Fight for Healthcare Drives Presidential Race

JANUARY 2020, VOLUME 47, NO. 1 DONATION $1 FIGHT FOR HEALTHCARE DRIVES PRESIDENTIAL RACE

The activist group, #GetOrganizedBK, held a rally and die-in at the Brooklyn Borough Hall steps in 2017 in defense of health care. The movement for universal healthcare has helped put Medicare for All at the forefront of the 2020 Democratic primaries. PHOTO/ERIK MCGREGOR

Climate strikers envision a just future Homeless moms take See page 10 over vacant house See page 4 PHOTO/MOMS 4 HOUSING How can we guarantee healthcare for everyone? The People’s Tribune is devoted to the understanding that an economic system that doesn’t feed, clothe, EDITORIAL house, or care for its people must be and will be replaced with a system that meets the needs of the people. To that end, this paper is a tribune of From Dixville Notch, NH, to the people. It is the voice of millions Des Moines, IA, the most impor- of everyday people who are fighting tant issue of the upcoming elec- to survive in an America in crisis. It tion is healthcare. Four in five helps build connections among Americans believe our current these fighters and the awareness system has reached a crisis in that together, we can create a whole terms of affordability. new society and world. One of the many indicators is Today, technology is permanently that the number of uninsured peo- eliminating jobs. Our needs can only be met by building a coopera- ple increased for the first time in tive society where we the people, 10 years, climbing to 27.5 million not the corporations, own the tech- in 2018. The number of underin- nology and the abundance it pro- sured has also increased steadily, duces. Then, everyone’s needs will topping out at 44 million in 2018. be provided for. In 2018 we spent $3.5 trillion on We welcome articles and artwork healthcare, or almost 18% of our from those who are engaged in the GDP. The average of other devel- struggle to build a new society that oped countries is 11.5% of GDP. is of, by and for the people. We rely on readers and contributors to fund Americans pay more for health- and distribute this paper. care than anyone else in the world, The People’s Tribune, formerly pub- where roughly half as much is Hospital closures, particularly in rural areas, are another manifestation of denying healthcare for all. lished by the League of Revolution- spent. VIDEO STILL/NEWS CHANNEL 5 NASHVILLE aries for a New America, is now an In the past, America’s alle- independent newspaper with an giance to employer-based insur- editorial board based in Chicago. ance made good economic sense. of some for now, but expecting to doctors. The price of the top 20 News poll, 68% favor Medicare Wages and employer contribu- it to be there through retirement medications taken by seniors has for All. Real Medicare for All PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: tions were generally aligned with and beyond is unrealistic, espe- increased at 10 times the rate of would create a single national Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover story and editorials, reflect the yearly increase in the cost of cially with the evolution of the inflation the last five years. health insurance program to pro- the views of the editorial board. By- healthcare. Now a family insured job market. While the industry’s profit vide everyone in America with lined articles reflect the views of the by a large employer has to con- In the rest of the industrial- increases more every year, our comprehensive coverage, making authors, and may or may not reflect tribute 67% more than it did 10 ized world if a person gets sick, ability to pay for services of care free at the point of service— the views of the editorial board. years ago. Since wages have only they go to the doctor without diminishing quality outpaces our no networks, premiums, deduct- Deadlines for articles and art: The increased by 26% in the same having to worry about the $3700 earnings at increasing yearly lev- ibles, copays or surprise bills. It deadline for articles, photographs time frame, one has to wonder average out-of-pocket Americans els. Last year the healthcare insur- would include dental, vision, pre- and other art is the first of each why anyone would prefer it over pays every year. Nor do they have ance industry alone made $30 bil- scription drugs and more. month for the issue that comes out at the beginning of the following a plan that covered more for less. to worry about losing employer- lion in profits. The candidates in the upcom- month. For example, the deadline Corporations are now based insurance should they get We know they use fear to ing election better not depend on for the June issue is May 1. Arti- focused on improving automa- laid off or decide to find employ- divide and conquer us, keeping party affiliation to carry them to cles should be as short as possible, tion technology to boost their ment elsewhere. our attention focused on each victory. Even if a voter’s family and no longer than 500 words. We profits. An assembly line robot Profit is the goal of our cur- other rather than the unchecked has been Republican since Lin- reserve the right to edit articles to conform to space limitations. doesn’t need a pension or health rent healthcare system. For exam- avarice of the wealthy. But this coln, or Democratic since Roos- insurance. Large retailers will ple, spending on marketing by time, this tactic is more obvious evelt, it doesn’t matter. What mat- People’s Tribune Editor: Bob Lee need less employees for the same the industry was $17.6 billion in than ever. With healthcare the ters most is which candidate has a Editorial Staff: Ran Dibble, reason. Employer-based health 1997. In 2016 it was $30 billion, result is deny and die. plan for reforming healthcare so Brett Jelínek, Chis Mahin, insurance may meet the needs with 68% of that spent marketing According to a recent Fox everyone has it. 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Oakland, CA: [email protected] Washington, D.C.: [email protected] 2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | JANUARY 2020 | www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib Fight for healthcare drives presidential race acceptable to the corporations if implores them, “Consider, while COVER STORY the bumbling Biden embarrasses you may acknowledge your other himself one too many times. privileges, you may overlook The assault on serious pro- your well and able-bodied privi- As we approach the primaries posals for Medicare for All has lege. Consider what it means for for what will certainly be one of been the tip of the spear for the you to tell me that it’s too hard the most important presidential corporations’ attack on the move- to care for me when you do not elections in history, tens of mil- ment to take government away suffer the same lack of privilege. lions of people are looking for a from the corporations. Likewise And then fight for me. Fight for candidate who will challenge the the corporate ridicule heaped on your future self. Healthcare is a corporations and billionars, and those who are fighting for the right. Medicare. For. All.” put government on the side of the Green New Deal as part of the Maggie’s fight is everyone’s people. And it’s painfully obvi- effort to stop the human contri- fight; millions already have no ous that the corporate wing of the bution to climate change. ready access to healthcare, and Democratic Party and the media Maggie Mills, a 45-year-old any of us with access to care that support it are doing every- artist and university professor could easily lose the healthcare thing they can to derail this mas- who suffers from multiple scle- we have. And the struggle for sive movement for change. rosis, wrote recently on Com- healthcare is just one among many You can see this in how the mon Dreams about the debilitat- struggles such as climate, housing, corporate funded presidential can- ing symptoms of MS and her fear education, and immigration, that didates have united against can- of ending up without healthcare. are calling the whole economic didates who have a program in “I live in crippling fear of the fact and political system into question. the interests of the people, such that all of the money I can sum- Is government going to be trans- as Bernie Sanders. You can see mon from the people I know can- formed to serve we, the people, or it in how the news media bra- not pay for my healthcare needs, is it going to continue guarantee- zenly promote corporate mouth- present and future. … This is a ing the wealth and power of the piece Joe Biden as the “leading fact. My current disease-modify- corporations and billionaires? We Democratic contender,” and in ing drug alone costs $8,000 per have to keep the pressure up on how candidates such as Michael month.” the candidates, and on every polit- Bloomberg, Deval Patrick, Amy She warns her readers to ical institution and level of gov- Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg are think about their own possible ernment. This means marching, paraded as possible alternatives future healthcare needs, and she demonstrating, voting, organiz- [Top] This 9-month-old baby was denied clinical trial treatment by the ing and more to deliver the mes- insurance company, after surgery for an aggressive brain cancer; the sage: This country belongs to we, company deemed it not medically necessary. PHOTO/FACEBOOK the people, and we will do what [Left, both] Medicare for All rally in San Francisco. it takes to have a government and PHOTOS/CORNELIA GRIMES