AMÉRICA LATINA 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 59, No. 1 Jan. 5, 2017 $1 Charleston, S.C., see page 4. Mass protests planned FIGHT TRUMP! By Stephen Millies

Jan. 1 — People are organizing all over the United States to go to Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, and spoil Donald Trump’s “inhoguration.” The racist, sexist predator threatening to ramp up the nuclear arms race will be met with mass protests at #J20Resist. J20 organizers are calling for people to gather at what they are renaming “Anti-Columbus Plaza” in front of D.C.’s Union Station at 6 a.m. on Jan. 20. A march on the White House will begin at 10 a.m. The cops and agencies of the state are trying to stop peo- ple from saying “No to Trump!” Racist cops love Trump, who called Mexican immigrants “rapists” and who wants to crush the Black Lives Matter movement. Ludicrous limits are being set to attempt to stop demon- strators. Among the items the cops are trying to prohibit at checkpoints are backpacks, balloons and even signs larger than 8 by 6 by 4 inches — about the size of half a sheet of typing paper! “Many restrictions are vague, all-encompassing, contra- dictory and open to police interpretation,” said New York J20 organizer Taryn Fivek. “All are intended to restrict people’s freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and free- dom of expression.” Organizers not deterred by restrictions But none of these police state measures are stopping or- ganizers from filling buses. J20 organizer Nate Peters says

Continued on page 6

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

• J21: Women say ‘No misogyny’ 7

• Torture in U.S. prisons 2

• Big Pharma rips us off 3

• Mumia on Dylann Roof 4 Subscribe to Workers World 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 • 1968: Black soldiers defy Brass 6 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/ • Aleppo victory 9

Name ______• EU money woes 9 Email______Phone ______• U.S. and Africa 11 Street______City / State / Zip______Workers World 212.627.2994 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org • Editorial Back in the USSR 10 Page 2 Jan. 5, 2017 workers.org

From a Pennsylvania prison: The torture chair  By Sehu Kessa Saa Tabansi Here is the clever publicity photo of just one of numer- In the U.S. ous U.S. companies pushing a sanitized, sterilized ver- Mass protests planned: FIGHT TRUMP! ...... 1 Dec. 26 — Power to the people! sion of the so-called “Compliance Chair.” This product’s From a Pennsylvania prison: The torture chair ...... 2 Since this has been the holiday season of consumer original purpose was for immobilization and “secure” Big Pharma prices, profits soar ...... 3 shopping frenzies and enlarged corporate profiteering, I transportation of a human being to a vehicle or a close Charleston, S.C.: Retrial set for killer cop ...... 4 thought it would only be fitting to offer a present of my destination within Bureaus of Corrections and other ju- Mumia Abu-Jamal: A crack in the wall of death ...... 4 own to the millions of workers out there who rarely get dicial centers. a glance inside the U.S Torture Centers to see firsthand The machine may not appear too threatening. At a quick On the picket line ...... 5 the American torture devices right off the assembly line. glance or to the inexperienced public, it would be easy not 1968: Black GIs resist ‘riot-control’ duty, 43 arrested . . . 6 So here is an exclusive exposé to the masses who read to see the enormous pain inflicted by this sadistic device. Women say ‘No to misogyny!’ ...... 7 Workers World newspaper. But it is this monstrous machine that prison plan- Chicago protest greets Pence ...... 7 tations nationwide have co-opted and adapted into a Chicago transit workers take to the streets ...... 8 torture device where human beings are strapped in for Protesters at football events say #NoDAPL ...... 11 hours of severe pain.  Around the world Palestinians celebrate release of hunger striker Bilal Kayed 4 Haitian and African migrants stranded at U.S. border . . .5 Syria wins in Aleppo: What next? ...... 9 Financial distress imperils EU banks ...... 9 Haiti: Election protests continue ...... 9 Anti-Russia campaign diverts fight against Trump . . . .10 U.S. imperialism foments conflict in Africa ...... 11  Editorial A tragic anniversary ...... 10

 Noticias en Español Los retos que plantea la ofensiva de la derecha en América Latina ...... 12

Straight from the Pennsylvania Department of Cor- rections, here is a picture of this torturous mechanical device as it is used absent the inviting display by com- panies marketing the “Compliance Chair.” This torture chair is used throughout every prison plantation in Pennsylvania, on men, women and children. What you are seeing at the top of the photo are called the “shoulder straps,” which bend the shoulders back- Workers World wards on a decline. In the middle of this barbaric chair 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. Continued on page 3 New York, N.Y. 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 59, No. 1 • Jan. 5, 2017 Closing date: Jan. 3, 2017 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt; Web Editor Gary Wilson Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, women. means of production. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning make that change. That’s why for 58 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Copyright © 2017 Workers World. Verbatim copying Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. National Office Boston Denver Lexington, KY Rochester, N.Y. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. 284 Amory St. [email protected] [email protected] 585.436.6458 except the first week of January by WW Publishers, New York, NY 10011 Boston, MA 02130 Detroit [email protected] 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Phone: 212.627.2994 617.286.6574 Los Angeles 5920 Second Ave. [email protected] [email protected] 5278 W Pico Blvd. Rockford, IL 212.627.2994. Subscriptions: One year: $30; institu- Detroit, MI 48202 Los Angeles, CA 90019 [email protected] Atlanta tions: $35. Letters to the editor may be condensed and Buffalo, N.Y. 313.459.0777 [email protected] PO Box 18123 712 Main St #113B San Diego edited. Articles can be freely reprinted, with credit to [email protected] 323.306.6240 Atlanta, GA 30316 Buffalo, NY 14202 P.O. Box 33447 Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 404.627.0185 716.883.2534 Durham, N.C. Milwaukee San Diego, CA 92163 10011. Back issues and individual articles are available [email protected] [email protected] 804 Old Fayetteville St. [email protected] [email protected] on microfilm and/or photocopy from NA Publishing, Durham, NC 27701 Baltimore Charlotte, NC Philadelphia Inc, P.O. Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998. A c/o Solidarity Center 919.322.9970 Tucson, Ariz. [email protected] P.O. Box 34249 searchable archive is ­available on the Web at 2011 N. Charles St. [email protected] [email protected] Chicago Philadelphia, PA 19101 www.workers.org. Baltimore, MD 21218 Huntington, W. Va. 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The crisis in drug costs, Part 1 Big Pharma prices, profits soar

By Betsey Piette One in 10 seniors cannot afford drugs mergers and acquisitions in the drug in- Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, while In the richest country in the world, 1 dustry that decreased competition. defending the sharp increase in the Epi- Affecting all population sectors in the in 10 seniors cannot afford prescription For example, when the number of Pen’s cost, saw her own annual salary U.S., the costs of prescription medicines medicines. In 2015 the average cost for a manufacturers of one heart medication grow from around $2.5 million to more are skyrocketing, fueled by the pharma- year’s supply of a brand-name drug in the fell from eight to three, the drug’s cost than $18 million. Martin Shkreli offered ceutical industry’s greed U.S. was around $5,800, with soared by 637 percent. A record $724 bil- to raise funds to defend Bresch. and monopoly control of seniors on average taking 4.5 lion worth of pharmaceutical company More people die from curable diseases the market. different prescriptions. mergers and acquisitions took place in The U.S. Senate Special Half of all people on Medi- 2015. (wallstreetdaily.com, June 3) The Centers for Disease Control and Committee on Aging re- care make $24,150 or less a One particularly scandalous example Prevention (CDC) reported in May that leased on Dec. 23 a 130- year, while one in ­seven survive was the August 2013 acquisition of Tur- across the U.S. hepatitis C now claims page report detailing how on income below Supplemental ing Pharmaceuticals by former hedge more lives than HIV/AIDS, despite the four pharmaceutical com- Poverty Measure thresholds. fund manager Martin Shkreli, which existence of drugs that can cure the dis- panies enriched them- Basic Medicare does not cover resulted in an drastic overnight spike ease. The CDC found that by 2013 “hep- selves by acquiring drugs prescription drugs — you have in the price of a 62-year-old drug con- atitis C-related mortality surpassed the with patents that had to purchase Medicare Part D. sidered the standard of care for treating total combined number of deaths from expired decades ago and Without that coverage, seniors a life-threatening parasitic infection. 60 other infectious diseases, including then drastically increas- needing to buy 4.5 prescriptions Shkreli raised the cost of Daraprim from pneumococcal disease and tuberculosis.” ing the cost to consumers, just because would on average pay $26,100 — consid- $13.50 per tablet to $750 — an increase Globally, from 350,000 to 500,000 they could. erably more than their annual incomes. of over 5,000 percent. He was arrested people die every year due to complica- The four companies — Retrophin, Quantifying the scope of this crisis, in December 2015 on allegations that he tions stemming from untreated hepatitis Rodelis Therapeutics, Turing Pharma- the AARP Public Policy Institute re- had plundered his own companies in a C. These deaths did not have to happen. ceuticals and Valeant Pharmaceuticals ported on Dec. 14 that the “retail cost of Ponzi-like scheme. In 2013 the U.S. Food and Drug Admin- International — invested nothing for re- brand-name drugs most commonly used A recent scandal involved a drastic istration approved the new, direct-acting search or development. They had no real by older Americans rose more than 130 increase in the price of the EpiPen, a antiviral drug Solvaldi with a 90 percent increase in the cost of production or dis- times the rate of inflation between 2006 life-saving injection device containing cure rate. In 2011 Gilead Sciences ac- tribution. However, all four drastically and 2015.” While the AARP study con- medication for people with severe aller- quired this drug through a takeover of spiked the cost of their drugs to consum- centrated on brand-name drugs, there is gies. Mylan Pharmaceutical acquired it Solvaldi’s developer, Pharmasset. While ers — from 310 percent to an incredible also growing concern about huge price in 2007 and raised the price from less initially charging $84,000 ($1,000 per 5,000 percent. increases for many generics. than $100 for a two-pen set to over $600 pill) for a 12-week course of treatment, in The study noted that the four com- Generic drugs, which account for 80 last May. 2013 Gilead introduced a slightly mod- panies were able to take advantage of percent of all prescriptions, used to be EpiPen commands over 90 percent of ified version called Harvoni, with a 95 the U.S. health care system to enrich considered one of the few health care the market. There is no real competition. percent cure rate, at the increased cost of themselves, often at taxpayers’ expense. bargains. But an August 2015 AARP Allergy patients are advised to carry two $94,500 per treatment course. Gilead’s While private insurers have restricted study found that around 27 percent of ge- EpiPens at all times. Depending on expi- profits skyrocketed. reimbursements on many drugs in re- neric prescription drugs were also expe- ration dates, the injectable drug needs to At the 2016 Glasgow HIV Congress, cent years, the Center for Medicare and riencing serious price increases. be replaced annually. Dr. Andrew Hill reported a 1,000-fold Medicaid Services provides reimburse- mark-up in the price of drugs for HIV, ment for any medication covered by Decreased competition fuels price HCV and cancer in high-income coun- Medicare Part D. spikes tries, including the U.S. Hill also cited The study concluded that more The reports found no change in pro- the wide disparity between the produc- pharmaceutical companies need to be duction costs to account for these sudden tion cost of new antiviral drugs for hep- ­investigated. and in many cases drastic price spikes. atitis C — only about $57 per treatment But they did find a growing number of course — and their astronomical market price in the U.S. (The Body Pro, Oct. 24) Next: Abundant gov’t investigations but no end to crisis. From a Pennsylvania prison: The torture chair Revolted by Trump? Continued from page 3 human being tortured in this fashion will are the “waist restraint straps,” which feel their feet swell, turning blue, green pull the pelvis and abdomen in such a and purple, causing incredible pain. Ready to manner as to cause an arch in the spine For the victim of this torture device, between the shoulder blades and the low- there can be no movement from head to er back spinal cord. The waist restraint toe. The pain is so unbearable that, over fight back? straps guarantee that the victim of this the course of 8- to 14-hour confinement torture is unable to move, often for peri- in the chair, the victim will travel outside Workers World exposed Trump’s racist, past 39 years — during spring and fall ods of eight to 14 hours or more. their body in shock and will hallucinate. bigoted agenda throughout his 18-month special fund drives and regular dona- On the sides are two planks of plastic We want readers to know that, in ad- campaign — and was part of militant tions to the Workers World Supporter with straps. These are called the “wrist dition, prisoners are naked, and that protests against both him and Clinton all Program — we’ve welcomed your contri- restraint straps,” and they cut off the it is not unusual for there to be cold air across the country. Now he’s won and is butions that help put WW’s revolutionary blood circulation to both hands. The arms blowing, for the victim to be sprayed with putting together an an­ ti-working class ad- socialist outlook into action. are laid into these restraints, a hard sur- pepper spray and for the victim to have ministration: a die-hard white supremacist We asking you to contribute now to help face with no cushion or anything of that to sit in their own urine and feces until for attorney general, a Wall Street billion- counter Trump with a people’s agenda. nature. There is nothing cozy or comfort- released. aire for the Treasury, an adversary of Medi- Write one-time checks to Workers World, able about this instrument of pain! In this holiday season, besides Christ- care and the Affordable Care Act for Health or join the Workers World Supporter The oppressors apply these straps in mas, New Year’s, Hanukkah and Kwan- and Human Services, a gung-ho ex-general Program with either a yearly lump sum a deliberate manner so that they are so zaa, there is “Watch Night.” I’ve been told for Defense Secretary. or monthly donations. Members receive a tight against the flesh that the poor soul’s that this is the night that slaves knew at U.S. workers and oppressed people need year’s subscription to WW, a monthly let- hands can swell three times their nor- midnight they would be free because of a fighting voice for the big struggles ahead! ter about timely issues and five free trial mal size. Discoloration occurs in phases, the Emancipation Proclamation — or so Workers World is ready for that chal- subscriptions to give to friends — all for a from blue to green, then purple to black, they thought. lenge. We believe Marxism is now more donation of $75 a year. For $100 you also while the fingers sting and then eventual- With instruments of torture, the whip needed than ever to pinpoint where cap- get any book from World View Forum. ly go numb from lack of blood circulation. has simply evolved. So I ask readers and italist reaction comes from. And Lenin- For $300 a year (only $25 a month) you At the bottom of the chair are the “an- workers, are we really free? What’s the ism shows that fighting oppression of all get your pick of five books or PVN videos. kle restraint straps,” which, like the wrist difference between whips and straps? kinds is absolutely necessary to unify the And you can always contribute more. restraints, stop the bloodflow to the lower Sehu Kessa Saa Tabansi is currently working class and abolish this decaying We won’t complain. extremities. When the agents of repres- incarcerated in the Pennsylvania pris- profit system. We invite you — sign up today! Write sion assemble these plastic-coated straps on system. He is a founding member of We need your financial help! checks to Workers World and mail them, around the ankles, there is no space left the New Black August Collective and is You know our politics. We rely on with your name and address, to 147 W. between the ankle straps and the skin, serving a life sentence after having been the financial support of our members, 24th St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011. thus no blood circulation to the feet. The wrongfully convicted. friends, allies and subscribers. For the Or donate online at workers.org/donate/. Page 4 Jan. 5, 2017 workers.org

