¡Alto a la agresión de Washington! 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 58, No. 32 Aug 18, 2016 $1 WWP presidential candidate, Monica Moorehead and Hertencia Petersen, aunt of Akai Gurley murdered by NYPD, at NYC City Hall occupation, Occupations amp up Aug. 3. Black Lives Matter struggle

By Minnie Bruce Pratt

Activists with Millions March NYC began an occu- pation of New York City Hall Park the morning of Aug. 1. The protesters have renamed it “Abolition Square” to emphasize their commitment to a world without the state terror of policing. Organizers want the racist institution of the New York Police Department abolished and replaced by communi- ty-based policing that residents can hold accountable. As a path to that goal, activists said they would occu- py Abolition Square until Mayor Bill de Blasio met three key demands: fire Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and end “broken windows” policing; defund the New York Police Department and invest in Black, Brown and working-class communities; and provide reparations to victims’ families and survivors of police terrorism out of the NYPD budget. By the end of Aug. 2, the MMNYC activists had won their first demand. Despite corporate news articles saying it wouldn’t happen, Bratton announced his resignation.

In a statement to WW, Monica Moorehead, Workers WW PHOTO: TONY MURPHY World Party presidential candidate, urged widespread support for Abolition Square. She said of her visit there: “It was so inspirational being in the midst of young activists — Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ, those with Workers in Rio: ‘No poverty, no coup!’ disabilities — united around the issues of fighting for reparations for survivors of police brutality and fami- By Chris Fry to education,” said Anna Barros, an English teacher in ly members who have lost loved ones to police violence, Rio. “We need to invest money in our people.” (nbcnews. along with the demand to defund the NYPD, which has Labeling the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro the com, Aug. 5) billions of dollars at its disposal to repress and oppress “Exclusion Games” because there is no discount for Organized by the umbrella group Comitê Popular Black and Brown youth. This occupation, which many Brazilians to attend the events, thousands of protesters Rio, protesters were not only incensed by the enormous view as liberated space, deserves the solidarity of every stood up to a barrage of tear gas and pepper spray just cost and incurred debt of the games, but also the dire progressive and revolutionary.” a half mile from the main Olympic stadium on Aug. 5. economic and political situation of the Brazilian people, MMNYC is a “grassroots multiracial collective of or- Illustrating the exclusion, more than 1.3 million tickets particularly the workers and the poor. ganizers committed to building and strengthening the remain unsold. Later, protesters demonstrated near the Maracana movement for Black lives,” according to the occupation’s The demonstrators gathered in front of the luxurious Stadium where the opening ceremonies were held. press release. The activists represent communities at Copacabana Palace, where many of the rich attendees The government recently announced that average “the intersections of multiple social movements — Black and media are staying, and protested the billions spent wages have fallen by more than 4 percent in the last Lives Matter, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous people, prison abo- on this spectacle — especially the hundreds of homes year, while the number of unemployed has skyrocket- lition and others.” Groups participating include Equality that were destroyed to make room for the stadiums. ed to 37 percent. This is the worst recession that Brazil for Flatbush, Peoples Power Assemblies NYC (PPA), NYC They also protested the “parliamentary coup” that re- has faced in at least a quarter of a century. While Brazil Labor for Black Lives, NYC Shut It Down, Samidoun: placed Workers’ Party President Dilma Rousseff with faces epidemics of Zika and dengue fever, hospitals are Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and more. the corrupt and reactionary Michel Temer. shutting their doors. (theguardian.com, July 28) “We love sports in our city, but our city needs other Polls show that 60 percent of Brazilians believe that Chicago’s Freedom Square, ‘Decolonize LA’ things like better schools, better hospitals, free access Continued on page 8 The Abolition Square occupation reflects the intensi- fication of the Black Lives Matter movement struggle, with similar ongoing occupations in Los Angeles and Chicago. On Aug. 7, the Let Us Breathe Collective and other groups entered the 17th day of occupying Freedom WWP CANDIDATES Square in Chicago. The encampment is on an abandoned lot across from the Homan Square warehouse building, On the ballot, in the streets 3 the Chicago Police Department “black site” now infa- mous for illegal detention and torture of 7,000 people, Continued on page 6 TEAM SOLIDARITY Unionists tour West Coast 4 Subscribe to Workers World TEAR DOWN THE WALLS 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 Albert Woodfox, Santa Rita victory 7 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/

Name ‘NOT YOUR EXPERIMENT!’ Puerto Ricans tell U.S. agency 8 Email______Phone ______

Street______City / State / Zip______Workers World 212.627.2994 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org LIBYA: U.S. bombs — again 10 Page 2 Aug. 18, 2016 workers.org China, global warming and technological innovation  In the U.S. By Deirdre Griswold Occupations amp up Black Lives Matter struggle . . . . .1 Sanders, Clinton and revolution ...... 3 Any meaningful efforts to limit carbon dioxide emis- Buffalo residents fight gentrification ...... 3 sions, the main cause of global warming, must deal with People with disabilities fight back ...... 4 the issue of public transportation. According to a recent Boston School Bus Union West Coast tour ...... 4 study by Environmental Defense, U.S. automobiles and light trucks are responsible for nearly half of all green- California labor solidarity urges action on Cuba . . . . . 5 house gases emitted by automobiles globally. Yet little is ‘Trials for Travel’ to Cuba ...... 5 being done in this country to upgrade, or even maintain, New legal attack on Rasmea Odeh ...... 5 the mass transit systems that people need if they are to Protesters in Detroit unwelcome Trump ...... 6 cut back on using cars. Basically, this bus does what subways and elevated Honoring Nate Greer. Killed by BART and Hayward police .6 Where is the great spirit of innovation and commit- trains do — relieves surface congestion — but at a much Albert Woodfox tells supporters: ‘Stand strong!’ . . . . . 7 ment to overhaul the infrastructure that is so needed to lower cost. Especially when a city already exists, it is deal with the monumental problem of global warming? enormously difficult and expensive to dig out the miles Oakland activists win for women prisoners7 It is certainly not in the U.S., where politicians beholden of underground passages needed for a subway. Installing Latinos/as support Black Lives Matter in Rochester, N.Y. . 7 to the ruling class commit trillions of the public’s money the additional infrastructure for the TEB — tracks along Hawai’i, August 1969: GIs resist war ...... 9 to the empire’s far-flung military and repressive police — the side of the road and raised bus stops — is a much sim- Policy dispute emerges as U.S. faces setback in Syria . . 10 and peanuts to mass transit. pler job. The company building the TEB says that while But take a look at the other side of the globe and there is the average cost of subway construction is $100 million  Around the world hope. In China, a country just a few generations ago mired per kilometer, the TEB will cost one-fifth that. Workers in Rio: ‘No poverty, no coup!’ ...... 1 in poverty, the government has committed vast sums to the China, global warming and technological innovation . . 2 Imperialist arrogance and racism development of a modern, energy-efficient infrastructure. World trade union federation to hold congress ...... 8 Here is just one small example of what China is doing The capitalist rulers of Europe and the U.S. have prid- Protest stops toxic spraying for Zika in Puerto Rico . . . .8 to improve transportation and combat global warming. ed themselves on their countries’ scientific-technological development and innovation. Even more than that, they Why is U.S. Bombing Libya – again? ...... 10 The Transit Elevated Bus have promoted a racist, classist view of the rest of the No more Hiroshimas and Nagasakis! ...... 11 Some six years ago the concept of the Transit Elevated world to justify their predatory and violent chase after  WWP Election Campaign Bus was first made public. This Aug. 2, a prototype of the raw materials and cheap labor. The Chinese people have Moorehead/Lilly file for write-in status in Ohio ...... 3 TEB was tested in the city of Qinhuangdao in northern not forgotten the days when, in the Western-controlled China. It will take another year of tweaking before the areas of their port cities, signs went up reading “No dogs Lilly at Black Resistance March ...... 3 buses will be introduced in other cities, but already the and Chinese allowed.”  Editorial TEB is considered a success. Imperialist, capitalist arrogance still exists, but a cen- Why the establishment dumped Trump ...... 10 The Transit Elevated Bus is an entirely new concept. It tury of anti-colonial and pro-socialist uprisings and rev- not only moves many more people than traditional buses, olutions has exploded the myth of Western superiority.  Noticias en Español but it can relieve congestion in other ways, too. The bus When a country like China can raise 800 million peo- ¡Alto a la agresión de Washington! ...... 12 actually straddles two lanes of traffic, so cars can flow un- ple out of poverty in one generation and at the same time Turquía y el fallido golpe ...... 12 der it as the bus stops for passengers. It is very large: 72 develop a cutting-edge scientific-technological infra- feet long and 26 feet wide, and the mid-portion sits 16 feet structure, it’s time to give credit where credit is due — to above the roadway. Each bus can hold 1,200 people — 40 China’s great revolution, led by communists, that liber- times the capacity of older buses. The bus stops are elevat- ated the world’s most populous country from imperialist Workers World ed and the bus runs on a track. It is powered by municipal domination and created a state capable of organizing the 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. electricity and solar power, thus adding much less CO2 to country’s resources to take on the greatest challenges of New York, N.Y. 10011 the atmosphere than other forms of transportation. the modern era. Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 58, No. 32 • Aug. 18, 2016 Closing date: Aug. 9, 2016 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Bob McCubbin outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, means of production. women. Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 57 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2016 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. 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Moorehead/Lilly file for write-in status in Ohio

By Susan Schnur Many of the electors required to file possible in order to build a militant, mass task in the majority of states. By con- with the state came from a meeting held movement to fight for a better world. ducting a write-in campaign, WWP The Workers World Party 2016 team during the week Cleveland was invaded Barbara Louise, a longtime Cleveland hopes to raise working-class conscious- of Monica Moorehead and Lamont Lil- by the Republican National Convention. feminist and LGBTQ activist, made clear ness while giving total support to the ly are now official presidential and vice Moorehead and Lilly spoke to an overflow why she wanted to be an elector for the Black Lives Matter movement. As stated presidential write-in candidates in Ohio. crowd at the Black on Black Center. The WWP ticket: “We need a choice that’s by Karl Marx in 1848 and updated by V.I. While not on the ballot, the state must candidates stressed that racism cannot not the lesser of two evils. We need can- Lenin after the Russian Revolution in now count and report the number of vot- be eliminated at the ballot box but rath- didates that do not support capitalism, 1917: “Workers and oppressed peoples of ers who write in the WWP candidates’ er in the streets. WWP uses the elections as do the Democrats and Republicans.” the world unite. We have nothing to lose names on their ballots. as a vehicle to reach as many people as Getting on the ballot is a herculean but our chains!” ‘We have to fight for ourselves’ – Lilly at Black Resistance March

Workers World Party vice presiden- Look around you. This is what democ- nialism. Colonialism — that is what the tial candidate Lamont Lilly gave the racy really looks like. When you have ghettos in this country are. They are col- following speech at the Black Resistance white, Brown, Black, Latino, queer, trans, onized territories where Black and Brown March on the Democratic National Con- straight, Muslim, Christian, young and the people are still basically in bondage. vention on July 26 in Philadelphia. old, that is what democracy looks like. I have to do this — I have to talk to my It is the FBI, the CIA. It is the courts, This is what absolutely petrifies this people for a split second. Black people, the prosecutors, the judges, the parole of- country. They don’t want to see the op- African descendants, please listen loud ficers — every institution that makes mon- pressed come together. They don’t want to and clear. We are members of an an- Lamont Lilly, left. ey off of keeping Black and Brown bodies see the working class uniting. So they dis- ti-Black society, of an anti-Black country; fighters. Love each other. Keep each oth- incarcerated. The private prison system is tract us. They distract us like [Fox News every fucking way, shape and form we er inspired. Uplift each other, sisters and no different than the convict lease system reporter] Geraldo Rivera tried by walking live in a system of white supremacy. The brothers. This movement cannot be built 100 years ago. The police are no different into this march. They distract us with school system, the political system, the by hate; it must be built out of love. Love than the slave patrols when we were on Black on Black crime, but the real conver- economic [system], even in the arts. This of the people, love of ourselves, love of the the plantation. That’s where the police in sation is white supremacy. It is racism. country is completely anti-Black. community, love for the revolution. this country come from. Their function These issues are why myself and Mon- We have to fight for ourselves. Love As brother Fred Hampton said, you was to keep the slaves in their place, to ica Moorehead are running for president your hair, love your lips and noses. Love don’t beat racism with racism, you beat keep us from gaining liberation. and vice president with Workers World your melanin in your skin, which makes racism with solidarity. You do not beat The role of the police is to keep the op- Party. We want an end to racism and cap- you powerful. Teach our history to your capitalism with Black capitalism, you beat pressed, to keep the marginalized, to keep italism, to stop the war on Black America. children. Do not wait til they’re 37 years capitalism with revolutionary socialism. the disenfranchised from fighting back, We must unite on this front. old. Teach them about Nat Turner, Harri- Love each other! Uplift each other! resisting and gaining liberation. Their role We know that you cannot reform sex- et Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Malcolm X, so Black is beautiful! is to keep the working class from uniting. ism, capitalism, imperialism or colo- that they grow up strong and as freedom All power to the people! Sanders, Clinton and revolution GUEST COMMENTARY

