SWP convention c~verage . 4-9 TH£ Grenada trade unions today 10-11 Women's march for British miners 14

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 48/NO. 31 AUGUST 31, 1984 75 CENTS

Dist. 1199 New British terror strike solid in Northern Ireland at N.Y. BY RICH PALSER hospitals BELFAST, Ireiand - One man was killed and at least 20 people were injured when the British Army and Royal Ulster BY GEOFF MIRELOWITZ Constabulary (RUC) attacked a peaceful NEW YORK- More than 15,000 pre­ demonstration in West Belfast on Sunday, dominantly Black, Latino, and female hos­ August 12 . pital workers crowded into New York's Sean Downes' heart stopped when he Madison· Square Garden the night of Au­ was hit in the chest by a rock-hard, four­ gust 21 and decided, amid a roar of cheers, inch-long plastic bullet fired at close range. to continue their 41-day strike against 30 Others ....,..- including children - were in­ private hospitals and 15 nursing homes in jured as the RUC hit out indiscriminately the city. ·with batons and plastic btdlets. In response, hospital officials renewed The march - an annual event - had threats to hire 'scabs to permanently replace been called to commemorate the 13th an­ the strikers- members of District 1199, niversary of the introduction of internment Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store without trial in British-ruled Northern Ire­ Workers Union , AFL-CIO. land. Despite being officially ended, in­ "The hiring will begin by Monday, Au­ ternment is still maintained in Northern Ire­ gust 27," declared William Abelow, presi­ land through other means. Activists in the dent of the League of Voluntary Hospitals freedom struggle are tried in special jury­ and Homes , bargaining -group for the less courts. Convictions are made on the struck hospitals. This can only be avoided, uncorroborated evidence of paid perjurors, threatened Abelow, "if striking employees and those charged may be held up to two return to their jobs." ··· years in custody before even coming to The hospitals are already using hundreds trial. of scabs, in the form of "volunteers" who, together with supervisory personnel, doc­ British miners join delegation tors, and other nonunion employees have Television camera shows cops shooting Irish nationalists in brutal assault on Belfast kept the hospitals open while the more than As in previous years, this year's march demonstration August 12. 50,000 orderlies, housekeepers, clerks, so­ was joined by contingents from the U.S.­ cial workers, physical therapists, techni­ based Irish Northern Aid Committee cians, and - at five of the hospitals - (Noraid) and the Troops Out Movement out from the Falls Road, British troops, cal prisoners in Northern Ireland, has come nurses have been on strike. (TOM) in Britain. Among the Troops Out rifles at the ready, were stationed at every under attack from the U.S. and Irish gov­ Abelow threatened to hire permanent re­ contingent were striking coal miners who street comer along the route. ernments as well as British authorities. placements earlier. But it is only now that are increasingly concerned about the use The Royal Ulster Constabulary were Galvin's only crime, however, was that the hospitals have set a definite date when against miners' picket lines of police tac­ also present in great force to prevent Irish his political views have more in common they will attempt to bring hired scabs tics first tested in Northern Ireland. Northern Aid publicity director Martin with the 100,000 people in Northern Ire­ across the militant 1199 picket lines. Having seen firsthand the false press re­ Galvin from joining the march. Iimd who voted for Sinn Fein, a legal party Should the , hospitals follow through on ports of their own strike, the miners had The British government had banned Gal­ that supports the struggle of the Irish Re­ their threat it can set the stage for a major come on a three-day visit to Northern Ire­ vin from entering Northern Ireland as part publican Army, than with the British gov­ confrontation with the city'.s labor move­ land organized by the Troops Out Move­ of the 130-person Noraid delegation, ernment's views. ment. ment to see for themselves what life is like claiming his presence would "not be con­ In a statement issued through the Noraid Originally the major issues in the walk­ for the oppressed Irish community. ducive to the public good." delegation as it entered Northern Ireland, out included wages, benefits, and the right The TOM contingents headed the Au­ Irish Northern Aid, which raises funds in Galvin said, "The British do not have any of all workers to alternate weekends off. gust 12 anti-internment march . As we set the United States for the families of politi- Continued on Page 14 Many 1199 members are poorly paid, earn­ ing ~bout $15,000 a year. The union de­ manded a nine percent wage hike and an increase in vacation time and paid holi­ U.S. socialist candidates tour Canada days. The hospitals responded with what 1199 BY YVONNE HAYES also under sharp attack from the employ­ Canada's labor party -the New Demo­ President Doris Turner termed an "insult­ TORONTO, Canada- Mel Mason and ers. cratic Party (NDP) . Most of the major in­ ing" offer of a four percent raise. In fact, Andrea Gonzalez, Socialist Workers Party The offensive by Canada's. rulers at dustrial unions in English Canada, as well the union pointed out, when givebacks and candidates for U.S. president and vice­ home is coupled with deepening Canadian as many public sector unions, are affiliated freezes were included, the offer amounted · president, are currently touring Canada, involvement in the U .S.-led war against to the NDP. to only a 2.3 percent increase. A somewhat learning first-hand of the war on working the people of Central America and the Gonzalez was the featured speaker at an revised version of this offer was decisively people being carried out by the Canadian Caribbean. Mason and Gonzalez traveled August 18 campaign rally here. She was rejected by the union membership by a vote capitalist class. Both are extending solidar­ to Canada to campaign against this war · joined on the platform by RWL candidates of 21,796-1,242, at the end of July. . ity to striking workers. women fighting to with the parliamentary candidates of the Bonnie Geddes and Larry Johnston, both Today the main issue is union busting. defend abortion rights , and to the op­ SWP's sister party, the Revolutionary members of the United Steelworkers of The August 21 vote came in response to pressed people of Quebec. Workers League/Ligue Ouvriere Revolu­ America. Over 50 people attended, includ­ Turner's report that hospital negotiators re­ Quebecois are an oppressed nation with­ tionaire. ing workers from Toronto's General fused to guarantee that every striking work­ in Canada. Like Blacks in the United Federal elections are scheduled to be Motors plant and activists in the Nicaragua er would get their job back when the strike States, the French-speaking Quebecois suf­ held here September 4 . The RWLILOR is and El Salvador solidarity movements. ended. fer the highest unemployment, the worst running five candidates against the two Geddes spoke against Canada's partner­ In an August 4 editorial titled, "Strike on living and working conditions. and dis- capitalist parties -_the Conservatives and ship with the U.S. government in the im­ 1199- strike on," the Amsterdam News, crimination in all aspects of life. · Liberals. Where the RWLILOR is not perialist domination of the world . Canada New York's major Black weekly newspa­ Working people in English Canada are fielding candidates. it urges support for has recently taken more responsibility for per, noted: the NATO war alliance. It is financing the "We are left to conclude that ... there construction of roads and airstrips in Hon­ never was, on the part of the League, an in­ duras to transport military materiel, and of­ tent to bargain in good faith ... that an op­ SWP fights for Mich. ballot spot fered to aid in the U.S. occupation of Gre­ portunity was seen to break a Union and nada. that the minions of the hospital trustee elite BY JOANNE MURPHY Andrew Pulley . socialist candidate for "Canada plays soft cop to U.S. hard are following a purposeful course of break­ DETROlT - The bipartisan board of U.S. Congress. Meyers is a member of cop," said Geddes, "but despite the 'peace­ ing 1199 even as they continue to file . . . Democrats and Republicans in charge of United Auto Workers Local 1200 in De­ keeping' image it trys to maintain; a cop is expansion plans now totalling a cost of Michigan elections is threatening to keep troit and Pulley is a national co-chairperson still a cop." The revolution in Nicaragua more than a billion dollars that will ulti­ the Socialist Workers Party presidential of the Mason/Gonzalez campaign. and the advance of the popular struggle in mately be paid for by our tax dollars." ticket of Mel Mason and Andrea Gonzalez Despite the more than 30,000 signatures El Salvador threaten Canadian imperialist The union busting goal has been clearly off the November ballot. submitted by the socialist campaign, on interests. The Canadian-owned Noranda evidenced by hospital sabotage of three po­ Michigan supporters of Mason and Gon­ August 17 the State Board of Canvassers gold mines in Nicaragua ha've been tentiat strike settlements over the past 10 zalez collected more than 30,000 signa­ ruled that the petitions did not contain nationalized since the workers and peas­ days. ' tures, well over the 19,963 required to enough "valid" signatures of registered ants came to power there . Noranda and A tentative agreement was reached Au­ place parties other than Democrats and Re­ voters . other corporations - such as Geddes· em­ gust 12 that included a wage increase of publicans on the ballot. The board's decision was based on a ployer Alcan - maintain economic inter­ five percent in each year of the two-year Also on the Michigan SWP ticket are "random sample" checking of selected sig­ ests throughout the region, from contract. But the agreement fell apart when U.S. Senate candidate Helen Meyers and Continued on Page 17 Continued on Page 13 Colltinued on Page 13 -SELLING ·ouR:PRESS 'AT: THE PLANt·GATE-- ·

BY LEE MARTINDALE industries, SWP members and The teams also promote soli dar~ how they followed the copper During the Socialist Workers supporters. meet and· talk politics ity with sections of the working miners' struggle, and threw them­ Party's 32nd National Conven­ with unionists through regular class - like immigrant workers, selves into building solidarity with tion, held at the beginning of Au­ sales of the socialist press at plant Blacks, and women - who. are it, by traveling regularly to the gust in Oberlin, Ohio, .socialists gates. While individual socialists, under attack by the bosses and copper mines to sell the Militant from around the country met to like thousands of other workers, their government. and PM during the past year. get hired and then laid off and These sales help the socialists discuss and evaluate their experi­ Like socialists on the job, sales­ have to look for new jobs, the develop and share with their co­ ences selling the Militant and Per­ people at the plant gates campaign party's efforts to increase the in­ workers a class-wide perspective spectiva Mundial at the plant against the U.S. government's war fluence of socialist ideas in the on working peoples,' problems and gates. in Central America. In New York union movement continues on an struggles. Norton Sandler, an SWP leader, ongoing basis. The ongoing activ­ and New Jersey, hundreds of leaf­ lets were distributed by plant-gate The escalation of the U.S. war presented a report to the meeting. ity allows socialists to stay in in Central America, and the in­ He reviewed the party's decision teams for the June 9 demonstration touch with coworkers who are still 'creased attacks on working people to involve every member in a reg­ working. And even when no against U.S. intervention in Cen­ tral America and the Caribbean. here that accompany it , makes get­ ular weekly plant-gate sale, out­ socialists are working at a particu­ ting out the truth about the strug­ lined the progress that has been lar plant, :when a few workers buy By taking the socialist election gle in El Salvador and the revolu­ made towards this goal, and re­ the Militant or Perspectiva Mun­ campaign to the plant gates, the tion in Nicaragua even more im­ viewed the challenges that remain. dial, it adds a socialist point of socialists provide ao alternative, to portant. Socialists seek to participate in view to those being considered the view that voting for a capitalist and build the major industrial and debated out by workers in the And with the expiration in Sep­ candidate every four years is par­ tember of contracts covering hun­ unions that form the powerful cen­ plant. ticipation in real politics. The ter of the labor movement. They Using the coverage in the Mili­ dreds of thousands of auto workers SWP campaign points to militant and coal miners, buildingsoiidar­ talk politics with their fellow tant and PM, plant-gate teams actions -like the demonstration of ity with the United Auto Workers workers and try to win. them to build solidarity with other union­ 3,000 unionists in Toledo in sol­ union and the United Mine Work­ socialist ideas. The SWP has de­ ists who are fighting the bosses' idarity with the AP Parts strikers ers union will be a central task of cided to focus its attention on nine attacks. A socialist from the Iron - as examples of real working­ militant unionists everywhere. unions which organize basic sec­ Range in northern Minnesota told class politics. tions of industry. This enables the meeting that many iron-ore The meeting went over what Militant newspaper is sold members of a small revolutionary · miners learned about the copper Plant-gate sales help soCialists steps the party needs to take to im­ Sun Oil picket line. Convention party to work together on common strike in Arizona and the coal min­ learn more about the problems fac­ prove plant-gate work in order to of socialist workers talked about campaigns, and learn from one ers strike in Britain from Militant ing workers in industries other meet these challenges. Next how best to circulate revolution­ another's experiences. sales teams along the roads which than the ones where they work. week's column will report on ary press at plant gates around In addition to working in these lead to the mines. Socialists from Arizona described these discussions. the country. Farrakhan scores free-speech victory in Youngstown

BY TI ROSEN applause and a standing ovation. come out to hear what he really had to say. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A victory Farrakhan made clear he does not see for the democratic rights of working people Louis Farrakhan has recently come whites or Jews as the enemies of Blacks. was won here on July 20. That evening, the under slanderous attack from -the media He said, "When Blacks and Jews have marquee on the Starr Theatre read "Louis. since he came to national attention in his common interests they should work to-· Farrakhan." support to Jesse Jackson's bid for the Dem­ gether. " ocratic Party presidential nomination. He The Starr Theatre is a few doors down has been misquoted and quoted out of con­ The youthful crowd bought out the stock from Powers Auditorium. Officials from text. Repudiations of Farrakhan have been of Malcolm X books and tapes at the Path­ Powers refused to rent the hall out to the rolling in from leading Democratic and Re­ finder literature table outside the theater. "Evening in Black" kick-off rall y of the publican politicians, traditional . liberal Thirty-one copies of the Militant with the 14th annual African Cultural Weekend. Black leaders, and members of the "left. " centerspread, "Jackson campaign, no step The evening featured Nation of Islam forward for Blacks," were purchased. leader Louis Farrakhan. "Security prob­ Farrakhan thanked the audience for There were many lively discussions on in­ lems." were cited as the basis for denial of coming out to "hear the truth." He specific­ dependent political action following the the auditorium. · all y thanked the whites and Jews who had "Evening in Black. " The local chapter of the National Black ,Independent Political Party along with 21 Black organizations and churches have UA W official wins back General Dynan1ics job launched a boycott against Powers. The Starr, which seats I ,400, had no BY J ANICE SAMS stopped and questioned in a company park­ wages. Hernandez was given a 30-day sus­ empty seats that night. Farrakhan began his DETROIT - United Auto Workers ing lot by plant security, company person­ pension for violating company rules btft talk by hailing the meeting as a huge vic­ (UAW) Local 1200, r epresenting I ,800 . nel officers, and deputy U.S. marshals. He will receive 14 month's back wages and tory, reminding the overwhelmingly Black workers, scored a big victory against Gen­ refused to open his van for inspection. benefits. eral Dynamics,the biggest "defense" con­ Coakley was called to the plant by shop audience of the moves made to prevent him "There is no question they [General Dy­ tractor in the country. On July 17 , Jim stewards. When Hernandez was told his from being heard . The coordinators of the namics] wanted to get me out of the plant Coakley, president of the local, won his van would be impounded, the local presi­ event were besieged by calls from churches . and tried to ruin me politically," Coakley job back after a IS-month struggle. dent drove it off the lot. Coakley was then in the Black community opening their said. He was chairman of the UA W na­ doors to Farrakhan if no other site could be fired for impeding an official investigation Coakley, who ~as reelected as local tional bargaining committee in the 1982 secured. president by a two-to-one ratio in May, had and Hernandez was fired for possessing contract negotiations with General Dynam­ marijuana and refusing to permit inspec­ been fired April 18, 1983. He was charged ics. A contract was only reached after a Recognizing the 30 to 40 activists from tion of the vehicle. with alleged misconduct in a dispute with strike. the Arab community present, Farrakhan In March of this year a three-day hearing plant security officers investigating a sup­ drew special attention to the offer from the was held, and in July an arbitrator decided posed m·arijuana cigarette butt in the van of On July 19 Coakley was able to tour the Arab Community Center that their "doors there was "no just cause" for discharging another UAW member, Jesse Hernandez. plant for the first time in 15 months. He would always be open · to Brother Far­ Coakley and Hernandez. Coakley was was met with applause from the union rakhan." The audience erupted with On April 13, 1983, Hernandez was reinstated with full seniority and back membership. SPECIAL OFFER TO MILITANT SUBSCRIBERS . The Militant "Maurice Bishop Speaks" Closing news date: August 22, 1984 This collection of interviews with and speeches by the slain prime minister of Grenada Editors: CINDY JAQUITH MALIK MIAH also includes an introduction explaining the events that led to the overthrow of the Business Manager: revolution, Bishop's assassination, and the invasion by U.S. troops. LEE MARTINDALE We are offering the book to subscribers for a special price of $4 (a $2.95 discount!). Editorial Staff: Pat Grogan, Arthur Hughes , Margaret You can also participate in getting this important book out to others by ordering a Jayko, Geoff Mirelowitz, Karen Newton, Mohammed bundle of 3 or more copies for $3.50 each. 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2 The Militant August 31, 1984 U.S. Customs harasses. socialist. . . candidate. - . : . BY HARRY RING baggage, one agent asked if he has partici­ ~- · ~· .. ·-·· ...... '"'~"'' Mel Mason. Socialist Workers Party pated in Nicaraguan military maneuvers. UNITI[O ST.ATI:S CUSTOMS SEIIIVICII' presidential candidate, was the target of il­ The supervisor opened a carton of Nica­ RECEIPT FOR RETAINED OR SEIZED MERCHANDISE. legal harassment as he returned from a re­ raguan books and pamphlets Manuel had cent visit to Nicaragua. bought for the San Francisco Socialist Also subjected to harassment was Sam Bookstore. Manuel . A leader of the Socialist Workers Throwing up her hands, she exclaimed, Party, Manuel is San Francisco coordinator "That's it! We'll have to call the FBI." of Mason's campaign. Manuel was asked if he knew it was "il­ Manuel is demanding return of Nicara­ legal" to bring such literature into the coun­ ~uan literature illegally seized from him by try, which, of course, it is not. He was told the carton of literature See editorial on customs agents would be turned over to the FBI and if that agency ruled it "seditious" it would be as political cops~ page 18. seized. Manuel demanded and received a receipt U.S. Customs agents. A receipt given him for the confiscated material. describes the confiscated literature as "pos­ Meanwhile he was required to empty his sibly seditious.7' pockets and the contents of his wallet were The victimization of Mason and Manuel examined. His drivers license was sent for .• did not occur in isolation. It coincides with a computer check, with an agent reporting a mounting campaign by the FBI of illegal back it was "clean." harassment of Central American solidarity · The following day when Manuel called activists. Under the guise .of "investigating customs about the confiscated' literature he terrorism," FBI agents have been harassing was told it had been turned over to the Sec­ people who recently visited Nicaragua or ret Service. They refused to explain how are active in groups opposed to U.S. inter­ the Secret Service was involved in the mat­ vention in Central America and the Carib­ ter. bean. An increased means of intimidation Meanwhile, Mason was subjected to is visiting neighbors, landlords, and em­ equally hostile interrogation. ployers of those targeted by the FBI. "What were you doing in Nicaragua?" The Socialist Workers campaign com­ "I was on tour." mittee is now discussing this entire issue, "What were you really doing in Nicara­ including what happened to Mason and gua?" Manuel, with those affected by the FBI Learning from Mason's passport that he drive, and with concerned civil liberties had recently visited Ireland and Britain, the groups. same kind of questions were asked about The coplike treatment of Mason and that visit. Receipt for illegally seized literature. Candidate Mason and supporter, Manuel, were Manuel occurred in the customs section at Opening one of Mason's bags, an agent grilled by U.S. Customs. Literature was turned over to Secret Service. Miami International Airport August I . removed a Nicaraguan textile-uniou paper They were among 20 people who had par­ with a cover photo of a militia member ticipated in a Perspectiva Mundial-Militant with a gun. tour of Nicaragua. The only Blacks in the The agent loudly enquired, "Is that an Modest gains are won group, they were the only ones -subject to AK-47?" harassment. "It's a picture of one," Mason re­ Manuel, who was ahead of Mason in the sponded . Customs line, was grilled by an agent who After further questions, Mason was told by Convair machinists demanded details about his Nicaragua he could leave. He and the other tour mem­ visit. He was then passed on to another bers decided to remain on the spot until BY DEAN DENNO compensation for workers hired since 1981 agent who took his passport. He returned Manuel rejoined-them. Responding to their SAN DIEGO - The 4,000 members of who are not receiving the full amount of with a Customs supervisor who further questions, an agent advised Manuel was International Association of Machinists cost-of-living payments. questioned Manuel and was overheard say­ under scrutiny for bringing in "com­ (lAM) Local Lodge 1125 returned to work Another important victory of the strike ing,"We may have to call the FBI on this munist," "seditious" literature. July 16 after a 13-day strike against the was the elimination of the company's de­ one." Mason demanded to know what put Convair Division of General Dynamics. mand for a $3 per hour reduction in the While the interrogation continued, Man­ them above the Constitution and gave them Although the settlement contained one maximum pay rates, a measure to be-ap­ uel's baggage was carefully examined. De­ the right to decide what literature people major concession- the reduction of start­ plied to all new hires. This victory was pre­ spite his refusal to answer such questions, could read or bring into the country. ing rates by $1 per hour - the company's sented by many union officials as ending they persisted with queries like, "What is The agent left and returned to say Man­ other takeaway demands were successfully the threat of a two-tier wage scale. Unfor­ your theory of communism?" uel would be released shortly, which he beaten back, and a few real gains were tunately, some of the problems caused by a Coming across a flashlight in Manuel's was. won. two-tier wage scale remain in the contract The successful conduct of the strike in­ that was accepted. creased the union consciousness and confi­ The contract continues the previous dence of an important segment of the work­ cost-of-living (COLA) formula, under Antiwar protests held in L.A. ing class in San Diego. The previous strike which only workers who are on the payroll lasting more than one day at Convair took at the time of a COLA adjustment receive place 38 years ago. In addition, a raid at­ BY MIKE MALONEY and supported by antinuke, antt-mterven­ that pay increase. In the last three years this tempt by the Teamsters union earlier this LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles tion, and solidarity groups. This included has meant the loss of up to $1.26 per hour year had sown some confusion among Olympics and the anniversary of the atomic CISPES, C?sa El Salvador, Women's Coa­ by workers hired near the end of the con­ union members. Teamster officials made _bombing of Japan's Hiroshima and lition Agaipst Intervention in Central tract. In addition, the new contract cuts sweeping promises while claiming that the Nagasaki provided the focus for protest ac­ America and the C~ribbean, and City starting rates by $1 per hour. The com~ mere threat of a strike would be sufficient tions here on July 28 and August 5. Unlike Councilman Robert Farrell. bined effect of these provisions is that it to win big concessions from Convair. the jingoistic flag-waving of the Olympics Some 7,000 demonstrators turned up. will take a new employee over eight years In this situation many lAM members and the media coverage, these actions were The mostly young crowd included many to reach t~e maximum pay rate for their questioned whether it would be possible to directed against the U .S .-backed war in high school students. Many marchers were labor grade. Under the old contract it took conduct an effective strike. This was an­ Central America and the build-up of U.S. on their first demonstration. about four years. swered by an impressive show of unity nuclear weapons. Speakers included Dr. Charles Cle­ Pay rates for union workers at Convair around the strike, with only a few percent The July 28 demonstration was or­ ments, Midge Constanza, Dolores Huerta now range from $4 .40 to $14. 10 per hour. of union workers crossing the picket lines.. ganized by the Coalition for Peace and Jus­ from the United Farm Workers, Dennis This excessive spread helps ~he company to Compared to the company's final offer tice in Central America and the Caribbean, Brutus, Sylvio Vallecillo from the San­ divide the workers and makes the mainte­ before the strike, the settlement provided formerly the November 22 Coalition. dinista Youth Organization, and Alberto nance of solidarity within the union more improvements in payments for health in­ About 1,000 people participated, including Arene from El Salvador's Revolutionary difficult. In addition, the large wage spread surance, a 3 percent wage increase in the a large number of Chicanos who were ac­ Democratic Front-Farabundo Marti Na­ within each labor grade and the long time last year of the contract, and better contract tive in organizing and publicizing the dem­ tional Liberation Front (FDR-FMLN) Po­ required to reach the maximum rate give language regarding seniority and promo­ onstration. Chants included "U.S. and CIA litical Diplomatic Commission. the company an incentive to fire older, tion rights. There is also a slight additional out of Nicaragua" and "No1draft, No war, higher-paid workers and replace them with ·Singer Holly Near also spoke. She had increase in pension benefits and partial U.S. out of El Salvador." recently returned from Cuba and spoke fa­ newly hired workers. The August 5 demonstration and march vorably of the accomplishments of the rev­ At the meeting which ratified the con­ was initiated by the Federation for Progress olution. tract, some union leaders acknowledged The day before the march a conference NAACP launches voter that there were shortcomings in the propos­ called "The Deadly Connection: Nuclear registration march al. They pointed out, however, that at­ Disarmament and Non-intervention in tempting to win further improvements Perspectiva M undial Central America" drew 300 people. Lisa The National Association for the Ad­ would require a long strike, and that the Honig from Britain's Greenham Common · vancement of Colored People began a 350- company would respond by hiring scabs Subscribe to Perspectiva Mundial, Women's encampment, Francisco mile march August 19. Termed the "Over­ and threatening to fire strikers. The union, they said, was not adequately prepared to the biweekly, Spanish-language Campbell from the Nicaraguan Embassy, ground Railroad," th~ march is intended to deal with these threats · and would face a sister publication to the Militant. and Alberto Arene from the FOR spoke. encourage Black voter registration. Fol­ Earlier this summer some 150 activists lowing a route roughly like that used by es­ serious defeat. Enclosed is 0 $2.50 for six attended a conference sponsored by the Co­ caping slaves in the 1800s, the march will Recent contracts in the aerospace indus­ issues. 0 $8 for six months. alition for Peace and Justice in Central proceed through the Middle Atlantic states try have included substantial company 0$16 for one year. America. The speakers emphasized the including Stops in Washington D.C., Balti­ takebacks. In spite of staying out for 117 need to immediately organize against the more, Philadelphia, and Newark, among day~, the strikers at McDonnell Douglas imminent U.S. military intervention in other cities, before finishing in New York earlier this year were forced to accept a Perspechva Mundial, 408 West Central America. City on Labor Day. At each stop NAACP contract with a two-tier wage scale. In this Street, New York, NY 10014. These rallies and conferences reflect the · chapters will hold rallies, conduct voter context, the outcome of the Convair strike growing antiwar sentiment among U.S. registration, and hold workshops on how to is a step forward on which the workers can working people. organize registration drives. build for future struggles.

