500,000 Cubans mobilize Rightist thug kills doctor in defense of revolution in front of Workers, youth battle antigovemment rioters Florida clinic BY JA N ET POST BY M A R T ÍN AND KAY SEDAM KOPPEL PENSACOLA. Florida — “I don’t walk backward for no one,” declared Pat Jones H alf a m illion Cuban from the staff o f The Ladies Center clinic working people and here where abortions are performed. “ And youth poured into Ha­ I will continue to do my job.” Jones was vana’s Plaza o f the Rev­ one o f many speakers at an August 1 rally olution August 7 to ex­ press their outrage at the murder of a young po­ Send federal troops to defend lice officer by hijackers clinics now! — editorial page 14 who had tried to com­ mandeer a local ferry to the United States. The at the Escambia County Courthouse to mass mobilization fol­ protest the murder o f Dr. John Britton and lowed an unprecedented volunteer escort James Barrett at the clinic. battle two days earlier Britton, 69, and Barrett, 74, were shot in on Havana’s waterfront the head at close range with a 12-gauge between a crowd o f hun­ shotgun by antiabortion rights terrorist dreds o f antigovemment Paul H ill on July 29 as they arrived for rioters and thousands o f work at the clinic. Barrett’s 68-year-old workers who support wife, June, also a clinic escort, was injured the revolution. in the shooting. Both the workers’ June Barrett is a member o f the National mobilizations and a re­ Continued on page 5 cent series o f boat hi­ jackings are part o f a class polarization in Members of Bias Roca Contingent at mass mobilization in Havana, August 7. Two days earlier, as news Labor resistance, Cuba that is sharpening of riots spread, thousands of youth and workers poured spontaneously into the city to defend socialist in the face o f a severe revolution. “The streets belong to the revolutionaries!” they chanted. youth’s revulsion economic crisis. Many, especially from the middle-class layers of commandeered an old wooden tugboat in be intercepted in international waters by professionals, have reacted to the eco­ the Havana harbor and headed toward the the U.S. Coast Guard, which gave the hi­ to capitalism’s nomic problems with despair and demoral­ United States. The rickety boat sank seven jackers asylum. ization. While the working class has been miles out to sea when a pursuing Cuban A fourth water taxi with a load of pas­ evils at center of hit hardest by the inflation and black mar­ vessel accidentally collided with it; 32 peo­ sengers was seized August 4 by a group of ket trading in dollars, support for Cuba’s ple drowned. men carrying guns and grenades. The hi­ SWP convention socialist revolution remains strongest On July 26 and again on August 3, jackers killed Gabriel Lamoth Caballero, a there. armed hijackers seized ferries that nor­ 19-year-old police officer who tried to stop BY NAOMI CRAINE Five hijackings have occurred in the past mally shuttle commuters between Old Ha­ them. The boat ran out o f gas and Cuban AND ARGIRIS MALAPANIS month. In a July 13 incident that drew in­ vana and East Havana. In both cases, authorities towed it back to Havana, re- OBERLIN, Ohio — At a four-day con­ ternational attention, a group o f 63 people Cuban patrol boats allowed the ferries to Continued on page 12 vention o f the Socialist Workers Party here August 3-7, delegates discussed and

Caterpillar strikers turn back scabs Young Socialists form national organization — page 16 BY MITCHEL ROSENBERG organized back-to-work campaign. Cater­ for our union, but all unions.” YORK, Pennsylvania — After 42 days pillar is acting as the point man in the Carl Wolz, an officer of Machinists Lo­ adopted a resolution analyzing the central on the picket line, members o f the United employers’ assault on working people to­ cal 1400 at Voith Hydro, took a vacation world economic and political develop­ Auto Workers (UAW) on strike against day. day to join the picket. “ Whatever they do ments o f today. Entitled “ Imperialism’s Caterpillar pushed back a company- As dawn broke over the Caterpillar plant here is going to set the tone for the rest of March toward Fascism and War,” the reso­ in York, more than the country,” he said. lution formed the basis o f convention re­ 500 members of ports discussing the party’s work in de­ U AW Local 786 on Caterpillar plants shut down fense o f the socialist revolution in Cuba, strike here and Traditionally, Caterpillar plants close the upswing this year in labor resistance to dozens o f their sup­ down for two weeks at the end o f July. The employer attacks on the working class and porters massed at the company had peddled the idea among em­ unions, how to respond most effectively to plant gates, success­ ployees throughout the chain that it would mounting rightist demagogy and thug as­ fully turning away be able to step up production on August 1, saults, and new opportunities to win young scabs. Early pickets Continued on page 6 Continued on page 8 reported a few cars drove in before day­ break, but from 5:00 a.m. on, unionists Alabama school torched, successfully clogged the gates preventing any more cars from racist principal ousted entering. “ If Cat can violate our rights it’s only a BY BROCK SATTER publicity on this east central Alabama matter of time before WEDOWEE, Alabama — The principal town. other companies o f Randolph County High School here, “This is a victory as long as [Hum­ take on other Hulond Humphries, was ousted from his phries] stays out o f contact with the stu­ unions," said UAW job August 8 and reassigned within the dents,” said Rev. Henry Sterling, a field Local 786 member school district. The action by the local representative for the Southern Christian Rose Lentz, who school board, which had fought to keep the Leadership Conference (SCLC) from was illegally termi­ racist principal in his job, came two days nearby Anniston. Humphries is to oversee nated for union ac­ after an arson attack that heavily damaged rebuilding the school. The SCLC will Militant/Russell Hall tivity. “This strike is the school. The burning o f the school gen­ discuss the Wedowee situation at its 1,500 workers rally for Caterpillar strike, Chicago, August 5. not just important erated new tensions and focused national Continued on page 5 Decatur: a center of resistance to bosses’ offensive — page 6 | Scandal probe widens in Italy of radio and television stations if their news coverage is considered unpatriotic. Paolo Berlusconi, the younger brother Reynold Georges, a supporter o f the m ili­ of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlus­ tary coup that ousted Rev. Jean-Bertrand coni, surrendered to police July 29. His Aristide in 1991, was shot and wounded arrest, part o f a growing bribery scandal August 1, after he said Haiti’s military involving the premier’s business empire ruler should give up power. and dozens o f businessmen and govern­ Haiti’s army commander, Gen. Raoul ment tax inspectors accused o f trading Cedras, said that a U.S. military invasion bribes for fraudulent tax audits, reflects was inevitable. Clinton administration of­ the shakiness o f the 12-week-old govern­ ficials said they were laying the ground ment. Scores o f other senior business work for intervention if sanctions fail to leaders have been jailed on corruption dislodge the military-backed regime. U.S. charges, including the head o f the tax of­ president B ill Clinton’s national security fice of the prime minister’s Fininvest cor­ advisers also discussed setting a public poration. deadline for H aiti’s generals to leave. Paolo Berlusconi was implicated in bribes totaling $210,000 paid to tax in­ Dollar rises against yen spectors for favorable audits o f the Finin­ The U.S. dollar rose to its highest level vest Corporation. The prime minister, against the Japanese yen in a month, July who ran Fininvest personally, denied di­ 28. In New York trading, the price o f a rect knowledge of corruption up until dollar reached 100.10 yen, up 1.5 percent now. Index shares on the Milan stock ex­ from the previous day’s closing quote of change dropped nearly 2 percent July 27 98.45. amid rumors that the prime minister was This reflects the strength o f the dollar, the object o f an arrest warrant and had re­ Militant/Marcella FitzGerald despite its recent slippage against the yen, signed. Some 40,000 protesters marched July 23, against the Criminal Justice Bill, cur­ as the upswing in the U.S. business cycle rently making its way through the British Parliament. The bill would grant continues into its fourth year. Manufac­ Poverty up in United Kingdom expanded powers to police and curtail democratic rights of the accused. turing productivity grew by 9.6 percent A report issued by the Department o f and U.S. export volumes are currently Social Security of the United Kingdom about 7 percent above last year. said the income o f the poorest 10 percent The dollar is stronger against most o f the population has fallen 17 percent in world currencies, especially those of real terms since 1979. The number o f Khmer Rouge attacks train law prohibits sympathy with Pyongyang, Washington’s major trading partners, people living below the European poverty but dissidents have demanded that the gov­ Canada and Mexico. The U.S. currency Khmer Rouge forces attacked a passen­ ernment send condolences for the death of remains in its trading range o f the past line rose from 5 m illion to 13.9 m illion in ger train in Cambodia July 26, seizing more North Korean president Kim II Sung. The few years against the yen. that period. Nearly one-third of all chil­ than 60 people, killing 10, and wounding dren, some 4.1 m illion, are today living in 20. The attackers robbed the passengers government has refused and threatened to severely punish anyone who does. Mother loses child custody fight poverty. The report said the number o f and forced them to carry the loot up a heav­ people in jobs who experience poverty ily mined mountain. Some students hung banners and passed In late July a Michigan judge ordered has tripled to 12 percent since 1979. One The Khmer Rouge, which now controls out pamphlets praising the late president as that custody o f a child be taken away from in four couples with children are today of­ less than 10 percent of the country, killed an opponent o f Japanese colonialism on the a single mother who had placed her ficially living in poverty. more than 1 m illion people in Cambodia Korean peninsula. One student organiza­ daughter in day care while attending col­ tion has been expelled recently from the Russian troops to leave Estonia during its 1975-78 rule. The government in lege. Jennifer Ireland, 19, became preg­ Phnom Penh has appealed for more U.S. campus o f Hanyang University in Seoul al­ nant in 1990 by her boyfriend at the time, The governments o f Russia and Estonia military aid in its fight with the guerrillas, legedly for being pro-North Korea. Steven Smith. She raised her daughter, signed an agreement July 26, under which who have routed them in battles in the Maranda, for three years with little in­ the last o f 2,000 Russian troops w ill leave north and northwest regions o f the country volvement from Smith. Estonia by August 31. The accord post­ More protests rock Nigeria this year. Last year Ireland enrolled at the U ni­ pones two other Estonian demands— the Thousands o f protesters erected street versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor on a return o f some Russian territory that had barricades, made bonfires o f old tires, and scholarship. While in school, she put S. Korean cops crack down emptied out a prison in Nigeria July 28 to been a part of the pre-World War II Esto­ Maranda in day care for several hours a nian Republic, and an apology from Mos­ The South Korean government July 29 denounce the treason trial o f Moshood day. cow for the occupation and repression of ordered a nationwide roundup of 120 stu­ Abiola, winner o f the presidential election In ruling that the child should live with Estonia after the war. Troops have left dent leaders suspected o f sympathizing in 1993. In addition, a widening antigov- her 20-year-old father, Judge Raymond Lithuania and are leaving Latvia. with North Korea. Seoul’s national security emment strike started by oil workers three weeks earlier has paralyzed the economy. Cashen indicated that the day care issue was the deciding factor against the moth­ At least five people were killed and 50 er. Two days after winning custody o f wounded in Abuja, the capital, when police Maranda, Smith was arraigned on the opened fire on a crowd o f protesters July charge o f assaulting Ireland in December 28. Deji Giwa, head of the Campaign for 1992. Democracy, was killed in Lagos, the largest city, during a protest on the same “Women should not be penalized for day. In Abuja, University o f Ibadan Stu­ working outside the home,” said Lynne dent Union president Chris Eluwa told Hecht Schafran, a lawyer with the Na­ protesters to resist “ police brutality, be­ tional Organization for Women. “That is cause you are claiming your rights.” what is happening in many courts today.” Ireland said she w ill appeal the judge’s State o f siege in H aiti ruling. The military-dominated regime in Haiti —MAURICE WILLIAMS decreed a state o f siege August 1, in a tele­ vision broadcast announcing further re­ Jonathan Silberman in Manchester. En­ strictions on civil liberties. The government gland, and Marcella FitzGerald in Lon­ also warned they may rescind the licenses don contributed to this column. Washington sends troops into Rwanda Paris loses control of African country

BY SARA LOBMAN up its main base in Goma, Zaire, not Kigali, Under the guise o f humanitarian aid, but relented after the French government Washington is taking new steps toward complained that Goma was its turf. Paris, military intervention in central Africa, which has long supported the 20-year rapidly replacing Paris as the dominant brutal reign o f Rwandan president Juvenal imperialist country in the region. On July Habyarimana, already has some 2,500 26 the U.S. government announced plans to troops in the country. It helped engineer the establish a large m ilitary base in the crisis in Rwanda and had confidently Rwandan capital of Kigali with upwards of expected to use the turmoil to strengthen its 2,000 soldiers and other personnel. In hand in the region. It failed to do so and has addition, U.S. president B ill Clinton said only reluctantly recognized the new he w ill send 4,000 troops to the bordering government headed by the Rwandan countries o f Uganda and Zaire. Patriotic Front (RPF). The U.S. troop total “ is going to grow, Some 500,000 people were massacred Defense Secretary William Perry meets with U.S. soldiers stationed in Goma, Zaire. and it’s going to grow to support the by government troops, militias, and Washington has announced plans to establish a military base in Rwanda’s capital. requirement” o f the expanded intervention, vigilante squads after Habyarimana and Lt. General John Sheehan, director o f Cyprien Ntaryamira, president of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, neighboring Burundi, were killed in a plane countries. granting them protection,” he said, “ the said. “ W e’re talking about a continental- crash A pril 6. Before the government was Supporters o f the former government are government will do everything possible to wide infrastructure,” he added. defeated by forces organized by the RPF in roaming the refugee camps, continuing to bring them the necessary food aid, basic During a trip to the area, U. S. defense mid-July, it ordered a mass exodus o f the spread rumors and threatening to murder services, and health care.” The new secretary W illiam Perry said the troops w ill country, spreading fear and hysteria with anyone who argues it may be safe to return government also says it w ill abolish the stay in Rwanda for a year or more. rumors that the RPF would k ill anyone to Rwanda. The radio station that is still identity cards that labeled every citizen as Three thousand United Nations troops suspected o f being o f Hutu origin. controlled by defenders of the old regime either a Hutu or Tutsi. from seven countries are also expected to Members o f the capitalist class who are claims that the rightist forces w ill return Much of Rwanda, including the capital, arrive in Rwanda over the next month. Hutu had ruled Rwanda since colonial rule from exile within a month after building a has been devastated. There is no electricity, Nevertheless, Washington is nervous ended in 1962. In addition to political 5-million-strong army. On July 25, ousted telecommunications, or running water. that, like its occupation o f Somalia in 1993, opponents o f the government, many o f government officials issued a statement W hile saying they w ill guarantee the intervention in Rwanda may turn into a those massacred were targeted as members calling for the deployment o f an security o f refugees returning to Rwanda, political and military quagmire. On July o f the Tutsi tribe. About 85 percent o f the international force in the country, the the government also says it w ill prosecute 29 Clinton announced the deployment o f population o f Rwanda is considered Hutu, disarming o f the RPF, repatriation o f their and execute those responsible for the 200 U.S. soldiers to Rwanda to reopen the 15 percent Tutsi. own army, and, under these conditions, slaughter. “Those who committed crimes country’s major airport. In what the New elections to establish a new government. should be brought to justice,” said Paul York Times termed “ a clear allusion to the Former gov’t officials spread terror The RPF-led government, which was Kagame, an RPF leader and vice president military’s relief effort in Somalia, where As a result o f this terror campaign, more installed July 19, called on all refugees to and defense minister o f the new dozens o f soldiers died in combat,” the than a m illion fled the country, joining return to their homes. The guarantee o f government. White House insisted that these troops are hundreds o f thousands o f other refugees security, the new president, Pasteur Washington is urging the new not to get involved in fighting between the who had escaped the government- Bizimungu, said, includes those “ who government to incorporate into its ranks new government and the remnants o f the sponsored killin g earlier. More than 1.2 crossed the country’s border under the members o f the former regime. army of the former regime. m illion are currently living — and dying — pressure o f the advance o f the Rwandan Washington had initially planned to set in disease-ridden camps in Zaire and other Patriotic Army forces.... In addition to So-called humanitarian effort Meanwhile a cholera epidemic is ravaging the refugee camps in Zaire. By the end o f July, more than 18,000 people had Mexico’s rulers face political instability died from the disease, which is curable 99 percent o f the time if clean water and BY BRIAN WILLIAMS The constitution bars Salinas from seek­ drive peasants o ff the land and into the ur­ rehydration fluids are available. Untreated, As the August 21 national elections ap­ ing reelection. Cárdenas o f the PRD has ban centers where they have nothing to sell the death rate can be as high as 50 percent. proach in Mexico, the ruling Institutional charged Fernández with establishing an al­ but their labor power and are forced to sell The Clinton administration, which Revolutionary Party (PRI), which has run liance with the PRI to rig the August 21 it very cheaply. claims it is sending troops into the region the country for the past 65 years, faces a election results. According Arturo Nunez, U.S. auto companies, for example, are for humanitarian reasons, has been sharply political crisis. This coincides with increas­ director of Mexico’s Federal Electoral In­ increasing their investments in new assem­ criticized by aid workers for hindering the ingly harsh economic times confronting stitute, when vote-counting computers bly plants and parts factories in Mexico in distribution o f food and medicine. On July workers and peasants there. showed Salinas losing to Cárdenas in the an industrial belt that will stretch from 24, the U.S. military picked Katale, a town “ As the country heads toward another 1988 presidential race, unnamed officials, Mexico City almost to Monterrey. Govern­ in Zaire that is about 30 miles from Goma, presidential election, calls for political re­ “ obviously opted to crash the system.” ment officials project production rising to 1 where most o f the refugees are camped, as form within and outside the w orld’s Since 1991, Salinas has had to force three m illion cars and trucks by the end o f the the location for its first food drop. longest-reigning party are threatening to PRI governors to step down after fraudu­ decade from 600,000 in 1993. The crates, dropped by parachute, split it apart,” said an article in the July 13 lent practices were exposed in state elec­ While a tiny minority of wealthy capital­ missed their target by a mile and crashed Wall Street Journal. “ No matter who wins tions. ists and some in the middle classes are be­ down on a building that was under in August, the country w ill move toward ing further enriched, the vast majority o f construction. Aid workers pointed out that Privatization drive a...less stable era." “ The political system is working people are forced to get by on less. unlike the much more crowded Goma, deteriorating very fast,” stated Sergio According to the Wall Street Journal, According to a report released in May by Katale had an adequate supply o f food and Aguayo, a leader of Alianza Civica, a aides to Colosio had approached the PRD the Monterrey Technological Institute, clean drinking water. U.S. officials made group campaigning against election fraud. prior to his assassination about the possibil­ fewer than 10 percent o f the population re­ sure to fly in a planeload o f journalists from “ With less than six weeks before Mex­ ity of joining a coalition cabinet after the ceives more than 60 percent o f the national Germany to witness the unloading o f the ico’s presidential election,” wrote Damian elections. But “ there have been no such income. In contrast, 59 m illion peo­ food. feelers from the PRI since... Zedillo be­ Fraser in the July 11 Financial Times, ple— two-thirds of the population— receive Some o f the 1.2 m illion Rwandans in came the candidate,” stated the Journal. “ investors in the country’s stock and only 10 percent o f annual gross income. Zaire are beginning to recross the border, Cárdenas has spoken out in favor o f the money markets are uneasy.... While equi­ Over the past 11 years, the minimum wage initially closed by the government in Zaire PRI-led privatizations, offering tactical ties have recovered a little this month, they in Mexico has declined 47.5 percent. in an act o f support for the ousted Rwandan suggestions on how best to carry them out. were down nearly 9 percent in June and, Meanwhile, the richest 20 families in Mex­ regime. O fficials at the airport in Goma “ The Party o f the Democratic Revolu­ over the year, the principal index has lost ico account for 50 percent of total national have charged a landing fee to planes tion was not, and is not, opposed to privati­ 19 percent in dollar terms.” income. arriving there with food and medicine. zation o f state enterprises as such,” Cárde­ The three main contenders for president nas stated earlier this year. "What we op­ are Ernesto Zedillo of the PRI, Diego Fer­ pose is the way these measures were imple­ nández de Cevallos o f the right-wing Na­ mented.” Cárdenas has gone out o f his way tional Action Party (PAN), and Cuautémoc Jordan’s King Hussein signs pact to express his support for investment in Cárdenas o f the Party o f the Democratic Mexico from abroad and more trade with Revolution (PRD), a liberal capitalist party. normalizing relations with Israel the United States. Earlier this year, the PRI was shaken by In the aftermath of Washington’s ap­ BY GREG ROSENBERG and East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967. a peasant rebellion in Chiapas and a series proval o f the North American Free Trade The Israeli regime took another step to­ Since that time, relations between the two o f protests by workers and peasants de­ Agreement (N A FTA ) last year, exports ward normalization of relations with other governments have been mostly quiescent. manding land, jobs, and democratic rights. from Mexico to the United States grew 22 bourgeois governments in the Middle East The Jordanian monarch has, when he found Zedillo was chosen to replace the PRI’s percent during the first three months o f July 25. Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Ra­ it expedient, claimed to speak in the inter­ initial candidate, Luis Donaldo Colosio, 1994, three times higher than with the rest bin and Jordan’s King Hussein signed a ests o f the Palestinian people. Some 80 per­ who was assassinated while campaigning in o f the world. NAFTA is the codification of pact in Washington. cent o f Jordan’s population is Palestinian. Tijuana last March. Following a May 12 an agreement between capitalists in both Rabin and Hussein signed the accord at In 1970 Hussein’s army, with U.S. and presidential debate, Fernández’s standing the United States and Mexico to rapidly the White House. Washington gave promi­ Israeli government support, launched an has risen in the polls and he is now running transform a still largely agricultural country nent support to the talks. Immediately after all-out attack on Palestinian refugee camps virtually even with Zedillo. into one that w ill serve as a platform for ex­ the treaty was signed U.S. president B ill and communities in Jordan, aiming to The increasingly common political and porting manufactured goods. Capitalists on Clinton placed a phone call to Syrian presi­ weaken the growing militancy o f Pales­ economic perspective put forward by the both sides o f the border w ill profit. dent Hafez al-Assad urging Damascus to tinian freedom fighters and maintain stable PRI and PAN point to the rightward shift o f Mexico’s bourgeoisie is catching up with start negotiations with Tel Aviv. Especially relations with Israel. More than 8,000 capitalist politics in Mexico. Both candi­ a process begun earlier in the 1980s by the since its 1990-91 assault on Iraq, the U.S. Palestinians were killed in the assault. The dates insist that they would continue the exploiting classes in Argentina, Chile, and government has relied less on Tel Aviv and pact says that “ the state o f belligerency be­ privatizations and austerity drive pursued a number of other semicolonial countries cultivated the other capitalist regimes in the tween Jordan and Israel has been termi­ by current president Carlos Salinas de Gor- that have reached a certain stage o f indus­ region to promote imperialist interests. nated.” Among the measures agreed upon tari. trialization. This wrenching process aims to The Israeli army captured the West Bank Continued on page 4 Wave of strikes bursts across S. Africa BY GREG ROSENBERG mands o f the workers should be addressed A strike wave has burst out across South without conflict and there should be coop­ Africa. More than 100,000 workers have eration between employees and employers downed their tools and walked out o f auto­ to end this.” mobile factories, petrochemical facilities, In a jo in t statement read by Shilowa, hotels, paper plants, and municipal courts. COSATU and the AN C placed the main They are fighting for an increase in the responsibility for economic growth and abysmal wages doled out by employers to “healthy industrial relations” on the em­ Black workers and for the eradication o f ployers. The statement said that a bill racist practices on the job. They are fight­ would go before Parliament by the end of ing against the legacy o f apartheid. this month to extend labor laws to all parts The strikes have provoked a growing o f the country, including the former Ban­ discussion and debate among leaders o f the tustans; and that the existing labor law African National Congress, Congress of would be redrafted to bring it in line with South African Trade Unions (COSATU), South Africa’s interim constitution, partic­ and South African Communist Party ularly guarantees o f the right to strike and (SACP) over how to respond to the de­ picket. mands o f the working class for rapid eco­ W riting in the July 22 New N ation, a nomic and social justice. weekly paper that supports the ANC, “ Democratization does not end in Par­ columnist A m rit Manga said, “ W hile the liament and regional legislatures, but has to ban on picketing does not necessarily jus­ start on the factory floor,” said COSATU tify violence, it certainly mitigates the case assistant general secretary Zwelinzima o f workers who acted physically.... If we Vavi July 28. “ Workers do not expect to be are to prevent a recurrence o f last week’s called ‘boss boys’ and insulted on racial [Pick n Pay] clashes, it is important for lines.” government to move speedily to write into COSATU leaders have accused employ­ law the right to picket.” Militant/Greg Rosenberg ers of taking advantage of what big- Striking South African gold miners in May. Workers are fighting to eradicate legacy A t the same time, the SACP is using the business perceived as a post-election of apartheid, including superexploitation and racist practices on the job. current labor disputes to attack the leader­ “honeymoon” period, during which capi­ ship o f the ANC and particularly Nelson talists hoped that the government, in order Mandela. A recent SACP statement said, to attract investment, would not support nizer Gavin Hertford said the union wanted Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ for example, “What is...disturbing has demands by trade unionists. “ Business is quicker action by the bosses to rectify Union won a $40 per month wage increase been the tendency from the side o f some of sheltering behind this honeymoon,” said wage inequalities in the plants. The Auto­ and a $308 monthly minimum wage. The our comrades in the ANC leadership, in­ Vavi, “ but if they think they w ill be pro­ mobile Manufacturers Employers’ Organi­ strike was marked by brutal police attacks cluding President Nelson Mandela himself, tected by the government they are in for a zation wants four years to complete the and arrests of strikers. to echo some o f these views (that strikes rude shock.” The Reconstruction and De­ task. hamper development).” Debate over strikes velopment Programme put forward by the A t least 11 o f the 15 affiliates of the 1.3 ANC within the constituent assembly “ has m illion member COSATU have declared The ANC is fighting for a nonracial, Big business fears militant labor to address the social wage o f workers disputes with the employers. Most o f these nonsexist, democratic South Africa. Key to The big-business press and other mouth­ whether it is the price o f commodities, have not yet reached the stage o f strikes. accomplishing this goal is smashing the pieces o f capital around the world are wor­ health care, housing transport, or a social On July 28, 500 workers at AEGIS In­ fetters o f racist discrimination and super­ ried about the militant actions by workers welfare system lifting the standard of liv ­ surance Co. walked o ff the job in the exploitation imposed on working people in South Africa. ing o f workers. Then the question o f mone­ Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging re­ by the capitalist class. “The [South African] labor force is tary wages would not be all or nothing.” gion in a fight over wages and affirmative South African president Nelson Man­ costly, unskilled and m ilitant," complained Auto workers struck Volkswagen, Mer­ action demands. Construction workers in dela and other leaders o f the ANC met with a front-page article in the August 3 New cedes Benz, BM W , Nissan, and other the Western Cape region have struck. M in­ union officials, including Sam Shilowa, York Times. “There are doubts about the plants beginning August 1. Some 78 per­ ers are preparing for possible strike action. general secretary o f COSATU, July 30 to Government’s long-term commitment to cent o f union members voted in favor o f a Some 3,000 workers shut down the Sun discuss the strikes. capitalism, about whether Mr. Mandela strike. Altogether, some 25,000 members City resort complex for a week at the end “ The workers are entitled to have high can contain the expectations o f the impov­ of the National Union of Metalworkers of o f July. expectations because they see their white erished majority.” The Times article stated South Africa (N U M SA ) have shut down The 15,000 grocery workers striking counterparts enjoying the rights that they that, as a result, foreign investment in 14 large car factories and offices, demand­ Pick ’ n Pay stores settled their strike Au­ are entitled to,” said Mandela. “ What our South Africa is declining. ing wage raises. NUM SA national orga- gust 3. Members o f the South African concerns are at the meeting is that the de- “ We are facing a dangerous labour cri­ sis,” said an editorial in the July 26 Citizen, a big-business daily published in Johannes­ burg. “ The government had better take U.S. jets bomb Serbian forces near Sarajevo firm action to defuse the situation and en­ sure that the unions do not overstep the bounds o f acceptable conduct.” BY BRIAN WILLIAMS soldiers between the Bosnian and Serb goslav republic— 49 percent o f the land. But many ANC leaders insist they w ill On August 5, under N ATO auspices, forces in the Vares area. Serb m ilitary The remainder would be allotted to a not support pushing aside the interests of U.S. A ir Force jets bombed weaponry con­ commanders agreed to the plan, but the Muslim-Croat federation. the working class in order to attract invest­ trolled by rightist Serbian forces near Sara­ Bosnian army rejected it. In a public show aimed at winning the ment. “ There are two categories o f in­ jevo, Bosnia’s capital. This attack occurred On August 7, Bosnian army soldiers in ear o f some imperialist powers, Slobodan vestors and one o f them are the type o f in­ one day after troops loyal to Serbian Sarajevo dropped hand grenades on a Rus­ Milosevic, president o f the republic o f Ser­ vestors we do not want,” ANC secretary- Democratic Party leader Radovan Karadz­ sian armored personnel carrier patrolling bia, announced August 4 that his govern­ general Cyril Ramaphosa told parliament ic snatched back some weapons that had the city as part o f the UN force. A day ear­ ment would bar Bosnian Serb leaders from August 1. “Those investors who want a been placed under United Nations jurisdic­ lier, Karadzic had decreed that all able- entering Serbia and ban all trade with strike free environment and low wage poli­ tion more than six months ago. bodied adults in the areas under his control Serbian-controlled parts o f Bosnia except cies that w ill lead to the exploitation o f in Bosnia must report for what he termed Two U.S. A -10 ground attack aircraft for shipments o f food and medicine. workers are the type o f investors we do not work brigades. operating out of Aviano Air Base in north­ Belgrade hopes that such a declaration want in our country.” ern Italy fired 600 cannon rounds at a Serb This stepped-up fighting occurs after w ill lead to an easing o f the economic The constituent assembly convened Au­ army’s anti-tank gun. According to Pen­ Karadzic rejected on July 20 the plan being sanctions imposed by the UN Security gust 1 for its first full three-month session, tagon officials, Dutch F -16 and French M i­ pushed by the governments o f the United Council in May 1992 against Yugoslavia, which w ill feature debate on bills to be in­ rage fighters escorted the U.S. planes, but States, the United Kingdom, France, Ger­ which now comprises Serbia and Montene­ troduced by the ANC. These include legis­ were not directly involved in the actual many, and Russia to partition Bosnia along gro. The embargo has led to virtual eco­ lation on land reform, allocation of re­ bombing. The air strike was the first to be ethnic lines. nomic collapse in Serbia, with working sources for housing and education, a ffir­ carried out to enforce a UN-declared The proposal would have given the people suffering the most. Milosevic, how­ mative action, and the establishment o f a weapons exclusion zone set up last Febru­ rightist Serb forces in Bosnia— who cur­ ever, has never carried out similar threats truth commission to investigate political ary in a 12-mile radius around Sarajevo. rently control 70 percent o f the former Yu- in the past. crimes committed during apartheid’s reign. NATO jets in April bombed Karadzic’s forces in the eastern Bosnian town o f Goradze. Jordan normalizes relations with Israel Closure of land route After returning most o f the heavy Continued from page 3 fact that it is an occupied city.’’Meanwhile, National Authority, and the Israeli- weapons seized from the UN arms com­ are direct telephone links, opening two the Israeli government is pressing for talks occupied West Bank. On July 17, wide­ pound, Serb forces proceeded to step up new border crossings, granting free pas­ with Damascus. At the end o f June, Rabin spread fighting broke out at a Gaza border their sniper fire on residents o f Sarajevo. sage to third country tourists, linking the warned that if no treaty is reached with checkpoint when Israeli guards delayed the This resulted in the closure o f the only two countries’ electricity grids, speeding Syria, war in the years ahead is a likely out­ entry o f thousands o f Palestinian workers overland route into the city and suspension up negotiations on international air travel, come. The centerpiece o f these negotia­ into Israel. In the ensuing battles, Pales­ o f the food aid airlift. These latest moves and expanding cooperation between Israeli tions would be the strategic Golan Heights, tinian police and Israeli troops exchanged break a six-month cease-fire that had been and Jordanian police. which Tel A viv has held onto since it fire. Two Palestinians were killed and observed for the most part by the warring In a slam against the Palestinian fight for seized them in 1967. more than 100 wounded. U ntil the Pales­ parties. self-determination, the treaty states that Syrian officials expressed irritation with tinian intifada broke out in 1987, some Attacks by Karadzic’s army come in re­ "Israel respects the present special role of the PLO and Jordanian negotiations with 80.000 Gaza residents held Israeli work sponse to recent gains being made on the the Hashemite Kingdom o f Jordan in Mus­ the Israeli government since they did not permits. Today Tel Aviv allows only battlefield by the Bosnian army. Govern­ lim Holy shrines in Jerusalem. When nego­ control them. Syrian foreign minister Fa- 20,000. ment troops have been advancing against tiations on the permanent status w ill take rouk ash-Sharaa warned, “ The fact that Israeli troops have cracked down on Serb forces near the northern Bosnian town place, Israel w ill give high priority to the certain Arab parties have bypassed Arab protests in the West Bank city o f Hebron. of Brcko. They have also captured signifi­ Jordanian historic role in these shrines.” A solidarity, and secondly Israel’s efforts to They arrested at least 42 youths for interro­ cant territory southwest o f the town o f Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) dismantle that solidarity” are obstacles to gation in June and July, many o f them Vares, near Sarajevo. statement said the agreement “ predeter­ coming to an agreement with Tel Aviv. without warrant, under regulations allow­ To discourage Serb forces from seizing mines the fate o f Jerusalem and...ignores Tensions have continued to simmer be­ ing detention without charge or trial. Some more weapons from the UN arms com­ Jerusalem as a political, Palestinian, Arab, tween Israeli troops and Palestinians living 7.000 Palestinian prisoners remain in Is­ pound, UN officials suggested placing its Christian and Islamic issue and ignores the in the Gaza Strip, now under the Palestine raeli jails. Rightist kills doctor

Continued from front page Gunn was murdered by abortion rights Organization for Women (NOW) as was foe Michael G riffin in March 1993 at the her husband. Pensacola Women’s Medical Services A t the rally NOW hung a huge banner clinic just two miles from The Ladies Cen­ saying “ We W on’t Back Down: Stand Up ter. Upon hearing of Britton’s murder, For Justice!” Handmade posters read Gunn’s son, David Gunn, Jr., who is active “ Abortion Violence Is Not Free Speech” in the pro-choice movement, told the me­ and “Clinic Workers Demand Protection! dia that if nothing is done “ there w ill be We Are Dying.” someone else dead in six months. Escambia County NOW copresident “ I want to see a doctor be able to walk Chicky Desmarais chaired the rally. Des- into his office like you or me...without marais had volunteered as a clinic escort having to wear a bulletproof vest or a bul­ for 16 months alongside Jim and June Bar­ letproof helmet,” he added. rett. She called on “ all citizens to stand up Responding to her own father’s assassi­ to the terrorist violence that has poisoned nation, Britton’s daughter Pamela Britton our community. stated to the press, “ My father was not in­ timidated by those who resort to terrorist ‘Now is the time to act’ tactics to oppose legal family planning “ It is time for all o f us, regardless o f methods.” Abortion rights activists protesting the murders of Dr. John Britton and clinic escort race, religion, gender, or political views to Currently both Pensacola clinics are James Barrett in Pensacola. Right-wing terrorism has outraged working people. demand justice,” Desmarais continued. open but patients are being seen at The NOW activist put forth three local Women’s Medical Services or in Alabama, demands: an emergency city council meet­ a state where single-parent consent laws from being taxed,” he said after the murder ter the Pensacola murders. ing to approve a safety “buffer zone” are enforced. The Pensacola clinics also o f Britton and Barrett. Around the country other doctors who around the clinics; a meeting with the serve the rural area between Tallahassee, Following Gunn’s killing, 30 leaders of perform abortions are being threatened. mayor, abortion providers, and NOW rep­ Florida, and Mobile, Alabama. Linda Tag­ antiabortion rights groups signed a petition After Britton’s killing Dr. Tom Tvedten in resentatives to discuss the situation; and gart, director o f The Ladies Center, said defending the extermination o f doctors and Little Rock received a call saying that he dispatching the police to protect the clin­ she has received a “ stack o f messages” pro-choice advocates as “justifiable homi­ “ would be next.” Dr. Joseph Booker o f ics. from doctors offering to replace Britton. cide.” The letter was distributed by Hill Jackson, Mississippi, has received death Escambia NOW copresident Michele Over the past 10 years, rightist forces and his organization. threats and is a target o f a week o f an­ Lawson also spoke. “ U ntil the anti­ have targeted the Pensacola clinics in a ter­ A suspended Catholic priest, David tiabortion protests that began August 6. abortion protesters stop using violent and rorist campaign of intimidation. One clinic Trosch, who also works with H ill recently The right-wing American Coalition of harassing tactics to force their decisions on was fire bombed in June 1984. A ll three of a sent a letter with the “justifiable-homi- Life is demonstrating in Jackson to make us, it is our job to stand up and prevent the the then-functioning clinics were bombed cide” letterhead to members o f Congress. Mississippi “ the first state to be function­ vigilantes from taking over our commu­ Christmas Eve of that year. The letter reads, in part, when “ the normal ally free o f child killers.” This is the first nity. Now is the time to act, while we are In 1986 it was in Pensacola that Randall constraints of pacifism, which permeates activity of this coalition. still enraged by the injustice,” Lawson Terry announced the formation o f Opera­ throughout this country, is overcome, then Pro-Choice Mississippi has pledged to said. tion Rescue, one o f the largest antiabortion we w ill see the beginning o f massive defend the New Woman clinic and Booker NOW national vice president Rosemary rights organizations today. killing o f abortionists and their staffs. In and is calling for pro-choice activists and Dempsey told the audience, “ We are part In addition to the murder o f Britton and time the killing...will begin to spill over supporters to come to Jackson. “Dr. of a civil rights movement. What will it Gunn, another doctor who performed abor­ into the killing o f the police and military Booker is determined not to back down in take before the federal government takes tions in Pensacola, George Patterson, was who attempt to protect them. the face o f this threatened activity,” said a some action?" killed in Mobile last year. Police ruled the “ Members of the National Organization spokesperson for the organization. Dempsey raised four additional de­ killing