. Lora In the South Pacific region, Australia media, including the Murdoch newspa- ures, Gusmao is respected as an independ- Horta reported in the Asian Times on May also has occupation troops in the Solomon pers and ABC-TV, made unsubstantiated ence leader who was jailed during the 27: “The United States’ discontent with Islands and in Papua New Guinea. They charges that Alkitiri had armed paramili- Indonesian occupation, but he is not with Alkatiri was clearly on display when the defend the interests of the big transna- tary groups. Fretilin. Foreign Minister Jose Ramos- U.S. ambassador openly supported the tional monopolies, including those based Although they had to get through lines Horta is a former Fretilin member who Catholic Church against his government in the United States, that extract raw of Australians and other troops, at least today is the Timorese political figure clos- during street protests last year, with the materials. French and U.S. imperialism, 4,000 Fretilin supporters courageously est to the United States. This Nobel Peace senior U.S. official even briefly attending both of which occupy islands in the region demonstrated support for the embattled Prize winner even wrote an article defend- one of the protests in person. Political and exploit their natural resources, have leader and their party. ing the U.S. intervention in Iraq, saying insiders now wonder about the United given diplomatic support to the Australian As a parliament member, Alkatiri is that “Iraq is experiencing real freedom for States’ connections to rebel leader intervention in East Timor. legally immune from prosecution. He has the first time in its history.” (“Sometimes, Reinado, whose wife works for the U.S. The imperialist powers, with the United refused to appear to answer charges about a War Saves People,” Wall Street Journal, Embassy and helps to oversee the Peace States as their center, are united in their arming groups, which he publicly denies. Oct. 13, 2004) Corps program.” attempt to eliminate the economic sover- Fretilin is the leading party in East Alkatiri, who is a leader of Fretilin, is Behind the conflict in East Timor is an eignty of the rest of the world and to return Timor, and the only one with a mass pop- often called an “economic nationalist,” attempt by the Australian government and these nations to a colonial status. The ular base. It led the struggles for inde- meaning he represents those struggling ruling class to get the lion’s share of an Fretilin forces in East Timor are attempt- pendence—first from Portuguese colo- for both political and economic sover- expected tens of billions of dollars worth ing to resist this imperial rule. nialism and then from Indonesia, which eignty for the Timorese. His negotiations of oil out of the off-shore area known as Email: [email protected] Page 10 JULY 13, 2006 www.workers.org

‘An Inconvenient Truth’ Who is Educates but doesn’t the aggressor? challenge system

hat aggressive, militarist Remember that President George W. By G. Dunkel of his conclusions about ice cores a bit regime recently held war Bush named the DPRK, along with Iraq overdrawn. Some of the business-ori- Wmaneuvers in the Pacific and and Iran, as one of the “axis of evil.” Even though the air conditioner was ented press like the Houston Chronicle tested intercontinental missiles that could Remember too that since 1999 the U.S. broken on an early summer night in New and Wall Street Journal have tried carry nuclear warheads for 4,800 miles? has bombed and occupied Yugoslavia, York City, no one left the packed movie attacking Gore’s conclusions, but most of The wrong answer to this question is Afghanistan and Iraq, invading the last theater showing Al Gore’s “An Incon- the press that reviewed the film accepted the Democratic People’s Republic of two countries. North Korean troops venient Truth.” A number of customers his conclusions. Korea. haven’t left home. thought the heat was deliberate, since the Gore makes one telling point. In a The right answer is the United States. The DRPK government has many times movie examines the climate crisis caused review of some 900 articles on climate On June 14, the U.S. Air Force held tried to get the U.S. to end the state of war by global warming—and the way the change appearing in peer-reviewed, sci- what it called “a quality control test” for that still exists since the 1950 U.S. invasion United States uses energy is a major fac- entific journals, not one denied that global its fleet of 500 Minuteman III missiles. and the 1950-53 Korean War and to sign a tor in producing global warming. warming is happening. But in a survey of One missile traveled 4,800 miles towards peace treaty that would normalize rela- The movie has been a sleeper. 