By Desmera Gatewood Democratic nominee is the only hope the are waking up. Even the introduction of Where do those supporters go? Though U.S. has for progress leading into 2017. the term “revolution” into the rhetoric of it may seem there is no other choice for There is a specter haunting America. Even some who sat in awe of Michelle this election reveals that there is a differ- the believers in Bernie’s America, this is The defeat of Bernie Sanders struck a Alexander’s lectures, as she eloquently ent consciousness underlying the direc- hardly the time for those who were com- nerve with a large portion of U.S. progres- and firmly made the case that the Rea- tion a large population is moving towards. pelled by the radical aspects of the Sand- sives; it left an insatiable Bern. The social- gan, Bush and Clinton administrations What the Bernieites heard from the ers campaign to abandon their thinking ist hopefuls, who experienced a dream were responsible for “the New Jim Crow,” Sanders campaign was someone speak- in order to flee towards moderate “prog- deferred, suffered insult upon injury on have departed from her, to join #WithHer. ing to the issues of the working class. He ress.” That would only reinforce that realizing their candidate was robbed of Even some who commended the bravery addressed the crisis of poverty, the wealth Bernie’s views are too extreme and pro- his nomination through inner-party cor- of Ashley Williams, a Black queer orga- disparity, the discrimination against mar- gressive for what the U.S. working class ruption. They realized that between me- nizer from Charlotte, N.C., who confront- ginalized people, the costs of wars over- needs. The unfolding of this capitalist, dia-aided conspiracy and a collective effort ed #Her for referring to Black people as seas and the consequences of corporate Wall-Street-influenced, rigged election by the Democratic Party to intentionally “super predators,” left to rally #WithHer. influence. He traveled with the daugh- is affirmation that there can be no justice ensure the election of Hillary Clinton, Bernie or Busts are not the traitors to ter of Eric Garner before the #Mother- for the people without a bona fide work- Bernie’s overwhelming pledged delegates progress. Their critics, who abandoned softheMovement, he fully embraced the ing-class led revolution. The current sys- never stood a chance. The concentrated their former pro-liberation direction, are #Fightfor15, and touted a campaign for tem is literally incapable of escaping the effort to defeat Bernie illuminated that the more so. workers’ rights. reinforcement of capitalist influence. Not status quo is afraid of a new consciousness What Bernie or Busts, and even for- This is not to say that he is not a priv- even attempting to play by the rules of de- growing in the United States. mer Bernieites in general have revealed ileged, older, white man who could only mocracy is enough to appease the ruling What now? The Democratic Party, as is that there is a slow but real yearning in see as far as his own experience could al- class into submitting to the voices of the well as leaders of the modern-day and past the U.S. for something new and different. low. But he raised the U.S. consciousness working class. Civil Rights Movement, former champions Even the guilting strategy of herding the higher than any candidate who came as There is a clear yearning and willing- of moderate socialism, minority heroes extreme left to the middle, in hopes of close as he did to clenching the Demo- ness to reroute from America’s capitalist from various political arenas, politicos avoiding the extreme right, does not erase cratic Party’s nomination. Neither he nor pattern of electing bigoted, neoliberal on the left and pundits are all guilting the the reality that a large population is ex- his supporters were incorrect in their corporate puppets; this is an unsettling “Bernie or Busts” into rallying behind their tremely dismayed with the choices of two observation of certain issues facing the reality to the powers of the ruling class. enemy. Their rationale is that the current racist corporate capitalists. The people working class. Continued on page 11 Buffalo residents fight gentrification

Threatened with displacement by the A press conference and rally held on relentless development land grabs oc- Aug. 5 right in the Fruit Belt neighbor- curring all around them, residents of a hood demanded a community land trust historic Black neighborhood in the midst (a nonprofit that holds land in trust for of Buffalo’s “medical corridor” building the permanent benefit of low-income res- boom are fighting back. idents) to give residents — who are most- The Fruit Belt/McCarley Gardens ly tenants — final control over land use in Housing Task Force has been tireless- their own neighborhood. The organizing ly struggling for decades to save their group intends to grow bigger and stron- neighborhood from demolition and gen- ger and not back off until they win. trification by bankers and developers. —Photo and story by Ellie Dorritie Page 4 Aug. 18, 2016 workers.org People with disabilities fight back WW PHOTOS: GERRY SCOPPETTUOLO By Brian Shea and Gerry Scoppettuolo “liberal” Boston Globe focused on homi- and fought back to re- Protest organizers Boston cides involving people who may only have trieve it, only to be the Denise Jackson, left, been suspected of having a mental health first arrested, put in Brian Shea, right. First, there were one or two. Then, a diagnosis, asserting that police involve- handcuffs and placed few dozen. By 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 1, ment was necessary to protect the public. in the police wagon by Boston police. have interviewed community leaders. I hundreds of people with mental health In a well-organized action, the mental The crowd’s anger grew louder as one just wish I could have been arrested to- and other disabilities from all over the health community and other people with by one their brothers and sisters were day,” Denise Jackson told Workers World. state of Massachusetts were picketing the the lived experience of disability turned arrested. No Globe reporter took a pho- The community also protested the re- headquarters of the Boston Globe. out to picket the Globe for more than tograph or interviewed one person in cent decision of MassHealth, the state’s They were outraged over the news- three hours. Peer leaders and members the aftermath of this scene of terror un- Medicaid and children’s health insurance paper’s sensationalistic and stigmatiz- of recovery clubs, M-POWER, ADAPT, leashed on the community. program, to disallow overtime pay for ing recent frontpage story, a supposedly the Boston Center for Independent Liv- Denise Jackson and Brian Shea helped personal care attendants. Some 35,000 in-depth study of the challenges faced ing, Recovery Learning Communities organize the action and joined with oth- of these attendants belong to District by people with disabilities, which was and others from across the state of Mas- er leaders of the protest to confront Scott 1199/SEIU, the single largest Service Em- actually one of a series of such articles sachusetts came out in force. A handful Allen, the author of the original Globe ployees union in the state. The decision is demonizing people with mental health of nonprofit agency staff were present. article, earlier in the day. “We told him very harmful to people with disabilities, issues. The news feature story justified This action, unprecedented for its large he didn’t do enough research. He should who depend on quality care from the police assaults against people with men- turnout, was a pure fightback by the rank same PCA they have worked with over tal health diagnoses, suggesting that they and file for the very survival of their com- the years, but who now may not be avail- are prone to violence. munity. Nine of their number occupied able. This is a basic survival issue. On the contrary, in Massachusetts the Globe entrance and were arrested Longtime activist Brian Shea said: hundreds have died at the hands of the by Boston police, who had a state police “People are continuing to organize. This police, by being put in harmful restraints contingent “on the ready” nearby. One is just a start, a resurgence. This is just and by suicide, in recent years. Despite protester had his banner ripped out of further proof that wherever there is op- this terrible toll on the community, the his hands by a Globe security employee pression, there is struggle.”

PHOTOS: HANNAH KIRSCHBAUM West Coast tour Boston School Bus Union Nora Braggs Claude shares lessons of victory At the ILWU Local 10 dispatch union hall: left to right: “Tou Tou” Georgia Scott, Stacey Rogers, Steve Kirschbaum, Delores St. Germain Lemon-Thomas, Shane Hoff, Clarence Thomas This article has been excerpted. The ident Kirschbaum, Financial Secretary complete article is posted on workers.org. Steven Gillis and Grievance Chair Garry Murchison. By Hannah Kirschbaum The union members, who are 98 per- and Steve Kirschbaum cent immigrant, Black and Brown, also won a historic contract protecting more A delegation from Team Solidarity, than 40 years of collective bargaining Boston School Bus Drivers, Steelworkers progress with substantial, fully retroac- Local 8751 toured the West Coast from tive economic gains. The no-concessions July 18 to 24 to bring the lessons of their contract included agreements to resolve Univ. of Calif. recent historic victory against Veolia/ hundreds of backlogged grievances and Berkeley, Labor Transdev/City of Boston union busting. an ironclad “Union Security Agreement” Studies Program. Entitled “Solidarity Works,” the whirl- guaranteeing these gains — no matter wind, five-city tour included labor/com- which bus company management firm munity rallies; a presentation at the gets the contract from the city of Boston. historic International Longshore and During the course of a nearly three-year Warehouse Union Local 10 membership battle against global, capitalist monolith meeting; a class held at Berkeley’s Labor Veolia, the city union-busters, the Boston Studies Department at the University of cops and a relentlessly vicious anti-union Los Angeles, San Diego California; a radio interview; a solidarity media campaign, the rank and file, with stop at the Bay Area Black Lives Matter solidarity from the communities, labor and BYP 100 occupation/blockade of the and the progressive political movement, Oakland Police Officers’ Association of- organized and carried out countless ral- fice; and solidarity with the Seattle Dis- lies, picket lines, occupations, “pack the From the Bay Area Black Lives Matter/ ability Liberation Front at their demon- court” demonstrations and marches, de- BYP100 occupation/blockade of Oak- stration at the Metro Access building. feating the most serious attacks in the lo- land Police Officers’ Association build- Susan Koppelman, of “Stop Veolia Se- cal’s 40-plus-year history. ing to action supporting good transit attle” and the initiator of the West Coast This included defeating a 9-month for people with disabilities in Seattle, tour, said: “I was excited to organize this frame-up, felony prosecution; relentless USW 8751 was in the streets, too. SEIU Local 721, Los Angeles. tour to amplify this incredible victory daily attacks on the members’ wages, and to promote Local 8751’s brand of mil- benefits and rights; and a coordinated at- Black Freedom struggle ever since she workers’ first line of defense on the job, itant democratic internationalist union- tempt to remove what the bosses called participated, at the age of 9, in the “Bloody fighting grievances and winning just con- ism that fights all systems that oppress the “radical, rogue element” — the revo- Sunday” march for voting rights over the tracts, but also engaging in every battle the international working class and prac- lutionary, activist leaders who had pro- Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. facing the working class, bringing the tices material solidarity with the most vided leadership for decades. In April Nora Braggs, also a veteran of the union and rank and file to all the strug- oppressed, building broad, united front 2015, Team Solidarity fielded a slate of 17 struggle from Mobile, Ala., detailed the gles against racism, sexism, islamopho- politics. USW 8751’s 43 years of militant “radicals” and swept every position in the determined unity in action of the rank bia, LGBTQ oppression, war and poverty, struggle and victories offer important local’s Executive Board elections, with a and file, who organized weekly yard ral- and standing in solidarity with Palestine, lessons in building worker power.” historic voter turnout! lies, picketed the corporate offices, mobi- freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal, and Na- The delegation included USW 8751 Trea- The tour delegates’ presentations were lized hundreds of drivers to pack the court tive American and disability rights.” surer Georgia Scott, Shop Steward Nora designed to share their experiences and for more than 9 months, and consistent- Team Solidarity’s style of unionism Braggs, Recording Secretary and Boston make the lessons of the victory the collec- ly raised funds to support the four fired was a conscious strategy to reclaim the Fanmi Lavalas leader Claude “Tou Tou” tive property of labor and the progressive leaders and their families. Claude “Tou union movement’s legacy of uniting the St. Germain, Vice President and Local co- movement. Georgia Scott explained the Tou” St. Germain pointed out that for this union and people’s struggles to fight all founder Stevan Kirschbaum and reporter/ critical importance of solidarity with the majority Haitian union, this struggle was of capitalism’s attacks. photographer Hannah Kirschbaum. community. She described how the local a logical extension of the Haitian people’s The team’s presentations explained had built this relationship through years struggle for self-determination, from the Los Angeles that on Dec. 18, under the leadership of of struggle for the community, fighting first successful slave revolution against Service Employees Local 721 host- Team Solidarity, USW 8751’s 1,000 mem- against school closings, re-segregation French colonialism to the current strug- ed the first tour meeting at their head- bers forced the bus company and city of and the closing of the Roxbury post office, gle against U.S. imperialism. quarters on July 19. Rebecka Jackson, of Boston to sign agreements which rein- and marching against racist police terror Stevan Kirschbaum spoke about the Workers World Party, chaired the meet- stated the four illegally fired union lead- and in support of the Black Lives Matter local’s reputation as a politically ac- ing, and Local 721 President Bob Schoo- ers: President Andre François, Vice Pres- movement. Scott has been active in the tive union that “not only represents the nover made welcoming remarks. Sherna workers.org Aug. 18, 2016 Page 5 California labor solidarity urges action on Cuba