August 31, 1984 The Militant 3 --·soCIALI$1 WORKERS PARTY CONVENTION----- SocialiStS map working-class strategy against U.S. war drive . · . · ·

From August 4-9 the Socialist Work­ learn lessons as they go through more and ers Party held its 32nd National Conven­ more battles - battles like that of the auto tion and an Educational and Activists workers at AP Parts in Toledo; battles of Conference in Oberlin, Ohio. More than Chicano and mexicano copper miners in 1,000 people attended. Arizona; battles as the one we are seeing Below we are reprinting major ex­ today in New York, where more than cerpts of Malik Miah's welcoming re­ 50,000 hospital workers are taking up the marks on behalf of the convention dele­ challenge to try to win a decent contract; gates. Miah is an editor of the Militant battles that are beginning to develop in the and a national cochairman of the Black community against police brutality Socialist Workers Party. and the racism that Black people suffer; On the facing page we are publishing battles by women and working farmers. the full text of Cindy Jaquith's August 4 speech on the current stage of the Cen­ Struggle brings change tral American ·and Caribbean revolu­ This resolution does not fall into the po­ tions against U.S. imperialism. Jaquith litical framework shared by most so-called is also an editor of the Militant. socialist, communist, and radical tenden­ Next week's issue will include more cies in this country today. It does not begin coverage on the convention and educa­ from the mistaken viewpoint that funda­ tional conference. mental social and political changes come about through capitalist elections. Rather, Malik Miah its premise is that social progress is won On behalf of all the elected delegates, al­ through struggle, through combat, through ternate delegates, and fraternal delegates I the type of examples that we see our would like to welcome all members of the brothers and sisters cam ying out in Nicara­ Socialist Workers Party and the Young gua and El Salvador. ' Socialist Alliance; our guests, including It is in this framework that we will also working farmers, activists in the National be discussing how the revolutionary pro­ M"it Black IndePendent Political Party, the Na­ letarian vanguard in the United States can Soci~list industrial workers discussed how best to press for union action against .S. tional Organization for Women, and mili­ better organize to prepare us and our class warm <;entral Ame~ica a~d the Caribbean. Socialist Workers Party's 32nd national tants in many trade unions; as well as our to respond to the expanding and deepening convention - combmed wath educational and activists conference-also took up the cothinkers from sections and sympathizing .imperialist war in Central America. response of unionists to the bosses' offensive. groups of the Fourth International and The drive by imperialism toward reg­ ional war to counter the extension of the other international revolutionary fighters, Auto Workers; United Mine Workers; sponse to the employers' attacks and the socialist revo~ution in our hemisphere, to this 32nd national convention of the United Steelworkers; and the United escalation of the war abroad means that in­ Socialist Workers Party. marks everything we do today in building our party. It shapes all our activities. It's Transportation Union. \'olving the unions today is an increasingly Over the next five days, the delegates We also will be discussing the current more realistic perspective. The party's Po­ will be considering two resolutions that the framework in which we carry out all our political work - in the unions, in and future confrontation in Central Ameri­ litical Committee is proposing to all our na­ have already been discussed for several ca and the Caribbean and the role of U.S. tional union fractions that they make or­ months by the members of the Socialist Black organizations, Puerto Rican organi­ zations, Chicano organizations, and farm­ workers in it under all four convention re­ ganizing antiwar discussions and activities Workers Party in their branches. ports and in an antiwar workshop. in the unions and on the job their central The resolution on the perspective of ers' organizations. It's the framework in which politics takes place. It is our responsibility and obligation to campaign. fighting for a workers and farmers govern­ do whatever we can to tum the growing In particular, we think socialist workers The revolutionary vanguard has a central ment in the United States was adopted by antiwar sentiment .within the working class should go to coworkers, trade union offi­ responsibility to educate in the working our National Committee in March 1982. It into active opposition. Sentiment alone cials, and others to organize tours of work­ class about how to respond to the U.S. im­ will be presented in reports at the conven-­ will not stop the war. It must be turned into ers to Nicaragua to learn the truth about perialist war drive and on the importance of tion and the delegates will discuss and vote action against the ruling class. that ·revolution. All you need is a dozen building a massive antiwar movement cen­ on th·at resolution. We think that it is possible to deepen the workers from your United Auto Workers tered in the working class. Secondly, the delegates will consider a process of involving working people and local, from your mine-workers local, from We must point to the example of the political resolution.th at looks at the current your oil-workers local, or from other Cuban leadership which is determined to the union movement in the fight against stage of the class struggle not only in the war today . We are in a better position to do unions to go (jown to Nicaragua, meet with organize and mobilize the Cuban people to United States but around the world. This that than any other organization that claims the revolutionary workers and farmers, respond to U.S. aggression. It's why they resolution discus·ses how to advance the to represent the interests of the working are arming every Cuban worker and farmer learn the truth, come back, and take that building of a proletarian - revolutionary class in the United States. This is because experience to the U.S. working class. party in the most powerful imperialist to respond to imperialist aggression. They understand that this is necessary in order to we have begun the important process of Since the majority of party members are country in the world - the United States. transforming ourselves into a party rooted It looks at how the working class, which defend their revolution. now in industrial unions, organizing these in the industrial working class. It over the last decade has suffered some im­ We must point to the leaders of the Nic­ tours gives life to our antiwar campaign. Because we have been doing that for the portant setbacks and defeats under the araguan Sandinista National Liberation will also put us in a stronger position to Front who explain that it is only by the last seven years we have a better under­ meet the real openings and opportunities blows of the imperialist ruling class, is be­ standing of the possibilities that do exist ginning to come to grips with this reality. It masses being polLticallly educated and hav­ that do exist to campaign against war out- - today for actively drawing in the working describes how workers are beginning to ing arms that they can protect and defend side the trade unions. We can help antiwar the Nicaraguan revolution. They are pre­ class, through its unions, to fight against activists to draw in the unions. Just as im­ paring their people for the inevitable direct the war. We will be there when the battles portantly, by taking this initiative, we can military intervention of U.S. imperialism. that are going to take place inside the help the unions draw others into the fight This is also what the revolutionaries in unions on.how to respond to the war open against the U.S. imperialist war. El Salvador's Farabundo Marti National up. The proposal is that each fraction will L!beration Front explain to their people. As a party that is rooted in the working discuss af!tiwar work, and the tours in par­ class, we have already learned that we can ticular, on a regular basis, beginning on a We must prepare use the examples of Nicaragua and Cuba to national level: how to do this; who to draw explain our perspective of what a workers in; how to have the political discussions on We must also prepare. We must or­ and farmers government is, what we are all what the war is; and what the war's re­ ganize and educate in every way possible, about, and what we aim to do in the United lationship is to the employers' offensive around the question of war, the rulers' States. This perspective will help us carry against working people at home. This will preparation for a bigger war, and how the out our antiwar work. lead to broader political discussions on U.S. working class must respond to that Our party is in a much stronger position how to transform the unions into revolu­ war. to take the fight against war into the work­ tionary instruments for basic social In many ways this is an antiwar conven­ ing class than we have ever been before, change. tion, a convention which will organize our even during the Vietnam War period. Then This perspective is an active, action per­ party to respond to the war. the economy was expanding. This is not Key to do_ing -this is rooting the party in spective to confront the war question head­ the case today and therefore there are big-. on inside the unions and to get workers in­ the industrial trade unions. Through our ger opportunities to connect the imperialist members being collectively organized in volved in the antiwar fight. We think this war abroad and the employers' government will help broaden the influence of our rev­ nine national trade union fractions [the way war against working people at home: the SWP organizes its political work in the olutionary current inside the labor move­ trade unions] we will carry out our perspec­ We have already seen some examples of ment and inside the entire working class. It tive to fight against the war by drawing in what can be done in the trade unions with will become the axis of ail our antiwar and the working class in the biggest way possi­ the development of organizations like the solidarity activity. National Labor Committee in Support of ble to respond to the war that already exists and is escalating. Democracy and Human Rights in El Sal­ Building NBIPP This is what we will be talking about at vador. There have also been trips by trade unionists to Nicaragua and El Salvador, in­ The industrial fraction meetings will the meetings here of SWP members who cluding top union officials. also be discussing how they can build the belong to the Amalgamated Clothing and National Black Independent Political Party Textile Workers Union; International As­ Organize union tours to Nicaragua (NBIPP) among coworkers. Ji',:. sociation of Machinists; International The NBIPP is an important vanguard Militant/Charles Ostrofsky Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; Interna­ Although the unions are not yet initiating formation, not only of the Black nationality Malik Miah reported to convention tional Union of Electronic Workers· Oil or leading the fi ght against the war, the but for the entire working class. It stands _g~ests on behalf of SWP delegates. ·Chemical and Atomic Workers; United growing battles in the working class in re ~ Continued on Page 8

4 The Militant August 31, 1984 Above, U.S. occupation of Grenada, made possible by counterrevolutionary coup in which Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was murdered. Right, Nicaraguans demon­ strate they will not let same thing happen to them. If the Yankees come ~ Nicaraguans say, they w.on't find us with our guns unused in storerooms- as happened in Gre­ n:ada. U.S. vs. Central American and- Caribbean revolutions: where struggle stands now

Cindy Jaquith another 500,000 people. The Territorial lutionary government. What the Cubans tions in the Caribbean as well - from large Troop Militias now number 1.2 million had done 20 years earlier was no e;l(cep­ protest actions in Puerto Rico against its In the last year, as Washington has deep­ men and women. tion . use as a Yankee military base, to uprisings ened its aggression against the workers and The entire country is organized for de­ Second, Nicaragua and Grenada demon­ against food prices and police brutality in peasants of Central America and the Carib­ fense. "Every foot of our territory has been strated what even small nations im­ the Dominican Republic and Haiti. bean, there have been both advances and studied," said Castro. "Every province, poverished by imperialism can accomplish setbacks for our class. city, and comer of the country has its as­ when workers and peasants are in power. Church hierarchy signment. Plans have been made down to The toilers of every other Latin American in Nicaragua, the Sandinista-led work­ The Catholic Church hierarchy has not the last detail of what to do in the event of and Caribbean country - except Cuba - ers and peasants have continued to consoli­ remained silent. In July, a conference of any one of the various forms of aggression were being crushed under the weight of im­ date their revolution and deal important some 50 Catholic bishops in Latin America our country might suffer." perialist exploitation exercised through the blows to the U.S.-organized mercenary issued a denunciation of "religious perse­ International Monetary Fund, falling world army attacking their territory. cution" in the region, falsely accusing'Nic­ A permanent crew of 18 ,000 construc­ market prices for their exports, unemploy­ In El Salvador, the Farabundo Martf Na­ tion workers is building military fortifica- .­ aragua of victimizing priests. Joining the tional Liberation Front (FMLN) has ad­ ment, hunger, and disease. Children of tions for the island, Castro continued. The workers and peasants in Grenada and Nica­ notorious counterrevolutionary archbishop vanced in clarifying its political line and in cadres of the Communist Party, govern­ of Managua, Obando y Bravo, at a news unifying the revolutionary- forces fighting ragua, however, were getting milk for the ment, and People's Power have taken first time, vaccinations, and schools. De­ conference were the archbishops of the dictatorship. courses and systematically prepared them­ Guatemala, Honduras, and San Salvador In Cuba, as Fidel Castro explained in his spite the unrelenting economic warfare di­ selves for the tasks they face . rected against them by the U.S. rulers, Archbishop Arturo Rivera y Damas. July 26 speech, the workers and peasants These massive defense preparations have have both made progress economically and both countries achieved a net economic Rivera y Damas's office had shortly be­ advanced alongside · impressive economic growth, in contrast to the decline of the fore denounced the FM.LN of El Salvador carried out a major expansion of the coun­ growth in the last year, Castro reported in try's military forces in the last year. economies of the imperialist-dominated for successfully attacking the Cerr6n his speech. In the first six months of 1984, nations. Grande dam and knocking out a chunk of But we have also suffered a big defeat­ Cuba's commercial production increased , the overthrow of the workers and farmers The Nicaraguan revolution - and the dictatorship's soldiers. This is no way by 9.9 percent. Industry grew 8.8 percent, Washington's escalating war to stop it­ to carry out a dialogue, the archbishop government of Grenada, the assassination agriculture 6.4 percent, construction, 19.8 of its central leadership, and the U.S. inva­ has produced a deepening class polariza­ complained. percent. tion in the region. Moving to one side are Every step forward by the workers and sion and occupation of that once-free is­ Only a socialist revolution, said Castro, land. the workers and peasants; to the other, the peasants - from the revival of the labor can carry out both this kind of economic capitalists, landlords, and the church movement in countries such as Chile, development and defense. "Only a socialist Center of world politics hierarchy. Argentina, and Uruguay, to the Guatema­ revolution, with the full support of the The _existence of the Nicaraguan bastion lan Coca-Cola strike - helps strengthen · Central American and the Caribbean- are people, absolutely •identified and united of worker-peasant rule has given an im­ the Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, and Cubans at the center of world politics today be­ with them, is capable of creating the de­ pulse to revolutionary organization and ac­ to meet what's coming. At the same time, cause it is there that the socialist revolution fense potential our country counts on tion throughout the region :- expressed they have not underestimated- nor should is being extended. This is why Washington today . . .. We rely on a heightened politi­ most sharply in El Salvador, and also seen we - the defeats the world workers move­ has begun its war: to reverse the advance of cal consciousness and on a profound revo­ _in Guatemala. ment has suffered in the last year. the world revolution. The objective is to lutionary consciousness. The class struggle is heating up in Hon­ The workers and peasants have not taken prevent the Salvadoran rebels from taking "These factors did not exist before the power in any other country since-1979. Im­ power, and to overthrow the Nicaraguan duras, which Washington is trying to tum revolution. They didn't exist when we into a giant military base for its war against perialist aggression has escalated, aimed at workers and peasants government. were fighting for liberation, nor after the halting the advance of the socialist revolu­ This war inevitably means sending in the workers and peasants of Nicaragua and triumph. They have developed over 25 El Salvador. This spring, tens of thousands tion, at crushing every popular mass strug­ U.S. ground troops. We make no predic­ years of revolution. In addition, we count gle from Ireland to southern Africa, from tions on how s·oon, or what country they of unionists have demonstrated repeatedly on a deep internationalist consciousness - in Honduras against the thousands of U.S. Palestine to the Philippines. This brings will invade first. But the whole world hundreds of thousands of our compatriots enormous pressures to bear worldwide on knows a Vietnam-style war is coming in troops occupying their country, for a better have completed internationalist mis­ standard of living, and against government the vanguard of the working class and its Central America and the Caribbean. sions . . .. allies, pressures that we feel in the United Nowhere is this better understood than in attacks on the labor movement. In late "We have a future . We have a superior June demonstrators marched in Com­ States too. • Cuba. . life to that of the other peoples in this hemi­ In his speech at the July 26 celebration in ayagua, Honduras, where one of the U.S. sphere. Who can ever get us to return to the airbases is being built. The main slogan at Three giants Cienfuegos, Cuba, Fidel Castro outlined past?" the scope of the U.S. aggression and the this action was "Yankee garbage out of At our last national gathering one year The internationalist consciousness of the Honduras." necessary response revolutionaries must Cuban people, and their determination to ago, we celebrated what Fidel called the make. fight for a socialist world even at great cost The governments that make up the Con­ "Three Giants" in Central America and the While reiterating Cuba's longstanding to themselves, have been qualitatively tadora Group - Mexico, Colombia, Caribbean - Grenada, Nicaragua, and willingness to engage in talks with Wash­ strengthened in the last five years by the Panama, and Venezuela '-- are coming Cuba. ington to hold off the war, Castro em­ experience of the Nicaraguan and Grenada under the intense pressure of the U.S. war But today there

August 31, 1984 The Militant 5 -SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY CONVEN their revolution that Washington is rapidly omy - millions of dollars worth - and moving to dismantle. they have killed more than 7,400 Nicara­ Despite the U.S. occupation, revolution­ guan comrades in combat. Butthey have ary forces seeking the way forward, now not succeeded in establishing a base inside organized in the Maurice Bishop Patriotic the country, a piece of territory where. they Movement, have been able to function enjoy the support and aid of a section of the openly and get out their ideas. population, an area where they can operate A difficult road lies ahead. The Grena­ freely and challenge the FSLN for control. dian masses face - once again - the task To the contrary, the mercenary army is of overthrowing the proimperialist sustained wholly from the outside - by capitalist state backed by the armed and di­ Washington - through airlifts of food and rect might of Washington. They must carry weapons. If this aid stopped - and it's out another anticapitalist revolution. going to increase, not stop - the mer­ This will require the .forging of a proleta­ cenaries would be finished. rian revolutionary leadership, one that They're taking a beating from the San­ bases itself on the workers and farmers, ab­ dinista-led workers and peasants and this sorbs the lessons taught by Bishop, and has pushed off the U.S. invasion. comes to grips with the character of the Washington would be much closer to betrayal that took place at the hands of Ber­ sending in troops if its paid killers had es­ nard Coard. A leadership capable of clearly tablished a beachhead somewhere, say a explaining to the masses what lies ahead village near the Honduran border or a port for them under imperia]ist domination and on the Atlantic Coast. That would make it what it will take to end that domination. A easier to invade militarily and easier to jus­ leadership that can help the masses or­ tify such an invasion politically. It would ganize to fight for immediate demands help convince those sections of the U.S. today to protect their standard of living and ruling class still. wary of the political cost their rights, while at the same time educat­ and prospects for success of an invasion ing on the need to overthrow the govern­ that it's time to do it. ment ofthe capitalists, landlords, and their But while the invasion has been pushed · May lst demonstration in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Last spring, tens of thousands of U.S. masters and reestablish a workers and back -due to the ability of the Sandinistas Honduran workers and peasants demonstrated against U.S. troops occupying their farmers government that would once again to raise the international price of such an country and against government attacks on·the labor movement. put Grenadi~n _working people on the road invasion - the imperialists' determination to socialism. to overthrow the revolution has not Continued from preceding page tober was successful because the revolu­ changed. The invasion will happen. We Nicaraguans prepared workers and farmers government. This tion had already been killed. It was bet­ don't know when- this year, next year1 government organized, mobilized, and ray(;!d from within the Grenadian leader­ Washington would like to repeat in Nic­ or further down the road. armed the island's working people to com­ ship itself, by the murderous factional op­ aragua what it has done to Grenada. But as bat imperialist domination, to establish eration headed by Deputy Prime Minister the Sandinistas say, if the Yankees come, Class polarization within Nicaragua democratic institutions through which they Bernard Coard. they won't find us with our guns locked in The deepening of the Sandinista revolu. could increasingly decide and administer Coard's secret faction was distinguished storerooms. tion and the escalating imperialist war · social ~nd economic policies, and to lay the by its resort to bureaucratic and administra­ Today there are 200,000 armed workers against it have widened the class polariza­ basis for expropriating the capitalists and tive measures which would supposedly en­ and peasants in Nicaragua·- in the mili­ tion inside Nicaragua. On one side stand big landowners in the transition to a work­ able the revolution to leap over the objec­ tias, in the army, in the special battalions, the workers and peasants, who are making ers state. tive problems it faced - instead of and in the reserves. Tens of thousands of the revolution and have everything to gain Under the leadership of Maurice Bishop, mobilizing the working people themselves youth who have been called up for the draft from defending it; on the other side are the . who was the head of the NJM, the govern­ to fight for their own class interests. The are currently undergoing basic training. On capitalists, landlords, and privileged petty­ ment was committed to advancing the in­ Coard faction blocked recruitment to the July 14 of this year there was a demonstra­ bourgeois layers that look to them, particu­ terests of the workers and farmers of Gre­ NJM of proletarian cadres emerging to lead tion in Managua called by AMNLAE, the larly in the urban areas. Figures in the nada and the world. Grenada's revolution­ the revolutionary process. His clique dis­ national women's organization, to cele­ Catholic Church hierarchy in Managua ary government reached out to the other is­ armed the militias and locked up their brate the first contingent of women going have become the spokesmen for the coun­ lands ·in the Caribbean and sought to unite weapons on the eve of the counterrevolu­ .. off for Patriotic Military Servic~. National terrevolution, the "dogs who bark by re­ the victims of imperialist exploitation in tionary coup. The accurate political desig­ leaders of the Sandinista Youth (JS-19) mote control" from Washington, as FSLN struggle and to break down the artificial nation for such a grouping is Stalinist. held a meeting recently and decided tha( Commander Tomas Borge called them re­ barriers imposed by the colonial powers. When Coard arrested Bishop and seized they would take the lead by volunteering to cently. As Bishop said in his last speech in the power, there was an uprising of the island, do their military service now, as part of a Why do the peasants fight for the revolu­ United States on June 5, 1983: "One of the with more than a quarter of the population national campaign to deepen the participa­ tion? Because the mercenaries attacking greatest curses of colonialism was that they - over 30,000 people - pouring into the tion of the whole country in defense. them are the landlord's police- former . divided the region . . .. They taught us dif­ streets to free the man they trusted and re­ This is all part of the political and mili­ members of Somoza's National Guard. ferent languages. And then they made a spected as their leader. tary preparation the FSLN leadership is or­ They have come to take back the land the great play of the fact that you are Dutch­ The Coard forces turned their guns on ganizing to be ready for the U.S. invasion peasants now own for the first time. They speaking, you are Spanish-speaking, you the unarmed masses, then they murdered they know is coming.· As they have kill the students who teach the peasants are French-speaking, you are English­ Bishop and other central leaders of the rev­ explained for years, the goal of Washing­ how to read. They bum down schools, speaking, and, more recently, you are olution. They handed Reagan the country ton is to overthrow the Nicaraguan govern­ clinics, and day-care centers. American-speaking. And based on this lin­ on a silver platter. ment, to "destroy the power of the working Why do the workers volunteer for the guistic' nonsense, they taught us to hate people and to attempt to place in power the special military brigade set up by the San­ each other." Neocolonial regime pro-Yankee bourgeois classes," as FSLN dinista Workers Federation? Why do they Commander Humberto Ortega explained in put in so many "Red and Black Days," Bishop pointed to the Caribbean island The U.S. invasion marked Washing­ June. when they work at the factory without pay . of Cuba as an example for all those struggl­ ton's first direct use of U.S. combat troops But the mercenary army Washington has to boost production? Because under ing to get out from under imperialism. The in the Americas sinee 1965, establishing put into the field against the workers and Grenada revolution's solidarity with Cuba the precedent the U.S. rulei·s wanted. The Somoza they had no free trade unions. peasants has not fared so well. For three They were at the mercy of the boss. They opened a new stage in the influence of the workers and farmers government over­ years these terrorists have been trying to had no health care. No schools for their Cuban revolution in the Caribbean. thrown by the· Coard faction has been re­ take a village somewhere ·in Nicaragua children. placed with a neocolonial, proimperialist where they could run up their flag - the Why do the youth sign up for the draft Impact on U.S. workers regime. The island that tasted freedom · Vatican colors - and declare a provisional and volunteer to be the first to go to the bat­ The Grenada revolution also spoke di­ from imperialist domination for four and a counterrevolutionary government. half years is now an occupied territory. tle front? Because under Somoza, the rectly to the U.S. working class- espe­ They have failed to take and hold a youth had no future. They were kidnapped cially to its many Caribbean immigrants The new capitalist government in Gre­ single town in all that time. You'd know it off the streets by the National Guard and and Afro-Americans. As Bishop explained nada is returning land to the big landlords if they had - the bourgeois press in this carried off to Lake Managua, where they it, from Washington's standpoint, "We can who fled after the revolution. It is closing country would be shrieking with delight were tortured, mutilated, and then killed. have a dangerous appeal to the 30 million down education centers. The CIA-inspired about the victory of the "freedom fighters" Black people in the United States." A deep AF~- CIO outfit, the American Institute for and Washington would be rushing aid to 'Nicaragua exists' identification with the Grenada revolution Free Labor Development (AIFLD), is back the so-called liberated territory. in business subverting the labor move­ The predictions that the mercenaries All of us who have had the chance to did develop among a significant layer of visit Nicaragua have been struck by the vanguard Black fighters in this country. ment. Grenadian women, who took their would convince the Miskitu Indians to first steps toward liberation under the revo­ carry out an anti-Sandinista uprising have transformation of the working people there For all these reasons the U.S. rulers con­ lutionary government, are being forced fallen flat. In fact, the Miskitus have just by the revolution. An example that stands spired to undermine and overthrow the back onto the streets to sell their bodies to held a convention .in Nicaragua, attended out in my mind was a woman in her forties Grenada revolution from the very begin­ U.S. Gis. by 350 delegates from 63 villages, where who runs a stall at the big Eastern Market ning. But despite the U.S. economic sabo­ Grenada's new airport - once the pride they voted to form the Organization of the in Managua. When our tour group met with tage, the massive campaign of lies and of the revolution - will now serve oilly to Miskitus. of Nicaragua (MISATAN). The the Sandinista Defense Committee (CDS) slanders, and the attempts to assassinate' its advance imperialist exploitation of the is­ goals of MISATAN are to struggle - at the market, this woman, a CDS member, leaders, the Grenada revolution was ad­ land's resources. It is slated to have its within the revolution - to advance the dedicated to our group a poem she had vancing. It began to develop and plan the grand opening on October 25 , the anniver­ Miskitu national culture, including the es­ written. "I was illiterate all my life," she expansion of agricultural production, the explained. "The revolution made me a sary of the criminal U.S. invasion. Reagan tablishment of Miskutu as an official lan­ basis of Grenada's economy. It brought un­ poet." plans to personally preside over the cere­ guage, and to reunite Miskitu families di­ employment down in four years from 50 monies. vided by the war. At the recent Sandinista Assembly of the percent to 12 percent. It made education The long-predicted uprising on the At­ FSLN, where it announced candidates for and health care a right, not a privilege. It Resistance to occupation lantic Coast has failed to materialize. In­ the upcoming national elections, Tomas extended democracy to the masses through stead, the Sandinistas are steadily bringing Borge gave a speech in which he touched local councils and mass organizations. It But there is resistance to all these moves more Blacks and Indians into the militias, on what the revolution has accomplished fought for women's equality and an end to - especially from Grenada's youth and the Sandinista Youth and neighborhood de­ thus far. The most important conquest, he sexual harassment in the workplace. Its sta­ vanguard workers. The shock of the revo­ said , is that "Nicaragua finally exists" - fense committees. ture in the region - and the world - was lution's overthrow and Coard's reign of "for the first time in history, Nicaragua is growing. terror did not demoralize all the fighters. Nicaragua and Nicaraguans are Nicara­ U.S. invasion pushed off It was not inevitable that Washington The most conscious layers of Grenadian guans. We used to be a country of torture would succeed in restoring capitalist rule to working people are beginning to assess The· counterrevolutionaries have caused chambers .. . of men without land, of chil­ Grenada. The U.S. invasion of last Oc- what happened and to defend the gains of serious damage to the Nicaraguan econ- dren without schools, of sick people with-