600 or so articles in the corporate- the central Pacific, and three test war- tions between the two countries. The U.S. None of the critics or Hollywood owned mass media on climate heads landed near the Marshall Islands. always refuses. moguls thought a documen- change, 53 percent challenged According to the Air Force, that was Considering the U.S. missile test, the tary presenting scientific evi- FILM global warming. where they were supposed to land. The military maneuvers, recent U.S. history dence on a subject where there REVIEW Where Gore and the movie Pentagon is supposed to have almost and the constant stream of threats against is some popular controversy fall down is in presenting the 10,000 nuclear warheads available. the DPRK from both the Republican would draw an audience. But “An struggle to reverse global warm- At the same time, three U.S. Navy car- administration and the Democratic Party Inconvenient Truth” has had the ing as a moral one, a struggle to rier battle groups—including three aircraft leaders, it is quite clear that the best per-screen draw of any current change personal and national moral carriers, 22,000 troops, dozens of fighter Pyongyang government faces a serious release. Now it is spreading beyond the choices. The role of the oil, coal, energy planes and several heavy bombers —were threat from the most belligerent and art house, independent film market to a and transportation industries, and of the assembled in the western Pacific off heavily armed military in the world. much broader distribution. big capitalists who control and profit so Guam for the first time since the Vietnam The DPRK’s tests on July 4 and 5 of its Gore and his director, Davis Guggen- grossly from them, passes unmentioned. War. They were supposedly engaged in rockets were completely within that coun- heim, do a good job presenting the facts Could the Gore family history with long-planned exercises with ships of other try’s rights as a sovereign state. It is per- in a visually compelling way and getting Occidental Petroleum have something to nations, but their presence can only be fectly understandable for the government in data that just appeared in 2005. do with it? seen as a threat to Asian countries. Right in Pyongyang to take whatever measures Guggenheim even manages to present Making all the green moral choices you off the coast of North Korea are the USS it can to convince the rogue U.S. leaders Gore as a human being with feeling and can afford, and even agitating for more Curtis Wilbur and the USS Fitzgerald, that if it is attacked or invaded, then the a long interest in climate change, which greenness in the larger society, at best is both guided-missile destroyers. That’s aggressor too will face retaliation. This is surprising given Gore’s long history as only going to moderate global warming— destroyers, not love boats. The U.S. also much maligned and attacked country a political wonk. not reverse it. sent spy planes on 170 missions over deserves the support of anti-war forces Most of the scientists interviewed in “An Inconvenient Truth” is worth see- the media about the film have said it pres- ing, but its political conclusions are weak North Korea. around the world. ents the evidence carefully and clearly, and obscure the need to struggle against even if some of Gore’s projections of this profit-driven, unplanned system. An amazing feat future events are a bit stretched and some Email: [email protected] ngineers the world over agree that tecting migrating Tibetan antelopes in MARXISM, REPARATIONS & THE BLACK FREEDOM STRUGGLE the new Tibet-China railroad that the morning, and to our surprise we got Racism, national oppression & the right to self-determination Larry Holmes opened July 1, carrying 2,569 pas- the government’s answer back that very E Black labor from chattel slavery to wage slavery Sam Marcy sengers in its first three days of operation, afternoon, less than three hours later. is the most impressive engineering feat of This reflects the government’s attitude Reparations & Black Liberation Monica Moorehead its kind in the world. It is the world’s toward this issue.” Harriet Tubman: woman warrior Mumia Abu-Jamal (Guest Commentary) highest railway, as well as the longest China also celebrated, this spring, the Black labor & the fight for reparations Bill Cecil

plateau railroad. formal completion of the Three Gorges Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of slavery, One of its stations, at 16,640 feet above Dam—the largest hydroelectric dam in sharecropping and segregation sea level, sits higher than the peak of the world. By Consuela Lee (Guest commentary) Western Europe’s tallest mountain, Mont These engineering feats show the Black farmers demand justice Monica Moorehead