society that serves our needs. Impeachment: What’s at stake for us Subscribe to the all when govt serves the billionaires People’s Tribune! The House is preparing to impeach lionaires and corporations about how racy. But the corporate-allied Democrats 100% volunteer run Trump as we go to press, although it best to hang on to their wealth and power. and Republicans are blocking the path, seems likely the Republican-controlled Few politicians of either party are putting and corporate media are actively under- 100% donation funded Senate will vote to keep him in office. forward a program to help the people. mining progressive candidates. The peo- Americans are divided on whether Trump To ensure corporate interests are ple need to hold every politician account- The People’s Tribune is a voice should be removed by impeachment. guaranteed, the powerful rely on a bipar- able, regardless of party. of millions of everyday people Millions are justifiably furious at tisan group of Democratic and Republi- A People’s Tribune correspondent in struggling to survive and move Trump and they want him out, not only can politicians. A case in point: While a rural Midwest area reported that people our revolution forward. for the crimes he is accused of, but for attention was riveted on the impeach- she knows want Trump out, but they are And it helps build connections the serious damage he has done to the ment spectacle in mid-December and focused on “how they’ll keep their utili- among the fighters and aware- people. He has promoted racism and millions of Americans are barely sur- ties on and how they’ll eat. One person nesss that together we can create violence, and launched an assault on viving, most of the House united across on disability got a $16 raise in his benefit, a whole new society and world. immigrants, the poor and women. And party lines to vote 377-48 to authorize but it was deducted from his food stamps. The People’s Tribune has no he has done damage with his approach $738 billion for the Pentagon, includ- His wife had her job hours cut from 30 paid staff and gets no corporate to healthcare, homelessness, the envi- ing a new Space Force. Only 41 Demo- a week to 15. Their electricity has been grants. ronment, social programs, business reg- crats and six Republicans voted against shut off numerous times because they ulation, and his tax giveaways to the the bill. Elizabeth Warren called the bill can’t come up with the money to pay Ask your friends, unions, and rich, among other things. He should be “a Christmas present to giant defense when they live from crisis to crisis.” organizations to subscribe and removed for these reasons. contractors.” The whole economic system is col- order bundles. Renew your own Millions of others oppose impeach- There are some politicians—people lapsing, and democracy, freedom, justice subscription today. ment for various reasons. like Sanders, Warren, and others in Con- and our ability even to survive are col- Subscriptions are $25 a year. What we all can agree on is that gress and at the state and local level— lapsing with it. Impeach Trump! And, we Donate more and you’ll be a hero. millions of us are struggling just to stay who are trying to get the government to the people must also demand that every Send to: People’s Tribune, alive and the question is: how are we meet the people’s needs. They are trying candidate and office holder say what they P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL going to do that? to help guarantee housing, food, water, are going to do to guarantee democracy, 60654. Or subscribe online at First, we have to see that the fight in healthcare and education for everyone. solidarity among the people, and our peoplestribune.org/pt-news/ Congress and the media about Trump is They are trying to protect the human ability to thrive, not just survive. This subscribe not just about Trump’s crimes, but also rights of immigrants, address climate needs to be the yardstick we use to mea- reflects a fight going on among the bil- change, and defend justice and democ- sure progress.

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org | JANUARY 2020 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 3 Stop Trump plan to round up homeless people From the Editors

Now is the time for all people of conscience to speak out and act decisively to block the Trump administration plan to round up homeless people just like the Germans rounded up the Jews in World War Two. After complaining that homelessness is “disgusting” and reduces property values, Trump stated his intention to use police to raze tent cities and force homeless people into government facilities. In December, Trump confirmed his plan by appointing Robert Marbut as head of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Marbut is known as the “Joseph Mengele of the homeless” for his cruel experiments and philosophy that the solution to homelessness is punishment, not housing. After decades of failing to house its people, the government is “Moms 4 Housing” announce their takeover of a vacant West Oakland moving to call working people no longer needed by the tech economy “Lebensunwertes house. PHOTO/MICHELLE DIONE SNIDER Leben”—the Nazi term for “life unworthy of life”. It is a shocking sign of the times that we have to restate this fundamental truth that no human being is unworthy of life. When we defend homeless people, we are defending life ‘Housing is a human itself. Organize resistance in every community. Demand local declarations of sanctuary for the poor and homeless. Demand non-cooperation with federal anti-homeless arrests. right, and today I’m using that right’ Housing Justice Village: says homeless mom By Joyce Mills “We tried working through the sys- ‘We’re not just speaking for ourselves!’ tem to find affordable housing. We OAKLAND, CA — On November both hold down multiple jobs and Editor’s note: On November 24, 23, hundreds of Oaklanders joined take care of our families. But this homeless-led groups set up the together in a March for Housing system doesn’t work for people; it Housing Justice Village in front Now: Our City, Not Scarcity. The only works for banks and corpora- of Oakland City Hall. With 13 event highlighted two homeless tions,” Dominique noted. “We have tents, this action was organized mothers who moved themselves learned that we can govern as well by The Village, ‘First they came and their children into a vacant as any of them,” noted Carroll Fife, for the homeless,’ Where Do We house just days before, demand- speaking for the Alliance of Cali- Go, and others. Twenty people ing the current owner, Wedgewood fornians for Community Empow- locked themselves into their Investments, sell the home to their erment (ACCE). ACCE has vowed tents and were arrested, their organization, “Moms 4 Housing,” to force the Oakland City Council tents and possessions destroyed. or give it to the community. to take responsibility for the hous- Below is a statement by orga- These women are the new ing crisis in Oakland in the com- nizer Maowu- nyo “Needa Bee” face of America. Both became ing election. de Assis and some words from homeless while working full time. Their actions are beginning her tent that night, waiting for Sameerah is currently also going to polarize around the question the arrests. to nursing school. “I’m doing this of property rights in America. A so the generations that come after recent blog posted, “This is some- By Maowunyo “Needa Bee” Housing Justice Village protest at Oscar Grant Plaza, Oakland me don’t never have to fight for one else’s personal property, not de Assis City Hall. PHOTO/SARAH MENEFEE the right to live,” said Dominique public. These moms are trespass- Walker. “If I have to risk every- ing! They have no right!” Not so, Tomorrow we start a new to exist, to flex our resilience… lets to put your tent on if it rains. thing to stay in my city, then that’s another retorted, they, like Jesus, Village. For all of us who have We came out here to protest This government is not trying to what I’ll do. We are not going to fight for the greater good and on had our homes bulldozed by the how the city is treating home- help, they don’t do things like change anything if we don’t speak the right side of history. city of Oakland. For all of us less folks and also to shed light this, homeless people did this! out and show up.” The reality is that the takeover who have had our vehicles that on how they are mismanaging. We are not just speaking The city reports there are home is not personal property. It we lived in towed by the city of This is public space, we are for ourselves, but for the 4,000 4,071 homeless residents in Oak- is corporate property. It is owned Oakland. For all of us who have protesting, we are getting shut homeless people in Oakland. land, an increase of almost 50% by Wedgewood, a Redondo Beach- our medication, medical equip- down. We were notified at 10 Every time a village pops up, from two years ago, and 4,366 based real estate investment comment, paperwork, family pho- pm that the DPW is coming here they try to destroy it immedi- vacant parcels. At any one time, pany, one of the country’s biggest tos, ashes of our loved ones who to take out the ‘trash,’ which is ately. They ignore people who there are up to a hundred “tent “fix & flip” companies that has prof- passed away, work uniforms, us—one of their biggest jobs is are totally suffering. The Vil- camps” within Oakland. “You ited significantly from the housing laptops, clothes, IDs, EBT cards to destroy homeless encamp- lage creates