Socialist Workers Party: 'Universal Health Care!'

AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Youth, workers from 23 countries join May Day brigade to Cuba — PAGE 9 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 81/no. 14 April 10, 2017 US gov’t SWP: Help us Socialist Workers Party: escalates win ‘Militant’ ‘Universal health care!’ threats on readers, raise N. Korea contributions! by seth galinsky By Mary Martin Washington has escalated its threats Socialist Workers Party members against North Korea at the same time and supporters are launching a seven- as U.S. forces are engaged in provoc- week campaign to take the party to ative Operation Foal Eagle military workers on their doorsteps, at strikes exercises in the area with thousands and other labor fights, and to protest of South Korean troops. These moves actions demanding amnesty for un- pose the danger of military clashes documented workers, against cop on the Korean Peninsula and in the brutality, in defense of women’s right region. to choose abortion and other issues of “Let me be very clear: the policy concern for working people. of strategic patience has ended,” Sec- A key part of this effort will be to retary of State Rex Tillerson told re- expand the readership of the Mili- porters March 17 on a visit to Seoul, tant, winning 1,100 new subscribers, a not-so-veiled threat of U.S. military coupled with getting out the same Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church action. “All options are on the table.” number of three Pathfinder books. At Hundreds attend free health clinic, above, in Portland, Oregon, August 2016. Both Obamacare and Trump plan enrich insurance companies while health care for working people deteriorates. Washington demands the Demo- the same time, the party is organiz- cratic People’s Republic of Korea get ing a Militant Fighting Fund to raise Medicaid support, Republican Join fight for government rid of its nuclear weapons and cease $112,000 to support the paper. The splits sink ‘Trumpcare’ plan funded health care for all! all efforts to build intercontinental campaigns will run from April 1 to missiles that could threaten the U.S. May 23. by brian williams The following statement by Osborne Tillerson cynically added, “North The three books that are part of Amid seemingly unbreachable di- Hart, Socialist Workers Party can- Korea has nothing to fear from the the drive are: Are They Rich Because visions from both the conservative didate for New York mayor was re- United States.” But the U.S. has some They’re Smart?; The Clintons’ Anti- and moderate wings within the Re- leased March 29. 28,000 troops stationed permanently Working-Class Record: Why Wash- publican Party majority in the House Continued on page 6 Continued on page 3 of Representatives, President Donald Millions throughout the United Trump’s plan to repeal the Afford- States — unemployed or working, able Care Act, commonly known as NY meeting: ‘End US embargo Obamacare, was pulled from con- Socialist Workers sideration right before the scheduled vote March 24. Party statement of Cuba! Get out of Guantánamo!’ The Trump administration’s bill, like Obamacare, is not based on pro- U.S.-born and immigrants — are feel- viding health care for all who need it, ing the carnage of the slow-burning but pressuring more people to pur- capitalist economic crisis. chase health insurance, with rising Millions who want to work can’t Continued on page 4 Continued on page 11 US wars in Syria, Iraq take deadly toll on working people by Jim Bradley dren were burned to death in Mosul Washington’s airpower, artillery when several buildings in the Jadida and troops, working with the Syrian district collapsed after being hit by Democratic Forces, made up of the U.S. airstrikes March 17. At least 33 Kurdish People’s Protection Units Continued on page 11 (YPG) and their Syrian Arab allies, are closing in on Raqqa, which has served as the capital for the reactionary Islamic State since 2013. YPG Inside leaders say this coalition of forces Kentucky workers defeat Militant/Paul Mailhot will lay siege to the city in early April. attack on desegregation 2 “Solidarity with Cuba is very important at this moment,” Sandra Ramírez, above, from Cuban At the same time, U.S. military Institute for Friendship with the Peoples, told over 200 people at March 25 Harlem rally. forces alongside Iraqi army troops ‘Militant’ fights prison BY SARA LOBMAN tánamo, and still has policies aimed at have pushed deeply into Mosul, the censorship in Illinois 4 NEW YORK — “Solidarity with ‘regime change’ in Cuba. last major city occupied by IS in Iraq. Cuba is very important at this mo- “We will never renounce the con- Washington is promoting these of- Attacks on political events ment,” said Sandra Ramírez, director struction of a socialist Cuba,” Ramírez fensives to increase its military and are blow to workers’ rights 7 of the North American division of the concluded to applause. political weight in the region against Cuban Institute for Friendship with The ICAP leader was speaking to the competing capitalist powers of –On the picket line, p. 5– the Peoples (ICAP). more than 200 people from New York Moscow, Tehran, Damascus and An- Idaho miners strike against kara. Their war moves have had a “Cuba and the United States have and across the U.S. and Canada at a union busting, for safety established diplomatic relations,” she public meeting at the Malcolm X and deadly toll on the civilian population, said. “But the U.S. government still Dr. Betty Shabazz center in Harlem. with hundreds killed and many more Steelworkers at Quebec refinery maintains a blockade against our The March 25 event was part of a two- injured over the past weeks. strike over pension cuts country, still illegally occupies Guan- Continued on page 8 Over 150 men, women and chil- Ky. workers defeat state Pa. protest: ‘I won’t let you disappear my neighbors!’ attack on desegregation BY ARLENE RUBINSTEIN Representative Kevin Bratcher, at a AND GALE SHANGOLD meeting Feb. 26 in Fern Creek, Jeffer- Over four decades after civil rights son County, whose participants were battles in the streets won court-ordered majority Caucasian. “It is unacceptable busing to desegregate schools to combat for Black students living in segregated grossly inferior education for Blacks, neighborhoods. They will not have ac- working people in Louisville, Kentucky, cess to the equal opportunities that fam- forced the defeat of moves in the state ilies where I live … have.” legislature to end the county’s busing After the bill failed, Sen. Dan Seum program. pledged he would push another neigh- Facing broad opposition to the assault borhood schools law next year. He’ll in Louisville, proponents of “neighbor- face the opposition of the majority of hood schools” — code words for segre- working people in Jefferson County. In gation — failed to meet the deadline to 2012 half the candidates running for the bring their bill up for a vote in the state county school board ran on a platform senate. Similar bills failed in 2011 and of getting rid of busing. All of them lost. 2012. “I was for busing in the ’70s and I still Militant/Ruth Robinett The fight for desegregation in Louis- am,” Karl Wisman, a retired pipefitter READING, Pa. — Carrying signs saying “I will not let you disappear my ville has gone on since the 1970s, when from Louisville, told the Militant in a neighbors,” “No 287g,” and “If you come for immigrants I will stand in your supporters of Black rights seeking to March 14 phone interview. “Busing had way!” some 250 supporters of immigrant rights demonstrated here March 18, at the Berks County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Eric Weaknecht says he wants to dismantle Jim Crow segregation won a a positive effect on Kentucky, helping assign his force to collaborate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce- court order for busing. A similar battle to change attitudes and relations among ment to help catch and detain undocumented workers. ICE’s 287(g) program was fought out in the “Battle of Boston,” whites and Blacks. In the workplace and authorizes extending the agency’s powers to local cops. This would be the first where defiance of court-ordered busing the unions, it was the fight for affirma- time the program would be implemented in Pennsylvania. organized out of City Hall was met with tive action.” The protest was sponsored by Make the Road Pennsylvania. “What the sher- mass, national street mobilizations. Vol- “When I first started on the job in iff is proposing could terrorize thousands and thousands of residents of Berks unteers rode the buses to defend Black 1979, there were few Blacks, and a lot of County,” Adanjesus Marin, Make the Road’s director, told protesters. children from attack. racism evident,” he added. — JANET POST This year’s debate in Louisville was Before busing, Louisville schools marked by support for 42 years of school were more than 90 percent Black, and desegregation and how the fight for it schools in the county approximately bor movement joined the fight against U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in 2007 helped change social relations in the 95 percent Caucasian. Until the 1960s, the order. The governor — himself an that Louisville’s efforts to desegregate area, advance the rights of Blacks and Blacks attended one public high school, opponent of desegregation — felt com- the schools violated the Constitution be- transform the working class, making it Central High, and one private school, pelled to order the National Guard out cause it used race as a factor. In response stronger. The Jefferson County Teach- Catholic Colored High. when schools opened. the school district came up with a plan ers Association prominently featured The racist uproar against “forced that used income rather than race as a on their website a statement opposing busing” began at once when a schools Countermobilization for busing standard to maintain a countywide bus- the bill and defending desegregation by desegregation plan was implemented Working people fought back. The So- ing program. “This community really NAACP President Raoul Cunningham. in 1975. Racist opponents of busing en- cialist Workers Party organized a branch values an integrated school system,” Su- “We cannot go back to prior to 1975,” joyed the backing of the school board. in Louisville in 1976 out of these battles. perintendent Sheldon Berman told the Amy Shir told the bill’s sponsor, State A section of Louisville’s organized la- Party members were part of the leader- Louisville Courier-Journal. ship of countermobilizations against “Louisville is one the few cities na- racist attacks on busing, standing side tionally that has not retreated, where by side with many other working peo- peoples’ experiences lead them to desire ple, including against the Ku Klux Klan. diversity because it benefits the entire Socialist workers joined the debate on community,” Cunningham told the Mil- the job and urged their unions to take itant March 19. “This fight will come a stand and participate in the fight. The back at us, so we’re starting now to party’s candidates used their campaigns prepare for the next round.” Anti-Trump hysteria is danger for working class to explain that busing was a victory for the working class. Arlene Rubinstein and Gale Shangold The ‘Militant’ explains the The desegregation forces won out. were members of the Socialist Work- capitalist rulers’ fear of the As part of the rulers’ backlash against ers Party branch in Louisville in the working class is behind the affirmative action across the country, the 1980s. hysteria against the Trump

