AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.00 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Cuban 5 art exhibit held in Montreal, Labañino wins transfer out of Miami — PAGE 7 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 77/no. 6 February 18, 2013 Join new NY school bus strikers 3 years of high 5-week drive win workers’ solidarity unemployment: to win readers Call February 10 support march and rally US gov’t won’t of ‘Militant’! act to create jobs by Louis Martin % The Militant urges readers to join U.S. employment to a Feb. 9-March 18 international cam- population ratio paign to win some 1,900 subscribers to the socialist newsweekly and sell hundreds of books on revolutionary working-class politics. Like a similar nine-week drive last fall that netted 3,350 subscribers, the new campaign will be centered on going door to door in working-class Jan 2006 to 2013 neighborhoods. “The Militant is published for the by brian williams working class,” John Studer, a lead- Real U.S. unemployment levels re- er of the New York branch of the main largely unchanged in the first Socialist Workers Party, said in an month of 2013 from where they bot- interview. “Over the last few months, tomed out at the opening of 2010. At going door to door, we have found the same time production has slowed workers know they are in the middle Wirman David Lopez further in recent months. of a growing crisis of the capitalist Contingent of Boston bus drivers joins Feb. 2 march in New York to support striking school system, and the propertied rulers are bus workers. City officials and bus companies want to bust union, drive down wages, benefits. going after our jobs, our working and Workers need to Fight for living conditions, our unions and our BY SARA LOBMAN city Feb. 2. They joined a rally of about Gov’t-funded jobs program rights. NEW YORK—School bus work- 300 strikers, parents, and other sup- —editorial, p. 9 “Workers see the Militant as part ers, members of Amalgamated Transit porters, followed by a car caravan that of an absolutely necessary discussion Union Local 1181 on strike here since drove past New York Mayor Michael While the government has done about what we can do to meet these at- Jan. 16, have been winning solidar- Bloomberg’s residence and then vis- nothing to create more jobs or increase tacks,” Studer said. “They read about ity from other workers in the city and ited two picket lines in the Bronx. The production, the Federal Reserve con- examples of fights against attacks on beyond while city officials refuse to caravan was organized by Parents to tinues to pump money into the banks, the unions, police brutality, women’s negotiate. Improve School Transportation. stock prices are high and government right to abortion—all over the world. Two dozen school bus drivers from Continued on page 9 Continued on page 5 “They read about the history of Boston, members of the Steelworkers Continued on page 3 union, made the 200-mile trip to the Washington, UN Security Council Egypt: Two years after Mubarak, tighten sanctions on North Korea by seth galinsky ther launches that use ballistic missile workers continue fight for rights The U.N. Security Council unani- technology.” The day of the launch mously approved tighter sanctions on the White House released a statement North Korea Jan. 22 in retaliation for from the National Security Council launching a satellite into space Dec. calling it “a highly provocative act 12. that threatens regional security … The Security Council demanded and undermines the global non-pro- that Pyongyang “not conduct any fur- liferation regime.” The governments that voted for the resolution know that “ballistic mis- ‘Volunteers sile technology is the only means for launching a satellite,” the Foreign welcome to help Ministry of the Democratic People’s Continued on page 9 get socialists on Omaha ballot’ Also Inside: BY JOE SWANSON OMAHA, Neb.—The sun was shin- Women and Revolution: Living ing. More volunteers, more Militant Example of Cuban Revolution 2 AP photo Jan. 28 funeral protest in Port Said for those killed as anti-government protests rocked city. subscriptions sold, more sales of books on revolutionary working-class North Chicago coroner: by seth galinsky struggle by working people there. politics and more working people Hanna died from cop beating 4 Two years after the ouster of Thousands demonstrated in Tahrir signed up here to place on the ballot Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak and Square Jan. 25 as part of nation- Maura DeLuca for mayor and Jacob Tokyo steps up use of military almost eight months after Muslim wide protests against Morsi and the Perasso for City Council District 4. strengthens US, other alliances 6 Brotherhood leader Mohammed Brotherhood, the largest capitalist Four hundred eighty-three people Morsi was elected president, Egypt’s party in Egypt, and against recent signed petitions for DeLuca and 69 Sankara: ‘Malian soldiers no capitalist rulers are still unable to measures restricting democratic, la- for Perasso over the Feb. 2-3 week- longer prisoners, but brothers’ 8 close down political space won in Continued on page 6 Continued on page 4 ‘Women and Revolution: Living LA port trucker: ‘We did it, you guys can do it, too!’ example of Cuban Revolution’ Talks in Havana enrich politics of ‘Women in Cuba’ book Women and Revolution: The Living book about the Cuban Revolution. It is Example of the Cuban Revolution by about the millions of working people— Asela de los Santos, Mary-Alice Waters, men and women, of all ages—who have Arelys Santana and Leira Sánchez. 59 made that socialist revolution, and how pages. Pathfinder Press, 2013. their actions transformed them as they fought to transform their world.” by emma johnson De los Santos was a combatant in Women and Revolution both merits the Cuban revolutionary movement be- its own reading and serves as a strong fore the 1959 victorious overthrow of complement to Women in Cuba: The the U.S.-backed tyranny of Fulgencio Making of a Revolution Within the Batista. “We did it. You guys can do it too, brother,” Panni Hunt, right, a Toll Group Revolution, published by Pathfinder Talking about the first section of driver in the Port of Los Angeles, tells a fellow truck driver. The screen shot Press last year. Women in Cuba, she summarizes the above is from a video posted to YouTube in which Hunt and his coworkers value of the struggle before the revolu- leaflet other truckers along the terminal lines to spread the word about their in review tionary victory. “In the mountains and recent union victory. in the underground groups, equality On Dec. 30, members of Teamsters Local 848 ratified an agreement with The new 59-page book helps draw out and fraternity, solidarity and friendship, Toll Group after a two-year fight. The contract secures wage increases of $6 an the most important political lessons of truth and justice, work, generosity, and hour plus 50 cents an hour annual raise during the three-year contract, over- Women in Cuba and helps the reader see respect for human dignity prevailed time pay, lower health care costs, paid holidays, sick days, personal days, vaca- its relevance for working-class struggle over the mediocrity, pettiness, selfish- tion time and enrollment in Teamsters Western Conference Pension Trust Fund. today. ness, and prejudices of all types that “I’ve been passing out pamphlets for about an hour and everybody wants to Women and Revolution contains were imposed by the times of slavery, fight,” Hunt tells viewers at the end of the video. “They want to do the same four talks on Women in Cuba given rooted in mind and behavior by centu- thing that the Toll drivers did. They can do it. I’m here to encourage them so at the launching of the book at the ries of colonial rule.” they can fight for something better for themselves and their families.” 2012 Havana International Book Through the contributions of Sánchez The video can be viewed at the following link: http://youtu.be/r-2xAq511mA Fair. Speakers included Asela de los and Santana, you get a feel for the im- —emma johnson Santos, a historic leader of the Cuban portance for revolutionaries in Cuba— Revolution; Leira Sánchez, a mem- from all generations—of studying the ber of the National Bureau of Cuba’s rich lessons of the Cuban Revolution needs to be known,” said Waters, “be- The organizational structures, includ- Union of Young Communists; Mary- from those who made it. cause working people everywhere, ing the Federation of Cuban Women it- Alice Waters, president of Pathfinder Waters explains why Pathfinder pub- sooner or later, are being pushed toward self, “grew out of the goals” of the revo- Press and editor of the book; and lished the book and “why it is important revolutionary action.” This record, she lution “and above all were the product of Arelys Santana, second secretary in the United States and elsewhere out- said, “is indispensable to the revolution- deeds leading to the accomplishment of of the Federation of Cuban Women side Cuba to the increasing numbers of ary continuity of the working class.” those goals,” Waters says. Leaders led (FMC), who introduced the panel. workers who are searching for ways to Waters stresses why “the Cuban in practice and action, everything began The booklet also reprints the intro- effectively resist. … Revolution is distinguished from all pre- with deeds. duction to Women in Cuba by Waters. “The living example of the men vious revolutions since the beginning of The FMC, established in 1960, grew Its opening lines let the reader know and women who made the Cuban the modern working-class movement.” out of this participation, not the other what the book deals with: “This is a Revolution, and are still making it, Both de los Santos and Waters de- way around, speakers emphasized. scribe the interaction between the Rebel Women insisted on organizing them- Army combatants and the exploited, selves and being organized into its most landless peasants and agricultural work- pressing tasks. In the process they cre- ers and the growing involvement of ated an organization that would enable women in the ranks of the leadership. them to do just that. “Interaction opens the way for the De los Santos’ closing words highlight formation of new human beings, one the value of Women in Cuba and the col- of the main guidelines of revolutionary laborative work that went into making Roots of unfolding war in Mali work,” says de los Santos. “For women it. The book, she said, “underscores our this process meant, in practice, a per- unbreakable friendship and our determi- The ‘Militant’ covers sonal revolution: revolutionizing their nation to remain united, working for the conditions facing toilers thinking and actions, leading them to revolution, here in Cuba and there in the in Mali as they confront a fight the customs of the past.” United States.” war involving Tuareg na-