6 The ~itant August 31, 1984 endeavors. According to excerpts from a Many Nicaraguan working people who FSLN presidential and vice-presidential secret memo that were published in Bar­ hold religious beliefs are members and . candidates Daniel Ortega and Sergio ricada , the FSLN daily, Obando met with leaders of the mass organ'izations. There Ramirez are using their campaign to pro-, executives of W.R. Grace and Co., the are even a few priests who hold govern­ mote defense of Nicaragua and the revolu­ shipping P.mpire with vast holdings ment posts, and are members of the FSLN. tion against U.S. aggression, and to con­ throughout Latin America. But the FSLN, the political vanguard of solidate "people's power." Their platform The memo, by a•Grace executive, says the working class, does not promote reli­ calls for extending the program to give land Obando told them he's training "cadres" to gion. To the contrary, it uses appropriate to those who work it; helping workers to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. He opportunities to educate the workers and organize unions and protect their standard said he was getting donations · of rosary peasants with a scientific world view and of living; prioritizing the remotest areas of beads but a little hard currency would help exposes the ·real political role of the the country, such as the Atlantic Coast, for too. church. supplies and development projects; defend~ After the memo was published, Obando One example is a speech Tomas Borge ing women's rights; and expanding health explained these were "pastoral cadres" not gave last year on the question of education. care and education. "military cadres." But one .of his "pastoral A polemic against religious indoctrination The Sandinistas are institutionalizing the cadres" got stopped by Sandinista security under the guise of education and in favor of revolution in other ways, too. They are in­ agents recently and when they opened his secular schools, the speech examined the tegrating the broadest possible layers of the suitcase, lo and behold, inside there were role of religion as a key prop of class soci­ population into defense of the country --' no Bibles, no rosary beads, not even a drop ety. Borge described the reactionary role of through the militias, the reserves, the draft, of holy water. The suitcase was full of gre- · the church in medieval times, and then and the neighborhood defense committees. nades and TNT. The Nicaraguan govern­ explained how the bourgeoisie uses religi­ They're strengthening the Sandinista ment broadcast a video of the whole thing ous ideology today as a weapon against unions and the National Union of Farmers on television , along with films they'd made class consciousness. and Ranchers. Through the Sandinlsta of the same priest conspiring with a known To defend its interests, Borge explained, Youth, they're educating and mobilizing CIA mercenary to carry out assassinations the capitalist class not only uses physical working-class and peasant youth to be­ and provocations against the revolution. repression against the ~orking class, but come future leaders of the revolution. "spiritual repression, creating an ideologi­ AMNLAE, which has a growing Reactionary instrument of class rule cal apparatus far more refined but hardly number of chapters in the factories and less brutal than that of the feudal epoch. working-class neighborhoods,. is spear­ The Catholic Church is increasingly Just like the feudal lords, the bourgeoisie heading the effort to build women's partici­ being exposed in Nicaragua as the reaction­ uses religion as an instrument to preach pation in the revolution. ary instrument of class rule it is. In recent conformity, resignation, and conciliation Efforts are also under way to organize years, some forces within the church have of classes." important nonproletarian sectors of the tried to adapt to the revolutionary develop­ population - such as small market ven­ ments in Latin America to better maintain Nicaraguan ·elections dors and artisans. the church's hold over sections of the These are all steps toward organizing to working population. A further step toward deepening class Barricada increase the active involvement of working consciousness and consolidating worker­ Terrorist priest Peiia watches Sandinista There's a parallel with the way the Dem­ people in making and administering the po­ peasant rule is the election for president, security search his suitcase and uncover ocratic Party in this country has adapted to litical decisions that determine how they vice-president, and national assembly explosives. Reactionary role of Catholic the idea of a woman running for vice-pres­ live, to develop proletarian consciousness, . which Nicaragua will hold on November 4. church in Nicaragua is being exposed. ident, or a Black running in the primaries self-confidence, and discipline. The For five years the opponents of the revolu­ for president. The Democrats can do that strengthening of the mass organizations, tion made the fact that there had been no without changing their reactionary class the institutionalizing of new governmental out hospitals, a country without a face. general elections in Nicaragua the center­ role one iota, just as the church can adapt organs, and the process of building the "At last Nicaragua exists, and because of piece of their denunciation of the sup­ without changing its fundamental purpose. FSLN as a mass party, incorporating the that, we have taught half a million people posedly unpopular regime. Now that an The church preaches submission to author­ most dedicated leaders of the working to read and write, we've ended polio, election has been scheduled there has been ity to justify and uphold the class inequality classes, are all interrelated tasks. Each one we've saved the lives of many children an about-face. Since there is clearly no way and attendant institutionalized violence of is an indispensable aspect of consolidating who were dying like flies from hunger and the old exploiting classes can return to the property owners in every class-divided and further proletarianizing the revolution. disease, we 've given the people land, power through a popular ballot, it is the guns, and hope." society. It instills superstition, mysticism, and resignation in the minds of the masses. elections that are today being denounced as U.S. imperialism is fi~ding in Nicaragua National independence. Dignity. Land. How have the Sandinistas met the chal­ "undemocratic"! that it's a lot harder to crush a revolution Life for one's children. The power to re­ of the church in Nicaragua, and the In order not to reveal their lack .of sup­ once the workers and peasants' have in their build a society plundered by imperialism lenge fact that many Nicaraguans who support port, the main capitalist parties have re­ hands the weapon of their own govern­ and the guns to defend that power. This is fused to participate in the elections, charg­ ment. That's why the imperialists are pour­ what the revolution has accomplished, and the revolution still hold onto religious be­ liefs? ing they are supposedly unfair. The FSLN ing so much money into propping up the this is why the workers and peasants are leadership replies that the elections are, in dictatorship in El Salvador right now. giving their lives to preserve it. They've recognized that the task of the revolution is not to "fight religion" but to fact , the first democratic elections the They're determined not to let the country has ever had- and that's why the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front Imperialist slander campaign transform society and advance the class consciousness of the workers and peasants. capitalists and landlords will not be able to (FMLN) win and confront them with It's the fact that the workers and peas­ In the course of this, working people will return to power. The elections are not to another Nicaragua. ants are gaining in self-confidence and in . come to see their own class interests more decide which class will hold power. That The escalation of the U.S. war against their ability to rule that drives the U.S. rul­ clearly and they'll recognize in whose class was settled by the blood and sacrifice of the Salvadoran people is being carefully ers and their Republican and Democratic interests the church acts as well . tens of thousands of working people in the covered up. In the last few weeks, for ex­ mouthpieces wild. They resort to the same struggle that culminated in the victory of ample, Salvadoran President Duarte has The FSLN leadership consistently ex­ July 19, 1979. kind of lies and slanders they have tradi­ plains that the conflict between the church unleashed another wave of saturation tionally used against Fidel Castro and the No election ever has or ever will deter­ bombing attacks on FMLN-held civilian and revolution is not over religion - it's mine what class holds power. The FSLN is Cuban revolution to try to prejudice U.S. over politics: which class shall rule? areas. U.S.-piloted spy planes are spotting working people against Nicaragua. Two offering vanguard fighters a valuable les­ the target areas for the Salvadoran bom­ They've taken advantage of opportunities son in the fraud of bourgeois electoralism days ago, for example, Congress held spe­ to show how the church comes down on the bers. There's barely been a word on this in cial hearings. They brought in a Nicara­ - which perpetuates the myth that elec­ the U.S .. capitalist press. side of the bosses, the landlords, and the tions and other forms of parliamentary ac­ guan CIA stool pigeon to testify that Hum­ imperialists. berto Ortega is not only running drugs to tivity are the real politics, not the struggle Instead of the truth about the scope of Ever since the Nicaraguan Catholic U.S. teenagers, but he's a drug addict him­ between classes. · the aggression against the Salvadoran bishops put out their Easter pastoral letter The Sandinistas are utilizing the elec­ workers and peasants, U.S. working self! calling for "negotiations" with the CIA-led The U.S . media has been running a spate tions as one way to further institutionalize people are being fed a steady stream of lies mercenaries, for example, the FSLN has of articles predicting the collapse of sup­ popular rule in Nicaragua, as well as to about how things are "different" today in been calling the mercenaries "those up­ port in Nicaragua for the Sandinista gov­ educate the masses on the road forward to El Salvador because Duarte is in office·. lifted by the pastoral letter." ernment. They did the same thing to Cuba strengthening the revolution and the FSLN But Duarte is just the facade behind which as the vanguard revolutionary party. Continued on next page during the early 1960s. Then they claimed 'An attitude of class' that because Cuba had introduced ration cards - which simply prevent capitalist FSLN Commander Jaime Wheelock speculators from buying up all the avail­ explained the Sandinistas' approach in an able supplies of basic foods and other interview conducted by Chilean journalist necessities and enriching themselves while Marta Harnecker. The first layers of the others starve -there was sure to be an up­ population attracted to the FSLN-led strug­ rising. They said the Cuban revolutionaries gle against Somoza, he said, were stu­ were incapable of running the economy - dents, workers, women, and peasants. "At it was grinding to a halt. They forecast the a certain moment ... as part of the dynam­ overthrow of Castro. · ic of the deepening struggle, we also saw The bourgeois press articles on Nicara­ the incorporation, in an organized way, of gua al so claim rationing is unpopular there. young people who had come around a That the shortages of basic goods are going Christian movement that . . . included a to produce confrontations with the govern­ few progressive priests. " ment. That people are going to rise up "We understand their participation to be against the draft and the so-called persecu­ political, not religious," Wheelock tion of the Catholic Church. explained. "What we did was link up with This all makes no sense . The Nicaraguan them ·as combatants .... We did not pro­ workers and peasants lack many things, but pose an alliance with the Christians." one thing people do have is guns, lots of Wheelock emphasized that the question them . If they wanted to overthrow the of the institution of the church must be FSLN they could do it. · separated from the question of individuals The imperialists are also trying to play with ties to the church. Among Nicara­ their Catholic Church card, boasting Ma­ guans who are Christians, "some are op­ nagua Archbishop Obando y Bravo as the posed to the revolution and others support saviour of the Nicaraguan people. Obando it. But this attitude, at bottom, is an at­ Barricada!L. made a secret trip to New York not long titude of class. It is not a stance based on Woman registering to vote in Nicaragua. Government elections are further step~ ago to raise some money for his Christian religion." deepening class consciousness and consolidating worker-peasant rule. ·

August 31, 1984 . The Mllltant 7 ------"-SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY CONVENT SocialistS map strategy against U.S. war

Continued from Page 4 You cannot carry out the kind of activ­ on a revolutionary anticapitalist program, a ities that our party does without paying program adopted after much discussion serious attention to finances. And the bed­ a~ong militant activists trying to chart a rock of the finances of a revolutionary course toward an independent Black politi­ party is our membership. It's what we con­ cal movement. It is based on 20 years of tribute, it's how much we can give to the discussions and struggles by the Black party on a voluntary basis to advance our movement, striving toward an alternative perspective. And we always strive to give perspective to that offered by the liberal the maximum. pro-capitalist misleaders of the Black One of the things that we 'II be launching movement. · this week, which will end up with a big The Socialist Workers Party, from our socialist rally the last night, is a -national founding in 1938, and particularly since election campaign fund of $100,000. the rise of the Black nationalist movement The purpose of this fund is more than in the early 1960s, has been involved in all just to cover the basic expenses of cam­ the discussions on the need for independent paign literature and Mel Mason and Andrea Black political action. Gonzalez's U.S. travel. The NBIPP is one of the most important It's for us to do what an internationalist political formations that the Socialist proletarian party must do. It's·so we can Workers Party supports and has members have more trips by Mel to Ireland imd Brit­ actively participating in and building. Militant ain; ,more trips by Mel to Nicaragua; Building the NBIPP is an important part of "The National Black Independent Political Party is an important vanguard, not only Andrea to Martinique and Puerto Rico and the process of developing a working class for Black nationality, but for entire working class." SWP convention took up how to to the Dominican· Republic. vanguard leadership in which Black revo­ build NBIPP among coworkers. We have to take our message to the en­ lutionary socialists will play a leading role. tire working class on an international level. Our trade union fractions will be discus­ Part of building a proletarian party today Ireland, and Sweden. sing how to build NBIPP because the ques­ We have here, at our convention and is professionalism. Without profes­ Since our last convention · in 1981, a tion of independent political action is a de­ educational conference, a number of com­ sionalism we cannot carry out the huge number of revolutionists have died. From cisive one for the working class. rades from otber countries who are trying tasks that we have before us. And profes­ to do exactly what we are trying to do. the Socialist Workers Party, there were sionalism is necessary on all levels. It's not Electing a·· National Committee We have two leading comrades, for the Morris Chertov, Anne Chester, Farrell just how you go to your coworkers and talk first time at one of our conventions, from Dobbs, Richard Frankel, Tom Kerry, Tom about what's happening in Central Ameri­ The delegates have another very big re­ Iceland. They are active in one of the Nagle, ·Ed Pollock, Howard Rosen, and ca, as important as that is, and invite a sponsibility, which is the election of a new largest union federations, carrying out the Marvell Scholl. In addition, two long-time worker to a forum. It also involves making National Committee - the central leader­ same type of political perspective that we members of the International Executive the leaflet and getting the leaflet out, rais­ ship of the party responsible for imple­ are, deepening their roots within the work­ Committee of the Fourth -International, ing the money, having the discussion in­ me_nting the decisions of the convention. It ing class, and discussing big political is­ Pierre Frank from France and Peng Shu­ side the party, so we have political clarity is the highest decision-making body of the sues with their coworkers, including the Tse from China also died. on our line and on our perspectives. party and has the power to act promptly U.S. war drive. Other comrades who have died were the To carry out our work, we also have to and effectively in the name of the party be­ We have a sizeable contingent of com­ revolutionary fighters led by our comrade meet and discuss, to step back and think, to tween conventions. rades from Britain who have been active in Maurice Bishop and the other patriots of consider different points of view, come to a The perspective of building a proletarian support of the striking coal miners there. Grenada, the Cuban airport workers who decision, and then act. This is true not only party is not just important for us in the We also have comrades from New Zea­ also fought against the U.S. imperialist in­ prior to and during conventions, but all United States. Preparing to respond to the land. The working class there just kicked vasion of Grenada, and hundreds of com­ year long. · imperialist war is She responsibility of the out the conservative government and the rades in El Salvador and Nicaragua. international working class. It's true for all Labor Party was put back in office. This I think the best way that we can salute We're an inclusive party revolutionaries. Whatever country you was an important experience for the work­ these comrades and what they've given to may be in, you need to organize your·party ing class that our comrades participated in. our movement and to the class struggle is That means we have to be a thinking along the lines of opposing the austerity We also have a very sizeable delegation to continue to fight and to continue our de­ machine in the sense that we have to edu­ drive and opposing U.S. imperialist war in from our comrades up north in Canada. liberations at this convention, especially cate ourselves. That's why the delegates Central America and the Caribbean, which There are also comrades here from Austra­ our campaign against the U.S. imperialist have organized not just a convention, is the center of world politics. lia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, war in Central America. where we will come to a decision on the political resolutions, but we are also or­ ganizing an educational conference so comrades and friends can discuss impor­ tant questions. U.S. vs. Central American revolution This enables us, for example, to go back Continued from preceding page ter Mondale's man, Geraldine Ferraro's, must play. Our candidates bring the exam­ and study the history of the Socialist Work­ Washington is deepening its involvement and Jesse Jackson's. ple of the Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Grenada ers Party and learn about our continuity. in the war. The European imperialist powers, some revolutions to the U.S. working class, and Our discussions about how to build the The only thing "different" is that having of which took their distance from the Sal­ extend the solidarity of working people in party today are based on how the SWP pre­ pared for war in 1938- 39, and the decision promoted the illusion that Duarte is more vadoran dictatorship at an earlier stage, this country to the fighters they meet moderate, more "democratic" than the gave Duarte a whirlwind tour in July. The through their trips to the Caribbean, Cen­ of comrades back then to deepen their orientation to the working class. At the U.S. puppets who preceded him, the U.S. West German govep1ment promised him tral America, and Europe. rulers feel more confident they can step up $18 million to continue the U.S .-backed We spread the lessons of these revolu­ 1938 founding convention the delegates voted that 90 percent of the SWP's activity the war. The Democrats and Republicans war, and Socialist Party leader Fran~ois tions and the need to defend them through are more united behind the deepening U.S. Mitterrand, head of the imperialist govern­ our circulation of the Militant and Perspec­ must be in trade unions and every comrade must be geared into that work. military intervention and more willing to ment of France, welcomed him to Paris. tiva Mundial, including the hundreds of send whatever funds, weapons, and U.S. copies sold weekly at plant gates across the We also need to continue our study of troops are necessary to try to crush the rev­ Sharpening class struggle country. A central feature of our press is the writings of Karl Marx, Frederick En­ gels, and V.I. Lenin, to learn about our olution. the eyewitness reports on the unfolding of . There's a bipartisan conspiracy in Con­ This spring and summer have seen the the Nicaraguan revolution from our Mana­ continuity, to use that to educate ourselves, gress to downplay the U.S. involvement in biggest wave of strikes in San Salvador gua bureau and the on-the-spot coverage so we can better carry out our perspectives the Salvadoran civil war by playing up since 1980. Tens of thousands of workers we provide from Grenada and the rest of today. meaningless votes against aid to the Nica­ have gone out. The revival of the urban the Caribbean. Our strategic perspective of workers and raguan mercenaries, who the imperialists class struggle - and the active role work­ We often call the coming war in Central farmers taking political power is a perspec­ ers who support the FMLN are playing in will make sure are adequately supplied re­ America and the Caribbean a new Viet­ tive we have in common with the revolu­ these labor battles - can only help propel gardless of any motions Congress may nam. It will be a new Vietnam in some re­ tionaries in Central America and the Carib­ forward the unification of the fiye separate bean. Based on that perspective, we are pass. spects - the introduction of U.S. ground An example is the August 3 New York groups that make up the FMLN, bringing troops will set uncontrolled forces in mo­ trying to build a revolutionary vanguard party which seeks to include in its ranks all Times , which ran a story headlined "House them closer to fusion into a single proleta­ tion throughout the region, with unpredict­ class-conscious and militant workers who Votes to Deny Help to Nicaraguan Insur­ rian party. able consequences for jmperialism. Each step the Salvadorans take toward stand on the Marxist program and who are gents." You're supposed to think the Dem­ But unlike the period of the Vietnam unity based on a revolutionary perspective active in building the revolutionary move­ ocrats and Republicans have finally done · war, when there was a prolonged economic aids us in this country too. It strengthens something to stop the U.S. war in Central expansion and a substantial improvement ment in a disciplined manner. That's why our ability to bring the U.S. working class we're an inclusive party, inclusive of all America. But buried in the very last para­ in the living standards of big sections of the and the unions into the fight against the those comrades who are ready to devote graph of the article is the fact thai while the U.S. working class, Washington is escalat­ U.S. war. their lives to this perspective, to become House was conducting this ch ~rade, the ing the Central America war at a time when Everything we will be discussing at this the employers here are on a major offen­ professional revolutionists. . Senate was quietly pushing through mil­ We hope those of you here who are par­ convention is aimed at preparing for this sive to attack the standard of living and lions of dollars more in military aid to the ticipating in our gathering as guests, who war - from building our forces in the in­ rights of the U.S. working class. Duarte regime in El Salvador. By the time are not yet members, will consider this per­ dustrial unions, to organizing to get as Because of this, U.S. workers and our the House and Senate were through, Duarte spective, because it is-the only one that can many of our coworkers and fellow union ~ unions will be increasingly pushed to the and his generals had another $70 million help advance our class to its strategic gpal ists as possible to visit Nicaragua and center of the resistance when the U.S. for their bombing raids and torture cham­ of taking power. bers . bringing Sandinistas here to speak to U.S. sends troops to Central America. The fight workers and farmers, to helping build against the war is completely intertwined Remember all those Democrats who said Cannon's 1939 message they'd never let another cent of aid go to El united protests against U.S. intervention with the class struggle here at home. We Salvador until human rights were pro­ and deepening . labor's participation in will see class battles the likes .of which we I 984 marks the I Oth anniversary of the tected? What happened to their "moral out­ them. have never seen before. death of James P. Cannon, who was the rage" about the death squads? They've all Through the Socialist Workers Party This is the perspective we take to class­ founder and central leader for many years fallen in lockstep with Reagan in escalating presidential campaign of Mel Mason and conscious workers. And we say to them, if of the Socialist Workers Party. Cannon the war. Duarte is not only Reagan's man, Andrea Gonzalez, we are also helping pre­ you agree, then join us. The Socialist was also a founder and central leader of the he's the Democrats' man too - he's Wal- pare the U.S. workers for -the role they Workers Party is your party as well. Continued on ne~ page

8 the Militant . August 31, 1984 British miners welcomed at

G. W. Cookson SWP convention Clare Fraenzl, one of four socialist U.S. miners who have travelled to Britain to ex- M 1" d · t •th t •k 1 d tend solidarity to miners strike there, speaking at East London meeting last April. . ore so 1 arl y Wl s fl e p anne