administration. It infects lib- Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For erals and the left, fueling at- The Militant one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to tacks on meetings at Middle- Vol. 81/No. 14 above address. Closing news date: March 29, 2017 Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 bury, Berkeley and elsewhere to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- that shut down political space Editor: John Studer treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Liberal New Republic magazine argues Managing Editor: Naomi Craine just when we need it most. workers’ stupidity, bigotry created Trump. United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Seth by check or international money order Galinsky, Emma Johnson, Jacob Perasso, made out to CL London, 2nd Floor, 83 Maggie Trowe, Brian Williams. Kingsland High St., Dalston, London, E8 2PB, England. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Published weekly except for one week in January, one week in June, one week in Republic of Ireland and Continental July, one week in December. Europe: Send £85 for one year by check or international money order made out to CL NEW READERS NAME Business manager: Lea Sherman London at above address. The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. France: Send 120 euros for one year to 37th Street, 13th floor, New York, NY q.$5 for 12 issues ADDRESS 10018. Telephone: (212) 244-4899 Diffusion du Militant, BP 10130, 75723 Fax: (212) 244-4947 Paris Cedex 15. New Zealand: Send NZ$55 for one year RENEWAL CITY STATE ZIP E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.themilitant.com to P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. Correspondence concerning subscriptions PHONE e-mail Australia: Send A$70 for one year to P.O. Box q.$10 for 12 weeks or changes of address should be addressed to the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th 164 Campsie, NSW 2194, Australia. Pacific Islands: Send NZ$55 for one year to UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION floor, New York, NY 10018. q.$20 for 6 months P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. Submissions to the Militant may be pub- Clip and mail to the militant, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to lished in the newspaper in print and digital q.$35 for 1 year 306 W. 37th st., 13th Floor new york, ny 10018. the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor, format. By submitting, authors represent New York, NY 10018. that their submissions are original and 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacific, A$10 • United SUBSCRIPTIONS: United States: For consent to publication in this manner. Kingdom, £3 • Canada, Can$7 • Caribbean and Latin America, US$10 • Continental one year send $35 to above address. Signed articles by contributors do not Europe, £10 • France, 8 euros • New Zealand, NZ$7 • All other areas, US$16 (Send Latin America, Caribbean: For one year send necessarily represent the Militant’s views. payment to addresses listed in business information box) $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant April 10, 2017 Help win readers, funds! Continued from front page other large protest. Party members are ington Fears Working People; and Is building and organizing to join similar Socialist Revolution in the US Possi- May Day actions being called across ble? — all available at reduced prices. the country (see list on page 8). Join SWP members and readers of Chris Hoeppner from Philadelphia the Militant worldwide to help make said party members are organizing to the spring drive a success. Our aim respond to a new anti-Semitic attack on is to meet and involve workers who a synagogue there. They plan a solidar- are looking for a political perspective ity visit to the synagogue and will go and way forward in the economic and door to door in the area this weekend social carnage caused by the crisis of with the Militant. capitalism. The SWP and the Com- “Charles Murray, the author of The munist Leagues in Australia, Canada, Bell Curve will be speaking at Villa- New Zealand and the United Kingdom nova University March 30,” Hoeppner are the only parties to explain that to said. “We’ll be there to debate and dis- defend our interests the working class cuss the importance of political space must build a movement capable of tak- for the working class with those pro- ing power out of the hands of the capi- testing his talk. We will also show peo- Militant/Edwin Fruit ple Pathfinder’sAre They Rich Because Mary Martin, Socialist Workers Party candidate for Seattle mayor, speaks with Ian Wolford talist rulers. and Becky Altman in Mullan, Idaho, March 25 about silver miners strike against Hecla there. SWP branches are planning to kick They’re Smart? which explains what off the spring campaign in a big way. his Bell Curve is all about — a warning Workers Power; and Cuba and Angola: ing-class fights break out around the In Los Angeles, Oakland and Seattle to the ruling class about the threat of The War for Freedom. world and to subsidize cheaper and free the branches are planning to visit Unit- the working class.” As we take the party and its propa- subscriptions to workers behind bars. ed Steelworkers members on strike at Three other books are also on spe- ganda out broadly, we will also ask Join this campaign! Contact the of- the Lucky Friday silver mine in Idaho. cial — “It’s the Poor Who Face the workers we meet to contribute to the fice of the communist movement near- Reports from these trips in the Militant Savagery of the US ‘Justice’ System”: Militant Fighting Fund. This annual est you, listed on page 10, to volunteer are a tool for all workers to use to get The Cuban Five Talk About Their Lives fund is decisive for meeting the regular or to order books and papers to dis- out the word about these miners’ stand Within the US Working Class; Malcolm operating budget of the paper, to pay tribute in your area. against union busting and for safety at X, Black Liberation, and the Road to for special reporting trips when work- All out April 1! the Hecla mine. SWP members will also go door to door in the Idaho panhandle to discuss the strike and the road forward for NZ Communist League campaigns to build party working people with workers there. By JANET ROTH hire agency for years, while trying to get grants. The United Farmworkers Founda- AUCKLAND, New Zealand — a permanent job. Companies don’t care Brown showed them the Militant tion has called protest marches around “They say there are lots of jobs, but I about providing jobs, she said. “They newspaper, which campaigns for am- the West Coast and in Texas. SWP know of many people who have been just care about money, about profits.” nesty for undocumented workers in the members in Washington and Califor- looking for work for a long time,” Hel- “The Communist League demands a U.S. and urges workers to join protests nia will join these actions, discussing ena Tatafu told Patrick Brown, Commu- government-funded program of public against the raids and deportations. Many the government’s attacks on immigrant nist League candidate for the Mt. Albert works to put tens of thousands to work at were surprised to hear that Trump’s ac- workers and the need to expand the parliamentary seat, Feb. 24. union-level wages,” Brown said, “build- tions were built on the policies of pre- fight for amnesty — a life and death Tatafu exchanged views with Brown ing or repairing social resources like vious administrations, including those question for the trade union movement. and this reporter as we knocked on schools, hospitals and public transport.” of his Democratic Party predecessor Dan Fein from Chicago reports that doors in her neighborhood to spread the During the monthlong campaign, the Barack Obama. SWP members there are organizing a word about the working-class campaign escalating cost of housing — rented or Growing government moves against campaign target week starting April 2 the day before the election. The vote owned — was a frequent discussion on immigrants are the reality in New Zea- to put themselves in a strong position to was sparked by the resignation of La- doorsteps. A recent international survey land as well. Communist League cam- reach out to the working class with the bour Party Member of Parliament David ranked Auckland the fourth least afford- paigners joined 400 protesters Feb. 7 Militant and the party’s program. Over Shearer. able city in the world to buy a house. against Wellington’s anti-immigrant the course of the drive they are plan- “That’s the reality for many workers, “To end skyrocketing rents and house policies as well as Washington’s raids. ning regional teams to the coalfields in in spite of government claims of growth prices, we say housing must cease be- On Feb. 11 Brown joined an action to southern Illinois and to Milwaukee in the economy and employment,” said ing a commodity for profit,” Brown said defend Indian students fighting deporta- where 20,000 workers marched on the Brown. “Workers know from our own in his candidate’s statement in the New tion. “Day Without Immigrants” in Febru- experiences that many of our jobs are Zealand Herald. Earlier that day he took part in a ary. casual, part-time or temporary — and Many workers wanted to discuss the march of 200 people to oppose new They are looking to get back to Mil- low-paid.” significance of the election of U.S. Pres- laws that make it harder for working waukee on May 1, when local immi- Tatafu said one of her relatives has ident Donald Trump — especially his people to get released on bail and the grants’ rights groups are planning an- been working through a casual labor administration’s moves targeting immi- government’s ongoing construction of new prisons. The protest was sparked by news that the prison population had gone over 10,000 in November. Special Book Offers Spring Party-Building Campaign “The rulers use their prisons to in- timidate workers,” Brown told those he talked to. “They fear the working class Available for $5 each with Militant subscription and seek to keep us from coming together to fight against the bosses’ attacks on our jobs, wages and living conditions.” Also at special prices The 10,000 figure doesn’t include thousands more who are in the clutches “It’s the Poor Who Face the Savagery of the US ‘Justice’ of the so-called justice system — on pa- System”: The Cuban Five Talk role, awaiting sentence, or under super- About Their Lives Within the US vision after getting out. Working Class $7 Labour Party candidate Jacinda Ard- ern won the Feb. 25 election. Cuba and Angola: “We found workers were looking for The War for Freedom the discussions we began on their door- HARRY VILLEGAS “POMBO” $7 steps and we made new contacts for on- Malcolm X, going political work,” Brown told those Black at a wrap-up social on election night. Liberation, “The Communist League looks forward Are They Rich Because Is Socialist Revolution in and the Road The Clinton’s Anti-Working- to putting forward a working-class, They’re Smart? Class, the US Possible? to Workers Class Record: revolutionary alternative in the general Privilege and Learning Under A Necessary Debate Among Power Capitalism Why Washington Fears Working People elections in September. Working People JACK BARNES “The theme then will be the same as JACK BARNES MARY-ALICE WATERS $15 JACK BARNES in Mt. Albert,” he said. “Build a revolutionary workers party, build the Com- $7 each without subscription (Trial subscription $5 for 12 weeks) munist League, support us, join us.”