Blanc. In addition, the People’s Daily tremendous development of China in just Greetings from Mumia Abu-Jamal to the 3rd UN World reports, “About 550 kilometers [342 half a century—from a country of mass Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, miles] of the tracks run on frozen earth, famines to one with a modern scientific- Xenophobia & Related Intolerance the longest in any of the world’s plateau technological establishment. None of it Nigerian women take over Chevron Texaco railroads.” would have been possible without the Monica Moorehead The Chinese government had to over- communist-led revolution that overthrew Nigerian women’s takeover ends in victory come all kinds of engineering difficulties the rule of feudal landlords and capitalist Monica Moorehead to ensure the safety of the railroad. Train collaborators with imperialism. Causes of turmoil in Jamaica PART I PART II PART III cars had to be pressurized and equipped Millions used to die in China every year Pat Chin with artificial oxygen, as is done on planes, from famines and floods. Now China is The driving force behind the land seizures so that passengers could breathe comfort- forging ahead, and the building of this Monica Moorehead ably at the high altitudes. “Engineers railroad is just one of the more spectacu- Order from leftbooks.com designed bridges to span the most treach- lar elements in its efforts to develop the erous area of permafrost and sank natu- western part of the country, which has rally cooled piping into the ground to keep lagged behind the coastal areas in terms the track bed frozen year-round, reducing of development. SUBSCRIBE TO instability.” (New York Times, July 2) The reactions of the imperialist media The government set aside $240 million to this stunning achievement for a devel- on the project for environmental protec- oping country of 1.3 billion people range WORKERS WORLD tion. The train cars emit zero waste—a from grudging respect to saying virtually first in China. To compensate for land lost nothing to attacking the whole project as SPECIAL TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION $2 for eight weeks (new subscription) to bridges and to a station in the Gulu meant to suppress and colonize the peo- $25 for one year Wetlands—a preserve for black-necked ple of Tibet, although they offer no evi- cranes and yellow ducks—it created 20 dence of that whatsoever. Name ______acres of new wetlands around the perime- The same media that constantly regale ter of the original preserve. (New York us with tales of how the U.S. blossomed Phone number ______Times, Sept. 9, 2005) after new railroads opened the West are Described in this Times article written taking a dim view of China’s careful and Address______last September as a “prominent environ- well-planned steps to build up the infra- mentalist,” Yang Xin of Qinghai Province structure of its underdeveloped areas. City/State/Zip ______lauded the care taken by the government: Fortunately, the imperialists don’t call Workers World Newspaper www.workers.org “We proposed detailed measures on pro- the shots in China any more. 55 West 17 St. NY, NY 10011 (212) 627-2994 www.workers.org JULY 13, 2006 Page 11 Mexico’s poor vote with their feet Continued from page 1 Should he prevail and be the victor in this homeless poor, persecuted Indigenous, election, it could be good news for Cuba, unemployed youth, and mothers with which has experienced strained and dan- hungry children unite into one militant gerous relations as a result of current force that can break the chains of Mexican President Vicente Fox, formerly oppression once and for all? Who will Coca-Cola’s top executive there. lead them? Last year, the Mexican establishment Only time will tell the answers to these attempted to prevent López Obrador from questions. running for president by trying to send But for now, the 2006 presidential elec- him off to jail on ridiculous, trumped-up tion should be a reminder to the people of charges. The masses intervened. Over one the United States that everything that hap- and a half million Mexicans gathered at pens in Mexico is inextricably tied to this the famous Zocalo square in López country. Obrador’s defense. The right wing was Not a single economic, political or social forced to back off and let him run. development occurs in Mexico without But the institution controlling the elec- Washington not only paying close atten- tion, the IFE (Federal Electoral Institute), tion to it but also interfering in every way is reported to be allied with the PRI, which it can so that each outcome is to imperial- came in a distant third, and could easily ism’s benefit. Supporters of López Obrador at the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square, July 2. throw the election to the PAN. Over the years, U.S. economic and Journalist and author John Ross wrote political