Prisionero ambientalista 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 60, No. 28 July 12, 2018 $1 In Mexican election Masses move left By John Catalinotto The election of this more leftist candi- frage is the gauge of the maturity of the oligarchy and directly by U.S. imperial- date breaks with recent trends in Latin working class. It cannot and never will ism. The Pentagon virtually commands Some 53 percent of Mexicans who went America, which have seen rightist presi- be anything more.” the Mexican army. The FBI and the Drug to the polls elected Andrés Manuel López dents elected in Argentina and Colombia Whatever the intentions and sincerity Enforcement Agency operate throughout Obrador, popularly known as AMLO, as and “judicial coups” depose center-left of elected officials, and even when these Mexico, entwined with and as corrupt as the next president of this country of 123 leaders in Uruguay and Brazil. elected individuals are revolutionaries, the local authorities. The U.S.-directed million people, the third most populous When evaluating how much of an their role in government still leaves the “war on drugs” has resulted in 200,000 in the Western Hemisphere. “earthquake” the election of AMLO is, levers of real power — the army, the po- people killed since 2006. This landslide victory of AMLO against it’s good to keep in mind a useful quote lice, the justice system and today the me- Only a massive upheaval that breaks three other candidates of more right- from one of the founders of Marxist po- dia, not to leave out the banks — in the apart this state can change social re- wing and conservative establishment litical theory, Friedrich Engels. In “The hands of the capitalist class that owns lations. Even carrying out substantial parties — the Institutional Revolutionary Origin of the Family, Private Property and controls it all. ­reforms will require mass actions much Party (PRI) and the National Action Par- and the State,” he wrote: “Universal suf- In Mexico these levers are held by the Continued on page 9 ty (PAN), which together have ruled Mex- ico over the last 89 years — was the most lopsided electoral victory in Mexican his- tory. His nearest rival got less than half AMLO’s votes. López Obrador’s electoral coalition is also leading in votes for the lower house of the legislature in five out of nine state governments in play. Plus an AMLO ally, Claudia Sheinbaum, became the first 4-5 woman elected mayor of vast Mexico City, the capital. When AMLO’s three rivals conceded on the night of July 1, Mexicans flood- ed the Zocalo Square in the capital with mass demonstrations to celebrate the victory and demonstrate their great ex- pectations that a new era had begun. They expressed hope that in this new era the Mexican regime would be more sov- Want to lean more about FIRE? ereign, less repressive and less under the Check us out at ourfire.net • Twitter: @fight4migrants • facebook.com/fightformigrants • Instagram: fightformigrants thumb of Washington, while providing more social programs aiding the poor and being free of the corruption that aids only a handful of oligarchs; govern- ment, police and military bribe-takers; criminals; and their imperialist contacts across the border. DEFEND TRANS WOMEN 2

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Florida Fighting back against  In the U.S. transphobia, racism Florida: Fighting back against transphobia, racism . . . .2 Bryant Arroyo: On the inside, speaking out, part 3 . . . 3 murdered Black trans women, suffer a massive wave of Rochester, N.Y.: Protesters demand children be reunited 4 oppression. The capitalist establishment then mocks, Houston: No children’s ‘slave quarters’! ...... 4 disrespects and refuses them justice, continuing to use Stop Trump’s war on im/migrants! ...... 4 divide-and-conquer tactics to keep this group of people Portland Occupy ICE begins hunger strike ...... 5 By Devin Cole oppressed and exploited, and other workers from uniting Pensacola, Fla. to defend them. Phila.: Police attack on ICE encampment condemned . 5 In Pensacola, Fla., a transgender advocacy organization, Interview with Debbie Africa on MOVE ...... 6 Three Black trans women in Jacksonville, Fla., have Strive (Social Trans Initiative), serves as a trans advocacy Prison conditions breed hopelessness, part 1 . . . . . 7 been murdered since February 2018: Celine Walker, An- organization that meets trans people’s material needs. On Chicago forum exposes U.S. attacks on Korea . . . . . 8 tashâ English and Cathalina James. A fourth unnamed June 30, Strive declared its first-ever Transgender State victim was wounded in a shooting, but has survived. of Emergency, declaring Jacksonville an unsafe place for Commentary: Opportunism aids imperialist aggression . .8 This ongoing violence in Jacksonville has sparked an transgender people. While acknowledging that nowhere is S.F.: Venezuelan Consulate celebrates independence . . 9 understandable but nonetheless horrifying fear that the safe for trans people, Strive urged that all should be on Trump’s tariff war an attack on workers ...... 10 murders are connected and are the work of a serial killer high alert in and around the Jacksonville area. or serial killers who target Black trans women. Strive also issued a continuous call to action in the  Around the world More might be known about the situation if the city of form of phone-ins and email-ins to the Jacksonville city In Mexican election, masses move left ...... 1 Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office would and sheriff, and to the state attorney, demanding these Climate change heat covers Northern Hemisphere . . . 3 handle the cases properly. But, as usual, the officers of the cases be investigated as hate crimes. A further demand capitalist, racist, transphobic establishment are dedicat- was that all media personnel and the JSO acknowledge Ecuador: 20,000 protest to support former Pres. Correa . .9 ed to shrugging their shoulders and looking the other way and apologize for misgendering and disrespecting the Germany: Protest week held to ‘Stop Ramstein’ AFB . . . 11 while violence against transgender people surges. Even victims. France: Strategy changes for striking railroad workers . 11 after their deaths, disrespect for these Black trans women Though a core belief of Strive is its anti-cop stance, has been continuous. The JSO has consistently misgen- since these cases are now in the hands of the police, Strive  Editorial dered the victims, referring to them only by their dead- is putting pressure on every available avenue to solve Capitalist baby killers ...... 10 names (birth-assigned names), and as “men who identify these murders and bring a killer, or killers, to light. as women,” “men dressed as women” and so forth. The On July 5, in a second Trans State of Emergency dec-  Noticias en Español authorities keep repeating all the negative phrases that laration, Strive included a call for trans self-defense, say- ‘El primer prisionero ambientalista en el mundo’ . . .12 only serve to perpetuate violence against trans people, ing: “Understand that self-defense is not the same as op- particularly Black trans women. To add further insult pressive violence. It is not wrong to defend ourselves from to injury, the JSO has taken no step to investigate these reactionary attacks. This can be done however you feel murders as hate crimes, signalling that they do not deem comfortable: martial arts, firearm training, etc. Please trans lives worthy of justice. seek some self-defense training.” Black trans women fight to survive at a very dangerous Strive is asking for national solidarity, and for other intersection of identities and class struggle. Capitalism is organizations to join in the phone-ins and email-ins. We responsible for hundreds of years of racist injustice and must put all available pressure on the city of Jacksonville Workers World concentrated violence against Black and multinational and force them to meet demands. 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. people, as well as women and transgender people. The For more information, go to Strive: ­facebook.com/­ people in whose existence those identities meet, like the socialtransinitiative/ New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 60, No. 28 • July 12, 2018 Closing date: July 10, 2018 Join us in the fight Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, for socialism! Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt; Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-­ Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with Web Editor Gary Wilson Leninist party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even make Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; We are a multinational, multigenerational and multigen- it to college. Black and Brown youth and trans people are Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash dered organization that not only aims to abolish capital- gunned down by cops and bigots on a regular basis. Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, ism, but to build a socialist society because it’s the only WWP fights for socialism because the working class Bob McCubbin, Jeff Sorel way forward! produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should re- Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of main in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capital- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, the world and the planet itself in the never-ending quest ist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, for ever-greater profits. Capitalism means war and aus- owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guar- Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, terity, racism and repression, joblessness and lack of antee basic human needs. Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, hope for the future. No social problems can be solved Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the John Parker, Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac under capitalism. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Andrea Bañuelos, Alberto García, Teresa Gutierrez, has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Carlos Vargas education or anything else — unless they can pay for it. branch near you. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Copyright © 2018 Workers World. Verbatim copying Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. National Office Boston Denver Los Angeles Rockford, Ill. 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By G. Dunkel remains high and daytime temperatures smoking provoked lung cancer. drawn the U.S. from the agreement. A go above 110 and even to 122, it’s unbear- Similarly, it is hard to prove that a June 25 article in Nature Geoscience From southern California to Scotland, able. Workers who can’t afford electricity particular heat wave was caused by glob- theorizes that future global warming to the misty British Isles and the Arctic for fans, much less fans, and millions of al warming. But when almost all of this may actually be twice as warm as now coastline of Siberia, temperatures were subsistence farmers, who do hard work in planet’s Northern Hemisphere is filled projected by climate models. way higher than ever recorded the last the heat of the day, face heat exhaustion. with 20-to-40 heat waves and thousands “Observations of past warming peri- week of June and the first week of July. According to the Dawn, a local En- of people — mainly workers and farm- ods suggest that a number of amplifying When temperatures in Siberia hit 90 de- glish-language Pakistani website, more ers — are dying and crops needed to feed mechanisms, which are poorly repre- grees Fahrenheit, 50 degrees higher than than 1,000 Pakistanis have already died in billions of people are withering in the sented in climate models, increase long- normal, and the land breeze drove the ice Karachi — the largest city in the country fields, the assertion that global warm- term warming beyond climate model pack out of sight — whether or not there’s — and many more uncounted have died in ing is causing these heat waves becomes projections,” said lead author Prof. Hu- an official declaration of a Siberian heat rural areas and smaller cities. (dawn.com) much stronger. bertus Fischer of the University of Bern wave is not really relevant — it’s hot. It’s not just in poor countries where heat In a press call covered by CNN on July in a press briefing. More than 113 million people in the causes deaths. In Montreal, when the tem- 3, 2017, Texas Tech University climate sci- Current models don’t take feedback United States were under heat warnings peratures hit the high 90sF, poor people, entist Katharine Hayhoe said, “With ev- loops into consideration. Take the heat or advisories stretching from the Mis- many elderly, who live in basement apart- ery heat wave, probably the number one wave on the Siberian coastline as an sissippi Valley, up to Chicago and over to ments below ground level, suffered dis- question is, is it climate change, or is it example. Land breezes drive the ice off Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadel- proportionately. They can’t use fans, and not? Well, the answer is, it’s both. We get shore, opening up more dark water to phia, New York and Boston, according air conditioning is rare in Montreal. Hun- heat waves naturally, but climate change be heated by the sun and not reflected to the Weather Prediction Center of the dreds were taken to the hospital by emer- is amping them up, it’s giving them that by the ice. This melts marine perma- National Weather Service. gency services and 35 to 40 people died. extra energy, to make them even more se- frost, which releases more heat-trapping Denver, Mount Washington, N.H., Bur- rious, and have even greater impacts.” methane gas, leading to more warming. lington, Vt., and Montreal and Ottawa in Did global warming create heat waves? Even under Trump, the U.S. Nation- Heat kills more people in the U.S. than Canada all set records for the heat index If global climate is getting warmer, al Climate Assessment found that U.S. floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurri- that combines heat and humidity. heat waves will become more frequent heat waves have already “become more canes combined, according to National In Europe, multiple heat index records and more intense. Compare global frequent and intense,” and the U.S. is Weather Service statistical data from were set in Scotland, the north of Ireland warming, which every reputable scientist shattering high temperature records far the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Ireland. France set high temperature considers is caused by human activity, to more frequently than it is shattering low Administration. If capitalism continues warnings in 21 departments, out of 94 cigarette smoking. It is hard to “prove” temperature records. This assessment is to ravage the globe, it is possible that the administrative regions. that an individual with lung cancer got it generally applicable to the whole North- maintenance of human life, not to men- In Eurasia, records were set in Tbilisi, because they smoked. ern Hemisphere. tion entire ecological systems, will be Georgia, and Yerevan, Armenia, as well Scientists examined the physical Major population centers in Southern nearly impossible in large parts of the as in southern Russia. stresses caused by smoking and their rela- Asia, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka have world. In South Asia, Pakistan, a very poor tionship to lung cancer. They also record- their own particular concerns. We need a system change that will up- country with a large population, is nor- ed the incidence of lung cancer among The Paris Accord set as a goal to keep end this impending catastrophe. We need mally very hot in summer. Temperatures smokers versus its incidence among non- global warming to less than 2 degrees a path to socialism that rejects “profit of 105F are common, but when tempera- smokers. The combination of the stress Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a first” and acts for people’s needs — and tures don’t fall much at night, the humidity as cause and statistics convinced them difficult goal now that Trump has with- the planet’s survival. Bryant Arroyo: On the inside, speaking out Part 3 ‘The world’s first jailhouse environmentalist’