encampments can’t even ride through Oak- crisis. Supporters have been call- thrown away in front of our eyes ments, they treat homeless peo- where there is no suffering, and land without seeing the effect,” ing the company to ask them to despite our pleas to stop. For all ple like we are trash. They are they want to destroy us. We are Sameerah noted. “You literally get donate the property to the Moms. of us who have been left on the anti-homeless, which means speaking for the rights of peo- sick to your stomach seeing the On December 3, they received an side of the road after the city they are anti-human. ple who are living like this, who conditions, the squalor, the way eviction notice from Wedgewood demolishes our curbside com- You’ve got the economic have lost their homes because of that it is. The predicament of it.” Inc. As we go to press, supporters munities. For all us who were system, you’ve got gentrifica- gentrification. We are just gonna Both women are long-time are gathering to support the Moms promised support and help but tion, which is making so many keep on getting louder and Oakland residents. Sameerah is a in their next steps forward. instead got mistreatment—we of us homeless. So we’re try- louder, homeless and housed second-generation resident. Dom- “We have lost our humanity,” come together, we assert our ing to fix it. We’re giving out folks together. We aren’t gonna inique’s family migrated from wrote Dominique, “There are chil- right to housing and our right tents, free food, tarps, and pal- leave without a fight. the rural south in the 1950s. The dren sleeping on the streets—we Moms and others have been hold- should be outraged! I am. I will ing local government accountable continue fighting for the unhoused to meet housing needs in Oakland. until we all have shelter!” 4 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | JANUARY 2020 | www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib Illinois youth climate strikers ally with homeless By Adam Gottlieb saw the worst fire in California’s ple’s homes and housing globally, history, the Camp Fire. 88 people the clear need for uniting behind CHICAGO, IL — On Friday, died, and over 10,000 buildings indigenous movements and those December 6, as world leaders gath- were destroyed in the blaze,” said most historically impacted by eco- ered at the UN’s annual climate Samantha Taylor, 16, from Illinois logical injustice, and the people’s conference, young people across Youth Climate Strike in her open- vision of a new world with an eco- America and around the world ing remarks. nomic system based on morality joined in an international #Clima- In January 2019, journals like and humanity, Tom captured and teStrike to demand that govern- The Guardian reported that scien- moved the crowd with a short but ments support a Green New Deal tists have identified several possi- powerful, heartfelt, and eye-open- and take immediate action on the ble factors linking climate change ing speech about Chicago winters climate crisis. In Chicago, organi- to the arctic cold zones known as for the unhoused: zations like Illinois Youth Climate the “polar vortex” moving further “Hello, my name is Tom Gor- Strike, Sunrise Movement, Extinc- south in recent winters, bringing don. I’m the mayor of Uptown tion Rebellion, and many others record-breaking cold temperatures Tent City. In the cold dead of win- participated in a march and rally to Midwestern cities like Chicago. ter, since September 18th, 2017, Tom Gordon (center left), Mayor of Uptown Tent City, brought a tent downtown to demand that the City In a beautiful display of com- when the city took apart Uptown to the Chicago Climate Strike as a symbol of the unhoused com- of Chicago and the State of Illinois radeship, the young leaders of Illi- Tent City, they told people they munity on the front lines of climate change, facing deadlier winters. declare a Climate Emergency. nois Youth Climate Strike invited couldn’t put up their tents or they PHOTO/PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE “The climate crisis is destroy- Tom Gordon, Mayor of Uptown will go to jail or get tickets. “We came up with a cam- Last year we lost 15. How many ing people’s homes and live- Tent City, to close out the speaker “We have seniors, we have paign called Bring Chicago Home. more do we lose before we get lihoods, leaving many jobless, program at the Chicago Climate old people, we have people from Mayor Lightfoot made a campaign housing? homeless, and with nowhere Strike. Following several impact- mental institutions, and we have promise and recanted on her state- “LET’S BRING CHICAGO to go. Earlier this year, 50 peo- ful speeches from youth leaders children living in the streets in ment. Now she’s giving us nothing. HOME! Thank you.” ple were killed and over 13,000 (the youngest of whom was 13) the North Side in Uptown without I still have people freezing out in homes were destroyed or damaged about the daunting realities of cli- tents. Last year alone we lost 15 the cold. I don’t know how many Contact Tom Gordon at 312- in Hurricane Dorian. Last year we mate change, its effects on peo- comrades to the cold. people we’re gonna lose this year. 837-8596 for information. Austin, TX: Slight victory in fighting criminalization of homeless HOMELESS nances does not increase the number The governor threatened to “clean of beds. It does not free up dollars for up” the city unless the City Council Just so resources. People should not be sub- modified the ordinances, which they I roll up my sleeping ject to criminal prosecution or perse- did under pressure. “The governor, if and step into another cution simply because they are exist- he really wanted to help, could make ing in the only way that is available to a plea towards any of these big tech shitty day the homeless.” companies: Dell, Facebook, Amazon, Maybe it rains on everyone OK Homes Not Handcuffs was suc- Apple, Oracle, AMD, they are all here.” and the sun shines cessful in getting the city of Austin He could set up a program similar to and all of nature sings to liberalize ordinances against sit- the one in San Antonio that improved Raymond Thompson, known to but I have no business today ting, lying, camping, and panhandling. the conditions for the homeless. But all as “Uncle Ray,” outside his tent I have nothing to offer under I-35, near downtown Austin, “We achieved that slight victory. A true he did none of that. “The cowardly prior to the state clearing out the victory is where there is no ordinance fearmongering exhibited from Gov- others encampments in November. whatsoever making it illegal to camp ernor Abbott and the rest is a disgust- yet I’m not poor PHOTO/GUS BOVA, TEXAS OBSERVER anywhere, to sit or to lie anywhere ing use of privilege and power that has I could set the world in order or to solicit anywhere,” said Johnson. emboldened simple-minded bigots to and push it like a toy car After the victory, suddenly more use violence against a vulnerable pop- Editor’s note: Karel Riley inter- homeless were visible on the streets, ulation that has only come out of hid- but that’s not my role viewed David Johnson, organizer for but the number of homeless did not ing in search of humanity.” rather to be of no use at all Grassroots Leadership’s Homes Not increase. “The individuals without Austin becoming a tech hub has and be totally incapable Handcuffs local campaign in Aus- permanent housing have simply been led to very rapid gentrification, with of cruelty tin, Texas, which is part of a national liberated. It’s a good thing when peo- roots in the city’s history. When Aus- campaign, the goals of which are to ple who are vulnerable don’t have to tin was established it was against the They say the day will come stop criminalizing homelessness and hide anymore,” said Johnson law for people of color to live west of when everyone will have enough poverty. In November, the state of But, then, a fear-mongering cam- I-35, even though a group of them had and the people will be as one Texas began clearing out homeless paign began by powerful interests like lived there before they were pushed and so I prepare all my things people living under the highways. the Downtown Austin Alliance. They to the near east side of the freeway, and so they don’t get angry said people wouldn’t visit Austin, a close to downtown. As the city grew, “How is it okay to criminally major tourist destination, but that isn’t demand for that highly desirable I explain all this stuff to the spirits penalize anybody for not having per- true. Or they say that people are being land has driven up property values to try to keep my mind steady manent housing when the number of assaulted. If it is true, it’s not a result and taxes so that the people of those but such a wanderer beds available is fewer than the num- of these ordinances being amended. historic communities can no longer is the mind. ber of individuals in need of beds?” “Governor Abbott had no comment to afford to live there. They are pushed asked David Johnson. “Criminaliz- make about the homeless population to the suburbs where there is no pub- ing homelessness has not reduced until his deep-pocketed money funders lic transportation or become home- – Jerry Ferraz, San Francisco the numbers of individuals without started ringing his phone,” said John- less. The tech companies should bear access to permanent housing. Having son. The homeless were unsightly to some responsibility for solutions to anti-homeless and anti-poverty ordi- the people who fund his campaigns. homelessness.