tionalist rebels, reaction- Latin America, Caribbean: For one year ary Islamist forces, various send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above The Militant address. Vol. 77/No. 6 ethnic militias, and gov- Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For ernment forces backed by Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images Closing news date: February 6, 2013 one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to Ahmed Baba Centre for Documentation and French imperialist troops. Editor: Doug Nelson above address. Research in Timbuktu, Mali, Jan. 29, where Associate editor: John Studer Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 Don’t miss an issue. Islamist forces burnt ancient manuscripts. Circulation director: Louis Martin to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Editorial volunteers: Tom Baumann, United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year Róger Calero, Naomi Craine, Seth by check or international money order SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Galinsky, Eleanor García, Emma Johnson, made out to CL London, First Floor, 120 Brian Williams, Rebecca Williamson. Bethnal Green Road (Entrance in Brick Published weekly except for one week in Lane), London, E2 6DG, England. January, two weeks in July, and two weeks Republic of Ireland and Continental NEW READERS NAME in September. Europe: Send £85 for one year by check or international money order made out to CL Business manager: Lea Sherman London at above address. q.$5 for 12 issues ADDRESS The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. France: Send 76 euros for one year to 37th Street, 10th floor, New York, NY Diffusion du Militant, P.O. Box 175, 23 rue 10018. Telephone: (212) 244-4899 RENEWAL CITY STATE ZIP Lecourbe, 75015 Paris. Fax: (212) 244-4947 New Zealand: Send NZ$50 for one year to E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. q.$10 for 12 weeks PHONE e-mail Website: www.themilitant.com Australia: Send A$50 for one year to P.O. Correspondence concerning subscriptions Box 164 Campsie, NSW 2194, Australia. Pacific Islands: Send NZ$50 for one year q $20 for 6 months UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION or changes of address should be addressed . to the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 10th to P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New floor, New York, NY 10018. Zealand. Clip and mail to the militant, Submissions to the Militant may be pub- q.$35 for 1 year 306 W. 37th st., 10th Floor new york, ny 10018. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. lished in the newspaper in print and digital format. By submitting, authors represent POSTMASTER: Send address changes to that their submissions are original and 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacific, A$8 • United the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10018. consent to publication in this manner. Kingdom, £3 • Canada, Can$7 • Caribbean and Latin America, US$10 • Continental Signed articles by contributors do not Europe, £10 • France, 12 euros • New Zealand, NZ$7 • All other areas, US$16 (Send SUBSCRIPTIONS: United States: For necessarily represent the Militant’s views. payment to addresses listed in business information box) one year send $35 to above address. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant February 18, 2013 Subscription campaign Continued from front page “We plan to go back to these areas past revolutionary struggles, from the where we got a good response to talk 1917 Russian Revolution to Malcolm to workers who we missed before and X, the labor battles that built the CIO to those who subscribed,” she said. in the 1930s to the still-living Cuban “We also plan to go to working-class Revolution. And many want to help us neighborhoods where distributors live, get the paper around.” because these are the places where it’s New York is considering a goal easiest to get involved with those who of 260, more than 50 subscriptions a want to help.” week, Studer said. Hugo Wils sent a report about what Militant supporters in Manchester, Mapping out plans England, are planning. Militant readers from many areas “We will start by going back to areas have begun discussing ambitious local where we got the best response in the quotas to focus their efforts to win as last two subscription drives,” he wrote. many new readers as possible and help “This will make it easier for people push their political work more deeply who have joined us going door to door into the working class. with the Militant and discussing work- “Distributors in Chicago are getting ing-class issues on the doorsteps, as Militant/John Naubert “When you are ready for a subscription drive again, I am ready to help,” said barber Stalin plans together so that the first weekend they live in these areas.” Harrison, left, when hearing about new campaign. He is shown above with Militant distribu- of the subscription campaign gets off “It is also a good way to follow up on tor Edwin Fruit Oct. 24 in his barber shop in Seattle, where he sold six subscriptions last fall. to a big start,” Alyson Kennedy wrote. subscribers won during our last drive, “During the last drive, two Militant to see whether they would like to re- Harrison, a barber in Seattle who broad layers of workers face and what readers who had never sold the paper new, are interested in some of the book signed up six new readers out of his they think is a key aspect of selling the got involved in selling door to door. offers or maybe know some friends or shop last fall. Militant door to door. They are both on board for this one,” relatives who would be interested in a “Most workers here,” wrote Michel “Last weekend, nearly everyone we she added. paper that voices a working-class per- Dugré from Montreal, “speak French spoke to in the apartment building we Charlie Brown, a CNC machine op- spective,” Wils said. and can’t really read English or visited in Harlem supported the strik- erator at Electro-Motive Diesel, is one Eight books are now offered at re- Spanish. Militant distributors here and ing school bus workers,” John Studer of these new distributors in Chicago. duced prices with a subscription to the in other parts of the world collaborate said about the two-person team he was “Knocking on doors is important Militant—four more titles than during to translate one of the central articles part of, referring to the 8,800 drivers, because you see individuals face to the last drive. (See ad below.) in the paper into French each week, attendants and mechanics on strike face, person to person. The Militant is “Supporters of the Militant in and we use that to help introduce the in New York since Jan. 16. “We sold an eye opener to what is going on in the Seattle,” wrote Mary Martin, “are pre- paper to workers. four subscriptions, a copy of Malcolm world—from Chicago and Indiana to paring to carry the Militant, a supple- “We will also take advantage of the X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Australia. We all should get involved,” ment to the paper featuring the intro- special offer on two more books in Workers Power and two copies of The he said. duction to the newly published Cuba French by Thomas Sankara, the cen- Working Class and the Transformation Kennedy described how during the and Angola: Fighting for Africa’s tral leader of the 1983-87 revolution of Learning: The Fraud of Education last campaign, one focus of the door- Freedom and Our Own, as well as the in Burkina Faso, West Africa,” Dugré Reform Under Capitalism.” (See ar- to-door effort in Chicago was concen- actual book and an armload of other said. ticle on front page.) trated in several African-American books on working-class struggles and “These books will help deepen our Another team of Militant supporters working-class neighborhoods in history, from Africa to Cuba to the discussions with the many workers who went to the Electchester housing District 2 where Socialist Workers U.S.” who closely follow the current events complex in Queens had a different ex- Party candidate John Hawkins is run- “When you are ready to do a sub- in Mali,” he added. perience, Deborah Liatos reported. ning for Congress. Dozens of subscrip- scription drive again, I am ready Going widely to the working class “While some workers were very tions were sold there. to help,” said Militant reader Stalin in order to get a real measure of what much in support of the strike, others just shut their door,” she said. “Some workers feel the pressure of the bosses’ propaganda against the strike.” The Sunday afternoon regular door- Special offers with ‘Militant’ subscription to-door sales of the Militant in New York have been the heart of how so- The Working Class and the Cuba and Angola cialist workers have built solidarity Transformation of Learning Fighting for Africa’s Freedom with this important labor struggle. The Fraud of Education Reform and Our Own “Coming out of the drive, the SWP Under Capitalism by Nelson Mandela, Fidel will be holding a national convention by Jack Barnes Castro, Raúl Castro; Cuban here in New York,” Studer said. “We are looking forward to inviting work- $2 with a subscription to the Militant generals and combatants; Gabriel García Márquez ers who have joined in winning new (usually $3) readers to participate.” Publication offer: $9 till March 31 Malcolm X, Black $6 with subscription (usually $12) ‘Should be everybody’s newspaper’ “Just to thank you again for all the Liberation, and the Road Women in Cuba: to Workers Power support you gave us during our strike The Making of a Revolution at Pioneer Flour Mill,” Salvador Garay by Jack Barnes Within the Revolution emailed to the Militant Feb. 3. $10 with subscription (usually $20) by Vilma Espín, Asela de los Garay is a member of Teamsters Santos, Yolanda Ferrer Local 657 in San Antonio, Texas. The $10 with subscription Militant has published several articles (usually $20) since April 2011 on their strike against We Are Heirs C.H. Guenther & Sons Pioneer Flour of the World’s Revolutions The Cuban Five Mill in that city. “Thank God for real journalists who Speeches from the Burkina Who They Are, Why They write the truth and don’t sell them- Faso Revolution 1983-87 Were Framed, Why They selves to companies. The Militant by Thomas Sankara Should Be Free should be everyone’s newspaper for $5 with subscription (usually $10) from pages of the Militant the truth,” Garay added. $3 with subscription If you agree with him, help expand Thomas Sankara Speaks (usually $5) the circulation and readership of the The Burkina Faso Revolution paper among working people. 