institutions have made their way Obrador not so much “fascistic” as “mes- Second, he was the son of Lázaro on June 3 that the president of the IFE, deep into Mexico. The U.S. sneezes and sianic.” The U.S. ruling class was truly Cárdenas, a president during the 1930s Luis Carlos Ugalde, is a figure of “ruling Mexico catches the cold. fearful, as López Obrador had already who is well respected and loved in Mexico. party interests.” In other words, he’s tied Someone should remind CNN “journal- shown that he was concerned about the Lázaro Cárdenas’s policies included to the PAN. Ross reported that when ist” Lou Dobbs of this. His demagogic, impoverished in his country. defending the poor as well as Mexico’s sov- Antonio Villaraigosa, the first Mexican racist rhetoric on the immigration ques- As mayor of Mexico City—a significant ereignty, and he expropriated Mexico’s oil mayor of Los Angeles since 1842, invited tion—an issue intimately tied to position held by his left-wing party— from foreign domination. The Mexican López Obrador to commemorate Sept. 16 U.S./Mexican relations—can be answered López Obrador had carried out unprece- masses hoped that Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas —Mexican Independence Day—in Cali- with one sole demand: U.S. imperialism dented social reforms. would carry out similar policies. fornia, Ugalde barred López Obrador from should get the hell out of Mexico so that Mayor López Obrador had launched a On election day, news accounts traveling, claiming it would violate cam- workers will not be forced to leave. comprehensive health-care program reported huge numbers of Indigenous paign laws. based “on social rights and redistribution people voting for the very first time. Many On the other hand, Ugalde gave the Mexican election, U.S.imperialism of resources,” according to the American walked hours and even days to reach a vot- PAN presidential campaign the go-ahead Fundamental change is not won Journal of Public Health of December ing place. to canvas California for PAN votes. through elections. Struggle—where the 2003. The journal further reported that a But another Cárdenas presidency was What will happen if there is another masses are in motion and have heightened “universal pension for senior citizens and not to be. Despite overwhelming evidence fraud and the election is thrown to the class consciousness—is what brings real free medical services are financed by that he won the election, the vote was PAN? What will López Obrador, the PRD change. The intervention of the workers grants, eliminating routine government manipulated on behalf of the PRI. and the left do? Will the mistakes of 1988 and oppressed fighting on behalf of their corruption and waste.” The 1988 election is often referred to as be repeated? own interests is decisive in making his- López Obrador promised he would the Great Election Fraud. The presidency Can the Mexican masses be rallied to tory. They are the real agents of change, as push for more of the same if elected pres- was handed over to Carlos Salinas. take the struggle out of the ballot box and Marxists have always pointed out. ident. This is no small thing coming from Without a doubt, Washington played a into the streets in a mighty show of force In the modern context, any phenome- a presidential candidate in a country that role in throwing cold water on the mass throughout the country? Will López non that takes place in the context of a shares a 2,000-mile border with the impe- sentiment for sweeping change. Obrador or others on the left call for the relationship between an oppressed and rial colossus of the North. In the next presidential election, in people to defend their democratic right to oppressor nation is also all about that rela- In addition, López Obrador is report- 1994, the PRI maintained its increasingly fair elections and take the struggle fur- tionship, as Lenin explained so carefully edly against the NAFTA trade agreement shaky hold on power. Then, in 2000, it was ther—raising the dire social issues and when he updated Marx after the rise of with the U.S. and Canada—which has conveniently replaced by the more right- denouncing U.S. imperialism, the root of imperialism and finance capital. forced so many Mexican workers and wing pro-business party, the PAN. all of Mexico’s misery? Mexican history is rife with U.S. inter- farmers to emigrate in recent years—and This upset is often mischaracterized as Or will they wait six more years for yet vention. Elections in Mexico take place would want to renegotiate its terms if an example of democratization in Mexico. another election? under the heavy cloud of imperialist dom- elected president. It would take political For example, in its reporting on the cur- What role will the Zapatista Army for ination. So in Mexico, even