• AFROAMERICANAS/OS Y ELECCIONES • BAJO ATAQUE OBRERAS/OS FEDERALES 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 58, No. 15 April 21, 2016 $1 WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN DUMP TRUMP April 14 NYC Workers, youth battle anti-labor law Mass protests in France By John Catalinotto

Paris police swept the tents and ban- ners of young protesters from the Place de la Republic on the morning of April 11. Philly high school students say ‘Enough!’ The youth had occupied the square since March 31. That’s when demonstrations throughout France of more than 1 million unionists and students protested the new anti-labor law pushed by the government of François Hollande. The new law would make it even hard- er to find secure employment. It would allow bosses to fire workers without the kinds of notice and protections the French working class had won in earlier struggles. It also eliminates the guaran- teed 35-hour work week. By all indications, this new incarnation of 2011’s “indignant ones” in Spain and Occupy Wall Street in the United States will be back, even if police pushed pro- testers out of the squares of the 60 cities and towns outside the capital. In all those squares, tent cities arose.

People stayed up all night to debate the WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE big questions facing their future. By all Students from public high schools in Philadelphia protest austerity. See page 7. appearances, the young people hold the support of the unions and social organi- zations to the left of the misnamed So- cialist Party that Hollande heads. Activists expose Clintons’ racism Two days earlier, on April 9, some 390,000 people in cities and towns all By WW Philadelphia Bureau the protesters for as long as 15 minutes. Workers World: One of the signs you over France had taken to the streets to During the exchange, Clinton accused held read, “Clinton crime bill destroyed trash the new anti-labor law. This was Two protesters disrupted former Pres- Black Lives Matter activists of “defend- our communities!” What did you mean the first weekend demonstration in the ident Bill Clinton while he spoke at a ing” crack dealers, murderers and gang by that? continuing series of protests. It included Hillary Clinton campaign event in North leaders. Just one day later, Bill Clinton Rufus Farmer: The crime bill that Bill the participation of families with young Philadelphia on April 7. With signs and said of his racist tirade, “I almost want to Clinton signed into law in 1994 — the children. vocal comments, the activists took Clin- apologize for it.” “Violent Crime Control and Law Enforce- Two major union federations, the CGT ton to task over his disastrous 1994 crime The protesters, Erica Mines and Rufus ment Act” — greatly contributed to the and FO, backed the protests, but univer- bill and Hillary Clinton’s roles in bloody Farmer, are two native Philadelphia ac- mass incarceration of African people, as sity and high school students and young coups, from Honduras to Libya. tivists with the Philadelphia Coalition for well as other minorities. The bill, once workers continued to lead the way. The In an uncharacteristic response, the R.E.A.L. (Racial, Economic and Legal) established as law, made it so that an in- demands have gone beyond the new law. normally calm and collected Bill Clinton Justice and Workers World Party. WW dividual would receive an unnecessarily Even as early as February people want- engaged in a heated back and forth with spoke to them after the protest. Continued on page 6 ed to take the protests to another level. They decided after a protest they would just stay in the streets. (theguardian.com, April 8) “On March 31, at the time of the labor law protests, that’s what happened,” a RACIST OUTRAGES SPUR STRUGGLE former delivery driver told the Guardian. “There was torrential rain, but still every- 3 one came back here to the square. Then at • Lead poison not just in Flint Continued on page 11 • Anti-gentrification struggle 3

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City / State / Zip______Workers World 212.627.2994 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 Cuba and reality 8 Yemen and war 9 Moldova and U.S. 9 Page 2 April 21, 2016 workers.org Oklahoma earthquakes spike fracking opposition

By Chris Fry  In the U.S. Mass protests in France ...... 1 The state of Oklahoma Philadelphia activists expose Clintons’ racism ...... 1 had five earthquakes on Oklahoma earthquakes spike fracking opposition . . . . 2 April 3. There had been 29 Brooklyn: Ground zero for gentrification ...... 3 earthquakes in the previous Flint lead poisoning tip of the iceberg ...... 3 week, 222 in the past month and 3,424 in the past year. $1,000-a-pill is death sentence for HCV patients . . . . . 4 The strongest quake in Okla- Coal baron gets slap on wrist for death of 29 miners . . . 4 homa this year registered industry holds so much sway Milwaukee students say ‘Dump Trump’ ...... 4 5.1 on the Richter scale in that for decades drill rigs have Richard Levins: Marxist scientist, communist ...... 5 Fairview, Okla. (earthquake. extracted crude from directly GE’s ‘moral fabric’ and its forgotten socialist wizard . . . 5 com, April 3) beneath the Capitol building.” The racist criminalization of African Americans ...... 6 On March 28, the U.S. Last year there were 3,424 quakes in Oklahoma, the strong­ (swtimes.com, March 6) Geological Survey, a federal est registering 5.1 on the Richter scale. Oil billionaires like T. Boone Palestinian students on U.S. speaking tour ...... 6 agency that has historically been very friendly to the oil Pickens ridicule the notion that the oil industry is at fault. Justice for India Cummings! ...... 7 and gas industry, said it had traced the vast increase of “Wastewater wells and fracking have nothing to do with Philadelphia high school walkout demands basic needs . 7 earthquakes in and around Oklahoma to the industry’s — they’re not even earthquakes,” he told 300 of his bud- Lamont Walls dies in Iowa jail ...... 7 injection of wastewater from fracking and oil extraction dies and minions at the Southern Republican Leadership Days of action: Demand end to U.S. blockade of Cuba . . 8 into deep underground wells near ancient fault lines: Conference. Pickens claims the rise in quakes is the result Veterans with disabilities denied benefits ...... 8 “The central U.S. has undergone the most dramatic in- of increased government monitoring. (readfrontier.com, crease in seismicity over the past six years. From 1973 to May 23) Lowndes County, Ala.: Roots of revolution, Part 2 . . . . 10 2008, there was an average of 24 earthquakes of magni- But this huge hike in corporate-caused earthquakes Stop auto layoffs: A job is a right! ...... 11 tude 3.0 and larger per year. From 2009 to 2015, the rate has sparked a rising tide of anger among the people of  Around the world steadily increased, averaging 318 per year and peaking Oklahoma. More than 500 people recently attended a in 2015 with 1,010 earthquakes. Through mid-March in public meeting on the earthquakes at the University of Obama and the Cuban Economy 2016, there have been 226 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 Central Oklahoma in Edmond, where the famed environ- Part 1: Understanding what wasn’t said ...... 8 and larger in the central U.S. region. To date, the largest mental activist Erin Brockovich spoke, as well as an offi- A year of U.S.-coordinated war in Yemen ...... 9 earthquake located near several active injection wells was cial from the Sierra Club. What is U.S. up to in Moldova? ...... 9 a magnitude 5.6 in 2011 near Prague, Okla.” The earth- This and like actions forced the Oklahoma Corpora- quake near Prague, a town of 2,500 people, destroyed a tion Commission, known to be pro-Big Oil, to ask the oil  WWP presidential campaign dozen homes, damaged 200 buildings, injured two, and and gas industry to voluntarily reduce by 40 percent the ‘Solidarity with anti-racist occupation at Duke University’ 10 caused more than $1 million of damage. amount of wastewater disposed of in deep underground According to the USGS, Oklahomans are now as likely wells. Experts call this too little, too late. They are de-  Noticias en Español to experience a damaging earthquake as people living in manding a complete moratorium on all wastewater injec- El poder político afroamericano y las elecciones . . . . .12 quake-prone areas of California. And, as the agency fur- tion throughout the state. Trabajadoras/es federales bajo ataque ...... 12 ther notes, in the central U.S. “there may be thousands of They demand that the oil and gas companies either faults that could rupture in a large earthquake.” treat the waste liquid so it becomes usable water, which would eat into their profits, or stop all fracking. Only the A tide of ‘earthquake swarms’ growing struggle by Oklahoma residents can force these For the last six years, the state government of Oklaho- profit-hungry corporations to do what is necessary to Workers World ma has done very little to stem this tide of what the USGS protect the health and safety of the communities from 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. calls “earthquake swarms.” In Oklahoma City, “the oil these earthquake swarms. New York, N.Y. 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 58, No. 15 • April 21, 2016 Closing date: April 12, 2016 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Who we are & what we’re fighting for Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, means of production. women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning make that change. That’s why for 58 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Copyright © 2016 Workers World. Verbatim copying Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. National Office Bay Area Cleveland Houston Pittsburgh Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. 1305 Franklin St. #411 P.O. Box 5963 P.O. Box 3454 [email protected] except the first week of January by WW Publishers, New York, NY 10011 Oakland, CA 94612 Cleveland, OH 44101 Houston, TX 77253-3454 Rochester, N.Y. 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Phone: 510.600.5800 216.738.0320 713.503.2633 212.627.2994 585.436.6458 212.627.2994. 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BROOKLYN: Ground zero for gentrification

By Imani Henry spitting on a subway platform and being members on the lease, and repairs that in a park after dusk. are covered by the landlord. When you’re Brooklyn is definitely ground zero for We do so much work trying to stop the an unregulated tenant, you’re at the mer- gentrification in New York City. Specific level of tickets and summonses written to cy of your landlord. to Brooklyn is that rents have gone up drivers of color for “driving while Black or This is why elders, especially women of by outrageous degrees in neighborhoods Brown.” Traffic checkpoints are a regular color who have had their apartments for where the average median income is occurrence and ticketing drivers is part over 30 years, are being unjustly taken under $35,000 a year. Over 25 percent of a monthly quota system for the New to landlord-tenant court. We have cases of the people of this city make under York Police Department to make income. where families who are dealing with el- $25,000 a year. We and other groups are also docu- ders in hospice care are suddenly being People in migrant communities of color menting that this is specifically racially dragged into housing court so that the neighborhoods, where households have motivated and that there is a completely landlord can throw their entire family banded together in order to have multiple different set of rules and systems, par- out when the loved one on the lease dies. breadwinners just to pay rent, are being ticularly for white people moving into priced and pushed out. The New York neighborhoods in Brooklyn. We have Developers and the de Blasio Times reported a 400 percent increase in heard that police presence decreases in administration foreclosures in Brooklyn in 2015. neighborhoods once more white people At the end of the day, the de Blasio ad- The conditions are such that they dev- have moved in. We’ve also begun taking ministration is beholden to the develop- astate the racial, cultural, linguistic and video — and we encourage others to do so, ers. Capitalism is about profit. Progres- economic diversity of the city. too — documenting new, white residents sive journalist Aaron Cantu has written drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes on about the developers behind de Blasio’s Landlords, police harass tenants the subway without getting any tickets. pro-gentrification housing plan. We see increased tenant harassment There is clearly a double standard for Our community boards must be elected people of color and migrants moving in or and have veto power because the borough in Brooklyn — everything from landlords Imani Henry assaulted at mayor’s hearing. turning off and denying access to gas for trying to live or stay in Brooklyn. Land- president, who is in many cases tied to three to 18 months, to hoarding people’s lords refuse to rent or sell to people of housing. We want to see affordable per- real estate money, appoints a community rent checks and money orders and then color, and at the same time, the police are manent housing. board that then is beholden to him and not taking people to court for nonpayment, to doing everything in their power to push We are in a housing crisis. Eighty per- to the community. The developers then using people’s immigration, racial or gen- people out of Brooklyn. We’re back to Jim cent of the people of this city spend most come to our neighborhoods and get licens- der status against them under the threat Crow segregation in New York City. of their money and resources on paying es to build. The mayor has made it easier of eviction. On March 23, the mayor’s housing rent. It is time to have rent regulation for them to rezone our neighborhoods. We’re currently fighting a landlord who plan was approved by the City Council. and rent stabilization universally in New Equality for Flatbush is partnered with refuses to make repairs for long-term ten- This plan leaves out a large percentage of York. The vast majority of people live in large, affordable-housing tenant groups ants in order to force them out — and then the people of New York. Some 25 percent unregulated housing, and we should turn and small grassroots groups. More pro- overcharges new tenants. What we have of the people here make $25,000 and un- that around. We don’t need new condos tests are being planned. We will be observed is if you just moved to Brook- der a year. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan is and luxury developments. What we need launching a campaign demanding elected lyn in the last five years and you’re in a pro-gentrification. It relies solely on de- is real affordable housing for everyone. community boards. Groups are bringing rent-stabilized apartment, chances are velopers building largely luxury housing We’re seeing people new to New York lawsuits against community boards and you’re being overcharged by $300 to $400. and allowing for a few units to go to peo- City who don’t know their rights and the city administration for their role in Tenant harassment is coupled with ple of mostly middle income. don’t know they’re in a rent-stabilized tenant harassment and discrimination. police harassment. We’ve been able to The mayor’s plan is geared towards apartment. They’ve been told lies like, We must turn the tide around and prove that since 2012, rapidly gentrify- people who can afford market-rate apart- “You’re getting preferential rent,” so they make sure that tenants, homeowners, ing neighborhoods have had high rates of ments and allows them to become the think they’re getting a deal. But the land- small businesses, people of color, mi- “stop and frisk” profiling. “Broken win- majority in a building. That is ridiculous. lord is ready to jack up the rent on them grants, LGBTQ people, elders, people dow” policing has meant summonses for The vast majority of the people who live at any time to market price. Part of rent living with AIDS, people with disabilities everything from riding bikes on the side- in New York City are low to middle in- stabilization is having the right to a lease and victims of domestic abuse — all can walk to walking between subway cars, come. We should have the majority of the renewal, succession rights to have family stay in their homes. Flint lead poisoning is tip of the iceberg