1983-1987 Women and Revolution You can order a bundle or subscrip- by Thomas Sankara The Living Example tion blanks at [email protected] $10 with subscription (usually $24) or (212) 244-4899 or call distributors of the Cuban Revolution in your area. (See directory on page 8.) by Asela de los Santos, Quotas for the new campaign will be Mary-Alice Waters and others printed along with results of the first See distributors Publication offer: $5 till March 31 weekend of the drive in next week’s on page 8 $3 with subscription (usually $7) issue. The Militant February 18, 2013 3 Chicago SWP candidate: ‘fight for jobs program’ BY BETSY FARLEY come, it will be possible and necessary CHICAGO—“I love the fact that to build a working-class social move- you’re out here on foot, finding out ment that can wrest political power what the issues are,” Finesse Payne, a from the capitalist exploiters.” 21-year-old nursing home worker told On Jan. 23 Hawkins participated in socialist candidate John Hawkins, who a Martin Luther King Day panel dis- was knocking on doors to talk with cussion at Chicago State University working people on the South Side here hosted by the Chicago Council where he is running in the special elec- on Black Studies, CSU African tion for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional American Studies Program, and the District. student African American Studies “I make $9.25 an hour and get $150 Association. The focus of the dis- taken out of every check in taxes,” cussion was the 1968 Poor People’s Payne said. “What are you going to do Campaign entitled “Whose Legacy Is for the people who work?” This? Obama, Poverty, and the Fiscal “I’m a worker just like you,” re- Cliff.” Militant/Betsy Farley sponded Hawkins. “I work in a factory More than 70 people attended the John Hawkins, SWP candidate for U.S. Congress in Chicago’s 2nd District, talks with Finesse not far from here. I think we need to event. Speakers included Minister Payne Jan. 26, as he and campaign supporters sell Militant door to door on city’s South Side. fight for a massive public works pro- Michael Muhammad of Torchlight gram to put millions to work building Ministries; David Lowery, founder pets of the Democratic Party. Obama it, rely on it and mobilize it. and renovating schools and hospitals and CEO of the Living and Driving doesn’t care about us, he cares about “Only the working class organized and to build a nationwide network of While Black Foundation; and Jonathan what he can get out of the corpora- in struggle can push this back. We medical clinics, not close them down.” Jackson, professor at CSU and nation- tions,” said Lowery. have to fight to unify our class, the “You’re right,” Payne responded. al spokesman for the Rainbow/Push “I’m proud that President Obama is employed and unemployed, Black, im- “Instead, they close schools and build Coalition. All voiced criticism of the in office even if I don’t agree with all migrant, Caucasian, women and men. more jails.” Barack Obama administration’s fail- his positions,” Jackson said. “Examples right here include the “Neither the Democrats nor ure to confront the problems facing “Not just Obama, but the capitalist fight in North Chicago to fire and con- Republicans propose anything to African-Americans. system is responsible for unemploy- vict the cops guilty of using Tasers on solve the unemployment crisis,” stated “The root cause of the fiscal cliff is ment, poverty, and the violence work- Darrin Hanna, who died in 2011, and Hawkins. “The socialist campaign is America’s funding for war all over the ers face at the hands of the cops,” the ongoing fight to win the release of different. We join every struggle of world but she will not fund a war on said Hawkins. “Our power is in the the more than 100 victims of police working people for jobs, against at- poverty,” Muhammad said. streets—on the picket lines and mass torture who are still in prison,” said tacks on our wages and unions, for the “We’ve let ourselves become pup- demonstrations. We have to organize Hawkins. rights of Blacks, women, and immi- grants.” “We oppose all taxes on working people,” Hawkins continued. “We N. Chicago coroner: Hanna died from cop beating should not be the ones to pay for the BY JOHN HAWKINS independent autopsy done by another doing is that we came together,” crisis of their system.” NORTH CHICAGO, Ill.—Friends doctor who drew the same conclusion Peterson told the Militant after the Construction worker Glenn Fisher and family of Darrin Hanna won a close to a year ago.” council meeting concluded. “We’ve was just leaving work repairing a floor victory Jan. 22 when Lake County “A lot of families who have a rela- managed to stay together and we’re at a house in the neighborhood when Coroner Thomas Rudd ruled Hanna’s tive killed by the cops pursue it for a pulling in the same direction. he greeted Hawkins. “It’s going to death a homicide. In the weeks since while, then get depressed and drop it “What we’re doing here is not going take people standing up and not be- the new determination, they have out of frustration,” Ralph Peterson, along with the same old pattern,” he ing afraid any more,” Fisher said, as stepped up efforts to put the cops who Hanna’s cousin, said in a Jan. 24 inter- continued. “The police kill, kill again, he bought a copy of the Militant, the beat Hanna behind bars. view on the Internet radio show “Let and kill some more. The city pays out campaign newspaper. Hanna, an African-American, was the Truth be Told,” hosted by David a large sum of money. Then the cops “That’s what my campaign is about, 45 when he died Nov. 13, 2011, a week Lowery. “We didn’t get depressed and kill again. people standing up and fighting back,” after seven North Chicago cops beat drop this out of frustration. We mo- “As long as you let them do what Hawkins said. “Working people also him and shocked him repeatedly with bilized and got Yancey out of there. they have been doing they’re going to need to organize politically, inde- a Taser for 20 minutes during his ar- We didn’t accept the idea that there’s keep on doing what they have been pendent of the two capitalist par- rest. nothing you can do.” doing. ties, the Democrats and Republicans. “Do you want to know why I stand Artis Yancey is the previous Lake “Money isn’t the issue here,” Ultimately, through many struggles to here before you every week? It’s to County Coroner who gave the “un- Peterson said. “We need to stop this win justice for my son, yes. But more determined” opinion. He is a retired from happening again. And the way than that, it’s to keep this from hap- police chief. to do that is to give the cops who did pening to your son,” Hanna’s mother, “What’s different about what we’re this to Darrin some jail time.” militant Gloria Carr, said at a Jan. 28 City Council meeting. labor The announcement by the Lake County Coroner changing the manner Join Omaha petitioning effort forums of death from “undetermined” to “ho- Continued from front page Fighting for Africa’s Freedom and california micide” is a breakthrough for us, Carr end. The requirements are 1,000 sig- Our Own and Women and Revolution: San Francisco told the Militant before going into the natures of registered voters for mayor The Living Example of the Cuban From the Civil War to the Civil Rights meeting. “That’s what we have said and 100 for city council. So far 925 Revolution. Movement: Defending Constitutional all along. Now we have two doctors Rights and Political Space for Working have signed up for DeLuca and 154 “I like talking to workers at their People. Speaker: Willie Cotton, Socialist who say the same thing. We had an for Perasso. Supporters of the social- doorsteps with the Militant,” said Workers Party. Fri., Feb. 15. Dinner, 6:30 ist campaign are organizing to go Jorge Rios, 28. “We not only get to p.m.; program, 7:30 p.m. 5482 Mission St. substantially over the requirement, as hear what these workers are thinking,

Tel.: (415) 584-2135. pathfinderpress.com the election commission has said each but it’s also a good way for supporters iowa signature will be checked for validity. of the paper to get out a revolutionary Des Moines The deadline to file for the primary perspective and find we have a lot in The Fight Against Racism and the is March 1. The top two vote getters common.” Legacy of Malcolm X. Speaker: Ellen in the April 2 election for each office A total of $15 was donated to the Brickley, Socialist Workers Party. Fri., Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. 3707 Douglas Ave. Tel.: will face off in the general election campaign from a number of workers (515) 707-1779. May 14. who signed petitions. More than $60 As the numbers of working people was collected at a campaign social canada that sign the petitions increase, so event Saturday afternoon. Montreal do sales of the socialist newsweekly. “Volunteers are always welcome, Toward a Fighting Alliance of Workers Sixty copies of the Militant, eight always needed,” said Perasso. To vol- and Peasants in Mali. Speaker: Joe 12-week subscriptions and one re- unteer or for more information, con- Young, Communist League. Fri., Feb. 8, $10 newal subscription were sold over the tact the Socialist Workers Party cam- 7:30 p.m. 7107 St-Denis, room 204. Tel.: (514) 272-5840. weekend. Also purchased were two paign in Omaha at (402) 779-7697; books on special: Cuba and Angola: email: [email protected]. 4 The Militant February 18, 2013 Miners fight Patriot Coal for health care, pensions BY Alyson Kennedy Meade said he and his coworkers ac- ST. LOUIS—About 800 members of cepted lower pay than non-union work- the United Mine Workers of America ers doing the same job because they had and supporters rallied in front of the health insurance. Meade made $26 an federal courthouse here Jan. 29, the first hour, while many nonunion workers day of Patriot Coal’s bankruptcy hear- earn around $30, he said. “But at least I ing. knew there would be health care at the Last summer Patriot’s owners filed end of the line.” for bankruptcy, through which they Following the rally they marched to are seeking to cut thousands of active the headquarters of Peabody Energy and retired mine workers from health where 10 UMWA members, including benefits and pension plans and to tear UMWA President Cecil Roberts, were up union contracts. In 2007, Peabody arrested for obstructing traffic.