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org | JANUARY 2020 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 5 CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE CHOICES AS WE ORGANIZE AND VOTE! A nurse speaks out: We need Medicare for All! By Elizabeth Castillo, RN into going electronic which means the nurses spend a lot more time LOS ANGELES, CA — I’ve been at the computer. a nurse for 12 years. I work in At my hospital we have a Long Beach in medical/surgical union, the California Nurses assignments. I work with all sys- Association and we are behind tems as an emergency room nurse. Medicare for All. We showed up Most of my patients are diabet- at Anthony Rendon’s (Speaker of ics. In our community care is the California Assembly) office good; patients come from all over and we went to the Assembly to Long Beach and even some from plead for Medicare for All. When Los Angeles. The issue is people Rendon blocked AB 562 from a only come in when they’re sick vote in the Assembly, I couldn’t because they can’t afford doc- believe that a Democrat and a res- tors, medical care, or medicine. ident of the 63rd Assembly District They’re in bad health and we’ll could vote against such a health see the same patients come back care bill. There are a lot of poor again into the emergency room. areas in the 63rd district, a lot of Diabetes affects everything in problems and Rendon is aware of their body. Patients in our neigh- this. His blocking of Medicare for borhoods don’t have access to Rally and “die-in” in support of Medicare for All in San Francisco. Thousands of people in the U.S. die all was shameful. good food! There are no markets each year because they lack health insurance. PHOTO/PEGGY ELWELL Therefore, I support Maria in their neighborhood and good Estrada for the 63rd Assembly food is expensive, so they rely on tem. More people are covered about what we, as nurses, can do based on protecting our patients. district in the California primary the $1meal at McDonald’s. under Obamacare, but our hospi- to get people out quicker. This Obama Care also meant fewer this March. Rendon is beholden to Obama Care, the Afford- tal moves people out quicker! In is a dilemma for us because the ancillary people. With Obama corporations in this district. They able Care Act, is not a good sys- the morning, we have meetings license we get from California is Care, all hospitals are pressured are some of his major contributors. People in San Jose Your vote matters: fighting anti-homeless law Insurgency and upheaval in California By Robert Aguirre nicians, clinics, and beds to serve the peo- By Cathleen Williams ple that are already seeking help? The SAN JOSE, CA — Laura’s Law is a state has determined that the number In this centerfold we are focusing on Califor- statewide law enacted in 2002 when a of psychiatric beds should be 50 beds nia, where the poverty rate is the highest in clinic volunteer was shot and killed by a for every 100,000 residents, but Santa the nation. In this state, what you might call mentally ill man who refused treatment. Clara County only has 246 beds out of an insurgency is developing—an uprising It allows counties to force treatment onto the recommended 960. If the County can- of people who are struggling for their very persons who refuse it. The actions of one not provide beds for people voluntarily survival. The Democratic Party is splitting, individual 17 years ago are now used as seeking treatment, why would they even polarizing, and dividing between its corporate an excuse to potentially take away the consider implementing Laura’s Law? wing and its progressive wing. The fight for civil liberties of thousands of homeless The cruel sweeps conducted by the immediate demands—for the right to health people in Santa Clara County. City of San Jose actually exacerbate the care and housing, for protection from the cli- San Jose Councilmembers Johnny mental illness problem by moving peo- mate crisis—is the driving force behind the Khamis, Raul Peralez, and Mayor Sam ple from one place to another with no call for new Democratic leadership. People Liccardo are calling on the Board of plan to help them escape their situation. San Jose, CA policymakers are con- oppressed because of their race and/or immi- Supervisors to implement Laura’s Law The City actually makes MORE home- sidering Donald Trump-style laws to gration status are at the heart of the growing in Santa Clara County. They also are sug- less people mentally ill through its end- round up homeless people and make movement. gesting a conservatorship program to take less campaigns of harassment, criminal- them disappear. Over 80% of this At the same time, people are organiz- over people’s finances with no say from ization, and marginalization. There is also wealthy county’s 10,000 unhoused ing against mass incarceration, the expan- people are forced to sleep on the the persons affected. Once you remove no real representation anywhere in local sion of jails, the killing of our youth; they streets. PHOTO/SCOTT WAGERS a person’s right to choose and take away government of the people they claim to are organizing to resist ICE and protect their financial support they become your be servicing. There are commissions for migrants and immigrants from deportation prisoner for as long as you wish. Mental just about everything except for people Housing First program. There aren’t any- and imprisonment. As we report this month, health treatment should be voluntary and living in poverty and in the streets. where near enough shelter beds available in California, organized resistance is also not decided by someone else. This is all There is a severe shortage of perma- and the barriers are too many and too growing against police sweeps of house- just another weapon to eliminate house- nent supportive housing and an emer- great to attract people to stay in them. less communities and the growing criminal- less persons on the streets. gency has been declared by both the This is a bad law that can and ization of houseless people, which includes If the County has a mental health cri- County and the City of San Jose. They will be abused to simply make people proposals to force people into shelters and sis, then why don’t they provide enough have failed to build sufficient Extremely disappear. mental health facilities that don’t exist. On mental health doctors, case managers, cli- Low Income housing to implement the

6 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | JANUARY 2020 | www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib Oakland’s rogue school board privatizes schools By Steven Miller the school district has the excuse to continue the privatization of OAKLAND, CA — Oakland’s school properties. Oakland was school board has gone rogue and seized by the state of California intends to close 24 schools in in 2003 and is still under state- the face of massive community imposed supervision by a public- opposition. Out of the last 18 private corporation. So we see the schools they closed, 14 opened state, the school board and the city as charters. Proposed closures government working together to are in the impoverished Flat- destroy public schools for their lands where Oakland is opening developer patrons. more than 16,000 new market- Organizations like Oakland rate residences. Public Education Network, Oak- School board members land’s Not For Sale and Bettering are controlled by corporations Our School System are demand- and billionaires Eli Broad and ing that no schools be closed Michael Bloomberg, major char- in Oakland until after the 2020 ter school supporters. They spent November election. Propositions phenomenal amounts to win on the ballot may provide far school board control, far more more money to California schools. than most races for state assem- In the same election, four of seven bly. Who knows what other dark school board seats are open. The money was involved? In October, the Oakland School Board called the police on an audience of over 600 people opposed to people of Oakland intend to seize Oakland has families who closing schools. As the protest grew, police beat and arrested parents and teachers. At the following back control of the school board have had to change schools three meeting, a ‘Peoples School Board’ (seen in this photo) took over after officials fled. Children took the and compel local government to times in the last couple of years officials’ seats and spoke against the police attacks. PHOTO/DONATED be accountable to the people, not due to school closures. The entire to corporations. community wants to keep every they call the cops and run off to a to implement a real estate plan to subsidize charters. At the same school open. When they protest secret room to make illegal deci- that is dispossessing the city of time, the district regularly runs a Steven Miller is a retired Oak- at school board meetings, board sions in private. families that have lived here for budget surplus, partly because it land science teacher who taught members cut the mic if they think This is what corporate dicta- generations. refuses to spend dedicated reve- for 25 years in Flatland schools. you are not on “their topic.” They torship looks like! Both the school The school district does not nue in the classroom! This alone His two boys went through Oak- shop online and look at email, board and city government reg- save money by closing schools. is a criminal act! land Public Schools. but never, ever respond. Then ularly disregard the law in order In fact, it loses $57 million a year By being “broke on purpose,” Students and faculty fight austerity Your vote matters: By Kimberly King OAKLAND, CA — The California state government holds $19 billion in reserve Insurgency and upheaval in California “rainy day” funds, yet in Oakland, our com- another front, city-by-city, people are orga- munity colleges are being slammed with nizing to oppose school closures and the push austerity-justified cuts that result in crimi- for more charter schools which drain pub- nal disinvestment in public education. lic school budgets. At the community col- It is already raining! This torrential lege level, students and faculty are taking downpour includes a crumbling infrastruc- stands against the criminal