By Martha Grevatt The same racism and anti-poor dis- tors who controlled Flint when the deci- are regular reports exposing how wide- Detroit crimination that created the Flint water sion was made and carried out to hook spread the problem is. In many commu- This April 25 will mark two years since crisis continues to make residents’ lives a into the Flint River. Snyder also appoint- nities, children test positive for elevated the infamous event that exposed the city living hell. State and federal aid, trickling ed the Department of Environmental blood lead at higher levels than Flint. In of Flint to lead-contaminated water. On in at a snail’s pace, falls well below what Quality officials who violated the federal three cities — Atlanta, Philadelphia and that day, Flint disconnected from Detroit is needed immediately to repair the water Lead and Copper Rule by stating repeat- Allentown, Pa. — the combined total of Water and Sewerage and began getting infrastructure and provide the medical, edly that anti-corrosive chemicals were lead-affected children is 500,000. In untreated drinking water from the pol- nutritional and social support that can not needed, claiming for 18 months that Allentown, 23.5 percent of the children luted and corrosive Flint River. For 18 give Flint’s children a shot at overcoming the untreated water was safe. The gover- are affected. The rate in Cleveland, also months, city residents’ cries for help were the effects of lead poisoning. nor’s own hand-picked task force placed a majority African-American city, is over ignored and belittled as they suffered The recommendation for children un- primary responsibility on the DEQ itself. 14 percent — twice that of Flint — be- from a myriad of health consequenc- der six and pregnant women to drink only Snyder recently raised the ire of Mich- cause of the high number of older homes es and saw their children’s progress in bottled water remains in effect. All others igan residents even more by expropriat- with lead-based paint. People on Native school decline dramatically. When Flint are being told to drink only filtered wa- ing millions of tax dollars for his legal reservations also have a high rate of lead switched back to Detroit water in October ter. The latest report from whistleblowing defense from lawsuits filed against him exposure. 2015, the damage was done. scientist Marc Edwards shows overall im- by hundreds and potentially thousands The consequences are devastating. A Flint, a majority Black city with the provement in the water’s lead levels but in- of Flint residents. Now, his lawyers are 2015 study of elementary school students highest poverty rate in Michigan, is a case dicates excessive levels remain in almost 8 claiming that a lawsuit filed by activist in Chicago tied 15 percent of all failing study in environmental racism. None percent of Flint homes. In other words, at Melissa Mays and nine other residents grades to lead poisoning. other than the New York Times editorial least 8,000 residents are still at risk. is untimely. Why? Because the decision Lead’s dangers have been known to board reached that conclusion in a March New information shows that the water to connect to the Flint River was made physicians since the time of the Roman 25 opinion piece titled “The Racism at the is still not safe for washing. Residents in April 2014 and, therefore, the lawsuit Empire. That this toxin still poses a threat Heart of Flint’s Crisis.” The editors cited are still contracting skin rashes. Scott should have been filed within six months to human well-being is an indictment of the March 23 report by the Flint Water Smith, the chief technology officer of of that decision! a system that devalues children of color Task Force, appointed by Michigan Gov. Water ­Defense — founded by actor Mark “There are questions of fraudulent con- and poor children, offering only a future Rick Snyder to study the crisis and its ­Ruffalo — stated April 9 that, until the cealment (by the governor) and I don’t of mass incarceration, unemployment, causes. While timidly avoiding the word water is fully tested for toxins that can think you can claim on the one hand peo- military servitude or low-wage jobs. “racism,” the task force concluded: “Flint be inhaled in an aerosolized mist or ab- ple have not timely filed when you con- The pollution of the Flint River origi- residents, who are majority Black or Af- sorbed through skin contact, it cannot be cealed the information that would later nated with corporations, especially the rican-American and among the most im- confirmed safe for bathing or showering. lead them to the danger,” Mays’ attorney auto manufacturers, that made billions poverished of any metropolitan area in rightly countered. (Detroit News, April 8) off the workers’ productivity, only to Taxpayers foot bill for governor’s defense the United States, did not enjoy the same abandon them once the factories became Lead poisoning throughout the U.S. degree of protection from environmental The culpability of Gov. Rick Snyder is old. These polluters, along with the state, and health hazards as that provided to beyond dispute. Snyder appointed and Flint has put the effects of lead poi- must be forced to pay for the human other communities.” oversaw the emergency manager dicta- soning in the public mindset. Now, there damage they have inflicted. Page 4 April 21, 2016 workers.org $1,000-a-pill is death sentence for HCV patients

By Dave Welsh London, Paris, New York and Johannes- Foster City, Calif. burg, demanding that the pills be made available free to prisoners and affordable One Harvoni pill a day for 12 weeks to all HCV sufferers. can cure hepatitis C with a 95 percent Their cause is supported by South Af- success rate. But a Big Pharma company, rica’s largest union. The National Union Gilead Sciences, which “owns” Harvoni, of Metalworkers of South Africa wrote to charges $1,000 per pill or $84,000 for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf earlier this a full treatment. It manages to sell the year demanding that Harvoni pills be same drug in Egypt for $10 a pill. (New given free to Mumia and other HCV-in- York Times, Dec. 15) fected prisoners. “The refusal of health Anger at this outrageous price gouging care,” said the NUMSA letter, “reminds prompted loud global demonstrations on Tokyo demonstration us of the conditions we were put in un- April 1. At Gilead’s headquarters in Cali- against Gilead, April 1. der apartheid prisons [in South Africa], fornia’s Silicon Valley, hep C patients and PHOTO: DORO-CHIBA INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE where sick detainees were allowed to caregivers from Oakland’s Oasis Clinic, die in very deplorable lonely conditions their faces painted yellow to symbolize rus in 1981 from a tainted prison blood Like ‘conditions under apartheid’ in solitary as part of the punishment for the effects of this debilitating disease, transfusion after he was shot by police, Abu-Jamal’s lawyers recently un- their role in the struggle.” staged a “die-in,” while a crowd chanted: according to a statement by the Labor Ac- earthed a Pennsylvania Department of Gilead Sciences, which turned a net “Gilead’s profits are rising! Hep C pa- tion Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Ja- Corrections secret protocol explicitly profit of $18 billion in 2015 from revenues tients are dying!” mal that was read at the rally. “Mumia’s calling for “observation, but no treatment of $32 billion, has been well connected Speakers, who included Dr. Diana Syl- infection began to show symptoms in for HCV infected prisoners, until they are with movers and shakers in Washington, vestre and Orlando Chavez from the Oa- 2015, which is typical for this slow-in- at death’s door (if then),” the committee D.C. Donald Rumsfeld joined its board of sis Clinic, pointed out that over 5 million cubating but usually fatal (if untreated) said. Mumia has filed suit against the directors in 1988, the year the company people in the U.S. are infected with the disease. Mass mobilization is the only DOC. He is asking that all 10,000 prison- was founded, and served as chair of Gil- virus, including some 200,000 military reason Mumia got any medical attention ers in Pennsylvania who suffer from HCV ead from 1997 to 2001, when George W. veterans and 700,000 people in U.S. at all, and he is still denied the curative be given the curative pills. Bush appointed him secretary of defense. prisons — including political prisoner Harvoni treatment. ... The Pennsylvania Demonstrations, initially called by George P. Schultz, secretary of state un- Mumia Abu-Jamal. prison system is now trying to kill Mumia ACT-UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash der Ronald Reagan, also served on the Mumia was infected with hep C vi- by medical neglect.” Power), also took place the same day in Gilead board. Coal baron gets slap on wrist for death of 29 miners

By Benji Pyles for capitalist coal barons who put prof- not guilty of a crime.” Instead of owning up of millions of dollars. In West Virginia, Charleston, W.Va. it ahead of human well-being. However, to his crime and being eternally grateful even in the rare instances where the fed- Blankenship’s crimes and cavalier atti- that he’s getting off easy, Blankenship con- eral government might consider a crim- April 8 — Many in West Virginia and tude toward the lives of workers were so tinues to mock workers and their families. inal coal boss liable, the barons can get eastern Kentucky were dismayed when egregious that he was, in fact, sentenced away with mass murder if they write a big news came that notorious Massey coal to a full year in prison and forced to pay Capitalism: a law for rich, another for poor enough check. baron Don Blankenship would face only a $250,000 fine. The federal prosecutor It’s a scathing indictment of the capi- Outside the courtroom, the people let a maximum of one year in prison for his recommended this sentence, which is the talist system, and the state that protects Blankenship hear their righteous indig- role in the Upper Big Branch Mine disas- maximum possible for this misdemeanor. it, that a millionaire who killed 29 people nation. “That man has no remorse,” said ter. Blankenship was not even charged The day after the verdict, Blankenship’s was given a mere slap on the wrist while Tommy Davis, who lost his son, nephew with the murder of the 29 miners, but million-dollar attorneys filed a notice of Black and Brown youth are being locked and brother in the explosion. rather “conspiracy to willfully violate appeal on his behalf. They say they are away for decades over minor drug offens- “He’s standing up there, and he’s hug- mine health and safety standards.” (more confident that the decision will be over- es — and when released, cannot get a job ging them people. I don’t hug nothing at “Coal Mine Boss found guilty of con- turned. Currently, it is not known when due to their record. Blankenship has no but a damn tombstone. I hold a picture. I spiracy,” bit.ly/1WhKZHx) he will be required to report to prison. such difficulties ahead of him. He has don’t get to hold no grandchildren.” Critical observers have expressed After the verdict, Blankenship told the amassed a fortune robbing the working “I miss my family. He hugged his, and doubt that he would see any jail time, due Charleston Gazette-Mail: “There was no class of the products of their labor. His net all he gets is a year,” local media outlet to the long history of a lack of punishment direct evidence I committed a crime. I am worth is rumored to be in the hundreds WSAZ reported Davis as saying. “They need to be stricter, more harsh penalties for people like that who puts greed — money — over human life.” Students say ‘Dump Trump’ Union member and organizer with the Appalachian Workers Alliance, Ethan By Workers World Staff Milwaukee Young, commented: “I pray that Blan- kenship’s cellmate is one of the count- With youth and students taking the less miners who broke his body in those lead, Donald Trump was confronted mines and became addicted to pain pills across Wisconsin during his campaign while trying to cope with the painful ex- there. Trump and other presidential can- istence he endured for the profit of the didates were touring the state leading up Coal Baron.” to the April 5 primary. That Blankenship is able to walk away On March 30, students and workers from this with his pockets only a little in Green Bay confronted Trump. Before lighter is an indictment of the system, this, Trump was confronted in Janesville proof that the political establishment and and other locations. their courts can’t deliver justice for West On April 3, at the University of Wis- Virginia’s working class. The only way consin-Milwaukee, a rainbow of individ- forward is the seizure of state power and uals from an array of organizations came the means of production by the working Students and workers protest Donald Trump at the out to protest Trump. They were outraged class. We must build a new system — a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, April 3. that the UWM administration would al- democratically planned economy where low the anti-worker, white-supremacist PHOTO: WI BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE MOVEMENT all property is collectively owned by the Trump to speak on campus. Protesters sit-in to demand the name and release of the Struggle at UWM, the African Stu- working class and all labor is directed at gathered in Spaights Plaza and held a the student. dent Association, Students for a Demo- fulfilling people’s needs, instead of mak- militant demonstration facing off against During the sit-in, numerous students cratic Society, the Black Student Union, ing profits for a small minority of million- city and campus police protecting Trump. and workers spoke out against Trump the Latin American Solidarity Commit- aires and billionaires. At one point, the protesters marched and capitalism and for socialism. When tee, Students for Justice in Palestine, For more on the struggle, follow the through adjacent streets and through the the student, Chivaliea Hayes, was re- Black Lives Matter, Community Upris- Appalachian Workers Alliance blog at bit. campus, returning to the site where those leased, the protesters dispersed, vowing ing, the Wisconsin Bail Out the People ly/1MZ9Mhi, on Facebook at fb.com/ap- entering to hear Trump were. The stu- to stop Trump at his next appearance in Movement and Workers World Party. palachianworkersalliance and on Twitter dents and workers again faced off against Milwaukee on April 4. Also on April 3, students and workers @AWAworkers. police on foot and horseback. When a stu- The UWM “Dump Trump” protest confronted Trump and his supporters at Stephen Pearson, an organizer with dent was snatched by the police and de- was organized and supported by many Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, a the Appalachian Workers Alliance, tained, the protesters held an hours-long groups, including Youth Empowered in suburb of Milwaukee. contributed to this article. workers.org April 21, 2016 Page 5 Richard Levins: Marxist scientist, communist