Charleston, S.C. Retrial set for killer cop

By Gene Clancy Ninth Circuit solicitor, Scarlett Wilson, announced she would retry the case be- In Charleston, S.C., on April 4, 2015, ginning March 1. Michael Slager, a white cop, killed Wal- The state is not required by law to ter Scott, an African-American man, by retry this or any other case ending in a shooting him five times in the back after mistrial. In fact, in order to carry out its a “routine” traffic stop. The incident was true mission of acting on behalf of the caught on cellphone video by a bystander, ruling elites, the state repressive appa- who also filmed Slager planting his own ratus makes use of what in legal terms Taser near Scott’s lifeless body. is called “discretion.” In practical terms Despite this clear, incontrovertible evi- this means that the entire judicial system dence, and after hearing from 55 witness- — the cops, the prosecutors, the judges — PHOTO: PAUL BOWERS Local community protests the shooting of Walter Scott, North Charleston City Hall, es over five weeks, one African-American can pretty much do whatever they want April 8, 2015. and eleven white jurors were unable to so long as they believe it advances the come to a unanimous verdict. The judge goals of their capitalist masters. Slager has revealed the racism and op- has received so much publicity is because declared a mistrial on Dec. 5. Like the actions of infamous Dylann pression inherent in the criminal injus- it is extremely rare for cops who shoot Whether or not the state of South Roof, who murdered nine parishioners at tice system, not only in South Carolina, Black people to be charged or held ac- Carolina would retry the case remained worship in a historic Black church, also but across the U.S. countable at all. Most often these cases moot until Dec. 30, when the state’s in Charleston, the case of the killer cop One reason the murder of Walter Scott are shunted off to a grand jury, which secretly decides not to prosecute the cop. The people of the United States are led to believe that if crimes are committed, Transcribed from a Jan. 2 then arrests and trials automatically fol- Prison Radio recording. A crack in the wall of death low. But this is not the case. prisonradio.org For poor working people, and for peo- Demand adequate By Mumia Abu-Jamal health care for Mumia he delivers his own closing arguments, ple of color, it is the cops who often decide and all prisoners. which will hardly endear him to his ju­ rors. most “legal issues,” frequently with lethal For Dylann Roof, Photos show the A death verdict for Roof strengthens results. In a 1999 study, about half of the the next few days gravity of the denial the repressive powers of the State, and discretionary decisions made by criminal and weeks of his of medical treatment gives it the false patina of “justice.” If a justice agencies were found to be made young life will prove for hep C. death sentence fails, it helps show the by police. (National Institute of Justice, his most memora- Free Mumia NOW! inherent injustice of the death penalty. ncjrs.gov) ble. That’s saying It would help all the men and women on In a racist, oppressive society, the something, consid- Death Row. consequences of this “discretion” — the ering his slaughter of nine sweet souls in ter. Even in this case, of a witless white My decision to oppose death for Roof power to arrest and even kill people with a Black Charleston church. supremacist, a killer of nine Black Chris- wasn’t an easy one, but I believe it’s the impunity — falls most heavily on the Af- For, in the next few days and weeks, tian souls. right one. rican-American community. A 2016 study a jury will convene to decide whether he If I know anything, it’s Death Row. No matter his beliefs, decades on conducted by the Washington Post found: gets a death sentence or life. I’ve seen it drive men stark raving mad. Death Row, as well as in solitary, are “Of all of the unarmed people shot and As someone who lived a lifetime on That said, my one opinion carries no mind-frying experiences. Nothing he has killed by police in 2015, 40 percent of Death Row, my opposition is unequivo- real weight in this case, for unless I miss experienced in his brief life can prepare them were Black men, even though Black cal. Even in a case such as this, my oppo- my guess, no juror will ever hear these him for such outcomes. men make up just 6 percent of the nation’s sition to the State taking life doesn’t fal- words. They will decide Roof’s fate after For life, in prison, is no picnic. population.” (Washington Post, July 11) Palestinians celebrate release of hunger striker Bilal Kayed By Joe Catron tention,” Israel sought to establish a new precedent for interning Palestinian polit- Bilal Kayed in Asira Over 1,000 Palestinians gathered Dec. ical prisoners beyond the fixed sentences ash-Shamaliya upon 12 in the town of Asira ash-Shamaliya, issued by Israeli military courts. his ­release from prison, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, The unabashedly political nature of Dec. 12. to welcome Bilal Kayed and celebrate his his case energized Kayed’s defenders and PHOTO: MOHAMMED SHOULI hard-fought release from an Israeli pris- spurred an unprecedented global cam- on after 15 years. paign for his release. parliamentarians to Palestine. Samidoun on Aug. 1, Kayed wrote: “What Kayed, a leader in the prison branch In Palestine, the PFLP mobilized in- Other events, including in Algeria, I have received from you through your of the Popular Front for the Liberation of side and outside Israel’s prisons, with Austria, Brazil, Chile, the Czech Repub- struggles, your sit-ins, your demonstra- Palestine, had been imprisoned by Israel hundreds of prisoners from different lic, France, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Por- tions, gives me more determination to since 2001 on charges of membership in factions joining Kayed’s hunger strike, tugal, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia and continue forward until victory. Either the PFLP’s Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades and as thousands of supporters filled public the United Kingdom, made the mobiliza- freedom or martyrdom.” (samidoun.net) armed struggle during the first Intifada. squares across the occupied country. tion one of the largest in support of the On the day of Kayed’s release, his A PFLP statement marking Kayed’s Internationally, Samidoun: Palestin- Palestinian prisoners’ movement. brother Mahmoud Kayed told Al-Ja- freedom said, “His victory is one for the ian Prisoner Solidarity Network coordi- Political prisoners showed their sol- zeera, “We cannot express how happy we entire Palestinian people and the pris- nated repeated days and weeks of action, idarity, from a three-day fast by Leba- are that he has been released, but it is an oners’ movement that will only strength- with over a hundred demonstrations and nese revolutionary Georges Abdallah incomplete happiness because he carries en the prisoners’ spirit of confrontation educational events across the world. and six other Arab and Basque prisoners the message of all the other prisoners against the jailer and its tools of repres- In New York, Samidoun organized in France, to a statement of support by who remain in Israeli jails.” sion.” (pflp.ps) nine rallies for Kayed, while joining pro- Black activists, including Mumia Abu-­ Samidoun and other supporters of Pal- Kayed’s 14-and-a-half year sentence tests by Students for Justice in Palestine Jamal and Sundiata Acoli. estinian political prisoners will continue expired June 13, but the morning of his groups outside the Israeli Consulate and weekly protests in 2017, in Manhattan on ‘An incomplete happiness’ expected release, he instead was ordered the Democratic National Convention most Fridays between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 into “administrative detention” — indefi- in Philadelphia. It also participated in The effort to free Kayed spurred fresh p.m. Currently these are located outside nite internment without charge or trial — educational events, including a packed gains for the Boycott, Divestment and Best Buy in Union Square, a store selling by secret decree of an Israeli commander. gathering in the Malcolm X and Dr. Bet- Sanctions (BDS) movement. The Brit- products manufactured by Hewlett Pack- The next day, Kayed launched a hunger ty Shabazz Center, and a report by New ish-Danish security conglomerate G4S, a ard, a contractor with the Israeli pris- strike to demand his freedom. York City Students for Justice in Pales- contractor with Israeli prisons, has been on system and major target of the BDS tine members at the Solidarity Center targeted by many protests in support of movement. Unprecedented mobilization only hours before Kayed ended his strike. Kayed. On December 2, G4S finalized For more information, visit samidoun. His fast, lasting 71 days, mobilized Samidoun activists held and joined a deal to sell its main Israeli unit. This net and subscribe to eepurl.com/XFJr9. both Palestinian and solidarity activists, events in Amman, Amsterdam, Athens, was a victory for Kayed and the Pales- Catron is a member of Al-Awda New ultimately forcing Israel to agree to a deal Beirut, Brussels, Copenhagen, Istanbul, tinian prisoners’ movement, whose hun- York: The Palestine Right to Return securing his release. Malmo, Vancouver and Lebanon’s Ein ger strikes and prison struggles inspired Coalition and an organizer with Sami- Kayed and his supporters feared that el-Hilweh refugee camp, while coordinat- campaigns against G4S across the world. doun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity by ordering him into “administrative de- ing the visit of a delegation of European In a letter to supporters, released by Network. workers.org Jan. 5, 2017 Page 5 Haitian and African migrants stranded at U.S. Las Vegas hotel workers beat back Trump — finally After a vicious, two-year struggle, 500 workers at Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas emerged victorious Dec. 21, winning their first four-year border Haitian refugee shelter on a building rooftop in Tijuana. contract guaranteeing annual raises, job security, health care and pensions. PHOTO: JOSÉ PARKER The majority are Latinx women workers, who joined UNITE HERE Culi- By Gloria Verdieu yard for exercise, play and other activities, nary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, and with- Tijuana, Mexico which are so important for people living un- stood illegal anti-union retaliation, intimidation and even physical assault der much stress. by management. According to the Huffington