the result o f a robbery, but clinic ac­ [for] Women, members o f Planned Parent­ Clinic volunteers around the country are mands: that Attorney General Janet Reno tivists dispute that analysis. hood and other pro-abortion/choice organi­ also being threatened. A young staff mem­ and Florida governor Lawton Chiles meet The Pensacola clinics have faced count­ zations w ill be sought out and terminated ber at a NARAL office in Minneapolis re­ with Pensacola abortion rights activists; a less right-wing demonstrations and con­ as vermin are terminated.” ported bomb threats and 35 threatening nationwide FBI investigation; an emer­ stant verbal abuse. Last June, Paul H ill was Trosch says that H ill deserves a “ medal calls in the first few hours after the Pen­ gency session o f the Florida state legisla­ arrested for screaming at patients, “ Don’t o f honor” for killing Britton and Barrett. sacola murders, saying, for example, ture; and the streamlining o f the process let them make you the mother o f a dead In addition, John Burt, regional director “ Y ou’re next” and “ W e’re going to kill whereby out-of-state doctors can practice baby.” o f Houston-based Rescue America, also them o ff one by one.” in Florida. works with H ill and provided him with an­ Florida governor Lawton Chiles re­ Other speakers included representatives Advocates of assassinations tiabortion rights propaganda material. A l­ sponded to the Pensacola murders with a from the American Association o f Univer­ H ill is the head o f Defensive Action, a though he publicly disassociates himself statement that “ Florida w ill not tolerate any sity Women, the National Abortion and group he founded after Gunn’s murder. from the murder, in a televised interview act o f violence." Reproductive Rights Action League Members openly advocate the assassina­ Burt said, “ If you take away peoples’ abil­ Commenting on the governor’s inaction (NAR AL), and local churches. tion o f doctors and defenders o f abortion ity to protest they will turn to violence,” to date the president o f the Florida Council Some townspeople attending the rally rights. H ill attended and spoke out at the referring to the Freedom o f Access to of Abortion Providers said, “The governor discussed with other participants the im ­ trial o f Gunn’s assassin as well as the trial Clinic Entrances Act. showed up at a rest stop wearing a flak portance of women’s equality and told o f Rachel “ Shelley” Shamon, accused of At Griffin’s trial, Burt testified, “ I can’t jacket when a tourist was killed. It would about their own personal experiences with wounding Dr. George T iller outside a W i­ help it when what I do inspires someone to have been even more appropriate if he abortion. “ I don’t necessarily believe in chita, Kansas, clinic last year. go o ff the deep end.” showed up at any number o f clinics espe­ abortions,” said one. “ But I am here be­ Two months ago. H ill attended an an­ Federal marshals have now been dis­ cially in Pensacola." cause we can’t go back to the days o f tiabortion rights strategy session in patched to 12 o f the more than 3,000 clin­ In the past week pro-choice activists in butchery. My own aunt was sterilized from Chicago. He works with other rightist ics nationwide, including Pensacola. The several cities including Cleveland, Miami, using a crochet hook to perform an abor­ figures — such as Michael Bray, who other clinics are located in Fargo, North and Tampa held protest actions to discuss tion.” served four years in prison for a clinic Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa; W ichita, defending the clinics and abortion rights Several young clinic defenders also ex­ bombing, and Roy M cMillan, head o f the Kansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson and to call for many more such actions. pressed their opinions, including the right Christian Action Group in Jackson, M is­ and Gulfport, Mississippi; Mobile, Al­ Pro-choice activists in Birmingham, A l­ o f high school students to have abortions. sissippi. M cM illan compares H ill to rebel abama; Melbourne, Florida; Milwaukee, abama, w ill hold a rally and vigil August One said she started escorting patients patriots in 1773 who dumped tons o f tea Wisconsin; Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and Falls 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Kelly Ingram Park spon­ right after the murder o f Pensacola doctor into the Boston Harbor. “ I would say that Church, Virginia, where the Common­ sored by the Birmingham Clinic Defense David Gunn because she felt that it was not stopping the murder o f unborn babies is wealth Women’s Clinic was heavily dam­ Team, Alabama NOW, Alabamans for enough to “just be pro-choice.” more important than stopping your tea aged in an apparent arson the weekend af­ Choice and Planned Parenthood. Alabama school torched, racist principal ousted

Continued from front page board member Joe Ballow, who is white, dent discipline, transportation, and hiring hands? Where were these damn Blacks?” August 16-19 national convention in Dal­ resigned in protest. The lone Black mem­ are mentioned in the complaint. The high said the sheriff. las, Texas. The local chapter is planning an ber remained the only dissenting voice on school was not desegregated until 1972. Rising protests by working people and August 20 protest march to demand justice the body. Humphries has been the principal since students, mostly Blacks, have put the heat here. Under pressure from rising protests, the 1969. on local police and town officials, who In February, Humphries told an assem­ U.S. Justice Department filed a motion Au­ A motion has been filed requiring the lashed out at the demonstrators. bly of juniors and seniors that he would gust 2 asking that Humphries be removed school board to immediately develop a Mayor Terry Graham speculated the ar­ cancel the school prom if interracial cou­ from his post or barred from contact with plan to eradicate this situation. It seeks to son might be the work o f “ radical out­ ples showed up. When 16-year-old Revon- students, pending trial on charges o f racial prohibit the school district from fillin g any siders” who “ come in here and stir up trou­ da Bowen got up to protest, Humphries discrimination it filed against the Ran­ existing or future staff vacancies until ble.” called her a “ mistake,” since her mother is dolph County school system. affirmative action hiring plans are devel­ But the people the town administration Black and her father is white. The SCLC had planned a protest march oped. went after were 21 Black residents, who The racist remarks set o ff a storm o f for August 6. The Ku Klux Klan initiated The fire that gutted the school was set were charged in July with violating an un­ protest, beginning with a march by Blacks plans to bring as many racists as it could to around 1:00 a.m. A t the scene o f the fire, democratic ordinance that required a $50 to the courthouse in March demanding Wedowee on that day. In the wake of the Humphries and a couple o f others attacked fee and 10 days’ notice for public marches. Humphries’s ouster. Black students began fire, the SCLC called o ff its march and television cameraman Bill Giff, who is With the national spotlight on Wedowee, a boycott o f the school, organizing a rescheduled it for August 20. Black. As Humphries’s hand went over the mayor dropped the charges — and the “ Freedom School" at a local church. G iff’s camera, another man said, “ You ordinance — on August 7. On March 14, the school board sus­ Violations of desegregation orders Black sons o f bitches burned this school.” The SCLC has offered a $3,500 reward pended Humphries with pay for two weeks. The federal case indicts the school dis­ Another voice can be heard saying, “ Go for any information leading to the arrest of The same day a bomb threat forced the trict for long-term violations o f school de­ before you die.” the arsonist. Alabama governor Jim Fol­ school to close. Bowen sued the school segregation orders. A hearing is scheduled Randolph County sheriff Larry Colley som has offered a $ 10,000 reward. district and Humphries. She received an for August 11. The U.S. Department o f Ed­ reacted angrily to reporters covering Black out o f court settlement o f $25,000, with the ucation’s Office of Civil Rights says a protesters later that day. “ Where were you Tim Mailhot and Beth Hanon from Birm­ board admitting no guilt. “ racially hostile environment" exists in the this morning when Hulond Humphries was ingham, Alabama, contributed to this arti­ When the board reinstated Humphries, school district. Violations regarding stu­ out there fighting that fire with his bare cle. UAW pickets turn back scabs in York Continued from front page gates, the cops turned tail and marched out. the first day o f work after the shutdown. A collective whoop of victory erupted as They claimed strikers had lost confidence strikers, their family members, and other in their union and would cross their own unionists congratulated one another. picket lines. Though state police helicopters patrolled In response, union members in York and the skies, no further probes were made four Illinois Caterpillar plants — in Au­ against the union forces. rora, East Peoria, Mossville, and News o f the York action spread to Pontiac — organized car caravans and picket lines in Pontiac that same morning. plant gate rallies that day. Striker Jim Perkins reported there were Among the largest delegations here were also between 400 and 500 at the gate in Teamsters fresh from their victory against Pontiac and “ more than that at our union the trucking companies. Steelworkers, meeting at 8:00 a.m.” members o f the O il, Chemical and Atomic The August I action in Mossville was a Workers union, and Amalgamated Cloth­ follow-up to a July 28 car caravan orga­ ing and Textile Workers Union activists nized by U AW Local 974’s Families in from the Philadelphia area made the early Solidarity group. Caterpillar striker Jim Militant/Kathy Mickells morning trip to join the action. Landrith and his wife Mary counted 267 More than 500 striking auto workers and their supporters milling around entrance cars on that caravan. “ People came out of to Caterpillar plant in York, Pennsylvania, August 1. Action helped push back Police foray fails their houses and cheered for us,” said Lan­ company-organized back-to-work campaign. Around 7:00 a.m., 20 police in riot gear drith. joined the few state cops already present. According to striker Mike Reeser, who at $100,’’said Reeser. “ But this makes it days after the strike began. Profits rose 258 They formed a narrow wedge at the edge of picketed at the Mossville Technical Center easier to continue. If someone’s family is percent against the same period in 1993, the crowd and pierced the edge. But the August 1, “ there were no new crossers at hurting, steps can be taken now to help with earnings o f $240 m illion and revenue workers didn’t give an inch. Few spoke to any Mossville gate today. In fact, three them out. Today’s activities were like a o f $3.6 billion. the cops. Pickets remained calm and kept members came back out as o f this morn­ good, hard smack to the nose for Caterpil­ Caterpillar chief financial officer Jim circulating. ing.” lar. But they w ill step up their publicity, Owns bragged, “ A t this point it appears the Five minutes into the standoff, the police UAW international officials raised harassment, and intimidation.” labor situation will have minimal impact got visibly nervous. Unable to budge the strike benefits to $300 a week. “ Many o f us Caterpillar reported record earnings for on our sales or profit for the full year 1994 crowd and widen their wedge to open the would have stayed out with the strike pay the second quarter, which ended just nine even if — and we emphasize we hope it doesn’t — but even if the current strike continues.” But on August 5, Caterpillar stock dropped $2.88 a share to $104.75. Many Mossville strikers wonder about Caterpillar strikers rally in Chicago reports that 10,000 engines have been built, since there are no tell-tale signs and BY MITCHEL ROSENBERG Doug Hurt is among the “ illegally termi­ Pony Express; United Transportation smells o f production. “ When they test an CHICAGO — Some 1,500 striking Cat­ nated” strikers. The 33-year-old unionist Union members on strike against the Soo engine the test cell belches black smoke,” erpillar workers and their supporters ral­ had only five months in the plant when the Line railroad owned by Canadian Pacific; said Earl Gudeman, one o f 35 workers ille­ lied and marched here August 5 to demon­ company fired him for union activity. Cat­ and International Association of Machin­ gally fired by the company. “ I ’ve been here strate their strength outside a Caterpillar erpillar claimed he had falsified his em­ ists members who are auto mechanics here. every day. I 'll tell you what they do— they stockholders meeting. ployment application. “ I was organizing One speaker at the rally said unionists drive the same loads round and round to United Auto Workers (U AW ) members action in the plant, talking up the union, who work for Caterpillar at its plant in different plants. It’s a war o f nerves.” on strike against the earth moving equip­ and getting yellow cards signed,” said Brazil had gone out on strike. Later re­ ment giant dominated the crowd, with Hurt. ports, however, indicated their wage nego­ Rollande Girarde, reporting from East unionists bussed in from Illinois strike lo­ Prominent support delegations came tiations were faltering and they may join Peoria, and Bev Bernardo, reporting from cations. U AW Local 974 in the Peoria area from Teamsters, including fighters against the strike action soon. Pontiac, contributed to this article. sent 18 buses, while three each came from Local 145 in Aurora and Local 701 in Pon­ tiac. UAW Local 751 in Decatur sent about 100 members. Decatur Illinois: a center of union A popular topic o f discussion was the , August 1 action organized by strikers at the York, Pennsylvania, plant, when hundreds resistance against the bosses’ offensive o f workers kept scabs from entering the factory. Each local had rallied August 1 at struck plants in response to company- BY WENDY LYONS company had gutted the grievance proce­ ments for health insurance, a seven-day placed rumors that more scabs would be DECATUR, Illinois — This city of dure, eliminated most seniority rights, and week of 12-hour shifts, wage reductions herded in. Strikers reported these actions 84,000 is an important place to watch. forced workers onto 12-hour rotating shifts for some jobs, and a 30 percent wage cut made a big impact. Three major unions here are resisting the without overtime pay. for new hires. One URW member ex­ UAW Local 145 member Mike Finn employers’ offensive at the same time. Frank Travis kindly offered to escort plained that the key demand for him was telephoned 10 fellow U AW members who Caterpillar workers organized in the this reporter from the command center to against the 12-hour rotating shift. had crossed in the days leading up to Au­ United Auto Workers union (UAW), mem­ the picket lines around town. He proudly Regarding the simultaneous walkouts gust 1, urging them to jo in the strike bers o f the United Rubber Workers (URW) wears the title “ Road Warrior” — the name taking place in Decatur, striker Dennis — three did. “ They say it’s chaos inside,” at Firestone/Bridgestone, and corn pro­ locked-out Staley workers have dubbed Stelland said, “ We all have to be on strike. Finn remarked. “ The lights are out and cessing workers at A.E. Staley Manufac­ those o f their ranks who travel around the It’s not just one company trying to bust the they’ve got over 100,000 orders to process. turing Co. organized in the United Paper country to tell the story o f their fight. unions — they are all out to do it. But the One temporary guy came out after three Workers International Union (UPIU) are Caterpillar strikers warmly welcomed whole town is sticking together now.” He days and joined the union.” Finn is in­ walking picket lines and holding solidarity Travis when we showed up at their picket pointed to rallies where people from each spired by the strike and the support it’s be­ activities. lines. The strikers expressed anger about o f the striking unions came together. As we ginning to tap from others in the labor Workers at the bustling UPIU command the 12-hour shifts Caterpillar wants and made the rounds o f the rubber workers movement. “ This is the future o f unions in center saw the recent walkouts by Caterpil­ felt they had to take a stand after being picket lines, Travis urged people to deepen this country,” he stated. lar and Firestone workers as reinforcement forced back to work with no new contract the solidarity between the strikes, encour­ Among the throng in Chicago were for their 13-month-long fight against Sta­ following their 1991-92 strike. During that aging them to come out to Tuesday night strike supporters from Families in Solidar­ ley’s lockout. “The other strikes will give time they began calling Decatur a “ war meetings. ity, including strikers’ spouses and chil­ us more momentum,” said Mike Griffin. zone” for labor. The name has been picked A t URW Local 713 headquarters, where dren. Retirees were also present and one After working seven months under a up by the other unions now walking picket the $ 100 per week strike benefits were be­ sported a T-shirt reading, “Retired from company-imposed contract and trying to lines. ing given out, President Roger Gates told Cat but not my union.” resist it, Staley locked the workers out. The the M ilitant, “ We had bought into the idea Rally for rubber workers o f working together with the company but About 200 Caterpillar and Staley work­ now they are trying to blow us out o f the ers held an impromptu rally July 12 to water.” He said he was surprised the com­ greet the rubber workers when they went pany would demand such deep concessions out on strike. These workers showed up at when “ they are so prosperous, had recalled the scene o f the action knowing that the all laid-off workers, and were even hiring URW contract deadline was at noon and a new workers.” walkout would likely occur. Travis talked about how grateful he was Caterpillar pickets told us the company for the support Caterpillar workers have had just sent a videotape to all employees’ given to the Staley fight. There have been homes, urging them to come back to work. sizable actions organized by the Staley A small percentage o f U AW members workers every month since the beginning have crossed the picket lines. Management o f the year, with Caterpillar workers play­ spread the rumor that many would cross ing a big part in them. August 1, the end o f what had been the A t all the picket lines we traveled to, yearly-scheduled plant shutdown. Caterpil­ Travis appealed for people to become lar workers around the country prepared more involved in visible support for each expanded picket lines and rallies in front o f other. He feels the labor movement is up the gates that day. against something very big and it’s going When we pulled up at the Firestone to be a long hard fight. picket line, Travis greeted the unionists who were clearly glad to have a Staley Wendy Lyons is a member of Amalga­ worker join the line. The pickets explained mated Clothing and Textile Workers that the company had demanded large pay­ Union Local 352 in Philadelphia. Canadian Pacific rail strike remains solid