Richard “Dick” Levins, communist and by his teens helped lead the Young and distinguished Marxist scientist, Communist League as it split from the died on Jan. 19 at the age of 85. He was Young Socialists. a population geneticist, mathematical I’m not sure at what age [my father] ecologist and philosopher of science. joined the Communist Party, but he was Applying dialectical materialism to certainly a member when he started col- biology, he fought against any theory lege at 17. He had left home by then, and that tried to justify imperialism, racism a year later met my Puerto Rican mother, Maricao, Puerto Rico, early 1950s. and class oppression. His extensive work Rosario, at a communist social evening. includes “Evolution in Changing Envi- They fell for each other at first sight. Their Levins, in Hanoi, 1970. (Back row, far right) In it, he laid out the necessary evolu- second date was a lecture by Black femi- tion from reactive to strategic thinking, ronments” and “The Dialectical Biolo- PHOTOS: RADICALISMOJUDIO.ORG nist communist Claudia Jones. Their next using an array of examples from the an- gist,” articles co-authored with Richard campus, and a focus for both anti-war date was the Peekskill riot, when white ti-colonial struggles of the time. Tokyo demonstration Lewontin. At his death, Levins was pro- and pro-independence organizing. There supremacists tried to stop Paul Robeson In 1967, we moved to Chicago, and the against Gilead, April 1. fessor of population sciences and head were massive draft card burnings, pro- from performing. They were married in focus of his political work changed. The of the Human Ecology program in the tests against the ROTC on campus and a June 1950 as they were both turning 20, Movimiento Pro Independencia had be- Department of Global Health and Popu- growing identification with anti-colonial and went to live in Ithaca [N.Y.], where my come the Puerto Rican Socialist Party; he lation, Harvard School of Public Health. struggles throughout the world, especial- father was enrolled at Cornell. was a member of the Chicago chapter. He The following is an edited memorial ly with Cuba and the rest of Latin Ameri- was an expert witness in a case against reflection by his daughter, writer-activ- ca. In addition to his UPR biology cours- Long relationship with Puerto Rico, Cuba the U.S. Navy in Vieques, testified at the ist Aurora Levins Morales. es, my father taught Marxism classes in When he graduated, he was unem- U.N. on decolonizing Puerto Rico and My father was a product of the Jewish people’s homes. ployable as a communist. The Korean taught a class on Puerto Rican history radicalism of the small towns and cities In 1964, my parents were invited to War had started, and [my parents] were and politics for the Young Lords. of southern Ukraine. He was raised by Cuba, where my father was asked to help uncertain what would happen when my His commitment to his work in Cuba his grandmother Leah in a Brooklyn ex- reorganize the University of Havana biol- father refused to fight. So they went to grew and he traveled there more often, tended family home. Leah, born in the ogy department. This was the beginning Puerto Rico to get to know my mother’s eventually going every year. He also went to Ukraine, was my father’s main source of a lifelong commitment to the Cuban country and have some time together Hanoi on a science delegation in 1970 and of political education as a young person. Revolution and to the development of Cu- before a possible separation if my father came back to found Science for Vietnam. Leah was a sweatshop labor organizer ban science. His work on evolution and was jailed. For my father, being a revolutionary in- and a feminist. She worked with Mar- complexity in environments changed the This was the start of my father’s long cluded infinite curiosity and kindness. He garet Sanger, teaching immigrant wom- field of ecology, with profound and wide- relationship with Puerto Rico. At that loved exploring how other people think, en in the tenements about birth control, spread impact, but it was in Cuba he was time he was still a geneticist. My mother’s understanding the roots of their ideolo- went to hear Emma Goldman speak and best able to integrate his science and pol- questions turned him toward ecology. gy and thinking about why and how we greatly admired Rose Schneiderman, the itics and help to develop a revolutionary But in the meantime, he was a tropical make mistakes. One day when I was 10, I feminist, socialist labor leader who first science that could be put into practice at farmer, conducting fruit fly experiments asked him some question about our “en- said working women needed both bread the service of human liberation. and roses. in between trips to market to peddle veg- emies,” and he said, “There are no bad His father was the other source. Reu- etables and eggs. ‘From Rebel to Revolutionary’ people, only bad choices.” That, as much ben Levins was the first U.S.-born mem- Where my father taught was the [Uni- In 1966, he wrote “From Rebel to Rev- as any theoretical treatise, expresses the ber of his family, also Ukrainian Jews, versity of Puerto Rico] system’s main olutionary,” a work still deeply relevant. way my father approached the world. GE’s ‘moral fabric’ and its forgotten socialist wizard By Stephen Millies nearly a quarter of Bridgeport’s popula- ing new public school cutbacks. patents at GE was the African-American tion lives in dire poverty. Immelt didn’t reveal in his Post article engineer and inventor Lewis Latimer. Is General Electric one of the corpora- that GE will be slashing medical benefits Steinmetz helped elect George R. Lunn tions “destroying the moral fabric” of the Polluter and nuclear menace for retirees, allowing the company to save as Schenectady’s socialist mayor in both United States? That’s what Bernie Sand- Immelt also didn’t mention that GE’s $3.3 billion. (thestreet.com, Aug. 4) 1911 and 1915. Another GE town, Bridge- ers told the New York Daily News editori- two aviation plants in Vermont released In 2014, Immelt got $37.2 million in port Conn., also had a socialist mayor — al board on April 4. 60,000 pounds of toxins in 2011, ac- total compensation, more than $100,000 Jasper McLevy — from 1933 to 1957. GE’s CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, got so an- cording to the Environmental Protection per day. Nearly half of this package is Charles Steinmetz became president of gry that two days later he attacked the Agency. because of a big increase in his pension. the city’s school board, where he provid- presidential candidate in the Washington GE fought for decades against any (Reuters, March 10, 2015) ed free meals for hungry students. Judg- Post. EPA-imposed cleanup after dumping ing from his other positions, Steinmetz Judge for yourself whether GE is a cor- more than 1.3 million pounds of can- The socialist founder of GE labs would have been thrilled by the Black porate criminal. cer-causing chemicals into the Hudson GE also tried to destroy UE, the Elec- Panther Party’s Breakfast for Children Immelt bragged about jobs at GE facil- River. (cleanup.org) The company also trical Workers union, with red-baiting at- programs. ities in Sanders’ home state of Vermont. poisoned Connecticut’s Housatonic River tacks and helped propel Ronald Reagan’s A supporter of unions, Steinmetz He didn’t mention that Jack Welch — his and, from another plant, the Coosa River political career. changed cigar brands when cigar makers predecessor as GE’s CEO — fired 112,000 Basin in Georgia. With this record, is it any surprise that went on strike. In 1922, Steinmetz got workers. Japan’s nuclear disaster at Fukushima, GE has “never been a big hit with social- 291,000 votes when he ran for state en- Since 1978, the company has gotten which started with a 2011 earthquake, in- ists,” as Immelt wrote in the Washington gineer and surveyor on the Socialist Par- rid of 22,000 jobs in GE’s hometown of volves five GE Mark 1 reactors. Three GE Post? ty/Farmer-Labor ticket in the New York Schenectady, N.Y., alone. That’s accord- engineers — Gregory C. Minor, Richard Yet the founder of the GE Research state election. ing to Thomas F. O’Boyle, author of “At B. Hubbard and Dale G. Bridenbaugh — Labs was the socialist Charles Steinmetz. A. Philip Randolph got 129,000 votes Any Cost: Jack Welch, General Electric, quit in 1976 to protest the reactor’s un- The first industrial research facility in running for secretary of state on the same and the Pursuit of Profit.” safe design. (ABC News, March 15, 2011) the U.S. started in Steinmetz’s Schenect- ticket. Randolph later led the Brother- GE workers called Welch “Neutron There are 23 Mark 1 reactors in the ady, N.Y., garage in 1900. hood of Sleeping Car Porters and initiat- Jack” because he destroyed people’s jobs United States. Charles Steinmetz was born in the ed the 1963 March on Washington. while leaving the factories intact, just as German empire in 1865. As a university Steinmetz welcomed the socialist rev- the neutron bomb was supposed to kill Tax havens and pension rip-offs student he was forced to flee the country olution in Russia. He wrote the introduc- people with radiation while leaving cities’ Immelt claimed that GE pays “billions because of Bismarck’s anti-socialist laws. tion to “The Industrial Revival in Soviet infrastructure intact. Welch argued that, in taxes.” But in 2010, GE paid zilch in Attempting to enter the U.S. in 1889, Russia,” by A .A. Heller. “ideally you’d have every plant you own taxes after making $14.2 billion in prof- he was initially turned away by immigra- On Feb. 16, 1922, Steinmetz wrote So- on a barge,” so it could move to where the its. It actually got $3.2 billion back in tion officials. Steinmetz had kyphosis, a viet leader V.I. Lenin of his “admiration of lowest wages were. refunds from Uncle Sam that year. (New curvature of the spine, and only $10 in the wonderful work of social and indus- In Massachusetts alone, according York Times, March 24, 2011) his pocket. Donald Trump would have trial regeneration which Russia is accom- to O’Boyle, GE fired 7,000 workers in Last year, GE held $119 billion in off- deported him. plishing under such terrible difficulties. Lynn and 8,000 in Pittsfield. Erie, Pa., shore profits in 18 overseas tax havens. (In- A gifted mathematician, Steinmetz “I wish you the fullest success and have saw 6,000 GE jobs evaporate while Fort ternational Business Times, Oct. 6, 2015) worked out “Steinmetz’s Law,” which fig- every confidence that you will succeed. … Wayne, Ind., lost 4,000. GE is moving its headquarters from ured out the heat loss, “hysteresis,” in If in technical, and more particularly in Nobody works at the 77-acre GE facto- Fairfield, Conn., to Boston after getting electric motors. This paved the way for de- electrical engineering matters, I can as- ry in Bridgeport, Conn., anymore. This promises of $25 million in property tax veloping alternating current power. Stein- sist Russia in any manner with advice, factory employed 12,000 workers during breaks over 20 years. Massachusetts metz, along with others, created the first suggestions, or consultation, I shall al- World War II. The factory still employed Gov. Charlie Baker also wants to provide commercial three-phase power system. ways be very pleased to do so, as far as I 3,000 in the late 1970s, but the last 70 GE with $120 million in new roads, park- By 1900, Steinmetz was the most fa- am able.” workers were let go in 2007. (Connecticut ing and utility improvements. (boston. mous electrical engineer in the world and Lenin wrote two warm letters to Stein- Post, March 23, 2010) com, April 8) was known as “the Wizard of Schenect- metz in response. But before Steinmetz No wonder census statistics reveal that At the same time, Boston is threaten- ady.” Helping to protect Steinmetz’s 200 could help, he died on Oct. 26, 1923. Page 6 April 21, 2016 workers.org The racist criminalization of African Americans