this basic strength and will to accomplish that goal. rent election, the Los Angeles Times wrote National Liberation (EZLN) play in this bourgeois parliamentary act is tainted by Can he do that without engaging the on July 4 that “popular outrage over the coming period? the smell of rotting imperialism and the masses in a big way? [Cárdenas] vote, widely perceived as It should be noted that the EZLN, dur- threat of military intervention. For sure, the U.S. imperialists would find rigged, helped spur a peaceful movement ing the run-up to the election, carried out The 2006 elections are no different. it impossible to reconcile themselves with that eventually toppled the ... PRI, in what they called “the other campaign.” Revolutionaries around the world another Chávez at their very front door. 2000, after decades of autocratic rule.” EZLN leaders traveled throughout the watched this election very closely. It was The toppling of the PRI was no real vic- country engaging directly with the masses hoped that López Obrador would be a con- Mexican electoral history tory for the masses. In reality, the end of and speaking of the need for fundamental tender to be another representative of the The 2006 presidential election must PRI dominance only meant that a more change. EZLN spokesperson Subcom- anti-imperialist mood sweeping the also be viewed in the context of Mexico’s entrenched capitalist party would carry mander Marcos has made eloquent com- Americas. In fact, his campaign theme was political history. out the bidding of both Mexican and U.S. ments against capitalism and the need for “Everything for the poor.” The U.S. media touted this year’s elec- capitalists. A PAN victory was a mere bone the most oppressed and the workers to What a step forward for the revolution- tion as a reflection of progress in Mexico’s thrown to the people who had poured out take part in the struggle. ary camp it would be to have right at the fledgling “democratic system.” They were for Cárdenas earlier. In addition, the EZLN has clearly spo- United States’ front door an anti-imperi- referring to the fact that elections in Capitalist relations and the exploitation ken in solidarity with revolutionary strug- alist leader, a president concerned about Mexico have historically been less than of Mexican workers and the oppressed still gles sweeping Venezuela and Bolivia and the welfare of the masses and not the wel- democratic, even within the context of stood firm. has come out against the blockade of Cuba. fare of the International Monetary Fund. capitalist democracy. Whatever the outcome in Mexico at this So of course the capitalist bourgeoisie For over 70 years, until 2000, the PRI Lessons of 1988 juncture, the role of the movement in the also watched this election very closely. had attained and held the presidency Without a doubt, the people of Mexico United States is to show unconditional sol- From day one, the capitalist media in through underhanded means. Selection of need change. Unemployment and under- idarity with the people of Mexico. It should both Mexico and the United States went the next president was commonly under- employment are at high double digits. In extend solidarity to Mexican immigrants out of their way to demonize López Obrad- stood to take place not via the ballot box some neighborhoods, for some communi- in the United States and demand full or. News account after news account but via the “dedazo” (heavy finger), with ties, unemployment is over 50 percent. rights for all immigrants. referred to López Obrador as a dangerous the outgoing PRI president pointing to the Poverty is horrendous. Hunger and When imperialism stole one-half of “populist.” They compared him to Presi- next PRI president. desperation are the order of the day. Mexico and made California, Texas and dent Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, and For over 70 years, Mexico was governed Corruption and violence are rampant— other Southwestern states part of the threatened that if he were elected it would by one-party pro-capitalist rule. though it’s not that the people of Latin United States, the history of the people of bring further instability and even violence In 1988, however, that began to change. America are more corrupt or violent than the United States was forever linked with to Mexico. Mexico was rocked by a mass movement their U.S. counterparts, but only that the that of the people of Mexico. Somehow the media forgot that in the that supported the progressive candidate situation is publicized more. Desperation It is time to turn that robbery around elections of 1988, over 500 PRD members Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas for president. is high, however, and many are forced to into a full-blown anti-imperialist move- were killed—and the Institutional Revolu- Cárdenas was popular for several rea- take part in the underground economy ment in complete solidarity with Mexico. tionary Party (PRI), at that time the ruling sons. For one, he was a leader of a faction that is often violent, such as the lucrative It is time to open the borders so that the group, benefited from it. that broke from the PRI in a historic defec- drug trade the United States orchestrates. workers of both countries can declare: “It One U.S. professor, a so-called expert tion, a major upset that led to the forma- López Obrador may be a candidate is profit-hungry corporations and imperi- on U.S.