BY JON HILLSON one such event here August 7. ST. PAUL, Minnesota — G rit and de­ The carrier launched its sharpest effort termination mark picket lines here as yet to intimidate workers by running 23 po­ United Transportation Union (UTU) mem­ tential scab engineers through qualifying bers dig in for their second month on strike tests here. On August 8, the replacements against the Soo Line, the ninth largest rail­ were brought to the CP’s training center in road in the United States. The carrier is a passenger bus, startling UTU pickets. owned by the Canadian Pacific, one o f the “ You always hear about ‘the bus,’ and then largest railroads in North America and one there it is,” said picket captain B ill Sulli­ of only two transcontinental carriers. van, a 26-year rail veteran. “ [The scabs] More than 1,100 UTU members in 11 taunted us, thumbed their noses, laughed at midwestern states set up picket lines July us. It really got our blood going.” 14, ending four years o f negotiations with Scab crews and CP-Soo managers are the multibillion-dollar, Montreal-based also being used at the big St. Paul Ford carrier. truck assembly plant, where normal service has been maintained. The CP, Ford, In a powerful show of solidarity, an ad­ Burlington Northern, and Chicago and ditional 3,000 CP-Soo workers in 16 craft Northwestern (CN&W), are servicing the unions are honoring UTU pickets, despite United Auto Workers-organized truck the bosses’ attempts to spark a back-to- plant, hauling trains to their respective work movement. yards, where UTU crews then take over. The rail bosses seek to slash road and Unionized C N &W crews now work the yard switching crews in half, creating large Koch oil refinery on joint CP and “conductor only” jobs, while cutting wages CN&W track. and creating a third tier of unprotected UTU officials say railroad business is workers. It has been six years since Soo down by 90 percent, a figure disputed by Militant/Jon Hillson workers received a pay raise. CP spokesman John Bergene, who claims UTU members in Minnesota picketing against the Soo Line railroad. The sharp confrontation is unfolding “ substantially more” work is being done. ahead o f the Jan. 1, 1995 expiration o f the An article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press against this union-busting outfit, top union deport them. Some signs produced in En­ national UTU rail contract. noted that the carrier’s “ competitors have officials are appealing to national chauvin­ glish and French declaring “ Canuck scabs Minneapolis-St. Paul is a center o f the estimated the shutdown is 75 percent effec­ ism as the strike unfolds. go home” are being used on the picket strike. Three hundred fifty UTU members tive.” Top UTU officials have responded to lines, along with upside down Canadian here are backed by nearly 1,000 allied rail Despite the potential to organize and the CP’s union-busting offensive by cam­ flags. unionists who remain united against the unite railroad workers on both sides of the paigning against what they call Canadian Jon Hillson is a member of UTU Local carrier. Less than 25 workers have broken U.S.-Canada border in a common fight scabs, and pressing for the government to 1882 on strike against CP R ail in St. Paul. ranks and crossed the line. Some 156 o f the 160-member Trans­ portation Communications Union (TCU), which organizes office workers at CP’s British rail workers hold one-day strike Minneapolis headquarters, hold firm “ be­ cause people who stay on the line make us BY TIM RIGBY and Tuesday of the following week. nor o f the Bank o f England, told the Ob­ strong, and our strength is the pride o f the MANCHESTER, England — Railroad The union is demanding a wage hike of server newspaper July 24, “ British workers union,” said TCU member Bob Johnson. signal workers organized by the National 11 percent to compensate for large in­ and trade unions w ill have to get used to Dave Lorendo, local chairman o f the Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport creases in productivity of signal workers wage increases o f two to three percent as Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Em­ Workers (RMT) at Railtrack in Britain, over the past few years and for a fall in the norm.” ployees (BMWE) Local 928, said track held a 24-hour strike August 3. The walk­ their already low wages. The bosses’ cen­ The great majority of RMT-organized worker solidarity “ is really good. We are out was the eighth shutdown since the dis­ tral aim is to clear the way to force restruc­ signal workers have remained loyal to the tired of being lied to [by CP Rail], tired of pute began June 15. The important stakes turing on the workforce. In 1984 there strike despite a recent offer by manage­ being pushed around. Our people are say­ in this conflict are underlined by the public were 6,695 signal workers, today there are ment for a one-time payment of £770 to ing ‘enough’s enough.’” BM W E members support the government o f Prime Minister 4,642. Over the same period, the number those who cross picket lines. “ They are on the Canadian Pacific in Canada began John Major has given to the management o f train miles operated per signal worker turning the screw more and more, but that solidarity informational picketing in Mon­ o f the state-owned company. The London- have increased from 35,878 to 52,783. just gets our backs up and makes us even treal in late July. based Daily Telegraph noted on August 3 Restructuring threatens the disappear­ more determined to fight it out,’’said one Hundreds o f unionized rail workers have that the dispute is “ the longest bout o f dis­ ance o f overtime payments, the inclusion worker. attended solidarity rallies from Harvey, ruption on the railways since the first o f Sunday and public holidays in the nor­ Railtrack is steadily increasing the num­ North Dakota, to Chicago, and from Ma­ World War.” mal workweek, and rostered 12-hour shifts ber o f trains running on strike days. While son City, Iowa, to Milwaukee and La­ On August 2 RM T officials announced at straight time wages. Today signal work­ in the first strikes the rail network was es­ crosse, Wisconsin. Two hundred fifty that a further 24-hour action would be held ers have a basic 39-hour workweek on top sentially shut down, the bosses claimed union members and their families attended August 12 and a 48-hour strike on Monday of which extensive overtime is worked. To one-third o f all trains operated in the 48- illustrate the existing low levels of pay, hour strike ending July 28. This has been strike picketers outside Manchester’s Pic­ achieved by using supervisory employees N U M M I auto workers stage walkout cadilly railway station have been handing in the signal boxes. Some have no sig­ out copies o f a pay slip for a basic work­ nalling experience, while many have not week to passersby. One hundred eight worked in the boxes for several years. BY MARGARET JAYKO N U M M I management likes to project pounds [US$ 1.50—£ 1 ] remain after deduc­ One supervisor allowed a passenger FREMONT, California — In their first the image that this factory is different than tions. train into a station that had been closed due strike since the plant opened 10 years ago, other U.S. auto plants. They claim it is or­ The aims o f the Railtrack bosses are to a fire alert. Track workers have not been auto workers at New United M otor Manu­ ganized through team work, cooperation, backed by the government, which is deter­ protected, and many incidents have oc­ facturing, Inc. (NUMMI) here in northern and mutual trust and respect between union mined to hold down public sector wage curred with level crossing barriers being California walked off their jobs August 3 and management. This was captured by the rises, a stance encouraged by employers in raised, while a train was passing, or barri­ at 12:01 a.m. They were protesting com­ headline in one major local daily, private industry. Eddie George, the gover- ers being closed trapping pedestrians. pany demands for givebacks as part o f ne­ “ N U M M I workers threaten strike; rare dis­ gotiations for a new contract. NUMMI is cord at auto plant.” jointly owned by Toyota and General M o­ In reality, however, discord is rather tors. The 3,500 production and mainte­ common — and on the rise. On some parts nance workers, members o f United Auto o f the assembly line, repetitive motion in­ ‘Militant’ now produced entirely Workers Local 2244, build Toyota Corol­ juries affect a majority of workers. las and pickups, as well as GM Geo Those who report their injuries are often by staff using desktop technology Prizms. harassed by management and accused of A tentative four-year agreement, subject “ faking it.” Workers also face speedup, This issue of the Militant registers an For decades, even after the advent of to membership vote, was reached two forced overtime, job overload, and woe­ important change in the way the paper is computers, the editorial staff spent mas­ hours after the walkout began. fully inadequate sick and vacation days, to produced. Working-class fighters sive amounts of time with paper, pencils, name just a few o f the issues over which around the world will be pleased to learn calculators, and rulers laying out the pa­ Overtime work without overtime pay there is daily discord between workers and that the Militant staff is taking advantage per. This work was then duplicated in a A union leaflet distributed one hour be­ management. of computer technologies to eliminate composition department in the shop, fore the strike read in part, “ the company’s In these circumstances, most people substantial duplication of efforts in the where the newspaper is printed. Now the last and final proposal still contains several welcomed the union officials’ call to resist paper’s production and thus save invalu­ duplication of effort is gone. provisions that would undermine decades management attempts to make things even able labor time. This will allow the edi­ As a result, the Militant, and its o f union struggle and progress. The key worse. Many were disturbed, however, that torial staff to improve the political con­ Spanish-language sister publication Per­ provision is the company’s insistence that union officials refused to inform the mem­ tent, timeliness, and appearance of the spectiva Mundial, are in a better position we give up the hard-won principle o f pre­ bership about the issues in the strike, and paper. to bring readers news and analysis in the mium pay for work over 8 hours per day. didn’t provide any response to the barrage Every step before the printing stage of interests of working people every week. The company is demanding Alternative o f company propaganda. Some workers re­ this issue was accomplished entirely on In addition, we now receive a growing Work Schedules in Stamping and Plastic called their own previous strike experi­ computer screen, without any of the percentage o f articles from the field by which would require our members to work ences where the membership had been work that used to be done by a printshop electronic mail, eliminating the time and 10-hour days and Saturdays without over­ more involved. composition department to lay out the effort needed to type or scan this copy. time premium." The leaflet stated union of­ Returning to work the next day, most paper. Staff writers prepared the page We urge all correspondents to send in re­ ficials’ willingness to consider the alterna­ workers felt proud that they had stood up layouts, using Microsoft Publisher, a ports by E-mail if possible. tive work schedules, but added, “ overtime together against the company. They felt new software program that cost $90. And we encourage our worker corre­ work without overtime pay is not accept­ that they had accomplished something im­ They wrote the headlines; designed spondents to keep these articles coming able.” portant, even though they knew they still some advertisements; formatted and in. Soon, the Militant itself will be avail­ At midnight, as second- and third-shift had to see what was in the contract and dropped in text — all on computer able via electronic mail every week upon workers streamed out the doors, manage­ vote on it. screens on their desks in the editorial de­ request. And we welcome readers’ com­ ment lined the halls with extra security partment. In coming weeks photos will ments and suggestions, not only on the guards and company personnel. In some Margaret Jayko is a member o f UAW Lo­ also be scanned, and cropped and placed paper’s political content, but also its de­ departments everyone walked out, in oth­ cal 2244 and works on the truck assembly in position on screen. sign. ers participation was closer to 80 percent. line at NUMMI. Labor resistance, revulsion by youth against capitalism’s evils at center of SWP convention

Continued from front page today — from strikers on the picket lines people to the communist movement. against the giant Caterpillar corporation, to Altogether some 750 people attended defense lines at abortion clinics, to those the convention and participated in the con­ working to use the space for politics ference activities surrounding it. These in­ opened by the new democratic revolution cluded workshops aimed at increasing the in South African revolution — that we find effectiveness of political work by party the best fighters who identify with the members and supporters, classes on a wide Cuban road, the road to socialism. range o f political and historical topics, and “We fight to convince class-conscious working meetings o f party members active workers not only to express their solidarity in eight industrial unions. The founding with fellow fighters in Cuba,” the message meeting of a new, nationwide socialist said, “ but to learn from and follow the ex­ youth organization, the Young Socialists, ample o f the Cuban revolution. And we ex­ also took place during the gathering. plain to them that the vanguard o f the At the opening o f the convention, the working class in Cuba, in face o f the hard­ 144 regular and fraternal delegates and 600 ships at numerous turning points in the rev­ other conference participants were wel­ olution, learns from and draws inspiration comed by SWP national secretary Jack from the class struggle in the United States Barnes and by SWP National Committee and around the world.” member James Warren, a steelworker and The SWP convention also received the party’s candidate for president o f the greetings from the African National United States in 1992. Some 110 delegates Congress of South Africa; the Workers and observers were under the age o f 27. Party o f Korea; the Union o f Young Com­ They came from 55 cities across the United munists o f Cuba; the Movement o f Land­ States and from 14 countries around the Militant/Rosa Garmendia less Rural Workers and the Workers Party world. Thirty-one languages were spoken Delegates at 37th Constitutional Convention of Socialist Workers Party (PT) of Brazil; the Antonio Maceo by one or more o f the conference partici­ Brigade, a Miami-based organization of pants. Cuban-Americans who support the Cuban Aside from the 62 delegates with deci­ Americas. policies against Cuba. The masters o f the revolution; and the Socialist Forum of sive vote elected from party branches in 23 Decisive layers o f the working class in empire in Washington believe that the Mexico. This week’s issue o f the M ilitant U.S. cities, members o f the party’s Na­ Cuba, Waters stated, have demonstrated fighting men and women o f Cuba must be features the messages from and to framed- tional Committee chosen by the 1991 con­ the capacity and determination to defend taught a lesson in order to deter all those up unionist and socialist Mark Curtis as vention were seated as fraternal delegates. the revolution’s socialist conquests. While around the world who are unwilling to live well as the delegates’ message to the ANC. Other fraternal delegates were from com­ working people have been affected most on their knees — who are unwilling, that munist leagues in Australia, Canada, New severely by inflation and the black market is, to accept the domination o f the capital­ Instability of world capitalism Zealand, Sweden, and the United King­ trading in dollars, a broad mass vanguard ist market system. “ Over the past almost seven years, some dom; from groups in France and Iceland; o f the Cuban working class has not been so A ll the convention delegates had partici­ o f the biggest changes in the last half cen­ as well as representatives chosen by at- worn down or demoralized by the coun­ pated in the party’s efforts to get out the tury have occurred,” stated the resolution large party members in Peoria, Illinois, and try’s current economic crisis — as layers truth about the Cuban revolution through discussed and adopted by the convention the Albany-Schenectady area in New York o f middle class professionals have the circulation of the M ilitant, the Spanish- delegates. “ A new — and descending — and by the young socialists leadership. been — that they are no longer ready to language monthly Perspectiva Mundial, segment in the long-term curve o f capitalist fight for a socialist course. and books and pamphlets published by development was signaled by the October Revolutionary struggle in Cuba The assessment in Waters’s report was Pathfinder Press. Many had also been ac­ 1987 crash o f the w orld’s stock markets. A The first political report and discussion borne out at the close o f the SWP conven­ tive over the past year in a range o f activi­ few years later the Stalinist apparatuses at the convention was “ Defend Cuba, De­ tion, as half a m illion workers and students ties with other individuals and political throughout Eastern Europe and in the So­ fend the Cuban Socialist Revolution” pre­ mobilized in the streets o f Havana August forces in defense o f the Cuban revolution. viet Union came tumbling down, one after sented by SWP leader M ary-Alice Waters. 7 to protest the murder of a young police Some had participated in youth brigades another. Then, a war against Iraq that The party’s National Committee placed officer by armed thugs who had tried to hi­ to Cuba doing agricultural work and re­ Washington sought to portray as a glorious this report at the opening o f the conven­ jack a local ferry to the United States (see porting on their experiences upon their re­ m ilitary victory ended up sharpening the tion, Waters said, because the Communist article on front page). The report — which turn. Chris Hoeppner, a delegate from conflicts o f the imperialist world order. At Party in Cuba remains the only leadership dealt with a range o f questions, from the Seattle who is a member o f International the opening o f the 1990s capitalism sank holding state power anywhere in the world current economic and social policies of the Association of Machinists Local 289, de­ into a worldwide depression for the first that continues to defend the interests o f the Cuban government to the political impact scribed the revolutionary-minded young time since prior to World War II.” working class and the worldwide fight for o f the collapse o f the Stalinist regimes in people from the United States he had This resolution had been discussed and socialism. the former Soviet bloc — w ill be edited for worked alongside in June during the Free­ voted on by branches o f the Socialist The Cuban government and its leader­ publication later this year in an issue of the dom to Travel Campaign trip to Cuba, Workers Party across the country leading ship, Waters said, has maintained this Marxist magazine New International and which defied the U.S. travel ban. Other up to the convention. Along with reports course, with whatever mistakes and hesita­ its sister publications in Spanish, French, delegates talked about the importance of discussed and adopted by the convention tions, despite the fact that the revolution and Swedish. the U.S. speaking tour o f Cuban youth and related material from the past several has been forced into a retreat by leader Pável Díaz Hernández in March and years, the resolution w ill also be published Defending socialist revolution in Cuba formidable economic and social d ifficu l­ April. in New International later this year. ties and political challenges in the opening For the reasons outlined in her report, “ When a Cuban communist speaks d i­ Barnes reported on the resolution at the years o f the 1990s. These setbacks stem Waters said. Wall Street’s class hatred for rectly with young people and workers in convention on behalf o f the party’s Na­ first and foremost from the demise o f the the Cuban revolution and its communist the United States it has a substantial im­ tional Committee. The capitalists in the revolutions in Grenada and Nicaragua in leadership remains implacable. The U.S. pact,” said Martin Koppel, a delegate from United States and other imperialist coun­ the 1980s and the stalemates or decline of government is not about to drop its trade Brooklyn, New York. Koppel is editor of tries are focusing on cost cutting and popular struggles elsewhere in the embargo, travel ban, and other aggressive Perspectiva Mundial and the Spanish- “downsizing” to try to boost profits, language magazine o f Marxist politics and Barnes said, not investing in new plants theory, Nueva Internacional. and machinery that would expand overall Koppel also talked about his visit to a production. They use computerization, cigar factory in Havana in February during speedup, and other methods to squeeze a reporting trip for the M ilitant newspaper. more production out of fewer workers, He said many Cuban workers identified hoping to hold costs down and outbid the immediately with the fight of Mark Curtis, competition. a unionist and political activist who was So far, employers in the United States framed up by police in Des Moines, Iowa, have traveled faster and further along this in the middle o f a Fight to defend 17 immi­ road than their imperialist rivals. They grant coworkers from victimization by the have succeeded in driving down wages and government. working conditions and increasing line Several delegates pointed out that what speed and productivity to the point where communist workers do in the United States big companies such as Caterpillar and to defend Cuba weighs in the outcome of General Motors are taking increasing mar­ the class struggle in both countries. A ket share away from their competitors in member o f the United Steelworkers union Japan, Germany, and other industrialized reported on efforts being initiated by countries. During the current upswing in unionists to organize a trip to Cuba by the capitalist business cycle in the United rank-and-file workers in the United States States, many employers have begun hiring to exchange experiences with workers again, including a layer of new, younger there. Leaders o f the Cuban trade union workers, even while they continue down­ federation have expressed interest in spon­ sizing and layoffs. soring such a trip. A delegate from Iowa spoke about the possibilities to organize a Shakiness of stock markets tour by working farmers to Cuba. Faced with the insecurity o f sharper ups Responding to greetings to the SWP and downs in the world capitalist economy, convention from the Central Committee of Barnes said, the upturn and increased hir­ the Communist Party o f Cuba, delegates ing of younger workers has fueled a strike sent back a message. “ Defense o f Cuba and wave that has continued to roll across the of its socialist revolution is part and parcel United States since the first months of of our activity as a communist party inside 1994. the United States,” the message said. The early 1990s saw an explosion in pa­ “ It is among those in struggle per values on most o f the w orld’s stock and bond markets. An “ impending catas­ to advance their political work in the trophe built into this stage in the labor movement. On the Sunday longer-term rhythms o f the declining morning following the final conven­ capitalist system is what the 1987 tion session, these workers met again collapse o f the w orld’s stock markets to discuss and decide plans for strike pointed to as a coming attraction,” solidarity work through their unions; the SWP resolution explains. defense o f the socialist revolution in In his report to the convention, Cuba; defending abortion rights; sales Barnes commented on several recent o f the Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, examples o f the results o f the capital­ New International, and revolutionary ists’ efforts to expand the workings books on the job; and other political of stock markets in China, India, and campaigns. Russia. Just a week prior to the con­ vention, more than 10,000 people — Guide to action outraged and panicked — demon­ The resolution and the reports on it strated outside the offices o f M M M were prepared as a guide for action for in Moscow, as the company’s pyra­ revolutionary-minded workers and mid investment scheme began to Militant/Dave Wulp youth. crumble. The M M M company had Members of National Committees of SWP and of the Young Socialists sing Internationale at During the convention itself, a num­ used increasing funds from new closing of socialist conference at Oberlin College August 6. Top right, M ark Curtis, newly ber o f delegates and observers took o ff shareholders to pay o ff previous in­ elected member of SWP National Committee, who could not be present because he is incarcer­ to participate in a rally in Chicago vestors until the house o f cards fi­ ated at the state penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa. Curtis was framed up by police on false called by workers striking against nally collapsed — for pensioners, charges of rape and burglary six years ago in the