Final part of three parts of the story of Bryant Arroyo, a prisoner and political activist in SCI Frackville, where Kelly conducted this interview. that even some corrections officers in coal plant he helped block, he is adamant the prison quietly applauded his efforts, that this was about protecting prisoners, By Ted Kelly Ridge and Ed Rendell. He called it real making small gestures of support from the guards, the community at large, but SCI Frackville, Pa. “shoe-leather” organizing, walking the guard to inmate that are normally un- specifically about our “progeny” and the block and getting other prisoners to join heard of. Bryant says he learned “to judge generations yet to come. Bryant, a fa- In the 1990s, when Bryant Arroyo led him in stopping the construction of the a person by the content of their character, ther himself, is deeply concerned with an unprecedented kind of prison upris- plant. He managed to get the most pre- not the color of their uniform.” After all, safeguarding the health of children, who ing, it was his friend and mentor Mumia cariously positioned inmates, LGBTQ he says, “We’re all locked in here togeth- are so vulnerable to pollution and toxic Abu-Jamal who dubbed him “the world’s folks, rival gangs and both Black and rac- er.” The prison guards’ union joined the waste. It is only appropriate that the edu- first jailhouse environmentalist.” ist factions to cooperate with each other. opposition to the project. cational program that enabled Bryant to Writing in 2013, Mumia explained the While circulating petitions among In the end, the project was scrapped. get his GED diploma is named after Dan- background. “In 1998, a former Pennsyl- prisoners is expressly illegal, Bryant Bryant Arroyo fought the corporate iel Pennock, a 17-year-old boy who died vania governor, Tom Ridge, invited an couldn’t find any reason that he couldn’t swindlers — and won. in 1995 after toxic sludge was dumped by area businessman to join him on a trek organize prisoners to send in their own his home near Reading, Pa. to South Africa. He, John W. Rich Jr., letters. He changed the language in the One home, for all of us “When a child dies,” Mumia wrote af- was a power plant operator and a major text from “We,” “Us” and “Our” to “I,” Back at Frackville, Bryant is telling us ter the murder of Tamir Rice, “the natu- landowner in the Mahanoy [Schuylkill] “Me” and “Mine.” The censors could only about an interview he read with an astro- ral order is torn, the stars weep and the County area, a distressed, impoverished shrug their shoulders. Ironically, individ- naut who was on the International Space earth quakes.” region where coal mines closed down ualism provided the loophole for revolu- Station. He explains eloquently and in Whether they poison the child with decades ago. Rich met and made deals tionary collective action. detail what living in zero gravity con- sludge or lead or chemical dust, or they with the South African Sasol energy and When the local paper ran a front-page ditions does to the body, how the spinal shoot him without 2 seconds’ consider- chemical company, and before long, he story about the prisoner-led campaign to column expands and how the astronauts ation, corporate moguls are inhuman in announced plans for a major coal-to-liq- fight the chemical plant, Jack Rich and are actually an inch or two taller when their disregard for children’s lives. Bry- uid-gas project, literally right next door his cronies were apoplectic. Later that they return. Bryant was struck by the as- ant is stalwart in fighting against just this to the state prison in Mahanoy.” same week, inmates at Mahanoy could tronaut’s description of the transcendent kind of inhumanity. An official notice from the Environ- hear deafening construction noises from and mind-altering experience of seeing As we drove away from Frackville, I mental Protection Agency caught Bry- just beyond the walls. At certain vantage Earth from outside the Earth and how hastily scribbled notes on a legal pad I’d ant’s eye among what he calls a “mael- points in the yard, it was clear that Rich the petty barriers — walls, borders, white brought for the interview. Despite multi- strom” of other notices, regulations and was clearing the area for construction, picket fences — distract us from the fact ple assurances by prison staff leading up advertisements tacked up on the bulletin leveling the earth and cutting down trees. that we all have a single thing in common. to the visit, Joe and I were denied clear- board at Mahanoy. He pulled it down and So Bryant responded by getting another Bryant, despite himself, pauses for ance to bring in a pen and paper. Our told one of the bemused superintendents 500 prisoners to send letters. All told there quite some time. He cannot proceed un- reporters’ clearance was mysteriously, that he wanted to see the environmental were 902 letters, sent from a prison pop- til collecting himself. “We all have one conspicuously struck from the record. As impact statement for this coal gasification ulation of 2,300. To visualize what an as- home. And no matter where you’re head- I wrote down as much as I could remem- plant that was slated to be built 300 feet tonishing accomplishment this is, imagine ed, you’re always trying to go from point ber from our conversation with this ex- from the prison he was confined to. The walking a prison cell block, knowing every A to point B. We’re all trying to make our traordinary individual, that unfathom- results were clear — this plant was going third cell was occupied by a prisoner who way home.” able figure came back to me: there are 2.2 to poison everyone in the facility. risked severe retaliation for writing a let- Bryant Arroyo has the compassionate million others in U.S. prisons. So Bryant went up against SESOL, ter signing on to this movement. heart of an environmentalist. Always This was just one story. One story Bechtel, Chevron, Shell, Jack Rich, Tom The class contradictions were so stark when discussing the toxic effects of the among millions. Page 4 July 12, 2018 workers.org Protesters demand children be reunited

More than 200 protesters gathered at Washing- ton Square Park in blistering heat in Rochester, N.Y., on June 30 to protest the actions of Immi- gration and Customs Enforcement and the federal government. With signs and songs they demanded that immigrant children forcibly separated from their parents be immediately reunited with them. The rally was supported by more than 10 local Rochester, N.Y. groups, including the International Action Center, whose banner attracted much favorable attention. WW PHOTO: LYDIA BAYONETA — Report by Gene Clancy

Houston No children’s ‘slave quarters’!

By Gloria Rubac Justice Advocacy Ser- Houston vices (TEJAS), the S.H.A.P.E. (Self-Help Houston’s Free Los Niños Coalition for African People held a militant demonstration on July through Education) 6 outside of a Southwest Key building Community Center, being remodeled into a prison for unac- Familias Inmigrantes companied minors crossing the Mexico/ y Estudiantes en Lu- Texas border without an adult. Almost all cha (FIEL), Refuse speakers condemned not only the Don- Fascism and Demo- ald Trump administration, but also both cratic Socialists of America. Jack Yates and other newly freed slaves in the Democrats and Republicans for their Kofi Taharka, national chair of the Na- 1872. We will not allow a prison to be on anti-immigrant policies and practices. tional Black United Front, spoke loudly the north end of Emancipation Avenue. Revolutionary militancy was in the air as as he said, “A slave quarters on Emanci- Black Panther Carl Hampton was assas- speaker after speaker said they would not pation Avenue? Hell no! Our community sinated by Houston cops on this street. allow this children’s prison to be opened. fought to get the city to rename this street “Yes, immigration is a Black issue. Speakers included representatives from one honoring a Confederate gener- Anytime the government talks about of Fight for Im/migrants and Refugees al to one our ancestors would recognize: prisons, they are speaking about Black Everywhere (FIRE), Houston Socialist Emancipation Avenue. people. We are here today in solidari- Movement, the Brown Berets de Hous- “Emancipation Park on the south end ty with everyone who wants to stop this ton, Code Pink, Texas Environmental of this street was founded by the Rev. prison,” Taharka asserted. WW PHOTOS: GLORIA RUBAC Stop Trump’s war on im/migrants!

By Kathy Durkin centers, many in terrible conditions, deadlines,” and threatened to penalize throughout the country. Police attacks caged, alone and neglected, and scattered the government if it doesn’t comply. have not stopped these actions, and calls July 10 — The Trump administration’s to 17 states. Some parents have been de- Okoumou boldly told police, “You to “Abolish ICE!” are only growing loud- war on im/migrant families continues. ported without their children, causing a could shoot me the way you shot Claudia er. Workers World Party has supported Some 3,000 migrant children are still number of them to join lawsuits against González and killed the trans woman,” these protests. separated from their parents, which the U.S. government agencies to regain cus- alluding, first, to the 20-year-old Indig- Meanwhile, activists continue to Department of Health and Human Ser- tody. The reality is that many youngsters enous Guatemalan woman killed by the plague Trump’s political cohorts. A group vices admitted on July 9. may never be reunited with their parents, U.S. Border Patrol in Texas in June and, confronted Senate Majority Leader Mitch From May 7 to June 20, the U.S. Cus- and could even be adopted. second, to Roxana Hernández, a Hondu- McConnell outside a Louisville, Ky., eat- toms and Border Protection agency took Because immigrants are not entitled to ran immigrant who died a brutal death in ery on July 7, calling for ICE’s abolition. migrant children from their parents’ due process, they are not provided with ICE custody in May. A few miles away, hundreds of people in arms at the U.S./Mexico border under public defenders when they go to court, Arrested and charged with three mis- Occupy ICE were demonstrating at the the White House’s “zero tolerance” policy. even if they are children. The absurdity of demeanors, Okoumou appeared in federal city’s ICE office, with the same message. This mandated that all adult immigrants this policy is evident when toddlers must court on July 5. She sent a strong message An encampment had been going on there crossing the border would be taken into appear in court alone and a judge asks that day wearing a T-shirt emblazoned for several days. federal custody and their children placed them if they understand immigration law! with the slogan: “White supremacy is ter- The 45th president campaigned on a in detention facilities without them. This callous disregard for migrant rorism.” With legal help from Rise and program of racism and xenophobia. He The White House xenophobe in chief children has infuriated millions of peo- Resist, Okoumou was released. Her next started his election with racist propaganda had to back down from this horrific ple and spurred on activism — even acts court appearance is Aug. 3. against people from Mexico. In the vilest “family separation” policy when a mass of heroism. Protests against family separations way, he slandered the peoples of Haiti and movement arose opposing it. Publicly, he continue in Texas border cities. Congres- the African continent. With a sweep of his reversed his order on June 20 not out of Outrage breeds resistance sional delegations visiting immigrant pen, he ended temporary protected status compassion — but because the “visuals” On July 4, a courageous woman, Patri- detention facilities on July 9 were met for hundreds of thousands of immigrants were bad for his public image. cia Okoumou, protested these inhumane by La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) from countries oppressed by imperialism. Federal Judge Dana Sabraw has ruled detention policies by climbing partial- activists in McAllen and by Rio Grande And with a big assist from the U.S. Su- that all children separated at the border ly up the Statue of Liberty in New York Valley Equal Voice Network members in preme Court, he secured a ban preventing be reunited with their parents within 30 Harbor. An immigrant from the Congo, Brownsville. LUPE, Texas Civil Rights immigrants from five majority-Muslim days of his June 26 order, and he decreed Okoumou told the Guardian newspaper Project and other forces are staging daily countries from entering the U.S. that all children under 5 years of age be that she feared being shot or tranquil- protests and a hunger strike until July 17 While people across the U.S. are right- returned to their parents by July 10. The ized by police, who surrounded her for in McAllen. fully demanding the reunification of government now claims that it can only four hours. She said to officers, “My life migrant families, it is essential to show locate 54 of the 102 children under 5 and doesn’t matter to me now, what matters ‘Abolish ICE!’ solidarity with all immigrants who are asked for an extension of the deadline. to to me is that in a democracy we are hold- Demonstrations and encampments targets of the racist Trump government. deliver a proposed timeline on July 10. ing children in cages.” (July 7) On July have been organized in front of Immigra- Houston organizer Gloria Rubac con- Children are being held in detention 10, Judge Sabraw said these were “firm tion and Customs Enforcement facilities tributed to this article. workers.org July 12, 2018 Page 5 Portland Occupy ICE begins hunger strike