Post, Donald Trump’s hotel On visits from San Diego to Tijuana, Mexi- spent over half-a-million dollars on consultants to try to stop employees co, I was able to learn from Makeda Makossa Horrendous conditions from unionizing. The unions countered by exposing hotel co-owner Trump and Professor Wilner Metelus about the se- in Tijuana shelters as not worker-friendly and called a boycott of all his properties. The victory rious humanitarian crisis facing more than Professor Metelus was on a 15-day tour shows that even up against a rich, powerful, racist enemy, worker solidarity 5,000 Haitian and African refugees stranded to inspect the shelters in Tijuana so that he and fighting spirit can defy expectations. in Tijuana as they attempt to seek asylum in could corroborate the many complaints about UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents workers at Trump’s Washing- the United States. The two activists pointed them. People told him that services provided ton, D.C., hotel, announced a separate agreement Dec. 21 for “an orderly out the horrors facing the refugees and the to the Haitian and African migrants are total- organizing campaign.” Far from acting in good faith, the hotel reveals its efforts to assist them. ly inadequate. They include bedbug-infested minimal willingness to comply with existing labor laws. Local 25 could still Makossa is the heroic founder and develop- facilities, insufficient food, unsanitary bath- expect a fight from Trump and company. (prnewswire.com, Dec. 21) er of San Diego’s World Beat Center (WBC) in rooms and a lack of electricity. the city’s historic Balboa Park and of the Casa In one hostel with a capacity of 60 people, Employees denounce IBM CEO for reaching out to del Túnel across the border in downtown Ti- he found up to 500 Haitians. Some of the hos- juana. Both are important progressive venues tels are roofless, or located near dumpsters, Trump in their respective cities. and women and children share space with When news broke that Trump was elected president, people of color, The two facilities’ cultural activities attract unrelated men. women, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities and low- many youth of color, and are frequently the On my third visit to Tijuana on Dec. 22, I wage workers flocked to the streets and social media to express their disgust sites for important political events. Makossa had the opportunity to ask Professor Metelus and fear. But Ginni Rometty, CEO of tech giant IBM, saw only dollar signs. has fought tirelessly and successfully to keep a few questions. In a Nov. 14 letter, she offered IBM’s solutions to help Trump “advance [his] both centers open in the face of resistance Gloria Verdieu: Where are you from? national agenda.” IBM founder Thomas Watson, who received the Nazi Mer- from local reactionary forces. Professor Metelus: I’m from Gonaïves, it Cross of the German Eagle for collaborating with Hitler’s regime, would be Makossa has devoted much time and ef- Haiti, but I live in Mexico. proud. (theguardian.com, Feb. 18, 2001) fort to raising awareness about the serious GV: How many Haitian migrants are there IBM workers, however, objected. An online petition signed by current and humanitarian crisis just over the border. She in Tijuana? former employees denounced the idea that IBM would help create a national makes frequent trips to Tijuana’s Casa del PM: Over 5,000 have shown up. That is Muslim registry and asserted “our right to refuse participation in any U.S. Túnel-Cultural Arts Center, where she re- the registered number, but there are many government contracts that violate constitutionally protected civil liberties.” cently made contact with some of the 5,000 more. There is an urgent need for help for this The petition also called on IBM to expand diversity programs “targeting or more Haitian and African refugees strand- migration crisis. women, people of color and LGBT people with the goal of doubling recruit- ed at the border with few resources, but hop- GV: How many shelters are there in Tijua- ment of these groups in 2017.” As of Dec. 23, the petition had collected over ing to be able to enter the U.S. eventually. na? 500 signatures. (ibmpetition.org) Makossa transports food, clothing, blan- PM: There are 35 shelters total. Hundreds A Dec. 19 Intercept article noted that the IBM petition is similar to the kets, sleeping bags, toys and other needed of Haitian and African migrants continue to “Never Again Pledge,” signed by about 1,700 tech workers from various com- supplies donated by individuals and organi- be sustained in overcrowded shelters in Ti- panies agreeing to never “participate in the creation of databases of iden- zations in the U.S. Making that journey is no juana, experiencing inclement weather and a tifying information for the United States government to target individuals easy task. She has to pass through a highly lack of resources. I have visited many shelters, based on race, religion or national origin” and to “minimize the collection … militarized border, coming and going, and one located in El Alacrán, an impoverished of data [to] facilitate ethnic or religious targeting.” (neveragain.tech) many times her van is subjected to searches neighborhood away from the city center. and scannings, which means a lot of wasted The Mexican authorities are relocating mi- Airport workers: strike in D.C., win contract in Minn. time spent waiting. grants of African descent to shelters in areas “We are on strike today to send a message that we mean business,” said My first trip to Tijuana with Makossa and like this, plagued by lack of food, care and hy- baggage handler Marvin Lynch on Dec. 14 at Washington, D.C.’s National the WBC family was on Dec. 17. We visited a giene. I was deeply shocked [by what I saw] Airport. The workers at both National and Dulles airports were protesting Haitian art exhibit celebrating International and sent a message with requests for the gov- poverty wages and lack of respect from their contract employer, Huntleigh Migrants Day at the Casa del Túnel. Makos- ernments of Mexico and the United States to Corp. Contracted airport service workers are excluded from the airports’ sa drove a van full of the supplies needed to do something. living wage law and earn as little as $3.77 an hour plus tips. Workers are de- prepare a Haitian feast for the evening cele- Some Haitians are being committed to manding that all contractors pay workers $15 an hour. (dclabor.org, Dec. 15) bration, which was a special tribute to all the rehabilitation centers, saying that they are Meanwhile, contract workers at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport won workers and organizers supporting the Afri- mentally ill. This is not true. They are being union representation on Nov. 14. Service Employees Local 26, which be- cans and Haitians in Tijuana. placed in these centers because they have no gan organizing them in 2013, will negotiate on behalf of 600 mostly East Our second trip together was on Dec. 21 for place else to put them. African contract workers. The union statement noted that their campaign a special ceremony for Professor Metelus at GV: How did the Haitian migrants get to aims to “eliminate Minnesota’s racial economic inequalities“ and is part of one of the hostels hosting Haitian migrants. Tijuana from Haiti? the national Fight for $15 movement for contracted airport workers. Now My hosts explained to me that this shel- PM: They did not come directly from Hai- “85,000 airport workers nationwide have won wage increases or other im- ter, which is located at a church, is one of the ti. They came from Brazil or Colombia, for provements, including health care, paid sick leave and worker retention pol- better facilities because it has two bathrooms example. They came by foot, by bus — en- icies.” (seiu26.org, Dec. 5) For more about this ongoing struggle, see airport- with showers, a kitchen for food preparation countering corrupt police — lots of money workersunited.org. and everyone sleeps inside. There is a court- paying guides — predatory smugglers — rob- bery, rape, murder — finally reaching Tijuana WW PHOTO: GLORIA VERDIEU only to be housed in shelters not 25 minimum wage victories in 2016; 34 planned for Professor Wilner Metelus speaking at a prepared or equipped for this shelter housing Haitians in Tijuana. 2017-18 influx. A Dec. 21 study by the National Em- GV: What can we do to help? ployment Law Project reported there PM: Let people know what were more minimum wage victories in is going on. Bring people to Ti- 2016 than in any year since the Fight for juana to see for themselves what $15 campaign was initiated by fast food is happening. This is a crisis. and other low-wage workers four years African Americans should join ago. Twenty-five states, cities and counties in making an appeal to the U.S. raised pay for 11.8 million workers in 2016. government to take some action Workers in another 21 states and cities will in regard to this crisis. Join the WW PHOTO efforts of [Makossa] … and help receive raises in 2017, and new campaigns Worker solidarity launches lunch- the Haitians to become self-suf- are underway for 8 million workers in at rush Fight For $15 protest at ficient, to get jobs and begin least 13 states and cities during 2017-2018. Roanoke, Va., Burger King, Nov. 4. (For detailed data, see nelp.org.) their lives where they are. Page 6 Jan. 5, 2017 workers.org AUGUST 1968 Black GIs resist ‘riot-control’ duty, 43 arrested

By John Catalinotto the anti-war protest spill over into the Anger radiated through the barracks Black community. when orders reached the Black troops of With their midnight the 1st Armored Division that they would meeting, the Black GIs be sent to Chicago on riot-control duty. were saying, “No way!” GIs spread a message throughout Fort Hood, Texas, on Aug. 23, 1968: They GI revolts in Vietnam would meet on the grassy area at the — and the U.S. main intersection of the fort to start an A week earlier, on all-night discussion. More than 100 GIs Aug. 13, Black Ma- showed up to plan what to do. It was more rines at the Danang than a rap session. It was a protest. brig in Vietnam tore To the generals and colonels whose or- the place apart and ders allowed no refusal, it was mutiny. burned a cellblock. It Some of the GIs had won medals for took a force of MPs fir- bravery. Some had been wounded. After ing shotguns to crush a year of heavy combat in Vietnam, the the rebellion among fed-up Black troops were outraged at be- the 228 unarmed men. ing ordered to occupy African-American Also in Vietnam, neighborhoods in Chicago. at U.S. Army prison