Energy Corp. spun off most of its Militant/Laura Anderson unionized mines to form Patriot Coal Laura Anderson contributed to this Members and supporters of United Mine Workers protest outside Peabody Energy’s St. Louis Corp. Those affected include more article. headquarters Jan. 29 against company plans to use bankruptcy to junk health care, pensions. than 20,000 retirees and family mem- bers, mostly in West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. Hundreds of miners came to St. 3 years high joblessness, U.S. gov’t won’t act on jobs Louis on buses from West Virginia Continued from front page President Barack Obama disbanded and $45 billion of U.S. government and Kentucky. “Six buses came from regulations are laying the basis for an- his administration’s jobs council Jan. 31, bonds. The scheme, which amounts to Kentucky,” Vickie Girten, from other round of high-risk housing loans two years after setting it up. Chaired by printing money, has the stated goal of Morganfield, Ky., told the Militant. “We to saddle more working people with General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, the lowering mortgage costs and spurring are here trying to save our health care. debt. Council on Jobs and Competitiveness lending, new construction and jobs. We’ve been here since Sunday passing With nearly 23 million workers out of met only four times since its incep- While it has done nothing to “stimu- out flyers.” full-time jobs, employment continues tion—the last time in January 2012. late” production or drive down unem- “Their fight is my fight,” Floyd to stagnate. According to government Instead of hiring additional workers, ployment levels, it has stimulated stock Conley, a miner from southern West figures, 7.9 percent of the workforce the bosses’ drive is to boost productiv- prices and inflationary pressures, which Virginia, told the Militant. “If Peabody was jobless last month, an increase of ity of those with jobs through speedup, in the long term could have ruinous con- gets away with this there will be a chain 0.1 percent from December. And anoth- expanded hours and attacks on working sequences for working people. Among reaction to all the unions. It is going to er 6.5 percent were either forced to ac- conditions. But this drive appears to be its real aims is to shore up banks “too take all of the unions to march and get cept part-time hours or excluded from hitting some temporary limits. In the big to fail” and lower the value of the together.” the workforce as too “discouraged” to U.S., eurozone and Japan labor produc- dollar relative to other currencies, mak- The moves by Patriot come amid de- be counted. tivity growth is “virtually stalling,” re- ing U.S. exports more competitive in clining coal production in the region. Measuring the actual levels of job- ported the Conference Board business the world market. Brett Dillon, director of the UMWA lessness is more accurately revealed in research group. U.S. labor productivity In continuing this program, the Career Center, told the Beckley, W.Va., the employment to population ratio—a growth in 2012 dropped to 0.2 percent Federal Reserve acknowledged its Register-Herald that he estimates 3,000 straight percentage of the total popula- for the year, down from 0.8 percent in negligible impact. It said the “growth workers at mines across southern West tion that is employed—which unlike 2011, according to board. in economic activity paused because Virginia have been laid off over the past the official employment rate doesn’t At the same time the U.S. gross do- of weather-related and other transitory year. lift “discouraged” workers out of the mestic product—which measures total factors,” reported the Financial Times. Conley, 35, was laid off from the official workforce. In January the ra- goods and services produced—shrank Housing construction has risen along Gateway Eagle Mine owned by Patriot tio measured 58.6 percent, virtually 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of with a modest increase in construc- in November. “Patriot idled all the union unchanged from 58.5 percent one year 2012, its first decline in three years. tion employment, a possible product of mines and the nonunion mines owned ago. In fact, these figures have hovered “For the whole year, economic activity quantitative easing policies. Subprime by Patriot did not lay off,” he said. around this point over the past three expanded only 2.2% in 2012,” reported mortgages with rates that adjust interest Jerry Meade, who worked at the years, after a sharp decline of 5 percent- the Wall Street Journal, “a fairly mea- rates higher, are also increasing—up 7 Patriot Black Oak Mine in West age points between 2007 and the begin- ger pace that may be repeated in 2013.” percent last month to their highest level Virginia for 37 years, said he and hun- ning of 2010. Exports in the fourth quarter declined since May 2011. “The Obama adminis- dreds of other miners lost their jobs a Nearly 40 percent of all jobless 5.7 percent. tration wants banks to step up approval week before Thanksgiving. “There are workers have been unemployed for six The Federal Reserve’s current “quan- of such low-income mortgages” and is no other jobs,” Meade told the Militant. months or longer. Millions no longer titative easing” measure—the third using its powers under the Community “If I retire I have no medical and my receive unemployment compensation such endeavor since November 2008— Reinvestment Act to lay the basis to wife needs it. She had two knees re- payments and many more will see them purchases $40 billion a month of mort- spur this along, reported Investor’s placed.” cut off over the coming months. gage-backed securities from U.S. banks Business Daily Jan 24. Recommended reading 25, 50, and 75 years ago

The Changing Face of U.S. Politics Working-Class Politics and the Unions By Jack Barnes

Building the February 19, 1988 February 18, 1963 February 19, 1938 kind of party JAY, Maine—A 112,000-gallon leak NEW YORK—In a superb display of Ethiopia. Spain. China. Already three working of deadly chlorine dioxide gas from solidarity, printers from coast to coast million casualties, with the curtain not people need to prepare International Paper Co.’s Androscoggin voted four to one to increase their dues yet raised on the main act. Already for coming mill here forced the evacuation of this an extra 3 percent of their wages so that three million dead, wounded, dying. class battles small town of 4,000 and parts of neigh- their union can continue to pay adequate Thousands upon thousands of the most through boring Livermore Falls in the late morn- benefits to their striking and locked-out heroic and militant of the workers, peas- which they ing of February 5. brothers in New York. ants, students, torn to pieces by the ma- will revolu- The Jay town government was in- The decision to hold the nation- chine-gun spray, the twisted fragments tionize them- formed of the danger by members of wide referendum of International of time-fuse bombs. selves, their United Paperworkers International Typographical Union members on All this is but the faint, mild fore- unions, and Union Local 14, who have been on strike Feb. 6 was made last December at the shadowing, the first cracks in a world all society. against International Paper since last outset of the now 10-week-old strike. shell which is near the breaking point. A handbook June, along with members of Firemen As the date grew nearer, the vote’s The precarious balance, upheld by the for those seeking the road toward and Oilers Local 246. importance was apparent to all—to Versailles Treaty imposed by the win- effective action to overturn the ex- The paperworkers immediately of- the workers and to the newspaper ning imperialist gangsters in 1919, holds ploitative system of capitalism and fered the efforts of 50 strikers to inform publishers. no longer. join in reconstructing the world on local residents of the leak, aid in their The publishers must now fight not Roosevelt, the cunning leader of new, socialist foundations. $24 evacuation, and direct traffic. just New York’s 3,000 newspaper print- American imperialism, is moving rap- The company’s response to the poten- ers, but the 110,000-strong ITU mem- idly toward first place among the war www.pathfinderpress.com tial disaster was to downplay the hazard. bership. makers of the world. The Militant February 18, 2013 5 Tokyo steps up use of military, strengthens US, other alliances Imperialists ‘pivot’ to counter China, isolate N. Korea