The Militant April 10, 2017 3 ‘Militant’ fights prison censorship in Illinois BY JOHN HAWKINS the Illinois River Correctional Center, CHICAGO — The fight against cen- charging a special “Orange Crush” sorship of the Militant at the Illinois tactical squad conducted a brutal mass River Correctional Center in Canton is shakedown there. They berated hun- winning support after prison authori- dreds of inmates, strip searched them, ties denied a long-term subscriber three forced them to march in a degrading issues of the socialist newsweekly last formation unit members called “nuts- fall. to-butts” to the gym and held them Officials at the 2,000-inmate prison shackled in torturous positions for hours wrote the Militant last December that while guards searched their cells, taking they would review the censorship. personal items, including legal papers. They claimed the three issues — each The lawsuit charges similar attacks of which contains articles reporting on were carried out at three other Illinois the Militant’s fight against censorship at prisons — Menard, Big Muddy and Letters to prison officials at Illinois River Correctional Center urge authorities to overturn the Attica Correctional Facility in New Lawrence. ban on three issues of the Militant last fall. Each issue contained articles reporting on York — are “detrimental to security, “I am deeply troubled by your deci- the paper’s fight against censorship at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York state. good order, rehabilitation, or discipline sion to deny incarcerated men at the or it might facilitate criminal activity or Illinois River Correctional Center rials of diverse viewpoints is to the re- ship.” be detrimental to mental health.” copies of the periodical entitled The habilitation of prisoners,” Levine wrote. Censorship of “the Militant articles is Since David Goldstein, the Militant’s Militant,” wrote Bruce Levine, J.G. “Censoring reading materials because a violation of prisoners’ rights to free- attorney, filed a Feb. 16 letter - urg Randall Distinguished Professor they contain articles about censorship at dom of expression,” Franklin said, and ing an end to the censorship, nothing Emeritus of History at the University other prisons seems to me particularly “should be reversed.” further has been heard from Illinois of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “This wrong-headed.” The Militant is still involved in a fight prison authorities. Goldstein is with act strikes at the heart of fundamental “Although the articles do refer to with New York state prison authorities the prominent New York civil liberties rights of U.S. citizens and at rights that national and local issues of concern to over censorship of the original articles firm Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, should be enjoyed by all human beings. prisons, they do not promote rebellion reporting on the anniversary of the Krinsky & Lieberman. “To attempt to silence The Militant’s of any kind,” Zoe Franklin, a professor Attica rebellion. “The Campaign to End the Death voice represents a danger to anyone at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago, To send a statement of support or Penalty, CEDP, is an organization that who cares about freedom of thought, wrote on behalf of the Chicago Council make a financial contribution to the has been in operation for 17 years and inquiry and expression,” he said. on Black Studies. “These articles sim- Militant’s fight against censorship, con- has provided services to over 5,000 in- “I have taught in prisons and houses ply share a unique world view on cur- tact [email protected] or write the mates incarcerated within the Illinois of detention during my long career, and rent and past events that are relevant to paper at 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor, Department of Corrections,” wrote I know how important access to mate- the lives of its newspaper’s vast reader- New York, NY 10018. Mark Clements in a statement supporting the Militant’s efforts to get the ban overturned. Clements spent more than two decades in prison in Illinois based Medicaid support, Republican splits sink Trumpcare on a false confession elicited through Continued from front page Why Washington Fears Working People the biggest structural alterations to the torture by Chicago cops. premiums and deductibles for plans by Socialist Workers Party National program since it was created. Block “Based in Chicago, we published a that offer less and less coverage. All Secretary Jack Barnes. grants would replace federal matching quarterly newsletter, The Abolitionist, these moves aim to maximize the su- The capitalist rulers aim to pit young- funds. States for the first time could im- which carried stories like those in The perprofits of insurance, hospital and er against older workers for what they pose work requirements, drug tests, or Militant,” Clements wrote. “We believe pharmaceutical companies. claim is a “shrinking pie” for health care place a cap on the number of years a per- that your facility’s Publication Officer The setback for Trump and the Re- costs. Obamacare was designed to force son could be covered by Medicaid. acted out of bias when he refused to al- publicans reflects the broader prob- young people, who use less health care, Some of these proposed attacks were low three issues of The Militant into the lems the propertied ruling families to buy it to create a bigger “pool” for the result of demands made on Trump facility.” have today — especially the crisis the insurance bosses. The Trump plan by members of the House Freedom Cau- “At no point in the history of the wracking both of their political parties, aimed to make older people pay more, cus, a group of some 35 conservative Illinois Department of Corrections that the Democrats and Republicans. The because they’ll likely use more. House members, many elected pledged I can recall,” he said, “has violence nor Democrats are in shambles while the After Trump pulled the bill, he said to the Tea Party. rude behavior by inmates been the re- GOP thought they had papered over Obamacare would become a bigger More importantly, a number of Re- sult of a publication.” their differences by Trump winning disaster and everyone will demand publicans felt pressured to oppose the Prisons in Illinois — from Chicago to the White House. The failure of the change. One thing is for certain; work- attacks on Medicaid in the bill, at a time those run by the statewide Department health insurance bill showed the crisis ing people will have to pay more for less. when the carnage being visited on work- of Corrections — are well known for they continue to face. These rising costs leave many working people by the crisis of capitalism is their inhumane treatment of workers One of the central issues Trump cam- ers with the cheapest, most shoddy deepening. Medicaid covers health care behind bars. paigned on was the inadequacies of plans, forced to pay thousands of dollars for one in five people in the U.S., includ- After the brutal repression of the Obamacare. But his proposed bill of- in annual deductibles before any insur- ing four of 10 children, nearly half of all Attica rebellion by prison guards, state fered no alternative for working people ance kicks in. And under Obamacare births, and the cost of care for two-thirds troopers, local cops and the National to the unpopular one in effect now. 28 million people remain without any of people in nursing homes. Guard in 1971, prison authorities across Instead of requiring individuals with- coverage. Medicaid is widespread and popular. the country began forming special tac- out health coverage to pay an annual At the NorthCrest Medical Center Two-thirds of everyone in the country tical squads to be ready for use against “tax” of more than $2,000 per year per in Springfield, Tennessee, for instance, — over 215 million people — either are protests, and to conduct mass “cell ex- family — one of the most hated aspects nearly 90 percent of people with private covered by the program or have family tractions,” searches and other special of Obamacare. Trump’s plan extends tax insurance end up paying 100 percent of or friends who are. operations. credits to people who buy insurance. medical costs, Randy Davis, the hospi- “I was not willing to gamble with the In 2015 a prisoner filed a lawsuit in Anyone who lets their insurance lapse tal’s president, told the Financial Times. care of my constituents,” Rep. Frank Lo- federal court against the Department for more than a couple of months would “They don’t hit their deductible when Biondo, a Republican from New Jersey of Corrections and prison officials at have to pay a 30 percent surcharge to the receiving an MRI, a CT scan, when said, reflecting fear of the political price insurance company, on top of their pre- they’re here for a $500 colonoscopy,” he he would pay if he voted for the bill. miums, to get a plan. said. Many Republicans opposed the bill The overall impact of the Trump ad- because they said its cuts would deepen militant ministration’s proposal would have been Attack on Medicaid entitlement the opioid epidemic ravaging their dis- to increase the number of people with- Trump’s health care proposals in- tricts. labor out health care by 24 million people, the cluded steep cuts to Medicaid, enacted Workers are facing rising “deaths of Congressional Budget Office said. as an entitlement program in 1965, a despair” from deteriorating health care forums If left in place, “health insurance result of the massive Black-led proletar- compounded by the unavailability of rates under the Obama administration’s ian struggle that eliminated Jim Crow full-time work, a report issued March ILLINOIS un-Affordable Care Act will rocket be- segregation. It provides medical care for 23, by two Princeton University econo- Chicago tween 30 and 60 percent in many states workers with the lowest incomes and the mists says. The study describes rising No Worker Has to Die! The Working- Class Fight for Safety on the Job. in 2017, and some 1.5 million working disabled. It currently covers more than mortality of Caucasian men and women Speaker: Laura Anderson, Socialist people will lose the plans they’re cur- 70 million people. ages 45 through 54, from suicides, drug Workers Party. Fri., April 7, 7:30 p.m. rently covered by,” Steve Clark writes During the election campaign Trump overdoses and alcohol-related deaths. In Donation: $5. 2018 S. Ashland Ave. Tel: (312) 455-0111. in his introduction in Pathfinder’s The promised not to cut Medicaid, but his 2015 overuse of opioids killed more than Clintons’ Anti-Working-Class Record: administration’s final proposal involves 30,000 people in the U.S.

4 The Militant April 10, 2017 on the picket line Steelworkers at Quebec refinery have come to show their solidarity with strike over pension cuts us.” SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD, Alain Croteau, Quebec director of Quebec — Workers on strike against the Steelworkers, told a meeting of CEZinc refinery here are fighting com- 300 strikers March 8 that they would pany demands for steep cuts in their receive regular contributions from the pensions. The 371 members of United 600 USW locals in Quebec. “When Steelworkers Local 6486 walked out there’s a conflict involving a USW Feb. 12 and have kept up picket lines local it’s all Steelworkers who are in- around the clock ever since. The compa- volved,” he told the meeting. No new ny is co-owned by the Noranda Income negotiations are scheduled between Fund and Glencore, a multinational the union and CEZinc. company based in Switzerland. — Beverly Bernardo “The company is reaping a lot of profits,” striker Michel Hudon told the Illinois meatpackers strike Militant on the picket line March 13. for seniority and overtime pay Workers on the line explained that the SAUGET, Ill. — Overtime pay for Collins Reischman company got a court injunction limit- Saturday work and respect for senior- United Food and Commercial Workers members on strike against Holten Meat plant in Sauget, Illinois, rally March 27 against company attacks on seniority rights, overtime pay, health care. ing picket lines to seven strikers at each ity rights are two key demands by more gate. Strikers showed Militant reporters than 200 meatpackers who went on ny started splitting our days off,” Otis said Kathy Binder, who works in pack- how they actively keep the plant un- strike March 18 at the Holten Meat plant Lumpkin, who works in the grinding aging. der surveillance to make sure CEZinc in this suburb of St. Louis. Members of department, told the Militant March 25. In addition, strikers said night-shift doesn’t violate Quebec’s anti-scab law, United Food and Commercial Work- “We had a contract. It’s like they threw workers who want to bid on a day-shift which prohibits companies from hiring ers Local 655 voted 124 to 38 to reject it away.” opening could hardly ever get it. The replacement workers during strikes. the company’s contract offer and set up The bosses call their scheduling company’s proposed wage increases “We are getting a lot of support from picket lines. The plant produces frozen “quality of life,” forcing workers to take would be more than offset by increases other USW locals and our strike fund hamburger patties and other meat prod- a weekday off and work Saturday within health care costs. will last for the duration,” said Hudon. ucts. out overtime pay during the busy sea- “I’ve never been in a union before, “Workers from Lafarge Cement who “We used to work Monday through son, workers said. “Yeah, ruin my life so but I can see why it’s important now,” won their strike