By Roy St. Warren, Josh Allan On June 28, city cops natural disasters, but rather from the and Lyn Neeley helped DHS agents by violent, unlivable conditions created by Portland, Ore. closing streets in the U.S. hegemony in countries around the vicinity of the ICE of- world. #OccupyICEPDX continues to face off fice to make way for OccupyICE has spread to other cit- with federal agents after three weeks of a raid of the encamp- ies around the country. It echoes other developing a thriving, organized resis- ment. They cleared occupy movements of workers and op- tance with more than 50 tents, hundreds the sidewalk in front pressed, like the Paris Commune, the of protesters and tremendous community of the building’s en- general strikes of the early 20th century, support. Occupiers shut down the Immi- trance and erected Occupy Wall Street and Standing Rock. gration and Customs Enforcement office a “no climb” fence It presents an opportunity to expand the here for two weeks and began a hunger around the perimeter workers’ struggle into deeper arenas of strike on July 4. of the facility. the class struggle and build. Protesters are not intimidated by the The fence obstructs A broad-based, global anti-war move- cops’ use of arrests, tear gas and sharp- the sidewalk on all ment is intrinsic to solving the im/ shooters. They say they are here to stay sides, yet the city has migrant and refugee issue. While the WW PHOTO: SCOTT WILLIAMS until their demands are met: Abolish not issued any cita- capitalist media frame immigrants and Occupy ICE occupation in Portland, Ore., July 6. ICE, reunite immigrant families and stop tions for blocking pub- refugees as a crisis, the real crisis re- incarcerating asylum seekers. #OccupyICEPDX has forged ties be- lic property — as they routinely do for sults from capitalism itself. Unaffordable The occupation has developed a sophis- tween various leftist groups in Portland houseless people. It makes the sidewalk housing and health care, extreme in- ticated community structure centered and raised more than $15,000 for Pueblo inaccessible for those using mobility de- equality, racist police violence, pollution around a common anti-ICE, anti-capital- Unido, a Portland legal defense fund for vices, in violation of Americans with Dis- and climate change are all real issues fac- ist program. Occupy teams include main- immigrants. abilities Act regulations. ing workers and oppressed peoples. tenance and engineering, food and water Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said the On July 3, the Portland facility re- Racist attacks on migrants and ref- distribution, medical, child care and even ICE agency was “on the wrong track” and opened. Several media outlets reported ugees by the U.S. ruling class serve to group meditation. The People of Color that the city would not attempt to clear that the occupation was disbanded. divide the working class and distract us caucus organizes 24-hour guard duty, se- the occupation camp. He said there were Yet the truth on the ground is very dif- from the real culprits behind the seri- curity guidelines and decisions concern- no plans to interfere with the peaceful ferent: the occupiers maintain they will ous problems we face today. But through ing interactions with cops, and policies protests. not stop until ICE is abolished. They see continued proletarian internationalism, concerning photos and videos. They hold However, Portland police have a sordid the U.S.-manufactured im/migrant cri- workers in both imperialist core coun- nightly vigils and regular rallies centered history of violating the city’s sanctuary sis as a crisis of imperialism and a direct tries and in colonized countries can fight around the voices of people directly af- city status by supporting ICE and De- result of U.S. intervention. People seek- together against their common enemy: fected by U.S. imperialism. partment of Homeland Security agents. ing asylum in the U.S. aren’t fleeing from the ruling class. Police attack on ICE encampment condemned

By Betsey Piette the connection between U.S. imperialist the people: “This police force in our city, patrols come from a renegade group of the Philadelphia wars and intervention abroad and the ICE and the U.S. government are not ac- KKK. ICE comes out of intense Islamopho- crisis of mass migration. countable to the communities they police bia after the 9/11 attacks. Police raided an encampment outside Nancy Nguyen, and oppress. If you have a system that is “White supremacy has been fueling the Philadelphia Immigration Customs a child of Viet- acting upon you oppressively and is not and perpetuating every single attack that and Enforcement facility for the second namese refugees accountable to you, as a community you communities of color have been facing for time on July 5. It was the fourth day of to the U.S. and have a right and responsibility to resist decades. It is time to stop it. ICE didn’t the people’s protest. executive director that force. start under [President Donald] Trump. Ten minutes before the early afternoon of VietLead, re- “Philadelphia police, with increased The deportation machine that Trump is attack, police told protesters they had lated the history funding of over $650 million per year, using white supremacy to fuel was hand- to move water coolers and supplies off a of the U.S. war on have shown that they are incapable of ed over to him by the [President Barack] sidewalk and clear space in front of the Southeast Asia, being accountable to the city of Philadel- Obama administration. building. As people began to comply and where more bombs Nancy Nguyen, phia. We have to hold them accountable “ICE has been terrorizing our commu- legal supporters tried to clarify the situ- were dropped than VietLead ourselves — by whatever means neces- nities for decades. My father was deport- ation, the police, using bicycles, pushed during all previous wars combined. “We sary. Whether it is the Philadelphia police ed when I was 10 years old. I know what through the camp, knocking down tents are here now, but since 2003, over 1,475 force, ICE or the U.S. military, we have to family separation at the hands of the U.S. and canopies, throwing possessions aside people from Vietnam and Cambodia disempower, disarm and disband them, government feels like. That is something and pushing people who questioned their have been deported. We are seeking jus- and for the people we have to do the op- you never recover from. I haven’t seen my attack. Seven people were arrested. tice and we stand in solidarity with the posite, for ourselves.” father in person for over 10 years. But I’m The encampment outside the Philadel- people who have been occupying this Also speaking for REAL Justice, Antho- still fighting. phia ICE facility, the most aggressive fa- space. More eyes are on ICE now.” ny Smith, first generation U.S. born, from “My community has been fighting cility in the U.S., followed days of protests Colombian activist Mara Hanao, from an immigrant family, raised that “Black against ICE for years. We do not give beginning July 2 around three demands: Philly Socialist, related a similar experi- people in Philadelphia and all across the credit to Mayor [Jim] Kenney or [f­ ormer Abolish ICE; close the federal immigrant ence of migrants driven to come to the country suffer from a very intense so- Mayor Michael] Nutter for declaring detention facility in Berks County, Pa., U.S. because of oppression due to U.S. called separation of families. The military, Philadelphia a sanctuary city. The policy where hundreds of families, including intervention and attacks on workers by police and ICE all function together to de- that Kenney was in federal court to de- children, have been held indefinitely; multinational corporations. She recalled stroy families and communities. fend was written and strategized by the and end local collaboration with federal the massacre of 2,000 banana plantation “The system isn’t broken. It’s working immigrant community of Philadelphia. immigration officials, including the Pre- workers by the United Fruit Company in as it always has been. ... And until we We the people pushed them to do it. liminary Arraignment Reporting System 1928, which contributed to the drive of decide that we will take power from the “We must push them again. The ICE (PARS), a database of arrests that the city people in Colombia to flee to the north. state and deal with our communities our- office here is the most aggressive in the has contractually shared with ICE. The Rev. Katie Aikins of the Tabernacle selves, we will be caught in this constant country. Immigrant communities have A press conference following the po- United Church stated, “The U.S. is a nation loop. We do not need the police or ICE to been fighting this for years. lice assault was held later that day. Po- bathing in the ideology of white suprema- deal with issues we can deal with our- “Don’t let this end after the occupation lice threatened to seize sound equipment cy since its founding. It uses this rhetoric selves! Abolish the police! Abolish ICE!” ends. Spread the word that this is hap- shortly before it was scheduled to start, to terrorize people who don’t look like us. Miguel Andrade, pening. Amplify the voices of the immi- leaving speakers without amplification PARS is part of the problem of creating a with the immigrant grant communities. Don’t speak for us, against a noisy backdrop of city trash terrorizing existence for immigrants.” rights group Juntos, but make space. Follow the leadership trucks removing debris from the camp. Representing expressed thanks and messaging of immigrant communi- Despite the police attempt to silence Workers World to the people who ties. Abolish ICE!” their voices, speakers delivered their Party and Philadel- came out at the en- messages and demands loud and clear. phia REAL (Racial, campment who are The conference was covered by most ma- Economic and Le- not fighting for im- jor news media. gal) Justice, Corne- migrant communi- WW PHOTOS: JOE PIETTE Speakers outlined the encampment’s lius Moody spoke ties, but with them: Miguel Andrade, three demands and noted that Pennsyl- to the issue of ac- “White supremacy Juntos vania Gov. Tom Wolf has the power to countability and of Cornelius Moody, has been a disease in this country since close the Berks facility with an execu- resisting a system REAL Justice and 1492. Police come out of a racist institution tive order. Im/migrant activists spoke on unaccountable to Workers World of hunting down runaway slaves. Border Page 6 July 12, 2018 workers.org