By Cheryl LaBash ly endorse unrestricted travel to Cuba, … WW PHOTO: CHERYL LABASH eliminate the embargo of Cuba without A few members of the U.S. union delegation The California Labor Federation rep- conditions and … support the elimina- to 2016 May Day celebration in Cuba with resents 2.1 million union members of tion of the Guantánamo Bay U.S. military “Worker Solidarity - Cuba and California” sign. more than 1,200 AFL-CIO and Change base.” Further it calls on union commit- to Win unions. Delegates at its 2016 Bi- tees endorsing candidates for Congress Discussing solidarity with Cuba is the 1959 revolution, and then supported ennial Convention, held on July 12-13 in to visit Cuba for May Day celebrations in easier now than it was before Dec. 17, freedom for the Cuban 5. The Steelwork- Oakland, Calif., passed a Cuba solidarity 2017. The resolution was forwarded to Na- 2014. That is a date to remember, when ers and Service Employees unions both resolution submitted by the Sacramento tional AFL-CIO President Richard Trum- the remaining three of the Cuban 5 were allowed Cuban 5 literature to be distrib- and North Bay Central Labor Councils. ka, with a proposal that it be forwarded to freed from U.S. prisons, returned to their uted at international conventions. The resolution recognizes the new op- each state AFL-CIO federation. Read the Cuban homeland, and the U.S. agreed Union resolutions and city council proc- portunity for building relationships be- resolution at bit.ly/2aDbPbQ. to work toward normalizing relations it lamations are important in the struggle to tween workers in the U.S. and workers in The resolution was propelled by a had broken more than 50 years before. end the commercial, financial and eco- Cuba and how the exchange of ideas and strong union delegation that traveled A few unions, most notably the Interna- nomic blockade of Cuba, especially if used information will be beneficial to all. The from California to Havana to see Cuba for tional Longshore and Warehouse Union, as a means to educate and mobilize action resolution calls on affiliates to contact themselves during the May 1 Internation- refused to get in line with imperialist supporting Cuba’s right to independence elected officials, asking them to “official- al Workers Day Celebration there. foreign policy and maintained relations and sovereignty and its right to choose with Cuban port workers and the Cen- a socialist economic system that makes tral Union of Cuban Workers (CTC) after solving human needs the priority. New legal attack on Rasmea Odeh Obama administration readies The following excerpted email from of Israeli military interrogators, affected ‘Trials for travel’ to Cuba the Committee to Stop FBI Repression her answers to questions on complex im- was released Aug. 5. Read full statement migration forms in the U.S. By Cheryl LaBash improperly assisted other U.S. nationals at workers.org. The move to separately “examine” on those two trips.” (tinyurl.com/NLG- Attorneys representing Palestin- Rasmea is outrageous and meant to in- American Airlines may include Santa CubaResolution) ian-American Rasmea Odeh are pushing timidate. Such an examination is irrele- Clara, Cuba, in its website’s list of Carib- Fox “has been recognized as a key con- back against a new legal attack. vant as to whether Dr. Fabri’s testimony bean destinations, but the U.S. laws that tributor in building a significant body In a July 21 filing, Rasmea’s defense is reliable and applicable. It is obviously punish U.S. residents traveling to Cuba of opinion in Florida for normalizing team went on record as “strongly oppos- designed to aggravate the symptoms of are still in place. Compliance may be re- relations with Cuba, and has also been ing” an attempt by prosecutors to subject Rasmea’s PTSD. duced to a web check box at this moment, a critic of continuing to fund the OFAC her to questioning at a “mental exam- The government’s request is also an but while the law is still on the books, it office in Miami.” For nearly three years ination” prior to an already scheduled attempt to claim that she does not have can be tightened again at any time. opinion polls have reported Floridians Daubert hearing, which determines if an PTSD and that she did not get brutalized An emergency resolution submitted to support normalized U.S. relations with expert witness can testify at trial. The by the Israeli authorities. This is a dirty the National Lawyers Guild 2016 #Law- Cuba and at a rate higher than in the rest Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently political move, but Rasmea remains 4thePeople Convention, held Aug. 3-7 in of the country. (See Feb. 11, 2014, Atlantic ruled that trial Judge Gershwin Drain steadfast and strong. New York City, reports that the Obama Council poll) erred in deciding that expert testimony The legal proceedings are a pretext to administration’s Office of Foreign As- Attorney Art Heitzer, chair of the NLG concerning her mental state was irrele- intimidate those who fight hard to real- set Controls has appointed an adminis- Cuba Committee, submitted the resolu- vant to her defense. That error led to Ra- ize a free Palestine. Demonstrations have trative law judge to hear cases brought tion, which warns, “This action threat- smea’s unjust conviction in 2014. taken place across the U.S. since her ar- against travelers to Cuba. ens to establish a renewed precedent of On Nov. 29, Judge Drain will hear ar- rest in 2013, and we are again going all On July 26 — coincidentally, Cuba’s intimidation against individuals and or- guments as to whether Dr. Mary Fabri’s out for Detroit on Sept. 22. National Rebellion Day — “OFAC served ganizations which have broken from the testimony is scientifically valid and appli- We will rally at the courthouse in a complaint instituting proceedings hard line against Cuba in Florida and cable. Before the 2014 trial, Dr. Fabri, a downtown Detroit on Thursday, Sept. 22 against Albert Fox, as President of the Al- elsewhere.” renowned clinical psychologist who has at 10 a.m., and then pack the courtroom liance for a Responsible Cuba Policy Poli- Currently 52 of 100 senators support worked with torture survivors for over 25 as Judge Drain decides whether to allow cy Foundation (the Respondent), seeking S.299, the Freedom to Travel Bill, and years, was prepared to testify about how the government to “examine” Rasmea. a penalty of $100,000 for participating 131 Representatives have cosponsored Rasmea’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Stay in touch through justice4rasmea. in two short trips to Cuba in 2010 and H.R.664, its companion bill in the House caused by torture and rape at the hands org and [email protected]. 2011, and claiming that the Respondent of Representatives.

Gluck, of the Boycott, Divestment and Ferris and welcomed by Stacey Rodgers, That evening, a labor/community AFL-CIO Labor Temple on July 23 was Sanctions movement, described their the Local 10 member who facilitated the meeting was hosted by Amalgamated sponsored by a coalition including the successful campaign against Veolia, op- speaking invitation. Transit Union Local 1555, representing A. Philip Randolph Institute, Stop Veo- posing the corporate giant’s role in sup- Kirschbaum stated, “We are honored Bay Area Rapid Transit workers. Pres- lia Seattle and the Disability Liberation porting the oppression of Palestinians. to speak on hallowed union ground, the ident and Business Agent Chris Finn Front. Additional organizers include Lawrence Reyes, Yuisa Gimeno and oth- union hall of the great Harry Bridges, or- opened the meeting by discussing the Ninus Hopkins, paratransit driver and er members of the Latino Caucus of SEIU ganizer of the ILWU and the San Francis- similarities between the experiences of executive board officer of ATU Local 721 spoke and coordinated the meeting co General Strike of 1934; the hall of the Team Solidarity and the ATU’s recent 587; Leith Kahl, of ILWU Local 19; Jim with organizers from the International local that has shut down the ports to say strike victory against BART. Veolia’s McMahan, of Workers World Party; and Action Center. A delegation from the San ‘no’ to apartheid in South Africa, Zionist chief union-busting BART negotiator, ILWU Local 23. Gabriel Prawl, vice pres- Diego branch of Workers World Party at- apartheid against the Palestinians, and Thomas P. Hock, was also the key engi- ident of ILWU Local 52 and president of tended as well. in support of immigrant rights on May neer of the attack on Local 8751. A del- Seattle APRI, chaired the meeting. Mon- Day, in support of Black Lives Matter and egation from the San Francisco School ica Lewis-Patrick, of “We the People of Bay Area freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal. When Bus Union, SMART 1741, which included Detroit,” gave a Skype presentation about The tour went directly from the air- we started the union for school bus driv- Chairperson Lois Correa, attended and Veolia’s role in the Flint, Mich., lead poi- port on July 20 to join the Bay Area Black ers in 1974, we wanted to live this legacy.” gave a solidarity message and donation. soning crisis, stressing the necessary Lives Matter/BYP 100 occupation/block- The morning of July 22 began with a Clarence Thomas, of ILWU Local 10 solidarity and interconnectivity of union ade of the Oakland Police Officers’ As- KPFA radio interview with “Tou Tou” and the Million Worker March Move- and community struggles. sociation building. Clarence Thomas, of St. Germain discussing the tour and the ment, spoke of his union’s legacy of fight- The delegation joined members of the International Longshore and Warehouse situation in Haiti. Then the delegation ing racism and raised the Local’s 1972 Disability Liberation Front, ATU Local Union Local 10; Dave Welsh, of the San spoke to students spending their summer resolution at the ILWU convention to 587 and Stop Veolia Seattle outside Met- Francisco Labor Council; and Terri Kay, doing union organizing. Alicia Flores, “Free Angela Davis” — a resolution that, roaccess Paratransit offices on July 24 to of Workers World Party, joined the tour the UC Berkeley Labor Studies Depart- as reported in the Dispatcher, the news- demand full and equal rights for riders delegation. ment program director, had found infor- paper of the ILWU, “linked her prosecu- with disabilities. The next day, the Team Solidarity mation about the Solidarity Works West tion with the prosecution of other labor ILWU Local 23 in Tacoma hosted the delegation divided to cover two events. Coast Tour and contacted the organizers militants ... from Tom Mooney to Harry final meeting of the tour on July 24. Bri- Braggs and St. Germain participated in to arrange for a presentation. Students Bridges.” He stressed the critical tasks of an Skiffington from Local 23 made wel- a community meeting hosted by the Hai- were inspired by Local 8751’s victory; building union solidarity and action with coming remarks and chaired. Additional ti Action Committee. Meanwhile, Scott the union’s unique, militant, politically the Black Lives Matter movement. speakers included Susan Koppelman, and Kirschbaum spoke at the monthly activist leadership; and the fact that two representatives from Jewish Voice for membership meeting of ILWU Local 10. Black women and a Haitian leader led the Seattle/Tacoma Peace and the BDS movement, and the They were introduced by President Ed presentation. A labor/community event held at the Tacoma Teachers’ Union. Page 6 Aug. 18, 2016 workers.org Protesters in Detroit unwelcome Trump WW PHOTOS: KRIS HAMEL By Kris Hamel a FIST member quickly tore it from his Detroit hands. Revolutionaries denounced Trump Aug. 8 — Republican presidential can- and the racist, fascist movement he has didate Donald Trump gave what the big- aroused and called for socialism. Work- business-owned press dubbed “a major ers World newspapers were distributed, economic policy speech” in Detroit today. as were palm cards inviting people to Trump, who was hosted by the Detroit hear WWP presidential candidate Moni- Economic Club, spoke to 1,500 people at ca Moorehead in Detroit on Sept. 10. Cobo Hall. Despite a heavy police presence, pro- A thousand protesters of Trump’s hate testers were not confined to the outside. and racism converged outside the down- About two dozen people were ejected by town convention center. They included security from the convention hall, includ- union members from the United Auto ing a Muslim former state representative, Workers; American Federation of State, for their actions during Trump’s speech, County and Municipal Employees; Mich- which included simply yelling “Racist!” igan Education Association; and Amer- Twenty women shouted out questions ican Federation of Teachers; among oth- about Trump’s treatment of women. ers. It was a multinational, multigender (mlive.com, Aug. 8) gathering of protesters young and old. The candidate received a standing ova- Activists with Workers World Party tion from the capitalists attending the and FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand To- event. Among Trump’s proposals are a gether) youth organization led militant reduction in corporate taxes, elimina- chants throughout the demonstration. tion of the death tax, a 15 percent limit When one of less than a handful of Trump on income taxes for all businesses, and Protesters denounce Trump, Aug. 8. supporters unfurled a Confederate flag — gutting environmental regulations and a hated symbol of racism and slavery — mandates. Occupations and Black Lives Matter Honoring Nate Greer Continued from page 1 dents, protests the U.S.-enacted PROMESA a majority of them Black. (The Guardian, bill, which will impose a profit-driven, co- Oct. 19, 2015) lonial-style control board, or junta, on the Killed by BART and Hayward police The short-term goal of Freedom Square island nation of Puerto Rico. This neocol- organizers is reversal of recent reaction- onization and economic takeover will hit ary Chicago City Council “Blue Lives Mat- unions especially hard, including teachers’ ter” ordinances that cap the statute of unions and the militant electrical workers’ limitations on CPD “police misconduct” union, UTIER. Solidarity messages have at five years and extend city hate crime been sent to the Campamento from New policies to “protect police officers.” Orga- York’s Abolition Square. nizers’ long-term goal is abolition of the police. (DNAinfo.org) BLM spreads internationally By Aug. 6, Black Lives Matter-LA was in The BLM movement is expanding in- the 25th day of occupation of Los Angeles ternationally in other countries. Demon- City Hall under the banner “Decolonize LA strations have been held in Britain, City Hall.” The 24-hour-a-day occupation numbering dozens in Cardiff, Wales, to demands the firing of the LA police chief. thousands in London. There, on Aug. 5 Melina Abdullah, chair of Pan-African people in a BLM protest lay down on a Studies at California State University, Los road and blocked access to Heathrow, one