to defend their pensions Friday, but two years ago, the compa- they can improve the quality of theirs,” said Terrell Askew, a young production worker who was hired a year ago. “I support the union all the way.” Strikers also described how they Idaho miners strike against union busting, for safety couldn’t get time off when they’re By Edwin Fruit deaths. A month after Gray was killed, affecting thousands — our family mem- sick or injured. Marta Elena Flores, a MULLAN, Idaho — As the strike another rock burst injured seven more bers and others in the area,” he said. “I quality assurance inspector, said she against the Hecla-owned Lucky Friday miners. The Mine Safety and Health will stand on the picket line as long as broke her arm when she fell at work silver mine here enters its third week, Administration ordered the mine closed needed.” last October. “They took me to the United Steelworkers Local 5114 mem- for a year for a long list of repairs. Solidarity from the community and hospital, and I had to have surgery,” bers are piling up wood for the picket “Our main thing is safety,” Epler said. other unions is strong. Money has come she said. “I got an attendance point for line burn barrels, preparing for the long “We’ve had enough bad things happen- from USW Local 338 at Kaiser Alumi- leaving work! haul. The mine bosses refuse to negoti- ing at the Lucky Friday.” num in Spokane and USW Local 175 at “Now if I work for more than five ate. “There was no question we had to go Port Townsend Paper, which donated hours, my arm hurts a lot,” she said. “What they really want is to bust the on strike,” said Joe Ploharz, 28, in the $5,000. Miners said both the Teamster “The doctor the company sent me to union, to get things back to where they union hall. “We’re exposed to rock dust, truck drivers who haul rock waste from says I don’t need any restrictions.” were in the 1930s,” Ron Pearce, who has road dirt and bio diesel fuel.” the plant and the union UPS drivers are Binder showed the scars on both worked at the mine for 38 years, told “The bio diesel fuel peels paint off refusing to cross the picket lines. hands and on her left wrist from repeti- Mary Martin, Socialist Workers Party the underground equipment,” another “We had a strike last year that brought tive motion injury surgeries. Strikers candidate for mayor of Seattle March miner said. “Makes you wonder what our people together and we are still said such injuries are common in the 26 on the picket line. “We have already it’s doing to us.” strong,” said Jerry Womble, member of plant, where bosses have sped up the sacrificed and given a whole lot and now “Some of the older miners were wor- Machinists Local 86 at Triumph Com- line. Not having two days off in a row they want new sacrifices. But we have ried about us younger miners going into posite Systems in Spokane. “Once we each week aggravates these injuries, built up a strong union here.” the strike. But we’re all here,” said Chris found out these miners were on strike they said, because workers don’t have The union contract expired in May Lockard, 24. “To beat this as a small we knew we would help. This comes enough time to rest. last year and the company offered a “last community we have to become as one. from our own experience of getting sup- The bosses are busing in workers and final” concession-filled offer. Hecla A handful of us picketing is not enough. port. We found that the first couple of from a temp agency. The company bosses told the union it would impose “We need to show the company that weeks on strike and off work is fun and didn’t respond to a request for comment. these changes on the workers March it’s not just affecting 250 miners but its Continued on page 7 — Ilona Gersh and Naomi Craine 13. The workers then went on strike that day. The changes demanded by the com- 25, 50, and 75 years ago pany include dangerous loss of workers’ right to choose their jobs and crews; loss of production bonuses key to their year- ly income; recall rights from layoffs and mine closures slashed from three years April 10, 1992 April 10, 1967 April 11, 1942 to three months; and the right of the Tens of thousands of supporters of The Political Bureau of the Ven- It was only by smashing the trade company to raise premiums and deduct- abortion rights will be marching April 5. ezuelan Communist Party bitterly unions and lowering the living stan- ibles for health insurance at any time. This demonstration will be an important denounced Fidel Castro for his March dards of the workers that Hitler was able The company’s decision to take over countermobilization to the unrelenting 13 speech about developments in Ven- to put German capitalism in a position crew assignments is a major reason for attacks by the government against a ezuela. It is a thoroughly devastating to compete with other capitalist coun- the strike. “We work in very dangerous woman’s right to choose. indictment of their reformist politics. tries. conditions, where everybody’s got to From the moment the ink was dry on The speech represented a develop- Britain refuses to differentiate be- watch each other’s back,” Phil Epler, the the [Roe v. Wade] Supreme Court rul- ment of the revolutionary world view tween the Nazi ruling machine and the local union president, told the Spokes- ing, a woman’s right to choose has been which the Cubans have been unfold- masses oppressed by that machine. man-Review. under attack. The government’s hostility ing for the past several years, particu- The German people hate Hitlerism, Company spokesperson Luke Russell to the right to abortion has encouraged larly in relation to the defense of the but they also hate the foreign capital- told the paper the change is needed in right-wing forces like Operation Rescue Vietnamese revolution. ists who will try to make them pay the order to “lower production costs.” to blockade clinics. We need more and The Cubans have insisted on the costs of their war. Overthrowing Hitler The miners work more than a mile bigger actions at abortion clinics that are need to subordinate the differences will be a tremendous task. One does not underground where the deep shafts are under threat, to counter the right–wing existing within the socialist bloc to lightly undertake such a task unless one prone to rock bursts, which can cause campaign. the united defense of the Vietnamese feels there is a chance for success. the walls and roof to collapse. Restricting abortion rights is part of against U.S. imperialism. The Cu- Extend a hand of solidarity to the Ger- Two miners, Larry Marek and Bran- the employers’ efforts to keep the sec- bans have declared the need for ex- man workers and soldiers; promise sup- don Gray, were killed in separate mine ond class status of women intact by tak- tending the revolutionary struggle as port to them against the establishment accidents in 2011. Federal officials ing away a woman’s most fundamental the most effective means of defending of a new Versailles; offer assistance to held the company responsible for both right — control over her own body. the Vietnamese. them in overthrowing Hitlerism.

The Militant April 10, 2017 5 Attacks on political events are blow to workers’ rights by TERRY EVANS speakers. Attacks on political rights NEW YORK — A small number of always end up targeting the working students and others protested outside class,” Hart said. “We need this space to a New York University meeting here discuss and debate the road forward in March 24 demanding that conservative a world where the deepening capitalist author Charles Murray not be allowed economic and political crisis is creat- to speak. This follows the breakup of a ing depression-like conditions for our meeting for Murray at Middlebury Col- class worldwide. Only the working class lege in Vermont three weeks earlier by can lead a revolution to overthrow dog- a group of students, professors and mid- eat-dog capitalism and create a society dle-class radicals. A violent protest in where every human being can reach February also prevented self-proclaimed their potential. “libertarian, gay, Trump-supporting “As the crisis of capitalism deepens, provocateur” Milo Yiannopoulos from the rulers are beginning to fear the speaking at the University of California working class and look for ways to re- Reuters/Patrick Fallon in Berkeley. A “black bloc” thug punches a pro-Trump rally participant in the face at Huntington strict political rights,” he said. “Today Beach, California, March 25, one of a number of recent attacks on political rights . These actions are a deadly threat to it’s anarchists and the middle-class left, the political space working people need not the ultraright, that are at the forefront Denver; Omaha, Nebraska; Huntington them away, including shooting pepper to discuss and organize. At the same of shutting down meetings and limiting Beach, California; and other cities. balls at them. time, anarchist “black bloc” and other the space that working people need to The Philadelphia attack was aimed at Some 50 others who had come to pro- left groups organized to physically at- carve out a road forward.” keeping Trump supporters from being test against Trump’s policies, but not to tack marches organized by supporters able to “normalize a fascist presence,” attack the rally, were pushed aside. of President Donald Trump across the Attacks on Trump rallies Workers World’s post said. “It’s very upsetting that neither side country March 25. Workers World posted an article on When the police told the Trump can exercise freedom of speech peace- Protesters at NYU carried signs that their website March 27 hailing the at- people their march permit was revoked, fully right now,” Trump supporter Me- read, “No free speech for racists” and tack that prevented supporters of Trump “black bloc activists took to the street to lynda Ream, 27, told the Omaha World- chanted “Charles Murray’s got to go!” from holding a march in Philadelphia celebrate.” Herald. They shouted “shame!” at economics March 25, saying “multiple forces, no- This was no victory for working peo- Shayla McShannon, 36, another par- student Christopher Zhen and oth- tably a large ‘black bloc’ waving Antifa ple, who need to jealously defend the ticipant in the pro-Trump rally, told the ers who walked past them to attend (Antifascist) and communist flags, mo- right to protest. paper she would have liked to have had the meeting. “I like what Murray says bilized to confront a racist ‘Make Amer- An anarchist group in Omaha, all the chance to talk with the protesters. about free markets, but don’t agree ica Great Again’ rally.” dressed in black with masks hiding their with what he says about intelligence Similar efforts to bust up rallies and faces, tried to take on some 100 support- Candace Wagner and Lea Sherman in his book The Bell Curve,” Zhen told assault Trump supporters took place in ers of Trump there. The cops pushed contributed to this article. the Militant. When he was walking by, NYU student Evan Daniels said he previously Washington escalates threats against N. Korea agreed with the demands of the protest- Continued from front page launch them at the continental United measures. ers “but now I think it’s wrong to prevent in South Korea and another 49,000 in States,” the editorial said. “The new War broke out on June 25, 1950. The other students from hearing speakers.” Japan. administration is starting with the most U.S. military drove the northern Korean The previous evening Murray spoke Two days later Tillerson went to sensible opening steps — a strong effort forces back, virtually to the Chinese at a similar restricted meeting of 60 at China. A key part of his discussions to enlist China, as well as other nations, border. The new Chinese government, Columbia University. Prior to the talk a with Chinese officials was Washing- in a new campaign of pressure.” which until then had given little aid to number of Columbia alumni released a ton’s push to get Beijing to press harder Under Democratic and Republican Korea, poured a million volunteer sol- public letter saying Murray’s views were against Pyongyang. administrations alike, Washington has diers into the war. “Nazi eugenics.” Protesting outside the The war talk is not just hype. The U.S. tried to paint Pyongyang as the aggres- Washington and its “blue hat” United meeting, Bronx Community College Army recently sent 100 Mine Resistant sor and a rogue nation. George W. Bush Nations allies utilized carpet bombing professor Alex Wolf told the New York Ambush Protected vehicles to South included the North in his infamous “axis with napalm and other weapons of mass Times he hoped “something similar” to Korea that could be used in any attempt of evil” speech in 2002, along with Teh- destruction that reduced cities to rubble, the assault on the meeting at Middle- to cross the heavily mined Demilita- ran and the Saddam Hussein regime in but was unable to defeat the North. The bury could be repeated at Columbia. rized Zone into the North. Iraq. The next year Washington invaded war ended in a stalemate in 1953 — the “The furor,” surrounding Murray’s These moves come on top of increas- and occupied Iraq. first military defeat for U.S. imperial- book “is not primarily because of what ingly draconian economic sanctions de- ism. Some 3 million Korean civilians, the book says about race. The scandal is signed to deepen the hardships on work- Decades of U.S. aggression half a million North Korean soldiers, its open self-rationalization of the class ing people in the North. Tillerson turned history on its head hundreds of thousands of Chinese vol- inequalities and privilege benefiting a In the midst of the U.S.