Interview with Debbie Africa on MOVE

By Betsey Piette next for the campaign to win release for the remaining MOVE 9 members. Before Following a 15-month-long siege on Debbie was sentenced, she and the oth- a MOVE compound in Philadelphia’s er MOVE 9 members were in a county Powelton Village neighborhood, police house of corrections for three years. After launched a major assault on the collec- sentencing, the women were all taken to tive’s home on Aug. 8, 1978. Nine MOVE State Correctional Institution Muncy. members were arrested and convicted of “When we got there, they just put us third-degree murder and conspiracy in in the hole, no ifs, ands or buts,” she re- connection with the death of a Philadel- called. “When Merle asked when we could phia police officer during the raid. De- come out, a security lieutenant said, ‘Your spite the lack of any evidence linking any minimum sentence is 30 years. You can of them to the shooting, they were given come out in 30 years.’ The county prison 30- to 100-year sentences. All nine be- had advised Muncy to ‘give them hard came eligible for parole in 2008, but have work and they would be okay.’ The state been repeatedly denied. didn’t listen. On June 16, Debbie Sims Africa, min- “We hadn’t done anything wrong, so ister of education for the MOVE organi- we went on a hunger strike for 45 to 50 zation at the time of her incarceration, days to draw attention to what was going became the first of the MOVE 9 to be pa- on and to get justice. They would bring us Debbie Africa with Betsy Piette. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE roled after nearly four decades in prison. food, and we would refuse to eat it. We She was reunited with her daughter Whit so strong and powerful that people might out of water, I kid you not, it rained. We lost so much weight they could see it and and son Mike Jr. for the first time in near- just look at it as too technical — but the used the rainwater to bathe the kids and it scared them. That forced them to let us ly 40 years. truth is technical. He took it and read it, for drinking water. I lived in an upstairs out of the hole. Mike Africa Sr., Debbie’s spouse and one but he didn’t want to give it back. I was room where I could sit and collect rainwa- “They actually took us to court and of the remaining six MOVE members still worried I’d get into trouble because I had ter from outside.” sued us just to take our blood samples. incarcerated, becomes eligible for parole to return it. He finally brought it back, Due to litigation restrictions on what When we were finally released into gen- again in September. Two members, Merle and I asked what he thought. He said, ‘It’s she could say about the actual police raid eral population, they jumped us and took Africa and Phil Africa, died in prison. a lot. It is the truth.’” on Aug. 8, 1978, we did not discuss the our blood, and made the excuse that ‘now On July 6, this writer met with Debbie When Debbie Sims graduated a few event that led to the arrests and impris- you can be in population.’ It was their in- and her son, Michael Africa Jr., on the months later, she started coming to the onment of the MOVE 9. However, while tention for us to be there all the time.” porch of their home in Delaware County, MOVE compound regularly, getting in- incarcerated, Debbie wrote on her expe- Later the women were moved to SCI Pa., surrounded by a wonderful garden volved with activities — whether it was rience for onamove.org. Cambridge Springs which, like Muncy, on the first cool day after a weeklong heat anti-zoo actions because of the abuse of Then 22, Debbie was in the house was a former college campus. “They turn wave. animals, or at the police districts where during the 1978 attack with her 23-month- a lot of old college campuses into prisons. We started out by talking about how someone had been brutalized. She noted, old daughter. She was eight-and-a-half The cells may look like dorm rooms, but Debbie came to be involved with MOVE. I “John Africa’s teachings really lock you months pregnant with her second child. we were not living in college conditions,” wanted to know who Debbie Sims Africa into the reality of what’s really going on. Debbie described the terror of the po- Debbie explained. “There were locks on was before she became one of the MOVE The rest is history.” lice attack. When family members woke our doors and other jail restrictions. We 9. Debbie responded by describing her When asked if she ever thought about up to find police surrounding their home, were not able to move around, not able to experience, and that of her brothers and what life would have been like if she had they quickly gathered up children and make phone calls that much and had lim- sisters, as young teenagers growing up not met MOVE, Debbie responded: “Being dogs and went to the basement, where ited contact with our families. Eventually, in Philadelphia’s Black Bottom neighbor- young at that time, I can only imagine that they thought they would be safe. phone calls and visits were made available. hood, where there was always something it would have not have been good. My mom “We huddled together, scared because “Up until my release, I was in a room going on: fights, police violence, etc. was married, but separated, with five chil- we knew cops had lots of guns and other with other MOVE sisters. We didn’t gen- Debbie made her long story short: “My dren. It would have not been good for her. weapons. We didn’t know how they were erally socialize with everybody because brother got into a fight with one of his Growing up in a neighborhood like that, gonna do it, but we knew their plan was we have very specific beliefs and consis- friends — ended up with my sister on pro- I can only see a lot of tragedy happening. to kill us. Cops were yelling over a loud- tent principles we follow. Because of that, bation. My boyfriend, Mike Africa Sr., got “My mom was struggling for my broth- speaker for us to come out the house … we carry ourselves a certain way, and my mother, who, realizing summer was ers. When I look back on their friends, but we didn’t trust them, so nobody went people are drawn to us. coming and didn’t want us in the streets, and my friends, I see a lot of them were out there.” “The other prisoners saw our mental reached out to some MOVE people she already in prison, some of them for life. Debbie described how police used fire toughness and physical strength, that knew. They came to the house and talked Although we did come to jail, it was at hoses to forcefully spray water through we were running and exercising and that with us for hours, giving us sound advice, least for a purpose. It wasn’t gang-related. a broken window in the basement. The we care for people and respect them. We talking about how violence wasn’t the It was political.” impact was enough to throw two-by-four always had a strong impact on what hap- solution to problems. That we should try Today, like too many of Philadelphia’s oak beams across the room, literally tear- pened in the prison, and there was sup- to avoid it at all costs. predominantly Black and poor communi- ing the house apart and killing dogs in port for us. During the end of my incar- “It wasn’t called MOVE at the time, ties, the Black Bottom area has been dec- the process. Then, a second wave of water ceration, I even had officers wish me good but one of their members invited my imated by gentrification, with a majority came through another window, catch- luck and say it was time for all of us to go. two brothers to come to their place in of its original residents pushed out to ing them in a crossfire of water. The cops We did our time and should be released.” Powelton Village to work at a car wash make way for the expansions of the Uni- started throwing smoke bombs and tear they ran. This was around 1972 or ‘73. versity of Pennsylvania, Drexel Universi- gas into the basement and shooting direct- Free the MOVE 9 My brothers loved it. They didn’t want ty and Presbyterian Hospital. It has been ly at the people inside. The smoke was so The conversation turned to the work to to come home and they didn’t. They got renamed “University City.” dense Debbie could not see her child’s face. win parole for the MOVE 9 members who involved in MOVE activities, in speaking Having had her almost 2-year-old remain imprisoned, more than nine years engagements — at the time they were in Powelton Village under police siege daughter snatched from her arms when after they became eligible for parole. full throttle speaking out against injus- In May 1977, police obtained a court or- she was taken into custody, and giving “We are asking for MOVE people to be tice. They loved it, taking care of the dogs der requiring MOVE to vacate their Pow- birth to her son a month later in prison, released. We were given 30 to 100 years, and going to study sessions that MOVE elton Village home. What followed was a only to have him taken from her as well, and we’ve done over our minimum — founder John Africa held, educating peo- tense siege of the surrounding neighbor- Debbie could relate to the anguish of im- nearly 40 years at this point — and we’ve ple how to avoid violence in their commu- hood for more than a year, including shut- migrant parents being forcibly separated earned the right to be paroled,” Debbie nities and on police brutality — the things ting off water to the house and preventing from their children today. explained. that made people’s lives miserable. food or aid to be sent to the family. “While my daughter and son were “People can send letters to the MOVE “My older sister took dictation for John What was Debbie’s experience during eventually given back to MOVE people, organization in Philadelphia, since letters Africa. My mother, aunt and cousin were the siege, while she was in the house they went through a lot. These kinds of need to be written in a certain way, and all involved at that point, but I didn’t want with a very young child? “We were pret- separations have been going on for a long we can make sure they get to the proper to go there. I was in high school and as- ty much confined in our house. It was time. I’m happy to see that this situation place. On Aug. 5, there will be a program piring to be a graduate. restrictive. We couldn’t come down off a is getting so much coverage and that it to commemorate 40 years of MOVE peo- “Then something happened. My moth- platform outside the house, or we would is being challenged. It’s hard when your ple being in prison. It includes a short er kept talking about guidelines she called have been arrested. We had to make do baby is being taken away and you don’t run/walk, a panel discussion and enter- ‘the book,’ written by John Africa. She with what we had. know where they are. It was hard for me, tainers. People are welcome to join and kept talking about it, and the logic of it, “The city had shut off water and elec- and I knew where they were. I’m glad they give donations if they can. More informa- and finally she let me read a part about tricity. When the city was about to put up are starting to reunite the families that tion can be found on onamove.org. education.” the blockade, lots of supporters came and are seeking asylum.” “People have already done so much in Debbie described being so moved and brought us food and supplies. We also support year after year, decade after de- inspired by what she read that she wanted had a lot of support from neighbors, who Life in prison prior to parole cade. We’ve had so much good support, to read it to the world. “I took it to school gave us food, water and canned goods. We spent some time talking about often from a small, consistent group of and let my history teacher read it. It was “At every point we were about to run Debbie’s experience in prison and what’s strong supporters who have never let us workers.org July 12, 2018 Page 7

Part 1 Prison conditions breed hopelessness down. It’s just been awesome for me com- By Jared Ware An April 15 rebellion at a South Carolina maximum security prison was the deadliest prison ing home, but it’s still surreal.” uprising since the Lucasville Uprising on April 11-21, 1993. (Workers World, tinyurl.com/y9grqhd7) Much has changed since Debbie Sims The deadliest incident South Carolina prison inmates have called for a National Prison Strike from Aug. 21 to Sept. 9. Africa was imprisoned in 1978, including of violence in a U.S. prison Demands and support actions are at incarceratedworkers.org. the political movement. We talked about in a quarter century took The following is an edited interview with some of the prisoners. the recent developments of the Black Lives place at the Lee Correc- Matter movement, new groups opposing tional Institution in South police brutality and the most recent move- Carolina on April 15. ment to abolish Immigration and Customs According to multiple Enforcement. I asked Debbie if she had reports, including South any advice for the young activists of today. Carolina Department of She responded: “To the people who re- Corrections Director Bry- SOUTH CAROLINA ally want to work for peace and justice, it an Stirling’s own, prison does take a lot of hard work and commit- guards and emergency ment. But in the end, it is worth it. We’re medical technicians made not talking about violence. We’re talking no attempt to break things about revolution. We have to understand up or lend medical aid what we want and what we are fighting for. until hours after the fight “Be consistent and do what it takes, was over, while impris- whether it’s demonstrations or just stand- oned people were beaten ing in silence. If people can find a peace- and stabbed. Seven people ful solution to their problems then they were killed and dozens in- should do it, but we have to be unified. It jured, with at least 22 re- makes it harder that everyone has differ- quiring hospitalization. ent ways of doing things, but we need to I interviewed three in- be moving in the same direction. dividuals from prisons “My message would be to stay focused inside the South Carolina on what your purpose is. Don’t get divert- Department of Correc- ed by anybody. Don’t let people or other tions on April 22. One of things pull you away from what you want them identified himself to do. Stay focused.” as a member of Jailhouse As our time wound down, I turned to Lawyers Speak, a group of imprisoned means people imprisoned had been de- even when you [were] at what was known Debbie’s son, Mike, to ask about how his human rights advocates who have made nied any freedom of movement, regular as the max yard. These yards [were] clear- three weeks reunited with his mother national calls to action for a prisoner-led access to showers, recreation or meals ly open; everybody could roam and move have gone. Mike responded: “It has been strike in response to conditions they feel outside their cells. around. all that I hoped it would be. There’s been are responsible for the violence and hope- Jared Ware: Firstly, there have been a But when 1996 set in, this mindset the back and forth, with my mom, my sis- lessness in prisons across the U.S. lot of things that have gone down in South started to kick in, as Hillary Clinton ter and my wife teaming up on me, but it These three individuals, identified as D, Carolina prisons over the last year or two. called [it], of locking down these “super has been beautiful.” S and E to protect their identities and pre- If you could lay down some of that con- predators.” The government called it the Debbie interjected by noting that one vent retaliation by prison officials, high- text, because I think a lot of people don’t War on Drugs, which I call the war on the principal of MOVE is the recognition of lighted the impacts of policies pushed by understand some of the things that pris- Black and Brown community. All these equality between women and men. President Bill Clinton’s administration oners have been dealing with and how things is playing into effect, and that cre- Mike continued: “I told her it feels like and implemented by states across the those conditions might contribute to a ated the environment inside. you’ve been gone for a short vacation. The country. They point to the dehumaniza- sense of hopelessness. We found fences starting to be wrapped whole transition has been so smooth, tion of prisoners and challenge our con- D: I’m going to take you back a little into the prisons; we found prisoners that things fell into place. I really didn’t know ception of “gangs” — which do not take step here — to 1996 at least [to] Bill Clin- was labeled as violent offenders, was what to expect. I didn’t plan — it’s been into account the ways in which incarcer- ton’s Prison Litigation Reform Act and sent into these fences, and caged into one foot in front of the other. ated people are forced to create their own Antiterrorism [and Effective Death Pen- buildings all day. We found that the food “We are still learning each other, but the collective means for safety, survival and alty] Act. These acts, that went into full started deteriorating; we saw the clothes fact that we are both MOVE members and camaraderie in a situation where hope is effect in 1996, initiated 85 percent Truth removed; and we saw the ways that [im- have the same beliefs helps. MOVE does the scarcest commodity. In Sentencing laws [a movement to end prisoned people] could make money re- not believe in killing life unnecessarily. The three urge the public to reconsid- parole and increase the length of prison moved out of the system. There was no There were fruit flies in our house, and er the nature and source of violence in sentences, as well as ensuring that pris- longer any type of state pay. Even though there was one right in front of her, and she prisons and the absence of human dig- oners convicted of certain offenses served state pay was very minimal, it was still an saw it. There was a part of me that forgot nity and a rehabilitative environment. at least 85 percent of their sentences] opportunity to buy a bar of soap or a Hon- she is a MOVE member too, so I expected They present actionable solutions to mit- throughout most of the states today. ey Bun. We saw that visitation was being her to swat it, her being a new person in the igate some of the harm caused by prisons It’s not necessarily something that in- restricted. house. I was wondering how was she go- on our ultimate path toward shedding cubated inside South Carolina; it was It was just a host of things that started ing to react. When she just ignored the fly, carceral responses to societal needs. actually national. There was a domino being incubated. And then the hopeless- I remember feeling happy about it. I don’t When I wrote this introduction on May effect. But [before] 1996 in the state of ness set in, because we started having have to teach her our beliefs. This is a per- 2, South Carolina prisoners confirmed South Carolina, there was no such thing these life sentences coming through un- son who has known them longer than I do. that all Level 2 and 3 facilities had re- as a natural life sentence. There was no der 85 percent [required time served], “It’s all love! It’s all great!” mained on lockdown since April 15. This such thing as a forever-type sentence, where prisoners knew they were never where individuals thought that they going to see daylight again. We started weren’t going to be able to get out. having what we call “football numbers”: MARXISM, REPARATIONS Even if you had a violent offense, or 80, 100, 150 years coming through 85 & the Black Freedom Struggle a labeled-violent offense, you still had percent. something known as a work release date. So this is where actually a lot of the An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. You still had some type of eligibility to go problems started accumulating. Not only Edited by Monica Moorehead. Includes: to work release, and that also meant eli- that, but education was removed by the Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination ▪ Black Labor gibility to go to work at some place on the prison system. Any type of Pell Grants, all from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery ▪ Black Youth: Repression & Resistance ▪ The Struggle for Socialism Is Key ▪ Domestic Workers street, or go home even on the weekends that was gone. Education, technical col- Demand a Bill of Rights ▪ Black & Brown Unity ▪ Harriet Tubman, in South Carolina. Individuals had the leges, everything was removed. So that’s Woman Warrior ▪ Alabama’s Black Belt: ▪ The 1965 Watts Rebellion opportunity to make state pay [a system a little bit of what started to shape the en- Available at major online booksellers. where the state paid prisoners for work], vironment here. COVER GRAPHIC: SAHU BARRON SAHU GRAPHIC: COVER