WW PHOTO: TERRI KAY Angeles and a spokesperson for BLM-LA, of the world’s busiest airports. Family members call for justice for their loved one. described the LAPD as “the most mur- The actions marked the fifth anniversary derous police department in the country,” of the killing of Mark Duggan, a Black man, By Terri Kay to him? It was then that the BART [Bay most recently for killing Redel Jones, the by a police marksman, sparking uprisings Area Rapid Transit] police officer pulled 30-year-old mother of two. Police harass- across London. Other coordinated actions On July 30, “A Day to Remember Our him down to the ground, and they all be- ment of the occupation includes requiring were held on Aug. 5 in Birmingham, Man- Loved Ones,” the Nate Greer family held a gan to wrestle with him and pile on top of the free-speech-protected encampment chester, Nottingham and elsewhere. barbeque in Hayward, Calif., and invited him. They wrapped him in a body wrap to pack up so cops can “clean” the area Imani Robinson, a spokeswoman for others who had lost loved ones to police and Tased him several times. Then he lost with power-hoses — for six hours at a time Black Lives Matter U.K., said of the pro- violence to join them. consciousness. during the historic California drought. tests: “This is an intentional disruption WW: And they did! Families from across the Did they ever explain how BART (risingupwithsonali.org) because our lives, our ability to live free Bay Area came out, including those of Asa police got involved in this traffic stop? The connection between BLM issues and and dignified lives, is being disrupted ev- Deana: Sullivan, Teo Valencia, Herman Jaramil- No, I still haven’t gotten any info decolonization links the Los Angeles occu- ery day.” (Washington Post, Aug. 5) lo, Derrick Gaines and Kerry Baxter, Jr. — on that. It was one of my questions, too. pation and that of the Campamento Contra The BLM movement has also spread to WW: all victims of police killings. Also attend- How long did it take for the ambu- La Junta in San Juan, Puerto Rico. That other countries, including Brazil, Canada ing were supporters from the Alex Nieto lance to arrive? months-long encampment, mostly by stu- and several European nations. Coalition, the Anti Police-Terror Project, Deana: The struggle lasted on the the Idriss Stelley Coalition, Frisco 500 ground for approximately ten minutes. and Workers World Party. When they rolled him over to wrap his WW: How long did it take before the Deana: Stan Goff obtained it from Workers World interviewed Nate’s upper body, they realized he was not family received the coroner’s report and BART. wife, Deana, about the circumstances breathing. They continued to wrap his the police report? WW: When did you file the lawsuit, surrounding his death: lifeless body and left him over on the side Deana: I don’t recall but it wasn’t too and what can you say about the status WW: Why was Nate stopped by the unattended for approximately seven min- much longer after he died. I had to physical- of the suit? ­police? utes before the ambulance arrived. ly go and get the coroner’s report. I attempt- Deana: It was filed right after he was Deana: The lieutenant told him that he WW: Were any family members no- ed several times before I was able to obtain killed. Trial is set for early next year. pulled him over for driving “goofy.” tified at this time? When did the family it, same with the police report. The police WW: Why are you organizing events WW: Was anyone with him when he hear about his death? report is redacted and pages are missing, so like the recent barbeque? Have you met was stopped, or were there any eyewit- Deana: We were not notified. The coro- I still have yet to receive the complete police other families undergoing similar trag- nesses who have come forward? ner’s report stated that the police depart- report. I believe my attorney subpoenaed edies as yours? Deana: He was alone. The police report ment said to not notify the family until that and has since received it. Deana: I am preparing to have a states two witnesses. the scene had been cleared. It also stated WW: Who is the family lawyer, and town hall meeting on August 20 to or- WW: Talk about what happened after that there was a press hold on this case. I when did you first contact the lawyer? Did ganize with families in Hayward about he was stopped, leading up to his death? was calling hospitals, looking for him and you need the lawyer to make the requests community awareness. Unfortunate- Deana: He exited the vehicle and pro- ended up calling the coroner’s office, and in order to get the above reports? ly, I have met with many families who ceeded to comply with the field sobriety that’s when I found out that he was dead! Deana: We met with lawyer Stan Goff have encountered the same type of loss. test as instructed to do. He was then asked WW: What did the police say to your early on to seek legal advice, and he took our The meeting will be at 944 Central to walk over to flatter ground to continue family? case. A few weeks later, he recruited Fulvio Blvd., Hayward, Calif., at 1 p.m. the field sobriety test, and he did that as Deana: When my son and I spoke to Cajina, and he became our second lawyer Please sign the petition to demand jus- well. When he noticed many officers sur- the detective, he said that nothing on the along with Matt Haley, who is our third. tice for Nate: http://petitions.moveon. rounding him, he questioned what was video showed any excessive force or any- WW: When and how did you get the org/sign/regarding-unarmed-brown. going on, and what were they going to do thing the police officers did wrong. police bodycam footage? fb52?source=s.fb&r_by=15483896 workers.org Aug. 18, 2016 Page 7 Albert Woodfox tells supporters: ‘Stand strong!’

By Kathy Durkin “If the cause is no- fighting for human rights and social jus- New York City ble, you can car- tice. ry the weight of Earlier, Guild President Natasha Lycia Former political prisoner Albert the world on your Ora Bannan had opened the convention. Woodfox was given an award by the Na- shoulders.” This A keynote speaker was Elle Hearns, an tional Lawyers Guild on Aug. 4, as every- heroic freedom African-American transgender activ- one in the hall rose to their feet, cheering fighter said he’d ist and organizing coordinator with the and clapping. Some 500 people attended even do it again, if #Black Lives Matter network. this event and saw the honoree given the necessary. Woodfox and King participated in the Arthur Kinoy Award during the Guild’s When Woodfox Guild’s workshop on “Solitary Confine- 2016 Law for the People Convention, held emphasized the ment: How to Build a Movement to End at New York University’s School of Law. importance of the the Torture of Solitary Confinement,” For nearly 44 years, Woodfox was im- Black Lives Mat- on Aug. 7. The next day, they attended a prisoned in a 6-foot by 9-foot cell for 23 ter movement to book signing for “From the Bottom of the hours a day in Louisiana’s notorious An- the multination- Heap: The Autobiography of Black Pan- gola prison for a crime he did not com- al group of vary- ther Robert Hillary King,” (PM Press, mit. He was the last remaining incarcer- ing ages, many 2012) at the 1199SEIU hall in New York. ated member of the Angola 3, prisoners of them young, And then, continuing on their mission sentenced to outrageous prison terms Albert Woodfox. WW PHOTO: ANNE PRUDEN enthusiastic ap- to stop the cruel punishment of solitary and held in solitary confinement for de- plause and cheers confinement, Woodfox and King will at- cades due to their affiliation with the lace.” Wallace was another of the Angola rang out. He ended his remarks with a tend several more political events in the Black Panther Party and their opposi- 3, held in isolation for 41 years, who ob- call to “Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leon- U.S. and abroad. They also plan to be at tion to the prison’s racist and oppres- tained his release from prison only three ard Peltier, Sundiata Acoli, Russell Shoa- the 50th anniversary gathering of the sive practices. Their horrific conditions days before he died of cancer in October tz and all political prisoners!” The crowd Black Panther Party in Oakland, Calif., sparked an international movement call- 2013. Woodfox recognized from the po- then rose to their feet in a final rousing in October. ing for their freedom. dium Robert King, the first of the three standing ovation for the beloved Albert Woodfox thanked his worldwide sup- When Woodfox was finally freed on to be released in 2001, after 29 years Woodfox. porters for resolutely keeping up the Feb. 19, his 69th birthday, he committed in solitary. King is Woodfox’s steadfast That evening, the Guild also present- struggle for his freedom in an interview Occupations and Black Lives Matter himself to fight for prison reform and friend, who fought for his release for 15 ed the National Immigration Projects posted at angola3.org/blog/. He empha- an end to the “barbarous” punishment years. He also thanked his attorneys, Award to nationally known attorney sized: “What [supporters] should take of solitary confinement. Today, 80,000 George Kendall, Carine Williams, Rob- Javier Maldonado. At other sessions, away from my freedom is that you stand. people are held in administrative segre- ert McDuff and Billy Souther, for fight- Soffiyah Elijah received the Law for the You don’t back away. You don’t make un- gation in U.S. prisons. ing so hard for his freedom. People award and Noelle Hanrahan, di- necessary compromises. You stand, and Woodfox told the gathering he didn’t rector of Prison Radio, was the benefi- no matter how painful, you stand.” ‘I am Herman Wallace’ want to be remembered for the “44 years ciary of the Legal Worker Award. Audrey Anne Pruden, a longtime activist and During the ceremony, Woodfox wore a of torture and hell” he endured, but as Bomse, Emily Bock and Michael Deutsch supporter of the Angola 3, contributed T-shirt which read: “I am Herman Wal- a fighter for social justice. He asserted, were also recognized as lawyer-activists to this article. Oakland Rochester, N.Y. Activists win for women prisoners Latinos/as support Black Lives Matter WW PHOTO CREDIT: GEENA CRUZ-ALBARON to 17 other women under filthy conditions: By Gene Clancy “There were feces on the floor, with blood Rochester, N.Y. and used menstrual pads in the room.” (Aug. 3) On Aug. 4, a Latino/a group stunned Their statement details the anti-woman the Rochester Police Department with and degrading conditions in the SRJ: “The a militant demonstration in front of the Four were taken into a public hallway and Rochester Public Safety Building. told to strip to their bras. Outraged at this, T-shirts and signs proclaimed the the Four protested, and one was forced to group’s purpose: “Latinos Unidos Con walk around in that state in front of male Black Lives Matter” — solidarity with the Justice for Alan Blueford protest in guards and prisoners. Two of them were Black Lives Matter movement. Oakland, where the four women were then locked in isolation cells and denied ac- The cops were frantic. Although the arrested, February 2014. cess to a toilet for hours. protest was completely peaceful, bus traf- “The Four were then held with other fic was diverted from the demonstration By Minnie Bruce Pratt women in filthy jail cells. Toilets were over- site, concrete barriers were erected, and ’Latinos Unidos Con Black Lives Matter’ in flowing. There were no menstrual pads for most RPD employees were sent home ear- Rochester, N.Y., Aug. 4 Four activists, arrested in 2014 for pro- women who needed them. There were no ly. The Public Safety Building was closed testing police brutality and killings in Oak- garbage containers, so used menstrual pads from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. because of the The protest took place on the eve of the land, Calif., filed a civil rights suit against sat on top of leftover food. All the women in protest. local Puerto Rican festival. For nearly a the Santa Rita County Jail. On Aug. 1 they those cells are ‘presumed innocent.’” Last month, police arrested over 70 decade, the RPD has routinely harassed won a victory for all prisoners sent there. The Four won seven concessions from protesters at a BLM rally in Rochester. impromptu parades that often march on Anne Weills, Tova Fry, Alyssa Eisenberg the SRJ: 1) women prisoners’ right to pri- Police actions, which included brutaliz- the last day of the festival. and Mollie Costello announced, in a state- vacy, including a screening curtain; 2) a ing some demonstrators and the arrest of Rochester has a large Latino/a popula- ment issued with Yolanda Huang, their law- never-before-required program to train two Black journalists, have brought them tion for the size of the city, about 35,000 yer, that they had won “a small victory in cops assigned to the new arrestee area; 3) considerable local criticism. out of 210,000. These Latinos/as are achieving policy changes at Santa Rita Jail a mandatory check on detainees, especial- Ana Casserly, an activist and advocate subject to similar kinds of discrimina- (SRJ), reducing the sexual harassment of ly those in isolation, every 15 minutes; 4) for local Latino/a families, said the rally tion and oppression that other Black and women arrestees and improving the condi- the prohibition of cops “grasping or knead- was meant to show unity among Afri- Brown people experience in housing, ed- tions under which they are held.” (yhuang. ing” the body of an arrestee that they are can-American and Latino/a people on ucation, jobs and poverty, as well as po- law) searching; 5) mandatory garbage bags in the issue of policing in minority commu- lice harassment. The four were arrested Feb. 13, 2014, in- cells with women prisoners; 6) menstrual nities. “All together, we can make a dif- Rochester has the second highest child side the State Building in Oakland. Weills is pads provided to all women prisoners; and ference, live together and make a differ- poverty rate in the U.S for similarly sized a National Lawyers Guild legal observer, and 7) cells cleared of garbage and sanitized ence,” she said. (Rochester Democrat and cities. Over one-third of city residents live the other women are members of the Justice regularly. Chronicle, Aug. 5) in poverty. Over 50 percent of Rochester’s for Alan Blueford Coalition. The protest was The Four also won a $130,000 settle- Casserly said it’s important for the two children are poor. (Democrat & Chroni- against California Attorney General Kama- ment, which will, in part, meet legal fees groups to stand together, as they have cle, Nov 19, 2014) la Harris’ failure to prosecute a single killer and be used to “work toward insuring the much in common. BLM advocates also In 2014, the RPD had a racial arrest cop, including Oakland cop Miguel Masso, continued improvement of conditions at attended the rally. disparity rate greater than that of Fergu- who killed young Alan Blueford in 2012. Santa Rita Jail, including publicizing these Juan Collado, 16, and one of the rally son, Mo. (Democrat & Chronicle) The four women were driven, in a van new policy changes.” organizers, said: “The people need to hear The signs of solidarity between Lati- with no seatbelts, to the SRJ, and told a The four activists emphasized that they about all of us. We’re united with Black nos/as and the BLM movement are a sig- closer jail couldn’t take women detain- acted “to be a voice for other women and Lives Matter. ... We’re still humans and nificant and welcome development, and ees. In an interview with teleSUR, Fry demand they be treated with respect and we’re still people. All of us need to be to- should be supported by progressive peo- described being placed in a cell with 16 human dignity.” gether.” (Democrat & Chronicle) ple everywhere. Page 8 Aug. 18, 2016 workers.org World trade union federation to hold congress