middle of a fight to defend 17 immigrant Caterpillar as well as in an abortion demobilized soldiers, and others coworkers at Monfort meatpacking plant where he worked. rights action in nearby Cleveland who had put their savings into it, not protesting the July 29 murder o f a doc­ for the company’s owners and top manage­ an Oliver North has a growing place inside U AW members at Caterpillar walked out tor and volunteer escort at an abortion ment. bourgeois politics.” again. They did so essentially over the clinic in Pensacola. While spectacular collapses such as this This pattern of political polarization and right to protest management’s attempts to On their way to the convention, 10 par­ receive much publicity, Barnes said, the rightist demagogy is unfolding internation­ impose harsher working conditions on ticipants from Iceland, Philadelphia, and M M M scheme is not fundamentally differ­ ally. An openly fascist party — the Italian them and curb their union rights. Washington, D.C., including five dele­ ent from dealings in so-called derivatives Social Movement — is now one o f the The fight at Caterpillar, Lyons said, gates, joined in the August 1 mass picket and hedge funds on the more established partners in the ruling coalition government highlights a common feature o f labor strug­ outside Caterpillar’s York plant. Others hit W all Street and other imperialist paper in Rome. During his trip to Europe in June gles today: Whatever the outcome o f a the road immediately afterwards, heading markets, or even in the day-to-day work­ for the D-Day anniversary celebration, given battle, the issues at stake are rarely for Peoria, Decatur, Pensacola, and We- ings o f “ normal” stock and bond sales. The Barnes pointed out, U.S. president B ill resolved. Because the questions involved dowee. business and financial pages this year have Clinton made a point o f going to Italy, are fundamental to the employers’ drive to reported numerous examples o f huge col­ where he demonstratively gave his blessing maximize profits, on the one hand, and, on Youth begin to rebel lapses in currency and securities tradings. on behalf of Washington and Wall Street to the other, the need o f the working class to Alongside the resistance brewing within Barnes pointed to the Canadian com­ a government with overtly fascist minis­ maintain elementary standards o f condi­ the working class is a growing reaction puter company Newbridge Networks, ters. tions of labor. Fights erupt not primarily among youth against the horrors o f capital­ whose stocks had started plunging precipi­ In the days just before and during the over wages, but over how long the work­ ism. One evidence o f this fact was the deci­ tously August 1. Pension funds, medical SWP convention, the party’s national sec­ day is, how fast the line moves, how much sion by some 100 young socialists partici­ funds, and others heavily invested in New­ retary said, the reality o f deepening politi­ muscle and bone must be tom up simply to pating as delegates and observers at the bridge began selling to avoid the worst ef­ cal polarization in the United States was make a living. convention to launch a nationwide socialist fects o f the plunge. By the end o f that day, underlined by the cold-blooded murder of Lyons described the August 1 mass youth organization. During two sessions of the stock price had dropped by nearly a Dr. John Britton and volunteer escort picket by Caterpillar workers and their a youth meeting held during the confer­ third. James Barrett outside an abortion clinic in supporters in York — which stopped ence, they took the name Young Socialists That same evening, however, these in­ Pensacola, Florida, and the burning o f the strikebreakers from entering the plant — and decided to call a founding convention vestors were informed that the Nasdaq school in Wedowee, Alabama, whose prin­ as something new in the fight. She gave ex­ for the December 31-January 1 holiday stock exchange in New York had canceled cipal had subjected students to outrageous amples o f other labor resistance, from the weekend at the end o f this year. their trades, and they were left holding the racist abuse. rail workers strike on Canadian Pacific’s Jack W illey reported this decision to the bag. So much for the myth o f “ guaranteed Ultrarightists in every country play on Soo Line to the first walk-out ever at the convention on behalf o f the new group. pension funds” backed by “ secure” invest­ the fears and insecurities particularly o f the N U M M I auto plant in the San Francisco The Young Socialists decided to make de­ ment portfolios! middle classes and newly better-off layers Bay Area. fense o f the socialist revolution in Cuba Trade conflicts among rival national o f the working class. They paint large sec­ Delegates discussed the openings to and solidarity with the struggles o f workers capitalists arc sharpening as well. Only a tions of the population — immigrants, sin­ broaden solidarity with these fights among and farmers in South Africa central cam­ few days before the delegates convened, gle mothers, gays, and others — as less workers and youth and to link up labor bat­ paigns o f their organization. They voted to the Canadian government — one o f Wash­ than human, in an effort to undermine tles with other social struggles. Ninety-five orient to the working class as the only so­ ington’s partners in the so-called North working-class solidarity. At the same time delegates were industrial workers and cial force capable of preventing capitalist American Free Trade Agreement — seized they rail against the “ decadent elite,” seek­ members of industrial trade unions. society from dragging humanity into the pit two U.S. fishing boats for illegally fishing ing to channel working peoples’ resent­ “When young socialists come to the by organizing a new government, a work­ near Canada’s territorial waters. Canadian ments into the ranks o f rightist movements picket lines,” said Brian Pugh, a delegate ers and farmers government, and joining in authorities arrested the captains o f the two that use populist and even anticapitalist from Peoria, “ that tells strikers something the fight for a socialist world. vessels, charged them with fishing illegally rhetoric to mobilize forces against any about the world.” And meeting workers on Nineteen members o f the new youth or­ for scallops, and set $5,000 bond for the challenge by workers and the labor move­ strike gives radicalizing young people a ganization were also delegates to the SWP release o f each man. The episode has ment to the capitalist order. These are the glimpse o f the social force that can change convention. They and other young social­ caused a diplomatic rift between Washing­ stakes in the “ culture wars” declared by society, Pugh and other delegates pointed ists are among a new generation o f leaders ton and Ottawa. On July 30, U.S. Senator Buchanan and other reactionary forces in out. o f the SWP’s branches and o f its trade John Kerry urged sanctions against Canada recent years. In the weeks before the convention, union work in cities across the United over the incident. “ This battle for the soul o f the working members o f the Socialist Workers Party States. class is the battle for the future o f human­ who belong to eight industrial trade unions During the discussion on the report back March toward fascism and war ity,” Barnes said. had met to discuss the strike wave and how Continued on page 12 Intensifying competition among the im­ perialist powers exacerbates military con­ Centrality of workers’ resistance flicts over turf as well. The recent bomb­ The wave o f strikes in the United States SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY NATIONAL COMMITTEE ings by U.S. jets in Bosnia are aimed above since early 1994 takes place in the context Elected by 37th Constitutional Convention all at blocking its rivals in Bonn and Paris of this growing world capitalist disorder August 3- 7, Oberlin, Ohio from gaining too unchallenged a foothold and its political consequences. in the disintegrating former Yugoslavia. In a report to the convention Wendy REGULAR Washington’s saber-rattling with regard to Lyons, a member o f the Amalgamated Jack Bames Ernie Mailhot Haiti has everything to do with asserting its Clothing and Textile Workers Union in Joel Britton Paul M ailhot domination in the Americas and nothing to Philadelphia, reviewed a number of the Steve Clark A rgiris Malapanis do with defending democratic elections most important labor battles unfolding to­ Naomi Craine Greg McCartan Mark Curtis Francisco Picado day and the resulting openings for more ef­ there. The French government intervened Estelle DeBates Dave Prince in Rwanda this year to reassert its continu­ fective communist work in the trade Betsy Farley Greg Rosenberg ing claim to a “ sphere o f influence” — and unions. James Harris Norton Sandler profits — on the African continent. At the center o f the strike wave is the John Hawkins Ma’mud Shirvani The convention resolution explains, battle by 14,000 workers at Caterpillar in Chris Hoeppner George Stevenson however, that today’s trade conflicts alone Peoria, Decatur, and Aurora, Illinois; Martin Koppel Maggie Trowe Sara Lobman M ary-Alice Waters are not likely to explode directly into large- York, Pennsylvania; and elsewhere. Lyons Wendy Lyons James Warren scale interimperialist wars, such as those recalled what the M ilitant said in 1992 af­ Luis Madrid I the capitalist rulers w ill ultimately resort to ter the United Auto Workers (UAW) offi­ in order to reverse the long-term decline o f cialdom ordered the Caterpillar workers to ALTERNATE their profit rates. end a five-month strike. "The strike did not 1. Joe Swanson 10. Tamar Rosenfeld But “ any thinking worker that fights to­ end because the workers’ nerve failed or 2. Aaron Ruby 11. Ken Riley day and thinks about what they see devel­ because picket lines were too weak,” said 3. John Cox 12. Brian Pugh oping around them can visualize the rot of a May 1, 1992, M ilitant editorial. "Cater­ 4. Frank Forrestal 13. Brian Taylor 5. Rollande Girard 14. Angel Lariscy capitalism and what it has in store," Barnes pillar will now be out for blood. Workers 6. Peter Thierjung 15. Toni Jackson said. “ They can see the mounting dangers are going back to work but matters arc 7. Andy Buchanan 16. Mark Gilsdorf o f war in a world in which the nationalist hardly settled.” 8. Laura Garza 17. Jason Coughlin and jingoist voice o f a Patrick Buchanan or A little more than two years later, the 9. H olly Harkness Socialist conference arms youth, workers to be better fighters

BY SARA LOBMAN they fight to defend the socialist revolution OBERLIN, Ohio — “ Before I met you I in that country. couldn’t think of linking our struggle in “ Now at this conference alone, I ’ve met Korea with those in the United States and people from Australia, New Zealand, all the rest o f the world — we hate U.S. impe­ over, and I see that our fight against one rialism so much,” Kim Young said. She company in Illinois is part of a much big­ was among the hundreds o f youth and ger international fight,” Travis said. He workers who participated in the interna­ added that he and other workers at the con­ tional socialist conference in Oberlin, ference were discussing plans for a contin­ Ohio, August 3-7. Before moving to Singa­ gent o f U.S. unionists to visit Cuba to dis­ pore half a year ago, Young, 25, explained, cuss politics with working people there. she was active in student struggles in South Korea to demand the reunification o f her Conference workshops country and to support the struggles o f auto “ More than a dozen young people were workers and others for better living condi­ hired at the same time as me, and several of tions and against government repression. them are interested in socialism,” Rebecca Militant/Charles Ostrofsky Participants at the August 3-7 International Socialist Conference in Oberlin, Ohio, Tom Leonard, who was a 25-year-old Gettleman, a 22-year-old rail worker from snatched up $10,000 worth of books, including titles by M arx, Engels, and Lenin. seaman at the outbreak o f the Korean War, San Francisco, told the 150 people attend­ also attended the conference. He shared his ing the workshop “Communist Workers experiences with Kim Young and several Talking Socialism on the Job,” which took from Ohio I brought in a copy of ing the conference, including “ Youth and other conference participants over a beer at up the sales o f Pathfinder books and the [Pathfinder’s pamphlet] Two Speeches by the Working Class Movement: From Marx the conference center one night. “ The So­ revolutionary press on the job, workers Malcolm X for a guy I work with. He sat and Engels through Lenin to Today,” cialist Workers Party has a long history of correspondence for the M ilitant, and the down and read it right there.” “ Abortion Rights, Women’s Liberation, opposition to U.S. intervention in Korea education program for candidates for A second workshop, titled “ Strengthen­ and the Fight for Socialism Today,” and in support o f reunification that goes membership in the SWP. This was one of ing Nonparty Institutions,” took up the role “ Malcolm X and the Nation o f Islam,” and back to before the Korean War,” Leonard four workshops held during the confer­ o f M ilitant Labor forums and Pathfinder “South Africa’s Unfolding Democratic explained. “ The experience I had as a sea­ ence. bookstores as tools that can be used effec­ Revolution and the Forging o f Communist man during that war made me a commu­ Gettleman explained how she posts arti­ tively by all working-class fighters. Partici­ Leadership.” In addition, informal discus­ nist,” he added. He joined the SWP in cles from the M ilitant in the break room at pants in other workshops discussed financ­ sion sessions were organized during dinner 1951 after he returned to the United States. work. “ Sometimes I ’ll start a discussion ing a communist party of workers, Social­ breaks on the convention reports and dis­ The conference activities accompanied with one or another coworker about South ist Workers election campaigns, Mark Cur­ cussions. the proceedings o f the 37th constitutional Africa or something and by the time break tis defense work, selling the M ilita nt at W hile dozens were attending their first convention o f the Socialist Workers Party is over almost everyone else is involved as plant gates, and other topics. international socialist conference and SWP at Oberlin College here. They brought to­ well,” she said. convention, many were veterans of Debates on fascism, abortion rights gether hundreds of working-class fighters SWP Trade Union Director Joel Britton decades o f struggle. Charlie Scheer and from around the world. In five days of urged workshop participants to send in ar­ “ We had a pretty lively discussion at the Harry Ring were new members o f the orga­ workshops, classes, and informal discus­ ticles on political discussions they were class I gave,” Norton Sandler, a longtime nization when it adopted the name Social­ sion, industrial workers, students, and oth­ part o f on the job, including debates on leader of the Socialist Workers Party and ist Workers Party in 1938. Both became ers exchanged experiences in order to be­ topics such as gay rights and the O.J. Simp­ member of the International Association of delegates to the party’s convention the fo l­ come more effective participants in labor son case. Britton encouraged all partici­ Machinists, said. Sandler and Nell lowing year. battles and movements o f social protest pants to jo t down and send to the M ilitant Wheeler, a packinghouse worker and “The new grouping of young people and to better be able to practice communist regularly over the next month short stories member of the United Food and Commer­ coming around the party today gives me politics with others in struggle. on the response by coworkers to the de­ cial Workers union, prepared a presenta­ great satisfaction,” Ring said. “ Young peo­ “ I first came into contact with the party mand by socialists for federal troops to de­ tion for the class on “ Countermobilization: ple today have a big advantage. When I when I was taking a class on the history of fend women and medical personnel under How to Fight Fascists from the Silver joined the communist movement, the Stal­ Mexico,” Brian Miller, a warehouse attack by rightists at abortion clinics. Shirts to Today.” Both Sandler and inist murder machine still carried a huge worker in Philadelphia, said. Miller, 24, While the M ilitant has a small professional Wheeler live in Des Moines, Iowa. weight in the workers’ movement. This is decided to become a candidate for mem­ staff, he noted, it depends on working peo­ Ivan Rosero, an 18-year-old conference no longer true today. In addition, the bership in the SWP, as well as a founding ple around the world for most o f its cover­ participant bom in Colombia, noted that women’s liberation movement, civil rights member o f the Young Socialists. age o f the labor movement, social strug­ several o f the young people attending the movement, the fight for gay rights, and a gles, and political debates and discussions class, who were faced with fascist-minded Miller explained that he saw a leaflet number of other social struggles were still among factory workers. Such reports w ill youth in their high schools, wanted to about a mushroom workers’ strike posted decades away.” allow the M ilitant editorial staff to have its know where they could read about past ex­ Conference participants wasted no time up at school. He went to the rally the strik­ fingers on the pulse o f the working class periences o f antifascist fights. “ I told them in putting the five days o f political discus­ ers had organized, met some socialist and thus make the paper more interesting they should read Teamster Rebellion," sion and debate to good use. By the time workers who were there too, and bought and compelling. Rosero said. “ The book’s author, Farrell volunteers began taking down the displays his first subscription to the M ilitant. M iller Shellia Kennedy, a rail worker in Dobbs, explains how workers can organize joined the Socialist Youth Organizing and book tables at the exhibit center, Sheffield, England, agreed, noting that it is to defend themselves against the cops and dozens o f people had signed up for cam­ Committee (SYOC) in April when Mark as important for communist workers to other thugs who wanted to destroy their paign teams in New York state to collect Gilsdorf, one o f the leaders o f SYOC, was write for the M ilitant as to read and dis­ fight.” Teamster Rebellion is one o f a four- 22,000 signatures to put the Socialist on a speaking tour in Philadelphia. He has tribute it. part series that chronicles the strikes and since participated in solidarity teams to the Workers slate on the ballot there. Others “ I found the discussion at the workshop organizing drive in the 1930s that trans­ picket lines of striking garment workers at were heading to the Caterpillar and Staley very useful,” Brian M iller said in an inter­ formed the Teamsters union in Minnesota picket lines in Peoria and Decatur, Illinois; Leslie Fay in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, view several days after the conference. “ I and much o f the Midwest into a fighting to defend abortion clinics in Pensacola, and auto workers at the Caterpillar plant in had never brought any socialist literature industrial union movement. York, Pennsylvania. Florida; and to oppose racist violence in into the warehouse, but when I got back Altogether, nine classes were held dur- Wedowee, Alabama. Strikers at Canadian Pacific Railroad and many other embattled workers also at­ tended the international gathering. In the middle o f the conference exhibit and display center, Frank Travis and Tom SWP sends greetings to South Africa’s ANC Bly fielded questions about the struggle o f workers at the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Printed below is a message the dele­ unfolding in the United States this year. You proved that with political leader­ Co. in Decatur, Illinois. Travis and Bly are gates and guests to the 37th Constitu­ We have charted a course to continue ship, organization, and determination it is members o f the United Paperworkers In­ tional Convention of the Socialist W ork­ fighting alongside others against murder­ possible to fight and win enormous ground ternational Union (UPIU). The company ers Party sent to the African National ous rightist attacks aimed at denying against stupendous odds. Your victory has locked out nearly 800 UPIU members a Congress. women the right to abortion and at pushing strengthened — and brought closer to­ year ago after unionists resisted the impo­ back their drive toward full economic and gether— the resistance by toilers the world sition of a concession contract. Prior to the The 750 delegates, young socialists, and social equality. We reaffirmed our commit­ over to the devastating consequences o f the lockout, Staley employees worked for other participants in the 37th Constitu­ ment to tell the truth about and to defend world capitalist economic catastrophe. It seven months under a company-imposed tional Convention of the Socialist Workers struggles by working people and youth in has and w ill in the years ahead make it contract that gutted the grievance proce­ Party send revolutionary greetings to our other countries, from Nigeria to Argentina, more possible for all o f us to deal blows to dure, eliminated most seniority rights, and brothers and sisters in struggle in the from France to Korea. We discussed how racism, national chauvinism, and all forms forced workers onto 12-hour rotating shifts African National Congress o f South best to advance our work with others in de­ of oppression, exploitation, and injustice without overtime pay. Africa. We received with great enthusiasm fense o f Cuba and its socialist revolution. the world over. “ When our fight first started, it was all I the revolutionary greetings to our conven­ The victories you have scored have As part of this five-day international thought about,” Travis said in an interview, tion from the ANC Department o f Interna­ opened new and hitherto unseen opportuni­ gathering o f our movement, some 100 explaining how he has changed since meet­ tional Relations and look forward to a rep­ ties in the fight for a nonracial, democratic, young socialists met here and decided to ing unionists and other fighters from resentative o f the ANC being with us at our united, and nonsexist South Africa. We form a nationwide organization that will around the world. “ Then I heard Pável next gathering. reaffirm our continued efforts to win work­ hold its founding convention at the end of Diaz speak.” Diaz, a Cuban youth leader, The world capitalist order today at the ing people and youth to join you in the this year. The members and supporters of spoke at a socialist educational conference close o f the 20th century is marked by de­ struggle to expand on the broadest the Socialist Workers Party and the young in Chicago in early A pril as part o f a na­ pression conditions, increasing insecurity levels — social, economic, and political socialists pledge to continue exchanging tionwide speaking tour. Travis attended the and instability, and growing rightist dan­ — the democratic conquests in South experiences and forging links o f common Chicago conference and invited Diaz to gers and pressures toward war. The dele­ Africa, to overcome the gross injustices struggle with our sisters and brothers in the Decatur soon afterward. The Cuban youth gates to this convention and other partici­ and inequalities apartheid inflicted on m il­ ANC and the ANC Youth League. We plan received a standing ovation from Staley pants have exchanged experiences and lions, and to open up space for even more to be with you in South Africa in coming workers after speaking to their union meet­ views on how to deepen our involvement widespread and politically conscious orga­ months to learn more about your efforts ing on the challenges and opportunities in building labor solidarity with a wave of nization of working people, rural toilers, and to bring back the truth to workers, confronting Cuban workers and youth as strikes and union resistance that has been and democratic-minded forces. farmers, and youth in this country. Judge rejects appeal of framed-up unionist