-South Korean claiming it is Pyongyang that has bro- unteers, and 100,000 South Korean and growing upper-middle-class layer, and war games, the Pentagon announced it ken previous agreements and that Wash- U.N. soldiers, including 54,000 from the its justification for the anti-working- has begun stationing a new generation ington wants a “nuclear-free peninsula.” United States, were dead. class bipartisan convergence around of attack drones in the South that are ca- And the U.S. rulers seem oblivious to A large majority of Koreans on both economic and social policy,” explains pable of staying in the air for 24 hours, the added insult of joint maneuvers with sides of the border support reunification. Socialist Workers Party National Secre- equipped with Hellfire missiles. Japanese forces during this year’s war While the cease-fire remains in place, tary Jack Barnes in the Pathfinder title Washington also began deploying games. For four decades prior to World the U.S. government refuses to sign a Are They Rich Because They’re Smart? the Terminal High Altitude Area De- War II Japanese imperialist forces oc- peace treaty with North Korea to for- Class, Privilege, and Learning Under fense, or THAAD, anti-missile system cupied Korea, suppressed teaching the mally end the war. Is it any wonder that Capitalism. in South Korea — a decision made un- Korean language and history in school, the government of the DPRK and its “This book and my campaign answer der the Barack Obama administration banned Korean-language newspapers, people are suspicious of Washington’s the denigration of the working class, — despite strong protests from Beijing, and arrested or killed tens of thousands intentions? which is not unique to Murray,” Osborne which see it as also aimed at China. of workers and farmers. But North Korea is not without de- Hart, Socialist Workers Party candidate Simultaneously with Operation Foal Korean workers and farmers took fenses. Pyongyang has the fourth- for New York mayor, explained in dis- Eagle, Japanese military forces joined advantage of the defeat of the Japanese largest army in the world, as many as cussions with students outside the Co- the U.S. and South Korean navies in army to advance their fight for indepen- 200,000 special forces, 10,000 artillery lumbia meeting. Hart went to both the large-scale drills off the Korean coast. dence. Washington blocked the fight, pieces and nuclear weapons based un- protests there and at NYU, discussing The Trump administration’s shift has landing troops in the south in Septem- derground that could hit Seoul as well as and debating how best to advance the bipartisan support. A March 22 edito- ber 1945 and, with the agreement of the U.S. military bases anywhere in South fight of the working class to organize rial in the Washington Post, which has Stalinist regime in Moscow, dividing Korea. and take political power. “We’ve heard published daily attacks on Trump and the country in two. Any preemptive strike by Washing- the same thing from Hillary Clinton, his supporters, congratulated the White By 1948 Washington had crushed ton on Pyongyang — as Tillerson who called workers “deplorables,” and House on its belligerent stance toward the rebellion in the south in blood and says is “on the table” — would not many on the left who say the problem Pyongyang. imposed the Syngman Rhee dictator- be capable of destroying all of North today is that workers — especially those The Trump administration has “prop- ship. North of Korea’s 38th parallel, Korea’s nuclear weapons. The chance who are Caucasian — are more racist erly focused on what may be the big- the workers and peasants took power they could launch a response against and reactionary than ever today. gest single threat it inherited: the manic and organized a deep-going agrarian Seoul — with over 25 million peo- “We need to speak out against all pursuit by the regime of Kim Jong Un reform, expropriated landlords and ple in the metropolitan area, half the attempts to shut down meetings and of nuclear warheads and the capacity to capitalists and carried out other social country’s population — is high.

6 The Militant April 10, 2017 Protests target corrupt Chicago rally hits U.S. colonial rule in Puerto Rico rule in Russia, Belarus by Jim Bradley ponent of Putin, who called the demon- Tens of thousands of demonstrators strations, produced the YouTube video. took to the streets in up to 100 cities and In retaliation, the cops busted into his towns across Russia March 26 demand- Anti-Corruption Foundation office, ing the resignation of Russian Prime detaining staff members and seizing Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The pro- computers. Navalny was arrested at the tests — most of which were banned by Moscow demonstration and sentenced the government — took place after mil- to 15 days in jail on charges of resisting lions viewed a YouTube documentary arrest. exposing Medvedev’s lavish property Navalny has announced his intention portfolio, worth many times what he can to run in next year’s presidential election afford on his government salary. and has demanded that Putin allow him His estate is larger than the entire Vat- to be on the ballot. ican, complete with a vineyard. The mass arrests in Russia took place In Moscow, a large police mobiliza- the day after 600 protesters were arrest- Militant/Naomi Craine tion arrested 933 people at the protest of ed in Minsk, the capital of neighboring CHICAGO — More than 100 people rallied downtown here March 22 as over 10,000. Hundreds of young people Belarus, where thousands demonstrated part of a “Day of Action: Breaking the Chains of Puerto Rico’s Debt.” Protests whistled and chanted as the cops made against the dictatorial regime of Alexan- also took place in several other cities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico opposing the arrests, shouting “defenders of thieves” der Lukashenko, who has held power for deep attacks on the jobs, wages and social conditions of workers being im- and “you can’t arrest us all.” over two decades. posed by Washington’s Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto “I’m not scared,” said activist Oleg Demonstrators took advantage of Rico. The colonial rulers in Washington and Wall Street demand Puerto Rican workers pay for a $70 billion debt to the capitalist bondholders. Stepanov, the Kharkiv Human Rights the Freedom Day holiday that cele- “Our families did not create this crisis, but are paying the price,” said Noel Protection Group in Ukraine reported. brates the founding of the Belarusian Sanchez, who lives and works in Chicago but has relatives on the island. He “If we don’t change anything then there Peoples Republic in 1918 to organize described the deep cuts to jobs, education, health care and other social needs is no future.” protests in five cities, chanting “Lu- being inflicted on working people. Anti-government demonstrations of kashenko, we’re tired of you” and “No “Today marks the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico in this magnitude have not occurred since to dictatorship.” 1873,” José López, speaking above, executive director of the Puerto Rican Cul- 2011-12, when thousands protested the Demonstrations by thousands pro- tural Center, told protesters. The fight to abolish slavery and for independence re-election of Vladimir Putin as presi- testing the regime have been taking had been intertwined in Puerto Rico, he said, as they were in Cuba. dent. The geographical spread and strik- place for over a month, spurred by de- The picket line and rally took place outside the offices of McKinsey & Co., ing youthfulness of many of the partici- clining living standards workers face which López said is getting paid some $1 million a month as a “strategic con- pants caught Moscow off guard. as the economy of Belarus has been in sultant” to the fiscal board. Many participants came from the Puerto Rican Cul- “Unlike the largely middle-class pro- recession for over two years. They were tural Center and from the Albizu Campos High School affiliated with it. Service tests in 2011, Sunday’s rallies included sparked by the new so called social par- Employees International Union Local 73 also joined the action. many less well-off citizens, angry asite tax imposed by the regime on those — NAOMI CRAINE over falling living standards after sev- who work for less than half a year. eral years of economic stagnation,” the Washington Post said. The protests took place in better off cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg New charges filed against Chicago cop who killed youth as well as Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, BY BETSY FARLEY ministration for the cover-up. no immediate threat.” Makhachkala in Dagestan, Krasnodar CHICAGO — Chicago cop Jason The video clearly showed Last August the Chicago Tribune and others large and small. Van Dyke was indicted on 16 new McDonald walking away from police released CPD statistics showing that in The actions in Russia took place in criminal charges March 23, on top as Van Dyke shot him, including 14 435 police shootings from 2010 to 2015 the context of a sober outlook for the of six counts of first-degree murder times after the young man was al- cops killed 92 people and wounded an- Russian economy, dependent on oil ex- he already faces, for the 2014 killing ready on the ground. The video con- other 170. Some four out of every five ports whose price has fallen. There have of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. A tradicts the accounts of Van Dyke and persons shot by cops were African- been numerous strikes across the coun- grand jury brought the new charges of other cops at the scene, who claimed American males. try by workers who are not getting paid. aggravated battery with a firearm for McDonald lunged at them. “People need to be in that courtroom, The Kremlin denounced the protests each of the 16 shots he fired. The protests led to the firing of then all the families, and keep the pressure on as a “provocation,” praising the “abso- The court-ordered release of the po- Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, until the killer of Laquan McDonald is lutely top professionalism by the police” lice dashcam video of the shooting 14 as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel behind bars,” Arewa Karen Winters, a and claimed protesters were offered “fi- months after it happened prompted sus- moved to contain political damage member of Justice for Families, told the nancial rewards” to participate. tained protests demanding justice and caused by the shooting and the cover-up. Militant March 26. Winters is the great Alexei Navalny, a long-standing op- condemning both the cops and city ad- In January, the U.S. Department of aunt of 16-year-old Pierre Loury, who Justice issued a scathing report on the was shot and killed by cops here last Chicago Police Department, following April. a yearlong investigation begun after the “We need to set a precedent and not Welcome Puerto Rico Freedom Fighter killing of McDonald. “Among the most just for Chicago,” she said. “Van Dyke Oscar López’s return to the struggle! egregious uses of deadly force,” the re- should be convicted and sent to jail like port said, “were incidents in which CPD the criminal he is. We don’t want to see officers shot at suspects who presented this happen to other young people.” Idaho silver miners on strike Continued from page 5 gist in the nearby Galena Mine, and a After nearly 36 years in exciting. After that it gets serious and son-in-law who is a gold miner in Alas- prison in the United States the support is really needed.” ka. “Miners need to be supported,” she for his actions in support of independence for Puerto Rico, Oscar López Rivera’s “All the wives back the men and said. “We see corporate greed at work sentence was commuted to May 17 by then President Barack Obama as a result of our families. We stand beside and help — from here to Standing Rock.” worldwide protests. fight,” said Tiffany Talley, an office Martin said she will use her cam- On Feb. 9 López returned to San Juan to finish out his sentence under house ar- worker and one of a number of min- paign to win solidarity for the miners rest. The Bureau of Prisons imposed strict conditions of silence. On May 17 prison ers’ family members on the picket line. wherever she goes. authorities will remove his GPS ankle tracking device and López will rejoin the fight Her husband Beau Talley works as a “I definitely support the miners 100 to free Puerto Rico from U.S. colonial rule. truck driver at the mine. “When I’m percent,” said Wolford, who works in Initial calendar not at work I am down here and I bring a fiberglass factory. “I’d say everyone Wed., May 17 car caravan across Puerto Rico him my son to teach him to help daddy in their right mind should support the Thurs., May 18 Chicago 4 p.m. la Casita de Don Pedro then march. 5 p.m. event win.” miners because we are all affected by at Humboldt Park Boathouse. Info: Puerto Rican Cultural Center (773) 342-8023 Visiting with workers door to door in what happens here.” Wed., May 31 San Francisco 5 pm reception 7 pm program, place TBA Mullan, Martin met Becky Altman and Messages and donations can be sent June 8-11 – New York City her neighbor Ian Wolford. Altman is a to: USW Local 5114, P.O. Box 427, Sat. June 17 – Grand Marshal Puerto Rican Day Parade Chicago retired union road maintenance worker Mullan, Idaho 83846. More informa- López is also expected to visit Philadelphia, Orlando, Hartford and other cities. who has a son on strike at Lucky Fri- tion can be found on the local’s Face- day, a daughter who works as a geolo- book page.