disinvestment in ture that has put us on “fire watch” requir- higher education. ing security guards to patrol the campus all An emerging, diverse, multi-eth- day to prevent fires, frequently broken ele- nic class—a new part of the working vators, a student center and library years class—fuels this movement. Members of overdue for replacement, and bathrooms this new class can’t get a secure foothold that are cleaned just once a day. Massive in the rapidly automating economy of Cal- cuts in class offerings—300 fewer classes ifornia, or they have lost the foothold they this spring—make it harder for students to once had because their jobs have been get the required courses they need to grad- The “10th Annual Life is Living” festival in Oakland, CA started their event by recre- eliminated or downgraded due to the rise uate and also mean the potential layoff of ating the Black Panther Breakfast program. Volunteers provided free breakfast to of robotics. over 100 part-time contingent faculty who anyone who came, no questions asked. PHOTO/MICHELLE SNIDER We have choices as we organize and are 70% of faculty in our district. vote. We don’t have to accept the plans of the The cost of housing is so high in ers with advanced degrees, are suffer- out by the changing job market and the wealthy corporations to abandon and drive Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area ing, imagine what our students are endur- digital revolution can be a powerful force out the millions of human beings that they that many students, part-time faculty and ing? Over 84% of students in our district for change. We need leaders that recog- no longer need in the high-tech economy. We newer full-time faculty, are struggling to suffer from housing insecurity, including nize rainy days and use the vast common can stand up for the equal dignity and sacred make ends meet. In a survey of contingent the inability to pay full rent or mortgage wealth produced by society to prevent tor- value of every human life on the planet, and faculty in our district, 51% pay more than for one or more months, the inability to rential downpours. all life on earth as we know it. As another win- a third of their income for rent, and an pay utilities, threats of eviction, or hav- We can have quality public edu- ter begins, deluging with rain the multitudes additional 1.2% are unhoused or homeless. ing to choose between food and housing. cation for all, decent working condi- living on the street, we need to think about Fully 16 % of contingent faculty report Some student leaders are starting to talk tions, and homes. We can hold the gov- housing, health care, and education for all they are receiving welfare benefits other about getting affordable public housing on ernment accountable to provide for our our people—not the profits of the billionaire than unemployment. Our full-time faculty our community college campus, to meet basic needs. If our government lead- corporate class. are the lowest paid of all the community important basic needs for students and fac- ers are too controlled by their corpo- colleges in California. ulty and staff who are struggling. rate rulers to do so, then it is time for And if faculty, professional work- Together, those of us being pushed new leaders!

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org | JANUARY 2020 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 7 Dem candidates’ views on immigration reform By Bob Lee

Various Democratic presidential candidates have called for reforming the immoral U.S. immigration system. Below is a representative sample of some of the more specific proposals. Bernie Sanders: “Instead of demonizing the undocumented immigrants in this country, we are going to pass comprehensive immigration reform and provide a path toward citizenship for all of the undocumented. On our first day in office, through executive order, we’re going to provide legal status to the 1.8 million young people eligible for the DACA program and extend that program to their parents. We’re going to develop a humane border policy for those who seek asylum. We will not be a government which snatches babies from the arms of their mothers or puts children in cages. And we will put in end up to the disas- trous raids of the ICE agency.” Julian Castro: He would downgrade border crossing from a criminal to a civil offense, and chart a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers and those under Doctors jailed for trying to Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure. He also calls for a 21st-century “Marshall Plan” for Central provide care for immigrants America. Castro would end the “Remain in Mexico” asylum policy and rescind the ban on refugees from certain countries. He Six protesters, including four doctors, were arrested outside of a Border Patrol facility in Chula Vista, would end the detention of immigrants, except in serious cases; California as they demanded agents allow them to give migrants flu shots. “With peak flu season imminent, eliminate the for-profit immigration detention and prison indus- the U.S. detaining a record number of children, and new evidence that immigration officials lied about try; end immigration raids at or near such location as schools, the horrifying, flu-related death of 16-year-old Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, it is more important hospitals, churches and courthouses; and end local police coop- than ever that people in detention facilities are allowed access to potentially life-saving flu clinic services.” eration with immigration agencies. (Press release on behalf of protesters) Elizabeth Warren: She would decriminalize crossing “Now we are locking up doctors who want to provide humanitarian relief. America are you looking the border without papers, reduce immigration detention, and in the mirror?” (Facebook post) increase funding for aid to Central America. She would protect schools, medical facilities, and courthouses from immigration Editor’s note: Support for the action includes: Doctors for Camp Closure (D4CC), made up of over 2,000 enforcement, and end deputizing local law enforcement as fed- physicians and healthcare professionals; The Families Belong Together coalition, of nearly 250 differ- eral immigration officers. Warren would pare back immigrant ent groups comprising tens of thousands of Americans; Never Again Action, a mass mobilization of Jews detention overall and eliminate private detention facilities. She organizing to shut down ICE; and local community members are support for the action. would to admit six to eight times as many refugees as Trump has in her first years as president, and would make it easier for asylum seekers to get a day in court. Warren would expand the DACA program for Dreamers and their families, and favors a path to citizenship for people who fall under Temporary Pro- Food stamp cuts doom us to more tected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure. hunger while corporations get fatter Teachers in many parts of the to a new work rule. For starters, glomerates like Cargill; Tyson; country say their students come to 700,000 “adults without depen- and Archer Daniels Midland, school hungry. dents” will lose their meager $165 made $3.1 billion; $3.027 bil- A 75-year-old U.S. Army vet- average monthly benefits unless lion; and $1.81 billion, respec- eran said: “Many times, I’ve felt they work. The implication is tively, in profits. Plus, corporate like I was starving. There’s neigh- that the economy is “booming,” giants actually benefit the most bors that need food, too. There’s and “lazy freeloaders” are taking from SNAP. Walmart’s starva- people [on] dialysis that need advantage of the program. This tion wages forces employees on food. There’s hunger everywhere.” is a lie. to food stamps. Then Walmart “This is not your grandmoth- First, most SNAP recipi- receive billions in sales through er’s hunger,” said a New York ents who can work do so. Sec- food stamps. sociologist. “Today more work- ond, more people are working We as a society can no lon- ing people and their families two or three jobs and still don’t ger allow our livelihood to be are hungry because wages have have money to buy enough food. tied to the profit-making of cor- Scott Warren was found not guilty in a second trial prompted by declined.” Third, there is plenty of food and porations. As automation replaces his humanitarian work leaving water for migrants facing death Today, one in six American everyone has a right to it, uncon- millions of us, the idea that we crossing the hot desert in the hope of gaining sanctuary in the U.S. households —and one in four ditionally. In the past, humans had must “work” for our food makes VIDEO STILL/DEMOCRACY NOW! minority households—is going to struggle every day to find food. no sense because jobs are disap- “The government failed in its attempt to criminalize basic hungry. But today, there is no scarcity. In pearing. We need a different kind human kindness,” says Scott Warren to the crowd outside the Ari- An estimated 49 million a world with 7 billion people, we of society—one where “we the zona courthouse after a jury found him innocent of harboring immi- people rely on the Supplemen- already grow enough food to feed people” own the abundance and grants. Warren, who faced 10 years in prison, is a volunteer for No tal Nutrition Assistance Pro- 10 billion. share it equally. We can have it. More Deaths, a group that extends kindness to immigrants who face gram (SNAP), formerly known So, are the poor the cause The fight of thousands to stop death in their trek through the dessert. Warren was arrested soon as food stamps, to survive. Now, of hunger? Or is it because the the food cuts, the fight toexpand after No More Deaths published a video of border agents pouring the Trump administration wants great abundance of food is owned the program, is the fight for that out water jugs left for migrants in the desert. Since 2001, more than to throw 3 million people off by mega-corporations and sold new society. Don’t let America’s 3,000 sets of human remains suspected of belonging to migrants SNAP over a five-year period due for profit? In 2018, food con- rulers get away with these cuts! who died in the deserts of Southern Arizona were identified.