BY GEOFF MIRELOWITZ are inspired by the idea, expressed by ution to the NUM as an expression of sup­ socialist workers active in unions where the OBERLIN, Ohio- "Maggie, Maggie, NUM President Scargill, that British work­ port for the strike. SWP is building a national presence. These Maggie . Out! Out! Out!" ers need a Labor Party and a government Socialists who are active in the UMW A included the Amalgamated Clothing and . For a few moments that chant, directed "as loyal to our class as Thatcher is to have been in the forefront of urging such Textile Workers; International Association at British Prime Minister Margaret hers." solidarity. Four miners at the meeting here of Machinists; International Ladies' Gar­ Thatcher by striking miners in the British had travelled to Britain to learn about the ment Workers; International Union of coalfields, could be heard at the welcoming Women come forward strike first hand. They recognized that little Electronic Workers; Oil, Chemical and session of the Socialist Workers Party's na­ news about the strike has been available to Atomic Workers; United Auto Workers; The British socialist also pointed to the tional convention and educational confer­ U.S. workers. As part of an effort to help United Steelworkers; and the United important ways in which the strike has ence, held here August 4-9. It arose in re­ crack this media blackout and get the truth Transportation Union. drawn women further into political life. No sponse to Militant editor Malik Miah's an­ out, all four of these socialist miners wrote women work as underground miners in Joe Swanson, who presented the main nouncement that two striking members of accounts of their visits in the pages of the Britain but, led by the wives and other fam­ report to the meeting of socialists in the the British National Union of Mineworkers Militant . ily members, women have formed a big UTU, had also recently returned from a trip (NUM), and one of their wives, an activist The four have spoken about what they battalion backing the union in this fight. to Britain. Louise Goodman, another UTU in the Nottinghamshire women's strike learned on their trips at forums sponsored The convention broke into prolonged member recently recalled to work by the support group, were among the interna­ by the Militant in many cities. All miners applause as the British socialist described Southern Pacific Railroad in California tional guests at the gathering. at the Oberlin meeting have been making the active role of the women's support after a long layoff, and Chris Gauvrau, . Solidarity with the militant striking min­ special efforts to get the Militant, with its groups that have sprung up in an unpre­ SWP candidate for U.S. Senate from Mas- · ers was a prominent theme of the Oberlin regular news on the British strike and its cedented way during the strike. sachusetts and an activist in the IUE at the gathering. U.S. workers in attendance call for solidarity, into the hands of as giant General Electric plant in Lynn, were eager to learn everything they could She tofd the convention that this activity many workers as possible. by women began, in part, in response to Mass., were making plans to travel to Brit­ about the strike, including the lessons Brit­ The reason why was evident in the dis­ "back to work" actions led by the wives of ain as soon as the SWP convention ended. ish workers are drawing about how to.fight cussion here. The socialist miners scabs, especially in the Nottinghamshire They too plan to report back to their fellow back against the employer-government of­ explained that UMWA members, and all area. workers and will be available to speak at fensive against working people and their U.S. workers, have a direct stake in the Militant forums and other meetings._ _unions . There the union remains divided . Mines outcome of the British miners' battle. If the in this area are not immediately threatened NUM wins it will have an impact on the British miners on tour NUM on front lines with closure and incentive pay plans have employing class attacks on workers around resulted in much higher pay for miners the world. If the NUM loses, the employ­ Mark and Julie Hunter and Steve Shukla The NUM has been on the front lines of there, compared to workers· in other mines. had made arrangements to stay in the this worldwide battle for months . In ers here will be e_ven more deter.mined to Miner Mark Hunter and his wife Julie, two try to break the UMW A and step up the United States after the SWP convention to March, miners in Yorkshire, England of the guests at the SWP convention, are speak about the strike to U.S. workers at struck to protest British National Coal drive against all U.S. unions. among the strike activists who are trying to This understanding was apparent among Militant forums, union meetings and other Board plans to close some 20 mines and persuade Notts miners to stop scabbing and event~. throw 20,000 miners permanently out of other convention participants too. Many take a stand with the rest of the union . Following the convention, the Hunters work . Many of the threatened mines are in stopped by a table set up by the British headed back to the coalfields of Pennsyl­ the Yorkshire area, but strikers pointed to strikers. -Convention participants donated Meeting of U.S. socialist miners vania and West Virgini~ with socialist U.S. the Thatcher government's longer term close to $2,000 to the NUM in exchange miners . Shukla hopped in a car with plans to shut some 70 mines in the One group of convention participants for stickers, buttons, and other strike ma­ socialist auto workers headed back to De­ nationalized coal industry, eliminating who were especially eager to learn more terial. troit. From there he planned to travel to 70,000 jobs. No miner's job was safe, they about the strike were those socialist work­ More than 200 people attended a class Toledo to talk with striking oil and auto said, unless the union stood together and ers who are members of the United Mine presentation on the strike given by a British parts workers, and to visit the coalfields of fought back.. Workers of America (UMWA). The socialist from Sheffield, England, a mili­ tant center of the NUM. Following the Southern Illinois and the factories of St. The strike spread quickly and became a UMW A is headed towards it~ own contract class, the two striking British miners par­ Louis. national one. The NUM national leader­ confrontation with the coal operators in this ticipated ~n a question and answer session. The participation by these three strike ship, headed by President Arthur Scargill, country when the current national agree­ The U.S. workers at the class were eager to activists in the SWP convention and con­ has organized a campaign of militant mass · ment expires on Seutember 30. Many min­ learn as much as possible about the class ference, and the warrn response they re­ action by miners and their supporters ers expect the union will again be forced struggle methods the NUM is using in the ceived from the U.S. workers here, said aimed at shutting down the mines, stopping out on strike as it was for 72 days in 1981, strike. something important about the kind of the transport of any coal, and putting a halt and for Ill days in 1977-78. The socialist Along with the fight against the U.S. party the SWP is striving to become- a to its use in British industry until the miners met twice to discuss their activity in . war in Central America and other questions party of working class fighters who under­ union's demands are met. the UMWA, including their efforts to help defend the union in the coming contract of international working class solidarity, stand that the struggle of working people This determined effort has required a battle. the British strike was also a topic of discus­ against their exploiters is truly an interna­ genuine mobilization of the ranks of the Steve Shukla, a striking NUM member sion at eight other meetings held here by tional one. union. The government has responded by from Yorkshire, attended the socialist min­ ' sending tens of thousands of cops against ers' meeting as an observer. On the second the strikers and cracking down on demo­ day he. spoke to the U.S. miners about the cratic rights. The courts have attempted to British strike. · Socialists map antiwar strate-gy intervene against the NUM . Shukla, 26 years old, is already a nine During the SWP convention a Central year NUM veteran. He graduated from Continued from preceding page "It's criminal folly to waste time or even Committee member of the British section school on a Friday, as he told this reporter, Fourth International. to argue the question with these runaway­ of the Fourth International (a world and the next Monday he went down into In 1939, the United States and other im­ boys and heralds of defeat before the bat­ socialist organization), who is an activist in the mines. His father was a miner before perialist countries were moving toward a tle. Our convention must let the dead bury the postal and communication workers' him and today both are on the NUM picket full-scale war - World War II. At that the dead and tum the face of the party to the union, explained that this has resulted in lines. time, there were discussions in the SWP workers who are ·the real source.of power over 4,000 arrests of strikers and their sup­ about how to prepare our party - like and of inspiration and well-grounded op­ Shukla expressed confidence that the porters . Two miners have been killed in we're preparing now -to fight that war. timism. NUM will win the strike. But, he said, he confrontations with the police. Preparing our party by organizing and pro­ "The proletariat in the United States is didn't expect it to be over anytime soon. The British socialist told the convention letarianizing our ranks, by deepening our the source of unlimited power. It can raise The stakes involved are clear to both sides. that the miners battle is the most important roots in the working class. the whole world on its shoulders. That is A victory for the miners can begin to re­ labor struggle in an imperialist country in And just like now, many petty bourgeois the unshakable premise of all our calcula­ verse the Thatcher government's antilabor more than a decade. The strike has radicals at that time began to retreat from tions and all our work. · offensive. But if the government wins it politicized the working class and the Brit­ the class struggle as the pressures of the "For us there is no way but forward at an will be emboldened to launch even harsher ish labor movement. Dock workers, rail imperialist offensive and the capitalist accelerated pace .... Can we strengthen attacks on the British unions and all work­ workers, and fighters in other unions who crisis bote down on them. That also af­ and improve our responsibility, our discip­ ing people. want to take action againsi the Thatcher fected our party and led to, eventually, a line, and our morale? Can we blast a path government's antiunion drive are pressing major fight and a split in the SWP in 1940. to fresh circles of undefeated and undis­ UMW A solidarity their own unions to act in solidarity with Prior to the second convention of the couraged workers and make our party in the NUM. Solidarity, from workers in Britain and party in 1939, Cannon wrote a series of ar­ truth a party of the proletariat in its compo­ The strike has also led to important dis­ other countries, has been very important ticles in the Militant discussing the ques­ sition and in all of its activity? cussion and debate in the British Labor Shukla said. Like the- U.S. workers at the tions before the party. He made the follow­ "Affirmative answers to these questions Party . Top party leaders, while formally convention he was inspired to hear that the ing point in one article, in reference to and concrete, practical plans io implement backing the strike, refuse to act decisively UMW A's International Executive Board those who split from the revolutionary them are what the party needs from this to help win it. But many militant workers voted in July to send a $25,000 contrib- movement: convention:''

August 31, 1984 The Militant 9 Grenada's workers resist U.S.-inslalled 1

The Militant recently sent two corres­ defensive. Not only had they lost their best the policies of tbe PRG and of the late In a few instances, the workers have pondents, Mac Warren and Ernest weapon..,-- the PRG- but many of their prime minister for whom it is named. Its even scored victories. In April, the Bank Harsch, to Grenada. This week we print mass organizations had collapsed or been fi ght against the U.S. occupation and the and General Workers Union (BGWU) the third eyewitness story from our re­ greatly weakened during and after the Oc­ government's antilabor policies· helps to signed a new three-year contract with the porting team. tober events. These included the National strengthen the struggles of all Grenadian Grenada Cooperative Banana Society, fol­ Women's Organization, the National working people. lowing some tough negotiations. The con­ BY ERNEST AARSCH Youth Organization, and some of the trade tract provided for a 70 percent wage in­ ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada- The situa­ unions. The fact that some leaders of these Washington's two strategies crease, cumulative over three years, to the tion facing working people in Grenada is organizations had been supporters of the In carrying out their attacks against the lowest paid workers, while the rest of the Coard faction contributed to their decline. qualitatively different than it was just a rights of working people, the U.S. occupa­ workers received significant pay hikes as year ago. Then, the workers and farmers of tion authorities are utilizing several differ­ well. The agreement also retained the prin­ this small Caribbean island held political Attacks and resistance ent approaches, in addition to the measures ciple of equal pay for equal work , paid power, through the People's Revolutionary being carried out by the Interim Advisory maternity leaves for women workers, and The Interim Advisory Council, acting on Government (PRG) headed by Prime Council. other provisions first won under the PRG. behalf of the U.S. occupation forces and Minister Maurice Bishop. "Imperialism is using two strategies," a their local al lies, launched an offensive Today they are struggling to defend CIWU leader explained to the Militant in CIA 'unionists' against the surviving gains of the Grenada themselves from mounting political, eco­ an interview obtained in early July. "One is revolution . Some programs, like the adult An especially pernicious role in the at­ nomic, and social attacks launched by the to encourage employers to frustrate work­ literacy campaign and the free distribution tacks on the unions has been played by employers' and the U.S.-installed ers in the workplaces, to lessen their wi llin­ of milk to children, were halted. Numerous AlFLD. capit~Iist regime. gness to struggle." state enterprises were shut down, throwing A CIA front organization that includes Under the PRG, trade union rights were hundreds of Grenadians out of work, or The other is to employ the reactionary AFL-CIO bureaucrats on its board of direc­ enshrined in law- and enforced. Working were turned over to private capitalist inter­ leaderships of certain unions to try to tors, the agency's goal is to house-break people played an active role through their ests. Assistance to poor farmers was cut weaken and destroy those unions that were the Grenadian union movement in order to mass organizations in helping to decide the back. Political activists were subjected to most closely identified with the revolution, end resistance to the antilabor drive and to affairs of the country. Today there is a gov­ harassment and victimization. such as the CIWU and the BGWU. This help stabilize imperialist domination over ernment-supported drive to weaken and de­ The workers and their trade unions, be­ latter strategy is being supervised by the the country. It does this by training and stroy the unions. cause of the leading role they played in the American Institute for Free Labor De­ financing union officials who are willing to Unemployment was being steadily re­ revolution, have become particular targets velopment (AIFLD), a CIA outfit that op­ stand against the workers' interests and by duced. Today it has risen to 30 percent. of this offensive. Many union leaders were erates under the guise of providing "assist­ seeking to disrupt and hamper those unions ance" to unions. Numerous social programs- in health briefly detained after the invasion. The of­ whose Ieaderships it considers "subver­ care, education, housing, and other fields fices of the Commercial and Industrial sive." - brought tangible benefits to the masses Workers Union (CIWU) and the Bank and Bosses on the offensive Mi'litant unionists are routinely slan­ of Grenadians. Measures were taken up to General Workers Union (BGWU) were Grenada's employers, who saw their dered as antidemocratic or as foreign advance women's equality. Today these broken into earlier this year and some files prerogatives greatly restricted during the agents. A U.S. government inter-agency have been reversed or severely slackened. taken. period of the PRG, now see an opportunity team that visited Grenada Nov. 17-19, In October 1983, the workers and farm­ to strike back against the workers, to whit­ 1983, shortly after the invasion, charged ers lost their government. The PRG was But despite the enormous difficulties tle away the gains that workers had that"only two, perhaps three, of the unions overthrown in a counterrevolutionary coup they face, workers are resisting the assault achieved. have in the past functioned in a manner that ofthe government, the employers, and the can be called democratic. The leadership of organized by Deputy Prime Minister Ber­ They are greatly aided in this by the high U.S. occupation forces. Their resistance is nard Coard. On October 19, Bishop, sev­ level of unemployment. Since the U.S. in­ other unions was radical in the extreme, reinforced by their memories of the Gre­ eral other government ministers, and lead­ vasion, unemployment has jumped from composed of thugs and highly polished nada revolution; they are determined to de­ Soviet bloc-trained polemicists." ing unionists like Vincent Noel and Fitzroy 12 percent to some 30 percent. This was fend and regain the rights they had known Bain were brutally murdered. caused by the disbanding of the People's The team recommended that AIFLD during the PRG's four-and-a-half years in Less than a week later, Washington in­ Revolutionary Army and the shutting down "should take the lead in restructuring and power. vaded Grenada with thousands of U.S. of projects like the asphalt plant, the agro­ training the unions as quickly as possible." troops, supported by _several hundred Since late May, another factor in this has industrial plant, the Youth Employment .An AIFLD-office has now been set up in troops from other Caribbean countries. A been the formation of a new revolutionary Program, the Sandino prefabricated hous­ Grenada, headed by one Charles Wood. It new, capitalist government was installed, party that champions the interests of work­ ing plant, and other enterprises. Some that has a budget of some $400,000, no small known as the Interim Advisory Council. ing people: the Maurice Bishop Patriotic were not shut down entirely cut back on the amount for a country of this size - Working people were thrown onto the Movement (MBPM). The MBPM upholds number of workers they employed. Al­ 110,000 people. though construction on the international The AIFLD's chief Grenadian agent is airport has now resumed, many of the Osborne Baptiste. A former member of the former workers there cannot get their old CIWU, he has been especially active in jobs back. Former soldiers of the People's slandering the leaderships of the CIWU, Revolutionary Army are subject to a de BGWU, and a few other unions. Baptiste facto blacklist in hirings. has visited numerous workplaces on the is­ In this situation, employers have also land, asking for the names of union Execu­ found it easier to fire or dismiss employees tive Committee members , spreading on the flimsiest of pretexts. Although in stories about misallocation of funds, and some cases unions have been able to block seeking to break inembers away from the such firings, in many they have not. more mi litant unions. According to a CIWU member at the In January, Baptiste was expelled from Nutmeg restaurant here, one kitchen work­ the CIWU during a meeting of some 150 er was fired several months ago. She union members. He was chased out amid explained to me that the union intervened chants of "CIA! CIA !" to try to save the worker's job, "but the Since then, Baptiste has been especially management was hard and wouldn't rehire active in the countryside, visiting many of him. They're feeling bolder now." the agricultural estates. He has announced Grenada Breweries, the Marketing and the formation of a new agricultural workers National Importing Board, and other in­ union. stitutions and companies have threatened In this, Baptiste has benefited from the layoffs. Distributors Supermarket briefly virtual collapse of the Agricultural and shut down in April, dismissed its workers, General Workers Union (AGWU), which and then reopened with some new employ­ had been formed during the revolution and ees. The CIWU, which represents the had been led by revolutionary leader workers there, charged that thi s was a blat­ Fitzroy Bain (who was murdered during ant attempt to break the union. the October coup). One CIWU official Many employers have attempted to im­ blamed the union's decline on the "default" pose a de facto wage freeze on their work­ of the leadership that succeeded Bain . ers or have resisted negotiating new con­ The AIFLD also has a close relationship tracts after the old ones have expired. This with the right-wing leadership of the Sea­ has been the case at the Coca Cola plant. men's and Waterfront Workers Union. The the Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Associa­ leadership of the SWWU, which is based tion, and other workplaces. The govern­ among the dockworkers, has had a long ment itself has demanded that teachers history of collaboration with AIFLD and forego any salary negotiations for at least a opposed many of the policies of the PRG. year, a demand that was rejected at the (Osborne Baptiste functions out of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) annual SWWU headquarters .) conference in April. Since the U.S. invasion, the SWWU has The management of the Bata shoe store become a ,key force in the assault against here in the capital is pressing its workers the more militant unions. It first crushed (organized by the CIWU) to make a whole the BGWU branch on the waterfront. Then series of concessions, including a reduc­ it launched raiding operations against other tion in vacation time, an increase in the BGWU branches. Seeking to present itself workweek, a bare 5 percent wage increase , as a general union (organi zing more than and the scrapping of a profit-sharing clause just dockworkers), it has edged out BGWU iQ. the existing contract that was won under branches at the Spice Island Inn, De Caul's the PRG. garment factory, and the Grenada Beach While the employers have been making Hotel (which now serves as the headquar­ .S. invasion troops in October 1983. Bishop government was overthrown in counterrev­ gains overall , the unions in some cases ters for the U.S. troops stationed here). olutionary coup. Less than one week later, U.S. forces invaded Grenada. have been able to blunt the offensive. The reverses suffered by the Grenadian

10 The MHitant August 31, 1984 tuppel government

'orkers movement were reflected in the Labour Unions by using slander or any )W turnout and lack of enthusiasm for this other method." ear's May Day celebration. A few months later, in June, the TUC also rejected various changes in the labor •oor May Day turnout laws proposed by the Interim Advisory Council. Those changes, cited in a May II Participation in the action was just a letter to the unions by Labor Commissioner uarter of what it was in 1983, when the Percival Louison, would have reintroduced 'RG was still in power. The AGWU, the antistrike laws that existed in the days 1hich had won an award in 1983 for of the Eric Gairy dictatorship, would have 1obilizing the largest number of members weakened the ~nions' ability to win andre­ )r May Day, was totally absent this time . tain official recognition in the workplaces, Except for the AGWU, howev~r, all the and would have abolished the closed shop. nions in Grenada participated. The work­ Given the government's general lack of -s observed a minute of silence in memory political authority among the Grenadian f slain unionists Fitzroy Bain and Vincent population, the TUC's rejection will make 'oel.. it extremely difficult for the government to Some unionists spoke, as did a represen­ try to enact such blatantly antiunion meas­ ~Live of the AIFLD itself. The featured ures at this time . Jeaker was Patrick Emmanuel, the gov­ In his interview with the Militant, the mment minister in charge of labor. Em­ CIWU leader pointed out that the workers lanuel sought to cover up the govern­ can make some headway, even under these tent's support for the antilabor offensive difficult circumstances, "if they have a y portraying himself as a friend of the leadership that will really stand in the inter­ 10rkers. He declared that "there is an un­ ests of the workers." ~althy atmosphere prevailing among He also stre'ssed that such a leadership •me employers which seems to suggest " needs not just a national perspective, but at as a consequence of the October events also an international perspective. Our at trade unionism in Grenada is dead." struggle is not just a national struggle." An editorial in the May 12/ndies Times, International solidarity, the CIWU ·hich is now the weekly newspaper of the leader said, will be particularly important ·aurice Bishop Patriotic Movement, com­ for the struggle of the Grenadian workers . .:nted that Emmanuel "did say that the In­ He explained that the CIWU hoped to build ll ·im [Advisory Council] will not stand up links with unionists in the United States. Bank and General Workers Union members at 1984 May Day events. March was much ly and watch the rights ·of workers Canada, .and other countries. smaller than those that took place prior to the overthrow of Bishop government. ~d. But workers have taken so much essure in the past months that there is ,ed for more than a statement. Some con­ ·ete action is needed." The editorial also noted the reasons for Maurice Bishop on the trade unions e lack of enthusiasm among the partici­ .nts in the May Day action: "Thousands Below are excerpts from Maurice bility, likewise, with other trade unionists from undemocratic trade union structures ; workers are reeling under the burden of Bishop's speech to the opening of the of the Third World, in pressing for the new are forever finished in our region. 1employment and could only have spent Third Trade Union Conference for the international economic order that will Over the years our Caribbean trade e day wondering where the next dollar Unity and Solidarity of Caribbean create more favorable terms of trade be­ union movement has. constantly been the II come from . Equally many workers Workers, held in Grenada Nov. 18, tween rich and poor nations and transfer target of that most unscrupulous arm of im­ mid have been worryiQg whether they 1981. This speech is from Maurice wealth and technology for the benefit of the perialism: the Central Intelligence Agency. ·e next to join such ranks. They see em­ Bishop Speaks, a collection of speeches masses in countries such as ours. We have had rare instances of our trade :oyers flexing their muscles more ;1nd by and interviews with the slain leader of Comrades, it is clear that the growing union leaders consciously selling out to ore and threatening to roll back every one the Grenada revolution. The book is economic crisis in world capitalism is hav­ their silky bribes and offerings, .but more · their hard won gains. available from Pathfinder Press (see the ing a dynamic effect in the Caribbean. usually the CIA, with its sophistication and ~ "Their Trade Unions [are] being virtu­ advertisement this page). Throughout our region we see the employ­ enormous financial resources, has· suc­ :y pushed aside in the anti-Union ing class united in its attack upon trade ceeded in manipulating and infecting un­ .slaught now taking place." What is happening now in our country is unionism. There have been newspaper ad­ witting trade unionists who may well have that everybody is becoming affected by the vertisements in Ba_rbados calling upon been continuing with their work with the ilitant unionists fight .back dialectic of democratic participation that is workers there to abandon their trade best of intentions. In doing this, the CIA Some unions are seeking to stand their sweeping through our villages and work­ unions. There have been incidents of multi­ has sometimes directly infiltrated and con­ ound in face of this onslaught. Foremost places. Involvement in one organization or national companies in St. ViQcent forcing trolled some sections of our movement, nong them is the CIWU. meeting leads directly to involvement in workers to sign documents pledging that and thus forced the leadership of some of Led by revolutionaries, supporters of the another. A worker who attends a workers' they will leave their trade union . Clearly, our unions to actually take antiworker pos­ te Prime Minister Bishop, the CIWU has parish council hears something which he the employers are trying to de-unionize itions. This has happened, we know, in 1t up stiff resistance against the attacks of wants to bring to his trade union. So he their work forces to make them more pli­ Grenada, and more and more of our work­ e government and the employers. As a goes to the meeting of his union, although able and exploitable, so we, throughout the ers are becoming conscious of this danger suit, it has been able to maintain the same he may not have attended one for years. Caribbean, must go beyond all our political to their hopes. ~mbership (about 655) that it ha9 before And when he finds, quite surprisingly, that and ideological differences and forge the We saw how the CIA actually succeeded .e overthrow of the revolution . This is no his union is taking a vibrant, democratic di­ essential unity of our regional trade union in turning back the progress of the or­ nail feat under the present circumstances rection, he involves himself on one of its movement to combat this reactionary of­ ganized workers' movement in Chile, by Grenada. new committees or structures for fundrais­ fensive by the employers. This is why we both open and covert activity, and we in The CIWU represen~ workers in 39 ing, sports, or planning for educational have to work towards the total unionization the Caribbean must be particularly vigilant orkplaces, most of them in the private seminars. His confidence is raised through of our workers and the maximum demo­ in recognizing their poison and subversion ·ctor. It has made new proposals, is cur­ all this activity and the speaking and or­ cratization of our unions, to ensure that of the workers' cause, for imperialism will ntly engaged in negotiations, or has re­ ganizing that goes along with it, and his ap­ they are vigilant and active in the struggles never rest in its resolution to crush the on­ ~ ntly concluded agreements in 17 of these petite is whetted to join one of the mass or­ against the employers, and to guarantee ward march of the progress and emancipa­ terprises. ganizations - the local party support that the negativism and passivity that arise tion of our struggling people. The CIWU has also been able to func­ group, the militia, house repair program, m within the Trade Union Council (TUC) or for the sisters, the National Women's . isolate the AIFLD operatives and to beat Organization. Each organization feeds tck some of the government's antiworker strength, power, and confidence into the Maurice Bishop Speaks wes. next, and all of them, including the trade A cotlection ·of more than 20 major inter­ The TUC, which encompasses all of unions, grow in real potency and democrat­ views with and speeches by the slain leader ic advancement. ·enada's unions, almost collapsed after of the Grenada revolution and New Jewel e U.S. invasion. But on March 31 offi­ Workers in a revolutionary country like Movement, including his June 1983 speech ~rs were elected to a new Management ours, who are under a progressive and in New York City. Jmmittee of the TUC, at a convention in­ democratic leadership in their trade unions, living representatives from the CIWU. do not see trade unionism solely in a nar­ Contents also include a major new intro­ ·~WU, GUT. SWWU. Public Workers row , economistic sense. They do not see duction covering the U.S. invasion of Gre­ 1ion (PWU), Technical and Allied their responsibilities stopping only at their nada and the devastating blow dealt to the ,,rkers Union (TAWU), and the Taxi fundamental tasks of improving their mem­ Grenada revolution by the murder of Prime Nners and Drivers Association. Basil bers' wages and working conditions. They Minister Bishop and other outstanding :1rford of the PWU was elected president see themselves deeply involved in all as­ leaders of the New Jewel Movement; the the TUC, and Anslem De Bourg of the pects of the social and political life of their WU was chosen one of the two vice­ country, their region, and their world. Our October 20 statement by the Cuban gov­ ~ sidents. The SWWU won no top TUC unionized workers have consistently ernment on the killing of Bishop and the .sitions. shown solidarity with all other struggling other leaders; and the October 25-26 state­ One of the TUC's first acts was to con­ workers of the world. They see this as ·arr ment by Cuban President Fidel Castro on :mn the activities of the AIFLD's Os­ internationalist duty to all trade unionists the U.S. invasion and Cuba's role in Gre­ me Baptiste. Five of the unions (CIWU, organizing for their rights and fighting for nada. uWU, PWU, GUT, and TAWU) signed social and political justice, be· they•. in statement in the name of the TUC. They Chile, El Salvador, southern Africa, the 400 pp., $6.95, published by Pathfinder mhesitatingly denounced the activities of Middle East, or any part of the world Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. aptiste and call on all workers to be on the where the producers of wealth are exploit­ Please include 75 cents for shipping. ok out for those who will try to divide the ed and oppressed. They see their responsi-