by seth galinsky stress the rule of law,” Abe claimed, ac- Alongside Washington’s “pivot to cording to Reuters Jan. 15, saying they Asia,” Tokyo is carrying out its own were “strengthening ties with countries shifts, including increasing use of that share such values.” military forces outside its borders and But one key U.S. ally, the South strengthening alliances with govern- Korean government, has not been so ments in the region aimed at countering amenable to the increased Japanese the rising power of China, both a key muscle flexing, despite visits from U.S. trading partner and rival. State Department, Pentagon and White “I envisage a strategy whereby House officials. Australia, India, Japan, and the US state In June a planned Japan-South Korea Chinese fishing boat is surrounded by Japan Coast Guard patrol boats by disputed islands of Hawaii form a diamond to safeguard in the East China Sea known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, August 2012. Boat intelligence-sharing pact was scuttled in center had brought Chinese protesters to the island to oppose Tokyo’s claim. the maritime commons stretching from after word leaked out in South Korea, the Indian Ocean region to the west- where hatred of Japanese imperialism’s known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu not take a position on the ultimate sov- ern Pacific,” wrote Shinzo Abe in a brutal occupation of the country prior to in China, is one source of rising tensions ereignty of the islands, we acknowl- November article, shortly before he was Japan’s defeat in World War II still runs between Beijing and Tokyo. edge they are under the administration elected prime minister of Japan. deep. On Jan. 10, after a Chinese trans- of Japan and we oppose any unilateral U.S. defense officials are working Washington has been encouraging port plane flew near the islands on what actions that would seek to undermine with Tokyo to revise guidelines on how Tokyo to play more of a role both in con- Beijing’s Defense Ministry described Japanese administration,” Clinton said their two armies work together as the taining China, the biggest competitor as a “routine patrol,” Tokyo sent two at the Jan. 18 press conference. Japanese government bit by bit clears to Washington’s military and economic F-15 fighter jets to tail it. The Chinese Meanwhile, the Japanese and South political obstacles and constitutional might, and isolating North Korea. U.S. military responded with two J-10 fighter Korean governments are disputing con- restrictions on use of its military, dat- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton em- planes to “monitor” the Japanese air- trol of the Dokdo Islands, which are ad- ing back to conditions imposed by phasized their “joint commitment” to craft. According to The Diplomat, an ministered by Seoul. Washington following Japan’s defeat in U.N. sanctions against North Korea at a online magazine based in Tokyo, more Adding fuel to the fire, Prime Minister World War II. Jan. 18 press conference in Washington, than 10 Chinese military aircraft were Abe has indicated he wants to “revise” Japan currently has the sixth-largest D.C., with Kishida. involved in the incident, which ended a 1993 apology for forcing thousands annual military budget in the world, set A dispute over islands in the East when the Chinese planes left. of Korean women to be sex slaves for to increase by 2.2 percent starting in China Sea administered by Tokyo, “Although the United States does Japanese troops during World War II. April. Soon after taking office Abe sent Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on a trip to try to cement re- Australia, UK summit deepens military ties lations with other U.S.-allied regimes BY RON POULSEN military ties between the two powers, Hague and Defence Minister Philip in the region, including in Australia, SYDNEY—The annual ministerial while backing the strategic shift of U.S. Hammond and their Australian coun- Brunei, the Philippines and Singapore. meeting between the governments of military forces toward the Asia-Pacific terparts, Foreign Minister Robert Carr “Japan’s path since the end of World Australia and the United Kingdom took region to counter the rising economic and Defence Minister Stephen Smith, War II has been to firmly protect de- place in Perth, Western Australia, Jan. and military power of Beijing. headed the delegations. A similar bi- mocracy and basic human rights and 18. The summit was aimed at deepening British Foreign Secretary William lateral summit between the U.S. and Australian governments took place two months ago. In the lead up to the summit, Workers continue fight for rights in Egypt Hammond laid out the concerns that Continued from front page Criminal Court found 21 Al-Masry in the military, the front called for the have led the British and Australian gov- bor and political rights. The next day fans guilty of murder and sentenced high command to be part of any talks. ernments to align with Washington’s the verdict in what is known as the them to death. “We need a meeting between the “strategic pivot” toward Asia, saying Port Said Stadium Massacre was an- Many in Port Said see the trial as a president, defense minister, interior Washington was “the only power on nounced, fueling more protests espe- frame-up and say the deaths were pri- minister, the ruling party, the Salafist Earth that is capable of rising to the cially in cities along the Suez Canal, marily a result of police negligence, current” and the National Salvation challenge of growing Chinese ambi- including Port Said, Ismailia and charging that cops dimmed the lights Front, said front leader Mohamed tion.” Suez. and closed gates when fighting broke ElBaradei Jan. 30. During World War II, the rulers of The trial stemmed from the death of out. Some participants say the incident “The economic situation is very dire Australia switched their main alliance at least 72 people, mostly “Ultras”— was initiated by provocateurs. right now,” Gamul Abu’l Oula, direc- from London to Washington. For the fans of Cairo’s Al-Ahly soccer team— On Jan. 27 Morsi announced a 30- tor of the Center for Trade Union and first time since the end of the war, the following a match with Port Said’s day state of emergency in the three Workers Services in Mahalla El Kubra, U.S. military’s dominance of the Pacific Al-Masry team on Feb. 1, 2012. The canal cities along with a 9 p.m. curfew. said by phone. “In Mahalla, a major in- is being challenged by Beijing’s grow- Ultras played a prominent role in pro- With what Time magazine described as dustrial center, half the plants are now ing military capabilities. tests against Mubarak. The Port Said “rebellious gusto,” residents scheduled shut down.” The two parties discussed the with- the next protests to start at 8:45 p.m. and “A lot of Egyptian farmers don’t have drawal of forces from Afghanistan over held late-night soccer games in front of land,” Dalia Emara, a representative of the next two years. Washington, London local government headquarters. Army the Land Center for Human Rights, told and Canberra are planning to leave a soldiers sent in to maintain order didn’t the Militant from Cairo. “We still suffer limited number of troops, particularly even try to enforce the curfew. from the same problems we had before special commando forces, beyond 2014. By Jan. 29 nearly 50 people were the revolution. The only difference is The talks ended with the signing of killed in clashes with the police, ac- that now we can organize.” a new military pact that included plans cording to the London Financial Times, “The current government is carry- to increase interoperability and share mostly in Port Said. ing out the same policy of previous development costs for “global platform” Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al- governments,” Fatma Ramadan, ex- armaments, such as a new British frig- Sisi warned that “continuing conflict ecutive board member of the Egyptian ate and Australian submarine. between political forces and their dif- Federation of Independent Trade Before arriving in Australia, Hague ferences concerning the management Unions, said from Cairo. “There is a was in New Zealand where he met of the country could lead to a collapse rise in inflation and unemployment.” with Foreign Affairs Minister Murray of the state.” The army is “the solid co- “No negotiations are possible with McCully to discuss cyberwarfare coop- hesive bloc and the strong pillar” of the this government. They want to negoti- eration and other issues. state, he added. ate the end to the revolution,” she said. Two months ago, British and Leaders of the National Salvation “We say, where are all the promised re- Australian military forces joined the Front, dominated by opposition bour- forms?” New Zealand armed forces in an ex- geois parties, have called for a dia- ercise near Auckland, New Zealand, $16 logue to end the clashes, as has Morsi. Georges Mehrabian from Athens, geared toward developing an amphibi- Recognizing that decisive power resides Greece, contributed to this article. ous force for beach landings. www.pathfinderpress.com 6 The Militant February 18, 2013 Montreal Labour Council hosts Cuban 5 art exhibit by Katy LeRougetel about the five. Students and teachers at MONTREAL—More than 100 peo- Montreal’s Marianopolis College are ple attended an exhibit of cartoons by planning such an event in February. Gerardo Hernández here at the head- Arnold August, representative of the quarters of the Confederation of National Fabio Di Celmo Committee, read a let- Trade Unions (CSN). Hernández is one ter from Hernández thanking the event of five Cuban revolutionaries impris- organizers. oned in the United States for more than “All the promotion, explanations of 14 years on frame-up charges. my work and even this letter have been The Jan. 24 event, entitled “Humour translated into French for the very first