Learn more. Available online at: www.workers.org/books A Voice from Harper’s Ferry The Klan & Government: WHY COLIN KAEPERNICK Foes or Allies? Osborne P. Anderson’s Articles from Workers World/Mundo Obrero Examines the special relationship IS RIGHT account of the raid with the state that has allowed on Harper‘s Ferry Excerpt: ‘Last October, Colin Kaepernick, the African-American the Ku Klux Klan to exist for over appeared in pamphlet form in 1861 right former quarterback for National Football League’s San Francisco a century despite its criminal after the start of the Civil War. Includes 49ers, was asked after a game why he was wearing a Muhammad history of lynchings, murders, essays by Mumia Abu-Jamal, Monica Ali t-shirt. He said, “To pay homage. [Ali] fought a very similar and intimidation. Moorehead and Vince Copeland. fight and was trying to do what’s right for the people.”’ Page 8 July 12, 2018 workers.org Chicago forum exposes U.S. attacks on Korea

By Kaitlyn Griffith south, and the development of socialist Griswold also emphasized the per- Chicago foundations in the north. spective of the South Korean people, who Griswold condemned the intimida- are largely supportive of peace with the Deirdre Griswold, a founding mem- tion tactics employed by the U.S. against DPRK, reject U.S. provocations and seek ber of Workers World Party and editor of the DPRK, including military wargame to reunite the peninsula. She described WW newspaper, spoke at a July 7 forum exercises and open calls for the DPRK’s protests of tens of thousands in the titled “Korea: Behind the Headlines.” The annihilation, as well as the expansion of south, which led to a significant change forum, which attracted over 35 people to Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. over- in the South Korean government last Chicago’s United Electrical Workers union seas military base in the world. year and has forced the U.S. to the nego- hall, was co-sponsored by Chicago ALBA Refuting the widespread lies about tiating table. Even though South Koreans Solidarity Committee and Workers World WW PHOTO: KAITLYN GRIFFITH DPRK aggressiveness and emphasizing face imprisonment under their govern- Party and endorsed by Anakbayan Chica- She laid out an historical timeline begin- the vast difference between the roles of the ment’s National Security Act for public- go, Chicago Anti-War Coalition, Chicago ning with the unsuccessful U.S. attempts U.S. and North Korean military, Griswold ly expressing any support to the DPRK, Committee Against War and Racism and at gunboat domination of Korea in the challenged the audience: “When have you Griswold explained, their deep yearning Freedom Road Socialist Organization. 19th century, the subsequent takeover seen a DPRK soldier outside the DPRK? for peace and unification drove many Griswold based her presentation on of Korea by Japanese imperialism, the Where have you seen DPRK weapons de- into taking a stand. her firsthand experiences visiting the development of the Korean armed liber- ployed outside that country? You haven’t The forum was co-chaired by Stan northern and southern regions of the ation struggle under Kim Il Sung’s lead- because all their soldiers and weapons Smith of Chicago ALBA and Katherine Korean peninsula over several decades. ership, the devastating bombings of the remain in the DPRK. They are there to Cavanaugh of WWP. Maya Arcilla of She provided historical context to the north by the U.S. during the Korean War, protect their country, not to spread aggres- Anakbayan also spoke, emphasizing the current political climate, including the the division of the country engineered by sion.” Griswold added that the DPRK’s nu- important links between the struggles ongoing talks between the U.S. and the the U.S. after World War II, the estab- clear program serves solely as a deterrent against U.S. imperialism in the Philip- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. lishment of a U.S. puppet regime in the and has thus far proved effective. pines and Korea. Opportunism aids imperialist aggression Commentary By Christian Noakes illusory in many parties. Western imperialism on the world, so too an entire show of his HBO series to de- While these leaders did not themselves do today’s “progressives” promote the nouncing supporters of the late Vene- In imperialist Western Europe, North promote the hostile, almost racist, ste- narrative that U.S. imperialism is a gift zuelan President Hugo Chávez. Oliver America and the U.S. in particular, a reotypes, they found “progressive” pre- to the Global South. showed himself a willing collaborator of perennial issue is again rearing its ugly texts for war. Those committed to anti-imperialist U.S. imperialism by downplaying Wash- head within progressive circles — involv- In Germany, the Social Democratic principles are often attacked by people ington’s hostility to Venezuela and glori- ing vital support for imperialism and Party voted to fund the war, with much of who claim to uphold socialism and inter- fying the violent and undemocratic U.S.- military aggression. the leadership arguing for the need to to national solidarity. The Western progres- backed opposition there. As has been the case historically, this wage war against what was then Czarist sives’ stated reason for hostility against To denounce the recent Venezuelan support ranges from denial of self-de- Russia. From left to right, German society countries in the Global South is often election and the legitimacy of the Boli- termination for oppressed countries — largely accepted nationalistic class collab- that they do not see these countries as varian Revolution more generally, Oli- countries of the Global South — to jingo- oration, which was framed as an impera- socialist enough or democratic enough to ver took to using misleading abbreviated istic participation in a drive toward war. tive to defend German culture and society deserve their support. quotes and a highly selective history of In mid-2018 it is all too common for from “backward” Russian influence. This is a completely inconsistent and U.S. imperialism in the region. He did not such so-called progressives to refuse to In France and Britain, the social demo- hypocritical standard. Most of these mention the U.S.-backed coup in 2002, support the right of Korean, Venezuelan cratic leaders, with few exceptions, railed “progressive” imperialists would rather which tried to overthrow the democrat- and Syrian self-determination. Some against German militarism and in sup- defend the right of self-determination for ically elected Chávez or any other facts also refuse to denounce U.S. military and port of their own capitalist democracies. Western capitalist countries. that might reveal the extent to which economic aggression against these coun- Presenting imperialism as a progres- A selective standard infects the left. It Washington has consistently tried to un- tries. They line up their positions with the sive endeavor or defense against repres- makes some people enthusiastic support- dermine Venezuelan self-determination. campaign of U.S. politicians and the cor- sion and backwardness promoted bour- ers of imperialist aggression. It makes Even Democracy Now!, the most prom- porate media to demonize the countries geois nationalism that ultimately tore the many others at least reluctant to speak inent alternative broadcast outlet that of- under attack. Second International apart and pitted out against imperialism for fear of break- ten provides a left voice, has fallen into The ability of U.S. imperialism to con- workers against one another. The Second ing with public opinion that is manufac- the same trap with regard particularly to struct a popular consensus for war and International was dissolved in 1916 after tured by pervasive bourgeois ideology. Syria. It has provided alleged “indepen- subversion against these countries relies its organizations in the separate Europe- This ideological domination is the root dent” corroboration of the imperialist in part on the willingness of these “pro- an countries supported their own nation- of 21st-century opportunism. Those then narrative touting regime change in Syr- gressives” to line up. Lining up, in effect, al bourgeoisies and followed them to war find a pretext in the problems faced by ia, broadcasting reports from the White is a type of opportunism, a caving-in to — on both sides. the demonized countries, which them- Helmets grouping and other obviously the war drive under the pressure of pub- There was a material basis for this selves are struggling to defend their in- biased sources that have been exposed as lic opinion manufactured by the imperi- treachery. Imperialist exploitation of dependence from imperialism. aligned with the imperialists. alist ruling class. the colonies enabled the ruling class, as Just as was the case for WWI, the The progressive façade propagated by To understand the consequences and Workers World contributing editor Fred marching lines of imperialism are pre- liberals has made it easier for Washington function of this opportunism in acts of Goldstein wrote in his book “Capitalism sented as a march of progress. to carry out military aggression without imperialist aggression, it is helpful to at a Dead End,” to “throw crumbs at the What should be a question of self-de- arousing mass resistance. It also provides consider the blow to internationalism upper strata of the working class.” These termination is derailed by red herrings an in for opportunist segments of the left over 100 years ago during the buildup to sectors allowed the development of a that opportunists would never use as a to support imperialist maneuvers while World War I. privileged labor leadership and workers’ pretext for the subjugation of their own disguising this as leftist criticism. This parties that were no longer committed to country. It is an insidious means of un- was the case during this year’s Left Forum World War I, 1914-18 revolution. dermining internationalism for the sake where opportunists attacked Black Alli- The Second International was a world- In Russia social democratic parties of the imperialist powers. ance for Peace organizer Ajamu Baraka for wide organization of parties calling were split. Lenin’s Bolsheviks supported Although rarely left of center, liber- his support of Syrian ­self-determination. themselves Socialist or Social Democrat- international working-class solidarity als have likewise shown themselves to (workers.org, June 14) ic; some in Western Europe had a mass and maintained the principle of anti-im- be enthusiastic “progressive” imperial- In adopting and enforcing imperialist following of workers. Representatives of perialism. Segments of the Mensheviks ists. Media figures like Rachel Maddow lies against the people of Venezuela, Ko- these parties had pledged at internation- supported Russian involvement, reject- have criticized Trump for negotiating rea and Syria, these media — along with al meetings to resist any moves of their ing revolution in favor of opportunistic with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. political organizations that take the same countries’ ruling classes to wage war, class collaboration with bourgeois na- Maddow, and many more like her, prefer positions — align themselves with the which would be an imperialist war of tionalists. that the U.S. enforce its will on the DPRK U.S. ruling class in support of nationalist conquest. This position was meant to fa- Having experienced the social-imperi- rather than come to any sort of diplomat- military aggression. cilitate working-class revolution through alism that divided socialists during World ic agreement. The historic lessons of the Second In- international class solidarity. War I, Lenin was keenly aware that “the Maddow went so far as to suggest that ternational teach the working class and Of course the ruling class, the milita- fight against imperialism is a sham … un- their meeting was orchestrated by Russia its parties that they must confront oppor- rists and all the rightist elements in each less it is inseparably bound with the fight to undermine U.S. interests in Asia. As ri- tunism on the left if they are to adequate- country promoted chauvinist, hostile at- against opportunism.” (Imperialism: The diculous as it is, this militaristic thinking ly oppose imperialism. This requires titudes toward all foreigners. It was the Highest Stage of Capitalism) should not be dismissed as fringe conspir- rooting out bourgeois colonial ideology, duty of the leaders of the Second Inter- acy theory or mere sectarian pettiness. which is used to vilify self-determina- national to fight against these attitudes 21st-century ‘opportunism’ Nor should it be seen as unique to tion of countries in the Global South and among the masses and especially among Just as colonizers asserted the be- U.S.-Korean relations. John Oliver, an- present the liberation of those countries the workers. Instead, the positions taken neficence inherent in the “white man’s other media figure who enjoys credibil- as a hazard for people living in the impe- at the international conferences proved burden” — a racist concept — to impose ity as a progressive, recently dedicated rialist countries. workers.org July 12, 2018 Page 9 Mexico: Masses move left Continued from page 1 closely resembles is Lula da Silva of Bra- more powerful than dropping votes into zil. Lula’s Workers Party had closer ties to ballot boxes. the union movement, however, and Bra- Who is AMLO? zil has both a larger economy and larger López Obrador has never been part of a population than Mexico, and it’s further socialist or communist movement. He is a away from the U.S. politician with nationalist roots, harking In the course of this year’s elections for back to Lázaro Cárdenas, who was pres- president and many local offices, some 130 ident from 1934 to 1940 and promoted candidates and political activists were as- local capitalism — as opposed to collabo- sassinated. While those who pay the death rating with imperialism — while allowing squads were unable to stop the masses the workers and poor to win some bene- from voting for AMLO in the national elec- fits. AMLO was allied with Cuauhtémoc tion — and his supporters made sure that Cárdenas, the son of that historic politi- most votes were counted — the killings cian, who narrowly lost a presidential elec- changed many of the local contests. There tion in 1988 that was rigged against him. are many who fear he may still be target- Expelled from the PRI, López Obrador ed in the period between now and Dec. 1, became the first elected mayor of Mexico when he is scheduled to take office. City in 1997. As a presidential candidate José Humberto Montes Oca Luna, a of the Party of the Democratic Revolution leader of the combative Union of Electri- (PRD) in 2006, AMLO would have won cal Workers of Mexico (SEM), comment- the election then had it not been stolen ing on the possibility of an AMLO elec- from him. In 2012 he lost again. When the tion, told Resumen America Latina in a PRD drifted rightward, he broke with it. June 23 article: “The mere fact of having AMLO ran this year in an ad hoc coa- a government that does not kill us and lition called Together We Will Make His- persecute us will be a great step forward tory (Juntos) consisting of his own party, and will allow the left to reorganize itself, PHOTO: BILL HACKWELL the Movement for National Regeneration to fill the political vacuum left by the lack (MORENA) — a party that depended on of an alternative that can really represent his popularity without an entrenched us as the left.” structure — and two smaller parties with Mexico is a pluricultural land of many Venezuelan Consulate contradictory programs: the Workers Indigenous nations speaking 89 different Party (PT), a party with Maoist roots, languages, with a revolutionary history. and the PES, a right-wing party with an The clearest message of the election was celebrates independence evangelical Christian origin that opposes to show that, within the range of realistic abortion and LGBTQ rights. The alliance choices, what most Mexican people want The Venezuelan Consulate in San the small crowd, honoring Bolívar, con- with PES might have won some evangel- is sovereignty, more social opportunities Francisco held a ceremony in celebration sidered the "father of the nation," with ical votes, but it also brought legitimate and benefits for the poor, and less vio- of Venezuelan Independence Day on July a floral offering. A reception was held at criticism from activist women and the lence and corruption. While the election 5 at the Simón Bolívar statue in the Unit- the San Francisco Consulate office after- LGBTQ movement. alone doesn’t bring this, it shows what ed Nations Plaza. Consul General Anto- wards. Probably the contemporary Latin is possible should the mass of voters be- nio José Cordero Rodríguez addressed — Terri Kay American politician who AMLO most come a cohesive force.