8 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | JANUARY 2020 | www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib Participants and panelists at the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) conference in Chicago. PHOTOS/FRANK JOHNSON In Chicago, rebirth of a Winning the fight historic mass defense org against police torture By Gabriel Montero basis for calling the refounding conference Editor’s note: Below are excerpts from known as the midnight crew. That was here in Chicago. Some 800 conference partic- a speech by Aislinn Pulley, Co-execu- only one of the crews. They are still on CHICAGO, IL — On November 22, before ipants upheld the central political objectives tive Director of the Chicago Justice the force. One was a part of the Laquan an electrified crowd of 1,200 at the Chi- of the renewed NAARPR: a national cam- Torture Center, given at the recent McDonald assassination. So that lin- cago Teachers Union Hall, the renowned paign to demand community control of the conference in Chicago to re-found the eage and … torture remains alive and National Alliance Against Racist and Politi- police and to protect the inalienable demo- National Alliance Against Racist and well. So when they talk about the “era cal Repression (NAARPR) seemed to come cratic right of the peoples’ movements to pro- Political Repression. of Burge,” don’t let them use that lan- full circle. With an opening rally headlined test and organize for systemic change. guage because the torture continues … by Angela Davis, the organization was offi- Chicago Teachers Union Vice Presi- By Aislinn Pulley and we have tons and tons of survi- cially refounded by the very woman it had dent Stacy Davis Gates welcomed the crowd vors who don’t yet know they also are helped to free from unjust imprisonment some to the conference and spoke of the need to Chicago won a historic reparations connected to Burge and his henchmen. 46 years ago. True to its new historic real- defend black identity as a birthright. Activ- ordinance in 2015, the first of its kind, What we do have here this weekend are ity, this reborn NAARPR set out a distinct ists—young and old, Black, Brown, Indig- that provides financial redress for sur- survivors who are going to be sharing path and a new central task in the struggle for enous, queer and working class—from over vivors of police torture, [and] man- their stories … some remain incarcer- human rights. 100 cities representing 25 states and over dated the creation of a curriculum to ated … there are women torture survi- The NAARPR was originally founded 300 local, national, and international orga- be taught in all Chicago public schools vors [too]. in 1973 as part of the movement to free Dr. nizations took part in the three-day event. about that history. … Rahm Emmanuel We also know that we are not yet Davis and all political prisoners. It was the Speaking from the lectern, Frank Chapman, denied the funding to establish the pub- done fighting. … Homan Square disap- Chicago branch that issued a call to refound Field Organizer of the Chicago branch of the lic memorial. Lori Lightfoot, to date, peared over 7,000 people between 2004 the National Alliance this year as a mass NAARPR, spoke of the need to unite these has not responded to the demand to and 2012. … So that 120 names is not defense organization that could coordinate various strands around “unity of action instead create and fund [it]. … What the rep- the real number. … We have to end tor- and protect the various strands of the peo- of unity of ideas.” arations ordinance also called for was ture completely in this city and across ple’s movements fighting intensified FBI tar- On the conference’s final day, a resolu- the creation of a center located on the this country. And we have to free all geting of Black activists; the depraved cag- tion to refound the Alliance was adopted and South Side to treat the psychological the prisoners … open all the cages and ing of immigrant families and children seek- saw Chapman elected as executive director effects of torture. … The Chicago Tor- defund all the police departments. ing sanctuary at the border; and an epidemic of the Continuations Committee. That com- ture Justice Center … is the first, and So while we are … standing in the of police murder of Black and Brown men mittee’s main task will be to convene a del- only center in the U.S. dedicated to sur- victory of the struggles and the fights and women. egates’ conference sometime in the next year vivors of domestic torture… that that brought us here … we have In addition, the advancements made in at which the Alliance’s new leadership will be We have 120 names from John a long way to go … we ain’t done … Chicago for an all-elected Civilian Police elected and begin writing the next chapter of Burge [people tortured by Burge]. He we gonna win because when we fight, Accountability Council (CPAC) became the this long-lived and storied organization. trained tons of detectives. They were we win. Millions take up the struggle for which King died From the People’s Tribune strongly against the war and milita- paign: A National Call for Moral rism, tying them closely to issues of Revival points out that, 43.5% of Dr. Martin Luther King, born Jan- poverty. people living in the richest nation in uary 15, raised this question in a 1967 At the time of his death, he was the world—representing every race, speech: “Why are there forty million organizing for a massive Poor Peo- color, creed, religion, sexual orienta- poor people in America?” When you ple’s Campaign gathering in Wash- tion, and political party—don’t have ask that question, he said, “You are ington, DC. This moral outcry against enough secure income to meet their raising a question about the economic poverty, militarism, and racial and basic needs. system, about a broader distribution of gender discrimination called for $30 Groups across America are orga- wealth. When you ask that question, billion to fight poverty and for con- nizing to raise the urgent need to end you begin to question the capitalistic structing 500,000 affordable places poverty now. The new Poor People’s economy. And I’m simply saying that to live every year. Though Dr. King Campaign is currently conducting a more and more, we’ve got to begin to didn’t reach the goals he worked for, 22-state organizing tour, preparing for ask questions about the whole society.” his message still guides us today. a Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Only eight months after that Fifty years after the first Poor Moral March on Washington on June speech, Dr. King was assassinated Peoples Campaign, 140 million 20, 2020. while supporting striking Memphis people in the U.S. are poor or one In America today, millions are sanitation workers. He was shot one $400 emergency away from being taking up the struggle that Dr. King Martin Luther King Jr. at March on Washington, August 1963. year to the day after speaking out poor. The new Poor People’s Cam- gave his life for. PHOTO/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org | JANUARY 2020 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 9 Hometown view of Mayor Pete from BLM of South Bend Editor’s Note: Three activists white-hero-savior narrative that with Black Lives Matter in South he is doing a lot for the commu- Bend, Indiana, Marcus Washing- nity, which he is not. ton, Roger Calderon, and Yemoja Redding, recently gave their views AH: Is what the country sees of of outgoing mayor Pete Butti- Buttigieg on TV not what South gieg to Allen Harris, for the Peo- Bend sees? ple’s Tribune. Buttigieg is a can- Marcus: Kind of. I think he is didate for president in the 2020 running the exact campaign he Democratic Party primary. actually knows how to run. And that campaign is not looking Allen Harris: What is your assess- at … his blind spot. He doesn’t ment of the mayor? know what black people’s issues Marcus Washington: He had are. He is only able to filter it a really good test this sum- through what a Harvard Rhodes mer with what was he going scholar would be able to fil- to do about a lot of strain within ter. [Buttigieg is] not surround- the black community here in ing himself with the downtrod- town with the shooting of Eric den that are disenfranchised and Logan. He has shown that he don’t have a voice. The people Protesters at Mayor Buttigieg event announcing a glitzy new park in South