By Carl Lewis enough. In the anti-Hitler coalition and talism and their governments. Federation of Trade Unions”) the United Nations itself, there were gov- It is noteworthy that even after a “split” Unfortunately, with the collapse of the Under the slogan “Forward! For the ernments and states which had built up was engineered to form the ICFTU, the Soviet Union and most of the workers attainment of the contemporary needs of Hitler and which, even after the victory Congress of Industrial Organizations states in Eastern Europe between 1989 the working class and the emancipation over fascism, were trying to suppress the stuck with the World Federation. The and 1990, many trade unions experi- of workers against poverty and wars gen- liberation movements in those countries American Federation of Labor was a sepa- enced a hostile takeover and merged into erated by capitalist barbarity,” the World which they held in colonial subjection.” rate and conservative mouthpiece of cap- the ICFTU. However, the dismember- Federation of Trade Unions will hold a (wftucentral.org) italism and refused to even entertain the ment of the socialist camp, with the ex- congress in Durban, South Africa, hosted A split in the world labor international notion of sending delegates to the WFTU. ceptions of China, Cuba, Vietnam and the by the Congress of South African Trade came to fruition with both the Marshall The AFL was in an open alliance with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Unions, from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8. The signif- Plan, which was not only an attempt to the U.S. State Department, through their only exacerbated the crisis of capitalism icance of the conference is highlighted by shore up capitalism in Europe but also Free Trade Union Committee, to provoke and inter-imperialist rivalry. the fact that this is the first time the WFTU to present an anti-communist agenda disunity and strife between communist The WFTU was rejuvenated once has held a congress in South Africa. aimed at the strong Communist parties, and noncommunist unions in Europe. again in 2005 at a conference in Havana, The last congress was held in Athens, and with the Soviet Union, which was However, the inauguration of the Cold Cuba. The federation was moved from Greece, the headquarters of the WFTU, key to armed resistance against fascism. War, the advent of McCarthyism, the Prague, in the Czech Republic, to Athens, which has member unions represent- That internal struggle, which took place passing of the Taft-Hartley Act — in which Greece, under the energetic leadership ing 92 million workers in 126 countries from 1945 to 1949, became intensified U.S. union leaders were compelled to de- of both a Greek trade union leader and a worldwide. with the birth of the North Atlantic clare that they “were not now, or have ever leading member of the Communist Par- The WFTU was established and orga- Treaty Organization, which manifested been” members of the Communist Party ty of Greece (KKE). Since that time, the nized in Paris in October of 1945 after increased military hostility and provo- — and the subsequent purge of commu- WFTU has grown in strength and num- World War II and victory in the struggle cations against the Soviet Union and the nists and socialists from the CIO, resulted bers and has focused on anti-imperialist against Nazism and fascism. According newly formed socialist camp. in the disaffiliation of all North American struggles against the occupations of Syr- to the History Page of the WFTU web- It was at this time that the so-called In- unions from the WFTU, with the excep- ia, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan, as well as site: “The foundation of the WFTU was ternational Confederation of Free Trade tion of the Electrical Workers union (UE), orienting their membership unions in the ... seen as indicative of the new era that Unions was formed as a counter to the which remained outside both the AFL and class struggle against capitalism. (Fight had opened with the defeat of fascism at class-struggle unionism of the WFTU. As the CIO. Those two organizations merged Back News, Dec. 4, 2015). the hands of the anti-fascist alliance of its centerpiece, the ICFTU emphasized in 1955, with the CIO capitulating to the More information on the upcoming states. ... It was obvious to the working social democracy, which is a belief in the AFL’s collaborationist agenda. (Encyclo- conference, as well as WFTU activities people and the trade unions that mere necessity of class collaboration by work- pedia of the New American Nation, “Orga- from 2011 to 2016 can be found on the declarations of governments were not ing in conjunction with monopoly capi- nized Labor—World War II and the World WFTU website: wftucentral.org Facing explosion of Zika in Puerto Rico Protest stops toxic spraying before it starts By Lyn Neeley the Natural Resources De- come sterilized in order to keep their jobs. plants and intrauterine devices, as well fense Council. She added that For 55 years the U.S. used the Puerto as pills and condoms. There is widespread opposi- “spraying Naled too freely Rican island of Vieques as a naval train- The United Front Against Aerial tion in Puerto Rico to the im- would also build up resistance, ing and testing center, dropping 23,000 Spraying initiated the Cleaning Olym- position of aerial spraying of which would be detrimental in bombs and leaving more than 22 million pics of Mosquito Breeding Sites on Aug. Naled by the Centers for Disease the long run in the fight against pounds of toxic military and industrial 7. Going door-to-door, street-by-street, Control and Prevention (CDC). the virus.” (Huffington Post, waste. The cancer rate in Vieques is 27 group members are trying to eliminate Naled is in the most toxic class July 23) percent higher than that on the mainland. all standing water where mosquito lar- of pesticides that may cause fe- When 25,000 pounds of In 1994, the Department of Energy ad- vae live, places where even aerial spray- tal brain damage and kill bees, Naled were secretly shipped to mitted it had used Puerto Rican prisoners ing could not reach. They say that instead birds and fish. The U.S.-based Puerto Rico in July, it sparked a for human radiation experiments during of carrying out Washington’s orders, the CDC wanted to use Naled in an storm of demonstrations. Signs the 1950s and 1970s. (“Fish, Wildlife and workers will do what their own politicians attempt to kill mosquitoes that read, “U.S. We are not your Bombs: The Struggle to Clean Up Vieques” and government agencies have not done. carry the Zika virus and curb damn experiment! #Naled” and by Katherine T. McCaffrey, nacla.org) The workers plan to implement the the raging Zika crisis in Puerto “Por mi futuro, USA/CDC stop!” Puerto Rico’s obstetricians and gyne- same measures as those used in social- Rico. The United Front Against Ae- cologists have started a new program to ist Cuba, which developed a communi- On Aug. 4, Naled was sprayed rial Spraying helped organize help fight Zika. Their association is offer- ty-based program to eradicate Zika-car- in North Miami, Fla., where the the protests, along with numer- ing free contraception to any woman who rying mosquitos. Since March 15, when first cases of locally acquired ous organizations, businesses, wants to delay pregnancy. This includes the last of 14 locally transmitted cases Zika infections were reported workers, scientists, farmers, more expensive and long-lasting im- was reported, Cuba has been Zika-free. in the continental U.S. Howev- health workers, environmental- er, the CDC has admitted that ists and politicians. this control measure may not work well Protesters are angry that Washington in Miami because the mosquitoes may be has still not appropriated the $1.9 billion Workers in Rio: ‘No poverty, no coup!’ developing resistance to pesticides. that President Obama requested in Feb- Continued from page 1 In Puerto Rico, the number of Zika in- ruary to help combat the spread of Zika. The elite’s joy at seeing a banker-friend- fections is expected to explode through- Many oppose the use of Naled, which the Olympics “will do more harm than ly right-wing government is matched by out the summer. Over 8,700 cases of Zika failed to stop an outbreak of dengue fe- good” for their country. (theguardian. that of imperialist institutions like the have already been reported there. The ver, also carried by mosquitoes, in Puerto com, Aug. 6) International Monetary Fund. Alejandro CDC predicts that between 20 to 25 per- Rico in 1987. Werner, the fund’s Western Hemisphere’s cent of the island’s estimated 3.5 million In response to widespread protests Protesters block torch’s path director, told the Financial Times that his people will be infected with Zika before against spraying Naled, the San Juan The Rio protest was the culmination recommendations are simple: “a multi- the end of the year. (npr.com, Aug. 6) government filed a lawsuit July 21 in of months-long demonstrations that took year fiscal program including an import- More than 900 pregnant women have Puerto Rico’s federal court charging that place throughout northern Brazil, par- ant correction ‘in expenditure together tested positive for Zika. Every day 50 the plan to spray would pose “a signifi- ticularly along the route of the Olympic with higher taxes,’ combined with cuts more test positive, seven times more than cant risk” to wildlife and fish in the area torch. When the torch entered Angra dos to pensions and other entitlements that in January. But experts at the CDC say and to the “general health” of San Juan Reis, striking teachers, who had not been Brazil cannot afford.” (ft.com, April 27) that is probably a massive undercount be- residents. By July 25, the CDC relented paid for two months by the near-bank- In other words, the IMF wants more cause many women are not aware they’re after Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro García rupt Rio state government, disrupted the austerity for Brazil’s workers. infected and are not getting tested. By the Padilla, who has veto power, opposed the relay. This forced the runners to put out Multinational corporations like Mc- end of the year, the CDC estimates that use of aerial spraying. the flame and board buses to continue Donald’s and Coca-Cola, as well as media 10,000 pregnant women in Puerto Rico their route. companies, stand to rake in millions from may be infected with Zika and hundreds Violation of Puerto Rico’s sovereignty Anti-government protesters in Duque the Olympics. Meanwhile an army of of infants may be born with microcepha- Shipping Naled to the island is the lat- de Caixas, on Rio’s north side, threw some 85,000 police, soldiers and security ly, a Zika-related birth defect that causes est U.S. violation of Puerto Rico’s sover- rocks and blocked the torch’s path. Police personnel shut out the voices of the poor. severe problems with fetal brain devel- eignty. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. attacked the protesters with pepper spray The Olympics were last held in Latin opment and unusually small head size. tested napalm and Agent Orange in Puer- and rubber bullets. America in 1968 in Mexico City. At that (New York Times, July 30) to Rican jungles. The U.S. in the 1950s Of course, Brazil’s elite have already time, after a series of demonstrations Naled is “definitely not safe during tested the first birth control pill on Puerto gained millions from Olympic contracts against the Mexican army’s occupation early brain development,” warned Jen- Rican women and also strong-armed over and expect more. Some of these were par- of two college campuses, a rally of some nifer Sass, even “when sprayed at legal 30 percent of childbearing women work- liament members who voted to impeach 10,000 students was held on Oct. 2 at the exposure levels.” Sass is a scientist with ing in U.S. industries on the island to be- Rousseff. Tlatelolco Plaza in Mexico City, 10 days workers.org Aug. 18, 2016 Page 9 Hawai’i, August 1969 Pentagon at the crossroads as GIs resist war