BY JOHN STUDER This is not an easy process. Under the DES MOINES, Iowa — On July 14 law, a prisoner is not guaranteed the basic Federal District Court judge Charles Wolle right to appeal the rejection o f a habeas rejected the appeal o f union and political corpus petition. activist Mark Curtis, which called for the Instead, Curtis’s lawyers must file a mo­ overturn of his 1988 frame-up conviction tion with W olle — the judge who just de­ on charges of rape and burglary. nied his appeal — requesting that he issue Curtis had submitted a w rit o f habeas a legal ruling that Curtis in fact has a good corpus — a legal motion asking that the case for appeal. state be forced to release him — last Octo­ “ We w ill continue to take every ber. Curtis’s attorneys, W illiam Kutmus avenue — political and legal — to chal­ and Jeanne Johnson, argued that Curtis’s lenge the frame-up conviction o f Mark constitutional rights were so badly violated Curtis,” said Nell Wheeler, a leader o f the during his trial that the conviction must be Mark Curtis Defense Committee in Des thrown out. In particular, they pointed to Moines, Iowa. “ Ultimately the battle for the fact that the judge refused to instruct M ark’s freedom w ill be won in the court of the jury that it could consider finding Cur­ public opinion. Support for his release on tis not guilty because he established an parole — especially from unionists forced alibi — he was in Los Compadres, a on strike at Caterpillar, Firestone, and else­ restaurant and bar, with dozens o f w it­ where and from youth radicalizing in re­ nesses at the time prosecution witnesses sponse to the injustices they see in society claimed he was committing rape. around them — is growing. The spread of Second, the judge refused to allow Cur­ this movement is what w ill be decisive in tis to cross examine the main witness Militant/Charles Ostrofsky winning justice for Mark and pushing back against him, a Des Moines cop who Defenders of M ark Curtis explain his fight for justice at socialist conference in Ohio the attacks on the rights o f all those behind claimed he caught Curtis “ with his pants bars.” down." Curtis’s attorneys were prevented In addition to working with Curtis’s on the trial court refusal to allow him to lenge the trial judge’s “ wide discretion to from informing the jury that the cop had lawyers to file the next stage o f his appeal, cross examine the cop who framed him. impose reasonable lim its on cross- once been suspended from the police force the defense committee is campaigning for The ruling states that a defendant is only examination.” for beating a suspect and then lying and letters urging the Iowa State Board o f Pa­ entitled to “an opportunity for effective Curtis has 30 days from the court ruling manufacturing evidence to cover up the in­ role to grant Curtis a hearing this fall and cross-examination, not cross-examination to file legal papers in an attempt to appeal cident. order his freedom. that is effective in whatever way, and what­ the decision to the U.S. Court o f Appeals. In addition the trial judge refused to al­ ever extent, the defense might wish.” So, His lawyers are drafting the necessary doc­ low Curtis to introduce evidence that indi­ John Studer is a member of United Auto Judge W olle ruled, Curtis cannot chal­ uments. cated that the Des Moines police framed Workers Local 270 in Des Moines. him for his union and political activity. This included the beating he received from the Des Moines cops the night o f his arrest SWP delegates send Curtis greetings and FBI files on Curtis’s political activi­ ties. These violations o f Curtis’s rights, along Printed below is a message the dele­ imperialism’s march toward fascism and It is among those in struggle to­ with others in his appeal, were brushed gates and guests to the 37th Constitu­ war with the conviction that building a pro­ day — from strikers on pickedlines at aside — both individually and taken tional Convention of the Socialist W ork­ letarian party o f communist workers is not Caterpillar and elsewhere, at clinics to de­ together — by the Federal D istrict Court ers Party sent M ark Curtis. only the most rewarding activity for a fend abortion rights, to activities to defend judge. worker or youth but an absolute necessity Cuba’s socialist revolution, and among A central obstacle to Curtis’s appeal is a The 750 delegates, members o f the today. those working to advance the new stage o f bipartisan drive in recent years in both Young Socialists, and other participants at We also agreed with your assessment the revolution in South Africa — that we Congress and the courts to severely curtail the 37th Constitutional Convention of the that your fight is not in the past but is about have and w ill find the staunchest support­ prisoners’ rights to appeal their conviction. Socialist Workers Party warmly received the present and what is surely coming ers o f your fight. These battles w ill aid in Wolle ruled that for Curtis’s petition to your greetings — the greetings o f a co- down the road in the clash between the bar­ the effort to win a new parole hearing and succeed, he would have to prove that each fighter against imperialism’s assault on the barous future the wealthy minority w ill continue to raise the political price the gov­ o f the trial rulings he challenged was “ so world working class, the greetings of a fel­ seek to impose and the resistance to that ernment and its agencies must pay for grossly prejudicial it infects the whole low unionist imprisoned on frame-up drive by workers, peasants, working farm­ keeping you behind bars. trial.” charges for political and union activity, ers, and youth from Argentina to Nigeria, Recently the authorities have had to bow Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling, and the greetings o f a fellow communist as well as China to Europe and the United a little to the fact that they have not been the judge denied Curtis’s complaint based and party member who continues to face States. able to break you, to make you cease com­ munist work, or make their case against you credible in public opinion. Your win­ ning o f a gate pass is testimony to these ‘My defense campaign is about the future’ facts. Your fight w ill be discussed in meetings of the party’s industrial union fractions Printed below are greetings Mark will continue to grow. Immigrants, which Our work in the coming year, the cam­ meeting here at the conclusion o f the con­ Curtis sent the 37th Constitutional Con­ is just a word for rootless workers, will be paigns and the irreplaceable work o f build­ vention. Party branches and growing num­ vention of the Socialist Workers Party. among the first layers to be scapegoated ing a party w ill meet with greater interest bers o f young socialists w ill join in the new Curtis, a union and political activist, has and hounded in attempts to divide us and and demand as capitalism enters deeper campaign to win parole. Conference par­ served almost six years in prison on weaken class solidarity. crisis and more resistance breaks out. I am ticipants discussed how your fight is a cen­ frame-up charges of rape and burglary. So w ill those militants, rebel youth, firm ly convinced that this rise in the class tral part of reaching out politically into the striking workers, protesting farmers, and struggle w ill result in a stronger proletarian strike wave and out to young people being Best luck in your deliberations this communists be targeted for police abuse, party. And I also believe that this favors radicalized by the deep-going crisis of week. As you discuss the challenges and frame-ups, and jail. the conditions for my vindication and re­ world capitalism. opportunities for the communist movement That is why my defense campaign, your lease. We look forward to your continued in the 1990s one theme you w ill keep com­ defense campaign, is about the future, not This is one o f the last conventions I w ill worker’s correspondence in the pages of ing back to w ill be how similar the experi­ the past. The victories, the politics, and the be absent from! the M ilitant, to news o f new subscriptions ences o f the working classes are across the lessons developed in this fight belong in Rebuild the industrial union fractions, to the M ilita n t and Perspectiva Mundial planet. Downsizing, attacks on the social the arsenal o f the class-struggle fighters as the pillars of our party! sold to fellow inmates, to continued orders wage, and the rise o f rightist movements useful weapons for now and for later. Forward with the Socialist Youth Orga­ of Pathfinder titles from workers behind nizing Committee! bars — to all our common communist Build the international communist work. ‘M ilitant’ launches sales campaign movement! Mark Curtis Delegates to the 37th Constitutional Con­ BY HILDA CUZCO begins as distributors o f the socialist press July 26,1994 vention o f the Socialist Workers Party. OBERLIN, Ohio — The M ilitant news­ hit the streets in support o f striking work­ paper and its Spanish-language sister pub­ ers and against rightist attacks. M ilitant lication Perspectiva Mundial, announced a supporters, for example, sold 18 copies o f 10-week international campaign to sell the paper to Caterpillar strikers and their 3,300 subscriptions to the M ilitant, 700 to supporters at an August 5 rally of more Perspectiva Mundial, and 1,250 copies o f than 1,500 people in downtown Chicago. the Marxist magazine New International The new readers o f the paper include sev­ during an international socialist conference eral high school students. here. The drive, which w ill run from Sep­ Distributors have also set up literature tember 3 through November 13, was en­ tables at political events, including the thusiastically adopted by hundreds of par­ conventions of the National Organization ticipants at the International Socialist Con­ for Women and Committees o f Correspon­ ference that coincided with the Socialist dence last month. M ilita nt staff writer Workers Party convention here August 3- Maurice Williams reports that many high 7. school and college students from all over A t a workshop at the conference on the country attended the NAACP conven­ “Reaching Out Politically,” supporters of tion in July. Four participants bought sub­ the socialist periodicals from around the scriptions to the M ilita nt and 60 people world discussed the best way to get the picked up single copies o f the paper. news and working-class analysis offered in Supporters o f the Militant, Perspectiva the M ilita n t and Perspectiva Mundial to Mundial, and New International around young people, unionists, and other fighters. the world are encouraged to discuss and Participants in the workshop noted that adopt ambitious local goals for this cam­ sales are picking up even before the drive paign. 500,000 Cubans rally to defend revolution

Continued from front page As word o f the street clashes spread, told the comrades who were escorting me: police officer who’d been killed,” reported turning the passengers safely and detaining thousands of Havana workers from around ‘Not a single shot. You can’t make any de­ Chris Morris, an engineering worker from the hijackers. the city converged on the scene. In the cision if I don’t give the order.’ O f course, Manchester, Britain, who witnessed the In the early morning o f August 5, a forefront were hundreds of workers from I wasn’t going to order the bodyguards to event. Morris was working in Havana crowd o f several hundred people hostile to the Bias Roca Contingent — a unit of shoot,” Castro said. “ M y most powerful province as part of a volunteer minibrigade the government began to gather around the workers who organize themselves on a vol­ weapons are moral.” o f Cuban construction workers. harbor area. In a phone interview from Ha­ untary basis to carry out priority jobs in Speaking with Castro at the news con­ Members of the Bias Roca contingent vana, Rogelio Polanco, the head o f interna­ construction and agriculture. ference, Arleen Rodriguez Derivet, UJC and the UJC organized security, Morris tional relations of the Union of Young leader and editor o f the weekly newspaper said in the phone interview. “ Silence Communists (UJC), recounted the day’s Workers join battle Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth), pointed reigned throughout the city,” he remarked. events. “ The workers’ response was over­ out that “ the mass mobilization was abso­ That evening, in one o f the biggest revo­ A group of 21 tried to commandeer a whelming,” Polanco said, noting that youth lutely spontaneous. I don’t think anyone lutionary mobilizations in years, half a m il­ boat but were repelled by dock workers from the UJC and others joined them. De­ called or knocked on the door o f a single lion people turned out for a “Combative and the police, said Polanco. Around mid­ fending themselves with sticks and other person who showed up.” Rally” to pay their respects to the young day the crowd, which had grown to about homemade weapons, the workers beat back By nighttime calm prevailed. Some 35 martyr and express their support for 700, began to roam the Old Havana and the attackers. people had been injured, including 10 po­ Cuba’s socialist revolution. Demonstrators Central Havana neighborhoods, assaulting They were joined in the streets by Cuban lice officers. A number o f rioters were ar­ chanted, “ The streets belong to the revolu­ individual policemen and attacking hotels president Fidel Castro. Speaking on the rested. tionaries” and “ Fidel, for sure, hit the Yan­ and stores with rocks and bottles, in partic­ scene, he stated that the Cuban government “ The workers spent the night guarding kees hard!” ular the Deauville Hotel. held Washington responsible for the boat the workplaces and schools in the area,” The plaza was filled with “ Bias Roca “ Workers from the hotel and other hijackings and disturbances because o f its Polanco reported. Contingent members wearing their T- workplaces in the area, together with mem­ policy of restricting legal immigration The next day was quiet except for shirts, older men — veterans o f the revolu­ bers o f the police, fought o ff the provoca­ from Cuba while hypocritically encourag­ demonstrations of youth organized by the tionary war — who wore their medals of teurs,” Polanco reported. The rioters ing illegal immigration by boat. UJC in several parts o f Havana. honor, and whole families with their chil­ smashed windows and looted some stores. In a televised news conference later that On Sunday, August 7, “ thousands o f dren,” Morris reported. Many youth car­ One police officer was seriously injured day, Castro explained that he had in­ people queued up for blocks and waited for ried portraits o f revolutionary heroes like with a broken neck. structed his bodyguards not to shoot. “ I hours to file past the casket o f the young Camilo Cienfuegos. Addressing the crowd, General Ulises Rosales del Toro, a member o f the Council o f State and o f the Communist Party’s Po­ Socialist Workers Party national convention litical Bureau, announced that Lamoth would be awarded posthumously the Order Continued from page 9 abortion, he and others explained. It is part against this sort o f terror, Barnes said. This o f Antonio Maceo, one o f Cuba’s highest from the young socialists meeting, several o f the political battle to build such a move­ is part and parcel o f combating the ultra­ decorations. delegates pointed to some o f the debates ment. rightist forces bred by capitalism in its de­ Del Toro condemned the U.S. govern­ that had taken place. Participants in the In his summary, Barnes said the federal cline. ment for its criminal immigration policy meeting, for example, had expressed d if­ government had been complicit in the Women are not the ultimate target o f the toward Cuba and held Washington respon­ ferent viewpoints on whether or not the lynchings and political killings o f most ultraright’s culture war, the SWP leader sible for the death o f Lamoth and the "2 new organization should give priority to Black rights fighters throughout the 1950s said. Reaction goes after the rights of Cubans who died in the July 13 tugboat ac­ winning young people to the fundamentals and ’60s. They are involved in attacks on women on its way to attacking the working cident. of Marxist politics explained in works such abortion rights today, he said, and federal class as a whole, to break its most basic in­ as the Communist Manifesto and educate cops are complicit with violent antiabor­ stitutions, the unions, as well as its w ill to Reiterating Castro’s warning two days its own members along these lines. tion forces despite their claims to the con­ fight. earlier, he stated that if the U.S. adminis­ Jason Coughlin, a member o f the Boston trary. Barnes pointed to the need, and to the tration did not stop encouraging illegal im­ SWP delegation and leader o f the young But revolutionists recognizing these po­ growing opportunities, to link up defenders migration from Cuba, “ we will instruct our socialists, said that greater clarity on the litical facts has nothing to do with whether of abortion rights with Caterpillar strikers border police not to prevent in any way the organization’s working-class orientation or not the labor movement should call on and other fighting workers. Doing so not departure or arrival o f vessels in our coun­ had been gained at the meeting, but that the federal government to send troops to only brings the power o f the unions into try” to take any Cubans who want to emi­ there was still substantial ground to be con­ protect children desegregating a school or important social struggles, but also broad­ grate to the United States. A t the same quered. patients and medical personnel at an abor­ ens the social vision o f the labor movement time, he expressed Cuba’s willingness to Brian Taylor, a leader o f the SWP and tion clinic. and its fight for the moral and political discuss immigration policy with Washing­ young socialists from Chicago, pointed to When the workers movement does not high ground in battling the employing ton. the completely classless and amorphous yet have the strength or leadership to pre­ class. The U.S. State Department, placed on politics that had been presented at the vent people from being killed or maimed the defensive, issued a statement urging youth caucus during the recent national for exercising their democratic rights, then Building the communist movement Cubans not to leave. It stated that “ we w ill convention of the Committees of Corre­ communist workers must demand that the The politicization among youth, com­ not permit Fidel Castro to dictate our im­ spondence. The organization is a centrist authorities act to do so. bined with the upturn in strikes and other migration policy or to create a replay o f the regroupment of individuals from various Moreover, the national secretary said, working-class struggles, makes it possible Mariel boatlift.” In 1980, following a se­ Stalinist, Trotskyist, and petty-bourgeois communists must take account of the mas­ for communist workers to begin to recon­ ries o f U.S.-promoted provocations, the radical backgrounds, dominated by mem­ sive illusions that still exist among broad quer habits that were lost during the re­ revolutionary government opened the port bers expelled from the Communist Party layers of working people who think the treats o f the working class in the 1980s, of Mariel to a boat lift by which some several years ago. government does act, at least to some de­ Barnes said. It makes it more possible for 125,000 Cubans emigrated to the United Revolutionary-minded workers should gree, to advance democratic and social workers to regain the habits of solidarity States. not grow too self-satisfied by looking at rights. Calling on Washington to enforce and discipline as an automatic response to A fifth hijacking took place August 9 in middle-class currents such as this, how­ the laws working people have won is part developments in politics and in the class which a group o f 27 took over a Navy boat ever, Taylor cautioned. “ We can’t put up o f the process o f dispelling such illusions struggle. and murdered a lieutenant in the Revo­ our heels and wait for youth to ‘ripen’ into over time among thinking workers and There w ill be no end to the rightward lutionary Armed Forces. Cuban authorities communists,” he said. It takes conscious youth. shift in bourgeois politics and its spawning have demanded the U.S. government political work, collaborating with young It is essential for the labor movement to of more, and more violent, ultrarightist prosecute the attackers or return them to socialists as equals whether or not they are take up the fight for abortion rights and Continued on page 14 Cuba. in the youth organization or have decided to join the SWP.