By Abayomi Azikiwe contain and economically exploit large Editor, Pan-African News Wire segments of the nationally oppressed, most of whom are members of the work- When former President Bill Clinton ing class. spoke on April 7 in Philadelphia, protest- During many presidential election ers interrupted him, exposing Democrats’ campaigns, “law and order” issues have role in the mass incarceration and state re- been politicized in a racist way. The Re- pression of oppressed peoples in the U.S. publican and Democratic ruling-class during the 1990s. He responded by trying parties have preyed on the fear of street to justify decades of criminalization of crime and public corruption as political tens of millions of African Americans. tools to win elective office. This tactic Clinton’s mere suggestion that African consequences have been staggering. Ac- and other imprisoned population groups extends back to the post-Civil War Re- Americans were somehow responsible cording to Census data from 2014, there would be revealed. construction era when former planters for the high rates of incarceration derived are more young black high school drop- Moreover, the underdevelopment of sought to justify denying civil rights to from racist assumptions. They deliber- outs in prison than have jobs.” (Washing- the African-American community is im- the former enslaved population. ately ignore the ongoing legacy of slavery ton Post, Feb. 26) pacted by the absence of a large segment Yet the ruling class’s crimes are not pro- and Jim Crow manifested by pervasive What are the implications of an expo- of its population and the fact that former jected as a principal threat to the broader racist discrimination in the labor market, nentially expanding system of incarcer- prisoners face tremendous obstacles to society. How many bankers have been educational system, housing sector and ation where since 1980 the U.S. prison their reintegration into community and imprisoned for their theft of trillions of criminal justice system — and reflected population has risen by 500 percent? family life. dollars of wealth created by the U.S. and in the corporate media. Within the federal system alone, the 1980 Guo’s article notes that “mass incarcer- global workforce? Even though Bill Clinton later ex- to 2013 increase was 790 percent. ation’s ill effects are concentrated in plac- Wall Street and the Pentagon try to ra- pressed his alleged regret for the con- African Americans and Latinos/as are es already in distress. In some inner-city tionalize their massive crimes by claiming frontation, this does not absolve the U.S. profiled, arrested, prosecuted, convicted neighborhoods, up to one-fifth of the they are protecting people from “terror- ruling class for persistently targeting and sentenced in disproportionately high- young black men are behind bars. … [I]n ism.” Imperialist wars of regime change people of color communities and impris- er numbers than whites. This stems from their absence, their communities start to and genocide have killed and displaced oning 2.2 million women and men. the legacy of national oppression, institu- fracture. So when they get out ... there are more than 60 million people in the last Democratic presidential candidate tional racism and economic exploitation. no jobs and no support networks.” quarter-century. Yet they are not classi- Hillary Clinton has been confronted re- Law enforcement’s brutality and ter- The inherent racial inequality in U.S. fied as egregious acts warranting tougher peatedly over the legacy of Bill Clinton’s rorism, imprisonment and judicial su- society is seen in the unemployment rate laws and stiffer prison sentences. administration and his signing of several pervision serve the capitalist ruling class’ of African Americans, which is twice that The instability of global capitalism is “criminal justice” bills that fostered the interests. Demonization and criminaliza- of white workers. Guo states, “The truth expressed in further militarization and large-scale recruitment of police and con- tion of the nationally oppressed provide a [about unemployment], after accounting privatization in both industrialized and struction of prisons to disproportionately rationale for their disparate treatment by for incarceration, is even worse.” The jobs developing states. Only a complete break house African Americans and Latinos/as. the legal system. report should include “an extra chart to with the financial institutions’ and trans- Taking at least 2.2 million people out Prison population up 500 percent recognize the 1.6 million prisoners [in state national corporations’ dictates will pro- of society profoundly affects the rates of since 1980 and federal prisons] in America,” suggests vide the billions of impoverished people poverty and labor exploitation and further Guo. “They don’t show up anywhere in the worldwide with an opportunity to live in Jeff Guo writes that during Democrat- marginalizes large segments of the work- government’s measurements of economic peace and genuine security. ic and Republican administrations over ing class and poor by the U.S, ruling class. activity, but their absence is dearly felt.” the last four decades, “the prison popula- Additionally, many prisoners work tion has quintupled. [Due to] disparities inside the prisons at slave wages, which Racist use of ‘law and order’ issues in arrests and sentencing, this eruption drives down wages of those outside the These topics will continue to be a focus has disproportionately affected black system. If these men and women were of the debate interjected from outside the Palestinian students on U.S. speaking tour communities. Black men are imprisoned not incarcerated, the capitalist system’s Republican and Democratic campaigns’ at six times the rate of white men. ... For inability to provide adequate employ- official discourse. The capitalist class has some high-risk groups, the economic By Joe Catron ment and housing for African Americans much at stake here: It needs to socially New York

The Filipino organization Bayan USA Protesters expose Clintons’ racism organized a reception in New York’s Sol- idarity Center on April 10 to welcome Continued from page 1 we intended to do, but it’s there and it to put our signs down. Erica asked, “Are three Palestinian students from the occu- serves a purpose, especially when you talk you telling people with Hillary signs to pied West Bank. harsh sentence for even a nonviolent about capitalism or imperialism and war. put their signs down?” To this, the securi- Local members of Bayan’s Internation- ­offense. RF: Clinton failed to take ownership of ty member had no response. al League of People’s Struggle affiliates: Furthermore, due to this bill, billions his role in the mass incarceration of Afri- WW: What would you say to the people Al-Awda New York: The Palestine Right of dollars were used to fund prisons — can people in the United States. Instead, who believe we need to support Clinton in to Return Coalition; the International Ac- money that could have been used to fund Clinton blamed African people for the order to beat Trump? tion Center; the Palestinian Youth Move- schools, hospitals, etc. — while at the crime bill by insisting that it was us who EM: People forget that she was partially ment and Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner same time this very bill disallowed Pell had cried out to him that we wanted him responsible for the murder of Moammar Solidarity Network; as well as activists Grants for people incarcerated in federal — and other politicians — to do some- Gadhafi just as he was on the doorstep of with New York City Students for Justice in and state prisons. These prisoners were thing about crime in our communities. creating a centralized African currency. Palestine joined the gathering. The recep- no longer allowed a grant for “higher” ed- Clinton then went on to add that Erica And she was never out there supporting tion coincided with a meeting of the ILPS’ ucation, thanks to this bill. and myself, and perhaps all who protest the mothers of police brutality victims; International Coordinating Committee in Many minorities received harsh sen- on behalf of Black liberation, are defend- she was supporting the crime bill that Utrecht, the Netherlands. tences for nonviolent offenses and, once ing drug dealers and murderers. was destroying Black communities. The three students, from An-Najah Na- incarcerated, were no longer able to use EM: I think it was good what he said. If people want someone like that in tional and Birzeit universities, are part of the Pell Grant to receive additional edu- Now maybe Black folks across the coun- the office of the president, then I think a larger group addressing campuses and cation. For these reasons, and others, the try can see that voting Democrat isn’t the it speaks a lot about what people in this communities across the United States on 1994 crime bill, along with the conditions best way of working for the interests of country think of Black people. the impact of colonialism on education in of our communities that were created by the Black community. RF: If we take a look at Hillary’s re- Palestine during the 2016 Right to Educa- the state — an offspring of capitalism and WW: How did the crowd respond to cord, at her comments, at the things that tion (R2E) tour. The three had previously spoken at white supremacy — has contributed to you? she has endorsed — the invasion of Iraq the An-Noor Social Center in Bay Ridge, the destruction of our communities. RF: Most in the crowd, at least those for instance — it’s rather easy to see that Brooklyn, on April 8, at a community event Erica Mines: We also wanted to let Bill close to me, disagreed with the message Hillary Clinton endorses U.S. imperial- Clinton know that just because his wife is organized by NYC Students for Justice in that Erica and I presented. We raised our ism, oppression of minorities and crimes Palestine in the heavily Palestinian neigh- running for president, we as Black folks signs — I’m sure you’ve seen them by now against humanity in general. Clinton may borhood and planned to address a student have not forgotten what his presidential — and the crowd attempted to block our be of a different brand of white suprema- group at Hunter College on April 11. term was and how it affected us, and signs with their Hillary signs. One per- cy, but it is still white supremacy just the The tour, the second of its kind, contin- how Hillary also supported the crime son, an elder of African descent, literal- same. ues a tradition of building ties between bill through her racist statements calling ly called me a demon as I was having a And for that reason, Erica, myself and movements that began in November 2014 Black youth “superpredators.” We hav- peaceful conversation with a Clinton sup- the Philadelphia Coalition for REAL Jus- in Ferguson, Mo., the site of a massive en’t forgotten about the destruction they porter after Bill Clinton left the stage. tice will always actively oppose Hillary Black uprising after the killing of Michael caused. Even before that, a member of securi- Clinton. We are doing this to ensure a Brown by a local police officer. WW: What did you think of Clinton’s ty asked us to put our signs down. At the better future for African people and for “The R2E organizers are putting a spot- response to you? time, Erica and I were merely standing everyone suffering from the oppression light on two locations [where] the tour will EM: He has this deeply embedded ha- there, our signs raised, completely silent. pushed upon us by capitalists and those be arriving this year: the University of tred, and I’m just kind of glad we were This member of security claimed we were who support white supremacy. Black Hawaii and the Pine Ridge Reservation in there to expose that. It’s totally not what causing a disruption of sorts and thus had ­liberation! South Dakota,” Osama Mor, Amira Sakalla workers.org April 21, 2016 Page 7

WW PHOTO: GARRETT DICEMBRE Buffalo, N.Y. Protesters demand justice for India Cummings

An angry crowd of protesters occupied Protesters occupied a number of lo- the steps of the Erie County Holding Cen- cations in downtown Buffalo, marching ter in Buffalo, N.Y. on April 4, once again and blocking traffic on multiple streets demanding justice for India Cummings, and unfurling a banner that demanded a young Black woman who died at the “Not One More!” between the flagpoles hands of guards at the center. The crowd of the Erie County building. The protest demanded the ouster of Sheriff Tim How- ended with the chant derived from an ard after this most recent death under Assata Shakur poem: “We have a duty to suspicious circumstances at the jail. fight for our freedom!” Caravans of activists from Rochester, The march was one of an ever-growing N.Y., Cummings’ hometown, participat- series of protests. The next one will be at ed in solidarity with the families of those the Holding Center on May 2. who have been murdered by police. — Tom Answeeney Lamont Walls dies in Iowa jail

By Mike Kuhlenbeck Officers said police custody. liams said. (whotv.com, April 3) Des Moines, Iowa Walls tried to run Family members and community Black Lives Matter activist Kaija Car- away and consumed groups like Iowa Citizens for Justice are ter, who helped organize a vigil with Thirty-eight-year-old Lam- what “looked like” suspicious about the circumstances sur- Walls’ family, said in a public statement ont Walls died at Broadlawn’s a bag of narcotics. rounding Walls’ arrest and untimely death. that Walls “was brutalized by Des Moines Hospital in Des Moines after He was taken to a Before being taken to jail, Walls was police.” being found unconscious in nearby hospital and conveyed by medics to the Methodist The family is calling on authorities to his cell at Polk County Jail on was released to Polk Medical Center for evaluation. Later, it release medical records, arrest reports, March 25. County Jail after a was reported that an autopsy found nine jail surveillance video and other evidence Walls was a student at the medical evaluation. small bags of heroin in Walls’ stomach. to corroborate the official story. They also American College of Hairstyl- He was arrested for Community activists are demanding support the formation of an “independent ing when he was arrested by two plain- a “probation violation” and “interference that hospital officials explain why Walls commission for citizens to report cases of clothes police officers on March 23 during with official acts.” (kcci.com) got released from their care if he had swal- police brutality.” what police called a “narcotics investiga- Two days later, at around 5:30 p.m., lowed drugs. “Laws should be changed or On March 27, a candlelight vigil was tion.” One witness, Temmera Donnelly, Walls was found to be unresponsive by policies should be changed if someone held outside the Polk County Jail to honor said the officers failed to identify them- the jail’s staff. He was then transported was seen by an officer swallowing drugs, Walls’ memory. selves. (kcci.com, March 29) to Broadlawn’s Hospital, where he died in it should be mandatory because that “We demand answers for our brother,” probably could have prevented him from Carter said. Palestinian students on U.S. speaking tour dying,” Walls’ family friend Calvetta Wil- Philadelphia resistance to both Spanish and U.S. co- lonialism. They also brought up similari- ties between the Palestinian and Filipino struggles. A video was shown of Leila High school walkout Khaled, the Popular Front for the Lib- eration of Palestine leader and Palestin- ian resistance icon, addressing the ILPS’ Fifth International Assembly in Manila calls for basic needs last November. Following the event, the students par- High school students left their class- system “punishes its students because ticipated in a similar meeting hosted by rooms and marched from the Philadel- they’re not being taught right; they aren’t New York City, April 10. ICE-Free NYC in the nearby office of phia School District offices to City Hall being funded right; they aren’t being fed WW PHOTO: TONI ARENSTEIN Families for Freedom. in a “Philly School Walkout and Protest” right, led right, talked to right. ... There and Kristian Davis Bailey, National SJP Catron is a member of Al-Awda on April 6. They demanded justice-based is something wrong with the people in activists and U.S.-based coordinators of New York: The Palestine Right to educational necessities like school coun- charge of the Philadelphia education sys- the tour, wrote on March 29. “Both of these Return Coalition and an organizer selors, school nurses, nutritious food tem. ... Broke schools don’t work!” — Report and photo locations [reflect] the long history of U.S. with Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner and enough teachers. Student Marlon by Joe Piette settler-colonization, and their inclusion in Solidarity Network. Thomas told the crowd the public school the tour aims to accentuate the continuing struggle of both the Kanaka Maoli [Indig- enous Hawaiian] and Oglala Sioux Indige- nous peoples.” (mondoweiss.net) ‘Our lives are political’ At the Solidarity Center, tour partici- pants discussed the impact of Zionist set- tler colonialism on Palestinian education. Zionist obstacles include checkpoints, the “Apartheid Wall,” and restrictions on travel and residency by both Palestinians and foreign university staff, as well as targeting of students for political impris- onment, with “administrative detention” without charge or trial. “Political activity isn’t a choice in Pal- estine,” one said. “Our lives are political.” The students also spoke of various forms of Palestinian resistance and of the need for U.S.-based supporters to build the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and fight Washing- ton’s massive aid to Israel, currently val- ued at over $3.1 billion a year. Bayan leaders discussed U.S. aid to the Philippines and the country’s legacy of ‘Philly School Walkout and Protest’ on April 6. Page 8 April 21, 2016 workers.org Obama and the Cuban Economy Part 1: Understanding what wasn’t said