By John Catalinotto An accident of timing anti-war movement in Honolulu, known put me on Oahu. The an- as the Hawai’i Resistance, and would ship One thousand people hushed as Air- ti-war movement in Ha- them hundreds of copies of The Bond man 1st Class Louis “Buffy” Parry an- wai’i, urged by a student at each month to redistribute to the troops. nounced his act of conscience. He would the University of Hawai’i, The Church of the Crossroads congre- end his “complicity with the U.S. military had invited Andy Stapp, gation itself resolved to “provide moral and its crimes against humanity” in the the chairperson of the support and such other assistance as may war against Vietnam, then at its height, American Servicemen’s be appropriate to persons whose con- and take sanctuary at Honolulu’s Church Union, to speak. Stapp’s science is in conflict with requirements of of the Crossroads. spouse, Deirdre Griswold, the state,” including “sanctuary for those It was Sunday, Aug. 10, 1969. Parry and was about to give birth, so who engage in nonviolent forms of resis- I were keynote speakers at the Nagasaki he sent me from New York tance as a matter of conscience.” Day anti-war rally at Waikiki Beach Park in his place. in Honolulu. The ASU was an an- ‘Break chains of military injustice’ Even had it remained an individual ti-war and anti-racist or- WW PHOTOS: JOHN CATALINOTTO It’s with that background that the Ha- act, Parry’s stand was powerful. But fol- ganization of low-ranking Airman Buffy Parry, the wai’i Resistance announced and promot- lowing the rally at Waikiki Beach Park, GIs. As of mid-1969 it had first sanctuary member, ed the GI-Civilian Walk for Peace set for seven other service members left the mil- some 8,000 active-duty here in Waikiki Beach Park Sunday, Aug. 10, 1969, to commemorate and at the Church of the itary for the sanctuary. It was becoming a members. Tens of thou- the atomic massacres of Hiroshima and Crossroads. mass action. sands of GIs read its Nagasaki. The American Servicemen’s For the preceding two years, I had been monthly newspaper, The Bond. plans to gradually remove U.S. troops. Union co-sponsored the action. working in the GI anti-war movement. I had nothing like Stapp’s charisma The U.S. forces were to be replaced by ex- “Leaflets urging men to ‘Break the The Honolulu protest’s rapid growth pre- to keep an audience spellbound, nor panding the puppet army of South Viet- Chains of Military Injustice’ were dis- sented an opportunity to stop the Penta- his skill with media. My realm was the nam in a plan known as “Vietnamization.” tributed on bases and in Waikiki and em- gon in its tank-tracks. union office, writing letters to GIs on a Meanwhile, the majority of the U.S. phasized the ASU’s demands, focused on A mile east of Waikiki Beach Park was manual typewriter, doing headquarters population had turned against the war winning a bill of rights for GIs, especially Diamond Head Monument, a volcanic and logistics work as circulation manag- and the anti-war movement had grown the right to refuse orders to participate crater and symbol of Honolulu with views er for The Bond. Now suddenly I was on both broader and more combative. To the in the illegal war in Vietnam.” (source of of all of Oahu island. Volcanic eruptions point at the front lines, and the only ASU anti-war movement and the GIs, Nixon’s quotes, unless otherwise noted, is Ha- had given birth to all the islands. organizer on site. steps were too little, too slow and too eas- wai’i Resistance report, 1969) The park was filled with palms and The Hawai’i Resistance, the church el- ily reversed. Based on my reports of the initial few 12-foot-wide Banyan trees whose many ders and the ASU had a tiger by the tail. Anti-war resistance also grew with- days, the ASU office in New York, with trunks, intertwined like great serpents The tiger was growling. My job as ASU or- in the military. For the GIs, the war was the support of Workers World Party, sent around a central column, support one ganizer was to make the tiger grow. an immediate life-and-death issue. The a delegation of four organizers to Hono- tree’s branches and leaves. The anti-war To the Marine officers at Kaneohe troops’ hostility mounted year by year. lulu, including two AWOL soldiers who civilians and GIs sought similar mutual MCAS, what the Black troops did was a Some Pentagon officers worried the war joined the GIs in sanctuary. I reluctantly support. mutinous riot. To the ASU it was a righ- machine would fall apart. returned home to less dramatic support We marched parallel to the Pacific teous uprising. The rebellion presented a Marine Col. Robert D. Heinl Jr., a mil- tasks with The Bond. beaches along Waikiki and Ala Moa- challenge to the anti-war movement. itary historian, described this develop- On Sunday morning, Aug. 17, the eigh- na parks, and then another two miles ment: “As early as mid-1969, an entire teen GIs then in sanctuary received a through Honolulu’s city center, quiet on Solidarity with Black Marines company of the 196th Light Infantry Bri- standing ovation from the 350 people Sunday, to the Church of the Crossroads. Could we unite the military resistance gade publicly sat down on the battlefield. at the church. The church elders, how- That evening, we counted eight service at the Crossroads church with this out- Later that year, another rifle company, ever, acted worried that Parry’s act of members in the sanctuary. We all slept at break of the Black Liberation struggle from the famed 1st Air Cavalry Division, conscience had expanded to become an the church. that was sweeping the U.S. in 1969, in flatly refused — on CBS-TV — to advance open confrontation with the U.S. Armed The next day, we learned that Black this case right nearby at the Marine base? down a dangerous trail.” (“The Collapse Forces. Marines at the nearby Kaneohe Marine After a night sleeping on the church of the Armed Forces,” Armed Forces The ambivalent church elders enforced Corps Air Station had torn apart the mess floor with some 50 young anti-war people Journal, June 7, 1971) a moratorium against seeking new sanc- hall to protest prejudicial job assign- who might have been at home at the iconic tuary members. Nevertheless, the num- ments and racist harassment. This rebel- Woodstock, N.Y., concert that took place Hawai’i: Pentagon in the Pacific ber of GIs in sanctuary grew to 35 in the lion added another dimension to volcanic a week later, I proposed we hold a demon- Ever since a 1893 planters’ uprising next three weeks. movements shaking the military. stration picket at the gates of Kaneohe in led to the U.S.’s illegal annexation of the Meanwhile, the military surrounded solidarity with the Black Marines. Hawaiian nation in 1898, the Hawai’i Is- the sanctuary with police and intelligence The night after this symbolic action, a lands and especially Oahu have been a units that prevented GIs from entering Continued from page 8 group of Marines from Kaneohe brought center for the U.S. military in the Pacific. and arrested those who left the church. before the Olympic Games. food they had liberated from the mess It is 30 miles from Haleiwa, on the Unless the movement could be constantly Military units opened fire on the stu- hall to the church to help feed those tak- northern coast of Oahu, to the Church of expanded, it would be weakened by the dents. Tanks rolled into the square. ing sanctuary. the Crossroads in central Honolulu. On constant confinement and tension among Hundreds of bodies and prisoners were These Marines were not yet willing to the island of lush tropical forest and su- the GIs and their civilian supporters. hauled away on trucks to military bas- risk open resistance and disobedience, perb beaches, five major military bases of Finally, on Sept. 12, about 40 military es. Although the government never but they still donated under the table the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Ma- police stormed the grounds at Cross- announced the death toll, it may have something we could put on the table at rines were located. roads, kicking in all locked doors includ- reached 3,000, with many more wound- the Crossroads. On our 30-mile drive to Haleiwa to ing those to the church. Many GIs had ed and imprisoned. Maybe my vision was too optimistic, pick up leaflets, my host pointed out the already slipped out. The MPs found and The U.S.-supported regime of Presi- but the seeds of a widespread rebellion warships in Pearl Harbor, which housed arrested only eight of the men, but the dent Gustavo Díaz Ordaz announced that were there. To even conceive of it now, 47 60,000 sailors, and nearby Hickam Air police action ended the sanctuary. the students had opened fire on the sol- years later, you have to recreate the mood Force Base. He pointed out the gap in the Throughout the five weeks, the focus of diers, who returned fire to defend them- of August 1969. You also have to know mountains where the Japanese planes the ASU delegation was this: “How can we selves. But recently released documents what a military center Oahu was. first appeared beyond a cloudbank before continue to expand this movement until finally reveal the truth. bombing Pearl Harbor in December 1941 it affects the entire Armed Forces, from The Mexican Presidential Guard, a Leading to this struggle in the battle of two imperialist powers for Western Europe to Vietnam?” To move in military unit directly under the control As early as January 1968, the Tet Of- the Pacific. that direction one needed to have the at- of Ordaz, stationed snipers on buildings fensive of the Vietnamese National Lib- We continued along the Kamehame- titude and the ideology that looked upon above the plaza. These snipers shot at the eration Front inflicted heavy casualties ha Highway past Wheeler Airfield and the collapse of the U.S. imperialist Armed soldiers surrounding the square, which on U.S. troops, demoralized U.S. govern- Schofield Army Barracks, which housed Forces as both positive and possible. caused them to open fire on the students. ment leaders and began to turn the U.S. 15,000 Army troops. And then to the east The Crossroads was another chapter in The Mexican government ordered this to population against the war. Democratic of Honolulu, on the windward coast of this struggle, even if it fell short of its ap- ensure that the students would not dis- President Lyndon Johnson, identified Oahu, was the Kaneohe Marine base. parent potential. rupt the Olympic Games. (theolympian. with the war, was forced to withdraw In 1969, tens of thousands of U.S. While continuing to bomb Vietnam, com, May 28) from the 1968 election. troops among the more than half a mil- Laos and Cambodia for the next six years, Imperialist profiteers have turned what Richard Nixon, the new Republican lion doing a year’s service in Vietnam the Nixon administration kept withdraw- should be purely athletic contests into a president, promised to end the war. Yet he were rotated out for “rest and recreation” ing U.S. troops. On April 30, 1975, the money-making spectacle designed to en- still increased the number of U.S. troops in Hawai’i. If you wanted to reach out to Vietnamese liberated their country. rich the billionaire class, protected from in Vietnam until it peaked at 543,400 on U.S. troops, including those in Vietnam, Based on a chapter in Catalinotto’s those workers and poor who object by April 30, 1969. Up to that time, 33,641 the place to do it was Oahu, Hawai’i. forthcoming book, “Turn the Guns brute force. But the people of Brazil show U.S. troops had been killed there. The American Servicemen’s Union had Around: Mutinies, Soldier Revolts and no signs that they will be intimidated. In June of 1969, Nixon announced a friendly working relationship with the Revolutions.” Page 10 Aug. 18, 2016 workers.org Why is U.S. bombing Libya – again?

By Sara Flounders Since the 2011 U.S. destruction of Libya, U.S. bases have been established The U.S. military resumed bombing throughout Africa — in Djibouti, Ethio- of the North African country of Libya on pia, Seychelles, Uganda, Mauritania, and Why the establishment Aug. 1. Burkina Faso. More bases are planned. President Barack Obama approved the In this expanding U.S. war, deaths and airstrikes, which were recommended by injuries are uncounted and dismissed as dumped Trump U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter collateral damage. Totally ignored is the and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of trauma of the millions of people whose the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Although U.S. lives have been disrupted, their jobs lost As if horrified by the monster they cre- for these statements longer than it takes warplanes have struck before, this attack and their schooling cut short. As dis- ated with unrestrained publicity, some of to post his next tweet. He just hopes to marked the beginning of a “sustained placed refugees, every shred of their se- the corporate media have turned against hit paydirt with a hot issue. That’s what campaign.” curity has been destroyed. the current Republican presidential can- a demagogue does. And the people want Western countries’ special forces Claiming to target IS, the U.S. military didate. Their fury borders on panic. peace. teams have been on the ground in eastern command, along with an alliance of 13 They had already done irreparable What the corporate media reveals, and western Libya for months. In July, other uninvited countries, have bombed harm by repeating ad nauseam Donald though, and we cite the Times as an France said three of its soldiers had been Syria for more than two years. But when Trump’s racist, misogynist and xeno- example, is that the ruling class prefers killed south of the eastern city of Beng- Russian aircraft, in response to the Syri- phobic rants. They allowed KKK and a tested warmonger in the White House. hazi. (Reuters, Aug. 1) an government’s urgent appeal, targeted Nazis to mobilize under the wings of his One like Clinton. Airstrikes were launched in support the very forces the U.S. military claimed candidacy. The Times and Clinton promote NATO, of the current U.S.- and U.N.-approved it wanted to defeat, suddenly Washing- The New York Times now leads the which U.S. strategy has turned from an Libyan Government of National Accord ton denounced the strikes, claiming that reversal, attacking him daily in articles, anti-Soviet pact into an aggressive war (GNA). Their forces are supposedly try- U.S.-backed “democratic opposition” editorials and op-eds. The Times’ focus machine. Since the 1990s NATO has made ing to drive the Islamic State group (IS) forces were being hit. does nothing to reverse his racism. war on Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and from Sirte, a city halfway between Tripoli Presidents George W Bush and Obama No, it is aimed at making sure Hillary Libya and surrounded Russia from the and Benghazi. Libya’s largest oil field and claimed that no congressional approval is Clinton is the next CEO of U.S. imperi- West, all with Clinton’s approval. oil port are in the Sirte area. The struggle needed for these endless, undeclared acts alism. Trump, they fear, will say or do The Times and Clinton also attack for control of this vital resource has been of war. Supposedly, the Authorization for something outrageous that harms U.S. Russia for defending its naval base a source of continuing conflict among Use of Military Force legislation that was ruling-class interests. in the Crimea — whose people prefer competing factions and militias. rammed through Congress in 2001 gives Joining Times editorialists are CIA Russia — from a pro-West coup regime There are two rival Libyan govern- presidents the authority to bypass the honchos, Pentagon generals and Wall in Kiev supported by fascists. Clinton is ments: the Tobruk-based House of Rep- Constitution. Street economists, even psychologists OK with coup regimes, as she showed in resentatives government allied with the In the past 15 years, U.S. imperialism who analyze Trump’s “narcissistic per- Honduras. She and her team of neo-cons Libyan National Army and the Tripo- has bombed 14 countries, always claim- sonality disorder.” and former Cold Warriors will assuredly li-based National Salvation Government. ing to be fighting al-Qaida, IS or other Their collective message is “Vote for boost NATO and attack Putin. Many competing militias with shifting “shadowy” terrorists. Clinton at all costs. Or else.” With people in general, both Clinton loyalties are locked in struggle for re- What’s revealing are their reasons. and Trump are unpopular at historic sources and territory. U.S. bombs destroyed Libya Even a stopped clock is right twice levels. They both earned the people’s dis- Oil production in the past five years The U.S./NATO war on Libya in 2011 a day. Trump may fall short of that dain. Clinton is a pro-war, ruling-class has crashed to less than 20 percent of the was directly responsible for the chaos standard. But in his quest for issues that machine politician, Trump a racist dem- 1.65 million barrels pumped in 2010. and devastation in Libya today. For more resonate with the public or the media, agogue. There is no electoral road out of than seven months, from March to Octo- he sometimes strikes home. And brings this hell. Excuse for expanding U.S. war ber, U.S. aircraft targeted Libyan cities down the establishment attacks on his Workers World Party is running a The reason given for the present bomb- and its modern infrastructure. head. presidential campaign to put social- ing is that the strikes are targeting the Before that war, Libya was the most He said, for example, that NATO no ism on the front burners and to build advance of IS forces. Along with bombing modern country in Africa. U.N. figures longer had its Cold War mission and had solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Libya, U.S. forces and aircraft are bomb- show it had the highest standard of living outlived its usefulness, that Russia did and immigrant movements. We want to ing sites in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. — measured by life expectancy, educa- not really invade Ukraine and that Vladi- keep the struggle in the streets. Against U.S. Predator drones continue to strike tion level, health care, diet and housing. mir Putin is a strong leader. Trump. And against Clinton. We want targets in these four countries and in Ye- Well-designed cities along the Mediterra- Given his history, there is no reason to you to join that struggle, and not just for men, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Mali, the believe Trump will actually stand strong this election year. Philippines and Pakistan. Continued on next page