Troops to protect abortion clinics? In his convention report, SWP national secretary Jack Barnes raised the demand that federal troops be sent to protect abor­ tion clinics in Pensacola, Florida, and any­ where else women or medical personnel are under physical threat by right-wing ter­ rorists. This sparked considerable discussion among the delegates. Several said they op­ posed the demand, since local, state, and federal governments have been carrying out attacks on gains women won with the 1973 Supreme Court decision decriminal­ izing abortion. Other delegates spoke in favor o f the call for federal troops. They pointed to times during the civil rights battles and fights for school desegregation — from Little Rock in 1957, to voting rights en­ forcement in Mississippi in the 1960s, to the Boston busing struggle in the early 1970s — when communists made similar demands on the federal government to en­ force the laws upholding basic democratic rights that have been won in hard-fought struggles. “We hold the government responsible for the safety and well being o f working people,” said James Warren from Chicago. The call for federal troops is not counter­ posed to working to build the social protest movements that can take on those who would forcibly deny women their right to A matter of values— “The an­ to educate them on why our jeans Food for thought—“The work­ challenged his bills. One tab dropped the idea o f a logo featur­ nual advertising budget for Kel­ are $65 instead o f $35.” — Andy ers don’t understand why they seemed triple the going rate, the ing a silhouette of Alfred, a 9th logg’s Frosted Flakes is twice the Baker, marketing specialist for make less money if the products other included the doctoring o f an Century king o f England. Bleated budget for the National Cancer In­ Marithe & Francois Girbaud, they produce are as good as invoice from the company that did a promonarch student: “ I wonder stitute’s entire ‘5 a Day’ program, maker o f upscale jeans whose sales Phillips [the Dutch electronics the actual cremation. In one case whether a person who is white and which promotes the consumption have dropped. company]. Why is there such a d if­ he also wanted an extra $300 for male can stand for anything posi­ ference in wages? Since the Iron digging up the remains. tive in today’s society.” Free-market planning—“I Curtain was removed, people can said, ‘I f we have 10 people in an see what is happening else­ Taking care of business—The And now the bad news. . . area look at the requirements for where.”— Janos Szlivka, official of government has the authority to —(AP)—“Coffee futures prices the next 10 years. I f we need six, the Independent Trade Union of regulate the price o f medicines de­ fell sharply amid speculation that consider not laying off four but Tungsram Employees. veloped with taxpayer dollars. But, the damage to Brazil’s coffee crop laying o ff six and adding two a survey showed, the drug barons from two recent freezes were not later.’” — Charles Pieper, manager Tollbridge to heaven usually charge more, not less, for as bad as initially thought.” of Hungary’s Tungsram lighting — Massachusetts officials were such products. The feds do have an o f fruits and vegetables.” — News products plant, which was bought due to rule on complaints against employee— that’s right, “an” em­ item. by General Electric five years ago. Robert M iller, a mortician who dug Give it a try — Greeted by stu­ ployee— assigned to track the $8 Since then it’s slashed the work­ up and disurned the cremated re­ dent and faculty protest, Alfred billion spent annually to subsidize H igher education— “ We have force nearly in half. mains of two people after relatives University in western New York drug research. Student journalists visit Pathfinder Mural in N.Y.

Student journalists from 16 Washing­ attempts to deface the mural with white ton, D.C., high schools visited the Path­ paint by irascible forces and its two restor­ finder mural and bookstore while in ations by supporters corroborates this New York for the 70th annual journal­ truth. ism convention, held at Columbia Uni­ Mr. Bowman, an English/journalism versity. Rashie Keys, editor of the M ar­ teacher at M .M. Washington High School garet Murray Washington High School explained the significance of Pathfinder newspaper, Brighter Days, wrote the ar­ by saying, “ ‘Pathfinder’ has made the orig­ ticle below, which is reprinted from the inal speeches o f revolutionaries such as A p ril-M a y issue o f the student paper. Malcolm X accessible... I have taught The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written by BY RASHIE KEYS Alex Haley, which is a good introduction Contradicting the American mainstream, to Malcolm, but nothing compares to read­ comrades o f Pathfinder press and book­ ing his actual speeches, which arc pub­ store, in New York, tenaciously regard Fi­ lished by Pathfinder.” del Castro (an archenemy o f the U.S. and a When asked about the symbolism be­ Cuban revolutionary), as inspirational. His hind the printing press and Castro’s quote, saying, “ The truth must not only be the truth... It must also be told” is Pathfinder’s ‘The truth must not only motto. The bookstore’s paramount attraction is be the tru th ... It must the mural painted on the Pathfinder Press building at the corners o f West and also be told’ — f i d e l c a s t r o Charles Streets in Manhattan. Student Journalists from M.M. [Margaret Murray] A1 Newell, coeditor of H.D. Woodson’s Washington, along with fifteen other Dis­ paper, The Insider, said, “ It symbolizes the trict of Columbia Public Schools visited right to tell the truth and to allow the truth the mural and bookstore in March, while to take its course without undergoing cen­ attending the Seventieth Annual Journal­ sorship.” To the comrades of Pathfinder, ism Convention on the Columbia Univer­ the mural is a living inspiration to young Pathfinder/Andrea Brizzi sity campus. people. The six-story mural in New York’s Greenwich Village includes portraits of Fidel The mural features portraits o f the most “ The mural is very much alive and I Castro, Che Guevara, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, K arl M arx, Frederick Engels, controversial revolutionary leaders o f the hope that it w ill inspire young people to and U.S. communist leaders James P. Cannon and Farrell Dobbs. Eighty artists from twentieth century, whose writings and learn about and take the place o f the revo­ 20 countries helped create the Pathfinder M ural, which was unveiled and dedicated speeches are published by Pathfinder. lutionaries and leaders painted in the mu­ to working people around the world on Nov. 19, 1989. W.E.B. DuBois; Fidel Castro; Malcolm X; ral. The mural is our future,” said Marilyn, Ernesto Che Guevara, a Cuban socialist a Pathfinder comrade and the student’s tour leader; Thomas Sankara o f the Burkina Fa­ guide. As a two-year project, the mural was so Revolution in West Africa; Rosa Lux­ completed in 1989, and represents the col­ emburg, a central leader of the socialist laboration o f more than eighty artists from movement in Germany and Poland in the twenty countries. the politicians who control the purse early twentieth century; and Mother Jones, Adjacent to the mural and printing press strings are still in power. a working-class labor fighter, are among lies the Pathfinder bookstore, which was the countenances depicted on the mural. opened on the site of the Pathfinder Press Intriguing enough in the mural, Castro’s in 1992 in honor o f African National Con­ quote (The Pathfinder’s motto) issues out gress member Dumile Feni o f South A fri­ o f a red printing press bearing the name ca, one o f the muralists, who died in Octo­ Pathfinder, thus representing Pathfinder’s ber 1991. quest to present the truth and allow the The bookstore is rather small and has the capacity to hold 15 to 20 people at a public to weigh the issues and make intelli­ PHILADELPHIA — As a result of city, When 28 Pennsylvania anthracite coal time. Its bookshelves are neatly stocked gent decisions. This has made Pathfinder state and municipal budget cuts on welfare companies virtually pleaded guilty to with all o f the speeches and writings o f re­ printing press as equally despised and ad­ spending, Philadelphia’s public health conspiring to fix prices in violation of the volutionaries printed by Pathfinder Press. mired as the leaders it promotes. The two services are in a major crisis. Only massive Sherman anti-trust law. Federal Judge John protests prevented six o f the city’s major Clark Knox, appointed to the bench by the hospitals from closing their emergency late President Wilson, publicly displayed wards at the beginning o f this month. his bleeding heart at the prospect o f having In response to the hospital-closing to impose sentence on the criminal coal threats, the Community Active Medical barons. Students and physicians, nurses and The companies pleaded nolle conten­ welfare recipients staged a demonstration dere — refusal to contest the government’s at City Hall. They set up a mock suit. Judge Knox thereupon suspended emergency ward complete with medical sentence against the guilty coal bosses, and equipment, “ wounded patients” on cots, set minimum fines for the companies o f and red liquid to simulate blood. Wearing from $750 to $5000, a mere bagatelle white coats, the demonstrators carried compared to the m illions they looted stretchers and picket signs reading. through their conspiracy. Then the worthy “ Medical Care for A L L the People,” Judge wound up with an abject apology “ Don’t Play Politics with People’s Lives,” because he was forced by law to impose and "Health Should be TOP Priority.” even these chicken-feed fines. The medical students called a press The tender-hearted Judge declared that conference to which city and state “ one might plausibly argue that the politicians were invited to explain the defendants, instead of being evil-minded crisis. None appeared. But a number o f malefactors were animated by worthy community people and sympathetic motives and accomplished good ends," and hospital physicians did explain. They laid he “ doubted that the public had been made the responsibility on the politicians: the to suffer because o f the misdeeds o f the fact that billions of dollars o f public funds defendants.” are being spent on the war in Vietnam and We can only wonder now how Judge space programs while health and welfare Knox, would have acted toward striking spending has low priority. coal miners, who risk their lives daily to In the face o f the protests, the hospitals provide the profits for these same coal backed down, and the doors o f the barons, if they had been hauled into his emergency rooms are still open. But the court. We doubt that he would express crisis continues: Funds are still lacking and regrets as he “ threw the book” at them. SWP convention Continued from page 12 forces, Barnes concluded in his report to the convention. “ In the face o f this sewer bred by capitalism,” he said, “workers’ instincts — the instinct of human solidarity, Federal troops to Pensacola! the class instinct o f helping each other — are different from those o f the middle class and the bourgeoisie, which Responsibility for the cold-blooded murder of Dr. tent and safe abortion. But their success has been limited. are marked by individual insecurity, panic, and greed. John Britton and James Barrett by a rightist thug in Pen­ And that’s where the ultraright comes in, pushing further. “ But class instincts alone cannot stand fast against sacola, Florida, on July 29 rests squarely on the shoulders ” 1 can’t help it when what I do inspires someone to go o ff what is coming as the crises o f capitalism accelerate,” o f the federal government. Defenders o f abortion rights, the deep end,” John Burt, leader o f the antiabortion outfit Barnes said. “ The communist movement offers workers as well as the entire labor movement, should demand the Rescue America, said during the recent trial o f the man and young rebels the only kind o f equality there is or can Clinton administration immediately send U.S. troops to who killed Gunn. Not only is his feigned innocence be in capitalist society — political equality, as cofighters physically defend the clinics — in Pensacola and else­ patently false, it obscures the main point. It is capitalism to wipe this system o f oppression, exploitation, and war where — and to protect a woman’s constitutional right to itself that breeds rightist terror. from the face o f the earth.” control her own body. Massive protests by working peo­ The working class is not yet strong enough to take on A t the final session o f the SWP convention on Satur­ ple and others to condemn the murders are crucial to the rulers directly, to stop the killings by itself. But the day afternoon, delegates elected members to fill the 44 pushing back this attack. federal government does have that power and the labor places on the National Committee to lead the work o f the Paul H ill, the killer who took the lives o f Britton and movement should demand it use it to protect the health of party until the next convention. Nearly half of the com­ Barrett, calls his action “justifiable homicide.” But there working people and to uphold the constitution. This w ill mittee’s members are currently active in industrial trade is nothing justifiable about it — not on religious, moral, not be the first time workers and others have insisted unions; others are currently carrying full-time responsi­ or any other grounds. It is murder, plain and simple, just Washington protect our rights. The successful call for bilities for the movement before returning to an industrial like the killing o f Dr. David Gunn last year in the same federal troops to help integrate the schools in Little Rock, job a year or so down the road. Six are members o f the city. And it won’t stop here. Already several other doc­ Arkansas, in 1957 and in Boston 17 years later made vic­ Young Socialists. tors and clinic defenders have been threatened. tories in those struggles possible. Following the final convention session, the conference It is the U.S. government, not Hill or other individual The entire labor movement has a stake in this fight. closed with a political summation of the gathering by rightists, that is ultimately to blame for the deaths in People like Paul H ill are not just dangerous individuals. Barnes and a rally to launch a $125,000 International Florida. It is the federal government that allows states to They are part of the beginnings o f a fascist movement Pathfinder Fund to help finance the completion o f the pass laws restricting the civil rights o f women when they whose ultimate target is not women, but the institutions publishing house’s 1994 and early 1995 publication become pregnant, that allowed the state o f Michigan to and fighting w ill of the working class. plans. These include a new, definitive edition o f The Bo­ decide Jennifer Ireland should lose custody o f her child Defenders o f abortion rights have a big stake in the livian Diary by Ernesto Che Guevara, to be published in for placing her in day care while attending school, and outcome o f labor battles such as the auto workers strike early October to mark the anniversary o f his murder by that stands by while clinics are bombed and doctors are against Caterpillar. And striking workers should be on U.S.-organized Bolivian troops in 1967, as well as many threatened and killed. the front lines demonstrating against every rightist attack reprints and new editions o f Marxist classics and other The capitalist rulers have been able to push back abor­ on democratic rights. titles. tion rights in the United States. In most parts o f the coun­ Mobilize to defend abortion rights! In addition, a special slide presentation on Thursday try it is harder today than five years ago to get a compe- Federal troops to Pensacola now! evening entitled “ Produce the Books the Workers o f the World Need Now!” launched a capital fund for contribu­ tions o f $ 1,000 or more. The fund is designed to help re­ finance the large outlays in recent years to pay for the presses, computer equipment, and network installation that have already been acquired by taking out large loans Mobilize against racist terror but must now be used effectively in order to have the kind o f printshop and editorial and business operations needed to produce the political weapons o f the international com­ Working people throughout the United States are out­ green light to the Ku Klux Klan and other ultrarightist munist movement. raged by the torching o f the Randolph County High terrorists who have rallied behind the ousted principal. By the end o f the conference, more than $300,000 had School in Wedowee, Alabama. This act o f terror is part Only after repeated protests by working people in the been donated or pledged to the Capital Fund, and initial o f the ongoing controversy surrounding the racist actions community did U.S. officials act — and then only by fil­ pledges to the August 15-November 15 Pathfinder fund o f the school’s former principal, Hulond Humphries. ing a court suit. Workers and farmers w ill face more and were almost $ 100,000. What brought Wedowee to international attention was more attacks by rightist and fascist forces in the coming the fact that working people and youth there stood up and months and years as capitalism declines further into a so­ National Committee said “ N o!” to a pattern o f racist discrimination and abuse. cial and economic crisis. The Saturday night rally got under way a couple of Black students refused to stand for Humphries’s threat to The face o f American fascism ranges from the white- hours later than planned, as participants awaited the con­ cancel the school prom if interracial couples attended. sheet cowards to the budding ultrarightists, such as clusion o f the second session o f the Young Socialists Furious over his remark to one student that she was the Patrick Buchanan and Oliver North, who emerge from meeting. The members o f the new organization were result o f a “ mistake,” students launched a school boycott the ranks of Democrats and Republicans alike. The racist electing their national leadership committee, which took and organized their own classes at a local church. thugs in Wedowee are of a piece with right-wing terror­ longer than expected. But as the youth organization’s 100 Over the course o f six months, working people held ists like the one who murdered Dr. John Britton at an charter members and fellow young socialists from around rallies, marches, and picket lines. Through their determi­ abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida. A ll are a deadly the world marched into the hall behind their ban­ nation, a victory was scored when the local school board, threat to the working class and small farmers and must be ner— chanting “Hey, hey, ho, ho! Capitalism’s gotta which had fought to retain Humphries in his position, was met with large, broad, public mobilizations. go!” — the lateness o f the hour proved no barrier to a forced to reassign him to another job. The labor movement should throw its weight behind rousing welcome. The government, from the local to the federal level, protests called in Wedowee on August 20 to demand jus­ At the end o f his closing talk to the conference, Barnes bears responsibility for the destruction o f the school. tice in Alabama and a halt to racist attacks. Working peo­ introduced the newly elected leadership committees of While local officials backed or tolerated the racist con­ ple and youth can take this opportunity to demand that the the Socialist Workers Party and the Young Socialists to duct of the school principal, U.S. authorities dragged federal government enforce desegregation orders and ex­ all those present the last evening o f the conference. He their feet on their responsibility to guarantee the civil pand affirmative action in hiring and education for all read the names o f those seated on the stage. rights and safety o f students. By doing so, they gave the working people who are victims of discrimination. Among the newly elected regular member o f the So­ cialist Workers Party National Committee who could not be present was Mark Curtis. Framed up by the police on false rape and burglary charges, Curtis is currently im­ prisoned in Fort Madison, Iowa. Barnes pointed out that Curtis was the first National Committee member in sev­ No to U.S. bombing of Bosnia eral decades to be held in prison. Since his jailing nearly six years earlier, Curtis had not only stood up under pres­ The bombing raid carried out in Bosnia by U.S. Air and political power. It simply attempts to legitimize the sures that had broken other fighters and revolutionists, Force fighter jets in early August should be condemned brutal land grabs already carried out there at the expense but had advanced politically as a leader o f the communist by working class fighters throughout the world. This ac­ o f the lives and livelihood o f working people throughout movement as he carried out political work behind the prison walls. tion, done under the cover of NATO, is a sign o f Wash­ the former Yugoslavia. ington’s increased military involvement in the first war in M ilitary intervention by Washington, Paris, London, Europe in nearly half a century. or Bonn, whether under the auspices o f the United Na­ The slaughter in the former Yugoslavia, which has rav­ tions or NATO, places further obstacles in the way o f the aged Bosnia for the past 28 months, is not an ethnic strug­ working class being able to utilize political space to or­ gle. The forces fighting there are led by contending bu­ ganize and fight in its own interests. Only working peo­ reaucrats o f the former privileged ruling caste who want ple, who are the victims o f this slaughter and destruction, to integrate the economies o f the different republics into can resolve the conflict through forging unity in struggle the world capitalist system, an extremely difficult task in against the bureaucratic wannabe-capitalist gangsters today’s depression conditions. They use the banner o f na­ who rule over them. tionalism to wage a ruthless gang war for control o f land Despite their pretensions, the U.S. rulers and the other and other resources. The latest round o f fighting occurs imperialist powers in Europe have no humanitarian con­ in the aftermath o f the rejection by Serbian Democratic cern whatsoever for the victims o f the carnage in the for­ Party leader Radovan Karadzic o f a so-called peace plan mer Yugoslavia. In fact, the policy of each of these gov­ that partitions the country along ethnic lines. The pro­ ernments has been to slam the door shut to the hundreds posal, which would have reduced the areas controlled by o f thousands of refugees fleeing the slaughter there. The the rightist Serb forces from the current 70 percent to 49 economic embargo imposed against Yugoslavia more percent, is being jointly promoted by the governments of than two years ago has a brutal class bias. It leads to un­ the United States, France, Germany, the United King­ told suffering by millions o f working people. It should be dom, and Russia. immediately lifted. Working people around the world This plan, like other imperialist “ solutions” for Bosnia, should join in protests against the U.S. bombings in is simply an attempt to freeze the current relationship of Bosnia and to demand an end to all U.S., UN, and NATO forces among the rival gangs competing for economic intervention in the region. Monon workers in Indiana win strike demands