Bend, Indiana say the has tacit acceptance of police that need him he’s not surround- outgoing mayor fails to address homelessness while allocating funds to gentrification. brutality in our community and ing himself with. he is not going to hold folks Roger Calderon: One of the accountable at the organiza- discussions that’s happening the thing he would ride into vic- ments on poor black children and lege bound, ranking consider- tional level. Opportunities for right now in South Bend is what tory and that’s not going to hap- education? ably low at 30%. And that’s a advancement have not gone are we going to do with home- pen. Pete Buttigieg is only going Yemoja Redding: South Bend’s school on what is considered to addressed. And it came to a less people? A couple of years to come to South Bend when high schools are No. 44 of the be the good side of town. But head and people said, “Enough ago, Pete Buttigieg booted there’s a photo opportunity. The best high schools in Indiana. If you haven’t already, look at is enough.” People are tired [homeless people] from this last time he was here, he real- The total minority enrollment the private schools’ stats. The of the lies, they’re tired of the sort of makeshift bridge … and ized everybody wanted to yell is 61%, and 58% of that enroll- numbers are noticeably differ- false promises. And now they’re that’s an issue that is still being at him. ment are disadvantaged with a ent. I wonder why. Could it be tired of a presidential candi- dealt with. Pete Buttigieg really math and reading performance the I.E.P.’s for black and brown date that is trying to co-opt the thought that South Bend was AH: What was your reaction to as low as 20%. Not even half of boys and girls? story of black struggle and his going to be his “horse to run,” the 2011 video of Buttigieg’s com- the schools’ population is col- ‘It’s our energy. Take it back’ – Detroit climate activist Editor’s note: Below are excerpts from a speech built out in the Marcellus Shale. We’re digging pipe- by Michelle Martinez, statewide coordinator of the lines up to pay DTE Energy shareholders to build Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, at the Nexus, a 50% holding company with Enbridge, to Dec. 6 Global Climate strike in Detroit. put them under the Great Lakes. We know [it’s a lie that] they’re promising us clean energy in a net zero “Close your eyes and imagine it’s 2040 and future. [Ask] them how … and they say, well, ‘We we’ve averted the climate crisis and we have an don’t know, but it’s a great media tagline.’ active and alive democracy. No one’s heat is shut “That’s what we’re fighting … so we don’t have off. We can walk to school without being afraid of to pay for another generation of red gas because one violence. We can go to a job that pays us money to more well in the ground is too many … we don’t support us. There is no debt. Our grandparents are need more science. We need solutions and we need loved, cared for and need nothing. Trees are blow- it now. Put our people to work to renovate Grand- ing in a soft wind and we treat each other with lov- ma’s home so the heat is not going out the window. ing kindness. We’ve melted down the AKs and made Put our people to work putting up solar panels on them into statues of civil rights warriors and indige- this building and that building… nous rights activists. We have a wonderful partner- “And I want [it] to be owned by us … it’s our ship with sovereign nations all over the Americas. energy. It’s our time. And if we don’t take it back, We have the right of migration for people who need we don’t have a future. So take it back… sustenance, a home and a place. “So when I close my eyes, I imagine a parade of “These are the futures we’re fighting for. It’s roses … [you’re] walking down 4th Street from the a fight because fascist governments, the rich, the Ambassador Bridge to Marathon and we’re dancing greedy take from us the work, money, blood, sweat, in the street. We have kids running down the street [and] tears … [it’s] the 6AM alarm clocks, the long because guess what? Marathon Oil is closing. And bus rides. They take every minute of our lives [to] every person walking out of that facility has a job, a put it in the stock exchange and trade it amongst home, their kids have an education. And food is on themselves while we toil 12, 14, 18 hours a day to the table every day …we’re regenerating our lands, be put further in debt. giving our farmers and urban agriculturalists and “How many in this city don’t have heat and have people who make our art and culture a living wage to decide whether they’re going to buy Grandma to be that, not to produce for someone on the other their medicine or pay the DTE bill to keep their side of the world who’s bombing somebody with lights on. We’re paying for a natural gas, fracked gas, our tax dollars. That’s what we’re marching for.” Detroit Climate strike in December. Michele Martinez (top left). PHOTOS/VALERIE JEAN

10 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | JANUARY 2020 | www.peoplestribune.org | facebook.com/peoplestrib Pensions on the line, says UMWA local president Editor’s note: Jack McReynolds, Trump told people in West ain’t gonna do nothing. I’m not for UMWA District 12 Local 2420 Virginia, Kentucky and Alabama fracking, either. It goes into the President, spoke with Cathy Tal- that he was going to open up the underground water streams and bott of the People’s Tribune about mines. And they believed him. destroys the water. I can’t prove the fight for miners’ pensions, jobs, But there’s more mines closed. it … I don’t have the equipment healthcare, homelessness, and Now they’re seeing he’s not doing to test it. We got to get involved clean water. Below are excerpts what he said. I personally think and put pressure on our represen- from that interview. there’s going to be a blue wave tatives, both state and federal. this election. They elected demo- We gotta create jobs for peo- I went to a rally with about cratic governors in Kansas, Ken- ple. The homeless … a lot of them 2,000 people in Evansville, IN tucky, Virginia. All those coun- are veterans. And 75% of those [December 4] about our pensions. ties that went for Mitch McCo- in prisons are veterans. Women There’s a bill that’s been held up nnell in Kentucky went blue and and children being separated [at by Mitch McConnell for a year that turned his head. I think that’s the border] … and another thing but now he’s on board since Ken- why McConnell put our [pension] is the children in cages … I call tucky voted in Beshear for gover- bill on his desk to bring up in the them concentration camps. That nor and we think we’ve got that Senate. There’s more people get- 16-year-old who died recently … won. We had the same problem ting organized than there’s been It’s looking like Nazi Germany. PHOTO/JACK MCREYNOLDS, UMWA DISTRICT 12 LOCAL 2420 PRESIDENT with our healthcare three years in 40 years. We gotta have new legisla- ago but got that won, so if we There aren’t any union mines tion for Black Lung. What we can get this passed we’re in good here now. There’s not many mines have now isn’t working. I’ve to-work” laws. People need to told me these companies would shape. There’s 80,000 pension- at all. Automation has changed all got Black Lung-stage 2. The understand that it means right to trade any one of us for half a ers and families dependent on that. Murray owns what we call a government says I’m not dis- work for less. These non-union car of coal. them. President Truman in 1947 scab mine in Galatia and he’s dis- abled. After we get this pension mines here, they’re working in This pension bill now is signed a promise (Krug-Lewis charging mercury into the water; deal taken care of we’re gonna water with live cables laying in very important. We were prom- Agreement) guaranteeing us pen- they don’t give a damn. [Murray go for that. We need to work on the water. [If you get injured] the ised. Have people call their sena- sions and healthcare for life if we Energy filed bankruptcy in Octo- electing people who will support compensation laws now favor tors and ask them to support the agreed to not strike and keep up ber.] He’s friends with Trump. black lung benefits. the company. When I started Bipartisan American Miners Act production during the war. People got to get involved. Trump Another thing is these “right- as a young man, an older miner of 2019.