The following is the first part of an been conducted by leaders of that same • This process did not emerge from conceived for us to open our doors to article published in CubaDebate on generation. concessions by Cuba of a single one of U.S. capital and the influence of its mass April 7 by Agustín Lage Dávila, who • It implied recognition for the insti- our principles; or from backing off on media; allow a privileged economic sec- has been director of the Center of Mo- tutional legitimacy of Cuba’s revolution, demands to end the blockade and re- tor to expand in Cuba, one that with lecular Immunology in Cuba since 1991 recognition denied to our Liberating turn the illegally occupied territory in time would be transformed into the so- and a member of the Cuban National Army in 1898, and also to the Rebel Guantánamo. cial base for the restoration of capitalism Assembly of the Popular Power (Parlia- Army in 1959 (although, yes, accorded • It included public acknowledgment and renunciation of national sovereign- ment) since 1993. It is available in full at to the dictatorships of Gerardo Machado that the U.S. was isolated in Latin Amer- ty. That would be the first step towards ­tinyurl.com/hxcvjb3. and Fulgencio Batista). ica and the world because of its policy to- returning Cuba to a country of rich and I had the chance to participate in var- • It included explicit recognition of the wards Cuba. poor, dictators and gangsters — such as ious meetings with the delegation that we had in the 1950s. Revolution’s accomplishments, at least in ‘A victory for Cuba’ accompanied President Barack Obama education and health (the two that were Cubans who think this way have the [to Cuba] and to hear him speak three mentioned). I don’t believe that any reasonable, right to do so: many past deeds in our times; and now I feel a need to share my informed person in today’s world could common history justify such enormous • It included explicit recognition of interpretation of what he said, and also interpret this normalization process as mistrust. These are well known and I Cuban assistance offered in solidarity to what he didn’t say — since in politics anything but a victory for Cuba in its don’t need to list them here. other peoples of the world, and its con- what is left out is often as important as ­historic differences with the U.S. Many people remember the famous tribution to such noble causes as global what is said. Looking to the past, this is the only phrase attributed to [U.S.] President health and the elimination of apartheid There are two complementary angles possible interpretation. Franklin D. Roosevelt, referring to Nic- in Africa. from which to interpret both this visit Now then, looking to the future, things araguan dictator Anastasio Somoza: “So- • It included explicit acceptance of the and the entire process of attempting to are more complicated, and there are at moza may be a son of a bitch, but he’s our fact that decisions about changes and normalize relations: what they mean for least two possible and extreme inter- son of a bitch.” socioeconomic models in Cuba belong assessing the past, and what they mean pretations, as well as their intermediate exclusively to Cubans, that we have (and as we move towards the future. variations: Cuban state means ‘ownership by the have earned) the right to organize our so- Looking to the past, it is clear that the • The hypothesis of perverse conspiracy whole people’ ciety differently from the way others do. recently initiated process of normalizing • The hypothesis of divergent concep- Of course, neither President Obama, relations between Cuba and the United • It implied a declaration to abandon tions about human society nor today’s generations of North Ameri- States must be interpreted as a victory, the military and subversive option, as Both are being debated on Cuban cans of good will (and there are many) are writ large, of the revolutionary and so- well as the intent to abandon coercion, as street corners. Readers should be aware to blame, as individuals, for the first stag- cialist people of Cuba, of their convic- instruments of U.S. policy towards Cuba. at this point that I don’t plan to argue for es of this historical journey. But also, un- tions, their capacity for resistance and • It expressly acknowledged the failure one or the other of these two hypotheses, deniably, the history is there, and it con- sacrifice, their culture, their ethical com- of policies hostile to Cuba implemented or for any combination of the two. Future ditions what they can do and the way we mitment to social justice; and as a victory by preceding administrations, which im- developments will put them to the test, interpret what they do. History’s process- for Latin American solidarity with Cuba. plies (although not declared as such) rec- and everyone will be able to draw their es are much longer than a single human There are some things so obvious to us ognition for the conscious resistance of- own conclusions from this “passage into lifetime, and events occurring many de- Cubans that sometimes we forget to un- fered by the Cuban people, since hostile the unknown.” cades ago influence our options now, be- derscore them. policies only fail in the face of tenacious Those who defend the hypothesis cause they influence collective attitudes • This normalization process was resistance. of perverse conspiracy see President that exist objectively and relatively inde- started during the lifetimes of the histor- • It recognized the suffering the block- Obama’s words as false promises or sub- pendent of leaders’ ideas and intentions. ic leadership of the Revolution, and has ade has caused the Cuban people. tle deception, at the service of a plan Even distancing President Obama from the aggressive and immoral policies of previous administrations — those that organized invasions, protected terrorists, Demand end to U.S. blockade of Cuba fomented assassinations of Cuban lead- ers and implemented intentions to starve By WW Staff mentary “Power of the Weak” by German the Cuban people into submission — even videographer Tobias Kriele. Both Jerez establishing this distinction, it can’t be Grassroots advocates for ending the and Kriele will premiere the video in New forgotten that Obama alone is not the economic, commercial and financial York City from April 14 through 18 before policy making class in the U.S. blockade of Cuba — which still chokes going to Washington, where screenings In all honesty, I should recognize that off trade with the socialist island despite Ambassador José Ramón Cabañas. are organized for April 20 at American the impression given by President Obama advances in the diplomatic sphere — will Invited guests from Cuba include a University and on April 21 at the Univer- here wasn’t as conveyor of a perverse con- walk the House and Senate hallways on physician and nurse whose internation- sity of the District of Columbia. spiracy, but rather as an intelligent, edu- April 19 to 21. al service included fighting the Ebola The Days of Action is a collabora- cated man, who believes in what he says. The week’s activities will wrap up with outbreak in Liberia, in West Africa, and tion by the International Committee for What happens then is that the things he a Community Forum on Friday, April 22, who are experts in Cuba’s public health Peace, Justice and Dignity; IFCO/Pastors believes in (with every right) are different from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the University of achievements; Luisa Campos, the direc- for Peace; the Venceremos Brigade; the from those we believe in (also with every the District of Columbia David A. Clarke tor of the Havana Literacy Museum and Institute for Policy Studies; the National right). School of Law, in the 5th floor Moot Court well-versed in Cuba’s Yo Sí Puedo meth- Network on Cuba; and others. This is the second hypothesis then, room. “Through Cuban Eyes” will feature od, known for its global literacy success; For more information, the events the one concerning different conceptions presentations by and a question-and-an- and Cuban journalism student Jorgito schedule and to reserve your seat of human society, differences that were swer session with a spectrum of Cuban Jerez. Born with cerebral palsy in 1993, for the Friday evening forum, go to quite evident in all that was said and also experts. The keynote speaker is Cuban Jerez’s life story is captured in the docu- ­theinternationalcommittee.org. what was left unsaid, throughout the visit by President Obama and his delegation. They made it very clear that the main direction U.S. relations with Cuba will Veterans with disabilities denied benefits take will be economic, and within the By Michael Kramer The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of gets young women and men recruits with economic arena, the main strategy will 1944, also known as the G.I. Bill, offers an aura of everlasting comradeship under be to engage with and support the non- “The military has long used its dis- funds to veterans for college education, un- the slogan of “Semper Fidelis” (always state sector. charge system as a mighty club over the employment insurance and housing. The faithful). The reality for Marine combat That was very clear, in the speeches heads of its troops. When troops, indi- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, for- veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan is that and symbolic messages, taking distance vidually or collectively, refuse to go along merly called the Veterans Administration, those with PTSD are 11 times more like- from the socialist state-sector economy, with whatever the latest idiocy the mili- is funded to provide medical, social and ly to receive a “bad paper” discharge than as if “state” property were the property tary comes up with, there is always some rehabilitative services. Veterans with dis- those without PTSD, and “1 in 10 are in- of some strange entity, not ownership by officer around to threaten a bad dis- charges other than honorable are regularly eligible for benefits.” Veterans “are being the whole people, as it is in reality. charge.” The Veteran, April/May 1982 (a denied these benefits and services. These refused benefits at the highest rate since We agree that a nonstate sector should publication of Vietnam Veterans Against so-called “bad paper” discharges include the system was created at the end of World exist in the Cuban economy. In fact, ex- the War, VVAW) “General,” “Other Than Honorable Condi- War II.” (New York Times, March 30) panded space for self-employment and Decades after the VVAW wrote those tions,” “Bad Conduct” and “Dishonorable.” Many of these veterans end up in the cooperatives is part and parcel of im- words, the Pentagon’s policy has not In many cases the “bad paper” dis- streets, shelters or stressful family ar- plementing the guidelines that emerged changed. It has used this tool of military charge results from issues connected to rangements. They are denied any help from the 6th [Communist] Party Con- discipline against over 600,000 post- in-service injuries and trauma such as for their medical conditions. There is an gress. But we disagree on the role that Sept. 11, 2001, veterans, according to a post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic appeal process — but it can take years this nonstate sector should have in our study by the veterans service organiza- brain injury, substance abuse and mili- to get treatment for emergency medical economy. tion Swords to Plowshares. (swords-to- tary sexual trauma. conditions, such as those where a suicide Part 2 will discuss the disagreements plowshares.org) The Marine Corps, in particular, tar- hotline is regularly called. regarding the nonstate sector. workers.org April 21, 2016 Page 9 A year of U.S.-coordinated war in Yemen