August 31, 1984 The Militaat 11 Mason: 'Fight f()r a government that will feed the world, not enslave it '

lion," he said, "from slave slowdown to Mason, who had just returned from a strike shutdown, Blacks have fought for two-week tour of Nicaragua, told the the gains we have made - we fought and crowd of.the tremendous advance he saw died for them- we bled for them. for women and all working people in that "We must be anticapitalist," he con­ country. tinued. "Malcolm taught us that the system "What can we do to defend these revolu­ in this country cannot produce freedom for tions?" he asked. "Workers on strike and an Afro-American. We must be inter­ farmers fighting foreclosures must protest nationalist in outlook and anti-imperialist." the war in Central America. Because union-busting and farm foreclosures here 'Youth face a new war' and war in Central America are carried out Laura Garza, a member of the National by the same enemy - the U.S . govern- Executive Committee of the Young ment. · · Socialist Alliance and one of the youth co­ "We must lead a revolution in this coun- · ordinators of the Mason-Gonzalez cam­ try that will put workers and farmers in paign, explained to the rally that "youth power - that will end war, that will feed face a new war in Central America and the the world, not enslave it," he said. Caribbean. And we have chosen to fight Mason said that the vanguard that would against the U.S. intervention as part of a fight for this future was already being battle to change who rules this country." formed. "It can be found in the Black com­ Garza urged young people who want to munity in Miami, Florida, among the cop­ fight effectively against war, racism, and per miners on strike in Clifton-Morenci, sexism to join the YSA and support the Ajo, and Douglas, Arizona. That vanguard socialist campaign. "If you would like to can be found raising hell on the picket lines do without the Olympic spirit," she said, against AP Parts and Sun Oil in Toledo, SWP presidential candidate Mel Mason told rally of 1,000 supporters that stepped­ "and instead instill some internationalist .up international working-class solidarity against imperialist war is needed. and internationally among the British coal spirit, then you belong in the YSA." miners. When presidential candidate Mel Mason BY PAT GROGAN lease prisoners, he should have joined was introduced, the crowd stood up, clap­ "Cuba and Nicaragua represent our fu­ OBERLIN, Ohio - Nearly I ,000 sup­ hands with him to defend the Cuban revo­ . ping and yelling, "Give 'em hell, Mel! ture," he concluded, "and it is this van­ porters of the Socialist Workers Party 1984 lution. Instead of making some moral ap­ Give 'em hell, Mel!" guard that will lead the world to the future. presidential ticket of Mel Mason for presi­ peal for peace to the Sandinistas he should "The Democrats and Republicans," he So if you want to do a little time· traveling, dent and Andrea Gonzalez for vice-presi­ have been shouting from the top of his said, "always talk about 'we.' 'We' have to join the Young Socialist Alliance and the Socialist Workers Party." dent gathered here on August 9. The rally lungs, 'No Pasaran.' work harder to make 'our' company more closed the national convention and educa­ "Electoral action," Morgan explained, profitable. 'We' are threatened by Cuba, The rally sent a message to Michael tional conference of the Socialist Workers "must be only a supplement to political ac­ Grenada, and Nicaragua. 'Our' economy is Kelly, a leader of the Irish Republican Party. tion - mass-based political action. If. it's damaged by strikes like those of the copper Socialist Party who had won his release Clare Fraenzl, a member of the United going out on strike, if it's demonstrating ­ miners in Arizona. from a Dublin prison. Mason had visited Mineworkers of America, opened the rally that's political action. If it's organizing "What I point out is that the 'we' Andrea Kelly in prison in June. by introducing striking British coal miners wei fare mothers, tenants' unions, econom­ Gonzalez and I are campaigning for are the In response to an appeal by Clare Steve Shukla and Mark Hunter and his ic boycotts, demonstrating against police workers on strike, are women, are the un­ Fraenzl, rally participants pledged $64,000 wife, Julie Hunter. They were greeted by a brutality, supporting the Sandiriistas - all documented workers, are the Black and toward a goal of $100,000 so Mason and standing ovation and chants of "N U M ! these things put together equal Black poli­ Latino youth who can't find a job and face Gonzalez could continue "crisscrossing the N U M ! N U M !" (National Union of tics by any means necessary. death wearing the wrong uniform in Cen­ country and the world with the message of Mineworkers). "From slave rebellion to urban rebel- tral America." international working-class solidarity." Andrea Gonzalez began her speech by Commenting on the vice-presidential reading, in Spanish and English, the state­ · candidacy of Democrat Geraldine Ferraro, ment of purpose of the SWP: "To educate Mason said, "It's not the question of sex or and organize the working class in order to color that counts. It's what class you serve. establish a workers and farmers govern­ "When Geraldine Ferraro locked up ment which will abolish capitalism in the Blacks and Puerto Ricans as District Attor­ United States and join in the worldwide ney, was she serving our class? When she struggle for socialism." opposed school desegregation, organized "Everything our party does reflects this to keep Blacks and Puerto Ricans out of internationalism," she said. 'That's why white neighborhoods, advocated deporta­ Mel and I spent some time traveling around tion of undocumented workers, and de­ the world." nounced the freedom struggles of the op­ Mel Mason had just returned from a two­ pressed of the world, was she serving our week tour of Nicaragua and had previously class?" he asked. visited Britain and Iieland. Gonzalez had "Geraldine Ferraro is a capitalist politi­ just completed a tour of the Dominican Re­ cian who believes in this society the way it public, Martinique, and Puerto Rico. is," he said. "She is the enemy of working · people and women. Fight U.S. war Militant/Larry Lukecart "I agree with Andrea Gonzalez when she Militant/Larry Lukecart "After one week in Puerto Rico, seeing SWP vice-presidential candidate Andrea said that the only places where women are NBIPP leader Ken Morgan: "Black lib­ the militarization of the island," she said, Gonzalez: "Join in the worldwide strug­ advancing in the Americas are Cuba and eration cannot be negotiated through the "you know what every Puerto Rican gle for socialism." Nicaragua," he said. Democratic Party." knows: that the U.S. is preparing for a full scale intervention in Central America. "How to fight against this war is the real question facing us today," she said. $100,000 socialist campaign fund "Reagan ism," she continued, "is just another word for capitalism. And not BY YVONNE HAYES paign materials, including a bilingual bro­ as they discuss their tours of Britain and capitalism gone wrong, but capitalism as it The socialist campaign fund has chure and a videotape of Mason and Gon­ Ireland, the Dominican Republic, Mar­ must be to survive - warring against the launched a drive to raise $ 100,000 by elec­ zalez's speeches. Teams of campaigners tinique and Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua. peoples of the world, attacking the unions, tion day. Over $.64,000 has already been armed with this literature and the campaign Their campaign will build solidarity with whipping up racism and sexism. Reagan is pledged to this effort by supporters of the newspapers, the Militant and Perspectiva Cuba and Nicaragua and with the revolu­ a right-winger, but his program is the campaign at a rally held August 9 in Ober­ Mundial, will be part of the important dis­ tionary struggles taking place today in El capitalist program, voted on with two lin, Ohio. Nearly $5,000 was collected on cussions taking place among workers about Salvador and elsewhere. hands by the Democrats in Congress. the spot. how to fight back against the employers' "The only way to defeat Reaganism," The campaign fund is imp<>rtant to the offensive. Ma~on and Gonzalez will be Gonzalez added, "is by workers and farm­ Contributions to the socialist campaign ongoing fi ght to get the socialist campaign campaigning for socialist solutions to the ers organizing, unifying, mobilizing and will help to cover the costs of the tours of on the ballot in as many states as possible. capitalist crisis and for a government of the fi ghting to defend our class here and Mel Mason and Andrea Gonzalez, socialist The socialist presidential ticket is currently majority, a workers and farmers govern­ around the world against the capitalists. " candidates for president and vice-presi­ on the ballot in II states and campaign sup­ ment. which can take decision-making dent, to over 40 cities in the next 10 weeks . porters are fighting to have petitions cer­ . power out of the hands of the capitalist Mason and Gonzalez will launch the final tified in a number of others. Petitioning ef: Jackson is no answer class. leg of their campaign by participating in forts are under way in New York and North Gonzalez was followed followed by Ken The fi ght against U.S. war in Central Labor Day activities in Toledo, the site of Dakota. Morgan, a leader of the Baltimore chapter the important strike by auto workers at AP America and the Caribbean will be a cen­ of the National Black Independent Political Parts, and New York City. They will then tral focus of the socialist campaign this In order to meet its fall projections, the Party (NBIPP). Morgan told the rally , "It's visit auto and coal centers in the U.S. fall. Across the country, campaign sup­ socialist campaign depends on the contrib­ like Malcolm X said, Black liberation can­ where an important confrontation is un­ porters wi ll be involved in activities oppos­ utions of working people. It has no sup­ not be negotiated through the Democratic folding between the employers and mem­ ing the U.S. -sponsored war in Nicaragua. porters among the superrich who rule this The campaign will participate in activities or Republican parties. bers of the United Auto Workers and country . According to campaign coordi­ demanding an end to the U.S. occupation '.'If Jesse Jackson was elected president," United Mine Workers unions whose con­ nators, participation in this drive by every of Grenada that are being organized to he continued, "it would not materiall y af­ tracts expire in September. supporter is essential to its success. Con­ fect the conditions of Black people or coincide with the anniversary of Washing­ tributions, or pledges which can be paid by working people. Jackson is calling for re­ The $100,000 fund will make it possible ton's invasion last October. November 6, can be sent to the Socialist form and not basic solutions to national op­ for the socialist campaign to respond to Mason and Gonzatez will explain the in­ Campaign Fund, 14 Charles Lane, New .pression. Instead of urging Castro to re- these struggles by getting out new cam- ternationalist perspective of their campaign York, NY 10014.

12 The Militant August 31, 1984 Gonzalez, Ma . solidar-ty in Canada

Continued from front page establish a government which would repre­ Guatemala to Jamaica to Guyana. sent their interests against those of the "The Canadian ruling class," said Ged­ capitalist class. "We need to transform our des, "also fears the example of these revo­ unions to unite and draw workers in their lutionary struggles. Canada is a powder: hundreds of thousands into action against keg of the oppressed," she said, referring the bosses and their government. to the oppressed national minorities of To do this, Johnston explained, "we will Quebecois, Acadians and Native people, have to deal with the obstacle of the current and immigrants. The rulers fear these conservative leaderships of our unions and working people learning the truth about the the NDP. The founding of the NDP repre­ victory of their Nicaraguan brothers and sented an important step forward for work­ sisters. ing people in English Canada because it is 'The offensive against Canadian work­ based on the unions and can be a tool to ers and farmers at home," Geddes charged, fight for governmental power against the "is aimed at smashing the tools we have to. bosses' parties. · · fight back with ----;our unions and the New "But the NDP leadership believes that Democratic Party . It is tied to the offensive capitalism can be reformed. What we need against our coworkers around the world, is not Band Aid solut-ions to the ills of like the striking British miners ." capitalism but a fight against capitalism it­ Gonzalez described how the recent self. "The RWL/LOR is running in the elec­ Olympic Games have been used to whip up tions," said Johnston. "to provide an exam­ U.S. chauvinism and patriotic sentiment in ple of the kind of uncompromising cam­ order to prepare U.S . working people for a paign against capitalist policies that needs further escalation of the war in Central to be waged by the Canadian working class America. and its party . Canadian workers need a " It is not often that Wall Street - the party that campaigns every day of the year, heart of the capitalist system - celebrates a party involved in the daily struggles of with a ticker tape parade like the one held workers, organizing solidarity and pointing for the Olympic athletes. The last time was· i.li.tant/Yvonne Hayes the road forward. after the Iranian hostage crisis, when pa­ - "In the coming showdown with im­ Andrea Gonzalez, SWP vice-presidential candidate, and Larry Johnston (right), triotism and flag-waving were at a fever perialism in Central America, we need a socialist candidate for Canada's parliament, campaigning among striking municipal workers near Toronto. pitch," Gonzalez recalled. Anti-working­ party that will be unwavering in its support class policies, Gonzalez explained, are to the people of Nicaragua and El Sal­ promoted by both U.S. capitalist parties. vador, that will build massive mobiliza­ workers in English Canada should defend class attacks on the Quebecois and is dis­ "Reagan's policy - of war in Central tions against the U.S. war in Central -Amer­ the right of self determination and indepen­ credited in Quebec. Following her visit America and union-busting and racist and ica in which the Canadian government is dence for Quebec. "This," she said," is the here, Gonzalez is traveling to Quebec. sexist attacks in the U.S. - is the policy of complicit." only means of unifying the entire working There she will campaign with LOR candi­ the entire capitalist class. It will be the pol­ Sylvie Chardin, a railworker from class in Canada and waging a successful dates who call on the Quebec unions to icy of a Mondale-Ferraro administration as Montreal , also addressed the rally and fight against the employers." launch their own labor party to fight for well." bl asted attacks on the rights of the .op­ The NDP has failed to meet this chal­ Quebec's national rights and ally with Gonzalez explained that she and Mel pressed Quebec nation. She explained that lenge. In fact it has backed Canadian ruling working people in English Canada. Mason are campaigning against this offen­ sive and to establish a workers and farmers government which can JOin in the worldwide fight for socialism. Canada's rulers are represented in the Mason tells workers at Canadian rally: upcoming elections by two capitalist par­ ties as well, explained Larry Johnston . "The myth is perpetuated that Canadian 'We have same enemy the rich' working people really have democratic control because they have the opportunity BY DAN FEIN Mason reported on his recent trip to Nic­ Mason said he was in Canada to learn to choose between these parties at election VANCOUVER, British Columbia, .aragua to join the celebration of the fifth about Canadian politics as it affects work­ time," said Johnston, who is a steelworker Canada- "The only boundaries that mean anniversary of the Sandinista ·revolution. ers and farmers and to lend his support to at the giant Stelco mill in nearby Hamilton. anything," SWP presidential candidate "The Sandinistas are us and represent our the RWL candidates. "U .S. and Canadian He reminded the audienc.e that martyred Mel Mason told a socialist campaign rally future," he said as he urged solidarity with workers must support each other," ob­ Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop attended by 70 people here August 18, "are the revolution. served Mason, "because we have the same had a name for this form of "democracy," the boundaries between the classes; be­ Mason and his running mate Andrea enemy- the rich ." In fact, many U.S. and - "Westminster hypocrisy :~ tween the rich , and the workers and farm­ Gonzalez have already traveled widely out­ Canadian workers are employed by the 'The capitalists control the economy," ers." side the United States, including to Britain, same giant corporations, such as General Johnston added, "They control the army, Mason was a featured speaker at the Ireland, Puerto Rico, Martinique, and the Motors arid Chrysler, and many are mem­ the police and the courts. None of that is up rally sponsored by the Revolutionary Dominican Republic. As in these other bers of the same international unions . for grabs in the elections. The elections can Workers League, sister party of the SWP, lands, in Canada theU. S. socialist candi­ Mason also noted that the independence be very 'democratic,' but they will never which is running five candidates for Cana­ dates are campaigning for international sol­ struggle of the Quebecois people, who are decide which class will rule ." Canadian dian parliament in elections scheduled for idarity among working people and the op­ an oppressed nation within Canada, "is working people, he said, need to fight to September 4. pressed around the world. central to Canadian politics just like the Black struggle is central to U. S. politics." Katy LeRougetel, Montreal candidate of the Ligue Ouvriere Revolutionnaire (the New York 1199 hospital union strike solid name of the RWL in French-speaking Que­ bec), also spoke here and attacked the lead­ Continued from front page · County, and Municipal Employees District tried to claim that the absence of 50,000 ers of the two nationwide capitalist parties, the hospitals insisted on conditions that 37 President Victor Gottbaum told an 1199 workers, who provide vital services, would Liberal John Turner and Conservative would have cut the actual increase to only mass rally early in the strike, "Your fight is not affect patient care. Brian Mulroney. She said she agreed with 3. 9 percent. Subsequently the hospitals our fight. If you take a beating .. . then This fiction was put to rest for good Au­ New Democratic Party (NDP- the Cana­ agreed to the original five percent plan, but we'll take a beating." gust 20 when the State Department of dian labor party) leader Ed Broadbent, who insisted it be paid for, in part, by il 10 per­ Other area labor officials have also ex­ Health cited eight of the struck hospitals characterized Turner and Mulroney as "the cent reduction in hospital payments to the pressed support for 1199. New York Cen­ for medical and nursing deficiencies - in­ Bobsey twins of Bay Street" (Canada's union's benefit fund. Union negotiators tral Labor Council President Harry Van cluding one that may have led to the death Wall Street). But, unlike Broadbent and said no . Arsdale joined one of four mass rallies or-· of a patient. The next day, officials said six the NDP leadership, LeRougetel said her A week later another tentative agree­ ganized by the union August 14 at four more hospitals would be cited. party urges workers and farmers in Canada ment was reached when the hospitals struck hosptials. The August 4 issue of the The union has repeatedly affirmed its de­ and Quebec to fight in an uncompromising backed off the demand for cuts in the ben­ national AFL-C/0 News carried an exten­ sire to end the strike and has pointed to the way against the policies of the capitalist efit fund payments. But at the last minute, sive report on the strike. It reported that 50 hospitals' greed and union-busting goals as class Turner and Mulroney._represent. literally as negotiators and government representatives of New York City unions the real threat to patient care. The Madison Bill Burgess, RWL candidate in Van­ mediators headed toward a press confer­ held a breakfast meeti_ng with 11991eaders. Square Garden meeting made clear that the couver and a member of the International ence to announce the tentative pact, hospi­ Some $500,000 in financial aid as well as union stands united and intends to keep the Woodworkers of America, noted in his talk tal negotiators reneged on their guarantee picket line reinforcement was pledged. strike solid in the face ·of hospital strike that the RWL's idea of politics did not of every other weekend off for all workers. The hospital workers will need that help breaking threats. begin with elections, but with the day-to­ During the August 21 Garden meeting, and other solidarity too. A federal court day struggles of working people. government mediator ·Basil Patterson ar­ judge has already held the union in con­ He pointed to "Operation Solidarity," rived with a written document guarante­ tempt of court and levied a $15,000-a-day Hospital strike the big struggle waged by British Columbia eing the alternate weekend plan. But again fine that has been totalling up for days. to be topic at labor last fall against the anti-working­ the hospitals threw up a new roadblock to This contempt ruling was issued after an class attacks of the province's Social Credit settling the strike. As Turner explained, earlier court order directed striking nurses Sept. 1 N.Y. forum government. Employer-government union "There was no guarantee that there was a at one Queens hospital to return to work. busting remains a big problem in B.C. said job waiting for everyone who went on The union maintains it has <;lone its best to "What striking hospital workers are Burgess. What labor needs, he said, is an strike." urge the nurses to obey the court but was fighting for," will be the subject of the Mil­ "Operation Solidarity II" to defend the The strike has developed into a central thwarted by the hospital's dismissal of itant Labor Forum/Foro Perspectiva Mun­ union movement fr~m today's attacks. confrontation that is being closely watched eight nurses for strike activity. In other dia on Saturday, September I . A represen­ The rally also sent a message of solidar­ by New York's working people. Negotia­ antiunion court action, a judge cut off med­ tative of District 11_99, the striking hospital ity to Arthur Scargill, president of the Na­ tions I:iave already begun between the city ical benefits for all strikers. union, will be the featured speaker. The tional Union of Mineworkers in Britain, goven)ment and unions representing hun­ However the strikers' determination has meeting will be held at 79 Leonard St. and who have been on strike for five months. dreds of thousands of city workers whose been bolstered by the knowledge that the will begin at 6:00 p.m. Translation to Contributions to the socialist campaign to­ contracts expire this fall. walkout has had a big impact on hospital Spanish will be offered. For more informa­ taling $1,385 were collected and several As American Federation of State, functioning. Originally hospital officials tion call (212) 226-8445. people signed up to help the campaign.