The Militant April 10, 2017 7 End US embargo of Cuba Continued from front page Puerto Rico and still occupies my coun- day conference organized to advance try, we are going to fight back until we the fight to demand Washington end its have ended the colonial slavery of my 55-year-old embargo of Cuba; get out people. of Guantánamo, Cuban territory that “And when I say ‘my people,’ I’m Washington has illegally occupied since also Cuban. I’m Venezuelan. I’m from 1903; and end all efforts aimed at “re- Bolivia. I’m from the Caribbean. I’m gime change” in Cuba. An article on the Puerto Rican from top to bottom, but conference discussion, debate and deci- I’m all of that too.” He paid tribute to sions will appear next week. American Indian Movement leader The meeting opened with a dinner, Leonard Peltier and Black Panther to the sounds of drumming by Afro- Herman Bell, with whom he served Boricua Bomba Yo. time in federal prison and who are still The program was co-chaired by Este- behind bars. la Vasquez, an executive vice president “Anybody that stands up and fights is of 1199SEIU healthcare workers union, my people,” he said. “You’re not wast- and August Nimtz of the Minnesota ing your time. Fighting for others make Cuba Committee. In opening the pro- all of us more human. Anyone who has gram, Vasquez recognized several spe- dignity supports the Cuban Revolution,” cial guests, including Anayansi Rodrí- the Puerto Rican leader said. “Anyone Jon Flanders guez, Cuba’s ambassador to the United who cares.” Participants in conference and public meeting in New York March 25-26 in solidarity Nations; Miguel Barnet, president of the Responding to the presentation of with Cuba. Special guests included from left, Anayansi Rodríguez, Cuba’s ambassador to Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba a bouquet, Ambassador Rodríguez U.N.; Rafael Cancel Miranda, longtime Puerto Rican independence leader; María de los Angeles Vasquez; and Andrés Gómez, Antonio Maceo Brigade in Miami. (UNEAC); and members of a leadership thanked participants for the “selfless sol- delegation of the Federation of Cuban idarity we have received all these years. five decades, said Andrés Gómez, “be- Cuba last year. They joined the massive Women to the U.N. Commission on the What Cuba has achieved,” she said, “has cause of the determination of the Cuban May Day demonstration in Havana, met Status of Women. been done by the revolution itself, by the people to defend their socialist revolu- with a member of the Cuban Five and In addition to Ramírez, speakers in- Cuban people, a heroic people, a resil- tion and to continue to fight for a just took part in other activities. cluded Rafael Cancel Miranda, a long- ient people who’ve resisted under the society.” “If I’d been living in Cuba,” Young time Puerto Rican independence leader most difficult circumstances. Describing the work in Miami by the said, “I wouldn’t be standing here talk- imprisoned for more than 25 years by “But we couldn’t have done it without Antonio Maceo Brigade, which marks ing about the death of my son.” the U.S. colonial rulers; Andrés Gómez, the help, the support, the love of all of its 40th anniversary this year, Gómez Pointing to the human solidarity she a coordinator of the Antonio Maceo Bri- you,” she said. “Particularly here in the said it was an honor to be at the confer- and others had experienced, Young con- gade, a Cuban-American organization United States,” whose government “has ence. “Our job here,” he said, “is to fight cluded, “Cuba, I’ll take you any time. based in Miami that has organized sup- imposed an unjust, illegal, and unfair to end the U.S. policy of permanent ag- You all need to visit Cuba, I’m telling port of the Cuban Revolution for four blockade against us, which is still there” gression against Cuba.” you!” decades; and Juanita Young, whose son despite the establishment of diplomatic Juanita Young spoke about the trip Cultural performances by Bomba Yo Malcolm Ferguson was killed by New relations. she and other family members of vic- and Cuban Latin jazz pianist Marcello York police in 2000. U.S. policy has failed for more than tims of cop killings and brutality took to Casagrandi closed the evening. Ramírez reminded participants that in 1960 when Fidel Castro came to New York to address the U.N. General As- sembly on behalf of the newly victori- ‘Fight against deportation is a labor issue’ ous revolution, downtown hotels in- By Seth Galinsky In 2008 ICE detained Palandiandi for portation order appeal had been ex- sulted and evicted the Cuban delegation. NEW YORK — “We’re going to fight a month and then released him. After hausted. At Malcolm X’s initiative, the Cubans this to the end,” Janice Hoseine told the his release “we carried on with our life,” “If you’re convicted of a felony, a were invited to stay at the Hotel Theresa Militant March 26. Hoseine’s husband Hoseine said. Her husband worked and misdemeanor or whatever, you do your in Harlem. Thousands poured into the Ramesh Palandiandi was seized by Im- started his own business. “We traveled time,” Hoseine said. “Should someone streets to welcome the Cuban revolu- migration and Customs Enforcement outside the country, we went to Cana- be punished for the rest of their life just tionaries. March 9. da.” Hoseine and Palandiandi started because they’re an immigrant?” Turning to the evening’s honored The permanent U.S. resident moved Immigrant Outreach, a community or- Hoseine joined a March 21 protest guest, Rafael Cancel Miranda, the ICAP here from Guyana in 1992 when he was ganization, and joined the New Sanctu- organized by the Service Employees leader underlined revolutionary Cuba’s “just shy of 13 years old,” Hoseine said. ary Coalition. International Union Local 32BJ against support “for a free and independent Like many young workers, “he had Then in 2015 ICE detained him the detention of Juan Vivares, an un- Puerto Rican nation.” some run-ins with the law.” In 2007 he again. They learned the ICE case had documented worker from Colombia. In his remarks, Cancel Miranda said was convicted of attempted burglary been “terminated without prejudice” Vivare’s wife Yaharia Burgos is a mem- that although the United States “invaded and served six months in prison. seven years earlier, meaning ICE could ber of 32BJ. refile deportation proceedings at any “What is happening to immigrants time. After a year Palandiandi was re- is a labor issue,” Local 32BJ President leased but required to wear a GPS ankle Hector Figueroa told the press. “All of Stop the deportations and raids! bracelet. labor needs to stand with familes like On March 9, when Palandiandi re- Yaharia and Juan’s.” AMNESTY NOW! ported for his monthly check-in, ICE “I told Yaharia to stay strong,” Join May 1 protests! grabbed him again. They said his de- Hoseine said. In the face of ongoing deportations of undocumented workers, immigration “audits” that lead to mass firings, and demagogic anti-immigrant rhetoric from the White House and Congress, there are demonstrations, marches, work stoppages and school boycotts being organized across the country. The Militant supports the call by the Socialist Workers Party for amnesty to unite the working class. Let the Militant know about actions being planned in your area. If there are none, you can take the lead in organizing one! Alabama For info: call (205) 603-4400 Los Angeles 11 a.m., MacArthur Park, march to City Hall Lawrence, Mass. 10 am - 4 p.m. 200 Common St. Milan, Missouri To be announced Milwaukee For more info (414) 643-1620

New York City Location to be announced André Daughtry Send information on actions in your area to: Protest opposing deportations of immigrants March 19 in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. Janice Hoseine, front left, whose husband Ramesh Palandiandi, was grabbed by [email protected] ICE March 9, joined demonstration. “We’re going to fight this to the end,” she said.