ECUADOR 20,000 protest to support former Pres. Correa

By Michael Otto demonized Correa and the Citizen Revo- dicrous than the cases against Glas and another. Things got desperate when am- Quito, Ecuador lution. Instead of combating this corrupt Lula da Silva. Ten or more cases against bulances did not respond to her 911 calls media, Moreno used the vengeful hatred it Correa are now underway by the Ecua- for assistance. A massive manifestation of popular fostered between 2007 and 2017 and then doran judiciary. Angela Cayetano, originally from Qui- support for ex-President Rafael Correa employed Ecuador’s judicial system to per- to, traveled from New York City to repre- took place on the sunny afternoon of July secute and destroy his former comrades. Marchers: ‘Rafael Correa sent the International Action Center on 5 here in Quito, the capital. The action was is still our leader’ the march and to find a way to involve the at the same time a dynamic expression of ‘Lawfare’ used to serve oligarchs Amparo Castillo, leader of La Resis- International Action Center in legal and growing Ecuadorian resistance against and imperialism tencia Ciudadana, explained to Workers political support for Jorge Glas. current President Lenin Moreno’s moves The law as a weapon of political warfare, World that untold numbers of public work- The media have confused people, but to restore the conservative policies that called “lawfare,” was also used against ers joined the march after work, along recent polls find that more than 50 per- preceded the fledgling Citizen Revolution presidents Lula da Silva and Dilma Rous- with many “like us, the people who ride cent of Ecuadorians don’t believe a word that began with Correa’s first term in 2007. seff in Brazil and Cristina Kirchner in Ar- the bus because we don’t own cars” and that Moreno says. Cayetano told Workers That the Citizen Revolution now lies gentina, all of whom Washington saw as “other people of the heart who love Rafael World, “More and more people are not in ruins was evident in the banners and obstacles to imperialist domination. As Correa and many others who are thankful happy in Ecuador and want to heat up the the chants of some 20,000 people who Kirchner observed, the objective of law- for the benefits that came from him.” streets to take [Moreno] out.” flocked here from all parts of the country. fare is “to hide the economic disaster that Compañera Castillo supports Correa Compañera Cayetano observed that Ecuador is a little smaller than Arizona, the neoliberal governments are carrying and denounces especially the judicial and the July 5 march was much larger than with a population of 16 million people. out in the region.” (perfil.com, July 9) constitutional irregularities promoted by the protest held in Quito on April 10, Thousands marched through Quito’s All who served in Correa’s regime have the current government. She says that which she also attended. Based on re- center in a 10-block-long protest that become judicial targets of the soft coup people marched because we wanted to ports from her family members who live ended in Plaza Santo Domingo. Protests d’état that started with the preventive de- tell Moreno that “Raphael Correa is still in Quito, she highlighted the fact that in Guayaquil and other cities emphasized tention and frame-up of Glas in October our leader.” even some people who were longtime the same demands: end the political per- 2017. Some 70,000 public employees will Huge banners from every province and critics of Correa were marching on July 5. secution of Correa and free political pris- now lose their jobs in the name of “aus- hundreds of handwritten placards told a Correista Wellington Echegaray told oner, former Vice President Jorge Glas. terity” to fix a manufactured fiscal crisis, story: “Correa amigo, the people are with Workers World that 250 Ecuadorian im- Ecuador’s people elected Moreno along while the government has forgiven bil- you.” “Freedom for Jorge Glas.” “We are migrants demonstrated international with Glas in April 2017, expecting him to lions of U.S. dollars in unpaid taxes owed all Rafael Correa.” “No to Dictatorship.” solidarity in New York, joined by their continue the progressive agenda of the by the rich. “The New Economic Law Serves Only allies on the afternoon of July 5. Citizen Revolution. But during his cam- Correa has been indicted for kidnap- the Oligarchy.” “There Is No Rule of Law Echegaray and Cayetano are active in paign Moreno was making secret deals ping a former public official. The official in Ecuador.” “The Homeland Is Not for collecting signatures to register the new to turn over control of the public electric at the time was a fugitive from Ecuador Sale.” “No Justice No Peace.” MANA party, whose leaders organized company to the Abdala Bucaram mafia, law, living in neighboring Colombia and The corrupt media ignored the Quito the demonstrations. Ecuadorian leaders which later earned him the title of “pro- engaged in sabotage against Ecuador as march, but after sunset when the rally plan to organize more national marches fessional impostor.” an agent of then right-wing Colombian in the Plaza Santo Domingo was ending, to build the MANA party network and Glas blew the whistle on the deal, the President Alvaro Uribe. they blamed the protesters for violence. mobilize people against political per- so-called Bucaramato, last Aug. 2. Two On July 3, Judge Daniela Camacho re- Castillo witnessed cops on motorcycles secution and austerity measures that months later Glas was imprisoned. quested that Interpol arrest Correa and attacking demonstrators with batons. Washington and the International Mon- Wealthy oligarchs own nearly all of Ec- return him to Ecuador for preventive She saw a young man knocked down by etary Fund have imposed as part of their uador’s media, which was hostile to and detention. This charge is even more lu- one cop on a “moto” and then run over by neoliberal demands. Page 10 July 12, 2018 workers.org

For more by this writer read: “Laboring: Stories of a New York City Hospital Midwife” by Ellen Capitalist baby killers Cohen, tinyurl.com/pmhkfky