August 31, 1984 The Militant 13 British women's. mitrch baCks mir rs strike BY ANTONIA GORTON victory or defeat will have repercussions LONDON - In a stirring, magnificent throughout the working-class movement. display of working-class combativity, So I ask working people to step up their about 25,000 striking coal miners' wives support, reminding them of their class from all over Britain, their children, and commitment to our struggle." labor movement supporters sang, chanted, and roared their way through central Lon­ Boost to women's movement don in 6 mass demonstration against pit (mine) closures August II. Women have undergone a dramatic The theme of women's power, women's change, one that they recognize them­ struggle, and women's will to win rang out selves. Time after time the women say that throughout the entire day. they will continue their organization after Since day one of the 22-week-old strike, the strike is won. women in virtually every mining commu­ In addition, their example is giving nity throughout Britain have come together strength to other women in struggle. For to back the strike, raise money, provide the first time in the history of the construc­ foqd, and join the picket lines. tion workers union (UCATT), the union The women were only. too eager to ex­ banner was carried by women members plain what the fight means for them. Sev­ who have broken into the traditionally male eral from Scotland explained that the Pol­ industry in recent years. Valerie, a laborer maise pit is the last village coal mine in working in North London, said, "I see this Scotland, with 250 men working in it. Pol­ as part of my fight to get women into jobs maise is on the hit list for closure, and if the that we have been barred from, and to have pit goes, the village goes. a voice in how things are done." There are 300 women involved in the Polmaise strike support committee, and Who is responsible for violence? they are planning a big rally. They prepare 120 to 140 three-course meals a day. This On the same day as the demonstration, is important because single men on strike, the Thatcher government launched a new for example, have no income at all. One offensive in the propaganda campaign British women confront miner scabbing on strike. Miners' wives, other women have woman said that she and her husband and against the miners. Home Secretary Leon become active participants in battle between union and government. three preschool children get £14.40 [£1 = Brittan accused the NUM leaders of "fo­ menting violence, intimidation, and van­ US$1.32] per week to live on. "How can -and a class one," he declared. "I am not the NCB andtheir lap dogs in the media. dalism as a deliberate tactic." This theme you say no to a bairn [child] wanting a prepared to condemn the magnificent "The media talk about violence. What was echoed in a similar speech by National packet of crisps [potato chips]?" she asked. young men and women who stand on our about the 2,000 miners injured, the two Coal Board (NCB) head Ian ryiacGregor. "But you have to." picket l!nes, comrades whose only crime is who have been killed and the one who is "We're fighting for the next generation, Anticipating this, National Union of fighting for the right to work. fighting for his life right now? for a way of life and we need money desp­ Mineworkers Pres. Scargill told the cheer­ "During the past six months," Scargill "Don't talk to me about violence," Scar­ erately.·We' ve.cashed in our insurance pol­ ing women's rally that he had been asked continued, "there has been a carefully or­ gill said. "Talk to this government and the icies, sold our furniture, our cars. Every­ to condemn members of his union for so­ chestrated campaign against miners and police. They are responsible." thing we have worked for all these years is called violence. "Mine is a principled stand their communities by the government and From Intercontinental Press gone. We're asking all women everywhere to support us. We depend on them." Another woman said that they are wor­ ried about the winter, which is very severe British terror in Northern·Ireland in their area. "Of course, we won't get our usual concessionary coal, and we all have Continued from front page tin Galvin at all costs. It just shows that awakening a new concern in the British coal heating. It will be hard but we are pre­ right to be in Ireland, much less to exclude nothing in this country has changed since labor movement over Britain's role in Ire­ pared to stick it out." anyone from any part oflreland. I intend to the civil rights marches in 1968, which land. Two months ago, an article entitled Margaret, Jane, and Janet are striking be in the north of Ireland in the near future police broke up with batons." "From Belfast to Blidworth" appeared in miners' wives from the heart of the predo­ and further intend to be there after the Brit­ On the following day, the RUC claimed the National Union of Mineworkers' news­ minantly nonstriking area of Nottingham, ish terrorists are out of Ireland." they had used force only in self-defense. paper The Miner, likening police tactiCs in from Retford, home of the Bevercotes Col­ Galvin subsequently embarrassed Brit- . John Hermon, chief constable of Northern Britain to those being used in Ireland. This liery. They described how scabs on the ish colonial authorities by appearing at a Ireland, said that police first fired only into comparison was repeated last week by left­ local executive committee of the National press conference in Derry and announcing the air to warn the crowd to disperse and wing Labor Party Member of Parliament Union of Mineworkers blocked funds that that he would attend the Belfast demonstra­ later fired at youths throwing stones. Tony Benn. were intended to feed striking families. tion. Another senior police officer claimed In particular, many miners are now ask­ that there was evidence that Sean Downes ing how long it will be before plastic bul­ They depend on money from outside the Brutal assault was killed by accident when a plastic bullet lets are used against their picket lines. area because of the split in the local union. ricocheted off a wall. In London, the National Council for The 111assive army and police presence at The hatred and bitterness toward the scabs But film of the shooting taken by an Irish Civil Liberties has called for a fu ll judicial the Belfast demonstration showed the au: shows through. Margaret explained: "I'm film crew and later broadcast on British inquiry into the use of plastic bullets at the thorities' determination to enforce the ban disgusted and I can't believe it. The scabs television showed that the plastic bullet Belfast demonstration, saying that the film against Galvin. don't think of their fellow workers . .. . that hit Sean Downes was fired at close evidence suggests that the RUC violated As the head of the march arrived at the They're not interested in the union, just in range at chest height. even its own rules on when and how plastic Sinn Fein headquarters in Belfast's Ander­ themselves. They won't look at you: I Plastic bullets are four inches long, one bullets may be used. sonstown district, the RUC were already don't know what it will be like after the and a half inches thick, and weigh more The presence of striking miners on the trigger-happy. When one youth watching strike. I can't imagine us ever being able to than a quarter of a pound. They are fired Troops Out Movement's three-day delega­ the march threw •a bottle that hit a police- . get together again in the same union." from special guns at a speed of 160 miles tion to Ireland and on the Belfast demon­ man, breaking the discipline that Sinn Fein per hour. Since they were introduced in stration will greatly strengthen th(( cam­ and march organizers had repeatedly called Police assaults 1973, more than 40,000 have been fired at paign for immediate British withdrawal. for, the RUC immediately fired plastic bul­ Irish demonstrators. So too will the publication of a proposed The Conservative government of Prime lets into the crowd, hitting a child march­ Downes was the 15th person to die in bill for withdrawal of the troops by Benn. Minister Margaret Thatcher has sent vast ing in a pipe band. Northern Ireland after being hit by plastic Benn said "the situation in Northern Ire­ battalions of police to protect the scabs' When the firing stopped, marchers - "right to work." Mining towns and villages or rubber bullets. Hundreds more have land is now far worse than it was in 1969" who had taken cover in the gardens of been severely injured or blinded. when British troops went to Northe~ Ire­ have been virtually occupied by police bent houses alongside the Sinn Fein headquar­ In an attempt to deflect growing criti­ land in large numbers. He added that "it is on provoking incidents and intimidating ters - reassembled in the road to await the cism of the RUC, Britain's Northern Ire­ obvious that there can be no military solu­ strikers. start of the rally. Many people sat down in land Secretary James Prior stated that the tion. The root cause of the continuing cri.sis Margaret told of one picket line where the road to hear the speeches. decision to ban Galvin's entry into North­ lies in partition [of Ireland] and, until this police ran their horses at the pickets. "Ten A speech by a striking British coal miner ern Ireland was probably a mistake as it is brought to an end, there can be no real police punched and kicked my son, who is was greeted by cheers, as was a message placed the RUC in the position of having to progress towards peace." a miner, and he spent a week in Lincoln from the Troops Out Movement delega­ enforce the ban. prison." tion. The bill has the backing of the left-wing This has not pleased the pro-British It is clear that the ability of the strike to Sinn Fein Pres. Gerry Adams addressed "Campaign Group" of members of Parlia­ Loyalist politicians. Frank Miller, general hold out in the face of such intimidation is a plea to the R UC and British soldiers to ment. Under the bill , a future date for Brit­ secretary of the Official Unionist Party, re­ going to depend to a high degree on these note the peaceful character of the demon­ ish withdrawal would be set .. sponded by saying that Prior should have women. stration and the presence of large numbers From Intercontinental Press resigned months ago. Peter Heathfield , general secretary of of women and children. the NUM, said, "It's an important develop­ Adams then introduced Martin Galvin . The attack on the August 12 demonstra­ ment in an industrial dispute to see the in­ Galvin's appearance on the platform was tion did not succeed in driving demonstra­ NEW YORK - Galvin returned here on volvement of our women partners. It in­ the signal for an RUC assault on the crowd tors off the streets. Gerry Adams stated at a August 21 and vowed to "go back again creases our strength. It encourages us and in general and the Sinn Fein headquarters press conference the day after the march: and again" to Northern Ireland. "I wi ll not has been a tremendous morale booster to in particular. "Republican [Irish nationalist] people have bow to British terrorism," he told reporters have the women alongside. It increases our The police acted with indiscriminate a right to demonstrate. Republican people at Kennedy airport. confidence that we will win." brutality as they moved against the crowd. have a right to assembly. Republican "The British have shown that the only people have the right to make public state­ Heathfield told Intercontinental Press People trying to fl ee or taking cover on the way they can remain in Ireland is to use the ments.''· that "it is obvious from the funds coming · pavement were clubbed. Plastic bullets terror of 30,000 occupiers," he said. That night, 10;000 people marched into the Sheffield office that working · were fired at close range at specific targets, Galvi n was greeted by about 30 support­ througll West Belfast carrying black flags people from around the world are seeing despite official rules against such use. ers who chanted, "IRA all the way !" in a largely silent protest of Sean Downes' the importance of this strike. Money has Galvin was riot caught. But 22-year-old He said his trip would help Nm:aid to murder by the RUC. come from as far afield as Iceland, Austra- . Sean Downes lay dead, and many others continue raisiqg money to help suppQrt de­ pendents of IRA members . "The giv­ lia, and Latin America. It is an indication had serious injuries . . Protests in Britain on.~.s of the concern by working people about Gerry Adams later put the blame for the ing money to support terrorism inN<:Jrthern what is at stake." army and RUC assault squarely on the Brit­ With vicious police attacks on miners' Ireland are the British," he said andj:alled "The miners," Heathfield added, "are in ish government. "The Thatcher govern­ picket lines in Britain becoming an almost on the U.S. government to stop selling the vanguard of the working class, and the ment gave them the a uthority to arrest Mar- daily occurence, the events in Belfast are weapons to Britain . '

14 The·Militant August 31, · 1984 Puerto Rico used for U.S.·war games Touring socialist candidate hits war, solidarizes with independence fight

BY MARTIN KOPPEL meet with Bishop and to teach fishing tech­ SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - "The niques. United States government's war on the rev­ Gonzalez ·found that everywhere she olutions in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and went in Puerto Rico there was a great deal Cuba involves the whole Central American of interest in the Grenadian revolution and and Caribbean area. It's a package deal. discussion about the causes of its over­ And Puerto Rico is definitely part of that throw. For example, she visited the new package." rural community of Villa Sin Miedo (Fear­ That's how Andrea Gonzalez summed less Town), which earned its name in a up "one of the most important things my fierce homesteaders' struggle in 1981 by visit to Puerto Rico has demonstrated to 800 families against violent government me." The Socialist Workers Party candi­ efforts to evict them. Among the activists date for U.S. vice-president m~de a week­ Gonzalez met at the Villa Sin Miedo com­ long tour of this isla,nd in late July, where munity - now resettled on a church-do­ she met with trade unionists, independence nated piece of land - was a young woman fighters, and leaders of political organiza­ named Tita. She had participated in a work tions. Gonzalez herself is Puerto Rican. brigade in revolutionary Grenada, helping During a visit with fishermen in Vie­ to ~uild a women 's fruit-processing ques, a small island east of the main Puerto cooperative. Rican island, the socialist candidate saw first-hand how Washington uses its Carib­ Youth in Cuba bean colony as a springboard for im­ perialist war. Gonzalez was also invited to attend a July 26 celebration of the Cuban revolution Used for war games in San Juan . It was chaired by a leader of the ecumenical organization PRISA, and Koppel Carlos Zenon, president of the Vieques heard a talk by Juan Mari Bras, former Carlos Zenon, president of Vieques Fishermen's Association, tells Andrea Gonzalez Fishermen's Association, met Gonzalez at leader of the Puerto Rican Socialist Party. of struggle-against U.S. Navy "war games" on the island of'Vieques. the airport and took her around the island. A minister spoke on behalf of parents and He pointed out that the U.S. Navy occupies relatives of Puerto Rican. students in Cuba. 75 percent of Vieques, which - along 1982, and for the U.S. invasion of Grenada "Also, there have been brigades of Puerto He explained that currently some 25 Puerto in 1983 . Ricans going to work in Nicaragua since with the surrounding waters - it tises for Rican young people are studying in Cuba gunnery practice and Caribbean "war In 1917. Washington imposed U.S. 1982. Thirty people went in 1982, another on scholarships offered by the revolution­ 30 in 1983 , and 50 this year. And an inter­ games. " ary government. citizenship on Puerto Ricans to facilitate U.S. military encroachment has de­ their forcible induction into the army for esting development is that union members Also speaking was nationalist hero are beginning to go there. This makes it stroyed the island's ·agriculture and the Rafael Cancel Miranda, who described World War I. Since then, more than constant bombings and naval maneuvers 200,000 Puerto Ricans have served in the easier to carry out educational campaigns Cuba as a shining example of freedom and around Nicaragua. There are also several threaten fishing, the main form of liveli­ national sovereignty for the Puerto Rican U.S. Army. More than 2,000 Puerto Ri­ hood there today. This has been met with cans died in Korea and Vietnam alone. In Nicaragua solidarity groups; I'm a member people. Cancel Miranda explained that rev­ of one of them," he said. resistance by the inhabitants, Zenon olutionary Cuba has been the sta\Jnchest addition, hundreds of members of the explained to Gonzalez. Puerto Rican National Guard have been in­ defender of Puerto Rico's right to self-de­ April 29 protest "Out parents began the fight in 1940, termination and independence, arguing for volved in U.S . military maneuvers in Cen­ when the Navy forcibly expropriated their that position at all international forums , in­ tral America. One . of the most important actions lands in the name of 'national defense, ' cluding United Nations debates on deco­ This has led to wide opposition and re­ against U.S. intervention in Nicaragua was giving them 24 hours to leave their lonization . sistance to registration and the draft among held last April 29. The Puerto Rican Inde­ homes," he said. "There was a lot -of ra­ The U.S. socialist candidate had a meet­ Puerto Rican youth. Student groups such as pendence Party called the march in re­ cism." ing with five trade union leaders in the cap­ the University Students' Federation for In­ sponse to Ocean Venture 84. AboutSO,OOO Big struggles against the Navy tpok ital, including the National Union of dependence are campaigning to get the Re­ people, predominantly supporters of inde­ place throughout the fifties and sixties, and Health Workers, the Legal Aid Depen­ serve Officer Training Corps off the is­ pendence for Puerto Rico, turned out. This peaked a few years ago. When NATO dents' Union, and the General Labor Coun­ land's campuses. was the largest demonstration in Puerto forces used Vieques to hold the cil. The unionists explained how U.S. im­ One of the leaders of the National Union Rico in many years. Springboard 78 military maneuvers against perialism has militarized Puerto Rico and of Health Workers told Gonzalez that in Later in the week, Rafael Cancel Cuba, U.S. admiral Robert Fanagan told the impact of this aspect of colonial domi­ spite of the pro-imperialist propaganda of Miranda invited Gonzalez to his home in the islanders to stop fishing for three weeks nation on working people here. the big-business press here, "the Nicara­ Mayagiiez to talk about the Puerto Rican until the maneuvers were over. Zenon in­ guan revolution is beginning to have a independence struggle. This fight , he formed him that they would protest. positive Impact on some layers of -the Growing opposition to war stressed, is paq of a world-wide struggle "Imagine me, a Puerto Rican fi sherman, Puerto Rican people." against imperialism and as such has won telling a U.S. Navy admiral that we're A dozen U.S. military bases occupy The Sandinista struggle against the legitimacy around the globe, especially in going to cause problems for them!" he said some 13 percent of Puerto Rican territory . U .S.-backed Somoza dictatorship stirred countrie5 like revolutionary Nicaragua. with pride. · Washington has used the island as a deep sympathy here. "Another factor," he To illustrate his point, he pulled out his "So I organized the Vieques fi shermen, launching pad for military interventions re­ added, "is that our famous baseball star and passport. As a protest against U.S. colonial together with others from the main island, peatedly, including the 1954 mercenary in­ idol Roberto Clemente died in an airplane rule over his country, Cancel Miranda re­ and on the first day of the maneuvers we vasion of Guatemala that overthrew the Ar­ cra~h while delivering food and clothing to fuses to carry a U.S. passport during his . stopped them from landing. We formed a benz government, the I <:Vi2 naval blockade Nicaragua in 1972" following the devastat­ frequent travels as a spokesperson for the chain with our fishing boats, and to break of Cuba, and the 1965 invasion of the ing earthquake there. Hatred for Somoza independentista cause. through it they would've had to kill a Dominican Republic by the marines. grew after the dictator sold off much of the The passport he showed Gonzalez read: fisherman or two. In this way we blocked Puerto Rico was also used for refueling international aid for his personal profit. Republic of Nicaragua . "It was issued to the maneuvers some 15 or 16 times." British ships in the imperialist war against "This created a certain identification with me by Commander Tomas Borge," said the "And in the Ocean Venture 84 maneu­ Argentina over the Malvinas islands in the Nicaraguan people," he said . . nationalist hero with a big grin. vers" last April, Zenon added, "we told them that Navy or no Navy, we were going to fish , even if they carried out target prac­ tice. So to deal with us they brought federal police and almost the entire U.S . Coast Antiracist revolt in Lawrence, Mass. Guard service assigned to Puerto Rico. "The fight has continued with its ups and Continued from back page people here. They have actively fostered was not racial." downs," Zenon said. But "in the struggle the state. It has an unemployment rate of the racist lie that Latinos are responsible Mayor Buckley said he believed that itself we've learned some other things," he 7.4 percent and a "poverty" rate of 19.6 for unemployment by "illegally" entering "the violence was the result of a revenge stressed. percent, which is double the state average. the country and "stealing American jobs." mode between two groups after a car It is the Latino community , they say; that windshield was smashed." "We have to admit that at first we only Since January alone, three shoe com­ is responsible for the lousy schools, dilapi. thought of Vieques. We want to develop panies and a textile factory have closed The liberal Democratic Party governor our island and defend our waters. But down, throwing 465 people out of work. dated housing, and lack of city services. of this state, Michael Dukakis, held a press we've also seen and been angry that Vie­ During the last few years the city's One Dominican resident of the Lower conference and explained that, "The im­ Latino population has been increasing. Tower Hill neighborhood told the Militant, portant thing now is to restore law and ques is being used as a stepping-stone to in­ Most are new immigrants from Puerto Rico "Hispanics are the most oppressed group in order and stability." tervene in other countries in Latin Ameri~ ca." and the Dominican Republic . The 1980 the city. Everyone gets treated as if they Harold Brooks, a leading businessman census found that about 16 percent of the were thieves and vandals. · We face dis­ in this city and owner of the Lawrence In­ PractiCe invasion of Grenada city's population was Latino, but today crimination in jobs, education, and hous­ dustrial Park Complex, blamed the Puerto most city officials admit that Latinos make ing." Rican and Dominican community itself for The fisherman explained that the U.S. up close to 30 percent '?.f the city, if not "If you work, you're taking the job away the violence . "It's the populace, the lack of used the island to practice the invasion more. from somebody else," another resident said respect for life and law and order. What are against Grenada, which was carried out last Despite their growing numbers in the of the racist slanders. "If you don't work, the values of these people?" October. "We found out abo~t it and sent a city, there are no elected Latino officials at you're on · welfare. We work, we bring Even the Catholic Church joined in . message to [Grenadian Prime Minister] any level in city government. Community checks home, but they treat us like pigs." Boston Archbishop Bernard S. Law came Maurice Bishop, who denounced this prac-· residents charge· that the cops are con­ Following the two nights of street fight­ to Lawrence on August 12 and spoke to a tice invasion before the United Nations. stantly harassing them, that city fire fight­ ing, the city fathers responded to the virtually all-white congregation. He "And Ocean Venture 84 was a practice ers often refuse to enter the housing pro­ charges made by the oppressed community expklined that the real source of the vio­ invasion against Nicaragua. We also de­ jects, and that the public school system of­ by denying that racism played any role in lence that had rocked the Lower Tower Hill nounced it." fers very little bilingual education. causing the rebellion. · neighborhood was "drugs and alcohol." Zenon explained that in the course of The city's ruling class has attempted .to The city's director of Public Safety, Al­ And he called on all Christians to have "re­ this strugg1e they had found allies in the divide white workers from Latino workers derman Raymond Johnson, announced on spect for the property of every person" and Grenadian and Nicaraguan revolutions. by blaming the Latino community for the August 10 that "It [the rioting] was an iso­ to "reject the violence against public ser­ Vieque~f fishermen had visited Grenada to attacks on the living conditions of working lated incident over nothing important. It vants, police and fire fighters ."

August 31, 1984 The Militant 15 -THE GREAT SOCIETY-___;_,

Well, that's different employers' threat to fire striking the hors d'oeuvres- tortilla chips except as a wood preservative. Its lieve. Could there really be such a "Richard Roth, an official of the workers. with peanut butter and jelly. "Just use as a wood preservative would thing as a million-dollar coopera­ National Labor Relations Board, so as not to forget where I came be exempted, the agency tive apartment without a single said that the law forbade manage­ ·One environmentalist to from," Ablah explains, "I want so explained, because of the great window with direct sunlight, or a ment from dismissing striking another - Dr. Saul Cohen, a much not to be a rich snob." economic benefit which accrues $5,000-a-month rental apartment Boston cardiologist who's into from such use. About 98 percent with no room to eat in the kitchen? hunting bears, boars, and elk, will And lead-backed collars? of all creosote is used as a wood The answer is yes, there are plenty present Reagan with a rug made In a government study, "The Im­ preservative. of these -and worse." -New York from a 350-pound black bear he pact of Radioactive Environment Times. shot last year. The memento is "a Upon Traditional Chaplain Minis­ American Way of Death - token .of my respect and admira­ try," the Army suggests that "in Sen. Jesse Helms, from tobacco- You scratch my back •.• - In Harry tion for his respect for the environ­ ministering to radioactive ·casual- . growing North Carolina, is lean­ fi scal 1983, 220 corporations em­ ment." . ties," chaplains should "wear ing on the coffin nail industry to ployed a record 2, 15 1 former Pen­ Ring _gloves wherever possible, prefera­ use more American tobacco in its tagon military and civilian offi­ Homespun - George Ablah bly rubber." products and reduce its imports cials. Each of these companies (from rags to real estate and oil). from Brazil and Africa. · negotiated Pentagon contracts that workers in a dispute over wages. zips around in his $9-million cus­ Depth or density? - "A Ques­ year for $1-0 million and up. But he said the law permitted man­ tom-designed jet, which features tion of Depth - Reagan Intellect Think you've got problems? agement 'to hire permanent re­ works by famed sculptors. Also, Surprises Some" - Wall Street - "There has rarely been a great And sometimes pays better placements [scabs] and that when everything is finished in gold, Journal headline. deal of luxury in the Manhattan too - Trammell Crow, a Dallas the strike ended it was not obli­ from the seat belt buckles to the luxury apartment - most apart­ real estate shark, is edging close to gated to take back any striker toilet flush button. Menus include, New crackdown - Because it ment dwellers make compromises his fi rst billion. "Work," he con­ whose job had been filled.': - variously, lobster, shrimp, crab, causes cancer, the EPA is propos­ that anyone seeing their rent or fides, "is so much more fun than News item on New York hospital etc. But one standard item is ing a ban on all uses of creosote maintenance bills could hardly be- fun." Treaty Council meeting takes up Indian struggle