IN SYRIA Policy dispute emerges as U.S. faces setback

By David Sole The two op-ed authors are speaking the Saudis bankrolling much of the oper- The debate within the Obama adminis- for those who want to “punish the Syrian ation.” (Aug. 6) tration is over tactics, not goals. Both fac- Aug. 7 — With the aid of its Russian government … using drones and cruise tions seek the overthrow of the govern- allies, Syrian government forces are mak- missiles to hit the Syrian military’s air- Major gains in Syrian offensive ment of Syria and its replacement with a ing important military gains against the fields, bases and artillery position.” Their to control Aleppo colonial puppet regime. U.S. imperialism Islamic State group (IS) and U.S.-backed statement is only the most recent revela- But the Syrian Army has reversed will try various ways to achieve its world fighters in the area including Aleppo. The tion of an internal debate in U.S. ruling many earlier gains by the reactionaries domination — sometimes the bare fist, impending liberation of Syria’s largest circles going back years. with the help of Hezbollah fighters from sometimes the velvet glove. city has prompted a faction in the Barack Washington has taken desperate steps Lebanon and Russian air support. A ma- The military option is always ready Obama administration to vigorously press to reverse what the Aug. 6 Times head- jor offensive to control Aleppo has seen to be rolled out. On July 20 the Guard- for major U.S. air attacks against Syria. lined as “Military success in Syria gives major gains, including control of areas ian newspaper reported that U.S. fighter The faction made this clear in a blunt Putin upper hand in U.S. proxy war.” along the Turkish border, used previously bombers attacked the town of Manjib in op-ed piece in the Aug. 3 New York Times Russian air support began only in Sep- to supply the reactionaries. Syria killing “at least 73 civilians” and titled “The Case for (Finally) Bombing tember 2015. This followed four years of In the same article the Times notes possibly as many as 117. Many bodies Assad.” Bashar al-Assad is Syria’s presi- U.S.-C.I.A. training and arming of groups that “the most pressing danger is that were shredded and unidentifiable, but dent. One co-author of the piece is Dennis aiming to overthrow the government of supply routes from Turkey which are es- most of the casualties were women and B. Ross who worked in the State Depart- Syria. These groups, often described as sential to the C.I.A.-backed rebels could children. ment under presidents Jimmy Carter, “rebels,” are really pro-imperialist reac- be severed.” U.S. ally Turkey has also allowed U.S. Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill tionaries. In the battle for Aleppo, the Syrian planes to resume bombing flights against Clinton and Obama. Even the New York Times admits that Army has encircled eastern sections of Syria from the Incirlik air base in Turkey, Alleged U.S. government plans to try Russia stepped in only “after a monthslong the city held by reactionary forces. In- which had been shut down immediately to coordinate with Russia to jointly target offensive by C.I.A.-backed rebel groups … tensive fighting is reported in desperate following the failed coup of July 15. the IS and the Nusra Front inside Syria sometimes [fighting] alongside soldiers of attempts by the besieged U.S.-backed Israel, another U.S. ally, also continues are “opposed by many within the C.I.A., the Nusra Front … affiliated with Al-Qae- forces to reopen their supply lines. Ac- intervening against the Syrian govern- the State Department and the Pentagon,” da” and noted that “for several years the cording to the Australian Broadcasting ment. The Times of Israel reported on according to Ross and his colleague at the C.I.A. has joined with the spy services of Corporation of Aug. 6, more than 500 Aug. 4 that the Israeli Air Force attacked Washington Institute for Near East Poli- several Arab nations to arm and train the fighters have been killed around Aleppo a column of Hezbollah trucks in Syria cy, Andrew. J. Tabler. rebels at bases in Jordan and Qatar, with in one week. heading for Damascus. workers.org Aug. 18, 2016 Page 11 Why is U.S. bombing Libya – again? No more Hiroshimas Continued from page 10 the Jamahiriya or Green movement were and Nagasakis! nean Sea —Tripoli, Sirte, Benghazi, Mis- rounded up and imprisoned in detention rata and Tobruk — were designed with camps. The worst abuse and purges were blocks of modern apartments, wide bou- aimed at Black Libyans and Sub-Saharan By Kathy Durkin itary and supported U.S. interventions in levards and plazas as well as beautiful African workers. Korea and Vietnam. hotels, cultural centers and schools. In the vacuum caused by such extreme August 6 and 9, 1945, went down in Japan’s current right-wing Prime Min- This development was possible because social dislocation and destruction, the history as days of infamy for U.S. impe- ister Shinzo Abe has ordered more mili- Libya broke free of Wall Street domina- most extreme and fanatical forces, for- rialism — and days of catastrophe for the tary spending, ended a ban on arms ex- tion. Following the 1969 revolution that eign fighters and mercenaries — trained people of Japan. ports and passed security laws that allow overturned the corrupt U.S.-British-sup- and equipped by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, At 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6, the U.S. bomber sending troops abroad. He has done this ported monarchy of King Idris, Libya Israel and U.S. Special Operations Forc- Enola Gay dropped a four-ton uranium despite opposition from the majority of nationalized its rich oil and gas deposits. es — seized control. Now rival factions bomb on Hiroshima, and then followed the population and organized protests by Libya asserted sovereignty over its re- dominate competing cities, regions and that horrific act by unleashing a plutoni- bomb survivors and anti-war, anti-nucle- sources and invested in complex pump- oil production facilities. um bomb on Nagasaki three days later. ar organizations. ing, container and port facilities. The existence of IS in Iraq, Libya, Syria Both cities became infernos. People Abe’s actions have been urged by Wash- Moammar Gadhafi, a 27-year-old and elsewhere is caused by U.S. war and were incinerated instantly. Thousands ington, which seeks Japanese military army officer, led the revolution that imperialist policies of instigating sectar- died agonizing deaths soon afterwards. expansion in East Asia, in concert with transformed Libya, which was renamed ian hatred, racism and ethnic divisions. By the end of that year, 250,000 people the U.S. military build-up in the region the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab This tactic has been used frequently had died. In subsequent years, many peo- — with all forces confronting China and Jamahiriya. since Washington armed and funded ex- ple died from radiation-related illnesses. north Korea. Behind the diplomatic pos- tremist groups against the socialist-ori- Among those who died were 22,000 turing of the Obama administration, that Oil nationalization ented revolution in Afghanistan in 1979. Koreans, who were conscripted as forced is the real goal of the U.S. “pivot to Asia.” earned Wall Street’s enmity Before U.S. wars, these fanatical forces laborers by Japanese imperialism during Clearly, U.S. militarism is expanding. Libya is a largely desert country; only had no roots or any social basis in these World War II, along with Chinese workers. The never-ending war drive is intrinsic to 1 percent of the land is arable. More than countries. It is now U.S. policy to rely on Sixty percent of Hiroshima was de- capitalism; the U.S. is compelled to seek 80 percent of the population live on a thin these reactionaries as a battering ram to stroyed. Residential areas bore the brunt global, strategic, military, economic and 1,200-mile coastal strip of land along the break down all forms of national sover- of the impact as only four of the 30 targets political domination. Mediterranean Sea. In the world’s largest eignty and all secular and progressive were military. This was in line with U.S. Actions speak louder than words water development project, Libya tapped states. war policy of bombing Japanese civilian the underground aquifer and built an Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took populations. Nagasaki was flattened. Of his trip to Hiroshima, Obama said underground river to provide irrigation credit for making the call to go to war in As World War II was ending, Wash- that it reaffirmed “our vision of a world to new farmland and industries and to Libya. When informed of Gadhafi’s brutal ington dropped the bombs as a warning without nuclear weapons.” Yet, can the bring potable water to its growing cities. lynch-mob execution in Sirte, she clapped to the socialist Soviet Union and to as- U.S.government be believed about this The government subsidized develop- her hands, laughed and told a reporter in sert U.S. hegemony in Asia and around “goal”? ment projects in some of the poorest Af- front of a camera, “We came, we saw, he the globe. This imperialist government The Obama administration has com- rican counties. Hundreds of thousands of died.” (CBS News, Oct. 20, 2011) showed the world that it had developed mitted $1 trillion to upgrade and build workers throughout the continent found A WikiLeaks cable in 2012 quoted an and would use nuclear weapons against “nuclear modernizations” of weapons, employment in Libya’s infrastructure de- email with Secretary Clinton writing, civilian populations. bombers, missiles and submarines over velopment and oil fields. “Arming Syrian rebels and using West- The United States is the only country to the next 30 years. When U.S., French, British and Italian ern airpower … is a low-cost, high-payoff have ever used nuclear bombs in warfare. The Pentagon publicly admits to hav- imperialists began their bombing cam- approach.” No leading figure in any administration ing 4,571 nuclear warheads. Secretary of paign, Libya had announced a bold ven- IS forces have recently been pushed has ever apologized or shown remorse State John Kerry said Washington would ture to underwrite an African currency back in Syria and, according to U.S. me- for having inflicted such monumental hasten dismantling retired nuclear war- with more than 143 tons of gold reserves dia reports, also in Libya. Increasingly, destruction and loss of human life on the heads by 20 percent. The number of held in the Central Bank of Libya. This in- reports say that Libya’s Jamahiriya move- Japanese people. weapons dismantled annually has dwin- dependent development was threatening ment is reasserting itself in the small, ru- This includes President Barack Obama, dled, however, with only 109 cut last year. to Western imperialist banks and oil and ined, oil cities of the desert south and in who visited the Hiroshima Memorial Park (New York Times, May 27) gas corporations. the coastal cities. in late May. Although he was the first sit- The Guardian newspaper says the cur- For 42 years, Libya survived and pros- In April France 24 News reported that ting U.S. president to visit the city, Obama rent administration has decreased the pered, despite decades of U.S. sanctions. Saif Al Gadhafi, Moammar Gadharfi’s offered no apology for the government’s nuclear weapons stockpile less than “any Every construction project was a chal- son, was released, not executed. There is decision to bomb the two Japanese cities president since the end of the cold war.” lenge. Continual sabotage, assassination speculation that this reprieve was based and the consequent devastation. (May 27) Congressional right-wing war attempts, media demonization and desta- on fear of the re-emerging movement. Atomic bomb survivors and Japan’s hawks share responsibility for that, as they bilization efforts went on. But, as a still Pro-Gadhafi demonstrators were fired peace movement insist Washington take have vociferously opposed weapons reduc- developing African country, Libya could on by IS fighters in Sirte, though the city responsibility for its deplorable actions tion. not withstand more than 26,500 bomb- is in the hands of IS militias. In the cap- at the end of the war — and remove U.S. The Obama administration claims it ing sorties — over 120 sorties per day for ital of Tripoli and other cities, masses of troops and bases from their country. The seeks a world without nuclear weapons. seven months. people who supported Gadhafi’s govern- people of Okinawa have militantly op- If that were true, it should cancel the ment are reorganizing. posed the presence of U.S. bases since $1 trillion allocation for “nuclear mod- IS: battering ram against sovereignty These reports in Middle East Eye, RT they were erected on their island. ernization” and disarm immediately. It IS has gained a foothold in Libya due to News, AlterNet and other sources raise The legacy of Hiroshima is pacifism. should redirect the funds to jobs, health the chaos that U.S. imperialism created the question of who U.S. imperialism is “Never again” is inscribed on the war care, education, housing and food pro- there and throughout the region. Every really targeting in Libya, as it opens up a memorial. On the 71st anniversary of the grams here and pay reparations to refu- social and political institution was de- sustained campaign. bombings this year, people came from gees and other victims of U.S.-led wars stroyed. Aerial bombing was carried out Unity and reorganization in Libya will all over Japan to show respect to those and occupations abroad. while weapons and large amounts of cash be a difficult process after such a brutal who died and demonstrate their desire Nuclear war threatens human life on and bribes were liberally spread around. assault. But the first step is the population for peace. earth. The global stockpile is equiva- Death squad militias assassinated learning — unfortunately, through bitter The post-war Japanese Constitution, lent to 150,000 times the potency of the hundreds of government officials and experience — that U.S. bombs, drones, which the U.S. imposed, renounced war bombs dropped on Japan. On the anni- political leaders. Tens of thousands of secret ops and mercenaries are incapable and military engagement abroad. Since versary of the worst bombing in history, government loyalists and supporters of of providing peace, stability or security. then, however, Japan has built up its mil- anti-imperialist forces worldwide must renew the push for nuclear disarmament, especially of the U.S. war machine — to stay Washington’s hand so there is never Sanders, Clinton and revolution another nuclear catastrophe.