What these soldiers believed — and Long Binh Jail on WW PHOTO: ELLEN CATALINOTTO it was true — was that the government Aug. 20, a band of From left, Pfc. Ernest Bess, attorney Michael Kennedy, Pfc. Guy Smith, Sp/4 Albert Henry, Pvt. Ernest Frederick, Sgt. feared a Black uprising and planned to prisoners rushed the Robert Rucker, Sp/4 Tollie Royal. October 1968 at Fort Hood, Texas. use the U.S. Army to shoot down their gate between the me- sisters and brothers. dium security section and the main ad- troops fired 155,000 rounds at the popu- to go back to their barracks for their own Some of the Black GIs had been among ministrative part of the compound. Then lation, killing most of the 43 people who good. those sent to Chicago in April 1968 to they broke through. They proceeded to died during the struggle. The Black GIs stayed strong: No com- do “riot control” after Dr. Martin Luther burn down the building, which contained That same month in Newark, N.J., the mands from an officer would change their King’s assassination sparked a mass Black all their records, and nine other large National Guard entered the city and was decision to refuse to kill their people. rebellion. Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley buildings. Black soldiers led this revolt. responsible for most of the 26 deaths Hours passed. Orders went out to the mil- told them then that they should “shoot to Back in the U.S., the Black GIs at Fort there. itary police: “Arrest them at dawn.” kill any arsonist and to shoot to maim or Hood were rising up. They knew they At Fort Hood, as Black GIs met all night At 6 a.m., two MP companies were or- cripple anyone looting.” (chicago68.com) would be ordered to shoot their own peo- resisting orders, the commanding officer dered to clear the grassy area where the Now Chicago was the venue for the ple if sent to Chicago. During the July of the 1st Armored Division, Maj. Gen. soldiers were meeting. They arrested 43 1968 Democratic National Convention. 1967 mass rebellion in Detroit’s Black John Boles, tried to talk the men back to soldiers and took them to the post stock- Rebellious youth were coming by the community, Michigan Gov. George Rom- their barracks. That failed. The provost ade and then to the stockade annex. When thousands to protest the Vietnam War. ney had ordered in the Michigan Nation- marshal, Lt. Col. Edwin Kulo, came out the troops refused orders to enter this “Boss” Daley wanted federal troops on al Guard and President Lyndon Johnson among the troops several times between prison, MPs attacked and beat them, in- hand to shoot down Black people should deployed the 101st Airborne. Some 17,000 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. and “instructed” them Continued on page 8

For more information about buses leaving from your area, Mass protests planned or local anti-Trump actions in your city, go to ...... J20resist.org For information on New Orleans contact . . [email protected] and for Oakland contact ...... [email protected] FIGHT TRUMP! To order bus seats, contact New York ...... 212-627-2994 Baltimore and greater Maryland area ...... 443-221-3775 Boston ...... 617-522-6626 Detroit ...... 313-680-5508 Huntington, W.V...... 304-690-6048 North Carolina ...... J20resist.org Philadelphia ...... 610-931-2615 Rochester, N.Y...... 585-436-6458

Milwaukee, Nov. 10

PHOTO: MILWAUKEE COALITION AGAINST TRUMP

Continued from page 1

that 100 people have already signed up to go from New York City. Buses are leaving from 147 W. 24th Street in Manhattan at midnight on Jan. 20. The deadline Buffalo, N.Y., Dec. 1 for NYC ticket sales is Jan. 11. PHOTO: IVY YAPELLI Baltimore activists at the Har- Buses will be go- tivists are saying. Workers World Party is riet Tubman Solidarity Center are ing from Charlotte, organizing buses with tickets at $30. Go organizing a Martin Luther King Durham and Ra- to J20resist.org and look for Philadelphia Jr. march on Saturday, Jan. 14, to leigh in North Car- under “Get Organized!” kick off a week of action leading olina. Departure A fundraiser for the Philadelphia bus up to J20. The MLK Day march time in Charlotte will be held at Service Employees Local will link the student and youth Raleigh, N.C., Dec 3 will be 11 p.m., 688 hall at 1924 Spring Garden on Jan. 6, movement against Trump with Jan. 19, while bus- starting at 8 p.m. Good music from local WW PHOTO: DANTE STROBINO the movement by com- es will leave from bands will be featured with a $7 to $10 munity residents. It will demand an end Natalie in Port Huron, Mich., says she Durham and Raleigh at 1 a.m. on Jan. 20. donation. No one will be turned away for to police terror; jobs, not jails; and a $15 is “pretty excited to go to D.C.” Two buses Go to J20resist.org and look for Char- a lack of funds. minimum wage with union rights. are leaving from Detroit, organized by the lotte, Durham or Raleigh under the tab The International Action Center in The Baltimore and Maryland Organiz- Michigan Emergency Committee Against “Get Organized!” Click on “Buy bus tick- Rochester, N.Y., is sending a bus to pro- ing Committee for J20 Resist will also be War & Injustice and the Moratorium ets online here.” test Trump. It leaves Rochester at 11 p.m. getting people on MARC trains to go to Now Coalition. Tickets are $85. Buses A van is coming from Huntington, on Jan. 19 and returns by 1:50 a.m. on D.C. for J20. Tickets are $8. will leave Detroit at 9 p.m. on Thursday, W.Va.; some seats are still available. Jan. 21. Seats are $60; ask about scholar- Boston is sending a bus to J20 with Jan. 19, and return on Saturday, Jan. 21, “Don’t give racist, fascist, union-hating ships and subsidized seats. tickets at $60. around 4 a.m. Trump a chance” is what Philadelphia ac- Activists in New Orleans are organiz- workers.org Jan. 5, 2017 Page 7 Women say ‘No to misogyny!’

By Monica Moorehead

Millions of women were shocked, out- raged and disgusted when the extremely misogynistic and racist Donald Trump was selected by the Electoral College to succeed Barack Obama as the next U.S. president. Many of those women had vot- ed for Hillary Clinton, who won the pop- ular vote by nearly 3 million more votes than Trump. The undemocratic nature of how a president in the capitalist U.S. is elected was once again on full display with the Electoral College all but dis- missing the fact that Trump lost the pop- ular vote. The reasons many women voted for Clinton varied from those who viewed her as a “feminist” — that is fighting for the rights of women — to those who wanted to see the first woman become president on the heels of the historic 2008 and 2012 elections of the first Black president. Let’s go on the record now that Clin- ton is not and never was a feminist. She is an all-out imperialist — check out her International Working Women’s Day 2016 rally in Harlem, N.Y. , record of interventions in Honduras, Lib- at Harriet Tubman statue. At left, Monica Moorehead. ya, etc., as Obama’s secretary of state — as well as the candidate that most of Wall WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN Street backed for president. fy as LGBTQIA, Native people, Black and Beyond J21 divert more women into the Democratic In the days following the election, tens Brown people, people with disabilities, First called the “Million Woman’s Party. Or will this movement really at- of thousands of people, many of them survivors of sexual assault — [so] that March,” the organizers of the Women’s tract the most oppressed and marginal- women of all ages, spontaneously poured our communities are hurting and scared. March on Washington issued an official ized women? These are the women who into the streets from high schools, col- We are confronted with the question of apology to Dr. Phile Chionesu, an Afri- are involved in and leading struggles such lege campuses and workplaces, to pro- how to move forward in the face of na- can-American woman who initiated the as the ongoing Fight for $15 and a union; test Trump under the popular Twitter tional and international concern and original MWM, where more than 2 mil- against police brutality and killings; the hashtag #NotMyPresident. fear.” (womensmarch.com) lion, majority Black women and other right to health care including reproduc- Then on Nov. 21, a national press re- Organizers continued: “In the spirit of women of color flooded the streets of Phil- tive justice; for housing and quality edu- lease announced a Women’s March on democracy and honoring the champions adelphia in 1997 under the broad banner cation; and an end to all forms of sexism Washington for Jan. 21, the day after of human rights, dignity and justice who of unity and sisterhood in the aftermath of and patriarchal attitudes. Trump is inaugurated. have come before us, we join in diversi- the Million Man March in 1995. One thing is clear: Women of all ages, ty to show our presence in numbers too The J21 call recognizes other important nationalities, gender identities and ex- ‘Defend the most marginalized’ great to ignore. The Women’s March on past demonstrations like the 1963 March pressions, and range of abilities will be Backed by more than 70 endorsers, in- Washington will send a bold message to on Washington, which merged the Civil descending upon Washington or gather- cluding Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, our new administration, Congress, Sen- Rights Movement with the fight for eco- ing in their cities on Jan. 21 to be seen and Gloria Steinem and Harry Belafonte, the ate, state and local governments on their nomic justice; the 1965 March on Wash- heard, many for the first time, which is a Women’s March on Washington stated first day in office, and to the world that ington for Peace in Vietnam; and the four progressive step forward. in part: “The rhetoric of the past elec- women’s rights are human rights. We marches on Washington for the rights of The intervention of the left wing of the tion cycle has insulted, demonized and stand together, recognizing that defend- lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in 1979, big-business Democratic Party, which threatened many of us — immigrants of ing the most marginalized among us is 1987, 1993 and 2000. J21 will definitely reflect, makes it all the all statuses, Muslims and those of di- defending all of us. In early December, J21 organizers an- more important for the progressive po- verse religious faiths, people who identi- “We support the advocacy and resis- nounced that permits had been approved litical movement to be there in solidarity tance movements that reflect our mul- by various D.C. agencies for a gathering with the many women who not only want tiple and intersecting identities. We call near the U.S. Capitol at Third Street SW to protest the Trump administration, but on all defenders of human rights to join and Independence Avenue at 10 a.m. for who will be interested in building and us. This march is the first step towards a march and rally. Local and statewide leading a long-term, independent, multi- unifying our communities, grounded in Facebook pages have attracted tens of national, multigender, grassroots move- new relationships, to create change from thousands of people mobilizing for the ment for real social and economic change. the grassroots level up. We will not rest march. Nationally coordinated J21 soli- until women have parity and equity at all darity protests have also been called for Moorehead was the 2016 Workers levels of leadership in society. We work those unable to travel to Washington. World Party presidential candidate and peacefully while recognizing there is no A very important question about the is a co-coordinator of the International true peace without justice and equity for Women’s March on Washington concerns Working Women’s Coalition in New all. HEAR OUR VOICE.” whether or not J21 will be used to try to York City.

Cleveland, Nov. 18 WW PHOTO: SUSAN SCHNUR Chicago ing an “Anti-Trump Inauguration Rally & March” on Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. in Duncan protest Plaza. That’s in front of City Hall at 300 Perdido Street. The action is being initiat- ed by Take ‘Em Down NOLA and the New greets Orleans Working Group. The Anti Police-Terror Project in Oak- land, Calif., “is ramping it up in prepa- Pence ration for Trump.” They’re beginning a “week of action with a Reclaiming King’s Hundreds of demonstrators greet- Radical Legacy March” and say this will ed Vice President-elect Mike Pence be “120 hours of autonomous direct action as he arrived to address well-heeled in resistance to the fascist Trump agenda. luncheon goers at the Chicago Club This year we are focused on immigrant on Dec. 30. Protesters chanted, rights, protection of our Muslim brothers “Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Mike Pence and sisters, women’s reproductive rights, go away!” and other slogans outside loving our LGBTQ sisters, brothers and the wealthy private club. siblings, and the defense of Black life.” — Report and photo by Jeff Sorel Page 8 Jan. 5, 2017 workers.org

Chicago transit workers take to the streets

Bus and rail operators, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 whose contract expired over a year ago, picketed Dec. 21 at three sites to demand the Chicago Transit Authority bargain seriously toward a new contract. The CTA instead has proposed no wage increases, fewer holidays, an 18 percent increase in health insurance premiums and conversion of many full-time to part-time positions. Chanting “They say cutback! We say fight back!” the work- ers showed powerfully that effective bargaining must sometimes be done in the streets. — Story and photo by Jeff Sorel