-Mexico relations, called López tion of the PRD. whose feet are in the camp of the poor. alism that are illegal, not the workers.” ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países, uníos! Volviéndose rico con la ‘Seguridad de la Patria’ (‘Homeland Security’)

Por Deirdre Griswold “Más de dos terceras partes de los ejec- está en el proceso de comprar a Savi deen a ex colegas o subordinados en el utivos en los rangos más altos del depar- Technology. Se espera que Ridge gane gobierno por lo menos durante un año No les tomó mucho tiempo. Muchos de tamento durante sus primeros años han enormes sumas por la venta de las después de salir del puesto gubernamen- los de la ganga que rápidamente tomaron pasado por la puerta giratoria”, dijo el opciones de acciones que adquirió antes tal. Pero, dice el artículo, “por medio de puestos en la nueva agencia de “seguridad primer artículo. de la venta de la empresa, dice el Times. lagunas en la ley, incluso una escrita por de la patria“, cuando la administración de Y están recibiendo una generosa rec- Hutchinson comenzó a trabajar en ejecutivos en el departamento para facil- Bush andaba tramando la invasión con- ompensa de las compañías que quieren su Venable LLP, “una firma de abogados y itar su entrada en el mundo empresarial, tra Irak, ahora se están volviendo ricos pericia y sus contactos. Carol A. DiBattiste cabilderos basada en Washington que frecuentemente es muy fácil para los ex como ejecutivos y consultores para com- incrementó su sueldo por un 600 por representa a importantes contratistas de oficiales hacen precisamente eso”. pañías que venden su pericia y disposi- ciento cuando en apenas un mes, salió de seguridad nacional como Lockheed La puerta giratoria entre oficiales de tivos “antiterroristas” al gobierno. su puesto como administradora asistente Martin”, un día después de haber dejado Washington y ejecutivos de corpora- “Por lo menos 90 oficiales del Depart- de la Administración de Seguridad del su posición como subsecretario para ciones o cabilderos no es nada nuevo. Así amento de Seguridad de la Patria Transporte y tomó un puesto en la asuntos fronterizos y del transporte. es como funcionan todos los gobiernos (Department of Homeland Security, empresa Choice-Point, una compañía Ahora tiene sus manos en compañías que capitalistas. Pero el descaro de aquellos DHS) o del Despacho de la Casa Blanca contratada por el Departamento de producen o venden: software para la que llevaron la cubierta de “seguridad para la Seguridad de la Patria Seguridad de la Patria. extracción de datos, tecnología para la nacional” tiene pocos paralelos en la his- –incluyendo al ex secretario del departa- Ridge, el ex gobernador de Pennsyl- identificación de huellas digitales y dro- toria moderna, dice el Times. mento, Tom Ridge; al ex subsecretario, el vania que firmó la orden de ejecución de gas contra la radiación. Para aquell@s que se preocupen almirante James M. Loy; y al ex subsec- Mumia Abu-Jamal fue elegido por Bush Los artículos proporcionan muchos porque espías del gobierno puedan estar retario, Asa Hutchinson– ahora son ejec- para ser el primer secretario del DHS. El ejemplos más de ex oficiales que han inspeccionando su cuenta bancaria, inter- utivos, consultores o cabilderos para año pasado, tres meses después de haber saltado de sus puestos en la “seguridad ceptando sus líneas telefónicas, o leyendo compañías que colectivamente hacen renunciado a ese puesto, Ridge se unió a nacional” hacia puestos lucrativos en su correspondencia electrónica, deben miles de millones de dólares en contratos la junta directiva de la empresa Savi industrias que les habían cabildeado. acordarse de esto: la represión del estado de seguridad nacional”, escribió Eric Technology, “fabricante de equipos para ¿Por qué no están encarcelados estos ex está guiada no sólo por el temor de “ter- Lipton en una serie de dos partes intitu- la identificación por frecuencias radiales oficiales? La ley federal prohíbe a ex ofi- roristas” sino por el motivo más poderoso lado “Seguridad de la Patria, SA” publi- que el departamento promocionó mien- ciales de la rama ejecutiva el negociar entre todos en el sistema capitalista –la cada en el New York Times a partir del 18 tras él era secretario”. Ahora Lockheed puestos futuros con compañías que ellos codicia corporativa. de junio. Martin, un enorme contratista militar, supervisan. También prohíbe que cabil-