8 The Militant April 10, 2017 Workers, youth from 23 countries to join Cuba Brigade by Terry Evans The Cuba Solidarity Campaign from Participants from the United States in the U.K. is organizing a Young Trade the 12th May Day International Brigade Unionists May Day Brigade from April to Havana, April 24-May 8, “will join 27 to May 9. In addition to participating with brigadistas from at least 22 other in the Havana May Day march it will countries to do voluntary work in the meet Cuban trade unionists, visit hospi- fields and meet and discuss with Cuban tals, schools and workplaces. workers, farmers and youth,” Sandra Osborne Hart, the Socialist Workers Ramírez, North America director of the Party candidate for New York mayor, Cuban Institute for Friendship with the is one of those on the U.S. contingent. Peoples (ICAP), told the Militant March “The revolution workers and farmers 25, during a visit to New York. made in Cuba is an example we can The brigade will offer solidarity with emulate. They faced a dictatorship that the Cuban people’s struggle to end the was backed by the unparalleled might decadeslong U.S. embargo. It is also of U.S. imperialism and they fought an opportunity to learn directly about and won,” he said. “When I return I’ll Cuba’s socialist revolution. Similar bri- continue helping to build actions de- gades from the United Kingdom and manding an end to the embargo and Canada will travel to Cuba around the the immediate U.S withdrawal from same time. Guantánamo.” “The highlight will be joining the The Chicago Cuba Coalition is orga- Cuban people to celebrate May Day in Cuban News Agency/Oscar Alfonso nizing arrangements for U.S. brigade Havana at a march and rally in the Plaza Last year’s May Day International Solidarity Brigade visited Camilo Cienfuegos museum in participants. For more information, con- of the Revolution,” Ramírez said. ICAP Yaguajay, Cuba. This year’s brigade will do voluntary work in agriculture; meet Cuban work- tact the coalition at (312) 952-2618 or is hosting the brigade. ers, farmers and youth; join in May Day march; take part in international solidarity conference. email: [email protected]. This year’s May Day march comes Cuba’s struggle to end the U.S. Navy’s Network on Cuba. It will visit Holguín, For information about the brigade just months after millions of working occupation of Guantánamo Bay, is be- Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo from Canada contact chevolbrigade@ people across the island came into the ing screened in Los Angeles April 1. April 28–May 12. Brigade member gmail.com or call (647) 787-5207. streets to salute the life of Fidel Castro, There are now 34 people registered to Angela Milivojevic, 18, said she was in- the revolution’s central leader, following go on the Che Guevara Volunteer Work terested in going to Guantánamo “to see Joe Young in Calgary contributed to this his death last November. Millions also Brigade organized by the Canadian the effects of U.S. imperialism there.” article. signed a pledge to uphold Cuba’s revolutionary course, expressed by Castro in a May Day speech in 2000. “This year’s brigade will honor the legacy of Castro Capitalism deepens wildfire disaster for ranchers and revolutionary leader Che Guevara,” by PATRICIA MARSHALL fires are most likely, but no steps were ter funding was available to farmers Ramírez said. Extensive wildfires began sweep- taken to minimize the threat when and ranchers across the three states. “This is the first time there has been ing through 2 million acres of Kansas, above-average rainfall encouraged the Estimates put the cost of lost cattle, a U.S. contingent on the brigade and 50 Oklahoma and Texas March 6, burn- growth of forage grasses across the land recovery and replacing and re- have already signed up to go,” she noted. ing cattle and other livestock, build- cattle ranches. This grass can dry out pairing fences in the northern Texas “Following May Day, participants will ings, grasslands and the fencing on it. in one hour, ideal fuel for wildfires to Panhandle alone at $12.4 million. join others at an International Meeting Seven people died as a result, three of spread. Maximum allowances for a ranch- in Solidarity with Cuba in Havana, them young ranchers in Texas trying to Fields with growing crops can stop er’s cattle losses are capped at $125,000 to discuss and debate how to deepen rescue their cattle. Thousands of peo- or retard the spread of these fires. One and funds to replace fencing that solidarity with the Cuban Revolution,” ple had to evacuate their homes. of the reasons the town of Ashland in costs some $10,000 a mile is capped Ramírez said. Thousands of tons of donated hay Clark County was not burned down at $200,000. Jennie Giles-Betschart, After the conference, most of the were already arriving in Clark County, was that the head of the fire hit green a Kansas rancher, told Fox News that U.S. contingent will visit health centers, Kansas, while the last fires were still fields that acted as a firebreak. But the fire destroyed miles of fence on schools and historic sites and meet with being put out. Ranchers, farmers, the Conservation Reserve Program, her family’s ranch in Clark County. members of mass organizations in the truckers, students and others in the administered by the Farm Service Replacing it would take $800,000 out provinces of Villa Clara and Cienfuegos. region and across the country are con- Agency, pays farmers to take land out of their pockets. Some will attend the Fifth Seminar for tinuing to get solidarity and supplies to of crop production to encourage the And government funds only come Peace and for the Abolition of Foreign affected ranchers. development of grasslands. after fences are replaced and paid for, Military Bases, in Guantánamo May Dry conditions, low humidity The continuing spread of red cedar with stringent and complicated condi- 4-6. “They will visit the border and see and strong winds are blamed for the trees from 55 million trees to 85 mil- tions. Separate forms, some several the affect of the illegal U.S. Navy base fires spreading at up to 70 miles per lion between 2005 and 2015 meant pages long, have to be completed for on Cuban sovereignty,” said Ramírez. hour. New fires continue to break additional fuel for fires. There is no each claim. Occupied against the will of the Cuban out, scorching 2,500 acres in Seward government plan for prescribed burns All this happens at a time when people since 1903, the Guantánamo County, Kansas, March 23. Five fires to contain their growth. ranchers are seeing prices for their cat- base has been used as a military toe- were reported in Texas March 27. In spite of the known threat of wild- tle plummet. There was a combined 40 hold against the revolution since 1959. The social relations of the dog-eat- fires, the Kansas Forest Service only percent drop in ranch and farm income Washington continues to use the base dog capitalist system working people has four people working fulltime on in 2015. The loss of cattle in the fires to detain prisoners captured during U.S. face have turned the “natural” disaster firefighting and fire prevention. and the huge cost of replacing fencing wars, indefinitely and without charge. of the fires into a social catastrophe Last March a large wildfire spread threaten to force ranchers out of busi- Participants in the U.S. contingent are for ranchers and others who live in from Oklahoma into neighboring ness. using fundraising efforts to help cover this region. This is especially the case Comanche and Barber counties in Kansas Department of Agriculture expenses and increase knowledge of in Kansas where 85 percent of rural Kansas. Firefighters from the two figures show over 5,000 less ranches the Cuban Revolution at the same time. Clark County went up in flames. states could not coordinate their ef- and farms there since 2007. “All Guantánamo is Ours,” a film about March is always a month when wild- forts because Kansas didn’t have the Ranchers also face declining land legislation in place to authorize it. This values. In 2016, for the first time in 26 remains the case a year later. years, South Dakota ranch and farm- The Stewardship of Nature In face of the social disaster, working land values fell. Also Falls to the Working Class: class solidarity is evident. A convoy of Many ranchers who voted for Donald some 30 trucks left Ohio on March 24 Trump in last year’s presidential elec- In Defense of Land and Labor carrying hay, feed and 25 volunteers tion, hoping for change, have noted “Under capitalist social relations, human hardship from across the state planning to work the absence of any comment on the from natural occurrences falls in starkly different ways with ranchers in southwest Kansas. wildfires by the president. At the same on different social classes. In New Orleans after Hur- Some 200 volunteers, including stu- time, budget proposals he is making ricane Katrina in 2005, life or death, a home still habit- dents on spring break, are working include slashing the U.S. Department able or forced diaspora — a few feet above or below around Ashland in Clark County, one of Agriculture’s Rural Development sea level marked the class divide” — Socialist Workers of the state’s hardest hit areas. programs by 21 percent. Party statement in New International no. 14 It wasn’t until March 21, more than This cut includes cutting staff in $14. Also in Spanish, French, and Swedish two weeks after the fires broke out, the Service Center offices — the very See list of distributors on page 10 or visit that the Department of Agriculture an- places ranchers are directed to submit www.pathfinderpress.com nounced a paltry $6 million in disas- claims after the wildfires.

The Militant April 10, 2017 9 ‘US Civil War was greatest revolution of 19th century’ Below is an excerpt from Democracy The first was the Dutch city, county and state gov- and Revolution: From Ancient Greece revolution of the late six- ernment. For the first time, to Modern Capitalism by George No- teenth century by which black men were elected to vack. It is one of Pathfinder’s Books of the Netherlands won its state legislatures and Con- the Month for April. Novack joined the independence and set up gress. communist movement in 1933, and re- its republic. The second These governments rest- mained a member and leader of the So- was the English revolu- ed on a coalition of freed- cialist Workers Party until his death in tions of the seventeenth men and their allies among 1992. The piece is from the section “The century, which secured the small farmers and poor Rise and Decline of Bourgeois Democ- the supremacy of the Brit- whites. But the decisive racy.” Copyright © 1971 by Pathfinder ish bourgeoisie and their power was held by the fed- Press. Reprinted by permission. parliament. The third was eral government and its the revolt of the Ameri- armed forces, which occu- can colonists, which cre- pied the South and super- Books of ated the United States. vised its affairs. The fourth was the French The radical Republi- Revolution, which was de- cans in Washington pur- the month cisive in demolishing the sued a contradictory agrar- by george novack old order in Western Eu- ian policy. In the unorga- The mass of participants in the rope. The fifth was the less nized western territories, revolutionary events who shouldered successful Revolutions of they gave free homesteads these historical tasks and carried 1848 on that continent. to white settlers and im- them through were not endowed with The American Civil War mense tracts of land to rail- exceptional individual abilities. They was the concluding act road companies, real‑es- were indeed less literate, well‑informed in this series of strug- Members of the South Carolina legislature, 1868, during Radical tate speculators, lumber and historical‑minded than the aver- gles by which the world Reconstruction after Civil War. “Ex-slaves helped set up and participated and mining interests. Their bourgeoisie attained sov- in highly progressive state governments which displaced the despotism land policy in the South age citizen of today. But peoples who of the planters,” wrote Novack. It “cut down illiteracy” and much more. get caught up in and swept along by ereignty and the demo- was very different. There a mighty and irresistible tide of so- cratic revolution fulfilled its mission. … with the rest of the nation subordinate they feared to carry through an agrarian cial change are capable of hitherto un- The American Civil War, which to the slave power. The Civil War revolution which would have involved imaginable accomplishments. erupted thirteen years after 1848, has a was the showdown between these two the expropriation of the land owned by The creative capacities of the insur- twofold importance in the annals of the chief contenders for supremacy in the secessionist planters and distribu- gent masses were shown in the suc- bourgeois revolution. It was the sec- North America. tion of it among the landless laborers. cessive revolutionary combats which ond and closing act of the democratic The victory of the Union shattered Although they nullified three billion toppled the old regimes in the West and revolution in the United States. And the last of the precapitalist social forma- dollars worth of property in slaves, the ushered in the new bourgeois order. it was the greatest revolution of the tions and ruling classes that blocked the triumphant capitalists were unwilling to During the formative stages of capital- nineteenth century, the last thorough- expansion and challenged the hegemony confiscate landed property for the ben- ism, six great upheavals marked the de- going mass struggle carried through of the native American capitalists. The efit of the freedmen. To the contrary, in cisive steps in the forward march of the by the radical bourgeoisie in the West- defeat of the southern slaveholding oli- some places the blacks were deprived of bourgeois‑democratic revolution. ern world. garchy prevented the United States the lands they had taken over and were