AUGUST 1968 Black GIs resist ‘riot-control’ duty, 43 arrested

Continued from page 6 By the end of the weekend we had civil- was a sign of support for the Black troops brothers.” ian attorneys for the GIs and were send- among the other soldiers on the base, in- Kennedy, the six GIs and the ASU del- juring some. One who had been wounded ing out the first press releases. cluding some of the white troops. egation celebrated the successful out- in Vietnam had the stitches on his kidney We managed to visit the six “ringlead- Life Magazine and the New York Times come. Even the GIs who had to spend a reopened. ers” on Sept. 7 and get their stories before had reporters at the trial, and our dele- few months in the stockade said they felt When the dust cleared, 43 Black GIs the MPs ran Stapp and me off the base. gation covered the court-martial for The they had won. were under arrest. Thirty-one faced spe- They served Stapp with an order barring Bond and Workers World newspaper. For the Pentagon, what the Black GIs cial courts-martial, with a maximum his return. Ellen Catalinotto wrote in the Nov. 10, did was a direct challenge to the chain of sentence of six months in prison. The Four days later, Stapp and two oth- 1968 issue of WW: command. other 12 faced general courts-martial er ASU staff GIs, Bill Smith and Rich- “[In statements to the courtroom,] Pfc. The goal of the founders of the ASU that could bring much longer sentences. ard Wheaton, were arrested by the local Guy Smith … told the court, ‘I demon- was to break the chain of command by The officers considered six of those 12 the sheriff in Killeen, Texas. They were fined strated against Army policy here and in forming an organization that represent- “ringleaders.” They faced years in prison. the $600 they had with them after being Vietnam. ... There is racism and preju- ed the rank-and-file soldiers. ASU orga- They were to be tried by officers under found guilty of “vagrancy.” (This sum was dice here. General Boles said he would nizers knew that in 1968 they would most the command of the ranking officers of roughly equivalent to $4,000 in 2016.) do something about it, but nothing has likely find command-defying attitudes on the division. In the normal operations been done. ... There are clubs in Killeen a mass scale among Black GIs who iden- of the Army, if the generals want convic- The trial of the six ‘ringleaders’ [the base town] where Black GIs can’t go. tified with the Black Panthers or other tions, they get them — if the defendants The military officers running Fort ... The Black man has been held back be- Black Liberation organizations backing are isolated. In this case, however, the Hood knew they had a problem with the cause of his color. Your convictions add to national liberation struggles worldwide. defendants had support. 43 Black GIs arrested: If they just let ev- the injustice.’ ... The ASU not only endorsed the rebel- eryone go, it might encourage further “The court-martial of six Black GIs lion of the Black troops. To further shatter American Servicemen’s Union resistance. But a hard crackdown could who demonstrated along with 100 oth- ties to command, the ASU succeeded in In the summer of 1968, I was circula- arouse sympathy, bring more publicity ers against racism and riot control duty convincing others, including white GIs, to tion manager of The Bond, the monthly and spark further resistance. ended here tonight after four days. Two express solidarity with Black resistance. newspaper of the American Service- They made a quiet concession. Fort men were acquitted, two got sentenc- The lesson for the Pentagon was that men’s Union, an anti-war and anti-racist Hood’s courts-martial allowed the de- es of three months hard labor and the the conscripted Army, especially one po- organization of low-ranking GIs. As of fense to use a legal technicality to get others received bad conduct discharges. liticized by an unpopular war, might be mid-1968, the union had some 4,000 ac- many of the troops off without serving The sentences, considerably less than the unreliable if used against rebellions in tive-duty members and about three times time. Some others got sentences ranging maximum, were an indication of the Ar- the African-American communities in that number read each issue of The Bond. from three to 11 months. my’s fear that harsher punishment might the United States. The ASU’s founder and chairperson, The technicality was that some of backfire and lead to open rebellion. … The lesson for revolutionaries was Andy Stapp, and I were in the union of- the GIs were in an automobile and thus “Morale was high as the men left the that it was possible to weaken the main fice on Saturday morning, August 24, couldn’t hear the order to disperse. courtroom, shaking hands and gathering repressive organ of the imperialist state, 1968, doing paperwork and discussing During different courts-martial, a couple around the jeep that was to take Henry to the U.S. Armed Forces. whether to go to the anti-war protest at dozen GIs were “placed” in that car. the stockade. The relatively lenient sen- Based on a chapter in Catalinotto’s, the DNC. Cars were leaving that day from Stapp couldn’t venture into Fort Hood tences were a victory — not of justice, but “Turn the Guns Around: Mutinies, Sol- New York. without facing arrest and six months of the strength and determination of the dier Revolts and Revolutions,” available The phone rang. Stapp picked it up. Af- in prison. The Bond’s Vietnam editor Black soldiers not to be used against their Jan. 1 at online booksellers. ter a few seconds, he signaled for me to Bill Smith, journalist Ellen Catalinotto get on the extension. A Spc.5 from Fort and I went in late October to attend the Hood, Texas, was on the call. He told us court-martial of the six soldiers Stapp NEW of the arrests that morning. and I had visited in September: Pfc. Er- TURN THE GUNS AROUND Mutunies, Soldier Revolts and Revolutions One look between us and we knew this nest Bess, Pfc. Guy Smith, Spc.4 Albert was our priority. I kept getting more de- Henry, Pvt. Ernest Frederick, Sgt. Robert Weaving together GI letters, interviews and first-hand tails while Stapp called up the National Rucker and Spc.4 Tollie Royal. narratives with historical research, the author brings to life GI resistance in the Vietnam War era, shows its Emergency Civil Liberties Committee — For their attorney, the ASU lined up relation to capitalist state power and highlights why an organization of progressive attorneys. Michael Kennedy, one of the most effec- breaking the military chain of command is an essential They told Stapp to get the names of the tive defense attorneys for political cases step to ending oppression around the globe. arrested GIs. at that time. During the 1960s and 1970s, “If schools in the United States really wanted to impart It was the kind of lucky break in orga- Kennedy represented Black Panther lead- historical truth, Catalinotto’s ‘Turn The Guns Around’ nizing that comes from hard work. The er Huey Newton as well as members of would be required reading. He tells the true story of this GI, who lived on base, called us because the American Indian Movement involved epoch. Few participants know more about the mass­ ive he had just seen an article in the August in the epic 1973 struggle at Wounded GI rebellion against the Vietnam War, the anti-war 1968 Esquire Magazine based on an in- Knee in South Dakota. ­veterans’ movement or the history of soldier revolts terview with Stapp and “knew right away To avoid the Killeen sheriff, our ASU from the Paris Commune to the Portuguese coup.” I had to join this union.” His Black MP delegation stayed at the on-base home of – Pvt Larry Holmes GI resister and organizer for friend would transmit the names to this the GI and his spouse who had called in the American Serviceman’s Union 1972-74. GI’s spouse, who would call them in to us. the names to the ASU. This hospitality Available at online booksellers workers.org Jan. 5, 2017 Page 9

Syria wins in Aleppo: What next?

By Chris Fry The inhabitants of East Aleppo are free sian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Kar- is obviously enraged by this resolution, now from the terrorists, who used them lov, by a Turkish police officer. Karlov had as it fails to demand that President Assad The Syrian military has successfully lib- as human shields.” (tinyurl.com/jp3tt3r; previously been the ambassador to the step down. erated the entire city of Aleppo, which, up Zenit, Dec. 26) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Pro-war Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote until the current conflict broke out in 2012, Many Aleppo residents have returned If this was an attempt to torpedo Syrian on Twitter, “I fear what is being hailed as was the largest city in Syria. For more than to inspect homes that were damaged or peace negotiations, of which Karlov was a a ceasefire in Syria will become a capit- four years, much of Aleppo had been occu- destroyed by the intense warfare. Some key participant, it backfired. ulation to Russia and Iran.” (bloomberg. pied by U.S.-supported “rebel” forces, in- 400,000 people have been killed in the com, Dec. 29) cluding groups tied to al-Qaida, and many Syrian conflict. Another 4.8 million Syr- U.S. imperialism out of negotiations Sara Flounders, co-director of the In- thousands of non-Syrian mercenaries. ians have been forced to flee the country, U.S. imperialism, ignoring the terrible ternational Action Center, told Press TV The people in Aleppo are jubilant. 6.1 million more are homeless in their suffering that this war has caused for the in an interview on Dec. 31 that the very Christians, who make up 10 percent of own country, and a once-modern infra- Syrian people, has tried to overturn the fact that a Syrian ceasefire agreement Syria’s population, were able to conduct a structure has been largely destroyed. elected government of President Bashar was reached without the participation of religious Christmas ceremony in Aleppo (worldvision.org, Nov. 15) al-Assad and install a regime tailored to the U.S. is an extremely important devel- for the first time in five years. On Dec. 28, a ceasefire brokered by serve Wall Street. opment. She added that it shows Wash- Dr. Nabil Antaki, a physician who Russia and Turkey was announced in Now it finds itself closed out of the up- ington was the “biggest impediment” to stayed and served his patients in western Moscow. Negotiations for a political set- coming negotiations, which will include peace all along. Aleppo through the war, told a reporter: tlement to the war are scheduled for Jan- the Syrian government, Russia, Turkey, U.S. imperialism, stymied for now, re- “The situation in Aleppo is now much uary in Kazakhstan’s capital city of As- Iran and several opposition groups. The fuses to stop its efforts to get a grip over better than it was in the last four years. tana. Turkey had been a main conduit of Islamic State group and the al-Qaida af- Syria and the whole Middle East. “It is It is now almost liberated from the reb- the Pentagon and CIA’s billions of dollars filiate in Syria are excluded. The United not for certain that this is ending,” said els-terrorists. The inhabitants of Aleppo of weapons and training to the “rebels,” Nations Security Council has passed a Flounders. “I think the U.S. efforts to de- have a feeling of safety, there has been that is, the reactionaries. Russian-authored resolution backing stabilize the entire region will very much no mortar shelling in the last few days The agreement came just days after the ceasefire and negotiations. Although continue. That is a real danger we need to as it was daily during the last four years. the shocking assassination of the Rus- forced to go along with this, Washington be aware of.” Financial distress imperils EU banks