In the course of one week in July, baby These companies have killed millions caregiver is tempted to add more water, ness, WHO tried to get agreement formula monopolies exposed that the of babies over decades by aggressively and the thinned-out drink is inadequate for a standard resolution to promote drive for capitalist profits kills infants, promoting their baby formula. Although to nourish the baby. This also happens breastfeeding in member countries and and the Trump gang showed how an im- they know it’s a lie, they claim their in poor families in wealthier countries. to continue to limit false advertising of perialist regime serves these monopolies product is more healthful than breast Aware of these problems, the World the formula monopolies. Ecuador was — or tries to — whatever ruthless means milk from the mother. They also imply Health Organization has tried to limit prepared to introduce the resolution. it takes. Good that they failed. in their advertising that breastfeeding the use of formula, especially in poorer That’s when U.S. imperialism elbowed Capitalist monopolies strive for profits is what poor women do who don’t know countries around the globe. The World in, threatening Ecuador with sanctions above all other goals. The Donald Trump better. Health Organization promotes breast- if it introduced the resolution. When administration not only aids and abets No formula to date is more nutritious feeding as a health measure to save the Ecuador backed off — after all, no small these crimes, it does so in such a blatant than breast milk, but that’s not itself the lives of babies and improve their country likes to be in Washington’s gun way that it is impossible to ignore. cause of the deaths. The main problem nutrition. sights — the U.S. threatened any other A 2016 study by The Lancet, one of is that in countries where safe drinking Nestlé, Abbott Laboratories and oth- country that might want to introduce it. the world’s most prestigious medical water is difficult to obtain, mixing dry ers, in their relentless drive for profits, That means the Trump adminis- journals, found breastfeeding could pre- formula with local water can provoke di- are trying to expand the $11.5 billion tration was using the economic and vent 80,000 child deaths a year globally. arrhea or other illnesses that kill babies. world market in baby formula. They are diplomatic weight of U.S. imperialism to That means Nestlé, based in Switzer- Breast milk also provides immunity growing desperate, because in wealthier promote policies that kill babies. land, and Abbott Laboratories, based to diseases through antibodies passed countries, especially in the United States, Russia finally introduced the mea- in the United States, among others, from mother to child. more mothers, for various reasons, are sure. And it passed. After the uproar have already contributed to millions of Even if local water is drinkable and choosing to breastfeed and buying less in health agencies around the world, children’s deaths on a worldwide scale. refrigeration available, the formula can formula. This leads to the companies’ the U.S. was even forced to vote for the Abbott was a big contributor to Donald cost more money than people have. To aggressive and false advertising. resolution. Trump’s inauguration ceremony. extend the life of the formula, the baby’s Aware of this growing aggressive- A small victory and a big lesson. Trump’s tariff war an attack on workers

By G. Dunkel has sentenced U.S. workers to higher globally, it will endanger the jobs of prices, which hit retired people and oth- workers. The Trump administration imposed ers on fixed incomes particularly hard, Roy Rickhuss, the general sec- tariffs at 12:01 a.m. on July 6 on $34 no matter what the impact turns out to retary of Community, said: “This billion worth of Chinese products. The be on the overall economy. news is deeply worrying for the UK Chinese government immediately coun- But a closer look at tariffs, as well as steel industry. Donald Trump is tered with its own tariffs on U.S. pork, manufacturing technology, shows how putting jobs at risk on both sides of soybeans and automobiles. U.S. workers will also get hit through the Atlantic.” (­community-tu.org) “The wrong actions of the U.S. have job loss. The United Steelworkers union brazenly violated the rules of the World represents workers in both the U.S. Trade Organization, attacked the whole Tariffs and technology target workers and Canada. President Leo Gerard gen- world’s economic sustainability and ob- While tariffs might be a boost to steel what a tariff war can do to workers here. erally supports Trump’s trade policies, structed the global economy’s recovery,” and aluminum manufacturers, other Historically, the Smoot-Hawley tariff, but wants Canada exempted. Trump cur- Lu Kang, a spokesman for China’s Foreign companies that use these metals, previ- which went into effect in 1930 and cer- rently opposes exemptions, so some USW Ministry, said in a daily news briefing. “It ously cheaper when imported, will lose tainly contributed to the severity of the members — those workers in the U.S. en- will bring disaster to multinational cor- out — and have to cut jobs. Great Depression, reduced internation- gaged in steel production — would bene- porations, small and medium businesses The Trump tariff on steel and aluminum al trade by over 60 percent. Economist fit from the tariff policies while workers and normal consumers across the world.” will hit hardest on imports from Canada, Paul Krugman estimates that the new in Canada won’t. China’s Ministry of Commerce assert- top supplier to the U.S. in 2017, especially U.S. tariffs and responses to them could The U.S. government is in the process ed that the United States “has launched on the U.S. auto industry. A 2004 Border reduce international trade by 70 percent. of renegotiating the North American the biggest trade war in economic history Transportation Partnership study shows That means the 10 million U.S. workers Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA has reg- so far.” (New York Times, July 6) that 257,000 jobs in Michigan and $13 engaged in international trade could face ulated trade among Canada, Mexico and Trump is threatening ultimately to billion in annual production depend on large job losses as a result. (New York the U.S. since Jan. 1, 1994. This trade impose tariffs on $450 billion worth of production links between Detroit and the Times, June 17) amounts to $600 billion a year. NAFTA goods currently imported each year from bordering city of Windsor, Ontario. Even if tariffs on foreign competitors gave an opening to U.S. agriculture that China. He has also imposed tariffs on General Motors stated on June 28 that increase the profits of U.S.-based steel let it wipe out millions of Mexican farm- goods imported from Mexico and Cana- a new wave of tariffs on its products could and aluminum companies, there is no ers, while providing U.S. manufacturers da as well as from the European Union. A lead to “less investment, fewer jobs and evidence these businesses will hire more with readier access to low-wage workers. tariff is basically a tax on goods imported lower wages.” Workers would find car workers. It also intensified the U.S. domination of into a country. prices substantially increasing, with the Technological advances in manufac- the much smaller Canadian economy. Trump argues that tariffs on steel and cost of less expensive cars jumping the turing mean that fewer workers can Despite advantages to capitalists on aluminum are necessary to bolster U.S. most. Workers will lose jobs as increased produce more goods, and use of tech- both sides of the border from the easy production and “protect U.S. national se- prices lead to reduced sales. nology continues to reinforce that trend. flow of goods and services, Trump has curity,” since the metals are necessary in The Mercatus Center, a market re- According to the American Society for threatened to walk away from NAFTA weapons production. Trump also argues search think tank at George Mason Uni- Mechanical Engineering: “In 2015, man- if it is not reconfigured to favor the U.S. that tariffs will “protect” and generate versity, points out: “As a result of new ufacturing output per manufacturing even more. jobs for workers in these industries. import taxes on steel, the largest nail worker was $482,242; by contrast, each Rather than urging exemptions from What is indisputable is that prices will manufacturer in the United States is on manufacturing worker in 2000 produced tariffs that hit some of their members, rise for workers. Steel and aluminum are the verge of closing. The Mid-Continent $336,847 in 2015 dollars. In 1976, the unions should defend the interests of all used to create a lot of necessities — from Nail company, based in Missouri, has al- inflation-adjusted production was just workers. As Workers World Party found- cans for food to buildings and bridges — ready laid off 12 percent of its workforce.” $276,525.” (tinyurl.com/y9fy9f7r) er Sam Marcy wrote in 1993 about the and steel and aluminum will be more ex- Mid-Continent represents a small part of ASME points out that, with increased role of labor: “To go along [with U.S. trade pensive with the tariffs. Trump’s tariff war the U.S. economy, but its dilemma shows factory automation, between 2000 and policy] is to become a silent partner to 2016, U.S. workers lost 5 million jobs, the devastating role of U.S. finance capi- even as manufacturing output has grown. tal abroad — and at home. ... Labor’s real The Impact of the Military-Industrial Complex So if tariffs could eliminate all manu- objective should be to forge a solidarity facturing trade deficits with other coun- agreement among the trade unions” in- “Our view of the military differs fundamentally from the anti- tries, that still won’t come close to bring- ternationally. (tinyurl.com/y9jynjrh) militarism of the liberal and progressive elements in capitalist ing back jobs lost to technology. In the words of the workers’ hymn ­society. They fail to recognize that the structure of capitalist “Solidarity Forever”: society, that is, the relationship between the basic classes, deter- Independent action by workers needed “When the union’s inspiration through mines the politics of the capitalist state, no matter which policy In Great Britain, facing a 25 percent the workers’ blood shall run, the governing group may pursue. This policy is inevitably imperi- tariff on its steel, the steelworkers union, There can be no power greater any- alist and today inexorably serves the military-industrial complex, which is called Community, pointed out where beneath the sun; which, willy-nilly, is propelled in the direction of imperialist war.” that although these tariffs will offer U.S. Yet what force on earth is weaker than Free pamphlet online at: steel companies some protection at a the feeble strength of one, workers.org/book/generals-over-the-white-house/ time when steel is being overproduced But the union makes us strong.” workers.org July 12, 2018 Page 11

Germany Protest week held to ‘Stop Ramstein’ AFB

Guilliard is an anti-war activist and ment must immediately stop the control analyst living in Heidelberg, Germany. of these drones via Ramstein. The dem- onstrators also demand the closure of the By Joachim Guilliard military base. Ramstein AFB, Germany Under the terms of the contract with As the final action of a “Stop Ramstein” the U.S., the German government could protest week against the largest U.S. Air simply terminate the contracts on which Force base outside the United States, deployment of the U.S. armed forces is about 2,500 anti-war activists marched based, after giving two years’ notice. to and held a rally at the main gate of “Kill orders are arranged at the touch Ramstein AFB in Germany. Around of a button. These are just outrageous 300 activists succeeded in symbolically crimes! And it is unacceptable that they blocking the access to the main gate for be supported here, from German soil, in 45 minutes. any way!” said Sahra Wagenknecht to the “Stop Ramstein” is a nationwide Ger- participants at the closing rally. man campaign supported by numerous Referring to the wars against Iraq and peace groups, left-wing organizations Afghanistan, Wagenknecht demanded and individuals. It is directed primarily that in the future there should not be a against the central role the air base plays PHOTO: JOACHIM GUILLIARD single German region from which wars of in the U.S. drone war in the Middle East aggression could be fought. Such ­activity and Africa. U.S. suspected enemy combatants were the 40 or so workshops of the four-day is prohibited by the German Constitution. Among the speakers at the final rally among them. “Peace Workshop,” and 600 attended an “There are over 1,000 U.S. military were Sahra Wagenknecht, faction leader The campaign is also directed against evening event highlighting the aggressive bases around the world, and none of of the party Die Linke (The Left Party) in the equally central role played by the huge policies of the Western imperialist states them exist to ensure the security of those the Bundestag (Lower House), and Ann base in U.S. and NATO’s illegal wars. Op- against Russia and the poisonous role of countries,” continued the prominent left- Wright, a retired U.S. Army colonel and erations centers in Afghanistan, Iraq, the media. ist politician. then a U.S. State Department official who Libya and Syria have been and are coordi- As in the previous year, activists against The well-known theologian and writ- publicly resigned in direct protest of the nating combat operations by the U.S. Air foreign military bases from 12 countries er Eugen Drewermann, who spoke after 2003 invasion of Iraq. Force and the armed forces of other NATO — including Pat Elder and Phil Wilayto Wagenknecht, reminded the demonstra- The U.S. military uses the relay station states. A significant part of the supplies to from the U.S., Giuseppe Firrincieli from tors that the U.S. military has bombed in Ramstein for communication with the operational areas of the U.S. armed forces Italy, and Hoyhon Choi from South Ko- seven predominantly Muslim countries killer drones, which carry out attacks also pass through the airport. rea — met to exchange experiences and since 2001. Referring to the German with no legal due process — what many strengthen international networking for government’s role, he said: “We are in- call “lynch justice” — against people who Action week diverse national and regional activities. Around volved in these actions, and we are partly Washington claims are terror suspects. Although there were half as many dem- 600 campers organized a large protest responsible. We must finally reject this The drones have already killed thou- onstrators on the last day as in the two camp not far from the air base. policy. We Germans have every reason sands of uninvolved civilians in addition previous years, overall the action week, Since the missions of the killer drones to press the brake, with all our might, to to targeted people. which culminated in the demonstration, are crimes under both German and inter- correct old mistakes.” At times, drone attacks have massa- was even more diverse than the previous national law, the “Stop Ramstein” cam- Translation by Workers World Man- cred entire wedding parties because the ones. More than 200 people attended paign demands that the German govern- aging Editor John Catalinotto.