Continued from page 3 a worker-led movement that centers the ing the intimidation of imperial forces The demonizing of Black Lives Matter, liberation of all oppressed and margin- — an organization confronting racism, WAR WITHOUT VICTORY suppression of the workers’ struggle, the alized people: Black, Latinx, Native and homophobia, islamophobia, xenophobia by Sara Flounders attacks on LGBTQ liberation and the si- LGBTQ. Show your unwillingness to back and the increasing symptoms of capital- “By revealing the underbelly of the empire, lencing of the Bernie or Busts point to a down from the pressures of the main- ism and patriarchy. Flounders sheds insight on how to stand up to the specter haunting America — a momen- stream. For the Bernie or Busts, there is For those who have posed the ques- imperialist war machine and, in so doing, save tous pro-socialist movement. no Bernie, so you must hold true to your tion, “If you don’t vote for Hillary, what’s ourselves and humanity.” To those who recognize that capitalism cause and proceed with the Bust. your solution?” here it is: Divest from – Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President, U.N. General Assembly, 2008-2009; Foreign is literally killing the proletariat — the Many have moved to supporting the capitalism, support the revolution, and Minister of Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. working class — do not abandon what you efforts of Workers World Party, a party let the working class, the oppressed, the Available online at major booksellers. have seen, heard and experienced with working globally to accomplish bring- vanguard, be the leaders of the radical your own bodies. Now is the time to join ing the power to the people and refus- change we need. PentagonAchillesHeel.com Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 58 Núm. 3218 de agosto 2016 $1

¡Alto a la agresión EDITORIAL Golpe y ‘contragolpe’ de Washington! interrumpen estado turco Libia, Siria e Irak están de nuevo en las noticias. No por nada optimis- ta. Washington y sus aliados imperialistas han abierto nuevas ofensivas Por John Catalinotto peligrosas en estos tres países. Al decir “imperialista”, nos referimos a los países que poseen y controlan Dos semanas después del colapso de un in- la mayor parte de las finanzas, la tecnología y el armamento del mundo, y tento de golpe de estado, el presidente turco que explotan el trabajo y saquean las materias primas del resto del mundo Recep Tayyip Erdogan, y su Partido Desarrol- para el beneficio del 0,01 por ciento súper-rico. La mayoría de estos países lo y Justicia (AKP) aún tienen que estabilizar imperialistas están en la OTAN. También está el Japón que se está militari- el gobierno turco y el estado. zando bajo los auspicios de los EUA. El régimen del AKP ha concentrado su Estas nuevas ofensivas van más allá de la guerra con ‘drones’, o del envío represión contra los que considera miem- Partido Democrático del Pueblo ( HDP ) tuvo bros de la organización Hizmet, dirigida por de un par de instructores militares o asesores. Estas incluyen bombardeos lugar en julio 23 de manifestación en Estambul , y la posibilidad del envío de tropas de combate. Estas nuevas ofensivas in- Fethullah Gülen, a quien Erdogan acusa de diciendo ‘No a los golpes, la democracia ahora’. fligirán aún más sufrimiento a la población de Asia Occidental y de África organizar el golpe. Gülen ha estado viviendo del Norte. en el exilio en los Estados Unidos desde 1999. de alterar la estructura de mando del ejército Aviones estadounidenses bombardearon Libia el 2 de agosto. Fue el prim- Antes de 2013 él y su grupo estaban aliados a y la policía. er ataque extenso desde que las fuerzas EUA-OTAN destruyeron el gobierno Erdogan y el AKP. Turquía, una potencia regional en Asia legítimo de Libia en el año 2011 y organizaron el asesinato del presidente Ni Erdogan ni las fuerzas de Gülen repre- occidental y central, también tiene el segun- Muamar Gadafi. Esto trajo el caos a Libia y desestabilizó gran parte del sentan a la clase obrera ni a una verdadera do mayor ejército de la OTAN. El destino del norte de África, lo que agravó la crisis de refugiadas/os y la crisis migratoria. posición antiimperialista. Ambos defienden ejército de Turquía preocupa a los imperialis- tas occidentales. El Pentágono, que ha capac- Washington y sus aliados de la OTAN también se han dirigido al gobierno la continua opresión de la comunidad kurda, itado a oficiales turcos desde 1950, depende sirio, especialmente desde el 2011, cuando la OTAN armó a grupos de tipo que representa el 18 por ciento de los 80 mil- de Turquía como un aliado militar contra Ru- Al Qaeda, para luchar contra el gobierno de Damasco. Esto fue lo que atrajo lones de personas que viven en Turquía. sia e Irán que proporciona bases militares im- a Siria el grupo Estado Islámico, o EI. La guerra resultante ha matado cerca El 24 de julio, el CHP — un antiguo partido portantes, como la base aérea en Incirlik, que de 300.000 sirias/os y convertido a millones en refugiadas/os. Últimamente, regente que representa a los seguidores de Ke- permite a EUA intervenir en la región. EUA ha cambiado sus tácticas y bombardeado Raqqa, la “capital” del EI. mal Ataturk, el fundador de la Turquía mod- erna en la década de 1920, y ahora segundo Según todos los indicios, el intento de golpe El Pentágono está enviando de nuevo a miles de soldados a Irak, esta vez en escaños parlamentarios — realizaron una del 15 de julio, a pesar de ser una tentativa para ayudar al régimen de Bagdad retomar la ciudad de Mosul de las garras manifestación en la plaza Taksim de Estambul seria para hacerse con el poder - cientos de del EI. Nadie debe olvidar que fue la invasión ilegal de EUA y Bretaña en el de cientos de miles en apoyo al AKP en contra personas murieron y miles resultaron heridos 2003 la que destruyó al gobierno iraquí en primer lugar y abrió la puerta de la los golpistas. Oradores de AKP también - se puso en marcha antes de tiempo antici- al EI. Más recientemente, las bombas estadounidenses han destruido de participaron. Las confederaciones de sindica- pando que Erdogan y el AKP llevaran a cabo nuevo las ciudades de Faluya y Ramadi con el fin de quitárselas al EI. El tos DISK y KESK apoyaron esta acción. una purga. Esto plantea la pregunta: ¿Quién bombardeo de Mosul es a una escala aún mayor. Erdogan se reunió con los líderes de la CHP entre los militares hubiera apoyado el golpe si En Irak, Siria y Libia, la administración de Barack Obama explica ahora y el MHP, el partido de extrema derecha que hubiera sido puesto en marcha con decisión y su intervención por la necesidad de destruir al EI. es el cuarto más fuerte en el Parlamento y parecería estar ganando? obtuvo el apoyo de ambas formaciones. Él no Pero ¿cuál es la relación de Washington con EI? Voces cercanas a Erdogan culpan a EUA ha buscado una reunión con la coalición so- La estrategia de EUA con organizaciones como el EI y al-Qaeda tiene dos cialdemócrata HDP que es pro-kurda, a pesar El periódico diario turco Yeni Şafak, que caras. A partir del 1979, la CIA y Arabia Saudita financiaron y nutrieron en de que este partido habló en contra del golpe. está supuestamente cercano al AKP, informó secreto a al-Qaeda y a grupos con similar ideología feudal para luchar contra El 23 de julio, el HDP llevó a cabo una man- la semana pasada que el general retirado es- el gobierno progresista en Afganistán que había abolido la compra de novias ifestación en el parque Sultangazi en Estam- tadounidense John F. Campbell, quien dirigió y había abierto escuelas y otras instituciones para las mujeres. bul, contra el golpe del 15 de julio, pero tam- las tropas de Estados Unidos en Afganistán, Cuando el ejército soviético salió en defensa del gobierno, Washington bién contra el “contragolpe” — las medidas durante el año pasado canalizó $2 millones a utilizó esto como una excusa para intensificar una guerra general en Afgan- represivas por parte del gobierno del AKP. generales turcos para apoyar un golpe de las istán. Cuando las maestras afganas fueron asesinadas por los reaccionar- El 31 de julio, Erdogan dijo que haría que fuerzas Gülen. Campbell y el gobierno de EUA ios que EUA estaban armando, los medios de comunicación imperialistas las autoridades legales retiraran los cargos de lo niegan. todavía los llamaban “combatientes libertarios”. Sin embargo, desde que “insultar al presidente” en contra de 2.000 Ex funcionarios de la CIA urgieron al go- EUA invadió en el 2001, los imperialistas han pretendido estar al lado de personas, muchas de ellas periodistas. El go- bierno de los EUA que aprobara la primera las mujeres afganas. bierno de Erdogan, en el puesto desde hace solicitud de Gülen para la residencia, lo que Después del 9/11, Washington cambió su lealtad. Al-Qaeda y Osama bin una década, ha reprimido cada vez más la co- indica una posible asociación de trabajo. Es Laden, quienes habían estado en su nómina, se convirtieron de pronto en bertura de los medios en los últimos años. costumbre de las agencias de Estados Unidos su enemigo predilecto. Decían que al-Qaeda estaba aliado a los talibanes en establecer contactos en toda la sociedad en Erdogan consolida autoridad, Afganistán y a Saddam Hussein en Irak. Estas mentiras se convirtieron en cualquier país importante, y en Turquía los ebilita el estado pretextos para que las tropas de Estados Unidos invadieran esos países. EUA formaron gran parte de los militares. Voceros del gobierno turco han exigido que En Libia y en Siria, las fuerzas de la OTAN armaron grupos reaccionari- Si bien es imposible descartar futuros EUA extradite a Gülen para que regrese a Tur- os similares en contra de los gobiernos legítimos. Cuando el EI se convirtió ataques contra los partidos de la oposición, es- quía. Su mensaje implícito es que deportando en un problema fuera de su control, los imperialistas cambiaron su táctica, pecialmente contra el socialdemócrata HDP, o a Gülen, EUA puede mostrar buena fe con el utilizando el EI como pretexto para una intervención directa. la represión de los medios de comunicación, por ahora el AKP ha golpeado más duro contra gobierno turco. De lo contrario, dicen, tene- A mediados de julio, se informó que bombardeos coordinados estadoun- los miembros del ejército, la policía, los fun- mos un problema. idenses - franceses mataron a más de 100 civiles cerca de la ciudad de cionarios del gobierno y los educadores. La crítica de Erdogan hacia EUA, junto Manbij en Siria. El gobierno francés dejó prever incluso que la matanza de Desde que el golpe falló, el régimen turco con las críticas que enfrenta de otros miem- camiones en Niza fue la excusa para esta masacre de inocentes. El ataque ha detenido, removido o suspendido a “más bros de la OTAN en Europa, le da la aparien- de Niza, el acto de un individuo, fue estampada en los titulares; los bom- de 60.000 personas en las fuerzas armadas, cia de tener independencia del imperialismo. bardeos Manbij, el acto deliberado de dos gobiernos, quedan en el olvido. el poder judicial, la administración pública Esto puede ayudar a ganar el apoyo de la po- No todas las noticias son malas para las/os sirios: una ofensiva siria-ru- y las escuelas” por presuntos vínculos con la blación, que es mucho más antiimperialista sa parece orientada hacia la liberación de Alepo - la ciudad más grande y organización de Gülen, según un artículo de que su régimen. capital comercial siria - del EI y fuerzas similares. Las fuerzas sirio-rusas Reuter del 31 de julio. Alrededor de 150 ge- Erdogan y el AKP han adoptado reciente- han rodeado la zona en poder de los reaccionarios, han abierto un pasadizo nerales y almirantes - 40 por ciento de los al- mente medidas para ganar más espacio para para que pasen las/os civiles y han ofrecido amnistía a los combatientes que tos oficiales - se han visto obligados a aceptar maniobrar la política exterior turca en defen- se entreguen. una baja deshonrosa, junto con cerca de 1.400 sa de los percibidos intereses nacionales tur- Con las elecciones estadounidenses dominando las noticias aquí, las cam- funcionarios de nivel medio y cerca de 9.000 cos. Esto incluye el disculparse por el derribo pañas y los candidatos no están discutiendo el peligro de guerra. El Partido soldados ordinarios. de un avión ruso en la frontera entre Turquía Demócrata busca la guerra, mientras que los republicanos la animan. Aunque el AKP y Erdogan han podido con- y Siria. Sin embargo, la clase dominante tur- Sea quien sea el partido capitalista que llegue a la Casa Blanca, le toca solidar la autoridad política y reforzar el pod- ca está obligada al imperialismo mundial por al movimiento antiguerra en los EUA combatir estos actos de agresión er ejecutivo con un estado de emergencia de lazos económicos, diplomáticos y militares, y ­imperialista. 90 días declarado a raíz del golpe, es a costa el gobierno de Erdogan no cambiará esto.