By G. Dunkel In 2014, one euro at its highest bought don’t reduce the total. the seamy side of Wall Street, pointed out $1.33. By the end of 2016, one euro trad- Leading up to a general strike at the in July: “The total exposure of French Jan. 1 — The European capitalists cre- ed for $1.04. While only 19 out of the 28 beginning of December that all the Greek banks ... to Italian government debt ex- ated the European Union to encourage EU countries use the euro as their official unions supported, the General Confeder- ceeds 250 billion euros. Germany holds the exchange of goods, services and cap- currency, which amounts to 337 million ation of Greek workers issued a statement: 83.2 billion worth of Italian bonds. The ital. Its greatest beneficiaries have been Europeans, the currency is officially used “We are reacting to repressive austerity, other banking sectors most at risk of con- the big banks, especially those based in by EU institutions and four other Europe- poverty and destitution. … Once again tagion are Spain (44.6 billion euros), the Germany and France. It grew to include an countries. It is second to the U.S. dol- we face absurd demands by [Greece’s EU- U.S. (42.3 billion), the UK (29.8 billion) 28 states with 24 official languages and lar as a reserve currency throughout the IMF] creditors.” (AFP, Dec. 8, 2016) and Japan (27.6 billion).” 507 million people and significantly in- world. It began circulating Jan. 1, 2002. Greek unemployment was officially JPMorgan Chase, a major U.S. bank, creased the profits of the big capitalists figured at 23.1 percent in September 2016 has won a very profitable contract from in each country, even though the EU’s Greek crisis and has gotten worse since then. the Italian government to organize and existence imposed limits on national The Greek economy is about 27 per- The new budget that the general strike manage the bailout of BMP. It is gener- ­sovereignties. cent smaller than it was in 2008 and is was called to protest contains around ally conceded that if a major bank like In almost all the countries in the EU, still shrinking. (Forbes, Dec. 28) Almost 1 billion euros from new taxes on items BMP fails, contagion could take down citizens of other EU countries are allowed all of the three “bailouts” that the Greek like cars, fixed telephone service, pay many more banks, if not the whole Ital- to live and work without restrictions. government has received since 2008 TV, fuel, tobacco, coffee and beer. Public ian banking system and, with it, banks The so-called bailouts of Greece and have gone to pay debt service, that is, to spending on salaries and pensions will throughout the eurozone. the impending bailouts of Italian banks subsidizing German and French banks also be cut by 5.7 billion euros. The euro’s creation and institutions have in essence bailed out the French- that lent Greece money. Very little was These figures reveal the deepening like the European Central Bank, which and German-based banks that have ma- used to preserve the Greek people’s living misery of the Greek people, forced into was designated to manage it, reinforced jor positions in the securities of Greek standards. The EU didn’t even reduce the hunger and homelessness to pay the big French and German economic domina- and Italian banks. interest the Greek government had to pay banks. tion of Europe. Rather than sustaining According to Nobel economist Joseph to borrow — which was 22.5 percent in and improving the living standards of Stiglitz, in 2014 the EU was the world’s 2012, according to Stiglitz. Italian banks all European workers, it has turned into largest economy; by 2015, it had slipped Greece’s debt is around 315 billion Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA a tool to increase their exploitation and back slightly behind the U.S. (From his euros, which is 180 percent of gross do- (BMP), the oldest bank in the world and oppression. book “The Euro: How a Common Curren- mestic output this year, according to the the third largest bank in Italy, is in dan- Workers’ struggles should have no cy Threatens the Future of Europe”) Cal- latest EU data. The International Mon- ger of foundering if it isn’t bailed out. Not borders. On the other hand, the national culations for 2016, though incomplete, etary Fund, no friend of the poor and just BMP but other banks, too, are prob- bourgeoisies of Europe have erased some should show a major drop in goods and oppressed, has made it clear that Greece ably shaky. of their borders to better control their services produced. won’t be able to pay off its debt if banks Wolfstreet, a website concentrating on workers.

Haiti: Election protests continue Police step up repression of Haitian protests over contested election of By G. Dunkel falls down, the cops continue to spray her. blatant that a majority of Haitians reject- banana exporter and political newcomer Jovenel Moïse. As the protests have continued, there ed the election’s legitimacy. Beginning shortly after the Nov. 20 appears to be some resistance in the Pro- PHOTO: REPEATINGISLANDS.COM Haitian election and continuing almost visional Electoral Council to certifying daily since, over 30 massive, militant Jovenel Moïse, the candidate of the Hai- demonstrations have filled the streets tian Tèt Kale Party (PHTK), as president. of Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital, The official announcement has been condemning the latest “electoral coup postponed from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3. d’état” and demanding fair and free elec- Michel Martelly, the founder and lead- tions. er of the PHTK, was president of Haiti The cops have been growing increas- from May 2011 until Feb. 2016. Martelly ingly aggressive as the protests have con- was imposed as president by then U.S. tinued. Wendy Lerisse, a Haitian videog- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and he rapher, has posted YouTube clips of many ably assisted Washington in maintaining of the protests. One of the Christmas Eve its hold on Haiti during his presidency. demonstrations included footage show- The first attempt to continue the PHTK’s ing cops using a water cannon against a hold on power, the elections of Aug. 9, group of demonstrators. As a protester 2015, failed. The fraud was so massive and Page 10 Jan. 5, 2017 workers.org Anti-Russia campaign diverts fight against Trump

By John Catalinotto ing Russia, with a capitalist system. A tragic anniversary From 1917 to 1989 the U.S. ruling class Demonstrating the U.S. intent to con- hated Russia and the Soviet Union. These tinue punitive sanctions against Russia, rulers considered the Soviet Union their December 25 marked the 25th anni- What followed the pulling down of the the lame-duck Barack Obama adminis- main enemy because it had a diametri- versary of the dissolution of the Soviet Soviet Union was a full-blown counter- tration took further measures. Obama cally opposed social system that prom- Union. revolution. Foreign capital and corrupt declared new sanctions on Dec. 30, in- ised to expropriate the capitalists’ prop- Two historic centennial anniversaries former Soviet officials joined in a feeding cluding expelling 35 people working with erty and hand it to the workers. will take place this year. Next month frenzy to snatch up what had been state Russia’s diplomatic corps as “spies.” In the 1990s the U.S. aimed to take over will usher in the 100th anniversary of property, while the material conditions Obama claimed this anti-Russian as- the weak capitalist Russia economically the February 1917 Revolution in Russia, of the great masses of the people spiraled sault was in response to Russia’s alleged and dominate it politically. Washington which started with a great demonstration downward, out of control. hacking of U.S.-based computer servers professed friendship to the Russian gov- of women textile workers on Internation- Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative and interference in the U.S. elections. ernment led by Boris Yeltsin, who was al Working Women’s Day, and which Party leader in Britain who attacked the These attacks on Russia are intermin- subservient toward U.S. imperialism. within five days overthrew the czar. unions there and gutted social programs, gled with the Democratic Party leader- Putin and the now stronger Russian Revolutionary upheavals continued was the first to openly give imperialism’s ship’s attempt to undermine the incom- capitalist class he represents play a more throughout the czarist empire, culminat- blessings to the changes in the Soviet ing administration in all areas, especially independent role. They and the Russian ing in October of the same year (Novem- leadership when she said in 1984, “I like attacking its public positions conciliatory military defend Russian capitalist and ber by our calendar) with the uprising of Mr. Gorbachev. We can do business to- to Russia. nationalist interests, which often collide workers, peasants and soldiers, led by gether.” By focusing on Trump’s friendlier ap- with U.S. imperialist interests. Syria and the Bolshevik Party of V.I. Lenin, that not Once the Soviet Union was gone, Gor- proach to Russia, the Obama-Hillary Ukraine are two areas where Russian in- only ended the monarchy for good, but bachev got his “reward” by appearing in Clinton grouping can collaborate with tervention plays a progressive role. overthrew the capitalist class and the en- commercials for Pizza Hut. Quite a come- Republican reactionaries like Senators Washington has revved up the threats tire land-owning aristocracy. down for someone who led a country of John McCain and Lindsey Graham. It against Russia, even installing “anti-mis- In future issues of Workers World we 287 million people, but nothing like what can avoid confronting the racism, sex- sile” bases and moving some NATO will write more on the tumultuous events the workers in the former Soviet repub- ism and xenophobia of the new Presi- troops to Russia’s border. But since the of 1917 that ushered in the world’s first lics were going through. dent-elect. To attack him on these issues Pentagon has failed to defeat the Taliban workers’ state. might promote a mass mobilization such in Afghanistan after 15 years, it’s hard to For now, we take up what happened Conditions under capitalism as those scheduled for Jan. 20 and 21 to imagine its generals being too optimis- just 25 years ago and what it meant for Average life expectancy in the Russian protest the new administration. tic about making war on a Russia armed the workers and farmers of the former part of the USSR was 70 years in 1991. Internet security experts like John with 7,000 nuclear warheads. Soviet Union, also called the Union of So- By 1994, after the restoration of the “free McAfee have said there is no way to prove viet Socialist Republics or USSR. market,” it was only 65. The total popu- Russia has been doing the hacking. Thus Putin’s reaction, and Trump’s Since its birth, the USSR had fought lation actually declined for the first time assertions by the CIA, the FBI and other Putin surprised many U.S. observ- to survive in a hostile capitalist world. since World War II as the death rate ex- U.S. security agencies against Russia are ers with his reaction to Obama’s latest Its greatest human losses came in World ceeded the birth rate. The free health smoke, as recent Workers World articles provocation. Instead of tit for tat, Putin War II when Nazi Germany attacked care system was discarded, along with by Stephen Millies have shown. simply said, “While we reserve the right the Soviet Union in the biggest invasion the dismantling of all the social guaran- But this particular smoke fits the needs to take reciprocal measures, we’re not go- in world history. Called Operation Bar- tees for employment, retirement income, of elements in the U.S. state and govern- ing to downgrade ourselves to the level of barossa, Germany deployed 4 million paid vacations and other advantages en- ment apparatus, including many Demo- irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy. In our troops along an 1,800-mile front. joyed by Soviet workers. cratic and Republican Party leaders. It is future steps on the way toward the resto- After four bloody years, in which the Rampant alcoholism, drug abuse and a problem for the new President-elect, at ration of Russia-United States relations, USSR lost more than 27 million people prostitution reflected the desperation least for now. we will proceed from the policy pursued and most of its industry, Soviet troops of millions who had been thrown to the by the [Trump] administration.” (New beat back Hitler’s armies, liberated East- wolves while “entrepreneurs” created More ‘fake news’ and threats York Times, Dec. 30) ern Europe from fascism and planted the profitable new markets in the trafficking The U.S. corporate media, which is While Obama’s new anti-Russian red flag on top of the Reichstag parlia- of women and addictive drugs. Condi- unanimous in its hostility to Russia and moves were mainly symbolic, previous ment building in Berlin. tions in other parts of the former Soviet President Vladimir Putin, stepped up its sanctions by the U.S. and its NATO part- The U.S. suffered practically no phys- Union became at least as bad as in Rus- “fake news” production. ners have damaged the Russian econo- ical damage in World War II. In fact, sia, if not worse. The Washington Post reported Dec. 31 my. They’ve also hurt individuals who it emerged from the conflict with an During this period, Russia was con- that Russian hackers penetrated the U.S. were Putin’s allies in rescuing Crimea economy that produced half the world’s sidered a “friend” of the United States. electric grid in Vermont. The article was from a pro-fascist coup in Ukraine. manufactured goods. From 1946 on, the Leaders like Gorbachev and Yeltsin, who filled with dire warnings that the Rus- The economic sanctions block Russian Western imperialists, led by the U.S. and went along with this vicious dismantling sians might cut off heat and light in the access to international credit and cut off Britain, started a new war — the Cold of what the workers had built, were em- New England winter. cooperation in oil field technology. Trump War — targeting the Soviet Union. braced, no matter how venal and even The Post was forced to retract this. An appointee Rex Tillerson of Exxon-Mobil buffoonish they became. Editor’s Note posted at the beginning of would like to end these sanctions so his Cold War and arms race take toll It was only after Russia, now an openly the Dec. 31 article read: “An earlier version corporation can increase its profits. The USSR was still struggling to re- capitalist country, was able to take back of this story incorrectly said that Russian In response to Putin, Trump in one build and could do little for the East Eu- control of some of its vital resources, like hackers had penetrated the U.S. electric of his many tweets praised the Russian ropean countries now allied to it, while oil, and consolidate a political and eco- grid. Authorities say there is no indication leader for being “smart” to avoid a con- the U.S. pumped billions of dollars into nomic structure that put the interests of that so far. The computer at Burlington frontation with the U.S. that would com- Western Europe through the Marshall of Russian development ahead of the Electric that was hacked was not attached plicate U.S.-Russian relations. Plan, stabilizing the capitalist economies demands of the imperialist banks and to the grid.” (tinyurl.com/z52pxot) For his overall reactionary program there. A huge arms race accompanied the corporations, that the attitude of the U.S. Progressive journalist Glenn Greenwald of vile xenophobia, racism and sexism, Cold War and was meant to bankrupt the ruling class changed. In the current pe- issued a full exposure of the Washington the President-elect deserves to be un- weakened Soviet economy. riod, conditions for the masses have im- Post’s “fake news.” (tinyurl.com/zb7xhg2) dermined by the mass movement here. All these enormous pressures on the proved, and even the imperialist media The corporate media’s anti-Russia at- Whether or not he continues to defend a first workers’ state trying to build social- have to acknowledge that Vladimir Putin tacks gloss over the 1989-91 counterrev- rapprochement with Russia, however, the ism took their toll on the Soviet system is popular compared to those who sold olution that dismantled the Soviet Union. Obama-Clinton-McCain position on Rus- from the beginning. There eventually out the Soviet Union. This event replaced the anti-capitalist sia is dangerously reactionary and the an- emerged leaders in the Communist Par- Now, most of the U.S. ruling class es- structure of the Soviet republics, includ- ti-war movement should protest it. ty who were desperate to accommodate tablishment are openly hostile to Putin, to imperialism. By the late 1980s, two of going so far as to demagogically blame these figures — Premiers Mikhail Gor- Russia for Trump. Maybe the incoming bachev and Boris Yeltsin — made conces- U.S. president thinks he can charm the sions that allowed the imperialists to re- Russian ruling class into opening up to store capitalism in Eastern Europe. They the whole Trump empire of golf cours- WAR WITHOUT VICTORY broke up the Soviet Union into 15 sepa- es, luxury hotels and casinos. But that by Sara Flounders rate countries and turned over its state- won’t stop the Pentagon from building “By revealing the underbelly of the empire, Flounders sheds insight on owned industries to private ownership, new bases in Eastern Europe and moving how to stand up to the imperialist war machine and, in so doing, save ourselves and humanity.” both domestic and foreign. more troops to Russia’s border. – Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, Many critics of the USSR who pro- In future issues, we’ll write about the President, U.N. General Assembly, 2008-2009; fessed to be socialists welcomed these great revolutions that allowed the Soviet Foreign Minister of Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. developments, hailing them as bringing a Union to develop into a world power de- Available at all major online booksellers. more democratic form of socialism. But spite all the efforts of the imperialists to they were sorely mistaken. crush it. PentagonAchillesHeel.com workers.org Jan. 5, 2017 Page 11 U.S. imperialism foments conflict in Africa