By Abayomi Azikiwe bombing raids in Sa’ada, in the north of Attacks were carried out by Saudi-GCC dren in Yemen. As a result, over 900 chil- Editor, Pan-African News Wire the country, destroying homes and kill- warplanes in Taiz, the third-largest city in dren were killed and more than 1,300 ing one person. Additional reports said the country. Saba News agency reported were injured in the past year alone. ... In March last year a coalition of Gulf air strikes bombed a telecommunica- April 4, “Saudi fighter jets waged on Mon- With more than 50 verified attacks on states led by Saudi Arabia and support- tions installation in Saqayn as well as a day [April 4] a series of air raids on many schools, children were also killed while at ed by Washington began a daily bombing post office in Haydan. The reports noted areas in Taiz province, a local official said. school or on their way to or from school. campaign and later ground operation in that a number of houses were struck in The war jets targeted al-Shuqirah market These numbers represent the tip of the Yemen. the operation. The two cities are located in the central district of al-Wazeyah, leav- iceberg as they only indicate the cases Over the last year, this war has accel- in the Sa’ada Province, an Ansarullah ing damage to houses and private proper- that UNICEF was able to verify.” erated, bringing in military forces from stronghold. ties, the official added.” Moreover, the UNICEF report stress- Egypt and Sudan in what is seen as a An April 4 Press TV article stated, This same report emphasizes, “The es: “The disruption of the inflow of food proxy war against the Islamic Republic of “The Saudi attacks on Monday [April 4] warplanes targeted al-Siteen Street, and fuel as a result of the violence and Iran and its growing influence through- came as Ansarullah fighters and allied in the north of Taiz, with several raids restrictions on imports has paralyzed the out the Middle East and North Africa. army units continued to launch reprisal leaving serious damage to a number of delivery of basic services across Yemen. The aim was to halt and drive back the attacks on Saudi and pro-Saudi military houses and roads in the area. The Saudi Beyond the direct impact of the war, Ansarullah Movement (Houthis) in their positions inside and outside Yemen. Ye- aggression also waged many sorties on UNICEF estimates that nearly 10,000 seizure of territory in central and south- menis managed to kill scores of Saudi Warazan and Khadeer areas in the south additional deaths may have occurred ern regions of the country. The Ansarul- forces in one such attack on troops in of Taiz city, the official added.” among children under five years old in lah are a Shiite-based movement that has Rabuah region, southern Saudi Arabia. the past year due to preventable diseases formed a tactical alliance with elements The allied forces also launched missile Casualties escalate as a result of the decline in critical health of the Yemeni military, which remains attacks on Saudi-led forces in al-Naser It has been estimated by various news services including immunization and the loyal to former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. military base, located between Yemen’s and humanitarian sources that up to treatment of diarrhea and pneumonia. Despite several attempts to broker Jawf and Ma’rib provinces.” 10,000 people have died in the intensi- This figure is in addition to the nearly a ceasefire, the bombing of Yemen by Meanwhile, resistance efforts on the fied fighting in Yemen in the last year. 40,000 children who die every year in the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council part of the Ansarullah and its allies are Meanwhile, 80 percent of the population Yemen before their fifth birthday.” continues, utilizing U.S.-manufactured complicating the war for the U.S.-backed is in dire need of assistance. With the U.S. military and security ap- warplanes, offensive weapons and intel- Saudi-GCC coalition. In recent days Ye- A United Nations Children Education paratuses coordinating the war by pro- ligence sharing. The administration of meni resistance fighters have taken 42 Fund report published on March 29, viding fighter jets, ordinances, refueling President Barack Obama has provided Saudi troops into custody in Bayda and “Children on the Brink,” said that mil- technology, intelligence sharing and dip- diplomatic cover for the war against Ye- Jawf provinces. Several other Saudi lions of people are being negatively im- lomatic cover for the Saudi Arabia-GCC men, a continuation of aerial bombard- troops were killed in Ma’rib. pacted by the war. Children and women coalition and its allied militias, Washing- ments and drone attacks that have taken The Yemeni armed forces, which are have been affected severely through the ton is culpable in the current strife. The place for several years. supported by Popular Committees loyal aerial strikes, ground operations and impact of the military campaign aimed at On April 4, attacks by warplanes killed to the Houthi Ansarullah Movement, cap- the attacks on civilian areas, including the Ansarullah over the last year is com- at least one person and injured many oth- tured 31 Saudi troops in the Rada district neighborhoods, internally displaced per- pounded by periodic drone attacks os- ers in Yemen as the Gulf monarchies con- in the southern province of Bayda and de- son camps, schools and medical facilities. tensibly targeting al-Qaida and its part- tinued their bombing of residential areas tained 11 others in the al-Matma district Statistics cited by UNICEF indicate ners inside the country. across the country. Yemeni news agencies in the northwestern province of Jawf. that 63 health care facilities have been Resistance by the Ansarullah and oth- also reported that the Saudi-GCC bomb- News reports claimed that the de- bombed and severely damaged, while er allied forces is formidable, with ongo- ing raids struck a camp for internally dis- tained soldiers were being deployed to the most hospitals and clinics report ex- ing attacks in Yemen and the spread of placed people located in the northwest- west-central Ma’rib province to enhance treme shortages in equipment, supplies the war into eastern Saudi Arabia. ern Hajjah Province, leaving at least six the Saudi-GCC forces there when Yemeni and personnel. Repeated bombing oper- Another ceasefire has been announced children and one woman injured. These forces captured them. The Yemeni forc- ations have resulted in sporadic access to for April. But if the recent past is any in- bombing operations hit the Lamrour dis- es launched a separate operation against electricity. dication the airstrikes and targeting of trict of al-Shahel, a city in Hajjah. Saudi troops using Katyusha rockets in A news release announcing the report civilians will only intensify and therefore According to Yemen’s al-Masirah TV, Ma’rib city, resulting in six deaths and 17 reads: “UNICEF verified more than 1,560 worsen the conditions for people living in the Saudi-GCC coalition also carried out wounded. (sabanews.net, April 3) incidents of grave violations against chil- Yemen. What is the U.S. up to in Moldova?

By Greg Butterfield drive toward war against Russia. and his cabinet to wait them out. But he there is a full multiparty consensus. No added that, if the situation continued to one denies that there is a plan of action Since the beginning of this year, U.S. Mass opposition in Chisinau escalate, the U.S. would not condemn re- under the code name ‘Unirea-2018,’ in imperialism has significantly stepped up U.S. State Department official Victoria pressive measures. (Omega News Agen- which 2018 represents the 100th anni- its intervention in Moldova, a former So- Nuland — infamous for her role in the cy, Jan. 30) versary of the ‘grand unification’ [Roma- viet republic of 3 million people. far-right coup in Ukraine two years ago — In the aftermath of these events, op- nian occupation] in 1918. ... Moldova has been engulfed by waves had met with Romanian President Klaus position groups, including the Party of “Currently, the Americans are actively of mass protests against corruption, Johannis in Bucharest on Jan. 18 to be- Socialists of the Republic of Moldova; the promoting plans for Romania’s absorp- price hikes and election fraud for more stow Washington’s blessings on schemes left-leaning, pro-Russian “Our Party,” tion of Moldova.” (pan.md, March 16) than a year. But unlike the earlier pro- to set up a new Moldovan government, to headed by Balti Mayor Renato Usatii; and The plan reportedly depends on a par- tests in neighboring Ukraine, dominated be headed by Pavel Filip, a protégé of the the pro-European Civic Platform “Digni- liamentary decision rather than a popular by ultraright and pro-Western groups, Moldovan billionaire Vlad Plahotniuc. ty and Truth” met on Jan. 29 to draw up vote, and would result in Moldova’s imme- Moldova’s protesters have been moving “The most important thing,” Nu- a united list of demands — first and fore- diate integration into NATO and the EU. steadily to the left. They have been led land declared, “is that there is a strong most, for early parliamentary elections. With U.S. support, Moldovan Prime by parties opposed to the “European pro-European government.” (newsmak- (Omega, Feb. 4) Minister Filip and the oligarch Plahotni- path” of neoliberalism and NATO inte- er.md, Jan. 19) They also called for the release of the uc have been playing both sides in order gration that has devastated the coun- Nuland made her proclamation in the Petrenko Group political prisoners — to undermine the opposition and exacer- try’s economy. They call for restoring face of mass protests sweeping Chisinau. seven communist activists from the Red bate divisions in society. good relations with the country’s tra- Protesters declared the plan for a new Bloc party jailed since a protest in the Since Filip’s appointment, pro-Union- ditional trading partners in Russia and government illegitimate. capital last Sept. 6. ist forces have been widely promoted. He other former Soviet republics. Two days later, Pavel Filip was hur- personally intervened to allow Romanian Polls taken in late January and early riedly installed as prime minister and set U.S. plan: Divide and conquer ultrarightist Dzheordzhe Simion to enter February showed that new parliamenta- about forming his new cabinet over the It wasn’t long before Chisinau was Moldova and promote the Unionist case. ry elections — a key demand of the oppo- objections of the parliamentary opposi- abuzz with reports that Washington was (grenada.md, Feb. 10) sition — would result in an overwhelming tion and in violation of legal procedure. backing a Romanian plan called “Uni- Meanwhile, media owned by Plahotni- victory for opponents of pro-Western re- The new government was installed rea-2018,” which called for the end of uc have given a great deal of airtime to forms. in the dead of night, while thousands of Moldova as an independent state and its pro-Romanian propaganda. This set off alarm bells in Washing- protesters outside attempting to enter the absorption by Romania. This is the latest Yet, on March 27, prominent members ton. Despite Moldova’s modest size, a parliament were pushed back by riot po- phase in a longstanding project of the of Plahotniuc’s Democratic Party joined progressive turnaround in a country lice brought in from around the country. far-right known as “Unionism.” some representatives of the opposition at with strong working-class traditions and U.S. ambassador to Moldova, James Respected journalist and political a march to oppose a Unionist demonstra- commitment to independence from the Pettit, met in secret with the new govern- commentator Dmitry Chubashenko sum- tion in Chisinau. West could effect a major change in the ment. He reportedly cautioned against marized: “All of the Romanian political Romania occupied Moldova from 1918 region’s political situation, emboldening using force on the protesters or arresting elite are obsessed with the idea of Moldo- to 1944. During World War II, the Roma- opponents of U.S. domination and its opposition leaders, instead urging Filip va’s accession to Romania. In this respect Continued on page 10 Page 10 April 21, 2016 workers.org

‘Solidarity with anti-racist occupation at Duke University’

April 6 —The Workers World Party Duke University Executive Vice Presi- against racism on campus at the Univer- fight for revolutionary socialism — a sys- 2016 Moorehead-Lilly presidential cam- dent — hit Shelvia Underwood, an Afri- sity of Missouri that led to the resigna- tem where the workers and the oppressed paign sends our solidarity to the occupa- can-American who works as a university tion of the chancellor there; and much run society and put the resources we cre- tion of the administration building cur- parking attendant, with his car. Before more, protests at universities against rac- ate to meet our own needs. rently underway at Duke University in fleeing the scene, Trask hurled a racial ep- ism, white supremacy and bigotry have To the occupiers and the many hun- Durham, N.C. At the time of this writing, ithet at Underwood, who suffered physi- been spreading from coast to coast. This dreds engaged in this struggle: Your cour- the occupation by nine students to pro- cal injuries requiring medical attention. must continue, along with showing our age, militancy and steadfast commitment test racist attacks on Black and Brown Trask and other university administra- solidarity with the struggle against the to carry the struggle through to victory university workers and to support work- tors conspired to cover up this incident, campus-wide epidemic of sexual violence — and the principled unity and solidarity ers’ organizing on campus for justice — along with numerous other reports by against women and anti-lesbian-gay- bi- that has been built between workers and including higher wages of at least $15/ Black and Brown parking attendants and sexual-transgender-queer bigotry. students — is setting an example for the hour — is entering its sixth day, with no other campus workers about rampant These demonstrations and building broader movement. We salute you! signs of backing down. racism. Two of the demands of the oc- occupations happening today carry on We salute the courageous workers who On April 1, several hundred workers cupation are reparations for Underwood the long legacy of the Black Freedom spoke out against racism in defiance of and students held a demonstration on and a full and transparent investigation struggle on campuses. During the height those who want to silence them. Some campus that began the occupation. Since into the racism in campus departments. of the Black Liberation movement, many of the blue-collar workers at Duke are then, hundreds have rallied around the Already, the occupation has scored two universities were rocked by protests and unionized, and the non-tenure-track fac- clock outside the administration build- major victories based on the demands put occupations led by Black students to win ulty recently won a union. We stand with ing. An encampment of dozens of tents forward: a public apology by Trask and un- a number of important anti-racist victo- the workers until they are all unionized has been set up on the lawn to hold ral- conditional amnesty for the nine occupiers. ries — including an occupation in 1969 across campus and until justice is won by lies, teach-ins, meetings and other activ- The occupation at Duke University of the very building that Duke students those fired under racist conditions. ities to build and deepen the base of sup- comes amidst a wave of militant protests have taken over now. The many peoples’ struggles for jus- port for the occupation and to safeguard against racism on campuses across the Racism and national oppression are tice around the U.S. are with you and are from any attempts by university admin- U.S., which is part of the broader Black essential for the capitalist system in or- watching closely how these events unfold. istrators and police to break it up. Lives Matter movement. From mas- der to amass vast wealth for the small We are ready to mobilize in your support The protest stemmed from recent rev- sive walkouts in response to racist po- class of rulers by exploiting the labor of and defense, as needed. Carry the strug- elations that Tallman Trask — a white lice murders; to the strikes and protests the masses of society, the workers. We gle forward to victory!