The second American revolution had from becoming Balkanized and pre- cultivating on their own account. … both national and international roots. served the unity of the nation. The il- The experience of Reconstruction It was necessitated by the incomplete- legalization of chattel slavery formally and its aftermath also exemplified the April Books ness of the first and by the vast econom- liberated the black men from bondage incapacity of the capitalist class, even of the Month ic and social changes brought about by and warded off the dangers to the dem- in its most radical days, to realize bour- the Industrial Revolution and the ex- geois democracy to the full or extend PATHFINDER ocratic rights of the people posed by pansion of commercial agriculture on a the aggressions of the ultrareactionary full and enduring equality to nation- READERS CLUB 25% discount domestic and world scale. slave power…. al minorities. So long as the northern SPECIALS The first American revolution had For a few years during the post- bourgeoisie needed the black masses Democracy and Revolution liberated the thirteen colonies from war Reconstruction of the South, the as a pawn in their combat against the by George Novack British rule, created the federal union ex‑slaves helped set up and participat- cotton nobility, they granted a certain The limitations and advances and set up a democratic republic. But ed in highly progressive state govern- increment of freedom to them. But once of various forms of democracy it had failed to deliver state power they had cinched total mastery in the in class society, from its roots in ments which replaced the despotism ancient Greece through its rise firmly into the hands of the northern of the planters with an extension of nation and over the South, the managers and decline under capitalism. bourgeoisie or to extirpate slavery. The the power of the people. The radical of the Republican Party turned against $22. Special price: $16.50 economic and political ascendancy of Reconstruction regimes improved edu- the southern masses. To keep the presi- the cotton nobility during the first half cational facilities, equalized taxes, cut dency in 1876, they made a deal with Cointelpro: the FBI’s of the nineteenth century held back the down illiteracy, abolished imprison- the new bourgeoisie and planters of Secret War on Political Freedom reconstruction of American society ment for debt, did away with property the South at the expense of the plebe- by Nelson Blackstock along purely capitalist lines and threat- qualifications for voting and holding ians and delivered the freedmen back $18. Special price: $13.50 ened to make the capitalist class along office and instituted other reforms in into peonage. 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Email: [email protected] 10 The Militant April 10, 2017 Socialist Workers Party statement US war in Syria, Iraq Continued from front page people died March 20 when coalition bombs struck Join fight for universal health care! a school sheltering homeless Syrians near Raqqa. Continued from front page sault on Medicaid, a historic gain of the mass Black It was a “new massacre committed by the U.S.-led get jobs. Wages are stagnating or being pushed rights fight that overturned Jim Crow segregation coalition,” said the United Kingdom-based Syrian down. Workers in uniform are being sent to fight in and won broader social rights. The rulers’ efforts to Observatory for Human Rights. nonstop wars to defend the interests of the propertied deliver blows to Medicaid would affect tens of mil- According to Airwars, an organization that rulers. Infrastructure is crumbling. The cost of health lions of workers, children, the elderly, those with monitors claims of civilian casualties, over 1,000 insurance is going up. disabilities, and their family and friends. It would civilians were killed in U.S.-led airstrikes in the For workers and farmers, access to health care is open the door to attacks on other entitlements won two countries over the past month. literally a life and death question. We need to join to- by past working-class struggles — from Medicare “We used to be afraid of the Syrian regime gether to fight for government-funded, cradle-to-grave to Social Security. strikes or the Russian strikes, but not the Ameri- medical care as a social right for all. Our unions should Working people place no price on life and limb. cans,” a Raqqa resident who lost 11 family mem- be at the forefront of this fight . Health shouldn’t be based on profitability. That’s why bers told the New York Times. “Now we fear the The mixed bag of the Affordable Care Act, often many working people are attracted to the demand for US coalition more than anything else — their called Obamacare, is health insurance not health care a “single-payer” system, sometimes called “Medicare weapons are so advanced. For us, they are the — designed first and foremost to boost the profits for all.” most deadly of all.” of the insurance and drug monopolies. While mil- The working class, led by the union movement, The Pentagon’s rules of engagement govern- lions were able to get some inadequate and rationed should fight for universal, lifetime health care for all, ing airstrikes allow for the “proportional” pos- coverage, which is better than nothing, it has meant whatever name it’s given. Through our labor, the work- sibility of some civilian casualties, depending on skyrocketing premiums, deductibles and co-pays for ing class produces all the wealth, more than enough to the grade of target, a standard set by the Barack shrinking care. provide health care and other social needs for all. Obama administration. The Donald Trump ad- Trumpcare would have made this profit-driven sys- Revolutionary Cuba — where health care is a right, ministration is discussing relaxing these rules tem even worse, adding another 24 million without not a privilege — shows what working people can ac- further. health care by 2026. Like Obamacare, its sponsors’ complish when we wrest power from the capitalist The civil war in Syria began after the regime chief concern is the profits of the health “industry.” rulers and begin to build a society based on human of Bashar al-Assad unleashed brutal repression The Trump administration plan, which is off the solidarity. Fighting for universal health care today against a wave of mass protests in 2011 for po- table for the moment, includes a fundamental as- will help open that road to the socialist future here. litical rights and the end of his dictatorial rule, killing and imprisoning tens of thousands. Since then, sieges and carpet bombing by his regime — and now increasingly bombings from Washington and Moscow, as well as ground assaults by Teh- 200 protest cop killings, brutality in Bakersfield ran, its allied Shiite militias and Ankara — have BY LAURA GARZA who arrived, saying they would be arrested or tasered killed over 400,000 people and driven more than BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Some two hundred if they tried to reach him. 10 million from their homes. people joined the Third Annual Walk for Justice “They cuffed him and let dogs on him, they didn’t here March 19 to protest police killings and brutality need to torture him,” Laura Serna, who was there U.S. coalition set to assault Raqqa by Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County when her father was shot, told Dennis Richter, recently The new escalation in the Washington-led mili- Sheriff’s Department officers. They marched to sev- announced Socialist Workers Party candidate for con- tary campaign in Syria began March 21 when eral sites where people were killed by police, ending in gress in the 34th CD in Los Angeles. coalition helicopters brought Kurdish-led Syrian a park where families had set up posters and banners “The police do this all over because they are not Defense Force fighters and U.S. special forces be- in honor of loved ones lost. serving and protecting us, instead they protect the sys- hind Islamic State lines near the town of Tabqa, “I will never accept or forget the beat down and tem of wealthy capitalists, that’s who they serve and 25 miles west of Raqqa on the Euphrates River. cowardly murder of my son,” said Merri Silva speak- they look at all of us as potential criminals,” Richter “It takes a special breed of warrior to pull off an ing at the spot her son David was beaten on May 7, said. “They can’t be reformed.” airborne or air assault behind enemy lines,” U.S. 2013, by nine Bakersfield and Kern County cops. He “It will take revolutionary changes, where working Col. Joe Scrocca boasted afterwards, praising was bitten by police dogs, hogtied and eventually died people fight to take power out of the hands of the rul- his Kurdish-led partners. “There is nothing easy as a result. ing wealthy, to have a different justice system built in about this — it takes audacity and courage. And “At the beginning there were just a few of us, our interests,” he said. the SDF has that in spades.” look at us now,” said Chris Silva, David’s brother, The march also stopped where James De La Rosa Washington’s alliance with the SDF is bitterly gesturing to the crowd. He noted the widespread was shot in November 2014 and at the Walgreens opposed by the regime of Turkish President Recep publicity the protests and killings had received and where Ronnie Ledesma was beaten by cops and later Tayyip Erdogan who, along with Washington and that family members were involved in suits against died. all the other capitalist powers with large Kurdish the cops. “Our loved ones are getting killed and The impact of the protests forced the California populations — Iran, Iraq and Syria — have his- they’re giving us money to shut up. We’re not going state attorney general to open an investigation into torically stood against the decadeslong struggle of to shut up.” the Bakersfield and Kern County cops in December, the oppressed Kurdish people for a homeland and A growing list of names of those killed by cops here shortly after the killing of Francisco Serna. national sovereignty. Ankara has proposed that since 1994 was printed on the backs of T-shirts of the The county District Attorney decided to drop Turkish-led troops team up with Washington to marchers. charges against Xavier Hines and Timothy Grismore, take Raqqa instead. The last name was Francisco Serna, a 73-year-old Black students at Bakersfield College students, who The YPG currently controls 20,000 square grandfather shot by Bakersfield cops outside his home were stopped by the cops as they went for pizza af- miles of Syrian territory with a population of 2 last December. Serna had early stages of dementia and ter studying one night. One was beaten and both were million Kurds on the Syrian-Turkish border. An- when he didn’t comply immediately when cops shout- arrested, framed up on charges of jaywalking and re- kara charges the YPG is allied with the “terrorist” ed orders at him, one opened fire. As Serna lay dying, sisting arrest. However, the NAACP released a video Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, against the cops refused to allow his wife or daughter to come interview with them about how they were treated and whom they have waged a bloody war for over to his side. They threatened other family members the case blew up. three decades. Last year Ankara invaded Syria to prevent the YPG from linking up with Kurds west of the Eu- letters phrates River, fearing an autonomous Kurdish re- Free speech is a necessity She is absolutely right that we Defending freedom of speech gion along its entire Syrian border will strengthen The Militant’s March 27 article must “confront” and “debate” re- and discussion is a necessity for all the struggle for autonomy of the 15 million Kurds on the breakup of the March 2 ap- actionary ideas that threaten the working people seeking to confront inside Turkey. pearance at Middlebury College by interests of the working class, the deepening crisis of capitalism, Since their offensive began, the U.S.-backed conservative author Charles Murray not suppress and legitimize them and I welcome the Socialist Workers forces have taken the air base and the southern (The Bell Curve) struck exactly the by handing their proponents the Party taking it on! end of the Tabqa dam. In the course of the bomb- right note on this unfortunate, but mantle of defenders of free speech. Peter Anestos ing and fighting, the dam was damaged. The wa- all too common, exercise of cam- Unfortunately, this suppressive New York, New York ter level is rising and water and electricity from it pus censorship today. I congratulate “PC” culture, promoted by bud- Middlebury College Class of 1995 to Raqqa are both shut down. Alyson Kennedy for her timely and ding meritocrats in academia to- Islamic State forces in the city began broadcast- straightforward intervention in the day, is all too common. ‘Put me on your mailing list’ ing warnings March 26 that U.S. airstrikes were discussion triggered by this event. I would like to receive your going to cause the dam to collapse and lead to ‘Militant’ Prisoners’ Fund Militant newspaper. I’m a 60-year- widespread flooding. In the ensuing panic, many The letters column is a forum for This fund makes it possible to send old prisoner here. I saw one of your of the IS leaders and combatants are believed to viewpoints on subjects of interest to prisoners reduced rate subscrip- newspapers laying on the table in have fled. working people. Where necessary tions. Send a check or money order our dayroom. So put me on your Workers still inside the city face dire condi- payable to the Militant earmarked letters will be abridged. Indicate if mailing list to get it. Thank you. tions. In addition to the lack of water and elec- “Prisoners’ Fund” to 306 W. 37th St., you prefer that your initials be used A prisoner tricity, the hospitals are shuttered and prices for 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018. rather than your full name. California limited available food have spiked.

The Militant April 10, 2017 11