DETROIT. Embajador venezolano explica la ‘ofensiva contra la pobreza’ Por Cheryl LaBash pagar viviendas para refugiad@s en que hemos librado contra el neoliberal- redadas de deportación contra l@s inmi- Detroit Houston y hasta trajo autobuses desde ismo y esta noción de una forma inhu- grantes, una mención especial conmovió Miami para trasladar a las víctimas del mana del capitalismo no solo nos afecta a al público. Álvarez describió cómo el gob- Una entusiasta ovación recibió al emba- huracán a lugares seguros. Pero el nosotros, sino que afecta al pueblo en los ierno bolivariano encontró a tres millones jador venezolano Bernardo Álvarez a la Presidente Venezolano Hugo Chávez Estados Unidos.” de personas en Venezuela a quienes les recepción ofrecida por la comunidad de predijo que la subida del precio del Además de la marginación social de las faltaban documentos oficiales de identifi- Detroit el 14 de junio. El evento llamado petróleo después del huracán y también la comunidades afro-americanas expuesta cación. Casi un millón de ell@s eran inmi- “Para Conocer y Saludar” fue organizado invasión en Irak crearía aún más dificul- por Katrina, Álvarez observó personal- grantes de Haití, Colombia, Ecuador y por la Organización para los Derechos de tades en las comunidades pobres de los mente a través de las entregas del aceite otros países. Tod@s han recibido la ciu- los Recipientes de Bienestar Público de Estados Unidos. de calefacción en Vermont y en otros esta- dadanía venezolana y el derecho a man- Michigan (Michigan Welfare Rights “Entonces empezamos a pensar que los dos del noreste, que hay mucha gente tener doble ciudadanía. Organization) y apoyado por el sectores más vulnerables y más débiles de blanca que también es muy pobre. Álvarez Álvarez anunció un nuevo programa Intercambio de Sindicalistas Estados la sociedad eran las familias de pocos describió la condición de una recipiente de para extender el programa de cirugía Unidos/Cuba, la Coalición para la Justicia ingresos que usan el aceite para la calefac- aceite de escasos ingresos cuyo marido gratis de los ojos empezado por Cuba a los para Cuba, Latinos Unidos, el Centro de ción en sus casas,” dijo Álvarez. está desempleado y padece de diabetes estados centrales de los Estados Unidos. Acción Internacional, Call ‘em Out, y otros El público, que incluía a much@s severa: “Para ella es simplemente o tener También dijo que hay planes para trans- grupos. activistas sociales que han luchado por el calefacción o comprar medicina. ¡Es tan formar el valor del descuento del petróleo El recibimiento de la comunidad ocur- derecho a precios asequibles de agua sencilla la cuestión! ¡Es increíble!” en fondos para el desarrollo social. rió al final de una visita a Michigan del potable, aplaudió fuertemente cuando Álvarez comentó que quizás las Álvarez resumió su mensaje diciendo: embajador y de representantes del Álvarez citó al Presidente Chávez sociedades más avanzadas estén en África “La única manera para luchar contra la Consulado Venezolano en Chicago que fue diciendo: “Ustedes saben que siempre y entre los pueblos indígenas en Latino- pobreza es darle poder a los pobres. Sean facilitada por el Representante Estatal de hablamos sobre el Norte y el Sur. Él dijo américa porque aunque hay pobreza nadie parte de esta ofensiva contra la pobreza y Michigan, LaMar Lemmons III. que lo que es clave aquí para mí es que el se queda atrás. la exclusión. El Embajador Álvarez explicó cómo el Sur existe en el Norte. Todas estas luchas Como much@s en Detroit temen las Otra vez, no vamos a solucionar todos programa de calefacción de la vivienda que los problemas. Pero juntos podemos ayudó a 200.000 personas en nueve esta- mostrar que otro mundo es posible, con dos de los Estados Unidos el invierno Subscribete a Mundo Obrero algunos recursos y mucha solidaridad.” pasado fue el resultado de las necesidades $2 por 8 semanas de prueba $25 por un año Mientras estaban en Michigan, el evidentes después del desastre del huracán Embajador Álvarez y la delegación del Katrina. Venezuela Bolivariana inmediata- Nombre______Teléfono ______Consulado en Chicago se reunieron en mente organizó ayudas, incluyendo la Dirección ______Lansing con el Comité Afro-Americano de apertura de la refinería de petróleo de la Legislatura de Michigan, y en Detroit CITGO en Lake Charles para ser usada Ciudad / Estado / Código Postal ______con el alcalde y miembros del concejo como refugio de emergencia, fondos para WW Publishers, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011 municipal.