From My Pen,” was organized by time,” Hernández said. “I spend a great Militant photos by Grant Hargrave International Solidarity Committee of deal of my time responding to hundreds Above, Alain González, Cuba’s the Montreal Labour Council of the CSN of solidarity letters and I do [these car- consul general in Montreal, and the Fabio Di Celmo Committee for toons] lacking the material and appro- speaks Jan. 24 at exhibit of car- the Five. priate conditions of a real artist. toons by Cuban revolutionary Gerardo Hernández, framed It featured several dozen cartoons “We [the five] know that the key to our up and jailed in U.S. since created by Hernández since his incar- inevitable freedom lives in that solidar- 1998 with double life plus 15 ceration, a buffet, music by saxophonist ity that continues to grow worldwide.” years sentence. Event was held Janet Lumb, a video by filmmaker Saul August urged those attending the at Confederation of National Landau with actor Danny Glover, and a event to build and join a demonstration Trade Unions headquarters. Inset, participants view car- panel of speakers. called for June 1 in front of the White toons prior to program. Dominique Daigneault, Labour House in Washington, D.C., to demand Council general secretary, welcomed the freedom for the five. Answering a question on this year’s were among the Cuban volunteers in crowd, which included garment, postal, Washington “did to the five what they 25th anniversary of the victory by Angola, including Hernández. food manufacturing, and other workers; could not do to the Cuban people,” said Cuban and Angolan forces against South “Cuban forces dealt the death blow to college and university students; campus keynote speaker Alain González, Cuba’s Africa’s apartheid army in the battle apartheid. I’m not the one saying this. radio station journalists; musicians; and consul general in Montreal. of Cuito Cuanavale, Angola, González Look at Nelson Mandela’s speeches at Cuba solidarity activists. “The American authorities are those said that “more than 375,000 Cubans the time,” he said. Daigneault urged others to use the preventing their liberation. It’s a political had combat experience in Africa.” In March 1988, invading forces of “traveling exhibit” to get out the truth question. Victory lies in the resistance.” Three of the five Cuban prisoners the white supremacist regime of South Africa were dealt a decisive defeat in the small town of Cuito Cuanavale, south- 1 of Cuban 5 wins transfer out of Miami prison ern Angola, which opened the door to the independence of Namibia from by Louis Martin animus to the regime in Cuba that makes able probability” and “the perception South African domination and the over- Ramón Labañino, one of five Cuban Ramon’s safety, let alone fair treatment, that these [counterrevolutionary Cuban] throw of apartheid a few years later. revolutionaries framed up and jailed by a problem.” groups could harm jurors that rendered “Today, we go abroad to heal peo- the U.S. government for more than 14 Labañino eventually left the prison in a verdict unfavorable to their views.” ple,” González added. “There are 1,000 years, recently won his demand to trans- Jesup Jan. 11 and arrived at the Miami But the U.S. government appealed Cuban doctors in Haiti. Cuban doctors fer from a Miami prison where he was facility Jan. 14. and the decision was reversed the fol- were there before the [January 2010] sent in mid-January. “When I was interviewed by the of- lowing year by a full 12-judge review by earthquake. The Bureau of Prisons consented ficial who receives the new ‘tenants,’” the same appeals court. The Supreme The Cuban consul described how the to the transfer following protests by Labañino said, “she told me in a few Court refused to hear the defense’s ap- five have won respect from fellow pris- Labañino’s lawyers and supporters, who words that I should not be in the popula- peal of the reversal. oners, initiating among other things lit- argued the move to Miami put his per- tion of that institution for obvious rea- Starting in 2010, lawyers for four of eracy efforts among detainees. sonal safety in jeopardy. sons of personal security, and therefore the five filed habeas corpus motions “We’re used to aid from the interna- In a Feb. 1 message from the medium she decided to send me to the ‘hole’ arguing for new trials on the basis that tional community with a hidden agen- security federal prison in Jesup, Ga., where I should wait for the decision some of the journalists who wrote false da,” Orland Angat, a food worker of posted on the National Committee to that the management of the place would and inflammatory articles during the Congolese origin, told the Militant. Free the Cuban Five website, Labañino make later. trial were at the time on the U.S. govern- “But the example of Cuba sending aid explains what happened. “Thanks to your phone calls, the ef- ment payroll. These motions and related to Haiti without expecting anything in “Since June 2012, the authorities of ficient actions or our [Cuba’s] revolu- court documents from both sides are return—1,000 doctors—that’s huge!” this institution informed me that I could tionary government and our attorneys, At work the next day, he added, “The be assigned to an institution of low se- they finally decided to remove me before Judge Joan Lenard, who presided meeting changed something in me.” curity, due to the low points and clean quickly not only from Miami but from over the 2001 trial. record that we have maintained in all all Florida.” these 14 years of imprisonment,” he After being held eight days in solitary wrote. confinement, Labañino was sent back to Who are the Cuban Five Labañino was later assigned to the Jesup, where he is now waiting for a de- low-security federal prison in Miami cision to be made on where to go next. Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando “despite the fact that Ramón told the In agreeing to the transfer, the gov- González and René González are Cuban revolutionaries who during the Bureau of Prisons that this was not a ernment has drawn attention to one fac- 1990s accepted assignments from the Cuban government to gather informa- good idea,” his lawyer William Norris et of its frame-up: the insistence of U.S. tion on the activities of Cuban-American counterrevolutionary groups operat- ing in southern Florida. These paramilitary outfits, organizing on U.S. soil with wrote in an accompanying article. In prosecutors and the presiding judge to virtual impunity, have a long record of carrying out bombings, assassinations Miami, wrote Norris, “both some in- hold the 2001 trial of the five in Miami, and other deadly attacks, both against targets in Cuba and supporters of the mates and some staff hold deeply rooted despite seven defense motions to move it Cuban Revolution in the United States, Puerto Rico and elsewhere. to any other location in the country. On Sept. 12, 1998, the five were arrested by the FBI. They were framed up “What happened is significant,” and convicted on a variety of charges, which included acting as unregistered Norris said in a phone interview. “If the agents of the Cuban government and possession of false identity documents. Bureau of Prisons can’t guarantee his Without a shred of evidence, three were charged with “conspiracy to gather safety in a Miami jail today, what does and transmit national defense information.” that say about the trial?” Hernández was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, based on The 2001 trial in Miami took place the pretext that he bore responsibility for the Cuban government’s 1996 shoot- against a backdrop of a constant sen- down of two aircraft flown by the counterrevolutionary group Brothers to the sational and negative media against the Rescue that had invaded Cuban airspace in disregard of Havana’s repeated five, as well as harassment and intimida- warnings. He is serving two life terms plus 15 years. tion of the jury by the press and counter- All but René González remain in prison. Since October 2011 he has been revolutionary Cuban American groups. serving a three-year “supervised release.” On the pretext of his dual citizen- In August 2005, a three-judge panel ship, his request to return to Cuba has been denied. His wife, Olga Salanueva, of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in is barred from entering the United States, as is Adriana Pérez, the wife of Atlanta unanimously overturned the Hernández. convictions and ordered a new trial out- See ad on page 3 for The Cuban Five: Who They Are, Why They Were side Miami. They ruled that “an impar- Framed, Why They Should Be Free. Ramón Labañino in U.S. jail in 2008. tial jury in this case” was “an unreason-