Former EPA chief poised to head Water victory environmental ‘advocacy’ group against Nestlé Editor’s note: In 2017, the Nat- Editor’s note: Below are excerpts from a press release ural Resources Defense Council by Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC). (NRDC), an international environmental advocacy group, was The citizens of Osceola township in Evart, Michi- among plaintiffs who won a suc- gan received their just reward for several years of legal cessful lawsuit against the State of battle to enforce their own zoning ordinance in the face Michigan regarding the Flint disas- of Nestlé’s bullying tactics and corporate clout. The ter. Flint residents are now shocked Michigan Court of Appeals reversed the decision of and angry upon learning of Gina the Circuit Court which had ordered the township to McCarthy’s new gig. Below are issue a permit for a booster station in spite of its vio- excerpts from a letter sent to the lation of local zoning ordinance. NRDC endorsed by Flint, MI com- Nestlé argued that their commercial bottled water munity groups. operation is an “essential public service.” The Appeals Court said it is not. The Court simply showed “there December 6, 2019 is no legal or factual basis for considering plaintiff’s To Whom it May Concern: commercial water bottling operation to be a ‘public We are writing to let you know Gina McCarthy, former head of the EPA, in 2016 testimony before water supply’ under Michigan Safe Drinking Water of our objection to the hiring of Congress, refused to take responsibility regarding the Flint Water Crisis. Act.” Gina McCarthy to the position of VIDEO STILL/CSPAN Nestlé claimed that public opposition to its oper- President and CEO of the NRDC. ation improperly influenced members of the Zoning As you well know, because of the Board and the Planning Commission. The court ruled successful lawsuit that you brought responsible for us consuming the an organization that is supposed to that such bodies cannot violate the law in making rul- against the State of Michigan, not water for months when they knew stand with and defend us from the ings consistent with the wishes of its constituents, but only the State was culpable in the it wasn’t safe. Even the EPA Office very people who hold responsibility in this case, they were following the law. The Court poisoning of our city. of Inspector General concluded that for the deaths and harm caused by added that people have the right to locally elect their The Environmental Protec- EPA’s Management failed to protect the government agencies and indi- government officials and, “that it would be improper tion Agency (EPA) was first made us. (See www.epa.gov/oig Project viduals involved. for [local officials] to fail to take popular opinion into aware of problems with our water No. 17-P-0004.) Disappointedly Yours, account.” Maryann Borden, MCWC member and in May 2014, but did not speak out We the members of Democ- Democracy Defense League Osceola Township resident says, “Finally the Court until an Emergency Administrative racy Defense League, the advocacy Concerned Pastors for Social has taken us seriously and the law has prevailed.” Order was issued in January, 2016. groups listed below and residents Action of Flint Gina McCarthy was in charge of the of the City of Flint, feel that this Color of Change Flint Contact Peggy Case, President MCWC, at 231- EPA at that time and was ultimately appointment is a slap in the face by CAUTION 275-2244, or via e-mail at [email protected]

facebook.com/peoplestrib | www.peoplestribune.org | JANUARY 2020 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 11 ‘We must defend our soldiers’ By Rev. Edward Pinkney served as adjunct professor at Del- The city of Philadelphia was aware County Community College. gunning for Pastor Collins. He BENTON HARBOR, MI — A He is a marathon runner and cyclist. called in Rev. Edward Pinkney true man of God, Keith Col- He and his wife have been married from Benton Harbor, Michigan to lins, pastor of the Church of the for 37 years. be the keynote speaker at a meet- Overcomer—a blue jean friendly Here are examples of how the ing held on November 22-24. The church—says he “presents gos- system has attacked the pastor. purpose was to educate and inform pel to a world that is broken and The Church of the Over- the general public of Philadelphia filled with broken people.” Pas- comer lived up to its name by suc- about the historical challenges tor Collins also serves more than cessfully gaining tax exempt sta- faced by those who have engaged a 150 people every week. What tus after a decade of court bat- in activism and non-traditional an amazing man. tles. “It has been a long horrible pursuits of justice. The pastor, his wife and sis- ordeal,” said the Pastor. “We Speakers also included Cheri ter-in-law were arrested for con- weren’t doing anything differ- Honkala, founder of the Poor Peo- spiracy for something they had ent then we were doing for the ple’s Economic Human Rights nothing to do with it. This is what past 10 years.” Campaign, who has been arrested happens to anyone who stands up The Delaware County Board hundreds of times in the struggle for justice for the poor. of Assessment had issued a rul- for economic justice and housing. Pastor Keith is a graduate ing that two additional parcels of She gave a tremendous speech of Geneva College of Business church land, which paid approx- about how we can help Pastor and Divinity and holds a M.B.S imately $10,000 in taxes annu- Keith and his wife. Then came Sis- Divinity and Ministerial degree ally, would also be tax exempt, ter Margaret McKenna, founder of from Friends International Chris- beginning January 1. “One of the New Jerusalem Recovery Cen- tian University. He and his wife those parcels has a building that ter in North Philadelphia. She was Pastor Keith Collins and wife Carolyn, who stand for justice for the have undertaken mission trips to serves as an office, outreach cen- an original member of the Plow- poor, were arrested and need support. PHOTO/DONATED Ghana and Nigeria, and Pastor ter and transitional housing unit, shares movement and served time the 1985 assault and bombing of to as the most political prisoner Keith has completed pilgrimage while the other provides addi- in Federal prison for her anti-war a Move home that killed 11 Move in the world. studies in Greece, Israel and Egypt. tional beds for those who need effort. She was amazing. Next was members. She has also been a Sister Pam Africa spoke loud He served as an infantry officer in help getting their feet under them,” Sister Pam Africa, who fought for leading advocate for journalist and clear; “We must defend our the U.S. Army/Airborne. He also said the pastor. justice for the Move family after Mumia Abu Jamal, often referred soldiers at all cost.” Free the innocent Editor’s note: The following is a speech by New Orleans activ- Donate to ist Ted Quant, one of many given at the“Unanimous is Not Enough” Rally on October 6 at the Louisiana State Capitol the People’s in Baton Rouge. The rally demanded that the tens of thousands of innocent citizens still incarcerated by the Jim Crow 10/2 verdict law, which Louisiana voters got rid of in the 2018 Tribune! election, be given pardons or new trials. The movement NEW ORLEANS, LA — We are here today, standing in an unbroken line of march from slavery to freedom. Every step is getting off forward has been met with massive resistance, including legal and extra-legal terror. The for-profit prison industrial complex the ground! of legalized slavery is the rotten fruit of this history. Our fight for justice for the victims of the unconstitutional Your donations are urgently 10-2 verdicts is part and parcel of this fight for freedom. This needed to help boost our struggle, like our history, contains the elements of one step circulation and help us challenge forward, two steps back. the corporate narrative by We must learn this lesson from the defeat of reconstruc- ensuring your voices are heard. tion. The victories of reconstruction were followed by its vio- CARTOON BY AN INMATE DRAWN FOR BELINDA PARKER BROWN Send your donation to lent terroristic defeat. The white supremacists crowned this OF LOUISIANA UNITED INTERNATIONAL victory with the 1898 explicitly racist Louisiana Constitu- peoplestribune.org/pt-news/ tional Convention and the infamous Supreme Court Plessy victed? Who votes for providing for the needs of the poor? subscribe or mail to PT, v. Ferguson decision legalizing segregation. Vagrancy laws Who votes for regulations that prevent the environmental poi- PO Box 3534, Chicago, IL were passed that made poverty a crime and poor blacks were soning our people? Who votes for medical care as a human 60654-3524. Thank you! rounded up and enslaved in the convict lease system. The right? Who fights for the needs of “the least of these my 13th Amendment allows slavery for people convicted of brethren?” crimes. This was the genesis of the modern-day system of Our fight for the freedom of the unjustly incarcerated is mass incarceration and prisons for profit today. against the politicians, Black or white, who represent the prof- Not until last year did we win the victory over the 10-2 iteers of this modern-day enslavement of the prisoners of pov- legacy of the racist 1898 constitutional convention. But that erty that fill our prisons. victory is incomplete as people convicted under this racist law To defeat them we must organize and fight for power. One are still unjustly incarcerated. They must be freed or given of our weapons is our right to vote. Today as few as 20% or Are you a designer? new trials. That is what is just and right and legal. 30% of the population votes. This means it takes only 15% of The People’s Tribune needs your At the same time, if we are not constantly fighting for the voting population, plus 1 vote, to rule our lives. help in designing our newspaper. our rights, we are losing our rights. Every victory can be So a very small minority of voters elect the politicians Join our team. Reach us at info@ reversed. One step forward two steps back is in our history. We that give billions to the rich and deny everything to the poor. It peoplestribune.org. must defend this victory and go on the offensive. We must is time to end this. organize and educate and attack with our votes the politicians We are a majority for justice and equality. We must seize that attack us with their votes. the time, organize, and take power. We must ask, “who stands for freeing the unjustly con- Power to the people.

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