Lowndes County, Ala.: Roots of revolution Part 2 By Minnie Bruce Pratt zure of their land by white colonizers. As crimination against Black people. slavery and white supremacy became the Repression in Lowndes County was Part 1 of “Lowndes County: ‘The orig- law of the land, resistance continued. brutal, with floggings, rapes and assassi- inal Black Panther Party’” appeared in In 1861, in Lowndes and Montgom- nations of union organizers and support- the April 7 issue of Workers World. ery counties, a hundred enslaved people ers. However, “armed strikers organized A revolutionary movement was born of African descent, together with “poor their own ‘posses’ and in one instance a in 1966 in the tiny Alabama community whites of the country,” planned a rebel- group ‘met the vigilantes as they started of White Hall, Lowndes County — popu- lion to redistribute the “land, mules and to raid a striker’s shack. When the [boss’s] lation 831. Local activists and members money” of plantation owners. Twen- gang saw the opposition was formidable, of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating ty-five Black and four white insurrection- they ran.’” (Robin D.G. Kelley, “Hammer Lowndes County Freedom Organization, Committee formed the Lowndes Coun- ists were executed when their plot was and Hoe: Alabama Communists during home of the “original Black Panther Party.” ty Freedom Organization, an indepen- discovered. (Herbert Aptheker, “Ameri- the Great Depression,” University of Alabama, 1966. dent Black political party. The LCFO can Negro Slave Revolts,” International North Carolina, 1990) Daniels, white civil rights workers, in was known locally as “the Black Panther Publishers, 1943) The long tradition of resistance con- Lowndes County. Party” for its ballot symbol. Later, some In the 1930s, the Sharecroppers tinued into 1966. On the night SNCC White and the other plaintiffs won in of the SNCC members founded the Black Union, organized primarily by the Com- called the first voter registration meeting 1966. The historic White v. Crook suit was Panther Party for Self-Defense, the Black munist Party USA, led 6,000 members in Lowndes County, a room full of Black one of the first brought to end the system- nationalist and socialist organization an- in Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and farmers showed up — armed. When told atic exclusion of Blacks from jury service. chored in California, with a name, sym- Dallas counties. In 1935, the SCU con- that SNCC was “a nonviolent organiza- It also became the first U.S. case in which bol and inspiration drawn from Alabama ducted a spring cotton choppers’ strike tion,” an older farmer replied, “You turn “a federal court relied on [equal protection roots and resistance. and a summer cotton pickers’ strike to the other cheek, and you’ll get handed in] the 14th Amendment to rule a state law Fightback in Lowndes County by op- end starvation wages of $4 a month and half of what you’re sitting on.“ (Kelley) unconstitutional because of sex discrimi- pressed peoples has a long history. From stop workers from being evicted as mech- nation.” (Dr. Susan Mallon Ross, “Dialogic Black women lead 1800 through the 1830s, the Creek Na- anized farming took hold. Demands in- Rhetoric,” tinyurl.com/zjjkzvw) tion waged a fierce battle to stop the sei- cluded equal pay for women and no dis- Black women were at the heart of civil The winning brief was co-authored by rights work in Lowndes County. Gardenia legendary Black civil rights lawyer Pauli White of White Hall was the lead plaintiff Murray — who also co-founded the Na- in White v. Crook, a landmark case that tional Organization for Women. What is U.S. up to in Moldova? strengthened the Civil Rights movement Another landmark victory was won in Continued from page 9 and was a cornerstone of the developing 1968 on behalf of Black teachers being nian monarchy collaborated with the Na- lease and dropping of the bogus charges. women’s liberation movement. denied tenure and job benefits in Ala- zis, carrying out many atrocities against Red Bloc leader Grigory Petrenko ap- The case was filed to put Black people bama. Teacher Dorothy Hinson of White the populace before the country’s liber- pealed for a renewal of united protests on the jury rolls and then expanded to Hall, who initiated the suit, belonged to ation by the Soviet Red Army and local against the oligarch regime on April 24. challenge a law that kept all women from the activist Jackson family and was the partisans in August 1944. Urging people not to be diverted by the serving on Alabama juries. Jury selection sister of farmer Matthew Jackson, who regime’s manipulation of the Romanian became a movement focus after all-white provided housing, support and arms Petrenko: Unite against regime union issue and presidential elections, juries acquitted white supremacists of to SNCC workers in Lowndes County. on April 24 Petrenko declared: murdering Viola Liuzzo and Jonathan (­tinyurl.com/z9z6ahf) On Feb. 22, after nearly six months in “Demands for parliamentary elections, jail, the Petrenko Group prisoners were de-politicization of the security forces transferred to house arrest. However, and courts, arrest of Plahotniuc and his MARXISM, REPARATIONS they are still not being allowed to speak cronies, bringing to justice all the accom- & the Black Freedom Struggle directly to the media or use social media plices in the theft of a billion [from the An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. sites. country’s banking system] — these are Edited by Monica Moorehead. Their trial on trumped-up charges of the main slogans around which the oppo- Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination Larry Holmes • Black Labor “organizing a riot” continues, with the ac- sition must unite. from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery Sam Marcy • Black Youth: Repression & tivists facing years in prison if convicted. “I believe that the April 24 protests GRAPHIC: SAHU BARRON Resistance LeiLani Dowell • The Struggle for Socialism Is Key Monica Moorehead • While welcoming the transfer to house should be nationwide, regardless of what Domestic Workers United Demand Passage of a Bill of Rights Imani Henry • Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Human Rights & Global Justice! Saladin Muhammad • Harriet Tubman, Woman arrest, supporters of the political prison- language we speak and what political Warrior Mumia Abu-Jamal • Racism & Poverty in the Delta Larry Hales • Haiti Needs Reparations, Not ers pointed out that this was yet anoth- views we share. We have a common prob- Sanctions Pat Chin • Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation Con- er attempt to undermine the opposition, lem in our country, the criminal Plahot- suela Lee • Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? Anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion John Parker which had demanded their immediate re- niuc regime.” (grenada.md, April 3) Available at all major online booksellers. workers.org April 21, 2016 Page 11 Stop auto layoffs: A job is a right!

By Martha Grevatt be recalled. Michigan workers can only market. The CEO is gambling with work- Luis Potosi. The newspaper blamed the Detroit collect 20 weeks of state unemployment ers’ livelihoods UAW’s “ballooning contract demands” and benefits. Echoing the company line, Jewell stat- moaned, “Without the tiered wage struc- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced In the 1950s the UAW negotiated ed, “On a bright note, there is a strong de- ture, Ford doesn’t have much of a choice April 6 it would indefinitely lay off 1,420 Supplemental Unemployment Benefits. mand for larger-sized vehicles. The com- where it manufactures small cars.” workers at two Detroit-area plants. The When combined with state unemploy- pany has been planning to increase its The contracts ratified last year were indefinite layoffs will begin July 5 when ment checks, SUB allows workers to capacity to build more trucks and SUVs. not expected to significantly increase the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant take home more than 70 percent of their … [T]his move will be a positive one for labor costs. “This agreement provides a eliminates one of two shifts. weekly pay and makes up the difference our members and the company.” good foundation for Ford Motor Compa- The other 1,900 workers in the plant when unemployment benefits stop. This corporate strategy will not help ny, our employees and our communities,” will be employed sporadically. Workers However, second-tier workers with one workers when they run out of SUB and said John Fleming, Ford’s vice president who build FCA’s Chrysler 200 car have or more years of service can only collect unemployment benefits, especially those of global manufacturing and labor af- spent most of 2016 on “temporary” lay- 13 to 26 weeks of SUB, while “temporary” who are the lower paid. Many of them are fairs. (New York Times, Nov. 20) offs with a return-to-work date. How- workers and those employed for under African-American youth from Detroit, Punishing the workers for winning a ever, the call-back dates are postponed a year do not get any SUB. “Traditional” whose jobless rate is astronomical. bigger share of the wealth they produce or workers return for a week or two and workers with less than 10 years of service FCA plans to increase the Sterling is rampant. Nabisco/Mondalez has an- then are laid off again. are also limited to 26 weeks. Heights plant’s workforce when it be- nounced plans to shift production of The layoffs will also affect Sterling gins building the Ram pickup, but that Oreo cookies to Mexico from its union- Time to raise hell Stamping plant, the assembly plant’s is 18 months from now. Now the Ram is ized Chicago factory. main supplier of doors, roofs, hoods and The UAW should be raising hell about built at Detroit’s Warren Truck Assembly The real threat to workers’ jobs, be- other stampings. these layoffs and their resulting hard- Plant. The retooling will cost the Detroit yond corporations’ heartless decisions, This is the auto industry’s first mass in- ships. Instead, Norwood Jewell, UAW vice area 750 jobs, says FCA. is the capitalist mode of production that definite layoff since the 2009 General Mo- president assigned to FCA, stated, “While This over-reliance on the large-vehicle puts profits before people. This system tors and Chrysler bankruptcies. Chrysler today’s announcement of a shift reduction market is the very strategy that, com- can’t be “fixed” to prevent layoffs and streamlined its operations then by clos- at Sterling Heights Assembly is unfortu- pounded by a crisis of capitalist over- plant closings. What can workers do? ing six plants and several warehouses. nate, it is not unexpected. FCA is not the production, nearly ruined Chrysler in Property right to a job The company exploited workers’ fears of only company experiencing a slow market the last auto recession. Inflated gasoline an uncertain future, scaring thousands of for small cars.” (uaw.org/issues/, April 6) prices and a construction slump reduced During the 1935-37 wave of sit-down them into quitting or taking buyouts and This is pure hogwash. The 2015 Chrys- sales in this segment. strikes — which lasted from less than an retiring. When sales rebounded, Chrys- ler 200 is not a small car but a midsize se- Moreover, large vehicles have the hour to more than two months — a wide- ler replaced these high-seniority workers dan. Sales in this segment industry-wide highest carbon footprint. Marchionne’s spread belief arose that workers have a with new hires who received substan- are only down 2.2 percent from a year strategy, which the UAW leadership property right to their jobs. Even President tially lower pay and benefits under the ago. Auto journalists call the vehicle lack- shamelessly endorses, displays a reckless Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor two-tier pay structure. luster, but the 200 was hyped two years disregard for the planet. Frances Perkins and Michigan Gov. Frank The two-tier payment system was in- ago by Chrysler officials when it debuted Fiat — now merged with Chrysler — Murphy echoed that worker sentiment. troduced in the United Auto Workers at the Detroit auto show. was the beneficiary of the 2010 state-or- In 1987, as GM closed a record number 2007-11 contracts with the Detroit Three FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne has al- chestrated bankruptcy, gaining a 35 per- of plants, the Job Is a Right Campaign as- automakers and was then expanded as a lowed its “flagship” 200 cars’ sales to cent stake in the company at no cost and serted that a job is a property right and de- condition of the bailout during the bank- plummet as part of its plan to eliminate then gaining full ownership on the cheap. manded a moratorium on plant closings. ruptcy. Subsequent contracts have raised car production in UAW plants, only Threatened with Chrysler’s liquida- This mass movement helped to strengthen lower-tier workers’ wages, with the latest building in the U.S. large trucks and tion, the UAW made major concessions. job security language in UAW contracts. contract allowing many of them to even- sport utility vehicles with the highest Contract language limiting layoffs to 48 Discussing the right to a job leads to tually make top pay. Yet with an eight- profit margin. weeks over the life of the four-year con- this conclusion: If workers have a prop- year wait to get the maximum wage, pay Marchionne claims that a “permanent tract and SUB for the entire layoff period erty right to their jobs, they have a right gaps still exist. change” has occurred in automotive buy- were eliminated. Now the most exploited to prevent their property from being tak- Based on seniority, lower-tier workers ing patterns, but facts do not support his workers will pay the price. en away. This was the key legal defense are the first ones laid off and the last to stance, as many variables influence this of the sit-downs, when GM management Capitalists put profits before people howled that seizing the plants violated “Slow sales” are presented as the root the sacred right of their ownership. Au- cause of layoffs, as if market cycles are as toworkers, however, have sweat equity in natural as weather cycles — and workers the plants and have the right to occupy Mass protests in France must live with the consequences. them in their own interest. The corporate media claim that union FCA’s layoffs and the auto industry’s fla- Continued from page 1 wages and benefits are killing autoworkers’ grant disregard of global warming prove 9 p.m., the rain stopped and we jobs. That is the gist of the April 10 Detroit that capitalists cannot be entrusted with stayed. We came back the next Free Press editorial on Ford’s announce- our future. Workers must seize the means day, and as we keep coming ment that it would invest $1.6 billion in of production — not only to defend their back every night, it has scared a new plant in Mexico employing 2,800 jobs — but to ensure the planet’s survival. the government because it’s im- workers. Ford is moving production of its Grevatt is a 28-year Chrysler worker possible to define.” small car, the Focus, from Michigan to San and UAW member. “There’s something here that I’ve never seen before in France — all these people converge here each night of their own El poder político ­accord to talk and debate ideas Paris, April 9. PHOTO: HUMANITÉ — from housing to the univer- sal wages, refugees, any topic they like.” capitalist state to stop these discussions. afroamericano y las elecciones President Hollande, the head of the Continua de página 12 Occupy and the ‘indignant ones’ nominally “socialist” Socialist Party, is de anular las pérdidas electorales sufri- Anyone who participated in the Oc- still pushing for the new anti-labor law. celamiento en masa, terrorismo policial das por Clinton en varios estados clave, cupy Wall Street actions starting in the In the week before the latest protests, the y arraigado racismo institucional siguen incluyendo Michigan, Alaska, Hawái y fall of 2011 in the U.S. will recognize the government made a few concessions. siendo barreras estructurales para el Nueva Hampshire. Esto se convertirá scenes in France. The young people seize So far the reaction is “too little, too progreso socioeconómico y el empodera- en un debate crítico a la luz de varias plazas in cities and towns and stay on late.” The formal organizations of the miento político. encuestas que muestran a Sanders eje- their feet all night to protest and discuss. students are still calling for more demon- El aparente cambio de perspectiva cutando una campaña mucho más fuerte Demonstrators in France have even ad- strations on April 28. hacia la campaña Sanders ilustra el de- contra el principal candidato republicano opted the OWS term “1%” to refer to the In Greece and Spain large sections of scontento entre numerosos grupos del Donald Trump en las elecciones genera- bosses and bankers who rule the country. the population who used to back social Partido Demócrata, de los cuales las/os les de noviembre. These actions are also similar to the democratic parties have broken with afroamericanos son una agrupación in- Estos cambios en las opiniones políti- demonstrations of the “indignant ones” those that betrayed their working-class dispensable. La dependencia de Clinton cas deben conducir a una mayor inde- that began in Spain in May 2011. And now supporters by promoting austerity. In en los funcionarios electos y las estructu- pendencia política durante el proceso de some of the “Nuit Debout” (“Up All Night”) Britain too, Labor Party members broke ras organizativas del partido, no ha sido primarias, elecciones nacionales y poste- protests have spread from France across with the neoliberal Tony Blair wing and suficiente para sostener una serie de vic- riormente. Finalmente, las/os afroameri- the border to Belgium and back to Spain. elected a new leader from the party’s far torias en el Sur y otras áreas durante la canos, las/os oprimidos de otras naciona- The youth don’t want to give up their spac- left. primera fase de la campaña. lidades y la clase trabajadora en general es for free and democratic discussion of The outcome of the clash depends not Surgen preguntas en el electorado so- deben romper con el Partido Demócrata policies that determine their future. only on the determination of the youth, bre el papel del proceso de “superdelega- para establecer su propia organización As in Spain and the U.S. in 2011, how- but also on the support and intervention dos”, en el que fuerzas comprometidas, que hable en su nombre y luche por un ever, it looks like the French government of France’s huge, multinational working la mayor parte en representación de los programa de liberación total y construc- is ordering the repressive force of the class. jefes del partido, mantienen la capacidad ción de socialismo genuino. 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. 15 21 de abril 2016 $1 El poder político afroamericano y las elecciones