This column is devoted to re­ described the new contract as “ a The Air Line Pi­ porting the resistance by work­ vast improvement. The maximum lots Association at ing people to the employers’ as­ we can be forced to work per day is USAir has pro­ sault on their living standards, down from 12 hours to 10, and posed to take $750 working conditions, and unions. we’re guaranteed one weekend o ff m illion in wage We invite you to contribute per month, as well as all holiday cuts over a five short items to this column as a weekends,” he said. year period. USAir way for other fighting workers A union safety chairman will has said that as around the world to read about now have access to the plant to in­ soon as one of the and learn from these important vestigate all serious injuries, moni­ unions accepts the struggles. Jot down a few lines tor air quality, and accompany all concessions it w ill unilaterally impose more cutbacks on all noncontractual ON THE PICKET LINE employees. On July 22, US­ A ir filed a lawsuit about what is happening in your OSHA and other government in­ in the federal dis­ union, at your workplace, or spectors. trict court for the other workplaces in your area, Union members are now dis­ District of Colum­ including interesting political cussing how to enforce the contract bia against the discussions. gains and what measures, if any, to IAM . In the lawsuit take against those who crossed the Militant/Barbara Bowman Members of Carpenters Local USAir asks for a picket line. They are also fighting United Rubber Workers on strike against Pirelli Armstrong in Des Moines, 2323 held a victory rally July 2 in court order affirm­ to defend 16 workers fired for Iowa. The unionists, who walked out July 15, are demanding reinstatement of Monon, Indiana, to celebrate the ing its long-held “picket line misconduct.” So far, health benefits to retirees. Rubber workers at Firestone are also still on strike. end o f a month-long strike against position that it is 10 o f them are back on the job, said Monon Corp. The workers voted to not required to Tetzloff. return July 1 after winning major maintain current conditions while a first contract is the company’s proposal was “ no includes Minnesota’s Iron Range, improvements in the key areas of Machinists union wins forced overtime and job safety. being negotiated. This would mean longer on the table” and they were said that a new five-year agreement They were joined by rubber work­ election at USAir that USAir has the right to impose not permitted to enter the mine. at the mine calls for about 100 ers preparing to strike Firestone One o f the biggest national orga­ concessions on the fleet service The steelworkers had struck the fewer workers and more “ flex­ Inc., and by United Auto Workers nizing drives in recent years was along with other nonunion employ­ company Aug. 1, 1993. National ibility” in work rules. The contract members from two locals. Dave successfully completed July 20 ees. Steel’s owners claimed they could calls for a two-year wage freeze Watts, president o f United Paper­ when the National Mediation Locked-out Minnesota buy taconite cheaper on the market and offers improvements in retire­ workers International Union Local Board certified approximately than producing it out o f the Kee- ment benefits and early-retirement 7837 in Decatur, Illinois, gave 8.000 fleet service workers at miners return to work watin, Minnesota, mine. incentives that w ill minimize lay­ greetings from the 700 unionists USAir as members o f the Interna­ Due to an increase in the produc­ The Steelworkers union has or­ offs. The union has also agreed not locked out by A.E. Staley. In the tional Association of Machinists tion o f steel in the United States, ganized several support rallies for to pursue unfair labor practices midst of their own strike, Monon (IA M ). The results o f a runoff elec­ some 600 locked-out taconite min­ the locked-out miners, picketed filed against the company last fall. workers had collected a semi­ tion gave the IA M 3,353 votes— 63 ers on Minnesota’s Iron Range are other mining facilities in protest ac­ trailer o f food for the Staley work­ percent o f the ballots cast. The scheduled to return to work in mid- tions, and sent teams to leaflet Na­ The following people contributed ers. United Steelworkers of America August. tional Steel’s two mills that use the to this week's column: Johanna The breakneck pace of produc­ received 1,976 votes— 37 percent. National Steel locked out United taconite pellets produced in Kee- Ryan, member o f USWA Local tion at the giant trailer plant and the The IA M now represents some Steelworkers of America (USWA) watin. 1011 in East Chicago, Indiana; resulting high injury rate led 16.000 employees, making it the Local 2660 members Sept. 16, Plans to reopen the Keewatin Edwin Fruit, member o f IAM Local Monon to hire 7,000 workers over largest union at USAir. Mechanics, 1993. The iron ore miners at­ mine are conditioned on an agree­ 1976 in Pittsburgh; and Marea the past several years to fill the cleaners, and stock clerks had al­ tempted to report for work after ment by the Steelworkers union to Himelgrin, member o f USWA 3,000 jobs at the plant. Larry Tetz- ready been represented by the voting to accept the company’s fi­ a concession contract. Dave Foster, Local 9198 in Roseville, Min­ loff, chief steward of Local 2323, union. nal contract offer. They were told head of USWA District 33, which nesota. -LETTERS ~ Labor solidarity is supported by most o f the FSLN the first on the eve o f Angola's in­ On July 13, 50 workers from the deputies to the National Assembly. dependence from its colonial ruler, Midwest School for Women Work­ The newspapers here are full of Portugal. ers organized a support rally for the commentary about the tendencies, The most important military workers on the picket lines in De­ but real political differences be­ confrontation took place later in catur, Illinois. tween the two remain obscure. the decade, at what became known The Midwest School for Women Leaders of both tendencies have as the “ Battle o f Cuito Cuanavale.” Workers is a week-long educa­ stated publicly that the Special There, Cuban and Angolan troops tional seminar for women (and Congress did not even address the and fighters o f the South West men) active in the labor movement. devastating social and economic African Peoples Organization de­ The rally was organized by the crisis facing working people and feated a massive South African in­ students as an educational activity peasants in Nicaragua— unemploy­ vasion that was meant to open up on their free night. A bus was spon­ ment of upwards o f 60 percent, de­ the entire region to domination of sored by United Steelworkers o f clining access to health care and the apartheid regime. America Local 9198. The rally be­ education, growing dependence on [Post writer] Paul Taylor’s mis­ gan with a 45-minute drive to De­ food aid. representation o f these events un­ catur. The first stop was at Bridge­ Both also admit that if the presi­ derestimates why the Cuban people stone/Firestone, where 1,250 mem­ dential elections were held today, and Fidel Castro are held in such bers o f the United Rubber Workers the FSLN would have no chance o f high esteem by millions in South were idled when the strike began winning. According to a column by Africa, something I have person­ July 12. Sandinista Assembly member Fer­ ally witnessed on several trips to The second stop was the Cater­ America from eroding the quality nally indicted on felony charges, nando Cardenal in the June 15 Bar­ the country. pillar plant. The United Auto o f life o f the workers in our country but later had his charges reduced to ricada, support for the FSLN had The Cubans’ defeat o f the Workers Local 751 members here and to raise the workers across the a misdemeanor by the District A t­ fallen to 23 percent in a poll taken racists’ army inspired a new gener­ have been on an unfair labor prac­ borders to a humane lifestyle. torney. Douglas faces up to a year just before the congress. “ I imagine ation inside South Africa and shat­ tice strike since June 21. Caterpil­ M ary Dylkowski in prison. that it has fallen even lower since tered the myth o f the white rulers’ lar advertised for security through Moundsview, Minnesota Gary Boyers the congress,” said Cardenal. Par­ invincibility. “Soldier of Fortune” magazine. Detroit, Michigan ticular concern is raised in this col­ Nelson Mandela, addressing a Rally participants got a good look Cop conviction in Detroit umn and others about the lack o f rally in Cuba in 1992, said the m ili­ at these well-armed thugs when the Former Detroit police sergeant Crisis in Nicaragua support for the FSLN among young tary and political outcome o f the thugs approached the pickets using Freddie Douglas was found guilty The 1996 presidential elections people. Angola events played a decisive video cameras and walky-talkies. July 1 o f neglect o f duty for failing are many months away, but cam­ Matilde Zimmermann role in his being able to walk out of The operations at Caterpillar are to stop lower-ranking officers from paigning has already started here. Managua, Nicaragua prison and open up the historic new being run by nonunion employees fatally beating Malice Green in The Sandinista National Liberation opportunities in South Africa to­ and scab labor. November 1992. Former cops Front (FSLN), which lost to Presi­ [The following letter appeared day. The rally then moved on to its Larry Nevers and Walter Budzyn dent Violeta Chamorro in 1990, in the May 31 Washington Post.] Much information is available last stop— the Staley corn process­ were convicted o f second degree has not named its candidate, but the on these events in two books: ing plant where 762 United Paper­ murder for beating Green to death FSLN's current slogan o f “ 1994- Castro liked in S. Africa “ How Far We Slaves Have Come,” workers International Union mem­ with their flashlights in a trial last 1996, Onward to Victory” appears The Post’s article on Cuban two speeches by Mandela and Cas­ bers have been locked-out since summer. every day in the newspaper B arri­ President Fidel Castro’s attendance tro, and “ In Defense o f Socialism,” June 30, 1993. A District Court jury took only cada. at the installation ceremony o f by Fidel Castro. They are available For many o f the students attend­ one hour to find Douglas guilty in The FSLN held a Special South African President Nelson from Pathfinder Press. ing the Midwest School for W o­ a verdict which stunned the ex-cop Congress in late May, from which Mandela both incorrectly stated Greg McCartan men Workers, the Decatur picket and his lawyers. Juror M ia Mitchell it emerged without a formal split and underplayed the impact o f the Washington, D.C. support rally was the highlight of told the D etroit Free Press, “ I but publicly divided into two ten­ Cuban role in Angola in the 1980s. the week. Seeing people from the thought he was lying, plain and dencies. The tendency o f the The article stated that Cuban The letters column is an open community walk down to join the simple. If he had not gotten on the “ Democratic Left,” led by former volunteers helped “ the Angolan forum for all viewpoints on sub­ rally in songs and chants and feel­ stand, we may have been able to president Daniel Ortega and FSLN government repel a South African- jects of general interest to our ing the sense o f solidarity between render a not guilty verdict. Once founder Tomás Borge, came out in and U.S.-backed anti-communist readers. Please keep your letters the individual struggles lets us Douglas got on the stand and said control of the party structure. But revolt.” In fact, at the request o f the brief. Where necessary they will know the war has not been lost. he saw nothing...it’s like, you’ve the “ Tendency for a Sandinism that Angolan government, Cuban vol­ be abridged. Please indicate if Workers must join together and got to be kidding.” returns to the majority,” led by for­ unteers helped repel several South you prefer that your initials be hold their ground to stop corporate The former sergeant was origi- mer vice president Sergio Ramirez, African army invasions of Angola, used rather than your full name. August 22,1994 The M ilitant 15 Join the Young Socialists! Young workers and students form nationwide organization

BY VANESSA KNAPTON horrific system,” W illey said. AND BRIAN PUGH His report reviewed many of the rallies, O BERLIN, Ohio — More than 100 protests, and political activities the young young people met in a packed hall to socialists have participated in since form­ launch a nationwide organization, the ing the organizing committee in April. Young Socialists (YS). The Socialist Young socialists have joined the picket Youth Organizing Committee convened lines with strikers at Caterpillar and other the meeting, which coincided with the 37th companies; built celebrations around the convention of the Socialist Workers Party elections in South Africa; participated in held here August 3-7. the Freedom to Travel Challenge and other “ This is the best time in history for us to activities opposing the U.S. government move toward building a society based on embargo against Cuba; and joined in an­ human solidarity,” said Jack W illey, a tiracist and abortion rights protests. leader of the Socialist Youth Organizing “ Through this common activity and po­ Committee, in his opening political report litical work, we’ve outgrown the form of to the meeting. “ As fascism and imperialist an organizing committee and should move war grow more likely, as attacks against on to formalize ourselves as the Young So­ our democratic rights continue, as the capi­ cialists,” Willey said. Eighty-two people talist crisis deepens, those who are ques­ signed up at the meeting as members o f the tioning are looking for alternatives to this new group. The meeting included participants from all over the United States, Australia, YOUNG SOCIALISTS Britain, Canada, Iceland, Mexico, and Militant/Charles Ostrofsky New Zealand. Young Socialists arrive at final rally of socialist conference at Oberlin College to NATIONAL COMMITTEE cheers of hundreds after forming organization and electing a National Committee. Elected at national gathering The ‘Communist Manifesto’ today August 5-6, Oberlin, Ohio There was considerable discussion on political guide supplemented by other so­ Waters on behalf o f the Socialist Workers Naomi Craine Tami Peterson what sort o f youth organization is needed cialist literature. Party. Messages from the Union o f Young Marie Gilsdorf Brian Pugh Eva Braiman from New York said, “ The Communists in Cuba and from framed-up Robin Kissinger Ken Riley today. One member proposed the Young Victor Manga Brock Satter Socialists should “ produce a primer on so­ Communist Manifesto is as clear, as popu­ union activist Mark Curtis were also read. Diana Newberry Damon Tinnon cialism, one aimed directly at the youth, lar, and as far-reaching as when it was w rit­ A t the end o f the meeting, the Young Cecilia Ortega Jack Willey that uses current examples,” instead of us­ ten. It is just as clear as a draft notice!" Socialists elected a 12-person National ing the Communist Manifesto as a central “ We’re carrying out communist politics, Committee to lead the political work o f the we just happen to be youth,” commented group over the next several months and Brian Taylor from Chicago. “Nothing we draft a statement o f principles to put before put forward is counter to the Communist the membership for a vote at the founding Manifesto. The key is not to hand someone convention at the end o f December. a book, but rather to study and discuss its The Young Socialists then marched en ideas with others.” The young socialists masse to join the final rally o f the confer­ agreed they should build an organization ence, chanting “ Hey, hey, ho, ho, capital­ that orients to the working class as the de­ ism has got to go!” to the cheers o f hun­ cisive force for revolutionary change, as dreds o f other participants. the Manifesto itself explains. There were a lot o f ideas for what the Vanessa Knapton and Brian Pugh are YS new organization should do. Ken Riley members in Los Angeles and Peoria, I lli­ from Los Angeles reported that Ross nois, respectively. Ryan Kelly in Min­ Perot’s United We Stand America, to­ neapolis also contributed to this article. gether with another rightist outfit, was planning an anti-immigrant rally at the Califomia-Mexico border August 20. “ We need to be there to oppose this and join the counterdemonstration that’s been called,” Riley said. Meg Novak from Olympia, Washington, said the Young Socialists should speak out against Washington’s policy against refugees from Haiti. “ We should also take Militant/Charles Ostrofsky up the issues o f curfews and cuts in educa­ Eighty-two people signed up for the Young Socialists and paid $1 membership fee tion, and our organization should have a new education series that includes more on women’s rights and the labor movement,” Mark Curtis sends greetings to she added. Some of the main campaigns the Young Socialists set for themselves included: de­ launching of Young Socialists fending the socialist revolution in Cuba and building a youth brigade to the Printed below are greetings union cops, frame us with their courts, and im­ Caribbean country in January; joining and political activist Mark Curtis sent prison us with their wardens. strike solidarity activities; protecting abor­ to the meeting of the Young Socialists M illions feel the same hatred 1 do, and tion clinics in Pensacola, Florida, and else­ that took place during the convention of millions more will as the capitalist system where; petitioning to get Socialist Workers the Socialist Workers Party in Oberlin, barrels down the road to catastrophe and candidates on the ballot in New York state Ohio, August 6,1994. barbarity in a desperate fight to preserve and other places; defending immigrant their rule. rights and fighting racism and police bru­ I HATE C APITALISM . I hate any sys­ Only the international working class can tality; and carrying out a recruitment drive tem that grinds down human beings by fight our way out of this, revolutionize our leading up to a founding convention at the daily degradations or snuffs them out in world, and construct a new world. Those of end of the year. wars like they were ants. I hate the arrogant us who share this hatred and perspective The YS decided to extend the fund drive and brutal U.S. government that claims its must build an organization that can lead, started by the Socialist Youth Organizing so-called right to invade Haiti, Korea, So­ that can take part in the fights going on Committee until September 15 and raise its malia, Bosnia, Iraq, and anywhere else it now, and do so with a program, a commu­ goal to $12,000. As part o f this drive, the says its interests lie. nist, revolutionary perspective. group held a raffle during the five-day con­ I hate their telling women they cannot I salute you in your steps to build an or­ ference here, bringing in about $3,000. A have control over their own bodies, telling ganization that can win young fighters to lot more money in contributions from sup­ us there are “ superior” and “ inferior” races these ideas. I wish you success and stand porters o f the communist movement and o f humanity; telling workers we must ac­ with you in your work. from fund-raising events w ill be needed to cept the inhuman working conditions they FORWARD WITH THE SOCIALIST finance the activities of the organization, establish to be competitive. I hate them YOUTH ORGANIZING COMMITTEE!! however. telling us what we cannot do, how limited Mark Curtis Young socialists from Australia, Britain, our capacities as men and women are. And Fort Madison, Iowa Canada, Iceland, and Mexico presented I hate how they spy on us, beat us with July 26, 1994 greetings to the meeting, as did Mary-AIice