France Strategy changes for striking railroad workers

By Rémy Herrera The railway workers, many of whom lost France (GRDF), a subsidiary of Engie (for- years, which included the “days of anger” Paris more than 30 days of salary over the last merly GDF Suez), the main distributor of organized over several months in early three months, are ultimately being held natural gas in Europe. By the end of June, 2017. Given the scale of the rebellion, the The “reformist” (CFDT) and right-wing responsible for these layoffs! workers had blocked nearly 300 worksites big-business media are imposing a total (UNSA) union federations officially exit- And, shamelessly, the CFDT and and occupied more than half of them. censorship of information. The fright- ed the struggle against the management UNSA union confederations, after drop- These strikes were at first “off-and-on” ened employers and government are im- of the SNCF, the French national railroad ping out of the strike movement — as before becoming extended and even un- patiently awaiting the start of the summer company, on June 28. But the combat- was expected — are begging for crumbs limited — making this mobilization the vacation period in August, when they as- ive union confederations, the CGT and in negotiations with the company’s hu- largest strike in the French energy sector sume the struggles will run out of steam. Sud-Rail, which between them represent man resource department over the new in the last ten years. The atmosphere at Terrified at the risk that the struggle more than 50 percent of railway union “collective agreement for rail transport” the strike sites is often welcoming and will spread, the ruling class is counting members, announced their intent to con- that is to replace the former law regulat- family-like, reforging broad bonds of lo- on the fragmentation of the workforce tinue mobilizing together in July — and ing conditions for railway workers. As the cal solidarity. that has resulted from years of privatiza- probably even later in the summer. saying goes, “When the bosses decide to Infuriated by the astronomical divi- tion and the dismemberment of the pub- Their strategy, however, will change. restore slavery, the ‘reformists’ will ne- dends paid to private shareholders, the lic sector. Bonuses for employees who stay Since the beginning of April, they have gotiate with their masters over the size of strikers are on the offensive. They are de- on the job are even being discussed in the conducted two days of walkouts followed the slaves’ chains.” manding wage increases of at least 400 eu- nuclear and high voltage lines sectors. by three days of work, which they call a ros ($464) per month, permanent hiring of What will happen when vacationers Another mobilization grows “off-and-on strike.” Establishing the calen- colleagues currently on fixed-term or tem- return, when the people’s anger against At the same time, another large-scale dar of strike days well in advance allowed porary contracts, cancellation of sched- Macron is renewed, and when the hope of mobilization is developing, historic also in passengers to plan alternate travel solu- uled job cuts, return of outsourced work, change is reborn? its strength, determination and duration. tions. But it also let SNCF management and nationalization of the energy sector Herrera is a Marxist economist, a Energy workers have been fighting for arrange to mitigate the effects of the strike. to make it a true benefit for public service researcher at the Centre National de over 10 weeks in a very dynamic and mas- So CGT and Sud-Rail have decided to consumers — and not for the capitalists. la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), who sive strike led by young workers, which reveal the dates of work stoppages only a This strike is the culmination of the nu- works at the Centre d’Économie de la started in Marseille. At the call of the CGT few days ahead, targeting them to coincide merous powerful struggles led by electri- Sorbonne, Paris. WW staff translated energy federation, electricians and gas with the days most people leave for their cians and gas workers over the past two this article. workers moved into action, cooperating monthlong summer vacation. The week- with and supporting the railway workers’ end of July 6-7 is the first, followed by an strike, with quite similar demands but action involving freight trains on July 11. specific to their sector, in the spirit of soli- President Macron’s promises that Turn the Guns Around John Catalinotto darity to defend public services. no jobs would be lost lasted only a few Mutinies, Soldier Revolts and Revolutions hours. SNCF management has already Mobilization grows Weaving together GI letters, interviews and first-hand narratives announced that the company’s freight Since mid-June, this mobilization has with historical research, the author brings to life GI resistance in the division will cut 700 jobs by 2021. What been growing. It includes workers at Ene- Vietnam War era, shows its relation to capitalist state power and high- is the pretext? They expect the deficit dis, a subsidiary of Électricité de France lights why breaking the military chain of command is an essential step incurred by this branch to increase “be- (EDF), the leading electricity supplier to ending oppression around the globe. cause of” losses caused by the strike! in Europe; and Gaz Réseau Distribution Available at online booksellers Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected] MO/WW FOTO: JOE PIETTE

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 60 Núm. 28 12 de julio 2018 $1 Filadelfia, a 4 de julio. Desde adentro, hablando de las cárceles 2da Parte ‘El primer prisionero ambientalista en el mundo’

Segunda y última parte de la entrevista con Bryant Arroyo, Al final, el proyecto fue desechado. ­prisionero dentro del cárcel a SCI Frackville, Pensilvania. Bryant Arroyo luchó contra los esta- fadores corporativos, y ganó. Por Ted Kelly Un aviso oficial de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental captó Una casa, para todos nosotros Años más tarde, cuando Bryant Ar- la atención de Bryant entre lo De vuelta a Frackville, Bryant nos royo encabezó un tipo de levantamiento que él llama una “vorágine” cuenta acerca de una entrevista que sin precedentes en la prisión, fue su ami- de otros avisos, regulaciones y leyó de un astronauta que estaba en la go y mentor Mumia Abu-Jamal quien lo anuncios clavados en el tablón Estación Espacial Internacional. Explica apodó “el primer prisionero ambientalis- de anuncios en Mahanoy. Lo con elocuencia y en detalle lo que vivir ta en el mundo’. sacó y le preguntó a uno de en condiciones de gravedad cero le hace Escribiendo en el 2013, Mumia explicó los desconcertados superin- al cuerpo, cómo se expande la columna el contexto. “En 1998, un ex gobernador tendentes que quería ver la vertebral y cómo los astronautas en re- de Pensilvania, Tom Ridge, invitó a un declaración de impacto ambi- alidad son una o dos pulgadas más altos empresario del área a unirse a él en un ental de esta planta de gasifi- cuando regresan. Bryant quedó impre- viaje a Sudáfrica. El empresario John W. cación de carbón que estaba sionado por la descripción que hace el as- Rich Jr., era un operador de planta de programada para construirse a tronauta de la experiencia trascendente energía y un terrateniente importante en 300 pies de la prisión a la que y alucinante de ver la Tierra desde fuera el área del condado de Mahanoy Susque- estaba confinado. Los resul- de la Tierra y cómo las pequeñas barreras hanna, una región empobrecida y en tados eran claros: esta planta (muros, bordes, cercados blancos) nos dificultades donde las minas de carbón iba a envenenar a todos en la FOTO: BENJAMIN IRVIN distraen del hecho de que todos tenemos Bryant Arroyo y Ted Kelley cerraron hace décadas. Rich se reunió ­instalación. una sola cosa en común. e hizo tratos con la empresa de energía Así que Bryant se enfrentó para detener la construcción de la plan- Bryant, a su pesar, hace una pausa y químicos SASOL de Sudáfrica, y poco a SASOL, Bechtel, Chevron, Shell, Jack ta. Consiguió que los reclusos más pre- durante bastante tiempo. No puede con- tiempo después, anunció planes para un Rich, Tom Ridge y Ed Rendell. Calificó cariamente posicionados, las personas tinuar hasta poner en orden sus pens- importante proyecto de convertido de la campaña como una básica, caminan- LGBTQ, las pandillas rivales y tanto las amientos. “Todos tenemos un hogar. Y no carbón a gas líquido, literalmente al lado do por el bloque de celdas y haciendo facciones negras como las racistas coop- importa hacia dónde te diriges, siempre de la prisión estatal en Mahanoy”. que otros prisioneros se unieran a él eraran entre sí. intentas ir del punto A al punto B. Todos Si bien es ilegal circular peticiones intentamos ir a nuestra casa”. entre prisioneros, Bryant no pudo en- Bryant Arroyo tiene el corazón com- contrar ninguna razón por la cual no pasivo de un ecologista. Siempre cuando pudiera organizar a los presos para que discutía los efectos tóxicos de la planta enviaran sus propias cartas. Cambió el de carbón que ayudó a bloquear, él es lenguaje en el texto de “nosotros” a “yo”, inflexible en recalcar que se trataba de y “nuestro” a “mi” y “mío”. Los censores proteger a los prisioneros, a los guardias, solo podían encogerse de hombros. a la comunidad en general, pero específi- Irónicamente, el individualismo pro- camente a nuestra “progenie” y las gen- porcionó la salida para la acción colec- eraciones futuras. Bryant, siendo padre, tiva revolucionaria. está profundamente preocupado por sal- Cuando el periódico local publicó vaguardar la salud de los niños, que son una historia en primera plana sobre la tan vulnerables a la contaminación y al campaña liderada por los prisioneros desperdicio tóxico. Es oportuno decir que para luchar contra la planta química, el programa educativo que le permitió a Jack Rich y sus compinches quedaron Bryant obtener su diploma de GED lleva apopléjicos. Más tarde esa misma se- el nombre de Daniel Pennock, un niño mana, los reclusos en Mahanoy podían de 17 años que murió en 1995 después de oír ruidos ensordecedores de construc- que se vertiera lodo tóxico al lado de su ción cerca de las paredes. Desde ciertos casa cerca de Reading, Pensilvania, puntos de observación en el patio, se “Cuando un niño muere”, escribió veía claro que Rich estaba limpiando Mumia después del asesinato de Tamir el área para comenzar la construcción, Rice, “el orden natural se rompe, las es- nivelando la tierra y talando árboles. trellas lloran y la tierra tiembla”. Así que Bryant respondió consigui- Ya sea que envenenen al niño con lodo endo que otros 500 prisioneros envi- o plomo o polvo químico, o le disparen aran cartas. En total, hubo 902 cartas sin considerarlo dos segundos, los mag- enviadas de una población carcelaria de nates corporativos son inhumanos en su 2.300. Para visualizar cuan asombroso desprecio por las vidas de los niños. Bry- fue este logro, imagínese caminando ant es categórico en la lucha contra este por un bloque de celdas de la prisión, tipo de inhumanidad. sabiendo que cada tercera celda estaba Mientras nos alejábamos de Frack- ocupada por un prisionero que arries- ville, garabateé apresuradamente notas gaba sufrir una severa represalia por en una libreta legal que había traído para escribir una carta inscribiéndose a este la entrevista. A pesar de las múltiples ga- movimiento. rantías del personal penitenciario previo Las contradicciones de clase eran a la visita, a Joe y a mí se nos negó la au- tan crudas, que incluso algunos oficia- torización para traer papel y un bolígrafo. les correccionales de la prisión aplau- La autorización como reporteros fue dieron en silencio sus esfuerzos, ha- misteriosamente eliminada del registro. ciendo inusuales pequeños gestos de Mientras escribía todo lo que podía re- apoyo a los prisioneros. Bryant dice que cordar de nuestra conversación con este aprendió “a juzgar a una persona por el extraordinario individuo, volví a pensar contenido de su carácter, no por el color en esa incomprensible cifra: hay 2,2 mil- de su uniforme”. Después de todo, dice: lones de personas más en las cárceles de “Todos estamos aquí encerrados jun- Estados Unidos. tos”. El sindicato de guardias se unió a Esta fue solo una historia. Una historia la oposición del proyecto. entre millones.