By Abayomi Azikiwe Nonetheless, it was clear to anti-impe- ly 2008, the military operation in the Horn with the release of 10,000 people arrest- Editor, Pan-African News Wire rialists that the assault on Libya consti- of Africa has been expanded under Obama. ed during the unrest. Nonetheless, the tuted renewed neocolonialism in North Somalia typifies Washington’s failed Afri- Washington and Wall Street establish- A group claiming to be in solidarity Africa. The imperialists were willing ca policy over the last eight years. ments are nervous about the future polit- with the Al-Fatah Revolution of Sept. 1, to ignore the African Union’s March 8 Even though various neocolonial-dom- ical situation in the region. 1969, headed by Col. Muammar Gadhafi peace proposals to halt a planned bomb- inated African states such as Uganda, in Libya — who imperialism overthrew ing campaign led by France and the U.S., Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti South Sudan and had murdered in 2011 — diverted an which started on March 19. have deployed up to 22,000 troops, sta- In South Sudan, where another Obama Afriqiyah Airways A320 flight to Malta The Pentagon bombed the country bility and prosperity have not returned project pushed for the 2011 partitioning on Dec. 24. No passenger was injured. again during 2016 under the pretext of to Somalia. In early 2016 the European of the country, the two main factions of The two hijackers who requested asy- fighting Islamic State group strongholds Union cut its support to the African Union the Sudan People’s Liberation Move- lum in Malta were making a profound po- in Sirte and other coastal areas of the oil- Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), leaving ment/Army have been split over the last litical statement that the imperialists in rich nation. However, Washington, un- the future of the operation unclear. three years. Washington, London, Paris and Brussels, der outgoing President Barack Obama’s Not only has AMISOM been occupy- The United Nations, which already has along with their allies in Ankara, Turkey administration with former Secretary of ing Somalia, but the Pentagon and the 12,500 troops and other personnel form- and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were responsi- State Hillary Clinton, was hell-bent on CIA maintain a strong presence in the ing a parallel government, is insisting ble for Libya’s destruction. destroying Libya, thereby creating con- country and neighboring states. At Camp on deploying yet another 4,000 soldiers. The so-called “Arab Spring,” which ditions for the emergence of the Islamic Lemonnier in Djibouti, thousands of Pen- This is straining relations between the had begun in neighboring Tunisia in State group (IS) in North Africa as war tagon and French troops are stationed, government in Juba and its U.S. sponsors. December 2010 with a mass rebellion, also did in Iraq and Syria. Today Libya is facilitating U.S. and French operations in Before its partition, Sudan was emerg- general strike and the eventual seizure of wracked by internecine conflict. Africa, throughout the Arabian Peninsu- ing as an oil-producing state indepen- power by the military and security forc- The Obama Doctrine in Africa and la and in the Persian/Arabian Gulf. dent of Western-controlled petroleum es in January 2011, was later replicated West Asia has been an unmitigated di- conglomerates. The People’s Republic of in February 2011 in Egypt. Unfortunate- saster for the peoples of both regions. A war against Yemen China had substantial oil concessions in ly, the military and police took charge of The U.S. is an aggressor nation that has A war against the people of Yemen, the the country. Today, both the North and the transitional process there, effectively killed, injured and displaced tens of mil- poorest and least developed state in the the South are suffering from their depen- nullifying any revolutionary potential. lions in pursuit of its neocolonialist aims. region, has killed over 11,000 people and dence on imperialism. Nearly six years ago in February 2011, displaced several million since 2015. Yet The government in Khartoum is now a counterrevolution was launched against The Horn of Africa it is hidden from the U.S. public, as is the following the lead of Riyadh, having the Libyan government under the guise Although the previous administration occupation of Somalia and other Horn of joined the Saudi Arabian and Gulf Co- of a fight for “freedom and democracy” as of President George W. Bush created the Africa states. Off the coast of Somalia, operation Council proxy war against part of the “Arab Spring.” U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in ear- the Pentagon and other naval forces are Iran by participating in the bombing and patrolling the Gulf of Aden against “pira- ground campaign designed to destroy the cy,” though that’s not been a problem for Ansurallah (Houthis) and their growing several years. influence in Yemen. These military campaigns feed the U.S. military-industrial complex, a multi-tril- Imperialist war against Africa continues Protesters at football lion-dollar business subsidized by the tax After eight years of the Obama admin- dollars of working class and oppressed istration, it is quite clear to any objective people in the U.S. analyst that the conditions for the peo- events say #NoDAPL As long as the American public can ples of Africa and West Asia are far worse be convinced that their principal enemy than at any time in the post-World War is “Islamic terrorism” or “communism” II period. The U.N. Refugee Agency says through the existence of IS, the People’s that the number of displaced persons in Republic of China, the Democratic Peo- the world is the highest ever recorded in ple’s Republic of Korea, Cuba, etc., and human history, some 65 million. not the billionaires of Wall Street and These developments have not hap- the Pentagon chiefs of Washington who pened spontaneously. They are part of a order weapons like regular people order calculated but failed U.S. policy of main- consumer goods, the political status quo taining world dominance. will be maintained. In the recent unrest in the Democrat- The incoming administration of Pres- ic Republic of Congo, opposition groups ident-elect Donald Trump has appointed staged violent demonstrations aimed leading military hawks, oil magnates, at forcing the resignation of President fast food low-wage slave drivers, conspir- Joseph Kabila. Despite over 20,000 acy theorists and white supremacists to U.N. troops stationed in the vast miner- his administration, ensuring the situa- al-rich Central African state, the Catholic tion will only worsen. Church intervened to negotiate an agree- PHOTO: UNICORN RIOT ment to end the violence. President Kabi- Minneapolis, Jan. 1. Ethiopia is essential la will remain in office for at least anoth- In Ethiopia, where a socialist-orient- er year until elections can be organized. ed government was overthrown in 1991, A Government of National Unity has the continuation of U.S. dominance is es- been created with Prime Minister Samy PHOTO: PRESS ENTERPRISE sential to imperialist imperatives in the Badibanga as its leader. Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. Horn of Africa. The DRC has been a source of instabil- The Dec. 24 Washington Post wrote: ity since its national independence from By Monica Moorehead parade in Pasadena, Calif., which pre- “It is difficult to overstate the importance Belgium in June 1960. Its first elected cedes the Rose Bowl college football of Ethiopia to Africa’s stability.” Noting Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, was Two important protests against the game, attracts hundreds of thousands of Ethiopia’s growth, the article continued, labelled a communist by the Eisenhower construction of the Dakota Access Pipe- people and millions more on television. “But [its] rapid economic expansion has administration and subsequently over- line near Standing Rock, N.D., gained The activists’ visibility included a float, resulted in strains, especially when new thrown, abducted, tortured and executed national attention during football-relat- a 150-foot-long replica of the pipeline, factories and commercial farms are be- by the CIA in January 1961. ed events. banners and placards. The slogans read ing built on land taken from farmers.” As long as Africa is divided, the impe- On Jan. 1 two protesters courageous- “Water is sacred,” “We are the water pro- One of the cornerstones of the Ethiopi- rialists will be in a position to dictate the ly hung a “No DAPL” banner high in the tectors” and “Water is life.” an Revolution of 1974-91 was its land re- terms of political developments on the rafters of the U.S. Bank indoor stadium The DAPL has been a major focus of form program which took control of huge continent. What is needed is a total break during a Minnesota Vikings/Chicago national and international protest since sections of the country from monarchical with the Western program of neocolonial Bears National Football League game in last spring, led by hundreds of Indige- rule. Yet today, at the aegis of imperial- dependency. Minneapolis. nous Nations. The oil pipeline, being built ism, the land is being turned over to mul- The coming months of 2017 will prove The banner demanded that U.S. Bank, with the backing of Wall Street money tinational corporations for profit-making critical in the future of Africa in light of a major investor in the pipeline, divest estimated to be close to $3 billion, is to enterprises. the unchartered waters of the Trump ad- from the project. The banner drop was go underground and under the Missouri The same Washington Post article re- ministration, the instability in Britain captured by spectators on social media. River near the Standing Rock reserva- ported: “Protests erupted there in No- and the European Union stemming from The climbers, Karl Mayo, 32, and Sen tion, violating sacred ancestral lands of vember 2015 over the land grabs, corrup- the gradual dissolution of the Common Holiday, 26, were arrested for their hero- the Lakota Sioux Nation and threatening tion in the local government and lack of Market, and the collapse of the war of ic act. the river. If the pipeline were to suffer an services such as running water, electrici- genocide in Syria. Africa must develop its Then, on Jan. 2, activists joined the oil leak, which has happened elsewhere, ty and roads.” own political and economic course or re- Rose Bowl Parade to express support the water supply of at least 17 million A government-imposed state of emer- main in perpetual impoverishment and for the anti-DAPL struggle. The annual people would be poisoned. gency was lifted in December, along tutelage. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 59 Núm. 1 5 de enero 2017 $1 Los retos que plantea la ofensiva de la derecha en América Latina Esta es la mitad de una exposición presentada por Olmedo Beluche, Analista y Mediterráneo para encontrar una vida más álgidos en el Medio Oriente y África, autor marxista panameño, profesor de sociología de la Universidad de Panamá y un poco menos mísera en Europa; o at- donde guerras civiles e intervenciones mil- miembro del Polo Democrático. Beluche, hizo su presentación durante un foro titula- raviesan hasta América para cruzar las itares se han hecho cotidianas y no llegan do “La situación de las Izquierdas en América Latina,” organizado por la Fundación selvas del Amazonas y Darién, uniéndose a su final. Con la subsecuente catástrofe Friedrich Ebert en la ciudad de Panamá el 25 de agosto del 2016. a la peregrinación de decenas de miles humanitaria de millones de personas mi- de latinoamericanos con destino a Esta- grando hacia los países del norte en busca dos Unidos, en busca de un “sueño” im- de refugio, alimento y ­trabajo. PARTE I La crisis capitalista se ha transformado en una crisis posible. Sólo en 2015, un millón de per- Hay una fuga hacia los extremos del de la civilización humana sonas llegó a pie a las fronteras de Europa espectro político del electorado, que pone Por Olmedo Beluche pidiendo asilo. Algo así no se veía desde en crisis a los partidos tradicionales de masiva de empresas y servicios estatales; la Primera y Segunda Guerra Mundiales. centro derecha y socialdemócratas que recortes masivos al gasto social, etc. han sido garantes de la estabilidad por Hoy no se puede explicar lo que sucede d. El sistema capitalista mundial con- Esos golpes masivos a las conquistas décadas. en ningún país del mundo, menos en un duce al caos ecológico: continente como el Latinoamericano, ni de los trabajadores y pueblos del mundo En la campaña electoral de 2016, en Es- Otro elemento de la crisis global cap- las relaciones de fuerza entre las clases sólo produjeron mejoras relativas y mo- tados Unidos, esta crisis se ha expresado italista es la catástrofe ecológica, ya no sociales y sus partidos políticos, si no mentáneas al crecimiento capitalista y, en las candidaturas de Donald Trump (por solo localizada en zonas azotadas por la se parte por tener claro el contexto gen- en el largo plazo, han conducido a un cap- la extrema derecha) y de Bernie Sanders expoliación minera e industrial, sino por eral que marca la dinámica de todos los italismo en un callejón sin salida (Fred (por la izquierda) que han remecido las el calentamiento global producido por el fenómenos: la gran crisis del sistema Goldstein), con bajo crecimiento, bajo estructuras tradicionales de republicanos consumo de combustibles fósiles. Pese a capitalista mundial, que es de tal grado y consumo, casi nula creación de empleos y demócratas. En Europa la polarización sus cada vez más evidentes efectos clima- abarca factores tan diversos, que ha sido y pérdida masiva del poder adquisitivo ha dado lugar a nuevos movimientos an- tológicos, los gobiernos ni siquiera están definida como crisis civilizatoria o crisis de los asalariados. Lo que Carlos Marx tisistémicos, como Syriza en Grecia y cumpliendo las metas mínimas de reduc- de la civilización humana. llamaba crisis de superproducción, es de- Podemos en España, y a la extrema dere- ción de CO2, establecidos en la Conferen- Estamos ante una profunda crisis cir, la gente no puede consumir lo que se cha neofascista y xenófoba. Otra mani- cia de París de 2015 [3]. económica de superproducción (como la produce, no porque no le haga falta, sino festación de este proceso es el descrédito definía Marx); una crisis social enorme porque no tiene ingresos suficientes. e. La crisis del sistema también se de instituciones de la Unión Europea ante de un sistema cada vez más desigual; una El economista Michael Roberts, la manifiesta como polarización política buena parte de la ciudadanía, lo cual se crisis humanitaria cuyos precedentes define como un capitalismo de “débil creciente: constituye en una amenaza real de posible solo pueden encontrarse en las décadas crecimiento económico... elevado de- La crisis se expresa también en sínto- disolución. El triunfo del “Brexit”, la salida del 30 y 40 del siglo pasado; una crisis sempleo... caída de los ingresos ... bajo mas muy agudos que van desde una creci- de Gran Bretaña de la U.E. es la cara más ecológica de consecuencias catastrófi- crecimiento de la productividad y la muy ente inestabilidad política, con sus puntos evidente de esa realidad. [1] cas; una crisis política de creciente po- débil inversión empresarial” . larización; incluso se podría agregar una b. Una profunda crisis social que golpea PARTE II La crisis de América Latina y los gobiernos “progresistas” crisis cultural y hasta filosófica. también a las metrópolis del Norte: La enormidad de la crisis le da al siste- es parte de la crisis del sistema capitalista mundial: La crisis económica se expresa en con- ma capitalista un carácter más agresivo, ¿Cuál es el carácter de la crisis política viene también puede ser de recesión” [4]. secuencias sociales desastrosas para una violento y antidemocrático, como mues- que vivimos en Latinoamérica? ¿Por qué La razón de la recesión latinoamericana parte creciente de la humanidad que se tran las guerras de Afganistán, Irak, se habla de “fin de ciclo progresista”? ¿Por es la baja de los precios de las materias ve sumida en la pobreza, el desempleo Siria, Libia, Palestina, etc. Pero la cri- qué vuelven los gobiernos de derecha? ¿Ha primas. La caída más dramática es la del crónico, empleos inestables y de bajos sis también es un signo de debilidad del fracasado todo intento de cambio social en petróleo que hace 5 años se cotizaba so- salarios, sin cobertura de seguridad so- sistema capitalista, el cual, pese a toda este continente al igual que antes fracasó bre los 100 dólares por barril y que para cial, que viven en suburbios donde pre- su virulencia, no consigue estabilizar ni- la Unión Soviética? ¿La crisis de los gobier- este año ubica en 41 dólares. domina la inseguridad y la calidad de nguna situación, ni asestar derrotas pro- nos progresistas prueba que el único siste- De la Torre señaló que los precios de los servicios públicos es pésima o, por lo longadas que mantengan su dominación ma posible es el capitalismo neoliberal? las exportaciones de minerales y produc- menos deficiente. Sólo en los países del sin sobresaltos. Por el contrario, cada ac- Éstas y otras preguntas inquietan a tos agrícolas latinoamericanas bajarán OCDE (“desarrollados”) más de 39 mil- ción que toma genera respuestas adver- la vanguardia latinoamericana y mere- en 5,1 por ciento en 2016. Lo cual, desde lones de personas carecen de empleo y sas de mayor calado. cen una respuesta lo más seria posible. la perspectiva del Banco Mundial, obliga otras decenas de millones tienen empleos Es el cumplimiento de la ley hegeliana Respuestas que no pueden basarse en a medidas de ahorro por la vía de la dis- precarios con contratos no permanentes, de la “astucia de la razón”, que Nahuel la negación de la crisis, para no salir del minución del poder adquisitivo forzando bajos salarios, “minijobs”, etc. Moreno llamaba del “bombero loco”, es apoyo incondicional, pretendiendo que caídas del salario real con austeridad. El desempleo afecta especialmente a decir que, cuando en un momento históri- toda crítica es “traición” y que sólo cabe Queda evidenciado que, luego de medio la juventud, donde las tasas pueden lle- co la situación objetiva está madura para la adulación a los dirigentes. siglo de orientaciones político económi- gar hasta el 50 por ciento en España, por avanzar en un sentido, todo lo que hagas Si así procediéramos no habríamos cas “desarrollistas” y de una década de ejemplo. En Estados Unidos hay 50 mil- para evitarlo será fallido, o producirá “un aprendido nada de la degeneración buro- gobiernos progresistas o populistas, no lones de personas en la indigencia y dece- tiro por la culata”. crática de la Unión Soviética a manos de ha cambiado la esencia de la estructura nas de millones más que reciben salarios Estamos ante la concreción del vati- José Stalin, su culto a la personalidad y el económica de nuestros países latino- que apenas les alcanzan para malvivir. cinio lanzado por Rosa Luxemburgo hace aplastamiento antidemocrático del pens- americanos, ni su papel en sistema cap- Según la CEPAL, “América Latina au- cien años: “socialismo o barbarie”. En la amiento crítico. italista mundial. Seguimos siendo, como mentó en 7 millones sus pobres en 2015”. medida en que no alcanzamos el primero, hace cien años, países capitalistas depen- En total, 175 millones de personas en a. Crisis económica latinoamericana la humanidad involuciona hacia el segun- dientes basados en la exportación de uno pobreza extrema, el 29 por ciento de los desvela continuidad de las economías do. El capitalismo ha fracasado, tenemos o dos productos agrícolas o minerales. latinoamericanos se encuentra en situa- dependientes mono exportadoras de que construir la alternativa socialista o El funcionario del Banco Mundial re- ciones de vida precarias [2]. materias primas: puede perecer la civilización humana. sume la respuesta del sistema capitalista En el caso particular de América Lati- a la crisis: disminución del poder adquis- a. La crisis económica capitalista, síntoma c. Una catástrofe humanitaria golpea na la crisis económica mundial se expre- itivo de los asalariados, es decir, mayor de sus contradicciones insalvables: al mundo: sa como una caída pronunciada de los explotación, empobrecimiento y desigual- La crisis económica persiste, a pesar En este momento millones de personas precios de las materias primas de export- dad social. Para lo cual necesitan gobier- de que la globalización neoliberal que deambulan buscando un refugio seguro ación, que encuentra su explicación en la nos dispuestos a aplicar más neoliberalis- rige al mundo hace 30 años, logró im- para sí y sus familias. Están compues- ralentización de la economía China, su mo, o sea, gobiernos de derecha. portantes victorias para el sistema cap- tas por los que huyen de las guerras de principal cliente, que ha disminuido su italista como: la restauración capitalista ­Medio Oriente o África, donde las poten- demanda de minerales para su industria, [1] Roberts, Michael. Los problemas de las en China y desaparición de la URSS; la cias y su lucha por controlar los recursos y también porque sufre la “guerra de di- economías del G 7. Revista electrónica Sin Per- apertura comercial y financiera para los naturales han reducido sus países a ceni- visas” forzada por Estados Unidos para miso, 26 de mayo de 2016. [2] CEPAL. “América Latina aumentó en 7 millones capitales que se mueven libres; la amplia zas; por millones que escapan de países trasladar su crisis a los llamados BRIC’s. sus pobres en 2015”. 22 de marzo de 2016. desregulación del trabajo e imposición donde no hay empleos ni futuro en Asia, Según Augusto De la Torre, economis- [3] Naciones Unidas. Convención Marco sobre Cam- de mayores tasas de explotación, bajos África y América Latina. ta jefe del Banco Mundial para América bio Climático. París. 12 de diciembre de 2015. [4] AFP. La recesión se podría extender al año que salarios, precariedad y desempleo a los Cada mes, decenas de miles de africa- Latina: “Estamos mal, en el quinto año de viene. BM pide ahorro a América Latina”. La asalariados del planeta; privatización nos se arriesgan a morir ahogados en el desaceleración económica... y el año que Prensa. Panamá, 28 de julio de 2016.