The Militant February 18, 2013 7 Sankara: ‘Malian soldiers no longer prisoners, but brothers’ Below is an excerpt from Thomas any Malian prisoners in Burkina Faso. Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso The Malian military personnel who are Revolution 1983-87, published by here are no longer prisoners. They are Pathfinder Press. Sankara was the cen- our brothers. They can return to [Mali’s tral leader of the revolution in that West capital] Bamako when and as they wish, African country. in total freedom. Under his leadership, Burkina Faso’s We did not fight in order to take pris- revolutionary government mobilized oners, but to repel the enemy. We have peasants, workers, craftsmen, women repelled him. Every Malian in Burkina and youth to begin confronting the eco- Faso is a brother. The Malians who are nomic and social underdevelopment here are our brothers. Starting today, inherited from colonial and then impe- arrangements will be made for them rialist domination, while extending the to live in complete freedom, for them hand of solidarity to others engaged in to taste the joy of freedom in Burkina that fight around the world. Faso, especially in Ouagadougou. Their The Burkinabè Revolution earned the families in Mali should know that they deep hatred of imperialist powers and can come and get them, just as they can capitalist rulers—at home and through- wait for them at Bamako airport, what- out the region. The revolutionary gov- ever they wish. ernment was overthrown in an October Militant/Ernest Harsch Comrades, let us avoid being di- Thomas Sankara, leader of 1983-87 revolution in Burkina Faso, speaking at gathering of verted, dragged into fights that are not 1987 coup, in which Sankara was killed. several thousand women in Ouagadougou on International Women’s Day, March 8, 1987. The Burkinabè Revolution remains the people’s fights. Let us avoid being to this day a powerful example of what by Paris, had used a border dispute as who were wounded, of all the tearful dragged into concerns that are not the working people from Africa are capa- a pretext to invade Burkina Faso. The families, of these two peoples, and of people’s concerns, into the mad race ble of doing, including producing world five-day conflict ended with the signing other peoples from Africa and elsewhere toward confrontation and stockpiling of proletarian leadership of the highest of a cease-fire between the two coun- who have been touched by these painful weapons. We know that in certain minds caliber. tries. confrontations. I would like each of us to the temptation will be great, come what This example is especially relevant Copyright © 1988 by Pathfinder make an effort to surmount feelings of may, to seek military arsenals, and in today with the unfolding war in neigh- Press. Reprinted by permission. hate, rejection, and hostility toward the so doing justify bellicose actions and boring Mali—involving Tuareg nation- v Malian people. I would like each of us thus find easy and convenient pretexts alists, Islamist forces allied with al-Qa- to achieve the most important victory: to for holding the masses for ransom. This eda, anti-Arab and anti-Tuareg militias by Thomas Sankara kill inside ourselves the seeds of hostil- will not happen in Burkina Faso. fighting alongside government troops, On December 25, 1985, with the year ity and enmity toward anyone. The Western media, the imperialist and thousands of soldiers from France drawing to a close, our populations were We have an important victory to win: press, has often said that Burkina Faso and neighboring African countries. bombed. They were bombed by planes, planting the seeds of genuine friendship is a country with a massive stockpile The speech below was given Jan. 3, they were wounded and killed by tanks in our hearts, capable of withstanding of weapons. You have often read in the 1986, to a Burkina-Mali solidarity rally and troops coming from the other side. even the murderous assault of cannons, papers that our country has received in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina We then counterattacked. Confronting planes, and tanks. This kind of friend- tons and tons of military equipment. Faso. A week earlier, the Malian govern- material superiority, confronting an ship is only built on the revolutionary Fortunately, this same press … has rec- ment, heavily armed and tacitly backed abundance of weapons, we countered basis of sincere love for other peoples. ognized that Burkina Faso was militar- with collective political and revolution- I know you are capable of this, capable ily underequipped. … ary determination. … We protected our of loving the Malian people and dem- We now know which country has Books people. We protected them because we onstrating it. We will demonstrate it. stockpiled weapons, and which coun- February were victims of aggression, because we In their speech, the brothers from Mali try has military scrap at its disposal. of the Month owe them liberty and tranquility day said they favor developing relations. We now know which country imposes and night. We protected them, thus ful- First of all, we answer: yes! But in addi- sacrifices on its people in the interests of PATHFINDER filling a revolutionary duty. tion, we are going to follow these words social, political, and economic develop- READERS CLUB 25% discount War is nothing other than an exten- with deeds. For this reason, comrades, I ment rather than for excessive militari- SPECIALS sion of politics. Their politics were ex- want to tell you that as far as we’re con- zation. Our History Is Still Being Written tended and transformed into war. Our cerned, there has never been anything The events of these five days have al- The Story of Three Chinese- politics were extended and transformed but friendship and love between the lowed Burkina Faso to wash away the Cuban Generals in the Cuban into a generalized popular defense. Two Malian and Burkinabè peoples. shame, to reestablish the truth. They Revolution political courses confronted each other, Comrades! Are you or are you not for have allowed the entire world to see us by Armando Choy, Gustavo Chui, and one political course triumphed. friendship between our two peoples? as we really are. Only those who detest Moisés Sío Wong, Mary-Alice Dear comrades, on this day, January [Shouts of “Yes!”] The popular masses, the revolution—and there are many— Waters $20. Special price: $15 3, 1986, I would like us to think of all who hold power in Burkina Faso, have will continue trying to spread confusion those who fell on the field of honor— spoken. On their behalf I say directly to through their maneuvers. Battles await Black Music, White Business Malians and Burkinabè—of all those the entire world that there are no longer us, and we must win them. by Frank Kofsky $17. Special price: $12.75 February 1965: if you like this paper, look us up The Final Speeches by Malcolm X Where to find distributors of the MINNESOTA: Minneapolis: 416 E. AUSTRALIA Speeches from last three weeks Militant, New International, and a full Hennepin Ave., Suite 214. Zip: 55414. Sydney: 1st Flr, 3/281-287 Beamish of the life of this outstanding display of Pathfinder books. Tel: (612) 729-1205. E-mail: tcswp@ St., Campsie, NSW 2194. Mailing qwestoffice.net leader of the oppressed Black address: P.O. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. nationality in the U.S. UNITED STATES Tel: (02) 9718 9698. E-mail: cl_australia@ NEBRASKA, Lincoln: Tel: (402) 217- optusnet.com.au $19. Special price: $14.25 CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 4025 4906. E-mail: [email protected] S. Western Ave. Zip: 90062. Tel: (323) Omaha: P.O. Box 7908. Zip: 68107. CANADA Revolutionary Continuity: 295-2600. E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: (402) 779-7697. E-mail: swpomaha@ QUEBEC: Montreal: 7107 St. Denis The Early Years, 1848-1917 San Francisco: 5482 Mission St. Zip: 94112- fastmail.net by Farrell Dobbs 1015. Tel: (415) 584-2135. E-mail: swpsf #204 H2S 2S5. Tel: (514) 272-5840. 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Amid hand wringing over years of high unem- For the same reasons, the Militant and the “Their cause is our cause.” ployment, no capitalist politician has proposed— Socialist Workers Party candidates have been rais- “Unions all over the world are one union,” said let alone done—anything to put more people to ing the need for working people to fight for a mas- Michael Bonnet, a Boston driver who is originally work. President Barack Obama’s highly-touted Jobs sive government-funded public works program to from Haiti. “There’s a lot of struggles in Haiti. We Commission he set up two years ago met four times put millions to work today, building and repairing know how to do this.” and did nothing. Last week the president unceremo- infrastructure, hospitals, schools and other things The Boston contingent was welcomed by the strik- niously disbanded it. workers need. Under the cumulative impact of the ers. “It means everything,” said Maribel Gonzalez, a These facts point to only one conclusion: The current situation, this demand is becoming more and bus attendant for 17 years. “It means we are not alone.” propertied rulers and the elected politicians who more necessary, not only to alleviate the immediate The main issue in the strike is the plan of the city represent them don’t want to do anything about the economic grind, but to strengthen the unity, confi- government and bus companies to eliminate Employee scourge of unemployment, despite what they say. dence and fighting capacity of the working class in Protection Provisions, in place for 34 years, that they Under current conditions of declining production order to push back the capitalists’ assaults. now claim are illegal. and trade, the bosses have no economic interest in It is in this context that the Militant is launching The provisions require that companies that win con- boosting employment. As they compete with each a five-week subscription effort, taking the perspec- tracts from the city government must first hire work- other and seek to shore up their declining profit rates, tive for the fight for jobs and other political questions ers laid off from other companies in seniority order, their concern is to drive against the wages, working of interest to workers door to door across the coun- with their pay and benefits intact. Strikers point out conditions and overall living standards of working try—and internationally. We have found more and that without the master pick list they would essentially people as much as