BY JAYRESSLER about the attempt by the Canadian govern­ White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. Women's Circle; and Clyde Bellecourt, SISSETON, S.D.- Over 500.people ment to write Indian treaties out of the new Ninety-four percent of the White Earth Re­ founder of AIM. attended the I Oth annual International In­ constitution now being dr-afted, servation is fraudulently held by non-In­ Means explained that AIM survives as a dian Treaty Council (IITC) conference Representatives of the Maori Peoples dians. militant organization, despite fierce repres­ held June 28-July 3 on the tribal grounds Liberation Movement of New Zealand de­ There was also a presentation on the sion, because of the fighting spirit of the of the Sisseton Reservation. scribed the treaty struggle of the Maori struggle of the Palestinian people given by Indian people . Participants in the conference came from people. They also denounced a planned Dominque Bejar of the American-Arab Means pointed with optimism to the fu­ many parts of the country, including the Maori art exhibition that includes the re­ Anti-Discrimination Committee. ture decade. He reminded the conference Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, the mains of Maori people stolen from graves. Major addresses were made to the con­ of a Hopi prophecy that predicts Indian Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Special presentations to the conference ference by Russell Means, a leader of the people will once again walk free when and New York state. were made on 1he fight to free Leonard Pel­ Yellow Thunder Camp in the Black Hills; great fires bum in the South. These fires, Representatives of Indian struggles in tier and on the struggle for land at the Janet McCloud of the Northwest Indian he said, have begun in Central America: Guatemala and Canada attended as. well. · Two leaders of the Maori Peoples Libera­ tion Movement came from New Zealand. Organizations such as the American-Arab Philadelphia nttg. celebrates Bishop writi~gs Anti-Discrimination Committee, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, and the BY DOUG COOPER around the world and said it came as no August Nimtz, speakiQg on behalf of North American Farm Alliance were also PHILADELPHIA - Fifty people turned surprise that the U.S. government wanted Pathfinder Press, contrasted his recent visit represented. out July I 0 to celebrate the recently pub­ to crush it. to U.S. -occupied Grenada to his visit there A delegation representing the Miskitu lished Pathfinder Press book, Maurice Ernesto, a Salvadoran refugee, pointed a yeat before the overthrow of the revolu­ Indian people in Nicaragua was scheduled Bishop Speaks, at the Church of the Advo­ to the victory of the Grenada revolution in tionary workers and farmers government. to participate. However, the U.S . govern­ cate in the heart of North Philadelphia's 1979 as a source of "hopeful light for our Nimtz described how the gains in educa­ ment refused the delegates entry visas. Black community. Underlying the entire own struggle for liberation." The policies tion, employment, health care , women's · Well-known leaders of the American In­ meeting was opposition to the continuing of anti-interventionism, anti-imperialism, rights, and political organization have been dian Movement (AIM) played prominent occupation of Grenada by .U .S. troops. and nonalignment that were followed by dismantled by the U.S.-imposed govern­ roles in the IITC, which is officially recog­ Father Paul Washington, a major civil the workers and farmers government led by ment. nized as a nongovernmental organization rights activist and pastor of the church, Maurice Bishop· were an inspiration and Godfrey Sithole - a representative of by the United Nations. Ninety-nine indi­ welcomed the meeting. He explained that important lesson, he said. the African National Co_ngress, the major genous nations are affiliated with the IITC. although he wasn't familiar with the inti­ Emesto explained three lessons of the organization fighting the apartheid system The organization plays a leadership role in mate details of the Grenada revolution he overthrow of the revolution and the sub­ in South Africa _:_ also spoke . He pointed the UN Working Group on Indigenous was very familiar with how it fit in with sequent U.S. invasion. to the importance of spreading the words Peoples, which meets several times a year "struggles from Vietnam, to Cuba, Nicara­ "First, there is no justification for inter­ and writings of fighters like Maurice in Geneva, Switzerland. gua, El Salvador, and parts of Africa." vention by U.S. troops in Grenada." Sec­ Bishop in face of attempts to suppress their At the February-March 1984 session of "It is understandable to me that the sys­ ond, the intervention proved again that "the ideas. He paid homage to Bishop and the the Working Group, the IJTC presented tems which would be chosen by such forces of oppression in the world care noth­ other "heroies and heroines of the revolu­ resolutions on killings and torture in Chile , people who are in the struggle would be a ing about eliminating the most precious ticm who sacrificed more than anyone .. . the continuing wars against Indians in Cen­ system other than capitalism," he said. forces of the peoples." for justice, for freedom, for equality, and tral America - ·especially in Guatemala Washington described how he had · Finally, the most important lesson, Er­ for peace in the world." Referring to Gre­ and Nicaragua - and neocolonial oppres­ gained deeper tnsight into the common nesto said, was the need for "unity in our nadians, he predicted that "a people that sion of Indians in North America. Hazel bond that U.S. Blacks in particular share struggles against oppression, misery, and have tasted liberty, a people that have Lau, a Miskitu.from Nicaragua, gave spe­ with people throughout the world who are imperialism. Because this is the only way tasted a little bit of human rights, can never cial testimony at the March meeting as part fi ghting for self-determination and against to defeat our common enemy." give that up." of the IITC delegation on the terror against U.S. imperi alism. He pointed to his visit to her people carried out by MISURA, a Iran four years ago to attend a conference counterrevolutionary organization with against U.S . intervention. There he learned - CALENDAR------close links to the CIA. firsthand of the "exploitation and destruc­ tion" U.S. domination had caused Iran. At the Sisseton conference several com­ MARYLAND Grenada. Speakers: Rev . Mac Jones, Rev . missions met to make proposals on the Washington described the Grenada revo­ Nelson "Fuzzy" Thompson, Mickey Dean, lution as an inspiration to people here and Baltimore Lloyd Daniels, Lisa Daniels, Wells Todd , IITC's work around international law and What Is Socialism? Speaker: Representative of the United Nations, land struggles, Indian Norma Hill . Sun., Aug. 26, 7:00 p.m. St. the Young Socialist Alliance and a 1984 SWP James Paseo Methodist Church , 56 St. and self-government, religious freedom, and campaign supporter. Translation to Spanish. Paseo . Ausp: Association of Black Social political prisoners. Intercontinental Press . . . Sunday, Aug. 26, 7:00p.m. 2913 Greenmount Workers; American Friends Service Commit­ Among the proposals coming out of It's Unique! Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For tees; Black United Front, Central America Sol­ these commissions was opposition to the more information call (30f)235-00 14. idarity Committee; National Lawyers Guild; racist anti-immigrant Simpson-Mazzoli Analysis and features on the most impor~ Solidarity With British Miners Strike. Speak­ Southern Christian Leadership Conference , bill. This bill is seen as a danger for Indian tant world events and the issues facing work­ ers: Clare Fraenzl, member Socialist Workers Kansas City, Kansas; Socialist Workers Party. people, especially those living on reserva­ ing peopl ~ - from the unfolding revolutions Party and United Mine Workers of America For more information call : (816) 753-0404 . tions straddling the U.S .-Mexican and in Central America, to the liberation struggles Local 11 97, recently toured Britain in solidarity St. Louis U.S. -Canadian borders. with striking miners . Translation to Spanish. in Southern Africa, tb the changing con­ Sunday, Sept . 9, 7:00 p.m. 2913 Greenmount Justice for Kiko Martinez! Speakers: repre­ The Papago Reservation in Arizona and sciousness of the U.S. working class . . . Ave: Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum . For sentative from Francisco E. Martinez Defense the Mexican state of Sonora is cut in two by more information call (301)235-0014. Committee , representati ve of Young Socialist the U.S.-Mexican border. Roberto Cruz YES! I want to subscribe. Enclosed is 0 $30 Alliance. Sun., Aug. 26, 7 p.m. 3109 S. Grand , from the reservation said Immigration and for . a one-year subscription; 0 $15 for six MASSACHUSETTS rm. # 22 . Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Naturalization Service cops are rarely seen months; 0 $7.50 for a three-month intro­ Boston Forum . For more information call (314) 772- 44 10. there. But it is likely that if the Simpson­ ductory subscription . Grenada Today: the Legacy of Maurice Mazzoli bill is adopted, it will be used to Bishop. Speakers: Dessima Williams , national Justice for Kiko Martinez picket line. Wed., Name ______Aug. 29, 8 a. m. St. Louis Federal Court and prevent freedom 9f movement on the reser­ chairperson of the Grenada Foundation. former ambassador from Grenada to Organization of Customs House . Ausp: Francisco E. Martinez vation, especially for those born on the Address --'-----~----- American States. Sat. , Aug. 25 , 7:00 p.m. Defense Committee . · Mexican side of the border. City/State/Postal Zone ______Tower Auditorium , Roxbury Community Col­ The highlight of the conference was In­ lege/Massachusetts College of Art , comer Hun­ NEW YORK ternational Solidarity Day, June 30. l'ran­ See business information inside front cover tington and Longwood. Donation $2. For more Manhattan cisca Alvarez from Guatemala explained for overseas rates. information call (617) 442-0588 or 623-7086. Six South African Artists Works oil Paper. the intense repression faced by Indian Aug. 8- Sept. 16, Wednesday-S unda~. Noon- people in that country. Intercontinental Press MISSOURI 7:00 p.m. Onyx Art Gallery, 54 Irving Place. A representative of the Coalition of First 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014 " Kansas City Ausp: Art Against Apartheid . For more infor­ Nations, a Canadian organization, spoke An Evening in Solidarity with the People of mation call : (2 12) 505-9001.

16 The Militant August 31, 1984 Striking Dakota coal miners win victory

BY ERLING SANNES the next time you farmers decide to hold a released from jail. there will be no takeaway contract," he told BISMARCK . N. Dak . - A 133-day demonstration like the one in Jamestown On July 28, hundreds of protesters again the cheering crowd. strike by North Dakdta coal miners against with tractors surrounding the banks, these blocked the entrances to the mine, but no Ron Hummel, president of Local 9702, Basin Cooperative Services ended in a de­ highway patrolmen may move in with their scab workers attempted to cross the picket told the meeting, "we want to walk down cisive victory for the miners when they weapons and do what they do best, hurt lines. Main Street with our heads held high, and voted to accept a new contract on Aug. 2. people." Haugen was referring to a March Over 300 miners and supporters be able to say big business did not break The new contract includes virtually all 13 demonstration in Jamestown, North gathered on July 29 to hear Richard us." the demands of the miners and a rejection Dakota, when protesting farmers staged a Trumka, UMW A International president, After final negotiations and the miners' of such union-busting tactics as the two-tier two-day blockade of banks. and other union officials urge the miners acceptance of the contract, Ken Bergstad, wage system, in which new employees are , When it was announced that other scab not to bend uner Basin's demands to grant local union negotiator, told the Militant, hired under a reduced pay scale . The deter­ workers did not plan to cross the picket concessions. "from the very beginning the miners were mined miners resisted the company's hard­ line, loud cheers went up from the crowd. "What we have is what we are going to determined to stick together." As the strike line approach for other squeezing conces­ Stanton bfisiness places expressed their keep,'~ Trumka told the crowd. Addressing lengthened "we got stronger and even more sions and won pay raises of up to $1.82 an solidarity with the demonstrators by an­ Basin, Trumka said, "You insisted on a determined not to give in to Basin," hour over the life of the four-year contract, nouncing that all business places would re­ fight, now I want to tell you , you' ve got a Bergstad added. "Our union is stronger a reduction in forced overtime, and an main closed until all of those arrested were fight. We'll take no backward steps, and now than it has ever been." agreement that disciplinary action would not be taken against the workers. Since March 23 , the 137 members of United Mine Workers of America SWP fights for Michigan ballot spot (UMWA) Local 9702 had been on strike for a new contract. Basin Cooperative Ser­ Continued from front page the Mason/Gonzalez pettttons, the Com­ phone calls from supporters of democratic vices, which owns Glenharold Mine, is a natures against voter registration lists . munist Party and Workers World Party rights. A national effort can help force the subsidiary of Basin Electric, a Bismarck, This so-called · "random sample" candidates were ruled on the ballot. Both Democrats and Republicans to back off North Dakota based , multistate coopera­ checked only 600 of the 30,000 signatures! of these parties had colleced about the from this attack on the rights of all working tive that wholesales electricity to utility co­ This method of "random" sampling was same number of signatures as the SWP. people. ops. The mine is at Stanton, a town of less only recently instituted by tfi'e state on May The initial reactions to the attack on the As part of the national fight to put than I ,000 in western North Dakota. Sur­ 3 and has never before been used on minor­ rights of the Socialist Workers Party indi­ Mason and Gonzalez on the Michigan bal­ face mined lignite coal from the ity party petitions. cate broad opposition to the state's action . lot, Mel Mason will interrupt his schedule Glenharold mine is used to fire Basin's Le­ Andrew Pulley blasted the attempt by Andrew Pulley's protest was covered by to travel to Lansing and appear at an Au­ land Olds 650 megawatt generating sta­ the state to cover-up this blatantly unde­ six radio stations, Lansing TV stations, and gust 24 meeting of the Board of Canvassers tion, located only a short distance from the mocratic move against the socialist candi­ the Detroit Free Press , the major daily in set to hear further testimony on the SWP mine. dates. Speaking at a news conference at the that city. ballot status. Negotiations were brought to a head four state capitol in Lansing, Pulley said, 'This A number of union officials, leaders of To join in the fight to put the socialist months after the strike began when the latest move by the state fits into a pattern of Black and women's groups, a·nd elected candidates on the Michigan ballot write or company hired a non-union contractor to trying to block working-class parties from public officials plan to demand that the . call: construct a sediment pond at the mine . The the ballot. It comes after a long fight the state reverse its decision and put the Board of State Canvassers miners responded quickly by organizing a SWP successfully waged with support socialist candidates on the ballot. This in­ Elections Division sit-down protest on July 26 at the four mine from the American Civil Liberties Union to cludes John Conyers, Detroit's con­ 208 N. Capitol A venue entrances, preventing the scabs from enter­ overturn Public Act 94, which kept the gressman from the First C. D., and Horace Lansing, Michigan 48918 ing the mine . SWP off the ballot from 1977 to 1982. Sheffield, a leader of the Coalition of (517) 373-2540 "While bipartisan votes hand over bil­ Black Trade Unionists. The sit-down included over 200 friends Copies should be sent to the Michigan lions to Washington's war machine," Pul­ The national Mason/Gonzalez campaign of the striking miners from other unions, SWP headquarters listed on page 17. ley added, "they must try to silence the committee has launched an emergency na­ wives of the miners and numerous commu­ socialist campaign that speaks out against tional effort to demand that the state of nity supporters. When the first scab work­ the continued U.S. military occupation of Michigan put the SWP candidates on the Special emergency campaign rally ers tried to drive through the picket lines Grenada, the CIA-backed invasion of Nic­ ballot immediately. featuring Mel Mason and Helen Meyers they were met with cries of "Scabs! Go aragua, and the U.S.-funded terror regime Mason/Gonzalez supporters across the will be held in Detroit on Saturday, August Home, you're taking our work." in El Salvador." country will pepper the Michigan state 25, at 8 p.m. at 7146 W. McNichols. For · The sit-down protest drew a convoy of Pulley told the Board of Canvassers that government with protest messages and more information call (313) 862-7755. state highway patrol officers, sheriff's de­ Mason and Gonzalez supporters consider puties, and local police officers who - every one of th~ submitted signatures wearing helmets, carrying guns, and valid . They repre·sent the desire of 30,000 wielding big black billy clubs - charged Michigan working people to see the Postal workers meet to plan strategy into the peaceful protesters. Twenty-seven socialist candidates on the ballot. "We in­ arrests - 15 women and 12 men - re­ sist that every signature counts. If you want Continued from back page tration. However, NALC President Vin­ sulted when the protesters refused to move to rule us off, the burden is on you to prove lines opposing government union busting cent Sombrotto stated after the vote that he aside for the scab workers. that there are not 19,963 valid signatures at post offices in many cities. Workers at had been authorized to call a strike if the "They just pushed into the crowd hitting on our petitions," Pulley said. · one such protest in Baltimore chanted, Postal Service again tried to institute the people and dragging them away," Pam Mason/Gonzalez supporters added that "Bolger [Postmaster General], Bolger, two-tier pay scale before arbitration is Hummel, wife of the president of Local all the fancy statistical fakery of the "ran­ he's a jerk. No contract. No work." completed. 9702 and one of those arrested, told the dom sample" method is a cover up for the Delegates at the APWU convention Federal law prohibits postal workers Militant . state's refusal even to check the 30,000 passed a resolution granting the union from striking. Walkouts have occurred In Michael Haugen, member of Loca19702 signatures. leadership authority _to "take whatever the past, however, including the 1970 and one of the protestors, told the Militant, Demonstrating that the undemocratic steps they ... consider best . . . " to achieve strike when President Nixon called in "the cops began beating at random. It re­ move by the state was politically moti­ a new, contract. The resolution, however, troops to move the mail. minded me of something I .saw on TV vated, socialist campaign supporters have did not mention a strike. An APWU In the current contract dispute "indepen­ once, when seal hunters used clubs to kill found many inaccuracies even in the "ran­ spokesman told the press this was because dent fact finding panels" are scheduled to defenseless seals," he explained. "There dom sample" method of validating signa­ Biller "wanted total flexibility" to resolve issue non-binding reports on September were many bruises on the head, arms, and tures. There are dozens of signatures ruled the dispute. · 13. At that time both the Postal Service and legs of both men and women ." invalid by the board that were shown to be The resolution adopted by the NALC the unions have the option to resume But, Haugen urged the demonstrators to registered voters. convention explicitly stated the union negotiations during a 45-day period that continue the protest, saying, "who knows, At the same time the state ruled against should await the outcome of Federal arbi- would precede arbitration. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, Box 261, Annex Station. Zip: 02901. Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326~ 4715A Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753 ~ TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 and pamphlets 5853 or 326-5453. 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 3109 S. Grand, Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, Activities #22. Zip: 63118. Tel: (314) 772-4410. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 2817 Live Oak. Zip: 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- Desk, Indiana Memorial Union. ·Zip: 47405 . NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 75204. Tel: (214) 826-4711. Houston: SWP, 3079. Indianapolis: SWP, YSA, 4850 N. <;ollege . Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA , 3750 Zip: 46205. Tel: (317) 283-6149. NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): 522-8054. West McDowell Rd . #3. Zip: 85009. Tel : IOWA: Des Moines: YSA, P.O. Box 1165 . SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd floor. Zip: (602) 272-4026. Zip: 50311. 1 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New Y9rk: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon CALIFORNIA: Bay Area District: 3808 KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA , 809 YSA, 79 Leonard. Zip: 10013 . Tel: (212) 226- Ave ., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: E 14th St., Oakland. Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. 8445 or 925-1668., (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 534-1242. Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 2546 LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, 767 S. State. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 355-1124. W. Pico' Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486- YSA, 301 S. Elm St., Suite 522. Greensboro. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. 8048. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) 272-5996. News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave., Zip Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA , OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA , 4945 Pad­ 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133. SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel: 2913 Greenmount Ave . Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242·7161. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 (619) 234-4630. San FFancisco: SWP, YSA, 235-0013. Baltimore-Washington Dis~rict: Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 15105 St. Clair Ave. Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) . 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255 . 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) Zip: 44110. Tel: (216) 451-6150. Toledo: 797-7699. Baltimore-Washington District: San Jose: SWP, YSA, 46 112 Race St. Zip: 235-0013 . SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: 2913 Greenmount Ave., Baltimore, Md . Zip: 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Seaside: SWP, MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA, (419) 536-0383. - 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. YSA, 1184 Broadway. Zip: 93955. Tel: (408) 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA , 2732 NE WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 394-1855. 02215 . Tel: (617) 262-4621. Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 7146 PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edin­ (206) 723-5330. W. 12th Ave . Zip: 80204. Tel : (303) 534-8954. W. McNichols. Zip: 48221. Tel: (313) 862- boro State College. Zip: 16444. Tel: (814) 734- WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA., 663 Martin 7755. . . 4415 . Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, 2744 Ger­ YSA, 1584 A Washington St. East. Zip: 25311. Luther King Blvd. (NW 62nd St.) Zip: 33150. MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, mantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: (215) 225- Tel: (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: YSA , P.O. YSA, 112 Chestnut St., Virginia, Minn. 55792 .. 0213 . Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 141 S. High­ YSA, 957 S. University Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel: Box ~.0715 . Zip: 32316. Send mail to P.O. Box 1287 . Zip: 55792. Tel: land Ave. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362-6767. (304) 296-0055. GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 504 Flat (218) 749-6327. Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, 508 State College: YSA, P.O. Box 464, Bel­ WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, Shoals Ave. SE. Zip: 30316. Tel:(404) 577- N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: lefonte. Zip: 16823 . Tel: (814)238-3296. 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 4065 . ' (612) 644-6325. RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, P.O. 445-2076.

August 31, 1984 The Militant 17 -EDITORIALS Jatnes P. Cannon: Chauvinism and the Olympics . internationalist, • • patty builder "U.S.A., U.S.A." and "Atta way U.S.A., Attaway The flag waving surrounding the Olympics~ like that U.S.A." ___, chanted at the August 15 New York City at the Democratic Party convention that preceded it and In the August 3 issue of the Militant, we reprinted ticker tape parade for the U.S. Olympic medal winners. at this week's Republican convention- cannot be sepa­ rated from U.S. imperialism's deepening wars in Central excerpts of a speech by James P. Cannon, the central founding leader of the Socialist Workers Party, who "U.S.A .! U.S.A.!" and "Go home! We were here America and the Caribbean - and its warlike policy first!"- chanted by racists in Lawrence, Massachusetts, died August 21, 1974, at age 84. around the world. At the time of Cannon's death, Farrell Dobbs, who during a violent riot August 9 against Puerto Ricans and It is not accidental that in the midst of this display of other Latino residents. succeeded Cannon as national secretary of the SWP in U.S. nationalism, President Reagan "slipped" and 1953, pointed to one of Cannon's chief contributions, The similarity is not accidental. The U.S. government, "joked" about launching a nuclear attack on the Soviet that of internationalism. The SWP, said Dobbs, "is a the big business media, and all the other mouthpieces for Union in the next "five minutes." thoroughgoing internationalist party inter­ the employing class have cynically seized on the Olym­ A week later Reagan declared the U.S. government nationalist in its outlook; internationalist in the sense pic games as the occasion to launch a flag waving orgy of maintains its perspective of ultimately reversing the 40- that we realize the necessity to collaborate in the reactionary U. S. chauvinism. year-old abolition of capitalism in Eastern Europe. closest possible way with revolutionaries throughout The admiration many U.S. working people hold for A nuclear attack on the Soviet Union is not on today's the world; and internationalist in the sense that we the accomplishments of the Olympic athletes is being . agenda of U.S. war policy, nor is an armed assault on also realize that one of the prime criteria of inter­ , manipulated and exploited to whip up support for the rul­ Eastern Europe. But Reagan's comments have a definite nationalism is to build a revolutionary combat party ers' austerity and war policies and anticommunism. It is purpose. They are part of the same wave of reactionary in your own country." not surprising that racists violently assaulting Latinos propaganda intended to popularize the anticommunist Below we reprint an excerpt from a speech on Can­ adopted the "U.S. A." chant. ideology of U.S. imperialism. non's contribution as a party builder given by Joseph The unabashed jingoism surrounding media coverage Coverage of the Olympics was also aimed at boosting Hansen, long-time leader of the SWP and the Fourth of the Olympics continued in parades held in various pro-U.S. government, anticommunist war fever. E.ven International, to an SWP national education confer­ cities to "honor." the athletes. New York Democratic Newsweek, which praised ABC TV's coverage of the ence that was in session at the time of Cannon's death. mayor Ed Koch claimed the city's ticker tape event was games (despite what the magazine called "a touch of jin­ the largest ever, drawing two million spectators. The last goism") felt compelled to observe that "vie.wers might Cannon was deeply committed to building the Fourth time the city administration held such a parade was in have concluded the Games were being brought to them International along the lines laid down at its foundation. 1981 to welcome home the U.S. spies and other hostages by the Voice of America." He considered the Socialist Workers Party to be only a released by Iran. section of the Fourth International - an important sec- Such affairs are an ill-disguised effort to whip up "pa­ The U.S. government, its war policy, and especially triotism"- at the very same time that the U.S. govern­ its growing war in Central America and the Caribbean are ment is escalating its war against the workers and farmers not popular. Reagan's "joke" about nuclear war angered of Central America and the Caribbean. many U.S. working people (not to mention tens of mil­ OUR As the U.S. media crowed about the number of medals lions of others around the world). The coverage of the won by U.S. athletes (unchallenged by their. main inter­ Olympics was cynically manipulated to try and identify REVOLUTIONARY national competitors from the Soviet Union, East Ger­ support for the individual and team accomplishments of many, Cuba, and the other workers states), Congress athletes who happen to be from the United States, with HERITAGE voted $70 million more aid to the Duarte government in support for the U.S. government's imperial arrogance to­ EI Salvador. wards the peoples of the world. tion in his opm1on. He never changed in this, even though the passage of reactionary legislation in the United States compelled the Socialist Workers Party to disaf­ filiate from the Fourth International. Comrade Canntm's most remarkable achievement, • • . and prowar 'entertainment' nonetheless, was on American soil. Sharing in this achievement were the other pioneer Trotskyists in the The effort to whip up prowar patriotism did not end The film itself suggests the direct connection between United States- among them Vincent R. Dunne, Carl with the coverage of the Olympic games themselves. anticommunism and racism. The invasion, it contends, Skoglund, Arne Swabeck, and above all Rose Karsner, During the two weeks that ABC broadcast the games, it has been prepared in advance by years of immigration of Jim's companion who died in March 1968. These pioneer used a large number of commercial spots - worth Mexicans without papers. These "illegal aliens" help pre­ Trotskyist~. however, would all give the main credit to $260,ooci per 30 seconds - to plug a new TV series ti­ pare the "communist invasion." Jim. tled "Call to Glory." One might be inclined to laugh off such a preposterous This achievement .was to build a viable nucleus of a This "patriotic dramatic series" is nothing other than film. But it is part of the same pro-U.S. imperialist, anti­ revolutionary party inside the United States, the main Hollywood's attempt to prettify U.S. imperialism and its communist ideological offensive aimed at justifying U.S. bastion of world capitalism. Not only did Jim build this acts of war. The first episode glorified the Kennedy ad­ wars abroad and racist anti-immigrant legislation at nucleus, he maintained it and continued to build it for an ministration's genuine threats to bring the world to the home. unprecedented number of decades . in face of enormous brink of nuclear war in 1962 during the "Cuban missile Workers from Mexico and elsewhere in Central Amer­ pressures. There has been nothing like it in the history of crisis." ica come to the United States (as tens of millions of Euro­ the revolutionary socialist movement. Efforts: to use the billion dollar "entertainment" busi­ pean immigrants did) in search of a job and a better stan­ Jim held this nucleus together against the lure of posts ness to bolster U.S. government war policies goes well dard of living for themselves and their children - not to in the trade union bureaucracy, none of which are with­ beyond this latest entry in the wasteland of network tele­ prepare a Soviet-Cuban-Nicaraguan invasion. out considerable emoluments. vision. He held this nucleus together against the merciless Coinciding conveniently with the Olympic outbreak of Many of these working people, however, are fleeing the very real invasions and wars paid for and orchestrated blows and venomous slanders of American Stalinism, U.S. flag waving in Los Angeles was the release of the once a powerful force in the radical movement and in film "Red Dawn." This movie is even cruder than its mil­ by the U. S. government. It is Washington that invaded Grenada. It is Washington that has equipped and directed many trade unions in the United States. lions-of-dollars advertising campaign - complete with He held this .nucleus together in face of the hysteria of giant ads showing Soviet paratroopers landing in this a mercenary army to invade Nicaragua. It is Washington that organizes death squads in El Salvador and World War II , marching to prison at the head of the country and Russian lettering across the ad - would in­ Trotskyists convicted as the first victims of the Smith Act dicate. Guatemala which target trade unionists, peasant leaders, ana others opposed to u.s. domination of their countries. for their political opposition to imperialist war. In the film itself it is not only Soviet soldiers who in­ He held this nucleus together during the infamous dec­ vade. They are accompanied by Cubans and Nicaraguans It is these real wars, which are taking the lives of many ade of McCarthyism in the United States, when the as well. The invading force ruthlessly massacres U.S. ci­ working people abroad every day, that the current jin­ Trotskyists were hounded from their jobs by the Ameri­ vilians. A small band of patriotic l.J.S. teenagers takes to goist campaign is aimed at prettifying. U.S. working can political police, the FBI, and when our movement the mountains of Colorado to wage a guerriila war for people should reject it . It advances the interests of no one was almost completely isolated politically and virtually "freedom." other than our exploiters. paralyzed for lack of funds. He held this nucleus together against the deadly com­ bination of McCarthyite repression and economic pros­ perity that led to years of passivity in the labor move­ ment. There were casualties, of course. Valuable comrades Customs agents as political cops grew discouraged and dropped out of activity. Cadres with years of experience could not endure the strain and Sedition: Speaking, writing or acting against an estab­ litical beliefs, much less confiscate political literature. developed political differences that gave them seeming . fished government or seeking to overthrow it by unlawful In 1982, the government had to concede that Customs justification for finding a road to the sidelines. means.- Webster's Third International Dictionary. had no right to seize literature. It acknowledged this by But new recruits replaced them. And some of these re­ making an out-of-court settlement with journalist Wil­ cruits proved to be of exceptional worth precisely be­ Clearly, a charge of bringing "possibly seditious" liter­ liam Worthy and two associates. The three had filed suit cause they swam against the stream in joining the move­ ature into the country is a serious one. Which makes it when, on their return from Iran , Customs and FBI agents ment in such a period. even more outrageous that a person's books and pam­ confiscated copies of CIA documents published b y Ira­ Jim's stamina and stubbornness won out in the end. He phlets can be seized on such grounds in total disregard for nian students. (The students had occupied the U.S. em­ succeeded in maintaining the continuity of leadership. due process of law. And the violation of democratic bassy in Tehran and found the CIA material in embassy This continuity went back directly to the founders of rights becomes even greater when this is coupled with at­ files.) Washington returned the confiscated material to American socialism in the past century, and back in a di­ tempts at illegal questioning about homecoming travel­ the three and agreed to a cash settlement for damages and rect line to the Bolsheviks, and through them to the foun­ ers' political beliefs and activities. to destroy all material developed in connection with the ders of scientific socialism. Yet this is precisely what happened to Socialist Work­ case. The nucleus of revolutionary socialists assembled, ers presidential nominee Mel Mason and Sam Manuel, Such illegal activity by Customs officials is but one maintained, and renewed under the leadership of James one of his campaigners , on their return from Nicaragua . byproduct of the ongoing, escalating general attack on P. Cannon is doing quite well today and we know of the (See story page 3.) democratic rights by the employing class as it steps up its satisfaction he found in this success. The attempted political grilling of Mason and Manuel, war drive in Central America and the Caribbean and its His eyes were set, of course, on the American work­ and the confiscation of Nicaraguan books and pamphlets austerity policies in the United States. ers. In the long run, the upheavals elsewhere would have by U.S. Customs agents, was totally beyond the estab­ The attempted witch-hunt of Mason and Manuel by a cumulative effect in the political arena in the United lished function of that agency and completely illegal. The Customs agents is an attack on· the democratic rights of States. Coupled with the ever-deepening economic and . function of the Customs department is to supervise the all working people, aimed at intimidating those who dare social contradictions of capitalism, the American work­ flow of imports and exports and collect applicable duties question or oppose U.S. government policies. Their vic­ ers, the mightiest power on earth, would be propelled from travelers. They have no authorization to pry into po- timizations should be sharply protested. into action and the American revolution would begin.