Por Abayomi Azikiwe en el período moderno representaba un Aumentan luchas populares contra da organización de encuestas elector- tipo de “privilegios raciales” para las/os ofensiva derechista ales, publicó una encuesta que muestra El papel de las/os afroamericanos afroamericanos. Esta declaración se hizo Nunca se iniciaron medidas concretas que Sanders lidera Clinton entre las/os es fundamental durante los últimos en un momento en que la gran recesión para abordar estas preocupaciones bajo votantes afroamericanos en Wisconsin dos meses de primarias y asambleas en había devastado a las/os afroamericanos la administración del presidente Barack por 11 puntos”. aproximadamente 20 estados. en las áreas de ejecuciones hipotecarias, Obama. Las elecciones del 2010, 2012 La encuesta sugiere que “en definiti- Los dos candidatos a la nominación pérdida de empleos y disminución de in- y 2014 vieron la transformación de los va, la campaña de Clinton se encuentra demócrata, la ex secretaria de estado Hil- gresos y bienes de la familia. demócratas de ser una mayoría en el Con- en medio de un colapso histórico - en lary Clinton y el senador Bernie Sanders, Un artículo del New York Times dijo greso, a ser una minoría. gran parte debido a la desintegración del han hecho llamados especiales para ga- que el fallo “efectivamente anuló el cora- La ausencia de una alternativa política apoyo a Clinton entre las/os votantes no narse a las/os electores afroamericanos. zón de la Ley de Derecho al Voto de 1965 efectiva tanto dentro como fuera del Con- blancos – y que los medios a nivel nacion- Este proceso se remonta por lo menos a por una votación de 5 a 4, liberando a greso, dio lugar a la profundización de al no se han dado cuenta”. Las elecciones 1960, cuando un reemergente electorado nueve estados, sobre todo en el Sur, para un programa político de derecha que ha primarias en las próximas semanas pro- negro apoyó al candidato demócrata John cambiar sus leyes electorales sin previa aumentado la capacidad de la clase capi- barán o refutarán estas afirmaciones. F. Kennedy, llevándolo a la Casa Blanca. aprobación del gobierno federal. ... En el talista para dominar en general a la clase Esta tendencia se vio en Michigan a Sin embargo, numerosos militantes de la núcleo del desacuerdo estuvo si las mi- trabajadora y oprimida. La represión principios de marzo y se reflejó en los época, como Malcolm X y Stokely Carmi- norías raciales continuaban enfrentando estatal por los organismos policiales y estrechos y cuestionables márgenes de chael, criticaron al gobierno de Kennedy obstáculos a la votación en los estados de inteligencia refuerza el sistema de ex- victoria de Clinton en Illinois y Missouri, por su fracaso en la protección de las/os con una historia de discriminación”. (25 plotación con impunidad. junto con la falta general de entusiasmo trabajadores de derechos civiles, así como de junio de 2013) Casi todas las manifestaciones de ma- de su segunda campaña presidencial. por su incapacidad para propulsar legis- En representación de la mayoría en la sas y rebeliones desde 2012 han sido en De todos modos, hay un grado de lación en el Congreso para proteger los decisión, el conservador juez del Tribu- respuesta a los homicidios de afroameri- desesperación en la campaña de Clin- derechos sociales y políticos a nivel nacio- nal Supremo, John G. Roberts escribió: canas/os y latinas/os por policías y justic- ton sobre todo referente a los resultados nal del oprimido pueblo afroamericano. “Nuestro país ha cambiado. Si bien cual- ieros ilegales. Estas protestas y actos de de las primarias de Wisconsin. Clinton El 6 de agosto de 1965, la Ley de Dere- quier tipo de discriminación racial en destrucción de la propiedad han llevado mantuvo reuniones de campaña en barri- cho al Voto fue firmada y convertida en el voto es demasiado, el Congreso debe a la militarización en todos los niveles de os afroamericanos en Milwaukee durante ley por el presidente Lyndon B. Johnson. garantizar que la legislación que pasa a los cuerpos policiales, que han sido sum- la última semana de marzo. Esta ley fue el producto de la creciente lu- remediar ese problema hable sobre las inistrados por el gobierno federal con En dos eventos importantes, el rep- cha de la población afroamericana a me- condiciones actuales”. armas automáticas, vehículos blindados, resentante Gwen Moore, único miem- diados de la década de 1960 para exigir Leyes instituidas por varios estados tanques, productos químicos, porras y bro afroamericano de la Casa de Repre- la plena igualdad y el derecho a la auto para aumentar las barreras al voto fueron dispositivos de sonido diseñados para sentantes de Wisconsin, se paró junto a determinación. vindicadas por el fallo. En el mismo artí- reprimir y dispersar a la multitud. Clinton en el escenario. Moore dio la bi- culo del New York Times, las autoridades envenida a Clinton en un Club de Niños Restricciones del derecho al voto reanu- en Texas “anunciaron poco después de Cambio de actitudes políticas en 2016 y Niñas, alegando que la ex senadora de dadas por el Tribunal Supremo la decisión, que una ley de identificación Nuevas encuestas indican que la cam- Nueva York y ex primera dama, había Casi cinco décadas después, el 25 de de votantes que había sido bloqueada en- paña de Sanders ha ganado apoyo signifi- ayudado a jóvenes afroamericanas/os en junio del 2013, el Tribunal Supremo de traría inmediatamente en vigor, y que la cativo en la comunidad afroamericana en Carolina del Sur, mientras trabajaba para EUA anuló las disposiciones de apli- redistribución de mapas distritales ya no el Medio Oeste y la Costa Oeste. Una en- el Fondo de Defensa de los Niños. (WPR. cación de la Ley de Derecho al Voto por necesitaría aprobación federal”. cuesta reciente indicó que en un plazo de org, 31 de marzo) una sentencia de 5-4 en el caso del Con- Estas y otras medidas como la neg- dos meses, Sanders lideraba a Clinton en- Necesidad de acción política dado de Shelby [Alabama] versus Holder. ación de acceso a las urnas para aquel- tre las/os votantes afroamericanos en Wis- independiente Esta decisión evisceró la autoridad del las personas con antecedentes penales, consin antes de la primaria del 5 de abril. Departamento de Justicia para supervis- descalifica aproximadamente a un 25 por Un artículo del Huffington Post el 31 ¿Qué ganan las/os afroamericanos ar e intervenir cuando están involucrados ciento de las/os votantes afroamericanos de marzo señala que “el 27 de febrero, con su continuo apoyo a candidatas/os problemas relacionados con el acceso al en la Florida. En general, alrededor de 1,3 Hillary Clinton lideraba Bernie Sanders demócratas centristas, a la luz de la histo- voto y la representación legislativa. El millones de personas en este estado del entre las/os votantes afroamericanos por ria de la década de 1990 bajo Clinton y los recientemente fallecido juez del Tribu- sur faltaban en las listas de votantes en el 52 puntos. Para el 26 de marzo, lideraba últimos ocho años de la administración nal Supremo Antonin Scalia observó en momento de las elecciones primarias del a Sanders sólo por nueve puntos. Y el 6 de de Obama? Desempleo, pobreza, encar- aquel momento, que ese proyecto de ley 15 de marzo. abril, Public Policy Polling, una respeta- Continua a página 11 Trabajadoras/es federales bajo ataque Por Carl Lewis ayudar y negociar por las/os trabajadores la misma manera que la Agencia de Segu- en un “puesto críticamente confidencial”. federales. El propósito de esta demanda ridad Nacional, la FBI y la CIA clasifican En el mismo artículo, Davidson escribe El Congreso ha desatado una cantidad es golpear a los sindicatos al restringir, a esas/os empleados como de ‘confiden- que según Tom Devine, director legal del de leyes derechistas que disminuirían la o eliminar, el tiempo oficial y convencer cialidad crítica’ y así quedan impedidos Proyecto de Responsabilidad del Gobier- seguridad de empleo, el pago, y a las/os al público de que es un gasto del dinero de ejercer sus derechos sindicales. Por no, “El trabajador está indefenso”. La corte trabajadores federales, el derecho mismo de las/os contribuyentes. Sin el derecho lo tanto, esas/os empleados no tendrían respaldó el argumento de la adminis- a pertenecer a un sindicato que les repre- a tiempo oficial, los sindicatos no pueden derecho de apelación”. tración de Obama sobre la Merit Systems sente. Uno de los intentos más restricti- defender efectivamente a las/os traba- La administración de Obama tam- Protection Board, [que escucha los dere- vos de romper los sindicatos es cortar el jadores contra la disciplina arbitraria y bién propone legislación que cambiaría chos de apelación de trabajadoras/es fede- derecho de las/os representantes sindi- caprichosa, los despidos injustos y las re- la definición de lo que es un “puesto de rales], de que no puede revisar o revocar cales a usar el llamado “tiempo oficial” ducciones del pago. seguridad, y/o ‘confidencialidad crítica”. las decisiones de una agencia a tomar ac- para representar y negociar los contra- El presidente de una seccional del sindi- En la edición del Washington Post ciones disciplinarias o adversas contra la tos laborales. El tiempo oficial significa cato Federación Americana de Empleados del 21 de agosto de 2013, el experto del posición sensible de un empleado. Mien- sencillamente que las/os representantes del Gobierno (AFGE por sus siglas en in- periódico sobre empleados federales, Joe tras, añadió Devine, la administración sindicales pueden tomar tiempo para glés) le dijo a WW-Mundo Obrero de otro Davidson, se refirió a la irracionalidad de está proponiendo regulaciones que harían representar y negociar por una/un em- intento de romper el sindicato: “AFGE es estas decisiones en cuanto a los puestos a casi todos los empleos federales elegibles pleado, durante su día regular y recibir su el sindicato más grande que representa a “críticamente confidenciales”, especial- para la designación de confidencial. pago regular, sin tener que usar su tiem- las/os trabajadores federales (600.000); mente para civiles que trabajan en bases Resumiendo, los sindicatos en el sector po de ausencia al trabajo. sin embargo, una decisión reciente de la militares. En la decisión de la corte antes federal están obstaculizados por innu- La propuesta legislación también exige Corte de Apelación limita la definición de mencionada, un trabajador de grado in- merables leyes federales y de agencias, que las agencias que tengan sindicatos, quienes puedan ser protegidas/os por un ferior que administraba el inventario en regulaciones y políticas que restringen informen la cantidad de tiempo oficial sindicato, al reclasificar a las/os emplea- un economato, el cual es básicamente un los derechos y las actividades de las/os tomado por oficiales del sindicato para dos como de ‘seguridad confidencial’ de supermercado, fue descrito como alguien trabajadores federales.