possible without engendering too more working people want to discuss how to con- be temporary workers, put out on the street every time much resistance along the way. Persistently high job- front the social crises bred by the normal workings their route changes hands. lessness is helpful in this regard. of capitalism. And more are open to a perspective “In 2003 Varsity Transit closed down. I had worked The larger the ranks of jobless, the longer peri- of decades of class-struggle ahead through which there for 15 years,” said Luis Nieves. “They reopened ods of their unemployment, the more discouraged working people will transform themselves, posing under the name Varsity Bus Company. Since we had and willing to accept pay cuts to be working again, the need and possibility of building a revolutionary the EPP protections, I followed the work. Without that, the better. The less confident and combative workers movement that can fight for political power. We in- the companies can just close down, open with another are, the better. vite you to join in. name, and hire workers for less money.” Workers have already taken cuts over the years, Nieves added. “Now it takes six years to get to top pay, instead of the three years needed when I started. We have no sick days, and less vacation.” Washington, UN tighten N. Korea sanctions The New York School Bus Contractors’ Coalition Continued from front page troops fought the U.S-led forces to a stalemate had filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Republic of Korea said the next day, denouncing and dealt U.S. imperialism its first military defeat, Board asking for an injunction. The bus company the “double standards” of Security Council members. Washington agreed to a cease-fire. To this day the U.S. bosses argued the dispute is between the union and “The DPRK will continue to exercise its independent government has refused to sign a formal peace treaty, the city government, making the strike an illegal “sec- and legitimate right to launch satellites for peaceful despite numerous requests from Pyongyang, and re- ondary boycott.” Bloomberg, however, insists it is be- purposes while abiding by the universally recognized mains officially at war with the Democratic People’s tween the bus companies and the union. international law on the use of space for peaceful pur- Republic of Korea. On Feb. 1, the NLRB ruled the strike legal and stat- poses.” Economic sanctions banning trade with North ed that both the companies and the Board of Education The Security Council called for stepped-up enforce- Korea that were put in place in 1950, three days after are “primary employers.” ment of six previous resolutions aimed at blocking the start of the war, have never been lifted. Some 2,800 of 7,700 bus routes are now running, North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and There are still some 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in 110 more than the week before, Board of Education ballistic missile delivery systems. Those measures in- South Korea and some 47,000 across the Korea Strait spokeswoman Marge Feinberg told the Wall Street clude bans on North Korean arms imports and exports in Japan. U.S. stealth bombers at Japanese and Guam Journal Feb. 3. Among those crossing the picket lines and calls for inspecting and destroying “all banned airbases can reach North Korea within an hour. are many members of Teamsters Local 854, which cargo… on the high seas, at seaports, and airports.” According to the Arms Control Association, U.S. represents 1,000 school bus workers. In the new resolution “a ‘catch-all’ system was intro- forces had 100 tactical nuclear weapons based in South Workers at nonunion companies as well as members duced,” reports South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh, Korea until at least September 1991, when President of United Craft and Industrial Workers Union Local “according to which a member country that judges George H. Bush announced that he was withdraw- 91, which organizes workers at Logan Bus Co., are that a given item might be used for military purposes ing tactical nukes deployed abroad. And Washington also crossing the picket lines. United Service Workers can prohibit it from being exported, even if it is not helped Seoul sweep under the rug the fact that as re- Union Local 355 is providing replacement workers for on the list of items placed under embargo by previous cently as 2000 it produced nuclear weapons-grade plu- Staten Island Bus Company. Other struck companies resolutions.” tonium and uranium in experiments hidden from the are hiring scabs. Feinberg told the Journal that 49 new The resolution imposes a travel ban and asset freeze U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency. drivers and more than 200 attendants have been certi- on four North Korean bank and space technology of- fied by the city. ficials and freezes the assets of six banks and govern- Negotiations with Washington Michael, an ATU member who asked his last name ment bodies. Over the last two decades Washington has partici- not be used, said many of the workers at Consolidated The Chinese government, North Korea’s largest pated in numerous on-again, off-again negotiations Bus Transit, where he works, are in the Teamsters and trading partner, voted in favor of sanctions, the third with Pyongyang, insisting that North Korea end its many of its buses are running. “It doesn’t make sense,” time it has done so since 2006. programs to develop nuclear weapons, while defend- he said while picketing on Hermany Avenue in the Highlighting the double standard toward the North, ing U.S. deployment of nuclear weapons worldwide. Bronx Feb. 4. “We do the same job and what happens the South Korean government Jan. 30 launched a sat- In 1994, Washington and Pyongyang adopted an to us is going to happen to them.” ellite into space, after several previous failed attempts, “Agreed Framework,” which called for the eventual Michael said Consolidated sent letters to ATU without a peep of protest from the U.N. or Washington. elimination of nuclear weapon programs in the North. members offering to hire them if they switched to the In response to the stepped-up sanctions, North As part of the agreement two light water reactors for Teamsters. “But at much less money and only part Korea’s National Defense Commission issued a state- electrical generation were to be built in the North along time,” he said. “You’d lose everything—salary, ben- ment Jan. 24 announcing its intention to push ahead with annual shipments of fuel oil until the plant goes efits, seniority. So far no one has taken them up on it. with nuclear weapons development: “We will not hide on line. But that agreement broke down as Washington You might as well just go look for another job.” the fact that a variety of satellites and long-range rock- balked at carrying out its end of the bargain. It was an- While this reporter was on the Hermany Avenue ets will be launched and a nuclear test of a higher level nounced in 2006 that the plants won’t be built. picket line, the police came and made workers extin- will be carried out during the next phase of the anti- In February 2012 an agreement was announced that guish a small fire they had going in an oil drum to U.S. struggle,” it said. Pyongyang would suspend operations at its Yongbyon keep warm in the subfreezing weather. The U.S. government has a long history of ag- uranium plant and that Washington would provide At the Zerega Avenue Bronx picket line in front gression against Korea, from the U.S. occupation 240,000 metric tons of food aid. The following month of Reliant Transportation Inc., ATU 1181 President and forced division of the country into North and Washington suspended the food delivery after North Michael Cordello and United Federation of Teachers South—with the agreement of Moscow—following Korea announced it would launch a satellite. representative José Vargas spoke after the caravan ar- World War II to the 1950-53 Korean War, waged by Pyongyang continues to demonstrate its interest in rived. “This is not just about the school bus workers,” Washington under the U.N. flag, and the backing of seeking resolution to tensions with Washington on Vargas said. “The mayor is trying to break the unions.” successive capitalist-landlord military dictatorships in terms that respect Korean sovereignty. “The public is with us, other unions are with us, and the South. In the midst of stepped-up sanctions, Pyongyang the truth is with us,” Cordiello said. He said the ATU In the course of the Korean War, the U.S. military welcomed former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is expanding picket lines at the Board of Education. leveled almost every building in the North, forcing and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt on a A citywide march on Feb. 10 will start at 12:30 p.m. factories to operate underground. U.S. airstrikes also four-day unofficial trip to North Korea Jan. 7. Three at Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza and end at City Hall. destroyed major dams, wiping out large swatches of weeks later Google added information to Google maps agricultural land. on North Korea for the first time, including streets, Seth Galinsky, Deborah Liatos and Candace Wagner In 1953, after North Korea with the aid of Chinese government buildings and landmarks. contributed to this article.

The Militant February 18, 2013 9