18 The Militant August 31, 1984 Workers drawing lessons of union setback at Texaco

BY HALKET ALLEN While feeling deeply the blows at the hands of a rich parking lot during lunch time. Texaco policy is now that LOS ANGELES - In early July the l:os Angeles re­ and powerful Texaco, refinery workers' spirit here has workers cannot leave the refinery for lunch. The parking finery workers organized by the Oil, Chemical and not been broken. Many workers remain defiant and rebel­ lot is on company property, so this was clearly harass­ Atomic Workers Local 1-128 voted to sign a contract lious. The vote on the contract was close, and many ment. Texaco announced that we would only get half the with Texaco. The vote, coming after a 106-day strike, workers didn't know that there was going to be a meeting vacations due us next year because of the strike. They was 135 to I 19 to accept a contract that allows the com­ or a vote on the contract. From discussions I've had on also told us that our monthly medical costs would be $94 pany unlimited rights to contract out work, lay off the job, I think if there had been a meeting that all 417 of or more depending on the number of dependents- an in­ operators during shutdowns for repairs to . their units, the workers on strike had been able to attend, the vote crease of $30. weaken the seniority system, eliminate the bidding might have gone against ratification . This in spite of our Texaco has also introduced the 12-hour day discussion system on jobs, and lengthen the work week to 42 more than three months on the picket line. now that operators have to work a 42-hour schedule. hours. When we went back to work on July 5 we saw that the Each unit in the refinery votes on its own schedule, and at Texaco also imposed sharp wage cuts for new hires, refinery was in pretty poor shape and the foremen who the "cat cracker" the discussion was heated and the vote who will start at $7.75 an hour (down several dollars an had been operating it had not been able to do a good job. close. All the operators are training and are on shift to­ On my unit, the "cat cracker," it took foremen 28 days to gether for the first time. We had a meeting to discuss start the unit up, where it takes us three. There had been which schedule to take and voted to retain the eight-hour some bad accidents while we had been out, and bosses day. When the foreman came in to inquire where we UNION TALK that had been working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, stood, he was told that we had voted to go back on strike. were on their last legs. Despite company denials, we saw This.wasn't serious, but this uppity attitude reflects that hour from current pay). Union officials fear that Texaco that our strike had an impact on production. there is still a fight -back spirit. will move to keep workers under this contract at a perma­ On my unit, all 34 operators are on a special daytime We went back in with our union intact, though weaker. nent lower wage scale- a divisive two-tier wage set-up. training schedule. Since we are usually divided up to Many believe that the company will try a decertification Another item that the union lost on is the expiration cover all shifts, this is a rare opportunity for us to talk campaign soon. During negotiations, one company date of the contract, which will be two years from now­ about things together. The discussions and postmortems negotiator made Texaco's position clear: "We want six months after the National Oil Bargaining Council on the strike are quite open and wide~ranging . Some another shot at the union in 1986." contracts expire. The big majority of the oil industry is in workers blame "the union" for not winning the strike or As Texaco's takeaway campaign proceeds to whittle the National Oil Bargaining Council and the union was even keeping the membership informed. Others blame away at our standard of living, workers are continuing to stronger when contracts expired at the same time. the company. discuss the strike and are bracing themselves for the up­ Mike McFarland, chairman of the negotiating commit­ Anti-company feeling has intensified because Texaco coming fight. tee of the LA refinery , said that when the contract expires is still grinding away at us. The contract is settled, but two years from now it will put the union in a weak bar­ their attacks continue. For example, the first day back at Halket Allen is a member ofOCAW Local 1-128 and was gaining position. "We took a beating," he said. work, two machinists were suspended for going to the a participant in the Texaco strike.

·-LETTERS------'nLL ME Nii\IN H0.Y 1M GOING SK;R~ICE. 1>K> HOLD THE LINE. Kathy Boudin coverage represent the majority of Ameri­ issue of Rolling Stone. 'THE li..!DI\(!"1~ cans with Jewish ancestry) have I would like to thank you and In an article titled "How a Dove your staff for the excellent cover­ moved away from civil rights to Becomes a Hawk" author William age you gave to Kathy Boudin's the right, do not forget that many Greider documents how various trial. Jewish leaders (Jesse Jackson Democratic "doves" sell out the named a few in his convention antinuclear movement by lobby­ Perhaps your readers would like speech) were actively involved in ing for weapons contracts. to know that the Friends of Kathy civil rights organizing and demon­ Boudin plans to continue as an ac­ strations during the '50s and '60s. A major case in point is Demo­ tive support network for Kathy, So what if these "leaders" oppose cratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of engaging in political dialogue as "quotas" and affirmative action? Massachusetts, a so-called leader well as providing moral and con­ Their business is to point out of the nuclear freeze campaign. crete support for as long as Kathy threats to Jewish status. I think the Kennedy is a major supporter of is in prison. We also plan to ad­ mass of American Jews can look the patriot missile, ostensibly be­ dress issues of conditions affecting around· themselves and see that cause it is built by his constituents women in prison generally, as there is no shortage of Jewish in­ outside Boston. No doubt he also well as the continuing political re­ tellectuals or professionals. They supports it to protect his ruling­ pression against people designated can also see that Blacks are sorely class interests. "terrorists" by the government. underrepresented. Greider also points out that More information about I find your paper very useful . Kennedy lobbied hard to make Kathy's decision to end her trial as The emphasis on class ·struggle Boston the home port of the Iowa she did, as well as the complete battleship group. But, he writes, and socialist advances gives one nam War· was ended through the This is incredible! Have I some­ text of her statement at sentencing, hope. I also appreciate the alterna­ "there was only one problem: can be obtained by writing Suite some of the active peace groups pressure that was brought by an in­ how missed the Militant article on tive platform and heritage dependent political mass move­ this example of the free-enterprise 1370, 163 Joralemon St., Brook­ Socialist Workers Party candi­ . . . thought it bizarre that the lead­ lyn, N.Y. 11201, or calling (212) ing advocate of a nuclear weapons ment. If you look at all the move­ system in action? dates Mel Mason and Andrea . ments for social change - from 624-5921. freeze would be pushing to locate Since I operate a punch press Gonzalez so ably represent. social security, the eight-hour day, Charlotte Phillips ships armed with nukes in Boston myself, I am particularly curious D.D. the building of labor unions, to Friends of Kathy Boudin harbor. Kennedy limply answered about the details. Didn't anybody Philadelphia, Pennsylvania civil rights, women's rights, and Brooklyn, New York that as long as there had to be a protest at having to continue work the slowing down of nuclear navy, it might as well do business under these ghoulish cir­ power plant construction - you Attica prisoner shot in Boston." Speak about hypoc­ cumstances? What did people Blacks and Jews risy! Speak about leading people will see that they came about A prisoner was recently shot have to say afterwards? What I would like to take issue with a down the wrong path! through these same independent here at Attica. It was unjustifiable. about the relatives of the victim? portion of Malik Miah's article mass movements, not by relying He was shot, as the "news" says, Greider goes on to cite other It seems to me that an incident "Democrats no answer to bosses on Democrats. because he was attempting to hit "thoughtful liberals" like Sen. like this, straight out of Dante's war, austerity" (Militant, August This is the perspective that the an officer with a bat. Not true . Alan Cranston, Rep. Thomas Inferno, deserves a bit more prom­ 3). While I agree with the premise Downey, Rep. Nicholas Mav­ Socialist Workers Party holds and Two prisoners had a fight. One inence in the Militant. Not be­ - that the Democrats represent roules, and Sen. Carl Levin, who it is the program and strategy they was stabbed and in turn hit the one cause of its sensational character, and defend the current power say they lobby for these contracts help build. That is why I support that stabbed 'him with a baseball but because this really is what the structure - I also believe that the because it creates jobs. When you their campaign of Mel Mason for · bat. Such fights are "normal" ruling class would like to reduce "middle-class leaders of Jewish look at the statistics you can see president and Andrea Gonzalez for when you consider the type of ab­ us to . organizations" and American through this ·charade of theirs and vice-president. They don't tell us normal environment a prison is . Dave Frankel Jewry have "shared blood and relaize they do it to maintain to rely on the electoral process to They are usually controlled by a Detroit, Michigan shared sacrifices " with Blacks. capitalist interests and preserve end the threat of a nuclear group of officers escorting the Miah propagates anti-Jew and their privileged class, and their holocaust, but on the building of a various parties out. anti-Black sentiments by labeling constituents be damned. massive, independent, working­ The date of the shooting was class movement. I urge people to Blacks as "working-class op­ The Militant special prisoner pressed" as opposed to the mostly July 20, 1984. I ask you to do Greider points out that "as a seriously consider the alternative crude rule of thumb, $1 billion in fund makes it possible to send "middle class and professional" what you can to have the facts to this reliance on the Democratic reduced-rate subscriptions to Jews in this country. Don't Jews brought out. defense spending will produce Party that the SWP puts forth. about 21 ,000 jobs . .. [but] if the prisoners who can't pay for and Blacks both stand to benefit "Rumor" has it that the officer Sam Chetta them. Where possible the fund from socialism? Or, is it only the government spent $1 billion on Catskill, New York who did the shooting is psycholo­ peaceful enterprises like· roads or also tries to fill prisoners' re­ . working class from which Miah gically unbalanced. "Rumor" also schools, the money would actually quests for other literature. To . has excluded most Jews. Miah has it that the officers. were angry Worker crushed to death help this important cause, send should have defined "working produce more jobs. According the because a prisoner did not receive I got home from work this after­ your contribution to: Militant class, middle class. and profes­ calculations by Data Resources, the death penalty following his noon. had a shower and a beer, Prisoner Subscription Fund, 14 sionals," and he should have nondefense spending will generate frame and conviction for the death 25,000 new jobs per $1 billion - and sat down to finish the August Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. shown that they all have a shared . of an officer killed at Green Haven 4,000 more jobs than if the money . 10 Militant . 10014. interest in advancing toward Correctional Facility. socialism. were to move through the military­ Buried in the middle of the arti­ A prisoner · industrial complex . Considering It should be remembered that cle on the stakes for labor in the Allica. New York that defense procurement will top the major Jewish emigrations to auto contract fight I read the fol­ $150 billion next year, that could The letters column is an open this country took place at the be­ lowing on the report of a woman forum for all viewpoints on sub­ ginning of this century. And, for 'Freeze' Dems like nukes mean a loss in employment for the worker at a Chrysler plant in Ohio: country." jects of general interest to our the most part, Jews were not as­ For those Militant readers who "She told how management had readers. Please keep your letters similated or wccessful until after still harbor illusions that the Dem­ The conclusion is pretty clear. kept the line going for five hours brief. Where necessary they will the Depression. And, even though ocrats will put an end to nuclear This reliance on the Democratic before removing the body of a be abridged. Please indicate if · many cbntemporary Jewish lead­ war I offer the following informa­ Party to put an end to the nuclear worker crushed to death in one of you prefer that your initials be ers (and I'm not so sure that they tion that appeared in the August 16 arms race is a dead end. The Viet- the presses." used rather than your full name.

August 31, 1984 The MDitant 19 .THE MILITANT Antiracist revolt in Lawrence, Mass. Puerto Ricans, Dominicans battle discrimination

BY MIKE GALATI Tower Hill neighborhood and the sur­ AND RUSSELL DAVIS rounding area for the next three nights. LAWRENCE, Mass. - On August 8, City Council President Anthony Silva Puerto Ricans and Dominicans from the explained to the press why the Council had Lower Tower Hill section of this city re­ decided to impose the curfew. "The curfew belled against the racism and oppression is absolutely the only way we can go. that has come to characterize their day-to­ Many in the crowd have .been kids I 0-16 day lives here. years old who should never have been out The incidents that touched off the rebel­ that late in the first place. They were cheer­ lion began earlier that day when two Latino ing when rocks were thrown, cheering women were subjected to racist taunts from when bombs exploded." a group of whites as they walked past Pet­ But one young Latino, when told of the toruto's Liquor Store. The store bordered curfew order, responded: 'The curfew on the Latino neighborhood and was a won't work. Nobody can tell us what to do. well-known hangout for white racists. This is supposed to be a free country. But Later that evening, a small group of what kind of freedom is that?" whites who lived above this same liquor Lawrence itself is an old textile mill store came down the block, entered the town 30 miles north of Boston, with a . Latino neighborhood, and smashed the population of some 63,000. During the windshield of a car parked on the street. A earl y part of the century it was the center of young Latino mother, who saw the incident the U.S. textile industry. But over the last from her apartment, came out to the street 30 years almost all the mills have left the to confront the racists and to demand an ex­ city seeking a cheaper, non-union work­ planation. Their response was to begin force. Now, Lawrence is the poorest city In Lawrence cops in full riot gear enforce curfew against Puerto Ricans and Domini­ throwing rocks at her. Continued on Page 15 cans. Shortly thereafter, the mainly Puerto Rican and· Dominican community took control of the four-block Lower Tower Hill area, building barricades in the streets to Racist killings by Dallas cops on rise protect themselves from further racist at­ tacks. City cops tried to enter the neighbor­ hood at around 9:30 p.in. but were beaten BY LEE OLESON Tern Jim Hart made this statement to the the city ambulance service, a racist policy off and forced to retreat until state police DALLAS - The site ofthe Republican city council: "As you well know, if you that Billye Myrick had nothing to do with reinforcements arrived over three hours Party national convention is also becom­ don't hang somebody on the courthouse establishing and was compelled to carry later. ing nationally prominent for racist police steps and leave him there where they can out. Finally about 150 cops- dressed in full killings and other racist attacks. see him for two or three days, you are not Dallas' reputation as a center for racism riot gear and using tear gas, attack dogs, By the end of July, Dallas police had going to get the attention of these types of has also been strengthened by the case of and clubs - forced neighborhood resi­ shot 16 people since the beginning of the people." Joyce Ann· Brown. dents back into their homes and took con­ year. Nine of these were killed. Eight of Hart's racist statement brought the con­ She is a Black who was convicted of the trol 'of the streets. But not before Pet­ the 16 victims were Latino, seven Black, demnation of S.M. Wright, a Black minis­ May 6, 1980, armed robbery of a North toruto's Liquor Store was burned to the and one white. ter who is the· head of ttle 250-member Dallas fur store, Fine Furs By Rubin. This ground and another well-known racist The 1984 rate of police shootings has Ministerial Alliance. "We cannot condone despite the fact that five of her coworkers hangout. a bar across the street from Pet­ kept pace with the 1983 rate. Last year this kind of outburst," Wright told the stated she was working at the time in toruto's, was trashed. Dallas police shot 29, killing 16. The big press. "It relates to a part of the history that another store distant from the scene of the The following night, August 9, religious .majority last year were Black and Latino touches us. That's what we're shocked robbery. services were held on the street by the also. about." Rene Michelle Taylor, who has confes- burned-out liquor store. The purpose of The most recent killing occurred July 28 Mayor Taylor, a businessman who spent . sed to participating in the robbery, has tes­ this service was to "forestall violence" in when Dallas cop Mark Tarver fired four $900,000 to win election last year, has de­ tified that Joyce Brown was not involved in the community between whites and shotgun blasts into a car driven by clined to condemn Hart's statement. the incident. Taylor has also passed a lie­ Latinos. Guadalupe Martfnez. . Martfnez was driv­ In another side to Dallas' open racism, detector test regarding her testimony. As the service ended around 9:00 p.m., ing through a police roadblock. on July 30 a city board upheld the firing of On July 8 the Free Joyce Brown Com­ cops dressed in riot gear tried to enter the The victim, who was accompanied by Billye Myrick, a Black woman who has mittee sponsored a Free Joyce Brown Wor­ Latino neighborhood, forcing people off his pregnant wife and 10-month-old child, been victimized for her work as an ambu­ ship Service at Kirkwood CME Church in the streets, while at the same time protect­ died of· what Dallas police described as lance dispatcher. Dallas. Several prominent Black ministers ing a 'group of racist thugs who stood be­ "multiple gunshot wounds to the face. " On March 16 Myrick was fired because addressed the meeting, which was attended hind the police lines and began shouting His wife, Juanita, later asked why Dallas of her involvement in the case of Lillian by 50-60 people. "USA! USA!" and hurling rocks and bot­ police fired at her husband through the Boff who died after Myrick delayed send­ The committee has been endorsed by the tles at the Puerto Rican and Dominican re­ windshield rather than shooting out the ing an ambulance to her residence. How­ Concerned Black Clergy of Dallas and the sidents. car's tires. ever, Myrick's action was approved at the Police/Paramedic Complaint Committee. In response to this cop provocation, Police said they suspected Martfnez of time by her supervisor, who is white and July 22 there was a hearing before Dis­ community residents attempted to erect drunk driving. "Technically, I suppose you was not fired . She was carrying out a long­ trict Court Judge Ron Chapinan in which street barricades in order to protect them­ could disable the car," said a police standing policy of delaying the sending of Joyce Brown's attorneys asked that her selves. A battle ensued for the next few spokesperson, "but that's not the most ef­ ambulances to Black and Latino areas of conviction be overturned. So far no ruling hours between over 180 cops and the small fective way." the. city. This is a widely known policy of has been made on the request. neighborhood. On July 30 the League of United Latin Jose Martfnez, a 19-year-old who lives American Citizens (LULAC) asked the in the neighborhood, told the press what U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Postal workers meet to plan strategy happened after the religious service ended the Martfnez killing. The request was made that evening. "The police were on one by LULAC Executive Director Arnoldo BY GEOFF MIRELOWITZ In an August 4 editorial titled "No longer corner protecting all the white people," he Torres in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Meeting in separate conventions in Las a game," the AFL-C/0 News noted that the said . 'They only came down to our corner William French Smith. Vegas August 20, the two largest unions of Postal Service had hired a notorious union­ to beat us up." On June 28 police killed a mentally dis­ postal workers voted to keep the option of a busting law firm to advise it in its confron­ Police once again used tear gas, dogs turbed Black man in South Dallas. The 22- strike open in the continuing contract dis­ tation with the unions. A front-page article and clubs to clear the streets. But this time year-old victim, Darryl Armstrong; had pute with the U.S. Postal Service. the following week called attention to the the cops were also bent on terrorizing the been arrested three days earlier for running Contracts covering more than 600,000 8.1 percent raise the Postal Service plans to neighborhood. They invaded the Mer­ naked through the Dallas Zoo shouting that postal employees expired July 21 with no give its managers - while it aims to slash rimack Court housing project. a center of the Ku Klux Klan was after him. new agreement reached. Within days the wages for new workers and insists on a pay the community resistance. One tenant, At the time of his killing, Armstrong had Postal Service announced that it would un­ freeze for those already on the job. Elsie Rodriguez, reported that a cop club­ been walking naked down Kiest Boulevard ilaterally impose the two-tier wage scale it The growing anger and dissatisfaction bed her as she was going into her apart­ at 3 o'clock in the morning. He was shot has demanded, by hiring new workers at with 'the Postal Service's blatant antiunion ment. She later told reporters. " I feel like I down by Dallas cop John McCaghren after wages 20 percent or more below that of stance led Congress to vote August I 0 to was abused even though I wasn't in- a chase. The cop grabbed Armstrong and in current employees . temporarily block government plans to im­ . volved." a scuffle shot the Black man in the chest. This was immediately denounced by plement the two-tier pay scale. But this Another project tenant, Joseph Miner, McCaghren claimed Armstrong grabbed American Postal Workers Union (APWU) limitation only remains in effect until Oc­ told reporters that police "marched in here his 18-inch flashlight and threatened to hit President Moe Biller as "provocative union tober I. l'ike the Gestapo. throwing tear gas for him! busting." Other labor officials also Ten days later the APWU and the Na­ nothing." Although the two Black city council criticized the government's move. The na­ tional Association of Letter Carriers The next day, August 10. Democratic members have criticized the police killings, tional AFL-C/0 News, weekly newspaper (NALC) opened conventions in Las Vegas. Mayor John J. Buckley and the City Coun­ the reaction of other city council members of the labor federation, featured the attacks During the preceding week the unions or­ cil declared that an 8:00p.m. to 6:00a.m. and Mayor Starke Taylor has been quite on the postal unions on its front page in two ganized a series of informational picket curfew would be imposed on the Lower different. In mid-July Deputy Mayor Pro successive August issues. Continued on Page 17

.20 The Militant August 31, 1984 ·